The message was sent out.
For a long time, no one responded, and no one cheered “666”. Xu Qi An sat at the table, waiting for a while before realizing that these folks had gone offline.
How impolite… couldn’t they say something before going offline? A bunch of ill-mannered netizens. He grumbled inwardly.
Putting away the small jade mirror and locking the door, Xu Qi An blew out the candle and lay on the bed, letting his thoughts wander.
The Heaven and Earth Society was a relatively loose organization, with members communicating with each other while maintaining a level of caution.
This was understandable, as they were scattered across the land and might not even be from the Great Feng Dynasty. It was normal to keep some wariness between them.
The immediate benefit he could see was information sharing.
This was extremely important.
Isn’t this just like a chat platform? If we chat well online, maybe there’ll be a chance to meet offline in the future.
Number Two was in Yun Province, too far away. Their status shouldn’t be low, otherwise, how could they check household registries of various prefectures and counties?
Number One was also in the capital, truly someone with status and position, stronger than this impostor Xu Qi An, and the one he should be most wary of.
Number Six… he had warned me not to respond to Number Nine before, saying he was also in the capital.
Numbers One and Six were the ones I needed to pay attention to next. The other members were separated by vast distances; even if they knew my identity, it wouldn’t be a big problem due to the lack of conflicting interests.
Numbers One and Six were the kind of netizens who would say “Just you wait, I’m coming to get you” and follow through.
But on the flip side, if I could establish a friendly and mutually beneficial relationship with them, these two could help me in urgent situations since they were nearby.
The others hadn’t come online yet.
I feel like I’m playing Werewolf… Interesting, interesting…
As he thought about this, he drifted off to sleep.
…
The night was like water, the moonlight like frost.
In the howling cold wind, the lights of Lingbao Temple blazed brightly in the darkness.
Since the Sect Leader of the Human Sect had been appointed as the Imperial Preceptor, their headquarters had moved to the Imperial City. The current Emperor had built a grand Daoist temple for the Human Sect.
A luxurious sandalwood carriage stopped outside the temple. Minister Wei, wearing a green cloak, descended the small steps.
The gate-keeping Daoist boy respectfully welcomed him inside.
Passing through the courtyard, corridors, and garden, he came to a spacious meditation room.
After the Daoist boy left, Minister Wei knocked on the door with his finger.
The lattice door opened automatically, and a cool voice came from inside: “Minister Wei’s grand visit, this humble Daoist is truly honored and frightened.”
Minister Wei paid no attention to the sarcasm in the voice. He stepped over the threshold into the room, which was cool and filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense.
A screen separated the front hall from the couch, where the graceful silhouette of a figure could be vaguely seen sitting cross-legged in meditation.
Minister Wei’s expression was cold, his tone equally so: “What happened in the Earth Sect?”
The voice of the female Imperial Preceptor was ageless, with both the clear and pleasant tones of a young girl and the soft, captivating quality of a mature woman:
“Minister Wei knows astronomy above and geography below, why ask this humble Daoist?”
Minister Wei shook his head, “Is it because I once scolded you, saying ‘Only women and petty men are difficult to nurture,’ that you harbor such resentment now?”
The figure behind the screen remained silent.
“The Night Watchman has a fragment of the Earth Book. Do you want it?”
“That belongs to the Earth Sect.”
Minister Wei nodded and turned to leave.
Outside Lingbao Temple, Yang Yan, who had been waiting by the carriage, came forward: “Adoptive father, did you find out any news?”
Minister Wei shook his head: “That female Sect Leader is unwilling to speak, but something must have happened in the Earth Sect.”
Entering the carriage, Minister Wei brought his cold hands close to the beast-head stove. When his body warmed up, he said in a deep voice:
“In recent years, natural disasters have been frequent, and man-made calamities have arisen. The fate of Great Feng doesn’t seem right. Various cultivation systems have also gradually exposed problems.
“I always feel like something is about to happen.”
Yang Yan frowned: “Isn’t the adoptive father overthinking? The other day when we went to the Astronomical Bureau, the Director said the celestial phenomena were all normal.”
Minister Wei sighed: “The words of those who peer into heavenly secrets are the least trustworthy.”
After a pause, his expression became serious and decisive: “Spare no effort to investigate the recent situation of the Earth Sect.”
Yang Yan: “The members of the Earth Sect have always been low-key, appearing and disappearing mysteriously…”
Minister Wei’s gaze suddenly became sharp: “I said, spare no effort.”
Rarely seeing his adoptive father so solemn, Yang Yan lowered his head: “Yes.”
…
In the early morning, Xu Ling’yin, wearing a thick cotton jacket and holding a dry twig, chased after a group of geese as small as her with her short legs.
Seeing her big brother approach, Xu Ling’yin put her hands on her hips and said proudly: “Big brother, big brother, I’m now unrivaled among my peers.”
Xu Qi An looked at her: “Unrivaled in stupidity?”
Xu Ling’yin anxiously explained: “Not unrivaled in stupidity, just unrivaled.”
As she spoke, she waved the dry twig a few times to indicate she was unrivaled in fighting.
Little Dou Din explained: “Sister said that no child in the mansion as big as me can beat me, I’m the strongest.”
Because you’re the only child in the mansion… Xu Qi An said: “Sister didn’t lie to you.”
Xu Ling’yin was happy and walked with an air of superiority on her way to the hall with her big brother for breakfast.
At the dining table, Aunt elegantly ate her breakfast and casually said: “My lord, it seems Lingyu has reached the age for marriage.”
She’s been of age for a while. In ordinary families, girls could marry at fourteen. The Xu family was a wealthy household, so there was no need to rush marrying off their daughter, but at seventeen, she had indeed reached the age for marriage.
Because after eighteen, if still unmarried, she would become an old maid. Even though an eighteen-year-old girl was still in her most delicate stage.
Xu Lingyu suddenly raised her head, her moist and lustrous eyes showing stubbornness: “Mother, I don’t want to get married yet.”
Aunt’s beautiful eyes glared, scolding: “Is this a matter of whether you want to or not?”
Xu Lingyu was unconvinced, pursing her lips, which were as delicate as if carved: “Second brother hasn’t even taken a wife yet.”
Xu Xinnian took a hit to the knee.
Aunt had her reasoning, saying: “Even if your second brother were to marry, it would have to be after the spring imperial examination. There’s no hurry. Now, let’s settle your marriage first.”
Xu Lingyu puffed her cheeks, not speaking like a wronged child.
Second Uncle Xu pondered and nodded: “Lingyu has indeed reached the age for marriage. Ah, time flies so fast, she’s grown up in the blink of an eye.”
Xu Ling’yin, immersed in her food, raised her silly little face upon hearing this and exclaimed:
“Sister has grown up, sister is a troublemaker.”
The whole family: “???”
Xu Qi An’s scalp tingled, forcibly changing the subject: “Even if Lingyu is to marry, she should marry an excellent husband like me.”
Aunt snorted disdainfully.
Stirring up trouble again, huh… Xu Qi An chuckled: “It’s because Aunt married someone as excellent as Second Uncle, like me, that she can live a life of luxury wearing gold and silver.”
The voluptuous and beautiful Aunt couldn’t refute this statement and glared hard at her unfortunate nephew.
Second Uncle Xu, flattered by his nephew’s praise, smiled and said: “My dear, do you have anyone in mind?”
The aunt said: “We’ll choose slowly. That’s why I’m discussing it with you.”
Xu Xinnian looked at his family members and announced: “Starting tomorrow, I’ll return to Yunlu Academy to prepare for the autumn imperial examination.”
After entering the Self-Cultivation Realm, the Grand Tutor Zhang Shen summoned him back to Yunlu Academy, both to teach him personally and to supervise his preparation for next year’s spring imperial examination.
His gaze swept calmly over everyone as if waiting for their reactions.
Aunt immediately picked up a piece of lean meat for her son: “Cixiu indeed has promise.”
Only then did Xu Xinnian nod in satisfaction, letting out an “Mm.”
After finishing breakfast, Xu Qi An prepared to leave the mansion when he heard a clear and soft female voice behind him: “Big brother…”
Turning around, he saw his sister, graceful and delicate-featured.
Xu Lingyu said pitifully: “I don’t want to get married.”
Xu Qi An thought for a moment, then grinned: “I’ll have a word with Cixiu and Second Uncle later. Since when did household matters fall under the decision of a mere woman like your mother?”
“Xu Ning’yan!” Aunt had somehow appeared behind Xu Lingyu, hands on her hips and eyebrows raised in anger.
The beautiful matron’s chest heaved with anger, her face full of rage: “You little rascal, say that again!”
Xu Qi An couldn’t be bothered with her and scurried away.
…
Riding at full speed to the Night Watchmen’s office, Xu Qi An went straight to the Righteous Qi Tower.
It’s this bronze gong again… After the guard announced him, he let Xu Qi An enter the tower with a curious gaze.
Ordinary bronze gongs had no right to report matters to Minister Wei, as they had silver gongs and gold gongs above them.
And Minister Wei wouldn’t summon a bronze gong.
But this newly arrived bronze gong was treated completely differently. Whenever he came, Minister Wei would receive him.
Climbing to the seventh floor, Xu Qi An entered the tea room and saw the tall eunuch standing in the observation hall.
“What business do you have this time?” The grand eunuch didn’t turn around, his back to Xu Qi An.
He was going to confess everything that happened last night. With the Night Watchmen as backup and Minister Wei’s support to rely on, there was no need to bear the burden alone.
This would both reduce risk and earn Minister Wei’s trust.