The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 186 - 107: Taking over Qingyun Temple_2

Chapter 186: Chapter 107: Taking over Qingyun Temple_2

"Old and... father-in-law, caught the news of ranking first in the second highest imperial examination tier. In his letter, he still expressed regret, saying with his looks, how come he didn’t get the title of top scholar."

Towards the end of the letter, there were also regards from my female Master Feng Wu.

Xu Qing thought for a moment, brought a jar of plum wine brewed in winter, and wrote a reply letter, "There is nothing much to offer from Jiangnan, thus I send a jar of spring as a modest gift."

Consider it a congratulatory gift for Master Feng’s high achievement in the examination.

Hopefully, Mr. Feng knows to reciprocate with a jar of Daughter’s Red wine.

Getting married is definitely on the agenda, as he has already established his foundation, not to mention how many years he will live; the main point is, without marriage, he cannot unite the hearts of his people.

In this era, if one does not marry and have heirs, his subordinates can easily become disloyal and disenfranchised.

Moreover, having children early means that in case of a drastic change in the world, by then the children will have come of age and naturally be the best helpers in his undertakings. Even if they end up mixed in officialdom, having a son to assist is also very good.

Just look at Yan Weizhong, his son is already capable enough to run errands.

If old Yan becomes an Elder, his son would be a little Elder!

In fact, in the Great Yu Dynasty, it is normal for father and son to serve as officials at the same court. Elder Fang’s son held the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Industry while he was in office, specifically in charge of basic construction projects, raking in quite a fortune.

Now Elder Fang’s Fang Garden is also a top-tier garden in South Zhili.

After retirement, high-ranking officials in South Zhili like to construct gardens, which is the trend of the times.

Besides, constructing gardens naturally incurs great expenses, and many commoners also get to earn wages, which can be seen as taking from the people and using for the people.

In the eyes of the commoners, cultivating a garden for a retired official is much better than constructing an imperial mausoleum for the old Emperor.

Because working for the old Emperor is called corvée labor, without pay, and you have to bring your own provisions.

Your sovereign, after all, is your Emperor and father; should sons expect money for working for their father?

...

...

On the eighth of April, Xu Qing picked a good day, according to this year’s almanac.

This day is suitable for worship, breaking ground, and is also associated with killing and conflict.

So Xu Qing gathered people and summoned Monk Yan Kong with his disciples, as well as a group of Martial Monks from Golden Ray Monastery, heading to Qingyun Temple.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Xu Qing and Elder Yan Kong broke bread together, enjoying the shiny, golden Yellow Millet Rice.

Speaking nothing of its effects, the aroma alone befuddled the old Monk, who couldn’t help but sigh, "I have bought Yellow Millet Rice on the black market before, but the quality was far inferior to this."

Realizing he might have said too much, Yan Kong coughed and said, "It’s all for the sake of Cultivation in Martial Arts, I had no choice."

Xu Qing’s face twitched, feeling that Golden Ray Monastery’s poverty could partly be blamed on this old Monk’s spending.

After having their fill, Xu Qing said to the old Monk, "Although we have already gathered intelligence, the specific defense measures of Qingyun Temple still need to be scouted by us."

Since King Lin departed from Jiangning Prefecture, the combination of old and young had become almost unbeatable. Now, at the beginning of the great undertaking, Xu Qing had to do the scouting himself. He did not trust anyone else to do it.

"Alright." Yan Kong did not refuse; capturing Qingyun Temple would also benefit him.

If it were any other time, even though he had already become an Internal Martial Artist and achieved Divine Soul Manifestation, a reckless merger might still bring catastrophe upon Golden Ray Monastery.

However, with Xu Qing backing him up, he had much less to worry about.

In fact, to accomplish great deeds, it’s not only about having strength; a leader must also be able to take the blame.

Yan Kong had the strength but did not want to take the blame.

In this respect, Xiong Chan was much stronger than him.

"The ancients said well, ’He who bears the nation’s disgraces, is truly the lord of its altars and hearths; he who takes on the nation’s misfortunes, is the King of the World.’ Xu Gongming, this man, putting everything else aside, has an undeniable capacity to take responsibility." When incense money was maliciously withdrawn earlier at Golden Ray Monastery, Yan Kong thought Xu Qing might back down or even give up on the monastery. He did not expect Xu Qing to be so tough, disregarding County Magistrate Zheng’s backing from Duke Wei and directly confronting the issue.

Not only did he win, but he also managed to clean up the aftermath.

This is capacity, this is competence.

With the matter of Great Zen Temple, Xu Qing also stepped forward to settle it.

Could Yan Kong not board Xu Qing’s ship?

Anyone would wish for their superior to be able to handle matters. Hence, the saying from time immemorial, "Good talents come easy, but a wise ruler is hard to find."

Hence the need to acknowledge the grace of understanding.

Especially in their line of religious work, if born in an era without a wise ruler, that would be more miserable than going to Hell after death.

Because while alive, they would contribute nothing significant to the Buddhist cause!

That certainly means no meritorious fruits or positions in the afterlife.

What a waste that lifetime would be!

Xu Qing immediately instructed the rest to stand by, while he and Yan Kong stealthily approached the mountain.

By this time night had fallen, but as the stars were twinkling brightly this evening, ordinary Martial Artists had no trouble seeing, let alone Xu Qing and Yan Kong.

Qingyun Temple was situated on a mountainside with strategically advantageous terrain, easy to defend and hard to attack.

The two sensed the locations of hidden sentries through Divine Soul perception, scrutinized carefully with their own eyes and ears, and after confirming there were no oversights, Xu Qing wielded the Peach Wood Sword, one by one eliminating the hidden sentries.

Using the Flying Sword to kill enemies, for those martial artists not powerful enough, is as effortless as weeding.

In this process, Xu Qing’s murderous intent grew stronger, and with it, the manifestations of Rashamon King and Yaksha King within his Sea of Consciousness strengthened.

Especially Rashamon King, as it was condensed from Xu Qing’s Divine Soul and killing intent, and after Xu Qing disposed of the last hidden sentry, there seemed to be a tendency for it to break out of his body.

Xu Qing disciplined it with the Ziwei Star, and only then did Rashamon King settle down.

"After all, it’s a Demon God; if its power grows, it becomes restless. But if it’s not powerful, what use is it to me?" Xu Qing mused and then rode the Flying Sword down the mountain to signal his people, calling them to move up.

Before he left, he had agreed on a secret signal with Su Lianqing; seeing the Flying Sword circle in the sky three times meant the action could commence.

Su Lianqing had been watching the skies, and upon seeing the Flying Sword appear and circle three times, he understood that the master and his party had cleared the hidden sentries and immediately motioned for the troops to commence their operation.