The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 298 - 140: Killing to Strike at the Heart_3

Chapter 298: Chapter 140: Killing to Strike at the Heart_3

The Chaotian Temple Master is the current State Preceptor. For Breeze Temple, a Daoist temple, to present gifts to Chaotian Temple, there’s fundamentally nothing inappropriate.

Yan Fu couldn’t figure it out and said, "Old Master, what should we do next?"

Duke Wei said solemnly, "No matter what, the people below indeed need to be disciplined. If it weren’t for this incident, we would have continued to neglect it."

Just as the Court’s Central Authority gradually loses control over localities, a Southeastern powerhouse like Duke Wei Mansion has similar troubles.

Everyone is human, and human struggles are often more alike than different.

Everyone has their own selfish interests.

Moreover, Duke Wei even lacks the grand moral pretext that the Central Authority possesses.

To put it bluntly, if Duke Wei can lead everyone to make money and get promoted, others naturally take his words as decrees. But if he deviates from this direction,

Their loyalty to him is probably even less than that of magistrates like Xu Qing to the Court.

In the letter from Xu Qing, drawing parallels from the past to satirize the present, he is undoubtedly hinting at this point.

Although Duke Wei is angry, he also has to confront this issue.

He now even envies Xu Qing’s self-made status, able to strengthen organizational structures decisively with his own prestige.

The Great Yu Dynasty has weathered the storms for over two hundred years, with ingrained problems that are difficult to eliminate.

The Duke Wei Mansion, is no different in this regard.

The difference lies in the fact that Duke Wei Mansion can still temporarily exploit the foundations of Great Yu and drain its blood.

But the inherent decay within is no less than that of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Because they themselves are part of the decay of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Realizing all this, he couldn’t help but sigh, "He who knows others is wise, he who knows himself is enlightened. Xu Qing’s lectures at the Recovery Society clearly pointed out the shortcomings of us scholars and nobles, sadly I denied it then..."

Yan Fu nodded in deep agreement.

Because those like him, the stewards, are also digging the roots of Duke Wei Mansion. Just as the nobles are digging the roots of the Great Yu Dynasty.

The most detestable thing about Xu Gongming is this: he openly speaks of many taboo affairs and even strategizes for them. Moreover, he incites scholars and disgruntled offspring of noble families to discuss these maladies at literary gatherings, looking for solutions...

Hence, it’s been heard that recently some offspring of the noble families have turned into a laughingstock by attempting to rebel against the established order.

Duke Wei certainly heard some rumors and initially took them for a joke, but now reflecting deeper, they are the joke itself, and in the end, he sighed, "We must learn from history, this is like the story of Bian Que seeing Duke Huan of Cai. We ultimately cannot turn a blind eye; bring those more radical views from the Recovery Society to me to examine again..."

After a moment of silence, Yan Fu asked, "The matter with the Giant Whale Gang, shall I instruct someone to deal with it now?"

"Mmm, this small matter, you can handle it."

Yan Fu paused at these words, breaking into a cold sweat shortly after, knowing that the Old Master was testing him.

Damn Xu Gongming.

...

...

After Magistrate Xu returned, he detailed his trip to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing wasn’t too surprised, and basically deduced one thing: Chaotian Temple has someone or something of great importance to Duke Wei.

It all began with Feng Wu.

Su Lianqing was meticulous and discovered a highly secretive ledger at Breeze Temple, and reported it to Xu Qing.

After browsing the ledger, Xu Qing used his memory to note down the contents.

Actually, the ledger only recorded the items, not their destinations.

The key was that Xu Qing found an unusual item recorded in the ledger through Feng Wu. He inquired and learned that it was a trinket given to her by the Chaotian Temple Master.

Xu Qing couldn’t help but connect the dots.

The Chaotian Temple Master is the State Preceptor of the dynasty, deeply trusted by the Emperor.

Duke Wei’s secret dealings with the Chaotian Temple Master, if exposed, would undoubtedly have a severe impact on both parties.

Regardless of the true nature of the matter, this issue is certainly of great importance to Duke Wei.

He also tested Duke Wei with this matter; if the other party showed no reaction, Xu Qing naturally had a contingency plan to persuade Duke Wei to hand over Gao Gongyuan’s family, which would be more troublesome.

Duke Wei’s reaction, without a doubt, confirmed his speculation.

"This is both a good and a bad thing. Duke Wei definitely wants to figure out how much I really know," Xu Qing remarked with a hint of a headache.

There’s no help for it, possessing secrets of the powerful is a double-edged sword in itself.

Not on this shore, not on that shore, not in midstream. Such are the things of this worldly ocean of suffering. Ultimately, it comes down to the contradictions and conflicts of human nature, and the logic of actions will also be limited by the restrictions of one’s own identity.

Xu Qing does not consider himself smart; he merely applies a bit of the dialectical method to problems he encounters, along with incorporating some principles from "The Book of Changes."

...

...

Some people, no matter how many are in the crowd, can always be recognized at a glance.

King Lin is such a person, and so is Ren Tianyou, the Gang Leader of the Giant Whale Gang.

His visage, even from far off, resembles a great roc, with piercing eyes and a towering stature, leaving an unforgettable impression.

He is currently sitting in the main hall of Tiger Roar Villa, chatting happily with Gu Wuji, the Sect Leader of True Gang Sect, and also hosting two Elders of the Wenxiang Sect.

He exudes the air of the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch of South Zhili, commanding respect in the worldly society.

Gu Wuji had to admit Ren Tianyou indeed had the air about him, but whether he is stronger than him, only a fight would tell.

Respect among martial arts experts is earned through combat.

Of course, now is not the time to test strengths with Ren Tianyou.

Amid the feast, accompanied by the glamorous Old Demon Yun Yuzhen, who cultivated the Heavenly Fragrance Secret Scripture, laughter and conversation abounded.