The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 64 - 60 Inspector

Chapter 64: Chapter 60 Inspector

Tung oil belongs to the strategic materials of the national dynasty; it’s actually not easy for civilians to purchase, though there are channels for those who seek it. However, Xu Qing has connections; he can simply go to the County Government or Government Office to select what he needs.

Of course, there’s no need to use the connections at the Government Office for such a small matter. Xu Qing’s foundation lies in the County Government. After freshening up, he prepares to go there.

Now that Historian Li has left to take up his post at the Inspection Office, the new County Magistrate hasn’t arrived yet. Listening to Xu Qing’s advice, Historian Li recommended the veteran clerk who recognized the celadon last time for the Archivist’s position.

Upon being promoted to Archivist, he came over that very night, wishing to become sworn brothers with Xu Qing and vowed to share fortunes and hardships together. Xu Qing politely declined but still courteously entertained the newly appointed Archivist Qin and promised to share some of the profits from the fisheries and salt with him.

The other party repeatedly refused but finally, unable to decline any further, shamefacedly accepted this favor.

Xu Qing understands that current management is more significant than current officials. It’s one’s own people who share mutual interests. The fish market and chicken market are under the jurisdiction of Archivist Qin; the necessary respect must be given.

Moreover, the family of Archivist Qin runs a pawnshop, a natural channel for fencing goods. If he doesn’t bring them into the partnership now, later on...

After all, it’s better for everyone to get rich together than to fight and kill.

It’s really pointless to just keep an eye on one’s own small patch of land, fretting over whether one has lost out or not.

It’s not about how much money you have; the ability to have a share of that money is what really counts.

How much can one’s food, clothing, and living expenses amount to?

Xu Qing’s core power now lies in his ability to divide the cake. Whether it’s the Recovery Society, Inspector Li, Archivist Qin, the Guo Zhuang brothers, Yihe Hall, or Dong Dahai’s side’s chicken market, Xu Qing has the leading power.

Without him, this big family would have to disband.

And based on this, he would sooner or later be able to penetrate every aspect of Qingshui County, even Jiangning Prefecture. Thirty million people in the entirety of South Zhili, a single Zhili city, which has a population of a million. If he could stealthily take control of a city’s power, that would be a truly terrifying force.

By then, being called the Jiangning Hidden Emperor wouldn’t be out of the question.

Furthermore, to become the Hidden Emperor of Jiangning Prefecture, one would not only need to have connections in the White Path, but also strong support in the underworld.

Xu Qing thought of King Lin.

After cultivating the Bull Demon Strong Fist, he was very clear that King Lin’s power was probably among the foremost in the entire underworld of Jiangning Prefecture. It’s no wonder that the Officials didn’t want to eliminate him.

Such a person, once deprived of his territory and cast into the worldly society, the thought of any decapitation action would leave Magistrate He sleepless at night.

"I’m involved in both the White Path and underworld affairs; to those unclear about it, they might even think I intend to emulate the Taiyuan Young Master and level the world," Xu Qing found his image increasingly resembling such a character.

He quickly suppresses this thought.

He then proceeds to the County Government.

Since he is here, he definitely must visit his old benefactor, County Magistrate Wu.

Braving the bitter cold wind, Xu Qing arrives at the entrance. As a Government Official goes in to announce his arrival, snowflakes begin to fall serendipitously.

Auspicious snow promises a bumper year.

However, for ordinary impoverished citizens, winter can be indeed hard to endure.

Xu Qing thinks that he’s currently well-off and decides once he leaves the government, to have Xu Fu buy some firewood and donate it to the ordinary poor families in the city on behalf of the Recovery Society, to show a bit of Heart Intent.

"When poor, one should cultivate oneself; when successful, one should assist the world." He never really cared for such sayings. But now, he suddenly feels differently.

Because he never was "successful" before.

This thought makes Xu Qing suddenly feel a touch of sadness. In his previous life, he really fared terribly and was actually on the receiving end of assistance.

Eh.

Xu Qing notices a faint light emanating from the bronze mirror. Upon closer examination, he discovers that an additional sliver of Holy Virtue has appeared in the Holy Virtue section of the bronze mirror.

"That works too?" Xu Qing is secretly amazed.

But the sliver of Holy Virtue he received this time was actually a lot less compared to the Shocking the Saint’s Image he encountered previously. The key is that he somehow obtained a sliver of Holy Virtue just by harboring a thought, which really feels somewhat miraculous.

While he is still lost in amazement, the voice of Master Qian breaks through Xu Qing’s reverie.

"Xu Sanyuan, your timing is impeccable. The Old Master has just received the Imperial Decree and is preparing for his new appointment."

Xu Qing snaps back to reality, pays his respects to Master Qian, and secretly ponders the timing of his arrival. Before the year’s end, County Magistrate Wu had left office, and Xu Qing wonders what position he has been promoted to.

Previously, he heard it would be the Salt Inspection Imperial Censor, certainly a lucrative post, but with the merits from capturing Zhao Xiong and the heretical bandits, County Magistrate Wu might even get a further promotion.

He follows Master Qian into the inner hall to pay respects to his old mentor, and finds the opportunity along the way to ask, "Do you know where the old mentor will be posted this time and what promotion he received?"

Mr. Qian has received plenty of benefits from them; Xu Qing doesn’t hesitate to inquire.

Master Qian replies with a mysterious smile: "Still Seventh Rank."

Xu Qing is quite surprised. The officials at the Qingshui County Government were Seventh Rank to begin with. With the efforts and evaluations County Magistrate Wu received before, along with his merits, it’s unlikely that there would be no change in his position.

Xu Qing was befuddled, but seeing Master Qian’s smiling face, he knew that this matter was not simple, and it was probably good news.

Crossing the hall and proceeding through the courtyard, he arrived inside the County Government Office.

County Magistrate Wu was sitting in the main seat, sipping tea, his complexion rosy. A concubine was massaging his shoulders, humming a tune.

Upon seeing Xu Qing, the smile on County Magistrate Wu’s face seemed about to overflow. He gestured for the concubine to retire to the inner room, then without waiting for Xu Qing to finish paying his respects, Magistrate Wu helped him rise, laughing heartily: "I was wondering why today is full of good news, it turns out my little phoenix is coming."

"My dear mentor flatters me too much. May I ask what good news has my dear mentor received today?" Xu Qing asked straightforwardly.

Their mentor-student relationship was set in stone; unless Xu Qing recognized County Magistrate Wu as a "sworn father," the bond would be hard to dissolve. Hence, in private, it was fine to ask directly.

County Magistrate Wu smiled: "The news came unexpectedly, and with a special imperial edict, only giving me three days to pack my belongings. But by tomorrow, probably the whole county will know. It’s no harm telling you now. By the way, even though you haven’t yet come of age, you are already a Scholar and an acclaimed ’Xu Sanyuan.’ Before I leave, I shall confer upon you a courtesy name in advance, so that you may find it convenient to make friends when you’re out and about."

Xu Qing thought to himself: "Just don’t give me the name ’Gongming.’"

He understood that this seventh-rank official likely held a significant post with heavy responsibilities. Could it be a coveted position like the Salt Inspection Imperial Censor?

"Your student is all ears."

County Magistrate Wu gave Master Qian a meaningful glance.

Master Qian chuckled from the side: "An imperial decree has been issued, assigning the old master to take up the post of Imperial Censor Inspector of South Zhili, with a date to be chosen for taking office."

Xu Qing was surprised—it was indeed the position of Imperial Censor Inspector.

He had not expected County Magistrate Wu to be appointed to this post. Although it was only a seventh-rank position, in terms of actual power, it was second only to the Governor, Yingtian Governor, Governor, and other major officials.

This was truly a stroke of luck as if ascending to the heavens.

It was a leap from the hundred and eighth seat in South Zhili straight to the fourth most influential position.

What incredible fortune.

Who really is the one with the hacked destiny!

Moreover, it’s a precedent in the country that Imperial Censor Inspectors are usually dispatched from the Imperial Censors in the capital. Situations like County Magistrate Wu’s were not unheard of but certainly rare.

How could Xu Qing have anticipated this?

Then it dawned on him that he had suddenly gained a powerful backer.

Magistrate He, Academician Zhou—none of them seemed quite as appealing now.

County Magistrate Wu was his dear and closest mentor!

Xu Qing was momentarily stunned, then overwhelmed with joy as he congratulated County Magistrate Wu.

County Magistrate Wu didn’t mind Xu Qing’s momentary lapse in composure.

He had just received the imperial edict and, after the celestial envoy departed, thought he was dreaming, laughing foolishly to himself. He even asked Master Qian to give him a slap to test reality, but Master Qian dared not. It was the concubine who, fearing her master suffered hysteria, mustered the courage to replicate a scene of bedroom pleasure and gave him a slap; only then did County Magistrate Wu realize the great mandate bestowed upon him by the heavens!

County Magistrate Wu then said: "Tonight Mr. He has arranged a banquet at Water Cloud to celebrate my promotion. You’ll come with me—prepare well, and at the banquet, display your literary talent."

He added another line: "Be spirited and don’t disgrace our mentor-student relationship."

"Understood." Xu Qing composed himself, still delighted, as he ought to give his dear mentor face.

After exchanging pleasantries, County Magistrate Wu got to the point.

Xu Qing realized that his mentor was in a hurry to give him a courtesy name because he wanted to introduce him to the officials at the evening banquet.

After all, the position of Imperial Censor Inspector could only be held for one year, and the experience of advancing three grades afterward would not compare to the influence wielded as an Imperial Censor Inspector.

He wanted to make the most of his current authority by firmly binding Xu Qing to his side.

Moreover, County Magistrate Wu felt that Xu Qing was adept at strategizing. With such a pie falling from the sky, there might be some pitfalls, and with Xu Qing’s counsel, he’d feel more at ease.

It didn’t matter that Xu Qing was not yet fifteen; throughout history, those who were adept at devising strategies had not been limited by their age.

It was a matter of talent.

After some consideration, County Magistrate Wu brought out a prepared speech and said leisurely: "You are named Qing, also known as the fledgling phoenix. Qing represents the color of the sky. The phoenix calls across the Nine Heavens. The Heavenly Dao is utterly fair and bright. From now on, your courtesy name shall be ’Gongming.’"

He stroked his beard and smiled, "Xu Qing, known as the fledgling phoenix, courtesy name Gongming. Excellent, indeed!"

Xu Qing: "..."

He thought to himself that the name "Shiyuan" would have been better. But Pang Shiyuan, also known as the fledgling phoenix, was a short-lived figure—how could that also be an omen for him?

Xu Qing internally lamented the inauspiciousness.

Yet County Magistrate Wu now was endowed with "Heavenly Dao Power"—this indeed could not be contested, so he could only comply.

"Many thanks to my dear mentor for bestowing the ’courtesy name.’"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.