The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 67 - 62 Dao Skill_2

Chapter 67: Chapter 62 Dao Skill_2

Tsk tsk.

Men!

Back at the banquet.

Su Lianqing’s singing abruptly stopped.

At this moment, the atmosphere at the table suddenly felt like a broken guitar string, plunging into a silent lull, making everyone realize Xu Qing had returned.

The effects of alcohol on Wu Xun’an seemed to dissipate somewhat as he recalled Xu Qing had yet to showcase his literary talent, and with a smile said, "Gongming, you haven’t composed any poetry tonight, why not improvise something about today’s celebration?"

Immediately, Magistrate He chuckled and added, "Since it’s a celebration, I’ll join the fun too. Let’s take this as the topic and everyone can participate."

His intention was kind.

In case Xu Qing’s poetry was mediocre, having the Jiangning Eight Steeds to compare, criticizing them later and complimenting Xu Qing would save him from losing face.

Naturally, no one opposed.

It was also an opportunity to show themselves.

Xu Qing knew that Su Lianqing probably did it on purpose to let everybody know he was coming back. Yet, he couldn’t escape this challenge tonight, thus he clasped his hands and said, "Lord, please provide a topic."

Magistrate He responded with a carefree smile, "We, the officials, all harbor ambitions of climbing the ranks. Today’s celebration is also a stretching of Mr. Wu’s ambitions. With this as the topic, a verse of poetry will suffice."

With Magistrate He providing the topic, the Jiangning Eight Steeds began to ponder deeply on how to write a brilliant piece.

However, Xu Qing did not observe the usual proprieties.

Instead of sitting down, he took a step forward and spontaneously chanted,

"A man grasping the Wu hook with one hand."

Seeing Xu Qing attempt to compose poetry while stepping forward, one of the Eight Steeds initially surprised, heard the first line and found it ordinary.

Xu Qing then took a second step,

"His spirit towers over a hundred-foot building."

Among the Eight Steeds, someone’s eyebrows raised.

Though the words were mundane, the bold spirit of the poem was emerging.

They didn’t wait to savor it.

Xu Qing took a third step,

"For ten thousand years, who writes history?"

Immediately following with a fourth step,

"Eight thousand miles away, seeking to become Marquis."

With these two lines, his ambitious and soaring spirit burst forth, hushing the audience.

"Determined like the swift horse on the same path, where is there leisure to chase the river’s seagulls? Laughing at the moon beside Jinning Bridge, how many have reached Ying Province from here?"

The following two couplets cascaded down like a waterfall, light and cheerful, displaying Xu Qing’s youthful confidence and his longing for achievements.

This too, was the mentality of all the young talents present.

Long after, Magistrate He commended, "This poem is vivid in expression and bursting with thoughts, truly of the finest quality."

Seeing his disciple show off, Wu Xun’an got up and said, "Let’s call it a night."

He pulled Xu Qing to leave the seat.

Magistrate He originally planned to arrange some beauty, but Wu Xun’an declined.

At such a critical moment, it’s better not to stay out overnight to avoid any mishaps.

Magistrate He then accompanied the other talents to see Wu Xun’an off the boat.

Before getting on the carriage, Xu Qing whispered a reminder to him, and Wu Xun’an, inspired, composed a couplet,

"For the benefit of the state I face life and death, shall I shy away from misfortune or fortune?"

...

...

Inside the boat, hidden in the dark and dressed in the Embroidered Guard uniform with a spring dagger at his waist, an Embroidered Guard recorded Wu Xun’an’s verse and wrote a comment,

"Potentially a capable minister."

The writings also included Xu Qing’s poems and evaluations,

"Potentially a ruler of the age, possibly will be..." But he hesitated again and again, and did not complete it.

"Gongming, was there someone nearby just now?" Wu Xun’an was not foolish. The verses Xu Qing pointed out were not aimless.

Especially before getting on the carriage, when the cold wind blew, it sobered him up considerably.

Wu Xun’an is typically clear-headed about important matters, especially those relating to his career.

Xu Qing didn’t hide anything, "My eyesight is still alright. Just now by the dim light, I happened to see two Embroidered Guards hiding on the boat."

The rest didn’t need to be said, Wu Xun’an could understand it himself.

Hearing about the Embroidered Guard, Wu Xun’an first tensed then relaxed.

He had known that securing the position of Imperial Censor was not a stroke of luck.

But having the Embroided Guard watching meant he wasn’t merely fodder.

Even if he were fodder, his actions were definitely visible to the people above.

Only, what exactly should he as the Censor do?

"Right, ’For the benefit of the state I face life and death, shall I shy away from misfortune or fortune.’ Just revolve his actions around this couplet, openly, no one can touch this official," Wu Xun’an suddenly saw through to clarity.

How well he had chosen his disciple! With a detached observation, he directly saw the core of the situation.

As the Imperial Censor, situated in his role, plotting his politics, responsible only to the emperor, how could there be any wrongdoing?

The more he pondered, the more he felt that Xu Qing’s verses were indeed the "absolute truths" of the officialdom.

The state is the Emperor, and the Emperor is the state.

When unsure, one must always think of the Emperor and act like a loyal and filial official.

Wu Xun’an was immensely pleased, patting Xu Qing on the shoulder, "With Gongming, it’s like fish back in water."

Xu Qing could only humbly offer his thanks while internally he grumbled: "Then why don’t you bestow upon me the name ’Kong Ming’?"

He thought, how inappropriate the nickname "Timely Rain" given by the outside world was. At the very least, a suitable nickname for him should be "Jinliang."

Indeed, in the history of this world, there was also a Zhuge Kongming, but unlike in Xu Qing’s previous life’s history, Kongming did not die at Wuzhang Plains but rather stagnated there.

"Last time I came across a tale of romance, the Prime Minister used the Praying and Exorcism Technique, setting up the Seven-star Lamp Formation to successfully extend his life. I wonder if I ever have the chance to find this thing?" Xu Qing pondered secretly.

But Xu Qing also knew, if it indeed existed, the likelihood of the Imperial Family or Aristocratic Families finding it would be much greater than his.

Besides, even Kong Ming only extended his life for a while.

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