The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 74 - 65: Buying and Selling_2

Chapter 74: Chapter 65: Buying and Selling_2

Could he realize that the Young Master would value him more?

What if he couldn’t realize it?

For a moment, Guo Li broke out in a cold sweat. He finally understood what it meant to be unfathomably deep.

Seeing that Guo Li was a bit frightened, Xu Qing laughed lightly, "Brother Guo, don’t be nervous. I just think the officialdom is too complicated. If one’s comprehension isn’t enough, some matters aren’t suitable for you guys to get involved in. It’s not about distrust, but some tasks require the right people to do them, otherwise, it’s harming others."

"Let’s eat some roasted meat."

"Only."

The roasted meat, tender and fragrant, wasn’t actually that appealing in Guo Li’s mouth. Its complex taste was something people couldn’t bear to let go of. It seemed that this complexity was even more attractive than mere fragrance.

At this moment, he felt he was closer to the Young Master than his elder brother.

...

...

After Guo Li left, Yan Shan came.

Xu Qing felt truly busy.

No wonder the Emperor had to set up a Cabinet and Ritual Supervision. Without anyone to share the burden, daily tasks could bury a person, leaving no spare time to entertain the harem.

"Brother Gongming, as per your request, the firewood has been sent out in the name of Recovery Society, and I also organized the members to personally deliver the firewood to those commoners’ homes." Yan Shan came to discuss the distribution of firewood.

Luckily it’s winter. If it were summer, the smell in the slums, tsk tsk...

"Thank you for your efforts, Brother Yan," Xu Qing said somewhat helplessly, noting how quickly the name "Gongming" had spread.

Yan Shan cautiously asked, "I heard that Old Master was promoted to Imperial Censor of South Zhili?"

Xu Qing replied with a nonchalant smile, "So that’s why Brother Yan is so eager to visit me. Are you also hoping that Old Master would give you a name?"

Yan Shan was still two months away from his coming-of-age crown ceremony, and currently had no style name.

He was not anxious before, but now he is.

If the Imperial Censor were to give him a name...

Yan Shan’s face turned red, "Brother Gongming, I am also a student of Old Master."

Now is not the time to be prideful!

Xu Qing chuckled and said, "Actually, I know someone even more suitable than Old Master to give Brother Yan a name."

"Who?"

"It’s me."

Yan Shan, "Brother Gongming, don’t joke with me. You’re too young to be giving people names."

Xu Qing joked, "Brother Yan, do you think I have a less promising future than Master Wu?"

"Well..." Yan Shan recognized Xu Qing’s talent, but does that really compare?

Plus, it wouldn’t be right to outright say that Mr. Wu’s prospects are not as bright as Xu Qing’s!

Xu Qing dropped his smile and said seriously, "Brother Yan, Master Wu’s promotion is a rapid ascent, hard to say whether it’s a fortune or a curse. If you rush over now, I worry you might regret it."

Yan Shan was stunned; he hadn’t thought about it, but after Xu Qing’s reminder, doubts arose in his mind. Indeed, the situation was peculiar.

He felt conflicted.

Xu Qing, "I was actively given a name by Master Wu, and couldn’t refuse. Brother Yan, you don’t need to rush this; after all, if you pass as a Scholar, Scholar, would Master Wu not acknowledge his student? If you don’t pass, even if you receive a name, what good is it?"

Yan Shan thought to himself, that indeed seemed reasonable.

For those in power, having connections is important, but the prerequisite is being useful.

That Xu villager, being an old family friend of Mr. Wu, ended up being a ’guest’ detained by the County Master until now, reportedly having lost quite a bit of weight.

Yan Shan, "Then going to bid farewell to Old Master, I can do that, right?"

Xu Qing nodded, "We will go together when the time comes."

Yan Shan, "What if Old Master voluntarily gives me a name?"

Xu Qing rolled his eyes, "Don’t worry, that kind of thing only happens in dreams."

Yan Shan, "..."

He felt a bit hurt.

It took a while for Yan Shan to recover, "Brother Gongming, what do you think would be a good name for me? If there’s no suitable person, I’d like you to help me pick one."

He carefully thought about it, Xu Qing’s words made sense.

As long as Xu Gongming doesn’t die young, he’s bound to pass as a Scholar.

Since he couldn’t find anyone reliable to help name him, maybe keeping it as a backup plan...

Xu Qing grinned, "Brother Yan, I was just joking."

Yan Shan, "Brother Gongming, I truly believe in your talent."

"Ah, then let me think of one. If you like it later, just say it was your own idea."

"Hmm."

Xu Qing pretended to ponder for a while, then clapped his hands, "Got it, the name ’Weizhong.’ The way of the world, nothing surpasses moderation. The name Weizhong suits Brother Yan well."

"Weizhong? It sounds indeed quite fitting." Yan Shan, hearing Xu Qing’s explanation, also felt the name suited his temperament.

"Then it’s tentatively set."

"Alright, I’ll leave first. Brother Gongming, don’t forget to call me when it’s time to send off Old Master."

"Sure, got it. You’re so naggy."

"Ah."

...

...

Teasing Yan Shan is quite amusing. Xu Qing felt much better in spirit. People, indeed, fear loneliness.

Here, he barely had anyone to talk to, and Yan Shan barely counted.

Even though this guy was quite calculating, he was good at maintaining relationships.

It’s common for humans; even the Emperor likes to keep a few crafty officials around.

It’s because they offer emotional value.

Speaking of which, Yan Shan quite has the potential to be a crafty official.

The guy knows how to handle things with measure.

Pondering these worldly insights, Xu Qing suddenly had a realization. He returned to his study and wrote down four large characters— "Unity of Knowledge and Action."

Unity of Knowledge and Action, in his understanding, means to do one’s best within feasible limits, summarizing and applying what one has learned and comprehended. That is ’knowledge.’ Without comparing with others, without anxiety, without fear of gains and losses, just doing what one ought to do, and receiving positive feedback, that is ’action.’

This was his current understanding of "Heart Study", which he could also teach to others.

"Why isn’t there any Holy Virtue?" Xu Qing felt strange; previously, thinking about the impoverished people and intending to distribute firewood under the name of Recovery Society evoked a hint of Holy Energy, yet his articulation of "Unity of Knowledge and Action" did not?