The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 75 - 65: Buying and Selling_3

Chapter 75: Chapter 65: Buying and Selling_3

Where lies the difference?

Xu Qing felt that the "Holy Virtue" doctrine of edification was too metaphysical.

But he still wanted to ponder over it.

Because with Holy Energy, one could eliminate disasters and resolve difficulties.

After ruminating for a while, he added three words "Returning to the Good" after "Unity of Knowledge and Action."

Indeed, within the bronze mirror, changes occurred; new wisps of Holy Energy emerged on the two characters for Holy Virtue, merging with the previous wisp into a thread.

"Almost the same as with Shocking the Saint’s Image that time," Xu Qing did not rush to use this thread of Holy Energy.

It seems that ten wisps of Holy Energy make a thread.

The greatest use of Holy Energy at present is to eliminate disasters and counteract doom.

If faced with a life and death crisis, the use of Holy Energy becomes significant.

"The ancient saints, always embodying Holy Virtue, thus could tread danger as if it were flat ground..." A layer of enlightenment flashed through Xu Qing’s mind.

But Holy Virtue alone is not enough; one must also possess martial strength.

The greatest in the world is reason, but reason requires martial strength to be explained.

Holy Virtue in the heart, slaughtering sword in hand; this is the so-called path of the king and tyrant!

Obtaining this thread of Holy Energy is also a cleansing for Xu Qing’s Divine Soul. He distinctly felt as though impurities were squeezed out from his Divine Soul, making it purer.

Because his path became clearer, his thoughts stronger.

"In the ancient texts, what they call a cultivator’s adherence to their path, firmness in their original heart, probably means this," Xu Qing thought to himself, and as a result, his Divine Soul emitted a sound like the call of a crane.

The sound of the Crane Call was less techniques and more purity than before, and its effect also improved slightly.

"This is to cease at the ultimate goodness, to constantly renew oneself in the cultivation of the Divine Soul."

"How wonderful."

...

...

"Damn it!"

Zhao Bao watched the desk before King Lin get smashed into dust with a single palm and involuntarily swallowed his saliva, his legs going weak. So the legends were true, there really were people capable of cultivating Dark Strength.

It seems King Lin must have cultivated the Bright Strength of the Bull Demon Strong Fist to the extreme, thus in the midst of rigidity producing softness and achieving Dark Strength. No wonder he could become a paramount figure of the underworld in Jiangning Prefecture.

Furthermore, not all Bright Strength is the same.

The Bull Demon Strong Fist is considered first-class among Bright Strength techniques, not to mention King Lin was born with divine power. The extent of his strength is indeed terrifying and chilling.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," Zhao Bao said with a quivering voice.

King Lin: "You all want to kill me, and you expect me to calm down?"

"Please inform this lowly one, Your Majesty, what exactly happened?"

"See for yourself." King Lin tossed a piece of paper onto Zhao Bao’s face; it carried his Strength Force, effectively a slap. Zhao Bao’s face, already struck by King Lin several times, now looked like a pig’s head. Enduring the pain, he looked at the content of the paper and cried out that it was a misunderstanding: "Your Majesty, I truly did not know that County Magistrate Wu was promoted to Inspector of South Zhili."

"Now you know?"

"Yes." Zhao Bao bitterly realized why he was able to take six hundred taels of gold to seek King Lin up the mountain. It turns out Eunuch Zhao did not come to him and King Lin out of past acquaintance, but to use him as a scapegoat.

Otherwise, how could such a lucrative post fall to a newcomer like him?

He even felt secretly pleased, thinking he had gained Eunuch Zhao’s favor and was on the path to soaring heights.

These people have such dark hearts.

Seeing Zhao Bao’s expression, King Lin knew the man was also deceived. Fortunately, Mr. Xu had warned him, or else he would have almost been blinded by greed.

Put plainly, Eunuch Zhao and the others were using County Magistrate Wu’s eagerness to take up his new position to create a time difference with King Lin. If King Lin did not specifically investigate, it would be normal for such news to be delayed by a few days before reaching the mountain.

By then, the deed would be done, the person killed, and the blame pinned.

Of course, the best outcome would be to successfully frame the Lotus Sect.

In this way, even if King Lin took the money, he wouldn’t be in a position to complain.

"Spare my life, Your Majesty; spare my life," Zhao Bao pleaded as he saw King Lin’s increasingly fierce gaze; he was so frightened that he nearly wet himself.

This was also because he couldn’t control his urine due to his injuries below.

King Lin looked somewhat disgusted, but thinking that Zhao Bao still had some usefulness, he spoke indifferently: "Now, I want the money, but I don’t want to do the job. What do you think should be done?"

Zhao Bao: "This..."

"Just tell me if you can do it or not."

Being cornered like this, how could Zhao Bao say he couldn’t? He answered, "If we can deceive Eunuch Zhao and them, maybe we can get that money."

"How do you propose to deceive them?"

"Because this lowly one is acquainted with County Magistrate Wu, Eunuch Zhao and them have also instructed that once the job is done, they will have me confirm it. Then they’ll send someone to collect the rest of the payment."

"Where is the rest of the money to be collected?"

"Outside Yingtian Prefecture, on a small island in Black Water Lake. There are members of the Salt Gang stationed there; it’s also a handoff point where Eunuch Zhao and them use official ships to trade illicit salt."

"How do you know about the illicit salt?"

"That Black Water Lake connects to the Jiangning river routes; the previous river route Inspector was the brother-in-law of my cousin Zhao Xiong’s wife, and I’ve followed them there once."

"Using official ships to sell illicit salt; my eyes are truly opened. Such a great business and they don’t invite me to join," King Lin’s eyes seemingly glinted green with greed.

Originally, he and those vermin from Yingtian had a sort of cooperative relationship, but now, since they weren’t kind, they couldn’t blame him for being unrighteous.

"Alright, let me think it over. If this matter can be smoothly handled, I’ll send you to the Capital to become a eunuch," King Lin patted Zhao Bao on the shoulder and said with a smile.

He isn’t foolish; Eunuch Zhao and his group were in a rush to kill County Magistrate Wu, clearly because they were afraid the Court would discover their deeds.

A bunch of fools afraid of death, the Court wouldn’t let County Magistrate Wu become the Inspector of South Zhili, nor would they spread rumors of an investigation against them?

Since they’ve already been targeted, killing County Magistrate Wu is pointless.

Looks like these vermin are about to capsize, and King Lin certainly won’t be silly enough to sink along with them.

"Since Mr. Xu has reminded me, it seems we have an opportunity to partner up for this business. Let’s first probe him a bit," King Lin calculated for a moment and then ordered someone to call for Niu Peng.

"What is it, big brother?"

"Do you talk nonsense, can you still ride a horse?"

"Yes."

"Come down the mountain with me."

"Where to?"

"To meet your ’benevolent’ Mr. Xu."

"Ah."