Mixed in the heavens, merits and virtues become immortals

Chapter 458 Team Building at Yunlu Academy

Determined and resolute, ambitious, tenacious, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and exceptionally intelligent...

Huaiqing reached out and gently stroked her reflection in the painting. In a daze, she recalled how Gu Qing had painstakingly drawn her likeness with his brush. Huaiqing had never imagined that Gu Qing understood her so well.

"Such a special person should be by your side."

Princess Huaiqing thought to herself, it wasn't just Gu Qing's painting and calligraphy, but also his terrifying potential, and the heavy weight that Yunlu Academy had placed on Gu Qing. Gaining Gu Qing's support was equivalent to gaining the full support of the entire Yunlu Academy.

“Xu Lingyue…”

Princess Huaiqing never imagined that one day she would have to compete with a commoner girl.

The desk next to him was already filled with information about the Xu family. Looking at the recent tax silver case that Xu Qi'an had solved, and how Vice Minister Zhou was targeting Xu Qi'an, Huaiqing also sensed something was amiss. However, since Xu Qi'an was talented, Huaiqing casually sketched out a letter of recommendation and introduced him to the night watchmen.

As for Xu Lingyue...

Princess Huaiqing thought of Gu Qing's innocent and pure heart. This kind of person is stubborn and once he has decided on Xu Lingyue, that's who Xu Lingyue is. If you want Gu Qing to give up, you must first make Xu Lingyue give up.

However, before that, Huaiqing wanted to visit the supervisor.

The cultivation systems in this world include martial arts, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, witchcraft, sorcerers, Gu masters, and demons. Among them, the sorcerer lineage is particularly outrageous. It can control destiny and wield the power of the Heavenly Dao with a human body. The most outrageous one is the current second-generation supervisor, who is actually the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao.

When Huaiqing arrived at the Imperial Observatory, Chu Caiwei, the sixth disciple of the Director of the Observatory, was already waiting at the gate. She led Huaiqing to the Star Gazing Tower, where the Director of the Observatory, dressed in white robes, with white hair and a white beard, sat facing the direction of the Star Gazing Tower, gazing towards the Yunlu Academy.

"Jianzheng."

Huaiqing called out from behind.

Every time Huaiqing interacted with the Supervisor, he felt that the Supervisor's demeanor was vast and unfathomable.

"You want to ask about Gu Qing?"

Without turning his head, the supervisor asked.

Huaiqing nodded.

The supervisor turned around, looking extremely relaxed, and said, "He's quite good. If you have some free time, take him for a walk inside the Imperial Observatory."

Does the supervisor want to see Gu Qing up close?
Princess Huaiqing wanted to ask more questions, but the supervisor had already disappeared.

Nineteen years ago, the Taoist sect entered the capital. The current Emperor Yuanjing began to cultivate Taoism and has neglected state affairs for nineteen years. In the court, various factions are entangled in infighting, bandits frequently raid Yunzhou, disasters occur frequently in various places, the north is restless, and the south's control is waning. Even Princess Huaiqing felt that the Great Feng Dynasty was declining, but as the supervisor, he ignored the changes in the world and seemed to be waiting for something.

With this question still unresolved, Huaiqing looked toward the location of Yunlu Academy.

First, win over Xu Lingyue...

Yunlu Academy.

"Xu Qi'an still went to be the night watchman..."

With a thought, Gu Qing turned his gaze to the book in front of him. The world of the Great Feng Night Watchman was about several super-grade beings wanting to be unsealed, the imminent extinction of the human world, and the Heavenly Dao wanting to cultivate a martial god to save the common people and also find a gatekeeper for itself. Among the many systems that extended from these super-grade beings, Gu Qing took a fancy to the Confucianism and Taoism that could encompass all laws.

As he perused the books before him, he etched the concepts within into his mind. With Gu Qing's inherently superior nature, cultivating Confucianism and Taoism was like standing on high ground, allowing the accumulation of his righteous energy to surge forward.

"You've already read through most of the books at Yunlu Academy. What insights have you gained?"

Zhao Shou, the dean of Yunlu Academy, came to see Gu Qing.

...Does it express the author's homesickness?

Gu Qing was too lazy to do reading comprehension, feeling that the innocent and pure persona was easier and less strenuous. So he scratched his head and said, "I don't understand either, I just feel the energy in my body getting heavier and heavier." As he spoke, Gu Qing released his own righteous energy, and Zhao Shouyi immediately felt the weight of history in it.

Both possess a strong sense of righteousness, but Gu Qing's is more profound than Zhao Shou's. In terms of rank, Zhao Shou feels that Gu Qing's righteousness is difficult to describe with grades.

Or perhaps it was Gu Qing's level of understanding that Zhao Shou couldn't comprehend.

However, despite having read so many books, Gu Qing remained unaffected by the complexities of human nature depicted within, retaining her childlike innocence, which relieved Zhao Shou.

"You've been at Yunlu Academy for so long, why haven't you made any friends?"

Zhao Shou asked.

"make friends?"

Gu Qing seemed puzzled for a moment, then said, "Ci Jiu is my friend."

Saying goodbye to the old year is the beginning of the new year.

Zhao Shou knew that Gu Qing's heart was too pure and unattached to worldly things, but he still wanted the students of Yunlu Academy to develop more relationships with Gu Qing, so he said, "At Yunlu Academy, we also have holidays in addition to studying. You have studied here long enough, so we will give you a holiday to rest." As he spoke, Zhao Shou took out his money pouch.

Gu Qing is a special recruit of Yunlu Academy; they pay a fee for Gu Qing to study here.

“There’s money in here. You and your classmates can go down the mountain and have some fun.”

Zhao Shou stuffed the money bag into his hand.

Gu Qing took the money pouch, opened it, and seeing that it was all yellow and orange inside, quickly stuffed it into his pocket.

...Gu Qing is still easily influenced by others; this action likely originated from Xu Lingyue.

Zhao Shou watched silently, feeling that he should spend more time with Xu Lingyue and let her unearth the "goodness" within Gu Qing, which would be a good thing for all living beings.

Yunlu Academy is on holiday today, and the students are overjoyed. With the deliberate hints from the higher-ups, the students all flocked to Gu Qing, bowing and chatting, each one very polite, wanting to befriend Gu Qing.

"Since so many people want to be your friends, why don't you treat them all to a meal?"

Li Mubai, a great Confucian scholar from Yunlu Academy, guided the discussion from the side.

"Let's have a good meal."

Gu Qing glanced at Li Mubai, then at the money pouch, and whispered, "Would the stewed meat noodles be alright?"

Li Mubai was speechless. The so-called "rotten meat noodles" were made by gathering all the scraps and bits of meat, cooking them into a pot, and then pouring it over noodles. Although many high-ranking officials and nobles in Dafeng would eat it, it was cheap and was mainly eaten by the common people. A bowl of noodles cost only two copper coins.

"No way..."

"Master Gu Qing, you're so wealthy, and you're treating us to this?"

"That rotten meat noodle soup was so salty, it was really boring."

"This is what those unloading and carrying workers eat because their bodies are lacking salt." "Bullshit, that's just meat that's not good, they use salt to mask the flavor."

As Li Mubai listened to the lively discussion among the disciples of Yunlu Academy, his expression grew increasingly solemn. He had originally wanted to suggest that Gu Qing go somewhere else, but after hearing the disciples' conversation, Li Mubai felt that they were too far removed from the common people. Instead, he readily agreed and said, "Let's go eat some stewed meat noodles."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qing smiled, then bowed apologetically to the students around him, saying, "When we get there, I'll treat each of you to a bowl of liquor."

"That will cost a lot of money, you've really gone to a lot of trouble."

The disciples of Yunlu Academy were listless and dispirited.

Xu Xinnian was also in the crowd. Seeing Gu Qing treating everyone like this, he came over and whispered, "You're using the academy's money to treat your classmates. You can be generous. If it's not enough, I can make up the difference for you."

Gu Qing shook her head and said softly, "I want to buy something for Lingyue."

These words left Xu Xinnian speechless. He turned to look at his classmates and began to criticize them, citing Gu Qing as an example and spouting nonsense.

Gu Qing smiled innocently. He understood Yunlu Academy's desire for team building. Since they wanted to have a team building activity, Gu Qing would lead them in a proper one.

This place selling "rotten meat noodles" is located at the city gate of Jingzhao Prefecture. Cargo ships and merchants passing through this place would all pass by. After arriving in the capital, weary from their journey, they would all have a bowl of "rotten meat noodles" to stave off hunger. When Gu Qing and his group of disciples from Yunlu Academy arrived here, their simple and clean attire made them stand out from the working people and merchants at the city gate, drawing their attention.

"Shopkeeper, one bowl of braised meat noodles for each person."

Gu Qing arrived at the busiest stall and called out.

"Let me tell you, this Manager Liu is quite remarkable. He doesn't even need to look at the pot to see how well the meat is braised; he just tells you the perfect consistency. The same goes for the noodles..."

After Li Mubai sat down, he began to educate his many disciples, saying that this Manager Liu was the Immortal of Rotten Meat Face, and that all of this was inseparable from "undivided will, thus concentrating the spirit".

The disciples of Yunlu Academy all nodded and swayed, pretending to listen attentively.

Manager Liu was delighted to hear this and cooked several bowls of noodles. When the noodles were cooked, he picked them up with his chopsticks and tossed them backward. The noodles followed the chopsticks, arced through the air, and landed precisely in the bowl.

"it is good!"

This move drew cheers from the disciples of Yunlu Academy, who acknowledged Manager Liu's title of "Rotten Meat Noodle Immortal."

"Manager Liu's move was really impressive."

At this moment, a man dressed as a wealthy man arrived. Upon seeing him, the people around him quickly offered him a seat, saying, "Sir, it's been a long time since you've come."

The people around him were all flattering him, and only when they heard this did the people of Yunlu Academy realize that this wealthy man was actually the Earl of Pingyuan in the current dynasty. However, when he went out, he did not put on airs and appeared very approachable.

Gu Qing frowned, looked at Li Mubai, and whispered, "That person is a bad person, a very, very bad person."

Gu Qing felt nauseous as he spoke, as if the Earl of Pingyuan had some kind of odor that made him very uncomfortable.

Everything about Gu Qing is a major event for Yunlu Academy. When Li Mubai heard that Gu Qing disliked Pingyuan Bo, he looked at Pingyuan Bo. Judging from his appearance and demeanor, Pingyuan Bo seemed to be a good person.

"Sir, please give us something to eat."

Several beggars boldly stepped forward and begged from the Earl of Pingyuan.

The customers at the stall automatically stepped forward to help Pingyuanbo drive away the beggars.

“They’re starving. How much is this bowl of rice worth? Hey you, here’s a silver ingot. Give each of them a bowl of noodles.”

The Earl of Pingyuan generously donated money, and those around him praised his noble character.

After the Earl of Pingyuan generously gave money, another group of beggars arrived from afar. These beggars were all young children; some had missing hands, some had missing feet, and some had no tongues. They came to this place pitifully and began begging from the people around them.

Everyone has a compassionate heart. Seeing the young child in such a state, even the most hard-hearted person couldn't help but take out money. And these beggars, while begging, came to Gu Qing's side.

"Pitiful."

Gu Qing reached out and touched the child's head. In that instant, a miracle occurred. The child, who had lost a hand, had his hand grow back as Gu Qing touched him.

This change happened so fast, like a burst of white light enveloping the severed hand and then restoring it to its original state. The surrounding people didn't see it clearly at first, but the child couldn't help but hug his hand and cry.

The beggars in front of him stepped forward and surrounded Gu Qing, crying and pleading. Gu Qing didn't understand what was going on, but he reached out and touched each of the children. The children with broken hands grew hands again, the children with broken feet grew feet again, the children with limp legs were able to walk properly, and the children who were mute were able to speak.

Such a miracle appeared before everyone's eyes, and the surrounding people knelt down with a thud, kowtowing to Gu Qing repeatedly, calling him a god.

Watching all this, Li Mubai felt it resembled the Confucian ability of "words becoming law," but it wasn't quite like it. When Gu Qing used it, there was no backlash whatsoever; she applied it with effortless ease.

Pingyuan Earl silently observed Gu Qing from the crowd. Watching Gu Qing display his abilities one after another with composure, he strolled up to Gu Qing, smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "Young brother, I am Pingyuan Earl of the current dynasty. With such abilities, would you like to serve the court?"

"do not want!"

Gu Qing resolutely refused, saying, "You're a bad person!"

The bad man's words were so blunt that Pingyuanbo felt a lump in his throat. With a smile on his face, he said, "Young man, you've got it wrong. Everyone knows I'm a kind person..." As Pingyuanbo spoke, he looked around. He had worked hard to win the hearts of the people, but now, looking at the people around him, their eyes seemed very unfamiliar.

"Lord Pingyuan, what wrong have you done?"

"Don't look at me like that. Although I ate two bowls of your noodles, I don't understand the intricacies of your officialdom."

"Who knows if the money you used to treat us to dinner was embezzled?"

There was no one who offered support, but plenty of sarcastic remarks.

These people witnessed Gu Qing's miraculous feat and now completely believed his words.

After all, if God says you are sinful, then you must have something to hide.

"Then let's take him down."

Gu Qing said.

Li Mubai glanced at Gu Qing, then at the Earl of Pingyuan. At this moment, Li Mubai naturally had to support Gu Qing. He immediately spoke up, using the power of Confucianism, and asked, "Earl of Pingyuan, just tell me the truth."

"It's just human trafficking..."

Pingyuan Bo stopped mid-sentence and quickly covered his mouth.

Finished!

(End of this chapter)