Hidden moth

Chapter 99: The Ladder to Heaven is Receding, Only the Heart Can Measure

A paperweight is something that the ancients used to flatten and hold down paper when writing. Nowadays, it is basically only used by calligraphy enthusiasts. It is one of the traditional elegant stationery items.

The four treasures of the Eastern study are pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and the corresponding four elegant objects are pen holder, ink box, paperweight and water jug. In addition to their practical value, they also have various artistic appreciation values.

He Kao's pair of paperweights were made of pure gold, each weighing ten pounds. Even someone with less strength would break their wrist. Unless they were writing outdoors on a windy day, most people wouldn't need them.

Although the latest appraisal by the money shows that this is an ancient artifact, it is about 600 years old. The so-called dating, of course, does not refer to the age of the gold element, which can be traced back to the origin of the universe, but refers to the time when the artifact was made.

Six hundred years ago, or in the past six hundred years, there must have been important people who often used it to display papers and documents, and to view and write very important things.

This pair of paperweights is equivalent to some kind of ceremonial item. After so many years, they have acquired a touch of spirituality.

Its spirituality is "zhen", which roughly means being able to suppress.

In fact, Qian had felt it possessed spirituality the first time he saw it on September 30th. Now, after breaking through to the fourth level of cultivation and carefully examining it, he realized it was indeed spiritual and was able to make a more accurate identification.

But no institution can issue such an appraisal certificate.

Having said so much, it actually makes no difference to ordinary people, but it certainly happens to be very useful for money.

After reaching the fourth level of cultivation, one can learn how to use magical instruments, but the prerequisite is to have one's own magical instrument. If one has a deep foundation in the art and the master is also capable, he will directly bestow the instrument upon the disciple.

But Qian Guran's master has long passed away, and there is no elder above the disciples of his branch. Even Gu Yunteng passed away not long ago, so Qian Guran himself is the one who controls the pulse.

He shouldn't expect to be given something as precious as a magic weapon.

In fact, many disciples of the Shu sect have never been able to use suitable magical instruments after breaking through to the fourth level, but some also have multiple magical instruments.

Each magical instrument has its own magical use, and no one would think that they have too many and give them away to others for no reason.

Of course, one has to find opportunities by himself. The most reliable way is to go to Ruweimen and ask a master to help refine a magic weapon, even if it is just the embryonic form of the magic weapon.

The first step in refining a weapon is to find the right materials. In theory, any material in the universe can be used to refine a magical weapon. The most important thing is the spirituality contained in it, which is something that can only be found by chance.

There are many kinds of magical instruments, such as the pendant that He Kao has been wearing since childhood. Although it is precious, it is of auxiliary type and is not very useful for money. The most important ones are usually portable magical instruments.

As the name suggests, a portable magic weapon is a treasure that you carry with you. Its magical use best suits your cultivation foundation and the magic you are proficient in.

Going one step further is the so-called natal magic weapon, which is specially built based on the portable magic tool. It is refined with the mind on a daily basis and can grow with the sorcerer himself.

Each sect has a relatively mature inheritance. For example, the high-level sorcerers of the Wangqi Sect are most familiar with two types of magical instruments: the seal and the gavel. Some people in modern times also make magical instruments into the shape of official seals.

Although the pair of golden paperweights only had a faint spirituality, Qian felt that they were very compatible with him. It was simply fate. He turned back in time to help He Kao, and this was God's reward.

If it is properly refined and made into a magical instrument, its magical effect is not only to seal a town, but also to pacify it.

For example, if there are two people in the office who are on the verge of a quarrel, Qian takes out the magic paperweight and wipes it over, which actually smooths out the changes in the aura of the two people and may also invisibly make the atmosphere smoother.

Qian's words were indeed very mysterious, and He Kao couldn't quite understand them. In fact, even Old Qian himself was not very clear, because he had to go to the Wangqi Sect's ancestral hall to participate in a ceremony before he could learn the relevant secret techniques.

Lao Qian's idea was to find a master who could make the pair of paperweights into the embryonic form of magic weapons, and then he could refine them into the tools himself in the future.

He Kao understood one thing - Lao Qian's cultivation had advanced!

The first level of the art of observing qi, known as the Peeper.

The second level of Qigong, commonly known as broker.

He is at the third level of the art of qigong and calls himself a strategist.

The fourth level of the art of qi-gazing is jokingly called a yamen runner.

He is at the fifth level of the art of qi-gazing and is known as the one who can help the good.

The sixth level of the art of qi-gazing is honored as the master.

As a fourth-rank yamen runner, Qian was undoubtedly a high-ranking sorcerer of the Qi Gate. No wonder he seemed to be more calm and confident when speaking, and a little reserved, as if he didn't want to show off but was hoping for praise.

The considerate He Kao expressed envy and admiration in his tone and eyes, and made various exclamations at appropriate times, which made Mr. Qian feel better and better and talk more and more.

With the cooperation of such a sensible supporting actor, Lao Qian also mentioned some situations that he had not originally intended to introduce.

It was also Qian Kui's fault for hiding the secret. Originally, only Yao Shaolan knew about it, and now He Kao finally joined the group.

He Kao finally said, "You've helped me so much. I should have given you this pair of paperweights as a gift! Otherwise, there's really nothing else that's worthy of celebrating something like this."

Even if these words were purely polite, Old Qian was happy to hear them. He quickly waved his hand and said, "I haven't thanked you properly for the bottle of Peiyuan Pill last time. How can I take such a precious thing from you for free?

And I also know that you’re very short on money recently…”

It was true that He Kao was short of money. Not only had he bought a new car, but he had also acquired a new empty house, and needed to buy a lot of things. The top two floors of the small building in his hometown were still bare and had not been renovated.

He also didn't pay the agency fee from Yao Shaolan.

The 500,000 yuan rent given by Lin Qingshuang, plus He Kao's own savings of more than 70,000 yuan, was not enough when calculated carefully.

After discussion, the final result was that since Lao Qian wanted to buy it, He Kao would still sell it based on the weight converted into gold price.

If Lao Qian did not have special needs and could not sense that faint spirituality, in the eyes of ordinary people, it would be just two old gold bars, and their origin could not be verified.

More importantly, this was He Kao’s original plan.

This is what he said when he handed the paperweight to Yao Shaolan, which was equivalent to entrusting the right to dispose of the thing. In theory, there was no need to discuss the money with him, and there was no need to even tell him about it.

If you calculate it this way, Qian Gu certainly felt that he had gotten too much of a bargain. In the end, after the two of them had to haggle, the total price was rounded up to an even number, and Qian Gu gave He Kao five million.

In addition, no matter how much agency fees He Kao owed Yao Shaolan, Lao Qian also paid it for him.

There was only one small problem left: Lao Qian couldn't come up with the five million yuan in cash right away. So, feeling rather embarrassed, Qian negotiated with He Kao to pay him two million yuan first, and the remaining three million yuan would be settled within two years.

He Kao didn't think much of it and nodded in agreement immediately.

From He Kao's perspective, he didn't think he was at a disadvantage. Lao Qian had helped him with many things that no one else could do, such as dealing with two fifth-level warlocks today and explaining so many things to him.

As the saying goes, truth is worth more than money, which is what it means. What's more, Lao Qian saved his life.

While Old Qian was feeling deeply moved, He Kao asked again, "I'm curious about what you just said about refining weapons. You need to find spiritual materials. So is it possible that some things originally have no spirituality, but after being processed and refined by a master, they have special spirituality?"

Qian Guran: "The situation you described seems to be the spirit-enhancing technique of the Ruwei Sect, a technique that can only be mastered by a fifth-level 'Mind-Measurer'. This time, I want to find a Mind-Measurer to help me in refining this pair of paperweights."

He Kao: "A person of conscience, a person with a conscience? This title is very interesting."

Qian Guran smiled. "It's not the "liang" of kindness, but the "liang" of measurement. Didn't Wu Yanjun explain it to you clearly at the beginning? There's an idiom called 'a carpenter measures his heart.' You're a carpenter from seven generations of your family. Haven't you heard of this?"
We, the fifth-rank warlocks of the Wangqi Gate, are known as 'Merciful Good Men', and that is the true meaning of goodness."

He Kao was stunned. "I've actually heard of this idiom. It's from a story my grandfather told me when I was a child... I thought it was just a joke to coax children. Could it be true?"

The story of "The Carpenter Measuring His Heart" told by He Kao's grandfather

There was once an old carpenter with amazing skills who created a mechanical wooden man that could actually obey orders.

The old carpenter had an apprentice who thought he had learned all the skills, but he could not make the same mechanical wooden man. So one day, he secretly dismantled the wooden man while the old carpenter was sleeping and carefully measured each component.

After returning home, he processed all the parts and assembled them, but the mechanical wooden man did not have that kind of spirituality. When he was worried, the old carpenter came into the house.

When the apprentice saw that his master had discovered it, he quickly knelt down and admitted what he had done. He then asked, "I clearly built an identical mechanical wooden mannequin, why won't it obey?"

The old carpenter asked in return, “Has everything been measured?”

Apprentice: "I've measured everything, and it's accurate."

The old carpenter shook his head and said, "You are wrong. There is one skill you haven't learned yet, and that is measuring the heart."

In this story, "measure the heart" is a pun. The heart refers to the spirit, and simple imitation can only capture the form but not the spirit. At the same time, it also has another meaning, that is, it is a homophone of "conscience".

Qian Guran smiled and said, "The scenes described in the story are not entirely fabricated. The magic sect has had many magical methods since ancient times, which are beyond the expectations of ordinary people. But now it seems that there is no big deal. Isn't it just an intelligent robot?

The term "Mind-Measurer" is somewhat related to this idiom. The art of spiritual enlightenment is also called the Mind-Measurer Art. Being able to practice this art is the mark of becoming a fifth-level Mind-Measurer.

He Kao: "Besides the Ruwei Sect's spirit-enhancing technique, is there any other way to give something a unique spirituality?"

Qian Guran felt like he was about to be drained out, so he had to admit his weakness and said, "I've only just become a fourth-rank yamen runner, and I haven't inherited many secret techniques yet. How can I possibly know so much?"

What He Kao really wanted to ask was the mystery of the painting "Tan Xian Holding a Cane", but it was not easy to ask directly, so he brought up this topic.

In fact, he didn't know that in order to create a treasure like "Tan Xian Holding a Staff", the fifth-level spirit-enhancing technique was not enough, and the mysterious means were beyond Qian Guran's understanding at the moment.

Qian Guran thought about it again and finally said something useful: "You are curious about the pendant, right? Think carefully about who made it for your grandfather? Why not find Elder Jiang himself and ask him!"

He Kao: "You also insist that the pendant was given to my grandfather by Elder Jiang?"

Qian Guran: "Lin Qingshuang wouldn't be wrong. If I were Elder Jiang, I would definitely be sneezing every day recently."

He Kao, despite being Elder Jiang's secret disciple, was unwilling to discuss this further. He changed the subject and asked, "When do you plan to report to the clan law hall and then go to the Wangqimen Patriarch's Hall?"

Qian Guran: "I have to set aside at least a week for this trip. If I also ask someone to sacrifice and refine the embryo of the magic weapon, it will probably take ten days or half a month. I have to take a special annual leave.

I just spent a month in the hospital and finally came back to work. Mr. Fang and I are still not on good terms, so it’s not convenient to ask for a long vacation at this time... Let’s talk about it later. You have to keep it a secret for me!

He Kao: "Of course! When have you ever seen me talk nonsense?"

Seeing that Mr. Qian had nothing to do, He Kao was about to go downstairs to continue working, but unexpectedly, Mr. Qian called him again and said, "I called the office today and asked them to book a private room at Black Bull Restaurant.

I specifically stated that this is a private treat, just to celebrate your birthday.

Let's go together after get off work. I'll call Xiao Yao, Xiao Pang, and Ms. E, and a few colleagues I'm close to, so we can have a great time... I'll pay, and also to thank you for this pair of paperweights."

These few words are very interesting. As the vice president, Lao Qian wants to treat guests and ask the company to help him book a suitable hotel room. This is normal.

But he specifically told the company office that this was a personal treat, paid for by him personally, and was for He Kao's birthday. This was unusual, and it was still a form of the Heavenly Ladder Technique, called "Delivering the Heavenly Ladder."

The most important thing was not that he invited He Kao to dinner, but this phone call.

Since everyone is privately saying that He Kao is his man, he might as well make a public statement - He Kao is my man, I am protecting him, and anyone who makes things difficult for him is equivalent to making things difficult for me.

Even if Mr. Fang doesn't like He Kao, there is no need for other people in the company to offend Mr. Qian openly.

He Kao was surprised and asked, "You still remember my birthday?"

Qian Guran chuckled and said, "I've already read your personnel file."

Before we knew it, it was November 10th, He Kao's 26th birthday. In fact, he was 17 days older than Huang Si. Xiaopang's birthday was in half a month.

He Kao expressed his gratitude again and was about to leave when Qian Guran whispered in his ear, "I hadn't finished what I was saying just now. Do you know why Mr. Fang spread that rumor, saying he was Mr. E's old lover?"

He Kao said helplessly: "I don't know, but you must know."

Qian Guran: "There are two purposes. One is that he still has evil intentions towards Gao Xue'e. The other is, I guess, mainly to divert attention.

In fact, at that time, he had already been having an affair with Wang Yu, the financial director of the Qiyuan branch. Fang Qizi even rented a house specifically for this purpose... They thought no one knew, but how could they have escaped my eyes!

When He Kao went downstairs, he felt a little dizzy. The amount of information he received from the conversation with Mr. Qian was too huge, and it would take him a while to digest it.

Especially what Lao Qian mentioned at the end, about Fang Qizi and Wang Yu, He Kao was really shocked.

Wang Yu is a few years older than Fang Qizi. She is in her early forties this year, but she has maintained herself well and looks to be in her thirties. She can be considered to be in her mature and charming state.

Her child had just started college, and her husband worked out of town. Unexpectedly, she was having an affair with Fang Qizhi. Not to mention He Kao, it was likely no one else in the entire branch knew about it, otherwise someone would have been transferred long ago.

There is no explicit prohibition on office romances within the Tengxin Group, and it is not uncommon for couples to work in the same department.

However, the head of a single branch was secretly having an affair with the financial director. This is absolutely taboo no matter where you are. Once discovered, transfer would be the lightest punishment.

Fang Qizhi wanted to exclude anyone else, but he had to go after Qian Duran!
It seems that Lao Qian has already had a way to get rid of Mr. Fang, but he didn't have this idea before, and now he may just be waiting for the most appropriate time.

Why did Lao Qian tell him? Probably to reassure He Kao.

Sometimes sharing secrets is the best way to gain trust and build relationships. After all, Qian has helped He Kao so much and said so much, and he also got his pair of paperweights.

**
PS: I wish you all a happy Lantern Festival! Please give me a monthly ticket!

(End of this chapter)