I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 214 Three things to do when a new official takes office

"boom--"

A thunderclap sounded from the ground, and smoke filled the air. Centered on the paper effigy of the deceased, the scalps of graves within a half-acre radius were all torn off. Some of the ghost soldiers who were nearby didn't even have time to react before they were reduced to ashes in the smoke.

The Ghost King's Tomb has never been this lively!
Deep within the Ghost King's Tomb, the imposing figure lying within an eight-inch-thick, four-layered coffin suddenly sat up in shock.

"What thunderous sound came from my royal city?"

The earth-shaking roar just now almost made the Ghost King Duo'e think that he had returned to the time when he was constantly facing the lightning disaster.

Could it be that a ghost has broken through five hundred years of cultivation, attracting a lightning calamity?
No way! Although there are no explicit rules in the royal city, whoever is facing a calamity will run far away. Who would be so foolish as to hide in the ghost city?

For the first time in over two years, the Demon King Duo'e emerged from seclusion due to shock.

Below, scouts reported that a strange thunderbolt had struck thirty miles south of the Ghost King's Tomb. The thunder was extremely powerful and explosive, causing tombs within a radius of several miles to collapse to varying degrees. Many ghost soldiers were left homeless and could only wander the ground.
Where is General Ghost Altar?

All the ghost generals and soldiers remained silent, not daring to utter a word.

On the throne at the head of the table, the Ghost King, wearing a crown and a reddish-yellow dragon robe, asked again:

"Where is General Ghost Altar?!"

Four ghost soldiers carried a coffin board and carefully approached the front of the hall.

When the Demon King Duo'e glanced at him, he saw that the demon general who had been in the very center of the iron cannon had been turned into a pile of smoked bones.

Moreover, the bones still reeked of an unfamiliar gunpowder smell.

Just when all the ghosts thought the ghost general was dead, the skulls protruding from the pile of bones on the coffin lid suddenly opened their jaws and spoke in a human voice:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was tricked into the villains' trap and failed to protect the royal tombs."

"Who did this?"

"I do not know. The invaders of the royal tomb were twelve paper figures. I do not know who was behind them. I only saw one of the paper figures ignite a black pill. That black pill was extremely yang and powerful, and it was naturally restrained by us. Its sound was like thunder. I was defeated by this pill in just one exchange!"

After a moment of silence, the Ghost King Duo'e said, "From now on, you must strengthen your vigilance and patrol day and night. If you find anyone suspicious, you must stop them and not let them get close to the royal city."

After saying this, the Ghost King ordered his attendant to bring an incense burner and deliver it to the dismembered Ghost General.

The servant turned the jar upside down, and as the shimmering white powder fell onto the pile of bones, the dismembered ghost general miraculously returned to its original position and came back to 'live'!

"Your Majesty's grace is boundless! Your subject will surely protect the safety of the royal city and will never allow any villains to invade it again!"

The coroner's shop.

After throwing firecrackers at his neighbor's house, Xu Qing turned around and ran home.

The power of the iron cannon surprised him, but it also made him realize its limitations.

Gunpowder is considered to be of high yang energy and strong in nature, and it has a natural restraining effect on ghosts and spirits. Sulfur, saltpeter, and other substances are also common things. The Materia Medica lists them as medicines, saying that they can cure sores, kill insects, and ward off evil spirits and detoxify. The word "ward off evil spirits" alone already indicates the properties of gunpowder.

Iron cannons are a concentrated form of gunpowder, and the principle of yang overcoming yin makes them no different from floods and ferocious beasts to evil things.

However, its flaws are also obvious. Such things are ultimately just mortal objects. For cultivators who have not experienced the lightning calamity, they are extremely powerful killing weapons, but for those with profound cultivation who are not afraid of yang fire, the iron fire cannon does not pose a fatal threat.

Moreover, such things are ultimately inanimate objects, unable to be used at will, and not concealed enough. If a fight breaks out, these indiscriminate weapons are unlikely to be of any use.

However, Xu Qing did not give up learning. Li Erleng, who was working behind closed doors, was exposed by a powerful figure from Liuxian County.

As a zombie who has evolved in all aspects of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, and aesthetics, Xu Qing would naturally not make such a low-level mistake.

In the morgue, Xu Qing, keeping up with the times and drawing on the strengths of various schools, spent most of the day finally tinkering with a uniquely shaped iron cannon.

This iron cannon is also made of iron pellets, but it has added the fireworks effects of Liuxian County. The iron pellets are wrapped with colorful woven ropes and cloth, making them look like the embroidered balls played with by lion dancers.

When Xu Qing came out of the house throwing the embroidered ball, she instantly attracted Xuan Yu's attention.

Cats have always been unable to resist round or spherical objects.

Seeing Xuan Yu approaching, wanting to trade the walnuts in his hand for his flower ball to play with, Xu Qing refused without even thinking.

This is not something you can play with!

Cats are naturally curious. If they blow up the shop, that's a small matter, but losing a friendship is a big deal.

"This isn't a flower ball; it's a talisman I refined, specifically designed to ward off evil spirits and heretics."

The Evil-Repelling Pill heals the body externally and aligns with the Daoist alchemy internally. This substance remains still until it moves, then it is astonishing, perfectly embodying the Daoist principle of "stillness within movement, life hidden within killing."

After being disassembled, this pill can be used externally to treat malignant sores and boils, as well as stop bleeding and kill parasites, which is in line with the principle of "yang overcoming yin". It is truly an essential medicine for traveling the world and for those at home.

The next morning, Xu Qing returned from the Shuimen Bridge villa with a brand new embroidered ball in his hand. It was much more exquisite than the 'evil-repelling pill' wrapped in cloth and iron that he had in his hand.

The kitten was overjoyed. Seeing this, the young lady from the Wang family, who had come to deliver incense and candles, remarked with some emotion, "Sir is so kind to Xuanyu, even buying it such a beautiful embroidered ball. Only daughters of wealthy families would prepare something like this when they throw an embroidered ball to choose their ideal husband."

These hydrangeas were mostly embroidered with gold and silver threads, adorned with colorful tassels, and topped with five-colored ribbons. In addition to cotton, they were also filled with precious spices.

Xuan Yu's embroidered ball was made by a skilled embroiderer, and its quality and appearance were even superior to those of the imperial tailors in the Imperial Clothing Bureau who made clothes for the concubines.

Hearing Wang's younger sister's words, Xu Qing's gaze fell on Xuan Yu, who was staring at her, and she suddenly said, "This little cat doesn't know the meaning of sorrow, and doesn't know how many good days it has left. Anyway, from now on, it can eat whatever it wants and play whatever it wants, and I will try my best to satisfy it!"

"."

Xuan Yu stared at Xu Qing in shock. Xu Qing's words always made it feel inexplicably uneasy. Doctors in clinics liked to say that to people suffering from terminal illnesses.

Wang's younger sister blinked and said, "Xuanyu is so well-behaved. If you ever stop raising it, sir, I'll take it and raise it myself."

The two were both eloquent, making Xuan Yu suspicious and doubtful, and he felt that the embroidered ball in front of him no longer smelled good!
After Wang's younger sister left, Xuan Yu took quick, small steps and hurried up to Xu Qing, asking, "Immortal Xu, what did you mean by what you just said?"

Xu Qing didn't even turn his head and said, "How old are you this year? How high is your cultivation level? I can take care of you for a while, but can I take care of you forever?"

Xuan Yu was caught off guard by the three questions in quick succession, and the cat's expression became visibly tense.

"You don't want me anymore?" Xuan Yu mustered up her courage and asked back.

"."

What kind of cat talk is this?

Xu Qing turned his head and said irritably, "You already have five hundred years of cultivation. When lightning strikes you one day, do you expect me to collect your ashes?"

Xuan Yu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "So that's what it was. You scared me."

Look at this silly cat. It's not afraid of lightning striking right in front of it, but it's afraid that Xu Qing will abandon it one day. I wonder what's going on in its little brain all day long.

This amused and angered Xu Qing: "Do you have any plans at all?"

Xuan Yu returned, fiddling with the embroidered ball, seemingly unconcerned: "In the few days since Immortal Xu was gone, there has been a lot more incense offering in the Dharma Realm. That incense is enough for me to ward off calamities."

At this point, Xuan Yu stopped fiddling with the embroidered ball, tiptoed to Xu Qing's feet, hesitated for a moment, and finally gently nuzzled against him. Tsk, this clingy little devil.

Xu Qing seized the opportunity and was just about to bend down to carry out her great feline feline project when the sound of ducks quacking came from outside the door.

Xuan Yu nimbly ran away, leaving behind only a wisp of herbal fragrance carried by the embroidered ball.

"It turns out that Manager Xu really does keep a black cat. We originally thought that Manager Xu was just making up an excuse to release the fish."

Zhang Jun stepped off the carriage with a smile. When he arrived at the funeral parlor, he held a handkerchief to his nose, as if he disliked the smell of the funeral parlor.

But when he discovered that there was no strange smell in the shop, but rather a peculiar fragrance, he put down the handkerchief.

"Did Eunuch Zhang come here today specifically to look at the cats?"

Eunuchs are all petty and narrow-minded. If you please them one moment, they might find fault with you the next. Zhang Jun was no exception.

He chuckled, showing no embarrassment even after Xu Qing exposed him: "Looking at the cat is secondary; we're here mainly to take care of something important."

"Oh? Then please come in, sir. I was just worried about the slow business. Now that you've introduced me to some business, I couldn't be happier!"

"Hey, hey!" Zhang Jun hurriedly said, "We're not trying to patronize your business, we have other things to ask you."

As soon as Zhang Jun finished speaking, Xu Qing's action of pulling the other person's arm to walk inside immediately turned into turning outwards.

"Brother Xu! What are you doing? Besides your funeral business, can't our family ask you for anything else?"

“Sir, I’m just a lowly scholar, the most honest and unambitious man on this street. If you have something to ask, you shouldn’t come to me. I think the constable Zhao in the yamen is quite good. If you put in the effort, you might be able to bring him to the palace to be a companion.”

“Zhao Zhonghe?” Zhang Jun’s voice became several octaves higher upon hearing this: “We don’t want him! That rough man’s mouth is full of foul language, and he doesn’t know how to flatter or understand the emperor’s intentions. Back when we were in the yamen, we saw him being scolded by the officials quite often.”

“Now that our family has become a sixth-rank official, what about Zhao Zhonghe? Isn’t he still a poor, lowly constable?”

Xu Qing didn't respond. After losing some things, these eunuchs became particularly concerned about other things, whether it was fame, fortune, power, or wealth. They also liked to compare themselves with others in these matters, since they had nothing else to boast about besides these things.

You can't act like a teenager, pulling down your pants to see who can pee the farthest, nor can you compete to see whose wife is more virtuous or whose family has more children.
Zhang Jun, ever the familiar type, sat down in the armchair. As soon as he sat down, he noticed something different: "This chair is quite nice. Which craftsman made it? I've never sat in such a comfortable chair before."

While uttering words of praise, Zhang Jun's hands never stopped moving. He raised his hand, which was adorned with a white jade thumb ring, and stroked it back and forth with great affection, as if he were treating the armrest as a young woman's soft hand.

Unfortunately, he was a eunuch, so he could only like things like chairs and stools.

Xu Qing saw through Zhang Jun's purpose and understood the implication in his words: he couldn't wait for Zhang Jun to ask him to give him the grand master's chair!
"Eunuch Zhang has a good eye! This chair is indeed extraordinary. It was a dowry gift from a young lady of a merchant family in Qianxi when she got married. It was for her son-in-law to sit on, and now that son-in-law is none other than the magistrate of Linjiang County."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jun frowned: "How come the official's chair from the yamen is with you?"

Eunuchs who had spent a long time fighting in the inner palace were used to chewing up whatever they heard before spitting it out. Only when they felt there were no doubts or problems would they swallow it with peace of mind.

He clearly didn't believe Xu Qing's words.

"Eunuch Zhang, you may not know this, but the county magistrate's brother-in-law, the eldest son of a merchant in Qianxi, is a member of the iron certificate club in my shop. He likes to come here all the time when he has nothing to do. He's the one who brought this chair here."

"Young Master Shang? You're not talking about the Young Master Shang who came to the Mirror Bureau to cause trouble a couple of months ago, had his leg broken by Supervisor Liao, and was thrown into the yamen jail, are you?"

Break a leg? Even Xu Qing was surprised to hear this.

Would anyone dare to break the legs of this second-generation rich kid from a thousand-year-old family?

Standing to the side, Zhang Jun grinned and said, "This guy is no good. If the department hadn't been well-informed and found out his identity in advance, he might have gotten the Chief Supervisor into big trouble."

"Knowing his identity, why was his leg broken?" Xu Qing was even more surprised.

"The Mirror Bureau has just been established and is on its first mission in Tianjin. It is the perfect time for them to establish their authority. At this critical juncture, someone has come to cause trouble at the bureau's gate. Can the Commander-in-Chief really turn a blind eye?"

"Breaking a leg was a last resort. Fortunately, the Grand Eunuch was resourceful and used the item bestowed by the Emperor as a pretext to resolve the feud."

At this point, Zhang Jun smiled sinisterly and said, "That young master Shang came to cause trouble without revealing his true identity, intending to embarrass the Grand Eunuch. The Grand Eunuch returned the favor in kind, without revealing to his face that the jade belt he gave him was a gift from the Emperor."

"."

What happened next was simple: Shang Shaoyang publicly broke the jade belt bestowed upon him by the emperor, and Liao Jinzhong, in order to uphold the dignity of the royal family, had no choice but to break one of Shang's legs as a warning to others.

This matter seems serious. On one hand, it's an offense against the sacred authority, a grave sin of disrespect. On the other hand, it's breaking the leg of the direct descendant of a merchant family. How is this any different from slapping the merchant's face?
But the irony lies in the jade belt that Liao Jinzhong produced. Even after breaking Shang Shaoyang's leg, the old eunuch still managed to give Shang Shaoyang the jade belt bestowed by the emperor.

When Emperor Jingxing learned of this, he criticized Liao Jinzhong for acting too rashly and arbitrarily, and ordered him to be fined one year's salary.

When the merchants of Qianxi learned of this, they reprimanded Shang Shaoyang for his unruly behavior, which disgraced the merchants, and declared that they would leave it to the Emperor to decide.

What else could be done? In the end, both sides were punished equally. Shang Shaoyang was locked up in the yamen and treated well. The yamen even expanded a small elegant room for him, and even his injured leg was personally examined by the imperial physician.

"If Eunuch Zhang really likes this chair, I'll speak to Young Master Shang about it another day."

"It's not necessary!"

Zhang Jun suddenly felt the armchair beneath him getting too hot. He stood up, only to find that Xu Qing's shop had no other place to sit except for the coffin.

Helpless, Eunuch Zhang could only stand there.

"Xu Qing, I have something important to ask you today."

"Please ask, sir."

"Let me ask you this: before the Tianjin Gang ran into trouble, were there any goods you were involved in among those that were seized?"

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow and said without any hesitation, "That is indeed the case, but inside are all coffins and burial money. As you can see, Father-in-law, I am in the funeral business and I inevitably have to deal with these things. Some customers like to use burial items such as Wuzhu coins, horseshoe-shaped gold ingots, and hoof-shaped gold ingots."

"Besides these, I've also bought plenty of incense, candles, and coffins. As long as the customers need them and are willing to spend the money, these are no problem."

"Is that really the case?" Zhang Jun asked, squinting.

"That's right. I still have some money for burial, and a few coffins. If you like them, Father-in-law, I can sell them to you at a special price of 20% off, like a friend would."

"."

In the end, Zhang Jun did not make any purchases at Xu Qing's shop, but a remark he made before leaving caught Xu Qing's attention.

"Since we're from the same hometown, to tell you the truth, this time Governor Liao is here to investigate the Tianjin Gang case. Back then, Chief Steward Feng's godson, Long Engui, died in Linjiang County, while Governor Liao's godson, Lou Xiaowu, died mysteriously in Wanshou County."

"The supervisor is furious. If it weren't for our acquaintance, and someone else had come, regardless of whether you were a suspect or not, you would have faced considerable difficulties."

After seeing Zhang Jun off, Xu Qing pondered for a moment, then decisively got up and headed towards Flower and Bird Street.

The ones who openly clashed most fiercely with the Tianjin gang were not him, but Master Feng of Flower and Bird Street, the young master of Tai'an Escort Agency, and several managers of brokerage firms.

If Liao Jinzhong wants to use this incident to cause trouble, then no one can guarantee what will happen next.

After all, that old eunuch dared to break Shang Shaoyang's leg, so what else wouldn't he dare to do?

(End of this chapter)