Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 328 What is "Walking the Impermanent Path"?

It is well known that even in the highly developed modern world, there are always people who believe that anyone in politics, even a low-level official, is a group that engages in all sorts of extortion, bribery, and abuse of power. Some even believe from the bottom of their hearts that China is doomed and that everyone from top to bottom is corrupt and derelict in their duties.

Therefore, in the context of ancient times, it would be impossible for there to be any officials with a conscience; any official would necessarily be bad.

But in reality, if the world were truly that dark, there would be no Marx, who betrayed his family and his class to pursue fairness and justice for the poor, and thus no philosophical theories like those of Marx would have emerged.

In places unrecorded in history books, in the most insignificant corners, there will always be people persisting.

Just like the Qin bamboo slips from Shuihudi, which were unearthed thousands of years later.

Bai Shanzhengfu was such a clerk working in Hengyang County, Baozhou.

Xuli refers to minor officials who handle paperwork in the government. Although they have no official rank, they wield immense power and are often controlled by local tyrants and scions of powerful families, in order to effectively control local government affairs.

Therefore, clerks had a bad reputation and often worked with low-level officials such as constables and constables to extort money from merchants or oppress and exploit the people.

Even worse, some of them rely on the support of local powerful figures to coerce officials and manipulate the judiciary.

However, Shirakawa Masafumi never did that, mainly because his position as a clerk was an internal affairs clerk, specifically responsible for official judicial files, writing documents, and organizing files. As a member of the "Shirakawa clan," he had no real involvement in other aspects.

Every place has its own local tyrants. The Baishan clan, being the maternal relatives of the Empress Dowager and imperial relatives, wielded great power in Liaodong, but they had little influence in Baozhou.

Baishan Zhengfu came to Baozhou in order to escape the influence of the "Baishan Clan". He took a minor official position and worked there for more than ten years.

Baozhou is a magical place.

This place is too close to the capital; if you throw a brick here, you're bound to hit some royal relative.

Moreover, the Xiao Kingdom was founded by the Mohe people. Initially, tribal autonomy prevailed, and it gradually became more centralized. However, the imperial court had only recently taken control of the local areas, and many places were remote, making it impossible for imperial power to extend to the countryside. Therefore, the governor of Baozhou adopted a policy of "governing by doing nothing," which meant leaving the various counties to their own devices.

As long as they don't cause trouble, let them do whatever they want. Anyway, it's so close to the capital, and the Shuntian Army camp is still here. How could they possibly rebel?

The governor's approach to governance resulted in a high degree of independence for the subordinate counties, leading to widespread poverty in some areas and...

The people actually lived in peace and contentment.

Hengyang County is one of them.

This county is actually very famous because of its stone production. One-third of the county's industries rely on stone, and Hengyang stone carving is a world-renowned art form.

Stone carving alone might not sound like much, but Hengyang County is famous for producing a type of stone: white marble.

It is a type of marble.

Of course, besides marble, other types of stone such as granite are also produced, but none are as famous as white marble.

With the development of certain collective industries, the people of Hengyang were less dependent on the land. Moreover, the magistrate of Hengyang County was a capable man who took the initiative to maintain long-term relations with the neighboring Zhongshan County and conduct trade with Zhongshan County. He relied on Zhongshan County's shortcut to transport stones to the Northeast and purchased grain from Zhongshan County, which had fertile soil and developed agriculture, to stabilize grain prices.

On the other hand, a peaceful and prosperous society with thriving local commerce can actually breed more "cases," making the Hengyang County government office extremely busy. For example, Bai Shanzhengfu has to organize documents and files until late at night every day. This is partly because he is a very principled person and takes his work within his responsibilities very seriously, but it is also because there is simply too much paperwork in Hengyang County.

On that day, Shirakawa Masato had just finished checking the last volume of testimonies and case files, locked the documents in the cabinet, and turned his head when he suddenly felt dizzy and couldn't help but slump into a chair.

Just as he calmed himself down and looked up again, he suddenly saw a "person" wearing an iron mask appear in front of him.

Startled, Bai Shanzhengfu's eyes pierced the "uninvited guest" like a hawk's, and he shouted, "Who dares to break into the county government office at night?!"

His voice was booming, and there was no fear in his tone. In fact, it carried a hint of righteousness, which made He Yu, who was wearing a mask, sway.
Even though He Yu had only recently recovered, the incense and prayer power he had accumulated over the years, as well as the cultivation level he had gained by eating and drinking with Zhang Chengdao, were not low. He was at least equivalent to a cultivator in the Core Formation stage. Yet, this little mortal managed to control him for a moment by shouting!
With such talent and the righteous energy he possesses, even if He Yu hadn't come looking for him beforehand, this person would likely have become an extraordinary ghost cultivator after his death!

"What courage!"

He Yu couldn't help but praise him, then swallowed all the pre-planned platitudes and didn't even intend to "test" him. Instead, he looked at Bai Shanzhengfu with admiration, politely cupped his hands, and said bluntly, "I am Qin Wang, the Lord of the Underworld, in charge of life and death in both realms. Today, the spiritual energy of the world is recovering, and the dead retain their souls and become new ghosts. However, the Underworld is really short-handed. It is not appropriate to hastily guide new ghosts and judge their lives."

"I have heard that you are a diligent and conscientious official who has not made a single mistake in thirteen years. You are truly a talented person, and I have long desired to recruit you. I wonder if you would be willing to accept my offer to cultivate the 'Walking Away from Impermanence' and help me to rectify the underworld, guide new ghosts, and enforce the laws of the underworld, so as to prevent chaos between the yin and yang and maintain the stability of the mortal world?"

Upon hearing this, Shirakawa Masafumi instinctively returned the greeting, but then frowned and remained silent for a while before asking, "Does the underworld, the netherworld, also have laws and regulations that require questioning the dead about their lives?"

This belief is indeed widespread among the people, but the version varies from place to place. In some places, it is said that the underworld is like the mortal world, also divided into counties, and naturally there are ghost officials such as county magistrates and county constables. In other places, it is believed that there is only one city in the underworld, and the one who governs this city is the Lord of the Underworld. Because this Lord of the Underworld also controls matters of life and death, he is known as the "Lord of Fate".

He Yu explained, “There is no need for interrogation. In my underworld, there is a magical artifact called the ‘Book of Life and Death.’ It not only records a person’s birth and death times, but also their merits and demerits throughout their life. All of these are engraved and there is absolutely no error. It is like the judge in the underworld. His duty is to judge the punishment of ghosts according to the Book of Life and Death so as to punish them.”

Bai Shanzhengfu looked doubtful: "If such a treasure exists in the world, wouldn't that mean officials and clerks don't need to investigate every detail, but can simply follow the clues?"

He Yu shook his head and said, "No, although the Book of Life and Death can record a person's life, it is impartial and does not disrupt the order, so it is inevitable that there will be some omissions in the cause and effect."

"Just as it records 'Zhang San killed Li Si, leaving Li Si's elderly mother without anyone to care for her,' seemingly implicating many people, if Li Si had killed Zhang San's parents first, this wouldn't be recorded before or after 'Zhang San killed Li Si,' but rather when Zhang San lost his parents. Therefore, we must compare the preceding and following events, consider the circumstances, and then determine the appropriate punishment." "I see..."

When these matters were discussed, Shirakawa Masafumi immediately perked up. He first nodded thoughtfully, then eagerly pressed on, "So this means that the 'Book of Merits' is an absolutely flawless record of evidence, and that any judgment is based solely on the 'Book of Merits'?"

He Yu replied, “That’s one way to understand it. However, while the ‘Book of Merits’ is error-free, it often has omissions. Many things may not be recorded. In such cases, we have to go back to the person’s life through the ‘Book of Merits’ and personally see the scene at that time in order to make a judgment. This is another wonderful use of the ‘Book of Merits’.”

Bai Shanzhengfu exclaimed in surprise, "It can even do that! It truly lives up to its reputation as a treasure that transcends the mundane. If only the government office had such a treasure!"

He Yu laughed and said, "Only those whose lifespan has ended can have their life story displayed in this object. If it is a living person, it will just be a blank sheet of paper and a useless book."

"To be honest, if what you say is true, then I really want to see such a treasure!" At this point, Bai Shanzhengfu hesitated again and said, "But according to rumors, the county government offices in the underworld are also full of ghost messengers and ghost officials. If I accept your summons, wouldn't my lifespan be coming to an end?"

He Yu replied again: "No, in this underworld, besides the ordinary ghost messengers and officials, there is also a kind of official who cultivates 'walking the impermanence'. They are living people or cultivators who use the method of the soul leaving the body to go to the underworld to do things between midnight and dawn."

"If it were an ordinary mortal, over time, he might be corrupted by the ghost energy and have his lifespan affected. However, as long as one's cultivation is successful and one can draw the energy into the body, one will not have to worry about this."

“I understand what you have said, but there is still one thing I don’t understand,” Baishan Zhengfu said, cupping his hands again. “I am just an ordinary mortal. I have never practiced martial arts or immortality, let alone the art of guiding qi into the body. Why did you seek me out, Your Excellency?”

"Whether it is martial arts or immortality, one can learn them gradually. However, the Netherworld's recruitment is based on one's integrity. You have served as an official in Hengyang County for thirteen years without any oversight. It is precisely because of your upright integrity that you have achieved what you have today."

As He Yu spoke, he remembered Zhang Chengdao's earlier advice on "recruitment techniques" and quickly added, painting a rosy picture: "After cultivating 'Walking Through Impermanence,' although one is restricted from easily interfering in human affairs and cannot receive gold and silver as a salary, one can still accumulate merit, enjoy incense offerings, and obtain 'Black and White Tokens.' These tokens can be exchanged in the underworld's treasury for elixirs, magical treasures, or various cultivation manuals and techniques, and have many uses."

"If one's lifespan has ended, then according to the merits of cultivating 'walking the impermanence', one may be ranked among the immortals in the underworld, becoming a ghost cultivator of the incense and deity path, enjoying the incense offerings of all people."

He Yu painted a very appealing picture, especially with his initial rounds of flattery, which even made Bai Shanzhengfu, who was usually so humble and cautious, sway his heart.

Fortunately, reason prevailed, and he continued to ask, "May I ask Your Majesty, since you say that those who cultivate 'Walking the Impermanence' can become ghost messengers or ghost officials, what about those who do not cultivate this path? I know that those who are judged guilty after death should be punished, but what about those who are innocent or even meritorious?"

"Hehehe, the cycle of heaven and earth continues endlessly."

He Yu smiled and stroked his beard, saying, "Heaven and earth, moved by the desire of living beings, bestowed upon them the ability to conceive. Life force and spiritual energy gather in the human body, gradually forming a human being, who is a living person in the mortal world. Living people have a lifespan of yang, and when their yang lifespan ends, they die and become ghosts. Ghosts also have a lifespan of yin, and when their yin lifespan ends, they return to nothingness and nourish heaven and earth. All living beings in the world are like this, and thus they are reincarnated, life goes on and on."

Upon hearing this, Shirakawa Masato suddenly felt a sense of clarity.

This idea is far more cruel, yet also far more romantic, than the common belief that the dead exist forever in a city or the country where they lived and never disappear.

Limited by their finite lifespan, people yearn for immortality and place their hopes on the world that exists after death.

Knowing that although there is indeed a "post-mortem life" after death, it is not "forever" actually broadened Shirakawa Masato's mind.

"Now that I understand the various aspects of life and death, I have no reason to refuse to cultivate the 'walking through impermanence'."

Bai Shanzheng finally bowed deeply to He Yu and said, "Please give me your guidance, Your Excellency!"

"Good, good, good," He Yu nodded in satisfaction, took out two books from his sleeve, and gave them to Bai Shanzhengfu, saying, "These two books are called 'Qin King's Qi Refining Book' and 'Qin King's Soul Nourishing Book.' They were compiled by me based on the cultivation secrets of the Bai Shi Immortal Sect and are most suitable for ordinary people to get started."

"In addition, it also records how to 'leave the soul' and how to enter the Yellow Springs Road. Once you have achieved some success and are able to enter the Yellow Springs Road, the Day-Roaming God will receive you and assign you a position."

"Just know that you cannot leave your soul until you have mastered the Qin King's Qi Refining Book, or you will be in danger of losing your life."

Baishan Zhengfu respectfully accepted the two books with both hands, his face solemn: "I will obey the Lord's orders."

As soon as he finished speaking, when he looked up again, the masked "person" suddenly disappeared.

Then, Shirakawa Masashi felt a sudden dizziness, as if his whole body was incredibly heavy, as if he were being dragged by something.

Before long, he felt dizzy again and realized that he hadn't been catching the book with both hands at all, but had actually fallen asleep on the table!

Shirakawa Masato chuckled to himself, finding his dream rather strange, likely due to his recent overwork.

Just as he was making up his mind to leave the office early these next few days to get some rest, as soon as he stood up, there were two "thuds" and two books suddenly appeared on the table.

It is precisely the "Qin King's Book of Qi Refining" and the "Qin King's Book of Soul Nourishing"!
Just now... that wasn't a dream!

Shirakawa Masahiro's pupils contracted involuntarily, and his heart pounded.

If what I just experienced wasn't a dream, then I...

Did he really have to do something for that so-called King Qin, who claimed to be the ruler of the underworld and controlled life and death?
……

(End of this chapter)