Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

Chapter 132 Reaction Upon Returning Home (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Zhao Xian got up early and began his daily morning exercise routine without fail.

He still practiced the "Pine and Crane Nourishing Yuan Fist" and the "Chasing Wind and Slaying Spirit Blade Technique" twenty times each. Now, his fist techniques have reached the level of mastery, and his martial arts cultivation has also progressed to the level of tendon training.

While Zhao Li, Zhao Ji, and others still needed to cultivate the secret technique of perfecting their skin-refining skills, Zhao Xian had already successfully perfected his skin-refining skills when his boxing technique was nearing completion.

Zhao Xian could only attribute this to the foundation-building and body-strengthening effects inherent in the "Pine and Crane Nourishing Yuan Boxing" style of boxing.

After all, this set of boxing techniques was vigorously promoted by the Yunlan Sect among its Daoist followers, and it was far superior to ordinary body-strengthening and foundation-building boxing techniques.

A moment later, Zhao Hong, Huang Zhong, and the other three also came out of the house and each occupied a corner of the courtyard to cultivate.

Subsequently, Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, and others also got up to cultivate.

After breakfast, Zhao Xian bid farewell to Chen Yuancheng and Qi Lian, and returned to Yangpingli with Zhao Hong and the other three, as well as Zhao Cheng and Zhao Ji.

This is roughly what it means to return home in glory.

Along the way, the group was in high spirits, their horses galloping swiftly, their laughter never ceasing.

In just one hour, the group was able to see the inner wall of Yangpingli in the distance.

"Elder brother, Ah Duan and I will return to Yangping Village first to deliver the good news!"

Zhao Hong and Zhao Duan rode forward a few steps, looked at Zhao Xian and said with a smile.

"good!"

Zhao Xian naturally responded with a smile.

"Giddy up! Giddy up!"

With a shout from each of them, the two squeezed their legs together, and their mounts sped away into the distance.

Seeing their excitement, Zhao Cheng and Zhao Ji, the two elder brothers, also wore smiles on their faces.

"Ah Xian, how many people do you plan to recruit this time you return to Shanghuting?"

Zhao Cheng spurred his horse forward, falling a horse's length behind Zhao Xian, and then asked in a deep voice.

"Fourth brother, I plan to recruit another twenty-five people, ten of whom will come from Yangping Village, and the remaining fifteen will be recruited from Dawang Village, Changgong Village, and Chunping Village, one team each."

Zhao Xian had already considered this in his heart, and immediately replied in a solemn voice.

"Adding the existing Daoist followers, we've now formed a complete team!"

"One team?" Zhao Cheng's face showed a hint of surprise, then he immediately tried to dissuade him, "One team of Daoist warriors needs food and supplies for both men and horses, which is no small number!"

"The county magistrate has granted me permission to recruit a team of Daoist practitioners myself. As for their supplies during the demon-hunting period, those from the disaster-stricken villages will provide them!"

Zhao Xian understood the advice in Zhao Cheng's words and immediately began to explain.

"That's excellent!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Cheng nodded slightly, his face no longer showing any doubt.

The group continued on horseback.

It was mid-August, and the rice in the fields had already been harvested. All that could be seen was a barren expanse of yellow earth, and the fields were deserted!

At the same time, Zhao Hong and Zhao Duan had already sped to the outskirts of Yangpingli.

The inner gate was wide open, and Zhao He, the inner gatekeeper, leaned against the door frame with a rice stalk in his mouth, looking very relaxed!

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a thunderclap arose, startling Zhao He. He jumped up, shading his eyes with his hand, and looked up.

Two young men in black, riding strong horses, were already several dozen feet away!

"It looks like those two brats, Ah Hong and Ah Duan!"

Zhao He muttered to himself, then bent down and pulled out a long spear from inside the door, hoisting it onto his shoulder.

"Uncle Eleven!"

Before the two riders and two horses even got close, the loud calls had already reached Zhao He's ears.

"Hiss!"

Two strong horses came to a stop just outside the inner gate, panting heavily. Two young men in black sat upright on the horses, looking very heroic.

"You two rascals really are something!" Zhao He chuckled and scolded as he approached, then his gaze fell on their mounts, and he exclaimed in surprise, "What two magnificent steeds!"

"You two have really struck it rich following Ah Xian!"

Zhao He looked at Zhao Hong and Zhao Duan with envy, exclaiming in amazement and glancing back and forth with his eyes.

"Eleventh Uncle, my eldest brother has been appointed by the county magistrate as the county's military officer, a high-ranking official!"

Zhao Hong dismounted, led his horse forward, and shouted loudly as he walked.

"What?!"

The spear slipped from Zhao He's hand and fell to the ground, his face filled with shock!

"Haha, Uncle Eleven, our Yangping Village has produced a high-ranking official!"

Zhao Duan, who was standing to the side, led his horse across the Zhao River, added a sentence, and then walked towards the inner gate.

At this moment, the village chief Zhao Zhongye had come out of the bullet room. When Zhao Hong saw Zhao Zhongye, he immediately shouted, "Fifth Uncle!"

My elder brother has been appointed by the county magistrate as the county's military officer, a high-ranking official with a salary of 100 shi (a unit of grain).

"Ah Hong, what did you say?"

Zhao Zhong looked at Zhao Hong with a bewildered expression.

"Fifth Uncle, my eldest brother is coming back soon! A high-ranking official, with his official seal hanging at his waist!"

Zhao Duan then took over the conversation.

"A high-ranking official! Our Zhao family of Yangping Village has produced a high-ranking official!"

Zhao Zhong muttered to himself, then snapped out of his daze and ran quickly toward the inner room!

"Ah Xian got promoted!"

"Ah Xian has become a high-ranking official!"

'

'

In the blink of an eye, Zhao Zhong had passed Zhao Hong and Zhao Duan and disappeared into the inner path.

"Why is Fifth Uncle even happier than the two of us?"

Zhao Duan looked at Zhao Hong with a puzzled expression and asked.

"What do you two brats know!" Zhao He looked at Zhao Hong and Zhao Duan, laughed and scolded, and continued, "We have a high-ranking official in Yangping Village, who will dare to come to Yangping Village and act arrogantly in the future!"

"That means the clansmen can pay less in land taxes each year!"

"Alright, go tell your uncles!"

Zhao He patted the two on the shoulders and said with a smile.

The two men also came to their senses and immediately led their horses away.

"Uncle Mu's team has finally achieved some success!"

Watching Zhao Hong and Zhao Duan walk away, Zhao He couldn't help but sigh.

A moment later, Zhao Xian and his group were getting closer and closer to Yangpingli.

"Brother, why are there so many people standing outside the inner gate?"

Zhao Bing spurred his horse forward, pointed to the inner gate ahead, and interrupted the conversation between Zhao Xian, Zhao Cheng, and Zhao Ji.

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian looked up and saw a large group of clansmen standing outside the inner gate!

At the very front were several elderly men with white hair!

Zhao Xian, Zhao Cheng, and Zhao Ji exchanged a glance, then spurred their horses and galloped inside.

We can't keep so many elders waiting outside the door for too long!

"Hiss!"

Before his mount could stop, Zhao Xian leaped off and quickly walked forward.

"Ah Xian pays respects to his great-grandfather and all the elders!"

Upon reaching the several elderly men with white hair, Zhao Xian immediately bowed deeply!

"My dear grandson, get up quickly!"

With the help of two young clansmen, the great-grandfather stepped forward and helped Zhao Xian up.

He looked Zhao Xian up and down, his gaze finally settling on the seal at Zhao Xian's waist, and he let out a long sigh of relief!

Only then did the centenarian truly believe that a high-ranking official of the Hundred Stones rank had emerged from his clan!

He raised his hand and pointed to the seal on Zhao Xian's waist. Upon seeing this, Zhao Xian immediately took off the seal and respectfully presented it to his great-grandfather with both hands!

"Good! Good! Good!"

The great-grandfather took the seal of office, trembling as he stroked it, repeatedly saying "good" to the others.

Rough, withered fingers traced the seal with great care, as if afraid that the rough fingers might tear the exquisite ribbon in front of them!

"Our clan's prosperity begins today!"

A few breaths later, the great-grandfather turned around, raised the seal in his hand, a blush on his face, and shouted with all his might.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, all the people of the tribe bowed in unison and solemnly shouted!

"Without the help of his clansmen, how could Zhao Xian hold such a high position today!"

"Zhao Xian thanks all his clansmen for their help!"

Zhao Xian straightened his clothes, glanced at his great-uncle, grandfather, two uncles, father and others in front of him, and knelt down directly, kowtowing and saying.

"My dear grandson, get up quickly!"

The great-grandfather quickly bent down to help Zhao Xian up, and then carefully tied the seal of office on Zhao Xian.

"Ade, Amu, tomorrow is the ancestral worship ceremony!"

Zhao Xian helped his great-grandfather up, and the great-grandfather turned to look at the group of white-haired elders at the head of the group and said solemnly.

"I will obey my uncle's orders!"

Upon hearing this, his great-uncle Zhao De and grandfather Zhao Mu immediately responded in unison.

Soon after, surrounded by his clansmen, Zhao Xian and the others returned to Yangpingli.

Before long, the news that Zhao Xian had become a high-ranking official had spread throughout Shanghuting.

The head of Shanghuting Pavilion, Qiudao, and the village heads of the other villages all came to pay their respects to Zhao Xian.

Zhao Xian spent a long time chatting and laughing with everyone about the upcoming recruitment of soldiers.

The group didn't disperse until nightfall.

Zhao Xian also took advantage of the night to go to his grandfather's house with his father.

Sparks flew everywhere.

Everyone sat around the brazier, listening attentively as Zhao Xian recounted his experiences over the past few days.

After Zhao Xian finished speaking, the others understood why he had been appointed as the county magistrate's military officer.

"So, Ah Xian, your position as a sergeant is quite dangerous?"

After pondering for a few moments, Uncle Zhao Ren then tentatively asked.

"What Uncle says is quite right!" Zhao Xian nodded in agreement, then smiled bitterly, "I am just a country boy who has been in the officialdom for less than two years. How could my few merits in quelling demons and defeating bandits possibly catch the eye of the county magistrate?"

"If it weren't for the strong recommendations of Liu Yuan, the county clerk, Chen Sheng, the county bandit clerk, and Liu Yu, the patrol officer, the county magistrate would not have appointed A Xian as the county military clerk!"

"If you want to secure your position as a military officer, you must quell the demonic disturbances in the eight villages as soon as possible!"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded slightly, a thoughtful expression on their faces.

"Ah Xian, I will resign from my post with Ting Jun tomorrow and go with you to hunt demons!"

After pondering for a few moments, the elder brother Zhao Zheng looked at Zhao Xian and said in a deep voice.

"Big Brother~"

The eldest sister-in-law, who happened to walk in, heard this and couldn't help but exclaim.

"This matter concerns the prosperity of our family, so the whole family should support Ah Xian!"

Zhao Zheng glanced at the young woman, then looked around at everyone and said solemnly.

"Ah Zheng is absolutely right! This is a once-in-a-century opportunity. If we can secure Ah Xian's position as a military officer, our family and clan will become a prominent clan in the region!"

Uncle Zhao Ren echoed this sentiment without any hesitation.

"Erlang, you should go with Ah Xian too. Father and I are enough at home!"

Zhao Renfu then looked at Zhao Yi and said in a deep voice.

At this critical moment, Uncle Zhao Ren was also very decisive!

"good!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi immediately responded, a resolute glint in his eyes.

As a father, I'd do anything to help my son's future, even if it means risking my life!

"As Ah Ren said, you two will also accompany Ah Xian to quell the demon!"

Upon seeing this, Zhao Mu immediately spoke up in a solemn voice, a hint of killing intent appearing on his face.

Having fought for over a decade, he was naturally a man of unwavering resolve and knew how rare this opportunity was!