Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

After staying at Zhao Sheng's house for a while, Zhao Xian got up to take his leave.

Before leaving, he took out more than a hundred loose talisman coins and three low-grade spirit stones and handed them to him, instructing him to cultivate diligently.

As soon as they left Zhao Sheng's house, a few villagers had already gathered in the alley, pointing and whispering about the strong horse in front of Zhao Sheng's house.

When the Taoist priests saw Zhao Xian dressed in a long robe and official uniform with a ringed sword at his waist, they all stopped whispering and looked at him with a hint of awe.

Zhao Xian, however, was not surprised by this.

Leaving aside the sturdy horse, the iron-rimmed bow hanging on its back alone is quite valuable. How could ordinary people who frequent the streets and alleys not recognize such things?

After bidding farewell to his aunt and Zhao Sheng, Zhao Xian leaped onto his horse, took the reins, and rode out of the alley.

As Zhao Xian stepped out of the alley, he looked back and saw his aunt and Zhao Sheng chatting and laughing with several onlookers.

Before long, they arrived at the tavern, where Chen Yuancheng and his companions were already waiting.

Zhao Xian dismounted, bowed first, and then began to eat with the others.

As dusk fell, the group finally returned to their country house.

......

"Congratulations, Mr. Qi, on building such a magnificent mansion!"

Outside the main hall of the Qi family, Chen Yuancheng greeted Qi Lian, who was coming down the steps to welcome him.

"Without Chen Junxiang's help, how could Qi Lian have built this mansion!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Lian immediately bowed in greeting.

"Oh! Oh! Mr. Qi, please rise quickly. Your family's construction of a grand mansion has nothing to do with me. Don't let others misunderstand!"

Chen Yuancheng waved his hands repeatedly, pretending to avoid it, and continued to joke.

"Ha ha!"

Cao Miao behind him laughed heartily, and Zhao Xian and the other village officials also grinned slightly upon seeing this.

After some casual conversation, everyone entered the main hall, where Zhao Xian also saw his elder brother Zhao Ji and Zhang Wen.

These two men were ordered by Chen Yuancheng to assist Qi Lian in supervising the construction of houses for the Dao people. They worked hard from dawn till dusk every day.

For several months, Zhao Xian had rarely seen these two men.

When they met again today, Zhao Xian was surprised to find that his elder brother's cultivation had broken through to the Tendon Refining level.

"I wonder if my brother Zhong has completed his skin-training?"

"After all, his uncle had already taught him that skin-refining technique."

As they pondered, the sound of string and wind instruments began, and the banquet officially commenced.

Zhao Xian raised his head and looked around the hall. The village officials, the heads of the three families in the village, and several wealthy households with some reputation in the village were all present in the hall today.

After his gaze lingered on Yan Heng, the head of the Yan family, for a few moments, Zhao Xianxuan looked at Yan Su behind him.

Compared to the past, Yan Su is now dressed exquisitely and has a calm demeanor, but he seems to lack energy and spirit.

"It's a pity they had to fight for something so short-term!"

Seeing this, Zhao Xian sighed inwardly with a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi - mixed feelings of emotion and reflection).

Suddenly, Yan Su seemed to notice Zhao Xian's gaze, and immediately turned his head to look. Seeing that it was Zhao Xian, he immediately raised his cup and nodded in acknowledgment.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Xian also raised his cup in return.

Another gaze fell upon him, and Zhao Xianfu looked back again, finding it to be Song An, the son of the wealthy Song family in the village.

The two exchanged a smile, raised their glasses in a gesture of greeting, and then drank it all in one gulp.

At the banquet, Qi Lian was humble and polite, treating everyone like a gentle breeze. He expressed his gratitude to Chen Yuancheng repeatedly, and treated the heads of the three families in the village with the respect due to a son or nephew, speaking with great deference.

When the moon was high in the sky, the banquet ended, and everyone dispersed.

After leaving the Qi family, Chen Yuancheng ordered Cao Miao to lead the village officials back to their village first, while he himself led Zhao Xian and others to the residence that Qi Lian had gifted to him.

The courtyard was very well-organized, adjacent to the Qilian residence, with blue bricks and white walls, two courtyards in the front and back, complete with stables, wells, and granaries, almost identical to the Shanghuting residence.

As the group entered the courtyard, the newly built house still had a pungent smell of lime lingering in the air.

Carrying torches, the six men inspected all the rooms in both the front and back courtyards, but found nothing unusual.

Standing in the front courtyard, Chen Yuancheng also had a smile on his face.

Seeing this, Zhao Ji stepped forward and took out several land deeds from his bosom, presenting them to Chen Yuancheng.

"Ah Ji has now entered the Tendon Refining stage, the realm of a second-rate martial artist, which can be considered as living up to my high expectations." Chen Yuancheng looked at Zhao Ji with a slight smile, then looked around at Zhao Cheng and the others, "After all, the village house is a public office. Tomorrow, you should tidy up this courtyard and move in!"

"We will obey Lord Chen's orders!"

All four bowed in unison.

"The four of you are all my trusted confidants, serving me tirelessly. You need mounts to keep you moving!" After a few moments of thought, Chen Yuancheng's gaze fell on the stable in the front yard. Seeing that the stable was empty, he then looked at Zhao Ji. "Ah Ji, you've been a merchant for years and are quick-witted. In a few days, take Ah Cheng and Ah Wen to the main market in the county and buy some strong horses!"

"Mr. Chen, you have treated us very kindly, and we are extremely grateful. However, we need ten thousand coins for a fine horse."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji immediately bowed to Chen Yuancheng, his expression hesitant.

The village magistrate wasn't even a high-ranking official; where would he get tens of thousands of coins to buy horses?

"Haha, Ah Ji, you don't need to worry about money."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuancheng immediately waved his hand and laughed, without offering much explanation.

Zhao Xian, standing to the side, knew exactly what was going on.

Chen Yuancheng earned at least four hundred low-grade spirit stones from this expedition, which would amount to at least forty-five thousand talisman coins, enough to buy four strong horses.

"Even with Ah Cheng and the other three living here, the courtyard is still quite empty." Looking around at the surrounding rooms, Chen Yuancheng looked at Zhao Xian and said, "Bo Zhang, when you have a day off, go back to Shanghu Pavilion and recruit six guests for me. Together with Ah Cheng and the other three, that will make a full quarter."

"We will definitely find a suitable candidate for Mr. Chen!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately bowed and accepted.

As for why Chen Yuancheng wanted to continue recruiting guests, Zhao Xian didn't think much of it.

After all, in this world, powerful families often have thousands or even tens of thousands of guests and followers, or at least hundreds.

Chen Yuancheng's mere ten guests are nothing special.

As night deepened, the group discussed the matter for a while before leaving the courtyard and returning to their country house to rest.

In the following days, there was not much busy work at the village residence, and Zhao Xian, who had worked hard for two months, was able to have a rare moment of leisure.

Every day, besides practicing martial arts, he would ask Chen Yuancheng for advice on cultivation difficulties.

On his day off, Zhao Xian returned to Shanghuting alone, while Zhao Ji and the other three accompanied Chen Yuancheng back to the county town to rest and buy horses.

With one person and two horses, their movements were naturally very swift, and in less than half an hour, they had already reached the vicinity of Xiahuting.

Still on that desolate official road, far from any village or shop, amidst the dense forest beside the road, several agile figures appeared out of nowhere.

Upon seeing Zhao Xian arrive alone on two horses, the group held their breath, their eyes flashing with murderous intent.

"Da da da!"

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer and closer.

Suddenly, a tripwire appeared on the road.

"Hiss!"

In a split second, Zhao Xian pulled on the reins, and his steed barely managed to stop, raising its head and neighing loudly!

The old horse beside the strong horse charged straight toward the tripwire.

Whether it was a coincidence or the old horse had become wise with age, upon seeing the tripwire, the old horse suddenly leaped into the air and flew straight over the tripwire.

This left Zhao Xian, who was standing to the side, dumbfounded.