12dz Chapter 25 The Visitor is Not Friendly
Chapter 25 The Visitor is Not Friendly
Having received the invitation yesterday, Shen Qing, though unsure of Zhao Yuanlang's true intentions, still led his inner disciples to wait respectfully at the mountain gate early in the morning.
Behind them lay the county magistrate's main focus for this trip: the academy.
A new plaque has been hung above the academy's gate, bearing the four large characters "Qingyun Academy," the ink still fresh.
Zhao Yuanlang alighted from the sedan chair, his gaze lingering on the plaque for a moment.
"Sect Leader Shen, it's been over ten years since we last met, and you look much more haggard," Zhao Yuanlang said with a cupped-hand salute and a broad smile.
"Your Excellency, despite your busy schedule, have graced Hanshan with your presence. I am deeply sorry for failing to greet you properly. I hope you will forgive me." Shen Qing returned the greeting, his posture respectful but not servile.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Qing led Zhao Yuanlang and his group up the mountain.
Along the way, they passed newly reclaimed mountain land, where tender green rice seedlings were neatly arranged, and several outer disciples on duty were weeding in the fields.
Zhao Yuanlang and his group were quite curious about this. Shen Qing did not hide anything and told everyone frankly that Qingyun Sect had no money or food, and the disciples would have to cook for themselves if they wanted to have enough to eat.
Zhao Yuanlang nodded upon hearing this, without saying anything more.
After entering the mountain gate, they arrived at the highlight of their trip: Qingyun Academy.
Inside the classroom, forty young children, led by Sun Wenyuan, were reciting the Thousand Character Classic. Their innocent voices were clear and melodious.
Zhao Yuanlang stood outside the window and listened for a while, then nodded slightly.
After walking around the area, Zhao Yuanlang had a general idea of what was going on.
This Qingyun Academy is indeed a genuine academy. At least on the surface, he couldn't find any major faults.
Shen Qing, citing the humble nature of the mountain gate and the fear that it might offend the eyes of distinguished guests, ordered tables and chairs to be brought in and a tea ceremony to be set up in front of the academy.
Zhao Yuanlang naturally took the main seat, with Shen Qing sitting beside him, and Xuanji standing in attendance. Ma Wenzhong and Zhou Shi'an sat at the lower end.
After several rounds of tea and all the polite conversation, the tea ceremony was over.
Zhao Yuanlang put down his teacup, and the smile on his face faded slightly.
"Sect Leader Shen, I have a question. Sect Leader Shen has devoted so much effort to running Qingyun Academy, not only refusing tuition fees but also subsidizing its own expenses. Forgive my bluntness, but cultivators have precious lifespans. Why does Sect Leader Shen not use this time and energy for cultivation, but instead waste it on these mortal children?"
The sex scene is coming.
Shen Qing put down his teacup, remained silent for a moment, and prepared his next words:
"Your Excellency, I am sixty-seven years old this year. You should know the lifespan of a Qi Refining cultivator. Without the right opportunity, it is limited to one hundred years."
"However, several years ago, Shen failed to establish his foundation, which severely damaged his foundation and greatly reduced his lifespan. In five or six years at most, or two or three years at least, Shen will have to go to meet the ancestral masters."
Zhao Yuanlang's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"I am of mediocre talent and I believe I have no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage in this lifetime. However, my Qingyun Sect has a history of more than two hundred years and cannot end in my hands."
At this point, Shen Qing's voice lowered even further, "My master, Daoist Fushan, was summoned by the Heavenly God Sect and died in battle in Chuzhou. According to the rules of the Heavenly God Sect, Qingyun is entitled to three years of protection. I, Shen, wish to take advantage of this three-year protection period to preserve more incense offerings for the Qingyun Sect."
He pointed to the disciples practicing martial arts in the training ground.
"I'm sure you've already seen that those disciples have extremely poor aptitude, but I dare not look down on them. As long as they can sense spiritual energy and cultivate, I will accept them all."
"The reason for this is simply so that after my death, there will be a few people left in the Qingyun Sect, and so that the name 'Qingyun' can be passed down. I sold the magical artifacts left by my ancestors to establish this academy, also for this reason."
"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by adults, but I believe that if one or two of those children can develop spiritual roots, they will be the future of Qingyun Sect. Even if they don't, when they grow up, they will remember the good deeds of Qingyun Academy and be able to protect the legacy of Qingyun Sect."
These words were sincere and heartfelt, and Ma Wenzhong, the instructor of Qinghe, who had been listening quietly, was slightly moved.
Just then, Xuanji suddenly spoke.
"Sect Leader Shen has devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Qingyun Sect, which is truly admirable. However, Sect Leader Shen mentioned that he failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, damaging his meridians and greatly shortening his lifespan. Has a highly skilled physician been consulted to treat this?"
Shen Qing glanced at Xuanji slightly. He didn't know this person. Someone who could speak up in front of the county magistrate without Zhao Yuanlang having any objections was naturally not that simple.
"This... I, Shen, have been confined to Qingyun Mountain for many years and have never sought treatment from a master."
Xuanji turned to Zhao Yuanlang, cupped his hands and said, "My lord, you come from the Heavenly God Sect and are very knowledgeable. Why not treat Sect Master Shen? Daoist Fushan died for the Heavenly God Sect. As a descendant of a hero, it would be a great honor if you could lend a hand to Sect Master Shen."
Zhao Yuanlang continued, "Xuanji is right. Sect Leader Shen, I am willing to take a look for you; perhaps there is a way to salvage the situation."
Shen Qing sneered inwardly. What a nice way to put it, diagnosis and treatment? Clearly, they wanted to use this to test his strength and weakness.
Shen Qing feigned reluctance and declined, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, Your Excellency. However, I know my own injuries, so there's no need to trouble you..."
"Why must Sect Leader Shen decline?"
Without saying a word, Zhao Yuanlang stood up and walked up to Shen Qing, saying, "It was just a small favor."
Shen Qing feigned hesitation for a moment, then finally sighed and extended his right hand.
Zhao Yuanlang placed his hand on Shen Qing's wrist pulse, and a faint spiritual energy entered his body.
Shen Qing had already activated the "Qi Concealing Technique" to suppress his cultivation level to the level of the initial ninth level of Qi Refining.
As for his spiritual root aptitude and damaged foundation, there's no need to fake it. He originally had a useless spiritual root, and his meridians were damaged after failing to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. There's no need to fake it.
Zhao Yuanlang's spiritual energy circulated through Shen Qing's body once, and then again.
The facts before him made him frown slightly: Shen Qing's aptitude was extremely poor, his meridians were damaged in many places, his dantian energy was weak, and his lifespan was severely depleted.
This is indeed a useless cultivator who failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage and is nearing the end of his life.
After withdrawing his spiritual energy, Zhao Yuanlang remained silent for a moment.
"Sect Leader Shen's injuries...forgive my bluntness, but I fear they are difficult to heal."
Shen Qing shook his head with a wry smile: "So be it, I'll hold on for as many years as I can. I only ask that before I die, I keep the incense burning in the Qingyun Sect, and then I'll be content."
Zhao Yuanlang nodded and didn't say anything more.
His interest in Shen Qing had largely faded; a dying good-for-nothing couldn't cause any trouble no matter how much he tried.
However, there is one more thing.
"Sect Leader Shen," Zhao Yuanlang said casually after sitting down again, "I've heard that your sect also has a Senior Mo Wentian. Why doesn't Sect Leader Shen wait for Senior Mo to return and take charge of the situation, instead of being in such a hurry to sell off assets and recruit more disciples?"
Shen Qing felt a chill run down his spine; this question was probably the county magistrate's real purpose.
Zhao Yuanlang's real fear was never Shen Qing, but Mo Wentian.
Shen Qing understood that he had to give a reasonable answer, one that neither made Zhao Yuanlang think that Mo Wentian would come back at any time, nor made him think that Mo Wentian would never come back.
Shen Qing pretended not to know what Zhao Yuanlang was thinking and said half-truthfully, "My lord, you may not know this, but the last time Uncle Mo returned to Qingyun Mountain was eight years ago."