Chapter 564: Chapter 564
On the other hand, the black aura of the Qi Fortune little dragon disappeared because Xu Qing became a Heavenly Demon, inherently the source of calamity.
Now, he brings disaster to others.
Has the dynamics of attack and defense shifted?
But Xu Qing did not intend to cause chaos in the world.
Even though he cultivated into a Heavenly Demon, Xu Qing still considered himself a "human."
A person like a crane in autumn comes with a message, things like a spring dream leave no trace.
Su Lianqing woke up, no longer able to see the young master.
She put away her melancholy and began her strategic plans.
Moreover, she got news from the young master that Madam currently doesn’t know about the young master’s condition.
Su Lianqing understood the young master’s intention and felt a little secretly delighted.
The joy of life is sometimes really simple.
She hummed a tune and started her own tasks. From this day on, in South Zhili, the hidden forces under Xu Qing’s command were once again awakened.
Invisible undercurrents were surging.
And on the Grand Canal, a massive fleet of dragon boats, pulled tightly by towmen on both banks, headed south.
Jiangning Prefecture City, a restaurant.
"I want a bowl of plain noodles." Little did anyone know that the renowned Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint had arrived in Jiangning Prefecture City, appearing as a skinny old man.
He ate plain noodles because he had them as a child in Central Earth, and it was the best noodle he ever had in his life.
"Sir, did you just enter the city?" The waiter brought the noodles over and greeted the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint enthusiastically.
"Then you’ve come to the right place. Our Jiangning Prefecture City is full of opportunities to make money. Today you can only afford plain noodles; in a few days, you might add an egg!" The waiter looked at the skinny old man and thought of his parents at home, planning to save more money to bring them over one day.
"Do people in your Prefecture City have such a high standard of living?" The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint ate quickly.
With a slurp, the noodles were gone.
He seemed still unsatisfied but didn’t order another bowl.
Desire cannot be satisfied. Satisfying desires makes the sword less sharp when drawn.
No matter who the opponent is, the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint always pays attention to details, adopting the cautious approach of a lion pouncing on a hare.
"Indeed, this is the hometown of Xu Liushou." Mentioning Xu Liushou, the waiter looked sentimental yet proud.
The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint listened quietly, thinking to himself:
"He must have been a truly benevolent and righteous person."
Even after Xu Qing’s death, the common people still remembered him, indicating he was indeed a person of virtue.
He suddenly felt a bit of regret for coming late and not meeting such a person, to ask his views on the state of the world.
His master, who taught him swordsmanship, warned him that the sword is the weapon of kings.
But the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint believed from a young age that a sword is just a sword, without needing to attribute other meanings to it.
Despite this, he was influenced by his master and felt goodwill towards righteous people.
As long as they didn’t stand in his way.
Eating a bowl of plain noodles was simply to reminisce about his childhood.
The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint noticed that although the restaurant was large, it did not have the habit of rushing out paupers. Even though he only ordered one bowl of plain noodles, the waiter didn’t neglect him or ask him to leave to make room for the next customer when he didn’t voluntarily leave.
He gradually realized that not every restaurant in Jiangning Prefecture had this service attitude.
This was because Madam Xu had set this rule under the Xu family to pray for her husband’s blessing.
Charity and benevolence!
Whether it was genuine or not, it was done.
Moreover, it was Feng Wu who set this rule before Xu Qing’s battle at Changbai, and even after the news of Xu Qing’s death spread, Feng Wu didn’t change it.
Because Feng Wu remembered her husband’s words.
One must see things through to the end, unlike eunuchs, who lack below.
Of course, in recent days, the people of the Prefecture City, have not seen Madam Xu at all.
The elders in the city are all worried about Madam Xu.
But no one bothers her.
Not to mention, Xu Liushou’s body hasn’t been brought back, and they always hold onto hope for a miracle.
Hasn’t Xu Liushou created miracles before?
Some people though alive are like dead, some though dead are like alive.
Clearly, Xu Qing is currently the latter.
The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint wandered leisurely in Jiangning Prefecture.
He felt Xu Qing was very adept at governance, so he wanted to learn a bit.
During his leisurely wandering, the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint came across a familiar face outside the Heavenly Mechanism Palace.
"You’ve come?" The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint encountered Fu Xuan.
"Indeed." Fu Xuan was not surprised by the arrival of the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint.
Later, the two would have to collaborate once more.
But for now, there wasn’t much to talk about.
Fu Xuan completed his registration and entered the library of the Palace.
The library of the Heavenly Mechanism Palace is open to the public, as long as one is literate and registers.
Here, knowledge is free.
In the Eastern Barbarians and the grasslands, knowledge is more precious than gold, monopolized by a few. They control the people by controlling knowledge.
However, Jiangning Prefecture is not .
Upon entering the Heavenly Mechanism Palace, the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint naturally saw the couplet "Nothing to rely on but myself."
The meaning of the couplet was very much to the taste of the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint and Fu Xuan.
Both Martial Saints stopped for a moment in front of the couplet, unexpectedly in agreement.
A couplet like a mirror reflecting the inner thoughts of both Martial Saints.
Fu Xuan saw the past; the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint saw the future.
The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint felt a stir in his heart.
He was pondering something: after capturing Madam Xu, could he truly take over the Xu family’s foundation?
Because the Xu family’s foundation before his eyes was different from any power he knew.
It was a spirit of "The Heavenly Dao moves ceaselessly; a gentleman strives constantly for self-improvement."
Most people in the Heavenly Mechanism Palace were spiritually fulfilled.
The citizens in Jiangning Prefecture appeared vibrant.
Because in Jiangning Prefecture, as long as one is a normal person with working hands and feet, they can find a livelihood.
Although some jobs are extremely tough, some require working seven or eight hours a day.
Even so, outsiders continually vie to take these jobs.
Because these tough jobs not only provide meals but also pay!
The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint understood well that Xu Qing truly utilized the benefits of maritime trade to improve people’s lives.
Their Eastern Barbarians could not achieve this.
"Is it really necessary to destroy everything in front of us?" The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint always understood that a sword is just a sword, nothing more. But he is a person of flesh and blood.
Even becoming a Martial Saint, he still has flesh and emotions.
After a breakthrough in cultivation, one gains greater strength, but not at any cost for power.
His sword is meant to better the living space for the Eastern Barbarians.
But now the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint seems to see another invisible force subtly changing this land for the better.
If the Eastern Barbarians do the same, wouldn’t it create a paradise on Fusang Island?
Because even without the huge profits from maritime trade, the Eastern Barbarians have something precious: the silver mines.
Fusang Island has silver mines.
With silver, Fusang Island could also undergo reforms.
This is why the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint carefully observed the people’s livelihood in Jiangning Prefecture.
For the rulers of Fusang Island, learning the advanced culture of Central Earth is not a novelty but a long-standing tradition.
Now, the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint also went along with local customs.
He entered the library of the Heavenly Mechanism Palace.
This place is also called the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, brimming with all sorts of knowledge.
The people who came here to read were very quiet.
The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint quickly immersed himself, not noticing how much time had passed until Fu Xuan came to greet him.
"I have matters to attend to and must leave." Fu Xuan, as a Martial Saint, naturally showed respect to another Martial Saint by not leaving without a word. Follow current novels on novel•fire.net
The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint realized that time had passed so quickly.
During this time, he felt a sense of contentment.
Because the atmosphere in the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was excellent, with a pure ambiance of seeking truth enveloping the Pavilion.
The Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint couldn’t help but marvel that the greatest legacy left by Xu Gongming seemed to be this Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion.
If Xu Gongming hadn’t died, within ten years, Jiangning Prefecture would have produced many talents.
Yet the Eastern Barbarian Martial Saint hadn’t given up on his plans for this operation.
After Fu Xuan left, he returned the books to their original place and walked into Jiangning Prefecture.
The Xu Residence was easy to find, with a tall Wutong Tree there.