The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror-Chapter 16 - 14 Martial Arts_2

Up to this point, the dark energy showed no signs of revival.

Xu Qing guesses that Zhao Xiong and his lot will probably not take any action against them for the time being.

Now, combining what Archivist Li has said, Xu Qing speculates that Zhao Xiong and his cohort must be planning something against the treasury silver. Anyway, the fire would not reach them for now.

For further cultivation of the Crane Form or preparation for the child student test, time is needed.

Xu Qing knows that to confront Zhao Xiong now, it's hard to strike a fatal blow; it would instead be a wasteful expense of his own time and energy.

Li Gongpu then went to the Government Office to sign in.

The country prescribes that official work begins at the hour of Mao, hence it is called signing in. But now, the old emperor opens court only once every two or three months, and the officials below naturally slack off following his example.

Therefore, Archivist Li goes to work very leisurely every day.

There's no helping it; if you go early, there's nobody at the Government Office.

If someone goes to the Government Office early in the morning to beat the drum and cry out injustice, they're sure to get a beating.

There's no helping it; if the matters of the commoners go unresolved, at most a life is lost, but if they disturb the Old Masters, the entire county would not have peace.

What's more or less important is self-evident.

...

...

Returning to his small room, Xu Qing takes out a thick anthology of selected essays, all classic pieces from the historical child student tests and provincial tests. Apart from preparing essays for the county test, he now has to deeply understand the essays of the time to be able to write an article in the examination that is both up to par and in line with the current trend.

Moreover, he must clarify which words must be avoided, as they are taboo.

Although the county test is not strict, if someone with an agenda wants to find fault, raising the issue could naturally cause a lot of trouble.

Picking up the thick essay collection, Xu Qing naturally enters the state of "Absolute Focus."

After minor success with the Crane Form, his physique has been somewhat strengthened.

This time "Absolute Focus" made him instantly feel something distinctly different from before.

The pages in his hand flip quickly.

It would not be an overstatement to say he reads ten lines in one glance.

Yet every line is etched into his heart. The meanings of segments of the text, like food entering the intestines and stomach, are rapidly broken down, turning knowledge into nourishment, making his understanding of the essays he has learned extremely thorough.

One by one, the eight-part essay questions appear in his rapid reading, revealing a trail of insights for cracking the problems, corroborated by the excellent essays of others, drawing nourishment from them.

Unknowingly, the pages came to an end.

Buzz buzz buzz!

Xu Qing closes the pages of the book reluctantly, with a buzzing reverberation in his brain and a faint sense of fatigue in his body, more comfortable than any previous withdrawal from "Absolute Focus."

His spirit is still very much alive.

Xu Qing opens the window and looks at the position of the sun outside, estimating that he has been "Absololutely Focused" for at least half an hour in his studies.

This is the longest time ever.

"Is this the effect of minor success in the Crane Form?" Xu Qing is quite delighted.

The duration of "Absolute Focus" has gone from a quarter of an hour when he first arrived to half an hour now, eight times longer, and more efficient at that.

He fetches some blank paper and randomly selects an eight-part essay question, analyzes it, breaks it down, develops it... until the final conclusion is reached smoothly without any delays.

Xu Qing looks at the essay he has just written with satisfaction.

With his current level, even in South Zhili, it indeed qualifies as the work of a Prefecture School scholar.

Prefecture School scholars are relatively young and are at the peak of their physical and intellectual strength. They are the scholars with hopes of passing the imperial examinations and are often the most eager to discuss politics.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

These people often have their circles and control a certain degree of public opinion in the prefectures and counties.

Getting them to do something is very difficult, but getting them into trouble is too easy.

"If County Magistrate Wu does not leave his post, staying in the county school as a Scholar after passing the examination would definitely be better. But since County Magistrate Wu's term ends at the end of this year, the prefecture school will be the better option in the future. This is also to avoid any suspicion."

Li Gongpu is only an Archivist, not a proper scholar, and has no jurisdiction over the county or prefecture schools.

Instead, this connection might cause negative repercussions for the uncle and nephew pair.

Therefore, Xu Qing's current plan is to strive for excellence in the prefectural and institutional examinations, which would enable direct entry into the prefecture school.

At the same time, although many scholars in the prefecture school are quite arrogant, they do represent extensive social resources, and there Xu Qing will have space to display his "talent."

By then, he hopes to access more information related to "Martial Arts" and "Daoist Skill."

After contemplating, Xu Qing continued reading.

This time he did not enter the state of "Absolute Focus," as the skill had just been used and was cooling down.

However, his body was in fine shape, and he did not feel overly fatigued earlier, so recovery was still swift.

It has to be said, "Concentration" is indeed the best exploit.

Whether it's studying or Martial Arts Training, when entering a state of deep focus, even an ordinary person could make noticeable progress.

But humans are not machines and are easily distracted by external factors.

Never mind deep focus – even a slight concentration during study can be extremely difficult.

Under normal circumstances, Xu Qing is also very focused, not only because of his natural talent, but because he knows that every bit of his effort yields rewards.

Why do people of the country inherently love reading and farming? Because these two activities show the clearest results.

...

...

Zhao family's compound.

"Big brother, the documents for the delivery of treasury silver were sent directly to our house. We must go tomorrow," said Zhao Xiong, his complexion ashen and hands trembling as he received the official documents from the hands of his cousin and trusted constable.

The Court doesn't care whether you're sick or not. Once the official documents are issued, there is no room for refusal; you have to die on the road if it comes to that.

Zhao Xiong's cousin, named Zhao Bao, said with vehemence upon seeing Zhao Xiong's expression, "Those guys above, they took plenty of our tributes, and now that something has come up, each one of them is washing their hands of it cleaner than anything."

Zhao Xiong waved his hands and said, "They've heard that County Magistrate Wu is to be appointed as the Imperial Censor of the Inspection Bureau of South Zhili and also oversee Cao Yun matters. There are major interests of influential people involved, they would definitely not wish to offend the soon-to-be Imperial Censor until it's absolutely necessary."

"How could he, a third-grade Scholar, be so easily appointed to an official post of the Pure Stream," exclaimed Zhao Bao in surprise.

Zhao Xiong sneered and said, "Who knows which adept proposed the idea, but they've written a storyteller's script praising County Magistrate Wu as an upright and virtuous Old Master. Now, in the South Zhili region, many storytellers love to recount this script."

"I've heard that story too; it's nothing but fishing for fame," Zhao Bao retorted.

"You must not have heard the final poem," Zhao Xiong said indifferently.

"What poem?" Zhao Bao, having a strong dislike for County Magistrate Wu, had left halfway through the story told a few days ago, and naturally didn't know the ending.

"Sleeping in my government office, I hear the endless whisper of bamboo,

Believing it to be the voice of common folk in distress.

Us minor officials of the prefectures and counties,

Every twig and leaf are of our concern," Zhao Xiong slowly chanted.

"This poem is now beloved by many commoners, and it even caught the attention of a significant figure, who personally praised County Magistrate Wu for having the demeanor of an ancient gentleman..."

"So, the weight of this poem is that substantial," Zhao Bao thought, believing that the commoners were like cattle and horses, naturally indifferent to the poem.

Zhao Xiong said, "However it may be, with this poem, County Magistrate Wu has already won the hearts of the scholars. If we cause trouble before the end of the year, it will only infuriate those above, thinking of us clerks as overly cunning."

"But big brother, with your health, how can you endure such a journey?"

"Anyway, we'll be travelling by waterway; it's not a problem. As for Li Gongpu, you still need to keep up pretenses and refrain from causing any trouble," Zhao Bao verbally agreed.

In his heart, however, he disagreed. Their Zhao family had been the local hegemon and now had to tolerate Li Gongpu, a seemingly inconsequential figure, suddenly rising to power above them. An uncle might tolerate such, but an aunt would not.

He already found out that Li Gongpu's nephew was going to participate in the county examination. That little rascal always stayed indoors, making it hard to find an opportunity, but during the county examination, he would have to leave his home.

The Zhao family had spent so much money and cultivated so many people over so many years in Qingshui County, it was not difficult to find someone willing to risk their life.

Before the county examination, he would find an opportunity to have someone break that little rascal's legs!