owlsbooks Chapter 92 Seeking help from a tiger, but who is the tiger?
Chapter 92 Seeking help from a tiger, but who is the tiger?
But then another problem arose: the academy needed money to enroll children.
Repairing houses requires money, and disciples need spirit stones and pills for cultivation.
The money left by Huang Wenyuan won't last long.
That's why he sent Wang Shouzhou to open a martial arts escort agency and Zhao Shoucheng to set up a shop.
These two businesses, one martial and one academic, along with the academy's talent supply, form the three pillars upon which Qingyun Sect has established itself in Qinghe County.
However, ordinary industries are never something you can just start whenever you want.
Martial arts escort agencies need to occupy territory, shops need to pay commercial taxes, and academies need to enroll children, which involves education; everything has to pass the county government's scrutiny.
Qinghe County was the pasture of the Heavenly God Sect, and Zhao Yuanlang was an outer disciple of the Heavenly God Sect.
Claiming your own territory on someone else's ranch can easily trigger a backlash if you're not careful.
Fortunately, although Mo Wentian's identity has "traveled far away to Shu Prefecture," his influence still remains.
Zhao Yuanlang still believes that Mo Wentian has formed the Golden Core and considers him a powerful backer of the Qingyun Sect.
As long as this powerful backer remains intact, Shen Qing will have the confidence to negotiate with Zhao Yuanlang.
The weeds beside the tombs of the ancestral masters had been cleared away, and Shen Qing knelt down and kowtowed.
"Master, I am going to the county government office. This time, it's not just to guard the mountain gate. If the Ancestral Master is watching over me from heaven, please bless me so that this trip goes smoothly."
The mountain wind howled, stirring the withered grass stems beside the tombstone.
Shen Qing kowtowed three times, stood up, and brushed the dirt off his knees.
It takes less than half an hour to travel from Qingyun Mountain to Qinghe County.
Shen Qing did not use his sword to fly down the mountain, but instead walked down.
As we passed the academy, we heard people moving around inside, probably because Zhong Xiu and the others had started cleaning.
He didn't go in; instead, he went straight out of the mountain gate and headed towards the county town.
In the back hall of the county government office, Zhao Yuanlang was playing chess with Xuanji.
The black and white pieces are intertwined on the chessboard, and the game is in the middle stage.
Upon hearing the announcement, Zhao Yuanlang put down his chess piece and laughed, "Speak of the devil, and he appears. Please come in."
When Shen Qing stepped into the back hall, Zhao Yuanlang had already gotten up to greet him.
After the guests and hosts were seated, Xuanji served tea and withdrew.
Zhao Yuanlang's gaze swept over Shen Qing, and he smiled, "It's been a few days, and Sect Leader Shen looks even better. Once you've completed the Foundation Establishment stage, your lifespan has doubled. Truly a cause for celebration."
"You flatter me, Your Excellency."
Shen Qing bowed slightly and said, "It's just the effect of the pills left by my martial uncle; it's all just luck."
Zhao Yuanlang picked up his teacup: "I heard that Brother Mo has already gone to Shu Prefecture for travel? He left in such a hurry that I didn't even have time to give him a farewell banquet."
"My uncle has always been like this, coming and going like the wind."
Shen Qing's expression remained unchanged. "He returned this time solely for revenge. Now that the revenge is complete, he has no desire to stay any longer. I have tried to persuade him to stay a little longer, but I could not dissuade him."
Zhao Yuanlang nodded, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Shen Qing's waist.
Zhao Yuanlang's eyes twitched slightly. He recognized the storage bag; it was a gift he had personally given to Mo Wentian.
Mo Wentian immediately handed it over to Shen Qing. This willingness to give and this confidence can only mean one thing.
Mo Wentian knew he had a better storage bag and didn't care about this inferior item at all.
Zhao Yuanlang withdrew his gaze, his smile becoming even more gentle: "Sect Leader Shen, is there something you need today?"
Shen Qing didn't beat around the bush. He gently set down his teacup and said seriously, "I've come today to ask for your approval on two matters."
"Speaking."
"Firstly, Qingyun Sect took over several old shops owned by the Huang family in the county town and wanted to set up a market. In addition to the original business of the Huang family, they also took on some religious and Taoist rituals."
"Secondly, Mr. Shen wanted to open a martial arts escort agency in the west of the city, providing escort services for merchants and teaching martial arts to students."
Zhao Yuanlang's hand, which was holding a teacup, froze in mid-air, and the smile on his face faded slightly.
He slowly placed the teacup back on the table and tapped it lightly twice with his fingertips.
Zhao Yuanlang spoke, his tone quite polite, but with a hint of official jargon, "Sect Master Shen, I have been in charge of Qinghe for over ten years, and we have always maintained peaceful relations with your sect."
"I might as well speak frankly. Under the Heavenly God Sect, there is a clear distinction between immortals and mortals; this is an ironclad rule. Cultivators are not allowed to interfere in mortal businesses, both to protect the peace of mortals and to preserve the purity of the cultivator's heart."
"The Huang family has been able to operate in the county town for many years because they follow the path of a cultivation family. They do not have an independent dojo or a lineage sect. To put it bluntly, they are 'cultivators in the mortal world' rather than 'a sect in the mountains'."
"If the Qingyun Sect wants to follow the Huang family's example, I'm afraid I'll have a hard time explaining myself to the sect."
Shen Qing didn't rush to reply. He had already anticipated Zhao Yuanlang's words before he even came down the mountain.
The distinction between immortals and mortals is not just empty talk in the cultivation world of Chuzhou; it is a red line drawn by the Heavenly God Sect.
In the past, the ancestors of Qingyun Sect had considered setting up businesses at the foot of the mountain, but each time they faced the incumbent magistrate of Qinghe County, they returned empty-handed.
In the end, the Qingyun Sect could only confine themselves to Qingyun Mountain. Although they gained freedom on the mountain, they were also extremely poor.
But at this moment, Shen Qing held two cards in his hand: one was the lingering influence of Mo Wentian, and the other was something that could change the situation of Qingyun Sect.
"The county magistrate is absolutely right."
Shen Qingdao said, "There is a distinction between immortals and mortals, and this is a fundamental principle. The Qingyun Sect would never dare to violate this law, but Your Excellency, please allow me, Shen, to explain in detail."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanlang feigned curiosity: "Oh? Sect Leader Shen, please speak. I am all ears."
"Your Excellency, the disciples of Qingyun who have descended the mountain this time are all hopeless Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their cultivation path has come to an end, and staying on the mountain is nothing but a waste of time. Rather than letting them do nothing, it would be better for them to go down the mountain and find a way to make a living and support themselves."
After a pause, Shen Qing continued, "Furthermore, I do not intend to make exorbitant profits in the secular world as a cultivator. The Martial Arts Escort Agency uses martial arts skills, teaches fist and staff techniques, and follows the secular escort route."
"The shops in the market are merely a return to the old Huang family business, operating as ordinary merchants. My disciples of Qingyun do not show off our skills in front of ordinary people, nor do we bully the weak or engage in monopolistic practices. Everything is done in accordance with the rules and taxes of Qinghe County. If Your Excellency is not at ease, you may send someone to supervise us."
Zhao Yuanlang remained silent, his face revealing little emotion, but the fingertips that had been tapping on the table had stopped.
Seeing this, Shen Qing knew he was weighing his options, so she continued speaking.
"As for the jobs that the county magistrate arranged for Qingyun's disciples in the county government, I am extremely grateful. However, these disciples are not very talented and it would be difficult for them to work in the government. It would be better to let them make a living with their skills."
"Martial arts, escorting goods, and trading in the market are all ultimately just to give them food to eat, so that they won't become unemployed vagrants after they leave."
Zhao Yuanlang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and remained silent. The back room was quiet for a moment.
Shen Qing felt it was time to reveal his trump card. He took out a silk scroll from his sleeve and presented it to Zhao Yuanlang with both hands.
"Your Excellency, this is the second matter I wish to discuss."
Zhao Yuanlang took the silk scroll, his gaze swept over the cover, and his eyes narrowed slightly. Several large characters were written on it: The Method of Opening Up Spiritual Fields.
"This method was left to me by my master, Mo Wentian, before he left. It can combine the energy of the mountain's roots and the earth's veins with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, allowing one to cultivate spiritual fields in the mountains and plant spiritual grains and herbs."
"Your Excellency, although the spiritual energy of Qingyun Mountain is scarce, the mountain's roots and veins are still intact. If we can use this method to cultivate spiritual fields and grow spiritual plants, we can solve the problem of Qingyun Sect's lack of resources."