The County Magistrate Offers His Daughter

County Magistrate Zhang stood at the door,

an ingratiating smile squeezed onto his plump, round face.

Behind him stood a woman who had not been there before.

The woman wore delicate makeup and was dressed in silk and satin, with gold hairpins and jade ornaments in her hair. She held a tray bearing an incense burner and three sticks of Sandalwood Incense.

Although she stood meekly behind County Magistrate Zhang with her head lowered, her eyes kept stealing glances at Gao Yunyi, and not even her delicate makeup could hide the blush on her cheeks.

"Exalted Immortal, you must be weary from your journey. I shall leave a maidservant here to attend to you. Whatever you need, please feel free to instruct her to do it."

Though County Magistrate Zhang spoke with a perfectly serious expression, his little scheme was loud enough for all of Heyang County to hear.

A maidservant?

Wasn't that his daughter?

That big round face of hers looked as though it had been carved from the same mold as his, and who had ever seen a maidservant dressed in silk and satin, decked out in gold and jade?

I might not be from ancient times, but I still know these basics, all right?

And what's he trying to do? Use those feudal tricks to corrupt me, a successor to socialism?

He really underestimates me.

"Put the things down, and all of you leave."

Gao Yunyi resolutely rejected County Magistrate Zhang's kind offer.

"Yes, yes, yes."

County Magistrate Zhang nodded hurriedly, then told the woman behind him to put the things on the table in the room. He respectfully withdrew with her, closing the door behind them.

As soon as they stepped outside,

the woman cast aside her meek and obedient demeanor.

"Daddy..."

"Calling me Daddy won't help. I've done everything I could to help you. If the immortal doesn't fancy you, there's nothing I can do. I think you should give up on this."

Faced with his daughter's wheedling, County Magistrate Zhang spoke helplessly.

The woman looked unwilling to give up, but she understood that things had come to this and that making a fuss would do no good. She could only leave, dejected and disappointed.

"My daughter is hailed as the greatest beauty in Heyang County. Who would have thought that, in the immortal's eyes, she would be no more than a common willow, unworthy of even a proper glance? Just how beautiful must the Heavenly Immortal Maidens be?"

County Magistrate Zhang looked up at the sky, as though he wanted to peer through its veil and behold the immortal beauty and divine grace of the maidens in heaven. But apart from a few white clouds, he saw nothing.

"Your Excellency, what are you looking at?"

Constable Chen, who had been summoned, followed the magistrate's gaze and looked up at the sky as well.

"An immortal maiden," County Magistrate Zhang replied.

Constable Chen's eyes lit up at once. "An immortal maiden? Where? Where is she? Why can't I see anything?"

County Magistrate Zhang lowered his gaze and looked at Constable Chen as though he were a fool.

"Come inside with me."

With that, County Magistrate Zhang left.

Constable Chen was left alone, disheveled in the wind once more.

Inside the room,

Gao Yunyi, having finished bathing, placed the lit Sandalwood Incense in the burner, then bowed respectfully and devoutly toward the empty air.

His gaze was solemn and his expression grave, as though he were undertaking a matter of incomparable sanctity.

He first learned the Dao Robe Blueprint in his backpack, and the option to craft the Mystic Azure Dao Robe appeared under Crafting in his life skills.

Gao Yunyi took a deep breath, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and shut out the distracting thoughts in his head. With a thought, he selected craft.

Azure light streamed from Gao Yunyi's body, then gathered in midair like flowing water, forming a dazzling orb of light.

Inside the azure orb, a piece of equipment in the form of a robe slowly took shape.

The spectacle did not last long. The azure light soon faded completely, and a piece of equipment appeared in Gao Yunyi's backpack.

Mystic Clear Dao Robe

Quality: Common.

Defense: 21.

Crafted by: Gao Yunyi.

Level: 10.

Sect: Azure Profound Sect.

Zhang Yunyi: "..."

Common.

It was actually Common equipment.

The first piece of equipment he had crafted with his own hands in this real world was actually Common.

Gao Yunyi couldn't accept it. His composure nearly crumbled on the spot.

Could it be that the time was wrong, or the place was wrong? It was also possible that he hadn't performed the ritual with enough devotion and respect just now.

What did crafting equipment depend on?

The right time, the right place, and harmony among people—none could be missing.

No.

He had to choose another time and another place.

It wasn't really Gao Yunyi's fault for losing his composure. He didn't have many materials in his backpack, only enough to craft two robes.

Fortunately, clothes, hats, and shoes all used the same materials. Otherwise, he might have been even more upset.

The cost of trial and error was too high; he had no choice but to count every coin.

His thoughts were a little unsettled. That wouldn't do; it would affect his success rate at crafting equipment.

Having decided to choose another time, Gao Yunyi immediately entered a state of Meditative Samadhi.

Meanwhile,

in the study.

County Magistrate Zhang had finished listening to Constable Chen's report on everything that had happened during the expedition to Crouching Ox Mountain to wipe out the bandits.

Constable Chen had told him everything, down to the smallest detail, except that he had fabricated the account concerning the woman.

According to him, the woman had been found in the bandit chief's room. By the time they found her, only her disfigured head remained, and because her identity was unknown, they had brought it back with them.

To County Magistrate Zhang, a disfigured woman of unknown identity was unimportant. What he cared about was the forty-two bandit heads.

That was solid, undeniable merit.

The immortal was truly a good omen! He had only just descended to the mortal world and had already delivered him a monumental achievement.

The only problem facing County Magistrate Zhang now was how to write the Memorial to the Court.

"Do not worry, Master. Since the immortal does not care for such worldly fame, simply leave out his honored name. Say that, to spare the people of Heyang County the scourge of banditry, you personally led the County Yamen's elite forces, devised your strategy from your command tent, won through an unexpected move, and then destroyed the bandits' lair and wiped them all out in one stroke."

The adviser at his side spoke up.

"Is... is that really all right?"

County Magistrate Zhang's heart pounded wildly at those words, but he still put on a reluctant expression.

"Why would you say that, Master? The immortal said himself not to include his name in the memorial. This is the immortal's decree; how would we mortals dare disobey? Since the immortal seeks neither fame nor profit, you, as the head of this county, must naturally take up this heavy burden."

The adviser spoke with utmost sincerity as he urged him on.

"Then... very well."

After a painful struggle within himself, County Magistrate Zhang ultimately accepted the suggestion of his trusted adviser.

He then turned a meaningful gaze on Constable Chen.

"That's right. Your Excellency personally led us up Crouching Ox Mountain, wiped out every last bandit, and won a complete victory. All of us constables and yamen runners can attest to it."

Constable Chen hurriedly replied in a firm, ringing voice.

At last, County Magistrate Zhang nodded in satisfaction.

"Good, write it just like that. Wenqian, draft the memorial. I'll put my seal on it, and then we'll send someone at full gallop to deliver it to the Dingzhou Prefectural Yamen."

"I shall see to it."