Double Agent Zombie

In the third month of spring, under the gentle breeze of peach and plum blossoms.

The locust tree in Xu Qing's courtyard had already sprouted new buds, and the beast-head skull-shaped wind chimes under the eaves tinkled softly. The traps, dug deep and disguised at the base of the walls or behind the doors, lay quietly waiting for a destined visitor.

After a night of cultivation, Xu Qing's internal Yin energy had become increasingly dense and rich. Under his perceptive senses, he could vaguely sense a powerful internal transformation, like clouds and mist swirling within.

However, it was a pity that he now possessed immense cultivation but lacked the means to convert it into usable techniques. To put it simply, he was currently like a zombie in a "red state," only capable of fighting with brute force.

With such a massive accumulation of Yin energy, he should have been a master of sinister arts. Yet, here he was, wearing knuckle dusters and resorting to cheap street tricks. What kind of image was that?

Xu Qing, after deep reflection, decided to make more poison powder and lime powder to carry with him, thereby strengthening his shortcomings in magical attacks.

As for going out to seek the Dao, that was out of the question. His funeral shop business was booming, his neighbors were all pleasant, and his customers never left bad reviews.

With such a stable life, was he out of his mind to go seeking the Dao and learn magic elsewhere?

He spent his days performing rites for the deceased, enjoying free snacks, and occasionally gaining some skills for self-defense and strengthening his body. Wasn't that safer than blindly running around outside in these chaotic times?

Moreover, zombies had no lifespan. He could just as well guard his shop and courtyard, perform rites for the departed, and cultivate his skills, becoming a detached observer amidst the hustle and bustle, watching the clouds drift and the seas turn to stone.

As for Daoist magic, demonic magic, and the like, if fate willed it, they would come. If not, he wouldn't actively pursue them.

After all, only those who endured to the end were the victors.

Dawn broke, outside the Shuimen Bridge residence.

Xu Qing, dressed in a black-collared long gown, with a blue cloth bundle hanging from his hip, looked like a wandering fortune-teller if he were to carry a cloth banner.

Unfortunately, he hadn't learned the art of fortune-telling or physiognomy yet. Otherwise, he could go to Cuiyun Tower and read the palms of those poor girls who couldn't afford clothes, and tell them about their luck in childbirth.

Leaving the residence, Xu Qing, in this very attire, walked through streets and alleys. Occasionally, passersby would ask him if he had any secret medicine for strengthening yang and replenishing the kidneys, as his outfit made him look like a traveling salesman peddling remedies.

"Tiaomen" referred to the wandering quacks in the eight major schools of the Jianghu who treated venereal diseases and sold folk remedies.

Xu Qing rubbed his chin, wondering why, apart from his pale complexion and a slight scent of rouge, he seemed to be mistaken for a doctor treating venereal diseases.

Did he look like that kind of disreputable person!

Xu Qing couldn't be bothered to argue with them, but he was inwardly curious. Why did it feel like the flow of people in Linhe had suddenly increased so much these past few days? At first, he thought it was his imagination, but it wasn't until he encountered scholar after scholar and book boy carrying satchels and baskets that he suddenly remembered that the Spring Examination was approaching.

Linhe Fang was already a bustling place, and with the arrival of these scholars, it became even more boisterous than before.

Poorer scholars set up book stalls on the streets, doing work like reading and writing letters to earn money, a form of self-help.

Xu Qing watched as three or four poor scholars gathered, arguing over naming a newborn baby, and he was filled with emotion.

However, after the scholars received their red envelopes for naming the child, he heard the leading poor scholar say, "I've inquired, and even the cheapest brothel in Linhe costs several qian of silver a night. We're still quite short. We scholars must strive harder."

Xu Qing silently retracted his assessment. So, these poor scholars weren't working to help themselves, but to "work and then have fun"!

As for the scholars from wealthy families, with their powdered faces and oiled hair, they were usually accompanied by servants, book boys, or maids and nannies. Those who knew would understand they were here for the examination, but those who didn't might think they were young masters out for a spring outing to relieve their boredom!

Xu Qing was not of the same ilk as these scholars. He first went to an early morning eatery for a bowl of duck blood soup, then to the market to order a few old hens, after which he leisurely returned to the Corpse Driver's Shop.

About half an hour later, the poultry vendor from the market delivered over a dozen hens. Xu Qing placed them in the back courtyard of the shop to roam freely, scattering some wheat and millet for them, saving him the trouble of buying eggs later.

Xu Qing was genuinely planning for the future.

As for why he didn't raise chickens in the new house he had purchased at Shuimen Bridge, it was because that place was too inauspicious and could not easily sustain poultry.

After settling the hens, Xu Qing returned to the front shop and heard a lively commotion outside. He went out to take a look and saw Wu Yaoxing encouraging two young men at the entrance.

The two young men were Wu Yaoxing's biological son and his distant nephew. This distant nephew had come from the countryside to stay and prepare for the examination to obtain the title of Tong Sheng.

"Zhiyuan, you've taken the Tong Sheng exam before, so you must teach Wencai well. After all, we are family, written on the same clan genealogy!"

Wu Wencai was the child of Wu Yaoxing's distant relative. Seeing his elder's meaningful glance, he somewhat shyly greeted Wu Zhiyuan.

"I'll be troubling you, Brother Zhiyuan, from now on."

Xu Qing heard the names of these two brothers and muttered to himself.

Wu Zhiyuan, Wu Wencai. The Wu family's naming skills were truly extraordinary.

"Younger Brother Xu—you two, come here quickly. This is your Uncle Xu, our neighbor. He's a very good person!"

Wu Yaoxing saw Xu Qing standing at the shop entrance and called out to the two young men to come and pay their respects.

"Uncle Xu (Uncle)."

Xu Qing almost choked on his breath. At his prime age, how had he become an uncle?

Wu Yaoxing chuckled, "Speaking of which, my son stays home reading all day and hasn't met you yet. Now you've met for the first time."

What was he implying? Did he expect me to give his son a red envelope?

Xu Qing was helpless about being elevated a generation out of the blue.

It was no wonder, considering he had become the shopkeeper at such a young age.

After chatting with them for a while, Xu Qing learned that these two grand-nephews were preparing to go to the Government Office for identity verification before the Spring Examination.

The so-called verification was essentially to go to the Government Office in advance with a Travel Permit and Identification Plaque to register. Once your background was confirmed to be clean and without a criminal record, the officials at the Government Office would issue you a written receipt, which was similar to an admission ticket.

Xu Qing heard this and thought, "This is great!"

"Let's go together, let's go together!"

The current situation was turbulent, with frequent unrest in the border regions. Not to mention the rebellion in Beizhao Prefecture, but Nancuo repeatedly invaded Great Yong. If it weren't for the divine soldiers and valiant generals of Shu Land and the natural barrier of Taodu Mountain, they would have already breached the heartland of Great Yong.

Let alone the fact that the Tianxin Cult was already showing signs of rebellion, which would inevitably lead to the imperial court conscripting men for service. Xu Qing certainly didn't want his well-running funeral business to be suddenly shut down because he was drafted as a soldier.

However, if he could obtain the status of a Xiucai Scholar, these troubles would be a thing of the past.

After all, according to the laws of Great Yong, anyone who possessed the Xiucai Scholar title was exempt from military conscription. They also enjoyed numerous other benefits, such as not having to kneel before officials and being exempt from taxes.

"The end of the world really is public service exams," Xu Qing mused. If his previous life's Korea had such a law, he suspected the number of people taking the Xiucai exams each year would stretch from the south of the city to the north!

If you were to ask him where he got the confidence to take the Xiucai exams, it all came down to the Book Scripture he obtained from purifying that Sycophantic Scholar at the Corpse Laborer mill.

The Book Scripture was full of essays and interpretations needed for taking exams. Now that the opportunity to become a Tong Sheng or Xiucai Scholar had arrived, Xu Qing intended to seize it!

Once he had the Xiucai title, he could truly be called a zombie skilled in both literature and martial arts!