Childhood Skill

The dark chamber was still belching thick smoke.

Part of the stone wall in one corner had peeled away, but the main structure had not tilted.

Zhang Jian noticed that the dozen or so rune paintings on the central wall had somehow remained undamaged. In his eyes, they were instead giving off a faint, glimmering light.

They really were glowing.

He immediately stepped closer to the dozen or so rune paintings.

Upon closer inspection, the dozen or so paintings were ancient and cryptic, white paper edged in gold. Every one was covered in rune-lines formed from countless red dots, incomparably intricate.

A glint lit his eyes. After carefully examining the dozen or so rune paintings, Zhang Jian's gaze subtly shifted. He saw the runes within each painting begin to leap, forming strands of starlit rune-lines glowing with jade-like radiance.

The rune-lines changed, eventually becoming individual runes that manifested along their paths.

With a single glance, he had seen through the secret within these paintings.

It was an essay!

"..." Yet Zhang Jian's face stiffened slightly. He discovered that he did not recognize these strange runes.

Even if he had seen through their mystery, it was utterly useless!

"..."

Without enough learning, he truly did not even deserve to cultivate immortality!

Zhang Jian kept a stiff face, silently griping in his heart.

But he promptly memorized some of the symbols. Now that he knew these runes existed, the process of deciphering them should not be difficult.

Not to mention, he could still fleece the ancestral shrine for some benefits.

"A consolation prize isn't bad either!"

Zhang Jian's gaze fell again on the two exploded bookshelves. Many ancient books had been consumed by the flames or reduced to ash.

His eyes settled once more on the volume of "Heavenly Dipper Boy Skill."

He casually picked it up and took the opportunity to read while tidying the room.

Since Zhang Yi had allowed him into the dark chamber to clean up, he had clearly tacitly permitted him to access the books within.

Just as he had expected, the "Heavenly Dipper Boy Skill" was also a superior method of internal refinement. The inner breath cultivated through it was supremely hard and supremely yang, fierce beyond compare.

This thick volume contained the complete cultivation methods for all five stages of internal refinement. Its value far surpassed ordinary internal refinement techniques.

However, it also had a requirement.

Before reaching the Innate stage, one had to preserve a boy's body, lest the hard-yang inner breath lack true yang.

For Zhang Jian, this posed no difficulty at all.

The response to the Zhang family's submission of the large waterwheel blueprint came swiftly.

Before long, a special envoy arrived from the prefectural city and entered Fengxi County.

Within the county office, a middle-aged official in a green robe and azure cloud boots saw off the arrogant envoy with a beaming smile. Yet the moment he turned around, his face darkened so deeply it seemed water might drip from it.

The many officials nearby saw that the county magistrate was in a foul mood and hurriedly took the chance to slip away.

In the rear courtyard, Yang Qing's expression was icy as he stared at the enormous plaque before him, wrapped in red silk.

Four large gilded characters had been inscribed upon the plaque. It was an imperial gift.

"A family that accumulates virtue—what a fine 'family that accumulates virtue'!"

Yang Qing gnashed his teeth in hatred.

The northern lands were suffering a severe drought. If he could have presented that improved waterwheel at such a time, even if he could not gain promotion, he would at least have received an excellent performance rating in the Ministry of Personnel's assessment this year. That would have been of immense help to his prospects of being transferred to govern a major county in the future.

Yet the auspicious omen already in his grasp had been swallowed whole by the Zhang family.

Yang Qing was both furious and helpless.

He was the dignified magistrate of Fengxi County, yet he had not even known that an auspicious omen had appeared right beneath his nose. His patron behind him would surely be deeply disappointed in him.

But the Zhang family was indeed troublesome and not easy to retaliate against.

The resentment lodged in Yang Qing's chest simply would not come out, no matter what he did.

"Master, the Zhang family truly is far too arrogant and disdainful. You are Fengxi's father-and-mother official. No matter how one looks at it, the Zhang family should never have gone around you!"

The adviser beside him, Zhao Xing, lowered his head. He could see that Yang Qing was already enraged, and an odd expression appeared on his face.

Blocking a man's path to advancement was like murdering his parents.

This time, the Zhang family's decision to keep everything for themselves had finally thoroughly angered Yang Qing.

His words were like oil poured onto a fire for Yang Qing. Yang Qing's breathing quickened.

"Hmph. To the imperial court, these great local clans are all malignant tumors. They disregard the court's laws and regulations, prey upon the local people, and treat the laws of our dynasty as if they were nothing. How could I tolerate them!"

Yang Qing's face remained calm, but cold light surged in his eyes.

Seeing this, Zhao Xing seized the chance to step forward. "Master, I have an idea. Perhaps it can help you vent some of this anger."

"What idea do you have?"

Yang Qing paused and glanced at Zhao Xing. He still trusted Zhao Xing greatly.

He had investigated him. Zhao Xing had originally been a local poor scholar, once a figure who had formed alliances and made friends everywhere. In his early years, he had run a gambling house, but after offending the Zhang family, not only had his property been seized, even his beautiful wife and concubines had become playthings for others. It was impossible for him and the Zhang family to be birds of a feather.

Moreover, Zhao Xing had murky ties with some bandits outside the city. His background was far from clean, and Yang Qing held leverage over him, so he could rest easy.

A sinister smile appeared on Zhao Xing's horse-like face as he said:

"Master, isn't the Zhang family so bold because they rely on Zhang Six and Zhang Four? Never mind Zhang Six. Isn't Zhang Four currently suppressing bandits? If he fails in the campaign, you can accuse Zhang Kui of losing his troops and disgracing the country, dishonoring the army's might, then arrest and execute him!"

The corners of Zhao Xing's mouth curled upward.

"Without the soldiers under Zhang Four's command, wouldn't a mere local great clan be yours to knead and squeeze however you pleased?"

Fourth Master Zhang was Zhang Kui.

Years ago, with the Zhang family's backing, Zhang Kui had secured the position of Fengxi County's commandant. He oversaw bandit-capturing and patrol inspections in Fengxi County, with the county's soldiers under his command. It was a force that even the county magistrate feared.

Yang Qing was not afraid of Zhang Duan. Distant water could not put out the fire at hand!

But when facing that burly, hot-tempered Fourth Master Zhang, he did not dare act rashly.

Yang Qing looked at Zhao Xing blandly, his eyes deep. "You are quite vicious."

Yet something felt strange to Yang Qing. He did not know whether Zhao Xing had merely stumbled upon the idea by chance or had already seen through his intentions.

In truth, even without the Zhang family presenting this auspicious omen, he had been preparing to move against Zhang Kui.

He had endured for two years in his position as magistrate of Fengxi County.

There could only be one voice in Fengxi County: the Fengxi County office.

He absolutely could not tolerate anyone else's authority standing above that of Yang Qing.

Facing Yang Qing's cold, suspicious gaze, Zhao Xing lowered his brows and obediently said:

"Since I am the adviser Master hired and receive Master's salary, I must naturally consider Master's interests!"

"Zhang Yi's disrespect toward Master is naturally my enemy as well!"

Yang Qing nodded. "Well said. If the great households of Fengxi County all served the court as loyally as you do, how could there be such chaos? Some people enjoy the benefits granted by the court, yet gnaw away at its foundations at every turn. Such traitorous rebels deserve to be sliced into a thousand pieces!"

By the end, Yang Qing's eyes were filled with chilling murder.

Zhao Xing silently lowered his head.

Yang Qing reined in his anger, looked at the plaque reading "A Family That Accumulates Virtue," and let out a derisive laugh before adding:

"Oh, right. Haven't quite a few wandering heroes arrived in Fengxi recently? Spread the word for me: the Zhang family has grain, and plenty of money besides!"

Zhao Xing nodded slightly.