Deliberations Below the Hall

Deliberations Below the Hall

In a large residence somewhere in the southeast of Auspicious Light City.

The lights here were blazing, and had been lit all night.

Quite a few young affairs officials and scholars sat in the main hall. They were whispering among themselves, occasionally glancing toward the doorway as if waiting for something.

In the seat of honor sat a young scholar in his thirties, with soaring sword-like brows and a heroic bearing. He wore a round-collared robe of blue-green cloth, his features upright and his expression stern, giving him an air of great authority.

A burst of hurried footsteps came from outside. Everyone looked over at once and saw a scholar hurrying in, his face alight with excitement. As he crossed the threshold, he stumbled and staggered.

But he paid it little heed. Pushing aside those who tried to support him, he raised the slip in his hand and waved it. "Sir, everyone, the news from the Profound Residence has been confirmed. The people who broke into Taiyang Academy this time really were from the Divine Commandery Army."

At these words, everyone seated on either side brightened at once.

The scholar eagerly stepped forward and handed the slip to the young scholar in the seat of honor. The latter took it and opened it. "Su Kuang?" His gaze shifted to the attendant standing nearby. "Xiao Wu, do you know this man?"

The attendant bowed and replied, "Sir, this man is a rising talent within the Divine Commandery Army. He is especially skilled at prying into secrets and concealing himself, and is highly valued by Commander Pang."

Someone in the hall sneered. "A member of the Divine Commandery Army actually dared to barge openly into Taiyang Academy during the Scholars' Deliberation, wreak havoc, and even attempt to take lives. What are they trying to do? Tomorrow, we must demand a clear explanation in the Metropolitan Hall!"

This proposal immediately won the approval of many.

Someone else said, "Fortunately, the Profound Residence responded effectively this time. Not only did they keep the Divine Commandery Army from succeeding, they also captured the chief culprit. We absolutely cannot let this rare opportunity slip away!"

Everyone nodded. In this year's Scholars' Deliberation, they had gained a slight upper hand over previous years. They had originally thought it would be good enough merely to preserve that advantage until the end, yet they had not expected the Divine Commandery Army to expose such a massive flaw at the very end.

The young scholar set down the slip. "Then let us discuss how best to make use of this matter."

Everyone promptly pulled themselves together and voiced their opinions in turn.

Once their views had been unified, they discussed and drafted a plan. After reviewing it several times and finding no further omissions, they finalized it.

Seeing that the matter had been settled, the young scholar rose. "Then, gentlemen, please return for now. At tomorrow's Scholars' Deliberation, we shall proceed accordingly!"

All the scholars stood and solemnly bowed to him.

After seeing everyone off, the young scholar left the reception hall and returned to his study. Though it was already dawn, he remained full of energy.

After sitting down, he took a sip of clear tea to settle his thoughts, then asked the attendant following him, "When I looked over that slip just now, I saw that one of the two who captured Su Kuang was a Gentleman Zhang. Could that be the same man who slew the Yao Salamander before?"

The attendant replied, "Yes, it was him."

The young scholar nodded slightly. "Good thing those two were there."

He knew very well that if Taiyang Academy had truly been damaged this time, even if it had only been an unimportant miscellaneous storehouse, once word spread, it would inevitably shake the Protectorate Office's confidence in the Profound Residence.

If you could not even protect Taiyang Academy right under your nose, how could you safeguard the peace of the Protectorate Office?

It would also put them in an extremely passive position. They might even have to surrender the advantage they had previously gained in the Scholars' Deliberation.

At this moment, the attendant said, "Sir, there is one more matter, also concerning that Gentleman Zhang." He stepped forward and whispered several words into the young scholar's ear.

"Oh? There was such a thing?"

The young scholar was moved upon hearing the news. He sighed, "It seems this Gentleman Zhang has brought us more than one surprise."

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Xiao Wu, make arrangements for me to meet this Gentleman Zhang sometime." Raising his teacup, he added, "It would be far too great a waste for such talent to be buried in the Profound Residence."

The attendant said, "Sir intends to have him transfer to the Metropolitan Hall to govern affairs? But Gentleman Zhang is in the Profound Residence. He can cultivate the method, extend his lifespan, and stand aloof from worldly matters. He may not be willing to come."

The young scholar laughed. "No one is stopping him from cultivating. I simply believe that the Metropolitan Hall would make it easier for him to display his talents. In Celestial Xia, rites and music—rites are the ordering of authority, music the expansion of force. Authority and force have never been separate, and practicing rites and music is precisely what we Celestial Xia people ought to do."

The attendant cupped his hands. "Yes, sir. I will arrange it."

After another moment's thought, the young scholar said, "Hmm, we should still respect Chief Officer Xiang's opinion. If he values Gentleman Zhang greatly, then let it go."

"Wait."

The attendant was about to leave when the young scholar called him back again. "After this month, Mo'er will be seven. Next month, send him to the Academy's elementary school. It would be best if this Gentleman Zhang could teach him."

The attendant said earnestly, "Rest assured, sir. I will see it done."

At the same time, another conversation was taking place in the Affairs Hall of the Profound Residence.

Fan Lan said, "Senior Brother, it has already been investigated clearly. That laborer called Yang Da was indeed a pawn planted by the Divine Commandery Army. His purpose was to ruin our Profound Residence's reputation during the Scholars' Deliberation. Fortunately, Junior Brother Zhang was there this time and brought the disturbance under control in time."

Xiang Chun nodded slowly. The entire affair, from beginning to end, had been filled with crudeness and brutality—straightforward and undisguised. But that was the Divine Commandery Army's usual style, because they had long since grown accustomed to being unreasonable.

He asked, "How did Junior Brother Zhang discover this?"

Fan Lan said, "Junior Brother Zhang said that during the years he traveled east of Peace Mountain, he had seen similar things. In the indigenous language, they are called 'Napuzhacha,' meaning 'those who spread disease.' They mainly explode themselves, scattering the bodily fluids stored within them. So long as a living person is contaminated, they become a source of epidemic transmission. The Divine Commandery Army's intentions this time were exceedingly malicious."

Xiang Chun asked again, "Did Junior Brother Zhang say why he went to the miscellaneous storehouse?"

Fan Lan replied, "I asked. Junior Brother Zhang said he had gone to purchase medicinal materials. I also checked, and it was true. He had asked someone to handle the matter before he entered the Profound Residence. It should merely have been a coincidence."

Xiang Chun nodded. "Good. You have worked hard, Junior Brother Fan."

Fan Lan smiled. "What hardship was there for me? Junior Brother Zhang and Junior Sister Xin were the ones who stopped the Divine Commandery Army's scheme this time. It had nothing to do with me. By the way, Senior Brother, how should Su Kuang be dealt with?"

Xiang Chun said gravely, "Watch him carefully. Do not let him die. This man is more valuable alive than dead."

Fan Lan said, "I understand." He cupped his hands. "If there is nothing else, then I shall take my leave first."

Xiang Chun rose to see him out. When he turned back, Xu Ying had already emerged from the side hall. "That Zhang Yu—his sword is no ordinary one. It is very likely a magical artifact."

Xiang Chun waved a hand. "That is nothing. Junior Brother Zhang is a Xia descendant. Perhaps his ancestors had ties with some Old Cultivator. He likely relied on that sword to slay the Yao Salamander before. What I fear is that he may rely on it too heavily, affecting his cultivation in the future."

He did not care much about this matter. Old Cultivators might attach great importance to such magical artifacts, but in the eyes of New Method cultivators, such things needed constant refinement and consumed too much effort. It was better to focus on the Seal of the Great Dao.

Besides, although those magical artifacts could serve as support for now, once one's cultivation rose, they became chicken ribs—tasteless to eat, yet a pity to throw away. Long dependence on them would instead harm oneself.

Xu Ying said, "Senior Brother fears it will affect his cultivation? I think this is just right. There is no need to correct it."

Xiang Chun fell silent for a moment, then sighed and nodded.

Now that the Showy Forest Strategy had received the Profound Chief's approval, Bai Qingqing and Zhang Yu were precisely the two people they had chosen to push to the forefront.

If the two possessed a certain degree of combat strength, it would instead better ensure their survival and more easily draw the gaze of outside forces and hostile parties.

Under such circumstances, all they could do was pull up the seedlings to help them grow, raising the two men's combat strength as much as possible. As for matters like foundations, there was no need to think too much about them. The Profound Residence did not expect them to cultivate to profound heights; it only needed them to provide cover for the truly outstanding talents.

Seeing that Xiang Chun was still sighing, Xu Ying advised, "Senior Brother, there is no need for regret. As disciples of the Profound Residence, having received its teachings, they ought to give something in return. Once Martial Nephew Ji grows up, everything will improve."

Xiang Chun shook his head. "I am not regretting it. Since the decision has already been made, further thought is useless. It is only that Junior Brother Zhang understands many indigenous tribal languages east of Peace Mountain and knows all manner of hidden secrets there. It would truly be a pity to push out such a talent just like this."

Xu Ying seemed to think of something and said in surprise, "From Senior Brother's meaning, could it be that you also wish to seek that thing?"

Looking out through the Affairs Hall window, Xiang Chun said in a low voice, "That thing may be of no use to us, but if we can find it first, it will be greatly advantageous to us!"

Xu Ying lowered his head and thought for a while. "I have also read Junior Brother Fan Lan's assessment of these two. In terms of ambition and aptitude, that Bai Qingqing should be a cut above. Since that is so, we might as well push Bai Qingqing to the front first and delay Zhang Yu a step. But we cannot abandon him either. We should still teach him what ought to be taught. If Bai Qingqing encounters a problem, Zhang Yu will have to take his place and continue providing cover for Martial Nephew Ji!"