Xu Qi'an: I Can Still Be Saved

"The Heart-Seeking Lock is upstairs. Go upstairs from here and keep going until you reach the top floor." Song Tingfeng led him to the top of the stairs and pointed upstairs:

"There are no requirements for this level, but remember to go with the flow. If you're too contrived, your score will drop."

"What's the use of ratings?" Xu Qi'an asked rhetorically.

"Why did you undergo a reverse aptitude test? The grading is divided into four levels: A, B, C, and D. The better the aptitude, the easier it is to be cultivated." Song Tingfeng raised his chin. "I am B."

Zhu Guangxiao said in a muffled voice, "I am Bing."

"I'm a strong, muscular man Xu Qi'an silently made a joke, and climbed the stairs alone. When he reached the second floor, he saw an antique bronze mirror hanging on a red-lacquered pillar directly opposite the stairs.

His reflection appeared in the mirror.

Xu Qi'an felt a sudden pang of fear, his muscles tensed uncontrollably, and then slowly relaxed.

With the mind calmed and free from distractions, a peaceful State of Mind was achieved, and all desires for fame, fortune, and personal gain were relinquished.

The thought that there was something wrong with the mirror had barely crossed my mind before it settled down and I stopped paying attention to it.

The thought of forcibly entering a state of enlightenment subsided.

He turned the corner with light steps and arrived at the second-floor hall, where a Buddha statue was enshrined, with a plump figure and a solemn appearance.

Offerings were laid out on the fragrant bank, and incense smoke curled upwards.

A clerk stood before the Buddha, watching him.

Xu Qi'an calmly examined the Buddha statue for a few moments, then stopped looking and headed towards the stairs to the third floor.

The clerk watched him leave, then lowered his head to write on a piece of paper, seemingly making an evaluation.

The third level enshrines a Daoist deity, dressed in a Daoist robe, holding a wooden sword, and standing on auspicious clouds.

There was also an official standing before the Dharma image, quietly watching Xu Qi'an's arrival.

After Xu Qi'an glanced at the paper a few times and turned to leave, the clerk also picked up his pen and wrote his evaluation on the paper spread out on the table.

The fourth floor enshrines a Confucian School sage, dressed in Confucian robes and a Confucian hat, gazing into the distance.

The officials still stood before the clay statue of the sage, quietly watching Xu Qi'an.

This statue of a saint is exactly the same as the one at the Cloud Deer Academy. Xu Qi'an thought to himself, and left without looking back.

He arrived at the top floor—the fifth floor.

The fifth level enshrines a man dressed in a yellow robe. He stands tall and imposing, his hands resting on a sword. He has sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and exudes a majestic aura.

Xu Qi'an didn't recognize this person, but the bright yellow dragon robe said it all.

A monarch of the Great Feng Dynasty, or its founding emperor.

Upon reaching this point, he suddenly understood the true meaning of the "Question of the Heart." Testing aptitude was only one part; the real meaning was to test a person's moral character.

The purpose of that mirror is to prevent people from doing things against their will, thus discouraging them from deliberately offering incense and worshipping.

Oh no, I didn't worship Buddha, I didn't pay homage to Daoist masters, I didn't worship sages. This shows that I am a person who disrespects gods, Buddhas, and the Four Books and Five Classics.

None of that matters, but I absolutely must worship this person on the fifth floor. If I don't, I'm doomed. A person who has no ruler, no father, and no regard for gods or Buddhas is not tolerated in this era.

What kind of organization are the Nightwatchers?

It was a spy and guard agency subordinate to the emperor.

One may disrespect the three religions (Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism), but one cannot be disloyal to the emperor.

Therefore, the "heart-searching test" is a screening of moral character.

Xu Qi'an was undoubtedly unqualified; he went up five floors in one go without bowing to a single person.

Someone as worthless as me will probably be kicked out of the Nightwatchers's office. That's fine, but the real problem is that the Nightwatchers knows about my crime of framing Zhou Li. Who knows if he'll bring up old grievances because of this?

These thoughts flashed through my mind one by one, then settled down and were automatically ignored.

Xu Qi'an anxiously resisted the "Sage Mode," forcing himself to bow to the king. The two consciousnesses were fighting fiercely, his body stiffened, and his muscles spasmed and trembled.

The official standing before the emperor observed Xu Qi'an for a moment, then brushed past him and went downstairs.

A few minutes later, the official returned, and Xu Qi'an was still standing there, his whole body stiff and trembling, as if his hands and feet were cramping.

The clerk sized up Xu Qi'an as if he were a rare animal, and whispered, "I've already exchanged evaluations with my colleagues downstairs."

The official continued, "When Duke Wei established the 'Test of the Heart,' he gave an instruction that anyone who fails to bow or prostrate themselves on five consecutive floors is undoubtedly a heinous criminal."

Brother, give me another chance!

Xu Qi'an was extremely anxious.

"So Duke Wei gave him another chance, setting up a sixth checkpoint, but no one had ever attempted it before." The clerk looked Xu Qi'an up and down with astonishment. "You're like a scorpion dropping its droppings—one of a kind."

"Relax your body, don't cramp up," he said.

Xu Qi'an stopped fighting against his inner sage mode, adjusted his breathing, and successfully stopped his muscles from twitching.

Only then did I realize that my back was completely soaked.

He followed the official around the king's statue and into a deeper area.

Sunlight streamed through the openwork windows, casting dappled patterns of light on the wooden table in the room.

A line of poetry was carved on the wooden platform.

He slaughtered the enemy chieftain and his million-strong army; the blood on his sword was still fresh.

He returned wielding a golden mace, and none of the court officials dared to utter a word.

The poem you wrote was quite powerful; what does it mean to show me a poem?

Xu Qi'an glanced at the silent clerk, originally intending to slip him some silver notes to extract information.

On second thought, how could a mere clerk possibly understand the thoughts of that powerful eunuch? Impossible.

Don't let yourself be led astray, or you'll only end up in a dead end.

A poetry contest? Impossible; the theme is clearly not about comparing poetic talent. The question of conscience and moral character is the focus, so we must start from that aspect.

If it's a test of moral character, then why did Wei Yuan include this poem here?

Xu Qi'an cleared his mind of distractions and actively used his brain.

The sixth challenge was designed for a materialist like me who has no ruler or teacher, no respect for gods or Buddhas; it was essentially my last chance.

They obviously want to extract some valuable thoughts and virtues from me. If I don't have any, I'm doomed.

Suddenly, Xu Qi'an thought of the precious moral character and the couplet in the lobby on the first floor:

I am willing to dedicate myself to the world with a sincere heart, without seeking personal gain.

The duty of the Nightwatchers watchman was to monitor all officials. Wei Yuan's poem also conveys the meaning of being loyal to the country and suppressing the officials.

Thinking about this, he suddenly understood what the chief eunuch meant.

This poem is presented here not to compete in poetic debate, but to evoke empathy.

If that wicked and unruly individual, without any military or mentor, is truly of a vile nature, then in the test of his conscience, he would be unable to resist his own conscience and force himself to write a poem of empathy.

Conversely, it shows that he still possesses valuable virtues, and Wei Yuan is willing to give him a chance.

Xu Qi'an sighed and held out his hand, "Bring me pen and ink."

The official handed over a writing brush and laid out Xuan paper on the wooden table.

Xu Qi'an held the pen above the paper and closed his eyes.

Although I have no loyalty to the emperor and disdain worshipping gods and Buddhas, I am a true materialist.

But I am not an irredeemable villain. I have justice in my heart and principles in my actions. I have never preyed on the people, nor have I ever used my position as a minor official to extort money, even though this is the norm in society.

Even though I tried desperately to make money.

If you wish to empathize, I will compose a poem, as you desire.

Xu Qi'an put pen to paper without any psychological barriers, writing in his ugly handwriting:

Your food and your salary are the people's hard-earned money.

The common people are easily oppressed, but Heaven is hard to deceive.

The clerk stared blankly at the four sentences on the paper.

He took the Xuan paper, stared intently at Xu Qi'an for a while, and said, "The trial of the heart is over. You may do as you please, but do not leave the yamen before the results are in."

"The qualifications of each Nightwatchers must be personally determined by Duke Wei. I will deliver this to Duke Wei immediately."

He practically ran off the floor, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the stairwell before quickly fading away.

Xu Qi'an felt completely exhausted. He leaned against the wooden platform to catch his breath for a moment before following them downstairs.

Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao were waiting for their colleague on the first floor. When Xu Qi'an came downstairs, they smiled and waved, "How many times have you knelt?"

His smiling face resembled that of a fox.

The official who came downstairs did not tell him the process or the result.

Xu Qi'an opened his mouth, but ultimately chose to remain silent.

Zhu Guangxiao's usually stern face showed a slight furrow in his brow. "You don't look too good."

It wasn't just bad; I felt like I teetered on the brink of death twice. It was more thrilling than a rollercoaster ride. Xu Qi'an shook his head wearily and said:

"I'd like to find a place to sit down, have some tea, and rest for a bit."

Song Tingfeng raised an eyebrow with a smile, "Shall I hire a courtesan for you to massage your shoulders and legs?"

You're like a comedian performing under a bridge. Xu Qi'an nodded with a smile, "Go to the Imperial Academy of Music and invite the courtesan Fuxiang."

Song Tingfeng was taken aback, then burst into laughter. "I had that dream when I was young too."

P. S.: Public chapters need to consider word count and recommendation slots, so I can't update too frequently. I'll update more frequently after it's officially released; six or seven thousand words a day should be the minimum. By the way, there are countless foreshadowing elements in the book, even more than in "The Second Generation Demon." You can try to find them.