Xu Lingyin: Big Bwother

Song Qing waved his hand:

"Instead of thinking of Evil Dao, you should use this energy to forge a body for Chief Minister Wang instead of making toys for Young Master Xu."

The Alchemist had just given the "bad idea" asked:

"What's going on? Is Chief Minister Wang going to die?"

Song Qing shook his head:

"I heard from the people on the first floor that Chief Minister Wang has been ill for a long time and his condition is difficult to cure. It's due to overwork, and if he doesn't take good care of himself, he may not have much time left."

The first floor refers to the Warlock in the large pharmacy. It's worth mentioning that within the Bureau of Astronomy's faction, Song Qing leads the Alchemist, who are skilled in crafting artifacts.

Yang Qianhuan led a group of Warlock on the third floor, specializing in feng shui consultations and selecting burial sites for high-ranking officials, nobles, and commoners.

The Warlock in the large pharmacy on the first floor was working for Zhong Li.

Each faction within the Bureau of Astronomy had its own area of expertise.

"It's useless, it's useless even if we refine it. Chief Minister Wang is just a mortal. His soul has left his body, so he can only be refined into a ghost, not into the body we refine."

A Warlock shook his head. "Wei Yuan is dead. If Chief Minister Wang dies too, tsk tsk, the era of Yuan Jing will be completely over."

Prince's Mansion.

The back garden.

Wang Simu, dressed in a light green silk skirt and a matching jacket, walked side by side with Lin'an, who wore a red skirt.

"How could the Grand Secretary fall ill so suddenly?"

Lin'an pursed her lips and said softly, "Even the Warlock at the Bureau of Astronomy can't do anything about it?"

Her skirt swayed with her graceful steps, revealing glimpses of her deerskin boots. She wore a small phoenix crown, a gold hairpin, and pearl hair ornaments. Her round, oval face was fair and delicate, and her peach-blossom eyes held a hidden charm.

She became increasingly alluring and captivating.

Wang Simu turned his head, looked at Lin'an, with whom he had a close personal relationship, and sighed:

"The Warlock at the Bureau of Astronomy said that Father's illness is caused by worry and overwork, and that he should resign and rest at home. But if he continues like this, he will commit suicide, and what can we do then?"

Lin'an laughed, "These Warlock are still so arrogant."

Wang Simu tightened his fox fur cloak for warmth, his face filled with worry:

"Actually, Father has been ill for a long time and should have been resting. However, the court is beset by internal and external troubles, and his worries have made him ill, which has led to his current condition."

Lin'an frowned slightly, and could only offer words of comfort:

Fortunately, although I am now bedridden, I can at least rest and recuperate.

Wang Simu forced a smile:

"The Warlock from the Bureau of Astronomy said that this was a mental illness, and a mental illness can only be cured with a mental medicine. Before my father fell ill, he was worried about three things: the war in Qingzhou, the refugees, and the Buddhist School in the Western Regions."

"If even one of these three things can be resolved, Father can focus on his recovery."

The displaced people and the empty national treasury are causally related; they are one and the same thing.

Lin'an's two exquisitely shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Wang Simu glanced at her simple-minded best friend and shook her head:

"Forget it, let's not talk about that. If even you gentlemen can't do anything, what can we two women do?"

Lin An pursed her lips, hummed in agreement, and scrutinized Wang Simu before saying:

"Si Muqing has lost a lot of weight; it seems she is both missing Xu Cijiu and worried about the Grand Secretary's health."

Wang Simu looked worried. "The situation in Qingzhou is perilous. He's just a scholar, so I'm naturally concerned. Originally, we were supposed to get engaged in half a month."

Don't be afraid!

Speaking of this topic, Lin'an's eyebrows and eyes perked up again, like a lively little sparrow. "With that dog servant around, even if Qingzhou falls, Xu Cijiu will be fine."

When the conversation turned to the bedridden Chief Minister Wang, she couldn't appear too carefree, so she adopted a somber expression to match her close friend's demeanor.

Wang Simu was taken aback and asked, "Who told you Xu Yinluo is in Qingzhou?"

"Isn't that right?"

Lin'an chattered amongst themselves, "He's out there; he'll definitely be fighting in Qingzhou."

Although she never publicly admitted it, her dog lover was her hero.

"But I heard from my father that the situation in Qingzhou is critical, and Xu Yinluo is not in the army and has not participated in the battle."

Seeing the undisguised disappointment in Lin'an's eyes, Wang Simu quickly changed the subject. "Let's not talk about that. Isn't His Majesty going to help arrange your marriage with Xu Yinluo?"

Lin'an's oval face instantly turned red, and she stammered:

"What did you say? Who said I was going to marry a dog of a servant? Ugh, these rumors are so annoying."

Wang Simu smiled and said:

"We've known each other for years, do you think I don't understand your thoughts? Xu Yinluo is a handsome man and a hero in the eyes of the people, with countless women admiring him. What you need to do is quickly settle down and get him officially recognized."

"Once you have a formal title, you will be his legal wife. The other women will at most be mistresses or illicit lovers from the martial arts world."

"If your status cannot be established, Your Highness, it is not that I admire or look down on you, but without a proper title, you cannot defeat anyone."

Lin'an felt looked down upon and puffed out his cheeks.

In the dead of winter, with the cold wind cutting like a knife, the two pampered princesses did not stroll for long before returning to the inner courtyard with their respective maids and servants along the winding corridors.

Along the way, a middle-aged eunuch with an effeminate demeanor led two young eunuchs out from the inner courtyard, and the two sides met face to face.

"Greetings, Your Highness Lin'an."

The middle-aged eunuch, with two junior eunuchs behind him, bowed respectfully.

"You work in the Emperor's palace. What are you doing here?"

Lin'an recognized him, but couldn't recall his name. He was an eunuch serving the emperor; she only remembered the Grand Eunuch Zhao Xuanzhen.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has instructed me to inform the Grand Chancellor that the Buddhist School of the Western Regions are currently restrained by the remnants of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons and pose little threat to our Great Feng. He has assured the Grand Chancellor that he can focus on his recovery."

"That's what the middle-aged eunuch said."

Overjoyed at this unexpected good news, Wang Simu couldn't help but smile, "What did my father say?"

The middle-aged eunuch said, "The Grand Secretary asked me to convey a message to His Majesty: the court recommendation can proceed."

The Imperial Recommendation (廷推) was a system of recommendation whereby the emperor summoned his ministers to discuss and decide on candidates for important positions.

Wang Simu immediately understood that his father intended to resign from his official post or temporarily step down as Grand Secretary.

Thank you for informing me, sir.

Wang Simu took off a gold bracelet, handed it to the middle-aged eunuch, and asked with a smile:

"Is there any more detailed information? If it's inconvenient, please don't say anything more, sir."

With His Highness Lin'an watching, the middle-aged eunuch dared not accept the bribe and waved his hands repeatedly.

"It's not exactly classified information. Your Majesty told me that these matters seem to be related to Xu Yinluo, who facilitated the alliance between the Great Feng and the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons in the Southern Frontier. The news came back from Qingzhou."

"That's all I know."

Xu Yinluo facilitated the alliance between Great Feng and the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons to restrain Buddhist School. Wang Simu was stunned for a long time before she finally understood why Xu Yinluo was not in Qingzhou.

She couldn't help but turn her head to look at Lin'an.

The smile on the face of my best friend beside me was sweet, proud, and full of smugness.

"He never lets me down." Lin An raised his chin.

At dusk, an exhausted Miao Youfang stood on the canopy of a tree, looking like a weightless paper doll, with only a slender branch under his feet.

Lifting heavy objects with ease, moving as lightly as a feather, a fifth-grade Transformation Force!

Is this the scenery of the Transformation Realm? Miao Youfang faces the rising and setting sun, opening his arms as if embracing the world.

In two and a half months, he made rapid progress from the Qi Refining Realm to the fifth rank, becoming a Transformation Realm martial artist.

Although the dragon energy had long been extracted, it left him with one last gift before that— Xu Qi'an.

Meeting Xu Qi'an and receiving his meticulous guidance was a great blessing bestowed upon him by the dragon's energy.

"Get down!"

Xu Qi'an's voice came from under the tree. "I have something to tell you."

"Okay!"

Miao Youfang landed lightly, tumbling more than a dozen times in the process, showcasing his light-footed skills to the fullest.

Martial artists at the Transformation Stage possess exceptional lightness skills. Upon reaching the Fourth Rank, they can begin to fly.

Xu Qi'an sat by the campfire, boiling water as he spoke:

"Now that you have reached the Transformation Realm, our fate is over. From today onwards, I set you free."

Miao Youfang was stunned. His joy gradually faded, and he twitched his lips, whispering:

"Why? Xu Yinluo, I... I said I would always follow you."

Xu Qi'an said irritably:

"Get lost! You're not a beauty, why are you following me? You're just an eyesore."

After uttering a curse, his expression softened.

When I was still young, I met someone who devoted himself to nurturing me. He was not related to me by blood, but he was willing to train me without expecting anything in return.

"It's only because he thinks I have a strong character and am not someone who will go astray, and believes that I can do something for the people in the future. You should thank him; it is precisely because of this that I am willing to give you a chance."

"Just like he trained me, it was without expectation of reward, without any selfish motives, but solely for the sake of the people of the Central Plains."

Miao Youfang paused for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"Then why, why do you want to drive me away?"

Xu Qi'an laughed:

"I have nothing more to teach you. The fourth rank is a process of refining one's 'intention,' a process for a martial artist to forge their own 'path.' Now it's just right for you to leave."

"Go, Miao Youfang. I look forward to hearing your legend in the martial arts world in the future, to hearing people say that Master Miao is a chivalrous hero who serves the country and its people."

"Isn't becoming a great hero your dream?"

For some reason, Miao Youfang, who was usually all smiles and laughter, unusually showed a serious expression.

"Then, when I travel the world in the future, can I call myself your disciple?"

Xu Qi'an sneered:

"I don't have a good-for-nothing disciple like you. Go your own way and don't get involved with me. Get lost."

Miao Youfang scoffed.

"What's so great about that? I'll definitely become a world-renowned hero someday, then don't beg me to call you that."

He didn't say the word "master".

Miao Youfang weaved through the dense forest, going further and further without lingering.

After walking for more than ten miles, he suddenly stopped and stood still for a long time.

Three days later, in northern southern Southern Frontier.

Xu Qi'an finally met Lina and Xu Lingyin at the agreed-upon place called San Die Pu (Three-Tiered Waterfall), who were two days past the appointed time.

In the distance, I saw a large beggar carrying a small beggar on his back, leaping lightly among the rocks.

They were disheveled, dressed in tattered clothes, and reeked of a sour stench, looking just like refugees fleeing famine.

Lina's eyes were bright and shiny, her delicate face covered in dirt. Xu Lingyin's eyes were dull, her expression wooden, and drool was dripping from the corner of her mouth, like a landlord's silly daughter.

Xu Qi'an was taken aback. "What's going on? What's going on?"

Lina was relieved to see Xu Qi'an and bounced Xu Lingyin on her back:

"Okay, stop pretending, we're safe now."

Xu Lingyin's big eyes immediately brightened, and she happily exclaimed:

"Big pot~"

She jumped off her master's back and pounced on Xu Qi'an.

This sounds like a story, is it related to being two days late? Xu Qi'an reached out, grabbed her by the neck, and flung her away.

"Thump!"

Xu Lingyin crashed into the pool.