The perks of having an organization at your back

The message has been sent.

No one responded or shouted "666" for a long time. Xu Qi'an sat at the table and waited for a long time before he realized that these guys had gone offline.

"How rude! They didn't even say goodbye before logging off. A bunch of rude netizens," he thought to himself.

After putting away the jade mirror and locking the door, Xu Qi'an blew out the candles, lay on the bed, and let his thoughts wander.

The Heaven and Earth Society was a relatively loose organization; its members communicated with each other, yet were also wary of one another.

This is understandable. After all, they are scattered all over the world, and may not even be from the Great Feng Dynasty. It is normal for them to be a little wary of each other.

The most visible benefit at present is information sharing.

This is very important.

Isn't this just a chat platform? If you chat well online, maybe you'll have a chance to meet up in person someday?

Number Two is in Yunzhou, which is too far away. His status must be quite high, otherwise how could he access the household registration records of various prefectures and counties?

Number One is also in Beijing; he's a person of real status and position, far superior to someone like me, a nobody, and the one I should be most wary of.

Lu Hao had warned me before not to respond to Jiu Hao, saying that he was also in Beijing.

Number One and Number Six are the next people I need to focus on. The other members are separated by thousands of miles, so even if they find out my identity, it won't be a big problem because there's no conflict of interest.

Number One and Number Six are the kind of netizens who say, "You just wait, I'm coming to get you," and they mean what they say.

Conversely, if I can reach a friendly, informal deal with them, these two are like close neighbors who can help me solve my immediate problem.

The others are not online yet.

It feels like playing Werewolf, so interesting!

As he pondered, he drifted off to sleep.

The night was as still as water, and the moonlight as white as frost.

Amidst the howling cold wind, the lights of Lingbao Temple shone brightly in the darkness.

Since the head of the Human Sect was appointed as the National Preceptor, the main base of the sect has been moved to the capital city, and the current emperor has built a magnificent Daoist temple for the Human Sect.

A luxurious sandalwood carriage stopped outside the Daoist temple, Wei Yuan, wearing a blue cloak, descended the small steps.

The young Daoist priest guarding the gate respectfully welcomed him inside.

Passing through the courtyard, corridor, and garden, you arrive at a spacious, quiet room.

After the young Daoist left, Wei Yuan knocked on the door with his fingers.

The lattice door swung open automatically, and a cool, clear voice rang out. "Duke Wei, your esteemed presence is an honor to have you grace us with your presence. This humble Daoist is filled with trepidation."

Ignoring the sarcasm in Wei Yuan's words, he stepped over the threshold and entered the room. The room was cold and quiet, with the scent of sandalwood wafting from the table.

A screen separates the front hall from the couch, and behind the screen, a graceful figure can be vaguely seen sitting cross-legged.

Wei Yuan's expression and tone were indifferent. "What happened at the Earth Sect?"

The female imperial advisor's voice belied her age; it possessed both the clear, melodious quality of a young girl and the gentle, alluring charm of a mature woman.

"Duke Wei is knowledgeable in astronomy and geography; why would he need to consult a lowly scholar?"

Wei Yuan shook his head, "It's nothing more than that I once scolded you: 'Women and petty men are the most difficult to deal with,' and now you hold a grudge?"

The person behind the screen remained silent.

"The Nightwatchers possesses a fragment of the Earth Book. Do you want it?"

"That's something from the Earth Sect."

Wei Yuan nodded, then turned and left.

As they exited Lingbao Temple, Yang Yan, who was waiting by the carriage, approached them. "Godfather, have you found out any news?"

Wei Yuan shook his head. "The female Daoist leader is unwilling to speak, but something has definitely happened to the Earth Sect."

Once inside the carriage, Wei Yuan brought his icy hands close to the beast-head brazier. After his body warmed up, he said in a deep voice:

"In recent years, natural disasters have occurred frequently and man-made calamities have arisen everywhere. The fate of the Great Feng Dynasty is not right. The major cultivation systems have also exposed problems one after another."

"I have a feeling something's about to happen."

Yang Yan frowned. "Is Father overthinking this? The other day when we went to the Bureau of Astronomy, the director said the celestial phenomena were all normal."

Wei Yuan sighed, "Those who pry into the secrets of heaven are the least trustworthy."

He paused, his expression turning serious and resolute. "Find out the current situation of the Earth Sect at all costs."

Yang Yan: "Disciples of the Earth Sect have always been low-key, appearing and disappearing like dragons."

Wei Yuan's eyes suddenly sharpened. "I said, at all costs."

Rarely seeing his godfather in such a solemn and serious posture, Yang Yan lowered his head and said, "Yes."

Early in the morning, Xu Lingyin, wearing a thick cotton-padded coat, held a dry twig in her hand and chased after a flock of geese as young as herself with her short legs.

Seeing her elder brother approaching, Xu Lingyin put her hands on her hips and proudly declared, "Elder brother, elder brother, I'm now unrivaled among my peers!"

Xu Qi'an looked at her. "So stupid it's unbelievable."

Xu Lingyin anxiously retorted, "It's not that I'm stupid to an extreme degree, it's that I'm incredibly stupid."

As she spoke, she waved a few dry branches, indicating that she was invincible in a fight.

The little boy explained, "My sister said that no child my age in the house can beat me; I'm the strongest."

"Because you're the only child in the household," Xu Qi'an said. "Sister isn't lying to you."

Xu Lingyin was overjoyed, and on her way to dinner with her older brother, she walked with an air of nonchalance, as if she didn't recognize anyone.

At the dining table, Auntie ate her breakfast elegantly, casually remarking, "Master, it seems Lingyue is of marriageable age."

It's been a long time since then. Girls from ordinary families can get married at fourteen. The Xu Household is a wealthy family, so there's no need for them to rush to marry off their daughter, but seventeen is indeed the age for marriage.

Because if you don't get married after the age of eighteen, you'll become an old maid. Even though an eighteen-year-old girl is still in her most tender and youthful stage.

Xu Lingyue suddenly raised her head, her bright, watery eyes revealing a stubbornness. "Mother, I don't want to get married yet."

The aunt glared at her and scolded, "Is this a question of whether you want to or not?"

Xu Lingyue was unconvinced. She pursed her lips, her delicate features exquisitely sculpted, and said, "Second brother hasn't even married his sister-in-law yet."

Xu Xinnian was shot in the knee.

The aunt had her reasons, saying, "Even if your second brother wants to get married, he has to wait until after the imperial examinations. There's no rush. Let's settle your marriage first."

Xu Lingyue puffed out her cheeks, remaining silent like a wronged child.

Second Uncle Xu nodded thoughtfully, "Lingyue has indeed reached marriageable age. Ah, time flies so fast; in the blink of an eye, she's grown up."

Xu Lingyin, engrossed in her food, raised her innocent little face upon hearing this and exclaimed:

"My sister has grown up; she's a troublemaker."

The family. "???"

Xu Qi'an felt a chill run down his spine and forcibly changed the subject. "Even if Lingyue is to marry, she has to marry an outstanding man like me."

The aunt snorted dismissively.

"Still stirring up trouble, huh?" Xu Qi'an chuckled. "Auntie is only able to live a life of luxury because she married an outstanding man like me."

The plump and beautiful aunt couldn't refute this statement and glared at her unlucky nephew.

Second Uncle Xu was quite pleased with his nephew's flattery and chuckled, "What candidates does Madam have in mind?"

My aunt said, "Take your time choosing. I wanted to discuss it with you."

Xu Xinnian glanced at his family and announced, "Starting tomorrow, I have to return to the Cloud Deer Academy to prepare for the autumn imperial examinations."

After he entered the Self-Cultivation Realm, the great Confucian scholar Zhang Shen summoned him back to the Cloud Deer Academy, where he taught him by example and urged him to prepare for the imperial examination the following year.

His gaze swept calmly over the crowd, as if waiting for their reactions.

The aunt immediately picked up a piece of lean meat and gave it to her son. "Cijiu means you're going to amount to something."

Xu Xinnian nodded in satisfaction and hummed in agreement.

After finishing breakfast, Xu Qi'an prepared to leave the manor when he heard a girl's clear and melodious voice behind him. "Big Brother."

Turning my head, I saw a graceful young woman with delicate features.

Xu Lingyue said, feeling wronged, "I don't want to get married."

Xu Qi'an thought for a moment, then grinned and said, "I'll talk to Cijiu and Second Uncle later. When did it become your mother's place to make decisions about family matters?"

"Xu Ningyan!" Aunt appeared behind Xu Lingyue without her noticing, hands on her hips, eyebrows raised in anger.

The beautiful woman's chest heaved with anger, her face full of scorn. "You little rascal, say what you just said again."

Xu Qi'an didn't bother with her and ran away happily.

He rode at full speed to the Nightwatchers's office and headed straight for the Xu Qi'an Tower.

After the same guard with the gong announced the arrival, he let Xu Qi'an enter the building with a look of surprise.

Ordinary bronze gongs were not qualified to report matters to Duke Wei, because they also had silver and gold gongs above their heads.

And Duke Wei would not summon Tongluo.

But this new gong-bearer received completely different treatment; whenever he came, Duke Wei would summon him.

Upon reaching the seventh floor, Xu Qi'an entered the tea room and saw the woman in blue standing in the observation hall.

"What's going on this time?" The chief eunuch had his back to him and didn't turn around.

He wanted to confess everything that happened last night. With the Nightwatchers as his backer and Wei Yuan as his powerful ally, there was no need for him to bear the burden in private.

This would both reduce the risk and gain Mr. Wei's trust.

P. S.: Please give me a recommendation vote!