Chapter Eight: The Scriptures of the West Are Hard to Seek in Poverty

“I’m tired of hearing those tales, but my daughter heard recently that a hero has been dealing with the ferocious tiger on Qingping Mountain?”

The moment this was mentioned, Zhang Qingyun’s expression changed abruptly.

Seeing his father’s face, Zhang Qing asked what had happened.

Zhang Qingyun, feeling troubled, casually recounted to Zhang Qing how he had invited Jiang Sheng.

After hearing this, Zhang Qing couldn’t help but laugh: “Father, you really made a mistake this time.”

Zhang Qingyun was puzzled. “How did I make a mistake?”

Zhang Qing smiled and said, “Father, I once heard a storybook.”

“It said that in the far western continent of the Western Regions, there is a sacred Buddhist site called the Great Heavenly Dragon Temple. One day, a novice monk from there went down the mountain to preach to the ruler of a small kingdom and received three sheng and three dou of golden sand as payment.”

“After returning, the novice monk thought he would be praised by the Arhat, but instead, the Arhat scolded him for accepting so little and for undervaluing the scripture.”

“Father, why do you think the Arhat would reprimand the novice like that?”

“They are Daoist priests, not cultivators of our Qi Kingdom. Father, perhaps you have overestimated yourself and underestimated that Daoist priest.”

Zhang Qingyun realized the point and felt a bit frustrated.

Back at home, it hadn’t seemed significant, but out here, Zhang Qingyun deeply understood the dignity of cultivators.

Those with cultivation, apart from wandering cultivators without background and ordinary Qi stage practitioners with no hope of advancement, who would still yearn for worldly splendor?

Who would still revere princes and generals?

He had hoped to invite a cultivator as an assistant, but now it seemed he had offended this Daoist named Jiang Sheng.

Zhang Qing asked again, “Father, what do you plan to do with that Daoist priest?”

“I’ve heard recently that your governance has often been obstructed by gentry and commoners alike. Are you planning to use that Daoist priest as support?”

Zhang Qingyun sighed helplessly: “I do have that intention.”

“Qing’er, you know, when I first arrived, both the county seat and the towns all showed outward obedience but inward disobedience.”

“The gentry and wealthy merchants control everything inside and outside the county, while the common people only fear the River God and listen to the gentry’s and merchants’ manipulations.”

“If this continues, won’t I just become a puppet in their hands?”

Looking at his intelligent daughter, Zhang Qingyun suddenly asked, “Qing’er, in your opinion, what should I do next?”

Zhang Qing first dismissed the servants attending nearby; once everyone had left, she smiled and said, “That depends on what Your Honor truly wishes to accomplish.”

Zhang Qingyun was confused. “What do you mean, Qing’er?”

“Father, do you intend to disrupt the River God’s grand festival?” Zhang Qing asked.

Zhang Qingyun furrowed his brows slightly. “I do have such plans.”

Zhang Qing then asked, “The River God’s grand festival requires the sacrifice of six pairs of boys and girls each year in exchange for favorable weather all year. As long as it continues, you can complete your term in Qingshan County smoothly. Why disrupt it?”

Zhang Qingyun looked at his daughter and sighed deeply: “It’s true that the River God only demands the sacrifice of six pairs of children under six years old each year to ensure good weather for Qingshan County.”

“But that River God is not officially recognized by the court. It feeds off the people’s incense offerings and demands the sacrifice of children—this is lewd worship!”

“Since it is lewd worship, it is not a god, but a demon!”

Saying this, Zhang Qingyun suddenly stood up: “Sacrificing six pairs of children under six years old every year in exchange for so-called favorable weather—I understand the principle of sacrificing the small to preserve the great!”

“But if I can slay the River God of Taiping River and end this lewd worship, reclaiming the hearts of Qingshan’s people for the court, that would be a great achievement!”

“All thirteen counties of Dongjun have been silently tolerating this demon’s lewd worship, but if I oppose it, I will gain the court’s favor.”

Zhang Qing looked at her excited father and sighed.

She and her father were from a collateral branch of the family, never valued by the main line.

Her father had no cultivation, while her mother did, but even so, as a collateral branch, they were destined to toil for the main family.

Her father had endured years of hardship and oppression within the family, and her mother was constantly ordered around until she lost her life.

After her mother, the cultivator, passed away, they were bullied even more.

Such trivial matters never reached the eyes of the family elders, so their lives were extremely difficult.

Now, having the chance to serve as county magistrate in Qingshan County was a life-risking opportunity her mother had bought for them.

Zhang Qingyun often told Zhang Qing that as collateral branches, they could expect little support from the main family. Once given a chance, how far they could go depended on themselves.

Zhang Qing understood that her father intended to use this chance to turn their fortunes around.

“Qing’er, did you know you have the potential for cultivation, but have always been replaced by the main family’s direct descendants? The main family never wanted you to succeed in cultivation; they only wanted you to marry and ease their burdens in the future!” Zhang Qingyun revealed a hidden truth.

Seeing Zhang Qing’s surprise, Zhang Qingyun continued, “I was powerless before, constrained by others, but if I succeed in this matter now, you and I will be transformed.”

“In the future, when the court rewards us, you will have the resources to cultivate freely, no longer bound.”

Zhang Qing sighed softly, looking at her once ambitious father now prematurely streaked with gray, feeling a pang of sympathy: “I knew it would be like this.”

Zhang Qingyun knew his daughter was exceptionally intelligent, gifted enough to be a top scholar, and seeing her expression, he knew she had a plan.

“This is one of our few opportunities, Qing’er. If you have ideas, just say them. If I can do it, I will!”

“You and I must never be pawns again.”

Zhang Qing analyzed the situation quickly: “Our Qi Kingdom has the Daoist Palaces in every province and prefecture, with official cultivators of the court stationed everywhere; each province and prefecture also has sects and cultivation clans.”

“Their primary role locally is to maintain stability and eliminate demons and lewd worship.”

Zhang Qingyun nodded in agreement.

Every county in Dongjun worships the supposed River God and sacrifices children. This only needs to be reported to the prefectural governor, who can then ask the local sects and cultivation clans to act.

Those sects and clans certainly would not dare violate court regulations.

Zhang Qing continued, “For decades, from the previous two magistrates until now, who would believe the sects and clans in Dongjun are completely unaware of this?”

“But why have these sects and clans remained indifferent to it?”

Zhang Qingyun frowned deeply: “I’ve never thought about that.”

Zhang Qing looked at her county magistrate father expressionlessly: “Your Honor, this matter is grave—it concerns both our lives!”

“If there is truly a hidden secret, rushing to attack the River God would be disastrous.”

Zhang Qingyun silently sipped his tea and finally said, “We must do this. If we make enough noise and attract enough attention, we’ll have a chance to turn things around!”

Zhang Qing nodded: “If Father insists, then that Daoist from Qingping Mountain must be invited.”

“Father, sincerity must be shown.”