The secret room was still filled with thick smoke.
A corner of the wall had a portion of the stone wall peeled off, but the main structure was not inclined.
Zhang Jian noticed that the dozen or so scrolls of runes on the central wall were unexpectedly undamaged and were now emitting a faint glow in his eyes.
Indeed, they were glowing.
He immediately stepped closer to those dozen rune scrolls.
Upon closer inspection, those scrolls were ancient and obscure, with white paper and golden edges, and each was filled with innumerable red dots forming complex rune lines, exceedingly intricate.
A flicker appeared in his eyes as he examined these dozen rune scrolls. Zhang Jian’s gaze subtly shifted, as he saw the runes within the scrolls beginning to leap, forming starry rune lines illuminating like jade.
The rune lines transformed into separate runes, manifesting along the rune lines.
He managed to unravel the secret within these scrolls at a glance.
It was an article!
"..." However, Zhang Jian’s face turned somewhat stiff as he found himself unable to recognize the peculiar runes.
Even though he deciphered the mysteries, it was of no use!
"..."
Lacking cultural literacy, indeed, made one unworthy of cultivation!
Zhang Jian’s face remained stiff, yet he secretly mocked himself.
However, he immediately noted down some of the symbols of these runes. Since he knew of the existence of these runes, the ensuing decryption process shouldn’t be difficult.
Not to mention, he could still go to the clan shrine to gain some benefits.
"The consolation prize isn’t bad!"
Zhang Jian’s gaze fell again on the two exploded bookshelves, many ancient texts had been reduced to ashes or burned to cinders.
His eyes lingered once more on the "Celestial Spirit Child Skill."
He casually picked it up, tidying the room while taking the opportunity to read.
Since Zhang Yi allowed him to enter the secret room to organize, it was clear he also tacitly allowed him to access the texts inside.
As he expected, the ’Celestial Spirit Child Skill’ was also an exceptional inner cultivation technique, the inner breath cultivated from it was supremely rigid, overwhelmingly fierce.
This grand tome encompassed all five stages of inner cultivation, far surpassing ordinary inner cultivation techniques in value.
However, it also had prerequisites.
That is, before the Innate Stage, one must maintain the body of a child, to prevent the yang inner breath from lacking True Yang.
This was no difficulty at all for Zhang Jian.
...
The feedback from the Zhang Family’s offering of the Large Water Wheel Diagram was swift.
Soon after, a special envoy arrived from the Commandery City, entering Fengxi.
In the county government, a middle-aged official in a cyan robe and wearing Cyan Cloud Boots saw off the arrogant envoy with a full face of smiles, but after turning around, his face was so sullen that it seemed water could drip from it.
The other officials around him noticed the County Magistrate’s displeasure and swiftly seized the opportunity to slip away.
In the backyard, gazing at the huge plaque wrapped in red silk before him, Yang Qing’s face was cold.
The plaque adorned with four large gilded characters was an imperial gift.
"House of Virtue, a true House of Virtue!"
Yang Qing gnashed his teeth in resentment.
Amid a severe drought in the Northern Land, if he could present the improved water wheel now, even if it wouldn’t lead to a promotion, at least in today’s Ministry of Personnel evaluation, he would get an outstanding assessment, greatly aiding his future in securing a transfer to a large county.
Yet the ’auspicious omen’ he had in hand was monopolized by the Zhang Family.
Yang Qing was both furious and helpless.
As the Fengxi County Magistrate, he didn’t even know of an auspicious omen occurring under his nose; it was imaginable how disappointed his backers would be with him.
However, the Zhang Family indeed proved troublesome and difficult to retaliate against.
This left a trapped breath in Yang Qing’s chest, unable to be released no matter what.
"Master, the Zhang Family is indeed too presumptuous. As the father official of Fengxi, regardless of the standpoint, the Zhang Family should not have bypassed you!"
Next to him, the adviser Zhao Xing kept his head down, noticing Yang Qing’s eruption in fury, making his expression unusual.
To obstruct one’s path is akin to killing their parents.
This time, the Zhang Family had hoarded the benefit, thoroughly enraging Yang Qing.
His words only added fuel to the fire for Yang Qing, making his breathing more rapid.
"Hmph, for the Court, these local big clans are all tumors. They disregard court laws, exploit the regions, and treat our national laws as nothing. How can I, as an official, tolerate such insolence?"
Yang Qing’s face remained calm, yet his eyes glimmered with cold light.
Zhao Xing observed, seizing the moment to step forward, saying, "Master, I have an idea that might help you vent your anger."
"What idea do you have?"
Yang Qing paused, casting a glance at Zhao Xing, still harboring trust in him.
Upon investigation, Zhao Xing was originally a lower-class Scholar of the area, once a person of great charisma in the four seas, having opened a gambling house in his early years, but after offending the Zhang Family, not only was his property seized, but even his beautiful wife and concubines became the playthings of others—he and the Zhang Family were far from allies.
In addition, Zhao Xing had ambiguous ties with some bandits outside the town, of doubtful background, with evidence held in Yang’s hand, so he felt at ease.
Zhao Xing showed a sinister smile on his horse-like face and said:
"Master, what Zhang Family relies on is nothing more than Zhang Liu and Zhang Si. Forget Zhang Liu; isn’t Zhang Si currently suppressing bandits? If he fails, the Court can easily accuse Zhang Kui of losing honor and degrading military might, arresting him for execution!"
Zhao Xing’s mouth slightly curved up.
"Without the soldiers under Zhang Si’s command, a mere local family won’t withstand your manipulation!"
Lord Zhang Si, that is Zhang Kui.
Years ago, Zhang Kui, supported by the Zhang Family, secured the post of Fengxi County Captain, in charge of Fengxi County’s anti-theft and inspection matters; he had control of the county’s armed forces, a power even the County Magistrate feared.
Yang Qing did not fear Zhang Duan; a distant solution was no remedy for present anxieties!
But in facing the robust and rash Lord Zhang Si, he hesitated to act rashly.
Yang Qing gazed at Zhao Xing indifferently, eyes deep: "You’re ruthless!"
However, deep down, Yang Qing felt peculiar, unsure if Zhao Xing had hit the nail by chance or had anticipated his thoughts ahead of time.
In truth, even without the Zhang Family’s ’auspicious omen’ offering, he was preparing to take action against Zhang Kui.
He had endured in the position of Fengxi County Magistrate for two years.
Fengxi County could only have one voice, that of the Fengxi County Government.
He could not tolerate any other authority above him, Yang Qing.
Faced with Yang Qing’s cold, skeptical gaze, Zhao Xing timely lowered his eyes and said:
"Since I’m the advisor hired by you, Master, taking your salary, naturally, I must consider your interest!"
"Zhang Yi’s disrespect towards you is essentially my enemy’s hatred!"
Yang Qing nodded, saying, "Well said. If the big households in Fengxi were as loyal to serve the Court as you, there wouldn’t be such chaos. Those taking benefits from the Court yet undermining it at every turn, such traitorous ministers deserve nothing less than a thousand cuts!"
By the end, Yang Qing’s eyes were already icy cold.
Zhao Xing silently bowed his head.
Yang Qing repressed his rage, looking at the ’House of Virtue’ plaque, sneering with disdain, and continued:
"By the way, hasn’t Fengxi seen a lot of wanderers recently? Spread the word, Zhang Family has grain and a lot of money!"
Zhao Xing slightly nodded.