The Azure Mountain

Chapter 118: Cultivation Pathway

Second Miss Zhang is also coming to listen to the lectures together?

Chen Ji was slightly astonished.

Prince Jing began to tease: "Lord Zhang, your family's Zhang Xia coming to follow Mr. Wang to listen to lectures is indeed no problem. But you and Mr. Wang took the Palace Examination in the same year; he was the Second-Place Candidate, and you were the Top Scorer. Rather than sending Zhang Xia to Mr. Wang's place, it would be better to keep her by your side and teach her yourself."

Zhang Zhuo chuckled: "Back then, it was His Majesty who felt he was young, vigorous, and aggressive, and intentionally didn't select him as the Top Scorer. If we talk about talent and learning, I am inferior to him."

Prince Jing smiled slightly: "Lord Zhang is being modest."

Zhang Zhuo shook his head: "It is not modesty. I still remember back then, under the double-eaves hip roof of the Fengtian Hall, the rows of brackets were like a well. His Majesty sat upon the golden Dragon Throne, and I didn't even dare to lift my head. Yet Wang Daosheng dared to look His Majesty in the eyes. On this courage alone, I am inferior to him."

Zhang Zhuo rested his hand on his leather belt, looked up at the apricot tree, and recalled: "That day in front of the hall, His Majesty asked me from afar why I studied. I honestly answered, to become an official. His Majesty chuckled lightly and said, 'That "Treatise on Taxation" of yours is enough to become an official.' His Majesty then asked Wang Daosheng why he studied. Wang Daosheng instead answered, studying is naturally to become a sage. His Majesty said indifferently, '"Twelve Strategies for Pacifying the Wo" is indeed enough to become an official, but it is still lacking to become a sage.' And so, that year, I was fifteen years old, he was twenty-three years old; I became the Top Scorer, and he became the Second-Place Candidate."

Having said that, Zhang Zhuo chuckled again: "These years, I've been indulging in lively partying and feasting with my official colleagues every day, and my scholarship has been abandoned. Learning from me is not as good as learning from him. Furthermore, Zhang Xia has only been in Luo City for three years and has never had many friends. If she can study together with others, she can also change that unsociable temper of hers and make more upwardly mobile, motivated friends."

Liu Quxing muttered softly: "She is not unsociable at all..."

Just as they were speaking, hurried shouts were heard from outside the wall: "Chen Ji, run! My father accepted Lord Chen's bribe and wants to make you go study at Mr. Wang's place to ease the relationship between you three brothers! Run quickly, absolutely don't let my father scheme against you, Mr. Wang is very strict!"The small courtyard of Taiping Medical Clinic suddenly fell silent.

Everyone slowly looked over. A moment later, they saw the head of Commandery Princess Baili pop out from above the grey tiles of the courtyard wall.

"Ah!"

Seeing the situation in the courtyard clearly, Bai Li was instantly startled, her entire body leaning backwards. Fortunately, the Prince Heir beneath her feet reacted quickly and caught her, otherwise this fall would have been miserable.

The Prince Heir complained: "You've climbed walls dozens of times, how could you still make a mistake?"

Bai Li lowered her voice: "Run quickly, Father is in the medical clinic!"

The Prince Heir's expression drastically changed: "We've caused trouble, run quickly!"

Prince Jing said in a cold voice: "Where else can you run? Roll over here for me!"

"Oh..."

Rustling sounds came from the other side of the courtyard wall. Bai Li, the Prince Heir, and the Little Monk successively climbed over into the courtyard, standing in a row with their heads lowered.

Prince Jing glanced at Chen Ji, turned his head, and said sternly: "Bai Li, tell me what bribe did I accept?"

Bai Li said softly: "I was originally going to Mingzheng Restaurant to look for you to ask for the kiln factory dividends, but outside I heard you proposing conditions to Lord Chen. You said that as long as the Ministry of Revenue approved an extra sum of silver for the Border Army to purchase cotton gloves, you would act as a lobbyist for him and persuade Chen Ji to enter schooling."

Prince Jing raised his eyebrows: "This is a major affair of the family and country, it's not like I'm doing it for my own selfish interests, what wrong is there?"

Bai Li muttered: "Dad, how can you still be so self-righteous and confident after being exposed?"

Prince Jing didn't have the slightest embarrassment of being exposed, but instead smiled and asked: "Chen Ji, the winter cold at Chongli Pass is bitter, and all the soldiers of the Border Army have frostbite on their hands and feet; one practically can't even see a piece of good flesh on their hands. Tell me, should they be added a pair of cotton gloves?"

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment: "...They should."

Prince Jing was gratified: "Seeing you so understanding of the overall situation, I am relieved. Bai Li, Chen Ji has already agreed, what else do you have to say?"

Bai Li was helpless: "Nothing."

Chen Ji raised his hand: "Prince, wait a moment. Such a major affair of the family and country..."

Prince Jing interrupted Chen Ji's words, turned around, and looked at Eunuch Feng: "Distribute it to them."

However, Eunuch Feng, with an amiable facial expression, was seen taking out several strings of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency from his embrace, distributing them one by one to Chen Ji and the others.

Prince Jing sighed with emotion: "Chen Ji, this sum of silver was originally meant to be used to purchase cotton, but Prince Jing's Estate keeps its word, so we can only first distribute the dividends to you all. I also won't force you to reconcile with the Chen family, that is your own affair. You only need to go to Mr. Wang's place and put on a show/act, and that will be considered doing me a huge favor."

Chen Ji looked down at the string of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency in his hand. Two thousand five hundred taels of silver in solid value; it could be exchanged for seventy ginseng roots, enough to ignite one hundred and forty furnace fires!

He turned to look at Liu Quxing and She Dengke: "Do the two Senior Brothers want to go study with Mr. Wang?"

She Dengke shook his head like a rattle-drum: "Can't learn it."

Liu Quxing struggled for a moment, ultimately saying: "I'd rather stay and serve Master."

Chen Ji tucked the Buddhist prayer beads into his sleeve, turned back, and looked at Prince Jing: "Prince, it will be fine if I alone go to Mr. Wang's place. If there is no one in the medical clinic, my Master wouldn't be able to handle being busy all by himself either."

Prince Jing clapped his hands and laughed: "Little Doctor Chen deeply understands great principles, I admire you, I admire you. Then it's settled. Tomorrow morning at exactly 5:15 AM, you may proceed to Zhixing Academy next to the royal estate and report your attendance to Mr. Wang."

Having said that, Prince Jing left, leaving the people in the medical clinic looking at one another in blank dismay.

She Dengke said in a muffled and heavy voice: "Liu Quxing, didn't you want to become an official, why didn't you go study with Mr. Wang? This is a golden opportunity that is hard to come by in a thousand years. After his mourning period is over and he is reinstated to his original post, he might even arrange an official position for you."

Liu Quxing rolled his eyes: "What do you know? That Mr. Wang has been an official for twenty years and has been demoted five times. Even though he has repeatedly achieved extraordinary merits in suppressing bandits in Jiangzhou and pacifying the Wo in Minzhou, he still isn't favored by His Majesty. If one truly became his disciple, it might not actually be a good thing."

"Then why do Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao want to study with him?"

Liu Quxing said impatiently: "Those two are people from the Chen family, can I compare with them? Rather than joining that commotion, it's better to concentrate on following Master to learn medical skills. With my little bit of cleverness, being a seventh-rank imperial physician is fine, but if I become a seventh-rank County Magistrate, I might end up getting banished to Lingnan!"

At the side, Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard and laughed: "Little Doctor Liu knows when to advance and when to retreat, this is precisely the most rarely seen quality. If I had understood this principle at your age, I might have already returned to the Capital City and been promoted to the Minister of Personnel by now!"

Only then did Liu Quxing remember that Zhang Zhuo was still at the side, and hurriedly cupped his hands: "Lord has seen a joke."

"No harm, no harm," Zhang Zhuo looked at the Prince Heir and Chen Ji: "Zhang Xia's fundamental nature is not bad. I also hope you few youths won't fuss over the previous misunderstandings. As the saying goes, distance tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart. Once you interact more, you will understand her character. Farewell."

Bai Li looked at Zhang Zhuo's departing back figure as he walked out of the medical clinic, and said in confusion: "Why do I feel Lord Zhang's words have hidden meanings?"

...

...

At this time, the sound of bird calls came from outside the medical clinic.

Chen Ji frowned; this was the signal imitated by the Secret Spy Division's copper whistle.

He quickly walked out of the medical clinic, only to see a carriage parked in front of the steamed bun shop opposite the continuously flowing Anxi Street. The doors and windows were tightly covered by dark blue cotton curtains.

Beside the carriage, Xi Feng was dressed as a carriage driver, wearing a bamboo hat.

From inside, Jin Zhu lifted a tiny gap in the window curtain, silently mouthing: "Get in!"

Chen Ji looked back at the medical clinic, turned around, wove through the stream of people, and climbed into the carriage.

Jin Zhu knocked on the carriage body. Xi Feng raised the horse whip, driving the carriage towards an unknown destination.

Inside the dim cabin, Chen Ji asked in confusion: "Lord, we only parted ways for a few hours, why did you come looking for me at the medical clinic again?"

Jin Zhu said mysteriously: "Don't ask so much, just rest in the carriage for a moment. Once we reach the place you will understand, there is a heaven-shakingly great thing waiting for you!"

Looking at the other party's passionate appearance at this moment, Chen Ji suddenly felt uncomfortable: "Lord, how about you still suspect me like before? I'm a bit scared of the way you are right now."

Jin Zhu didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "What kind of words are you saying? I know you have anger in your heart, but from now on we are brothers of the same family, why stoop to my level. Once I request a cultivation pathway for you, you will know my sincerity."

Chen Ji changed his posture and leaned against the carriage cabin: "How could I have the nerve to make things difficult for You by having You beg the Inner Chancellor for me. One should not receive rewards without merits. I can slowly accumulate merits, and it won't be too late to cultivate once I'm promoted to Gyrfalcon."

Jin Zhu's expression changed: "No!"

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu and asked suspiciously: "What's wrong with Lord?"

Jin Zhu hurriedly said with a smile: "You, this youth, don't know the benefits of the cultivation pathway. You've also seen Tian Ma; how magnificent was the aura of that move, Meteor Arrow Rain? Even a military formation of a hundred men would have to temporarily avoid its sharp edge... Are you not envious?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "No matter how formidable it is, that is someone else's skill. Not envious."

Helpless, Jin Zhu could only continue to entice: "Once you have a cultivation pathway, you will no longer be an ordinary, mediocre member of the teeming masses, but a Practitioner sitting high above. If you can step into the Connate realm as soon as possible, why would you still need to condescend to be a little apprentice in the Taiping Medical Clinic?"

"I'm quite fine in the medical clinic..."

Jin Zhu hated iron for not becoming steel: "I know you have a rift with the Chen clan. Let me use another analogy. If you can step into the Path-Seeking Realm, your father would also have to be polite and deferential to you. If you can step into the Divine Path Realm, you could sit On Equal Footing with the Chen Family Head, Chen Luchi."

Chen Ji's interest was piqued: "Lord, are You in the Divine Path Realm?"

Jin Zhu's breathing stagnated: "No, there are no more than three people in the Divine Path Realm in the entire Ning Dynasty. I am currently in the Connate Realm."

"How many years has Lord cultivated?"

"Fifteen years..."

Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "Then I'm afraid I won't be able to cultivate to the Path-Seeking Realm."

Jin Zhu grew anxious. He leaned his body forward, almost pressing his face in front of Chen Ji: "I only fell from the Path-Seeking Realm to the Connate Realm because of special reasons. You definitely won't be like me!"

Chen Ji asked absentmindedly: "Why is Lord so attentive to the matter of my cultivation."

Jin Zhu laughed dryly and leaned his body backward: "I already told you, from now on we are brothers of the same family."

Chen Ji didn't speak anymore. At this time, he finally confirmed that Jin Zhu had already bet on him.

The carriage swayed as it traveled. Unknown how long had passed before it slowly came to a stop. Outside the door, Xi Feng said in a low voice: "Lord, we've arrived."

Jin Zhu didn't get off the carriage, merely lifting the curtain and silently watching.

Through the gap, Chen Ji remarkably saw that the carriage was actually parked not far from Hundred Deer Pavilion.

The entrance of Hundred Deer Pavilion was already blocked so tightly by secret spies that not even a drop of water could leak through. The pedestrians on the entire street had hidden inside the shops facing the street, deeply afraid of disaster bringing trouble to themselves.

Chen Ji was puzzled: "Why did Lord bring me here?"

Jin Zhu glanced at Chen Ji and explained: "This is one of the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Division Strongholds in Luo City. The Jing Dynasty thieves use it to transmit news and gather military funds, feeding quite a few spies. Now that our Secret Spy Division is taking it down, it is a great merit. I have already sent a carrier pigeon with a letter to the Inner Chancellor, attributing this merit entirely to you alone, using it to exchange for a Grade A cultivation pathway in the Trouble-Resolving Tower. Rest assured, at the latest half a month, the cultivation pathway will be delivered to Luo City."

Chen Ji asked: "Are we not getting off?"

Jin Zhu stared intently outside the carriage, not turning his head: "It's not time yet, we'll talk after the people from the Chief Punishment Division leave."

At this time, the first batch of secret spies escorted the tightly bound Hundred Deer Pavilion assistants out one by one. The second batch of secret spies carried several large chests and placed them at the entrance.

At the entrance, Fish-Dragon Guards of the Chief Punishment Division wearing coir raincoats and with long sabers at their waists were already waiting. They actually searched the secret spies one by one, lest anyone secretly smuggle silver and money after confiscating the property. Immediately afterwards, they opened the chests to check and verify the confiscated materials, registering them in a ledger one by one.

Jin Zhu cursed secretly: "These grandsons only know how to investigate their own people all day long. If it weren't for them, why would this seat need to sneak around to make money."

Half a time period later, the secret spies and the Chief Punishment Division retreated together. Only then did Jin Zhu surreptitiously get out of the carriage and tear off the sealing strips of Hundred Deer Pavilion.

Entering inside the door, the room was in a complete mess, with counters, tables, and chairs all turned upside down.

Jin Zhu bent over, rummaging for something amidst the mess all over the floor, and ordered Xi Feng, saying: "Xi Feng, go to the storehouse and see where Liu Tiao and the others hid the things! Chen Ji, close the door!"

Chen Ji closed the main doors, asking curiously: "What is Lord looking for?"

The next moment, Jin Zhu was seen turning over a pile of garbage, digging out a small wooden box from underneath, overjoyed: "Found it!"

Xi Feng's voice also came from the backyard: "Lord, I also found a box hidden in the backyard."

Jin Zhu opened the box to check, and then stuffed it into Chen Ji's embrace: "There are fifteen aged old ginseng roots in here, worth four hundred taels of silver. Simply keep them for now; after the cultivation pathway is delivered from the Capital City, they will be of great use!"

(End of Chapter)