Chapter 15: Jingxin's Strange Case, Mysterious Celestial Demon

After achieving a top grade on just one exam, Zhao Xing noticed a significant change in his colleagues' attitudes. As he emerged from the backyard, many began trying to curry favor with him.

Zhang San mentioned a game of grass fighting and invited him to watch. Li Si suggested joining a drinking party with friends later for a couple of drinks.

There was even an older gentleman who invited Zhao Xing to listen to music. "Excuse me... what was your name again?"

"My humble self is Huang Siping, from Huangjiawan," said a man with remarkably high cheekbones and a receding hairline, bowing with a hint of melancholy. "Brother Zhao, please don't use honorifics; I'm a year younger than you."

"Ah, Brother Huang, forgive my oversight," Zhao Xing replied, glancing at the man's head. *You certainly don't look younger than me.*

"Brother Zhao is a busy man; it's natural for him to forget me," Huang Siping said with a smile. "Would Brother Zhao be willing to accompany me to Brother Li's music gathering?"

"Which Brother Li?" Zhao Xing asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Why, Li Chengfeng, of course, the one known for his 'gentlemanly demeanor'," Huang Siping replied. "And also Brother Zong and other colleagues who achieved a top grade in this Minor Heat assessment."

The "music gathering" was merely a euphemism for patronizing courtesans. Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang, being men of considerable wealth, frequently invited people to such events, where singing girls would perform music and dance, and incidentally, sleep with the guests.

"All expenses, including the courtesans' fees, would be covered by Young Master Li or the other young masters..." Huang Siping stated subtly.

Zhao Xing naturally understood: they were inviting him to patronize courtesans.

"Please thank Brother Li for his kind invitation on my behalf, but I have other arrangements and will have to join next time."

It wasn't that he was being prudish; if Chen Ziyu or Qian Dong had invited him, he would have readily accepted.

But Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang were rivals! How could he go?

*They'd get me drunk, arrange a courtesan for me, but she'd actually be a respectable woman whose status was fabricated, and then they'd turn around and report me to the county yamen...* Zhao Xing immediately recalled the deceitful tactics he encountered as a player in his past life.

"What a shame, then. I'll invite Brother Zhao again next time." Huang Siping expressed regret, and seeing Zhao Xing's seemingly matching expression, he formulated a plan in his mind, bowed, and took his leave.

***

"Well?"

"He refused, saying he had other engagements."

"Hmph, so many people from the top grade were invited, yet he puts on airs. Does he expect Brother Li and Brother Zong to invite him personally?"

"You can't really say that. After all, they're not very familiar with each other."

Huang Siping relayed the message to Li Chengfeng. Even before Li Chengfeng could speak, many others began to criticize Zhao Xing.

Li Chengfeng also felt a slight annoyance, but maintained a smile. "I intended to make friends with a fellow practitioner and feared being presumptuous, which is why I asked Brother Huang to invite him. I didn't expect him to decline... No matter, if we invite him a few more times, perhaps he will come."

After Li Chengfeng spoke, those present praised his magnanimity and tolerance, which, by contrast, made Zhao Xing appear somewhat arrogant.

However, the topic quickly shifted, and Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang didn't dwell on it too much.

After all, it was only one top grade; it wasn't considered a significant threat yet.

***

"Big Brother, you've only scored one top grade, and you already have so many friends! Congratulations, congratulations," Qian Dong said, his tone slightly sour, as he watched Zhao Xing emerge from the crowd.

"Exactly," Chen Ziyu chimed in, equally sarcastic. "A few more times, and Little Dong and I will probably be forgotten by you, Brother."

Zhao Xing smiled; he understood their feelings. It was like thinking you were each other's best friends, only to discover they suddenly had several more close companions.

"Don't worry," he retorted. "I wouldn't forget your sarcastic faces even if I became a ghost."

"..."

"Do you two have nothing to do this afternoon?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Yes, Ziyu and I are planning to go to the East Suburbs for a makeup exam," Qian Dong replied. "Where are you going, Big Brother?"

"To the Divine Temple."

"Can you receive more spells, Brother?" Chen Ziyu's eyes showed a hint of admiration. *How long has it been since he learned to summon wind and thunder?*

"Just going to give it a try," Zhao Xing nodded slightly. Although only a week had passed, the Dao Embryo Pill had clearly transformed him; his spiritual essence gathering efficiency had significantly increased.

Of course, this was also partly due to the improved food at home.

Therefore, although he hadn't yet reached the third stage of spiritual essence gathering, his Cloud Manifestation spell had reached five transformations, and his Thunder spell three transformations. Building on this, he could attempt to master Rain Summoning.

"Well, we won't keep you then, Big Brother. Come on, Ziyu, we can't be idle either; let's go to the East Suburbs!"

"Right!" Chen Ziyu nodded vigorously. He seemed to have been spurred on by Zhao Xing's progress.

Watching the two leave together, Zhao Xing also headed towards the county yamen.

*Cloud Manifestation, Wind Summoning, Thunder Striking, and Rain Summoning are a series of spells, and they are also core skills for the agricultural official profession. I still lack the Rain Summoning spell, so I hope True Monarch Cao is generous this time.*

Mastering one more spell would give him a greater advantage in the assessment and a higher chance of becoming a regular official.

In the short term, it would aid his regularization. Zhao Xing's primary goal now was to officially become a Ninth-Rank Agricultural Official.

Why did he think this way? Because Zhao Xing's long-term goal was immortality, but to achieve that, he first needed to survive the 'Dynasty Version' and wait for the 'Revival Version' of events.

Moreover, a 'Fortune Dynasty' could extend officials' lifespans! Otherwise, he would have long since chosen a 'freelance' path.

Upon entering the yamen office, a familiar voice rang out.

"Brother Zhao, it's you again?"

"Brother Pang, yes, it's me." Zhao Xing looked at Pang Fei; he was the one who had processed his last document approval.

"You're here again for..." Pang Fei paused, looking at Zhao Xing's application document. "How long has it been? You can receive another spell already?"

"Just hoping to try my luck," Zhao Xing replied modestly.

"Nonsense, Brother Zhao, you're sure to succeed!" Pang Fei congratulated him. "The Lord of the Agricultural Bureau doesn't just casually approve spell transmission documents. I'll just..."

"Clear the way, urgent order from the Martial Guard Quarters, clear the way!"

Suddenly, a loud voice came from outside the door, followed by rapid footsteps passing by.

Zhao Xing looked on curiously, seeing only the backs of a squad of armed officers.

"Brother Pang, what's going on? Why are so many brothers from the Martial Guard Quarters mobilized?"

"They're cooperating with the county's investigation, I suppose."

Pang Fei suddenly lowered his voice, speaking somewhat mysteriously. "Speaking of which, this matter is also related to the Agricultural Bureau. I'm not sure what's happening, but recently, many junior agricultural officials across Nanyang Commandery's twelve counties have mysteriously disappeared. Isn't that strange?"

"Junior agricultural officials disappearing?" Zhao Xing was startled. "Have they figured out why?"

Pang Fei shrugged. "That's exactly what they're investigating. I don't know anything else. Brother Zhao, please rest for a moment; I'll submit your application right away."

"Thank you," Zhao Xing said, sitting on a chair, his brow furrowed. He meticulously recalled his experiences from his past life. He had lived through Emperor Jing's era, but he had never been to Gucheng, nor even Nanyang Commandery. However, this didn't prevent him from remembering some key events.

*During Emperor Jing's reign, there was a strange case where many agricultural officials were abducted by a group of 'demonic' people claiming to be the Profound Heaven Sect... But shouldn't this have happened during the Dazhi era? Why is it during the Jingxin era? Did I remember incorrectly? Or has this been planned since the Jingxin calendar began?*