Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)

It was clear that under Man Gu’s governance, Quyi County enjoyed an efficient administration and harmony among its people. In just a few minutes, he had reunited two families with their long-lost mother. It was truly a touching scene.

When Man Gu returned to the back hall after passing judgment with keen discernment, a voice called out to him.

“Junior Brother Man.”

Man Gu turned and was overjoyed to see two unsullied, peerless experts standing in the back hall. “Brother Lu! Brother Meng!”

Although the two had disguised themselves, their voices remained unchanged. It was easy for Man Gu to recognize them.

County Magistrate Man personally attended to his distinguished guests, serving tea and arranging fruit platters.

“Senior brothers, both of you have advanced to the Transcendent Tribulation Stage. Unfortunately, I’ve been too busy with administrative affairs, so I could only send my congratulations by letter. Please allow me to offer my congratulations in person here.”

After sending his letter to Meng Jingzhou for help, Man Gu learned from the newspaper that Meng Jingzhou had advanced to the Transcendent Tribulation Stage. Only then did he send the second letter to Lu Yang.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou hadn’t expected Man Gu to speak in such a scholarly manner. Compared to before, he was practically a different person.

“Junior Brother Man, looks like you’re doing well as county magistrate?”

“Of course... Wait, I shouldn’t say that? How should I put it? Give me a moment.” He pulled out a small notebook from the front of his robes. Its edges were curled, evidently the result of frequent use.

Man Gu flipped to the last page and read aloud in a serious tone. “Thank you for your care and concern, senior brothers. Ever since assuming the position of county magistrate, I have worked assiduously and devoted myself wholeheartedly to contemplating the future direction of this county’s development...”

“Hold on, what do you have written here?” Lu Yang couldn’t help but ask.

He also noticed that the congratulatory speech from just now was recorded in the notebook, word for word.

So he was reading from a script?

“You see, wasn’t my way of speaking not in line with the image of a Confucian cultivator? They always love quoting the sages. Isn’t that essentially reciting lines? Thus, I came up with this solution—I’ll think ahead about conversation scenarios, write down what I want to say in the notebook, and memorize it.

“That’s also what the registrar suggested. He even writes speeches for me regularly.”

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou couldn’t help but feel that Man Gu might have some misunderstanding about Confucian cultivators. But on second thought, what he said made sense.

Meng Jingzhou sighed. “Just say whatever you want. Don’t recite anymore.”

“Being a county magistrate is actually quite tough. There are too many rules.”

“How so?”

“Back when I first became county magistrate, I went for a meeting in the commandery. Near the end, the commandery governor said that we county magistrates could speak freely if we had any thoughts on Zhongshan Commandery or suggestions for him. I waited for my colleagues to speak, but no one said anything, so I stood up and shared a few points.

“The commandery governor was rather pleased and asked if I wanted to take over as commandery governor right away. I kindly reminded him that I had just become county magistrate and couldn’t be promoted immediately as it violated regulations.

“When I told the registrar afterward, he wrote down some notes of caution in my notebook, explaining that I shouldn’t have done that.”

Man Gu showed them the first few pages, which were densely covered in all sorts of things he was forbidden to do.

Don’t speak when your superior says to speak freely.

Don’t report colleagues for drinking after hours.

If your superior asks whether you would like to stay for a meal, don’t actually stay and eat. Even if you do, don’t say you’re still hungry after the meal.

...

“Why are there so many points to keep in mind?” Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were stunned. This registrar is quite the talent to notice all these details.

“Oh, it’s because every time I mess up, he adds a new one.”

Both were speechless.

“That’s why I said officialdom has too many rules. It’s not as free as in the sect.”

“Actually, I’m doing pretty well in officialdom,” Lu Yang said.

“Ah?” Man Gu was surprised. When did Senior Brother Lu enter officialdom?

“Can’t tell, right? My current status is the Pillar Minister.”

“Pillar Minister? Does our Great Xia have such a position?”

“In any case, the Xia Emperor recognizes it.”

“You’re so amazing, Brother Lu.”

No wonder they say that Senior Brother Lu is impressive. While I struggle as a mere county magistrate, he has quietly risen to the Pillar Minister. So this is the disparity between people.

As I thought, I still have much to learn.

“Enough about that. What’s with the haunting?” Meng Jingzhou asked. Solar lamps had fully replaced candles in every household, and since the sun’s seals had been completely removed, yang energy had increased exponentially. How could ghosts still amount to anything?

“It happened one night three months ago. I was cultivating when the patrol constables reported several ghosts roaming the streets. They tried everything, but nothing worked. The ghosts were completely unaffected.

“I went over to check on the situation. That was indeed the case. Several ghosts were exposed to solar lamps and stabbed by peachwood swords, but neither proved effective. The peachwood swords passed right through them, and they seemed to feel nothing. They showed no response to our attacks and made no move to attack us.

“By the time I arrived, they were already starting to disappear.

“They eventually appeared again, but my cultivation had fluctuated to a very low level, so I couldn’t intervene. I brought in cultivators from the commandery, but it still didn’t work.

“Out of options, I thought of asking you senior brothers for help.”

“That does sound odd. How many times have the ghosts appeared?”

“Three times. The timing isn’t fixed, but it’s always at night.”

Meng Jingzhou rubbed his chin. “Random timing, huh? That’s troublesome. Have nearby counties experienced the same situation?”

Man Gu shook his head. “I’ve asked, and the answer is no.”

“Looks like we’ll have to stay here for a while. By the way, Junior Brother Man Gu, keep our arrival a secret,” Lu Yang said. If the ghosts learn that Old Meng and I—the champion of justice who punishes evil and upholds righteousness—are here, they probably wouldn’t dare show themselves.

“Alright.” Man Gu nodded. My senior brothers always like to keep a low profile. “Should I arrange accommodations for you then?”

“Does the yamen lack manpower? If you need people anywhere, we can fill in temporarily.”

“I fired two constables for taking bribes, so there are two constable positions available. But both of you are here to help me as guests...”

Meng Jingzhou looped an arm around Man Gu’s neck. “No problem at all. We shouldn’t be idle all the time. This gives us something to do.”

Man Gu was deeply moved. My senior brothers have traveled millions of li to catch ghosts, and they’re now even volunteering to ease my burdens. What noble character!

Before long, Man Gu found them constable uniforms. Donning them with smug grins, they instantly looked like the evil constables who bullied the weak.

To avoid unnecessary complications, Man Gu introduced them to the people in the yamen, starting with the registrar.

Registrar Liu was startled to see the county magistrate arriving with two unfamiliar constables.

Logically speaking, hiring constables requires going through an assessment. How did the county magistrate find two so quickly?

“Your Excellency, who are these two constables?”

Man Gu remembered Lu Yang’s instruction not to reveal their identities. That means I can’t introduce them as my senior brothers. A brief introduction should suffice.

“These two came in through the back door[1].”

1. Going through the back door also means using connections. ☜