Yang Ge rubbed his hands and hesitated for a moment, weighing whether going to Beijing to chastise that Song Jing was taking the Emperor’s dignity too lightly.
If this matter were left unattended, it would not only be disgusting but also irritating...
Moreover, people like Hu Qiang had followed him through thick and thin, without any merit but certainly through hardships, and should not suffer such grievances.
"I am giving you two choices!"
After a brief thought, Yang Ge quickly made up his mind, "The first choice, if you still want to pursue a career in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, then go back, tear up that transfer order from the Northern Town Prefectural Commissioner, and continue your duties in peace. If the Northern Town Prefectural Commissioner dare sends someone else, treat it as a fake transfer order and imprison the person. Publicly claim that you are Shen Fa’s personal troops and any transfer requires Shen’s personal issuance of the order... If something goes wrong, I will shoulder it!"
"The second choice, if you just want a livelihood that can feed your family, then simply shed this official garb and take up the constable duties at Lu Ting from now on, maintaining local order and investigating criminals. I will provide your wage, and there are benefits during the three festivals and birthdays. I can’t promise more, but at least it will be somewhat more than what you currently receive from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the money will be clean."
Having said that, he bowed solemnly to Hu Qiang, "I currently hold no official title or rank, and it wouldn’t be proper to forcefully interfere with the imperial orders anymore. It’s not good for the court’s dignity or influence, so this is all I can do, please understand."
Hu Qiang quickly stepped aside to avoid his bow, "My lord, please don’t belittle me. We all see clearly what kind of person you are. Considering your current position, being able to do so much for us, we’re grateful beyond words, and couldn’t possibly complain..."
Yang Ge lowered his hands and waved, "Then stop bickering with me and go discuss it with your brothers. This is a major life decision, there’s no need to rush. My door is always open for you."
Hu Qiang bowed deeply with one fist in the palm of his other hand, "Whatever decision the other brothers make, as long as you don’t disdain me, Hu, for my faults, I will definitely stick with you in making a living, whether it means eating chaff and vegetables or tackling swords and fires. If I ever frown, I’m a mamma’s boy!"
Yang Ge mockingly said, "Who are you trying to humble, scram, kid!"
Hu Qiang exclaimed "Ah!" gave another bow, turned, and quickly rushed out of the inn towards the government office.
Yang Ge lowered his head and picked up his tea cup again, savoring a sip: "Ah!"
Just then, sitting inside the door, Li Qing chuckled softly, "Yang Tiansheng, most people seek a clear and undistracted mind in their cultivation, to maintain a permanent true heart, usually avoiding these worldly matters as much as possible. Why then do you actively seek them out?"
Yang Ge, holding his tea bowl, laughed, "That’s exactly your problem... You must have grown up on a mountain since childhood, right?"
Li Qing nodded, "Brother Yang, you are spot on; indeed, I grew up on Zhongnan Mountain since I was a child."
After thinking for a while, Yang Ge said softly, "I haven’t practiced Daoism, and I don’t fully understand the essence of Taoist teachings. Here are just some shallow views, listen if you will... I once heard that to leave the secular world, one must first engage with it. To pursue practice, understanding worldly suffering is essential. If you want to keep your heart undistracted and steadfast, you shouldn’t keep yourself untainted by worldly dust, but instead, you should cultivate a strong and immovable heart from these worldly experiences!"
"Having grown up on a mountain, you’re unaware of worldly suffering. Entering the world with great martial skills and the support of the Quanzhen Sect, naturally, you only meet good people. The Taoist scriptures you read are also what you think you understand."
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
"Your path is like the clouds in the sky, seemingly untainted and freely wandering, but in reality, it’s like a tree without roots, a castle in the air, scattered by the slightest wind, without much of yourself in it!"
He paused then laughed, "Moreover, how can you comprehend the joy of fish if you are not a fish yourself? You are not me; how can you know that these earthly cares, the attachments and entanglements, are not burdens to me but aids?"
He said Li Qing was floating in the sky.
And wasn’t he himself also floating in the sky?
If it weren’t for the entanglements of these old friends and comrades pulling at him... he himself wouldn’t even know where he might drift.
After hearing his words, Li Qing, with one hand moving the tea bowl in front of him, showed a thoughtful expression and remained silent for a long time.
It was indeed miraculous; these commonplace words which he often heard from his mentors on the mountain seemed in one ear and out the other, eliciting no reaction...
But now, hearing a peer like Yang Erlang speak such words, he suddenly thought of many people and events, feeling as if he had gained some insight.
As Yang Ge finished his second cup of tea, Li Qing suddenly opened his mouth and exhaled a long breath of white air, his entire aura seemed to retract a lot in Yang Ge’s perception, exuding a sense of returning to simplicity and being in harmony with the world.
He couldn’t help but be amazed ... Truly worthy of the Quanzhen Sword Immortal, just a few words could lead to such great progress!
Li Qing turned around, bowed solemnly to Yang Ge: "Brother Yang has revealed the truth as if waking me from a dream, for which I have benefited greatly."
Yang Ge withdrew his gaze, waving his hands with a chuckle, "You flatter me. Your progress is the result of your own past insights, merely culminating in a moment of revelation."
Li Qing, smiling, responded, "Whether it is flattery, I know in my heart. As the saying goes, ’A drop of water in need shall be repaid by a spring in deed; a meal bestowed in hunger shall be repaid fully.’ Brother Yang, for your guidance today, I shall certainly repay you in the future!"
Yang Ge casually replied, "The friendship of gentlemen is as pure as water. Why speak of repaying? It sounds too vulgar."
Li Qing nodded in agreement.
In the front hall, the braggarts looked at the two exchanging praises; though they didn’t understand everything said, they were profoundly shocked.
"Is this the world of the geniuses?"
"Just a few words equal to years of hard work by others..."
"Truly, to compare goods, some must be discarded; to compare people, some despair!"
Just then, a burly figure in hemp clothes, with rolled-up trousers, ran into the inn at full speed. Seeing Yang Ge behind the counter, he lunged forward, relieved yet gasping, "Er... Second Master, there’s trouble!"
Seeing the newcomer, Yang Ge chuckled, reaching out to pat his shoulder, "Ah, it’s Er Yong. When did you get back? Don’t worry, what’s the matter? Sit down and speak, the sky isn’t falling!"
The man was Wu Eryong, the chief steward of Lianhuan Fort, who had recently managed to break through to the Qi Sea and secured a ticket to Dongying.
Wu Eryong, with sweat beading on his forehead, didn’t sit down but gasped, "Real trouble has occurred!"
Yang Ge: "Slow down, what happened?"
Wu Eryong slapped himself hard, inhaled deeply to calm himself, and whispered, "Second Master, our young master personally escorted the first batch of three million Silver Taels northwards for you. They just arrived at Lu Ting, but when they docked to unload, it was discovered that the silver in the cabin had been swapped for stones!"
Yang Ge’s eyes narrowed slowly with a slight smile, "Interesting... Where is Jin Cheng?"
Wu Eryong: "The young master is still at the pier, investigating the traitors!"
Yang Ge, unhurriedly tossing his apron onto the counter, called out to the backyard, "Miaomiao, miaomiao, what are you sneaking food again?"
Zhao Miao, covering his mouth, rushed from the backyard and mumbled, "Not sneaking food, not sneaking food, I was working in the backyard."
Yang Ge, pretending not to see the grease around her mouth, pointed at the counter and said, "I’m stepping out for a bit, you keep an eye on the counter, make sure to take note of what these bumpkins take... no skimming off the top!"
The loungers in the front hall collectively hissed at him, calling him stingy to the extreme.
Yang Ge, with a snort, "Do they really think I’m running a charity here?"
After speaking, he gently nudged the dazed Wu Eryong: "Let’s go."
"Yes!"
Wu Eryong stepped out of the inn’s main door: "I’ll lead the way for Second Master."