CHAPTER 545: CHAPTER 278: THE MOURNING DISCIPLE AND THE FIVE SHADOWS DAOIST

After the charity performance by the theater troupe, Chen Guangrui hosted a banquet at Wangjiang Tower, inviting the troupe’s leading stars and a group of wealthy merchants and gentry.

Although it was called a banquet, in reality, it was an official dinner aimed at addressing the county’s development issues.

Chen Guangrui was an upright official, neither pedantic nor conservative. In the past, these gentry wanted him to accept bribes for conveniences, but they all failed.

Today, the County Magistrate Chen decided to seize the opportunity of everyone gathering together and simply bring things to the forefront to solve collectively.

Although Xu Qing was not a gentry, he was a dominating figure in Linjiang County, monopolizing all the funeral business and even developing many emerging industries.

More importantly, Shopkeeper Xu was willing to donate charitable funds and seek welfare for the people of Linjiang County. Such a conscientious figure naturally needed to be invited as a benchmark.

In the room, county elites and even Jin Sect celebrities were gathered, raising cups and making toasts, appearing harmonious on the surface, but Xu Qing could hear the sound of mental calculations from afar.

However, these had nothing to do with him. He dealt with the business of the dead, and everyone present would be his potential customers in the future, so he had no direct conflicts of interest with the others.

Eventually, everyone must be buried, and the gentry and celebrities present were all respectable people. Living, they cared about face; in death, they would care even more. Nowadays, the funeral shop’s mourning opera business had already fully launched, and nine out of ten of these people would choose Xu’s funeral when it came to their future dignity.

Therefore, none of the people present showed a bad attitude towards Xu Qing. Everyone who saw him had to respectfully address him as Mr. Xu or Boss Xu.

"Ah, Shopkeeper Xu, why don’t you say a few words."

Once Chen Guangrui mentioned fundraising for silver taels to expand the county school, preach sacred laws, and establish community education, among other initiatives, the banquet instantly quieted down.

People eyed their noses, noses eyed hearts, and no one was willing to take the lead.

Seeing the atmosphere was off, Chen Guangrui turned his gaze to Xu Qing, who was currently reading Liu Su’e’s palm.

Xu Qing was forcibly brought to the gathering by Chen Guangrui. He was not interested in the official and gentry business negotiations at the banquet.

Upon hearing Chen Guangrui’s question, Xu Qing, with interest in learning about the metaphysics and fate, regretfully put down Boss Liu’s hand.

With everyone looking at her, Liu Su’e’s face turned slightly red, and she hurriedly tucked her hand into her sleeve.

"Expanding the county school and community school is a good deed. Preparing disaster relief funds for refugees, building homes is a commendable act. If everyone is willing to contribute, I believe the County Magistrate will erect a monument in the county school for commemoration and a virtue stele outside the new district. By then, the names etched upon the steles will surely become renowned in Jin Sect; and should in the future, a genius emerge from those who benefited..."

"Being recorded in the annals of history is not impossible."

Xu Qing chuckled and said, "I am unworthy, but I am willing to contribute a modest effort from what I have accumulated in recent years for Linjiang’s development."

After all, a funeral shop cannot compare with real mercantile wealth. Xu Qing therefore cleverly didn’t mention the specific amount of silver taels to donate but expressed an attitude to show his stance, giving Chen Guangrui a perfect opportunity to capitalize on.

As for the rest of the matters, they had nothing to do with him.

Chen Guangrui knew merchants sought profit, and merely the benefits Xu Qing spoke of could not easily make these stubborn wealthy open their purses.

The crowd bargained, and in the end, Chen Guangrui leveraged the transportation of goods by merchants, monopolizing resources like tea and salt in exchange for benefits, half coercing and half coaxing these merchants into cooperation with the official family.

As the banquet dispersed, Xu Qing clasped his hands at Chen Guangrui and said, "My Xu’s shop is best at carving steles and writing scripture. Let me undertake the future virtue stele, so the Magistrate can have less worry."

"Then I will trouble Shopkeeper Xu."

Leaving Wangjiang Tower, Xu Qing accompanied Liu Su’e back to Underground Street.

Nowadays, Boss Liu is no longer residing in Pear Garden Theater but temporarily staying at the coffin shop, managing business on behalf.

"The few new plays sung these days, when Boss Liu has time, she can teach them to her peers at Pear Garden Theater. The more this play spreads, the more beneficial it will be for our shop."

Liu Su’e did not quite understand the connection within, but since her benefactor said so, she would comply.

Passing by the Flower Paradise and gambling dens most abundant on Long Lamp Street, when they reached the street corner, there were two fat Daoists who looked identical, standing nonchalantly in the middle of the street.

Beside the two Daoists was a middle-aged man who rarely spoke.

The emblematic two swords and two knives in hand, Xu Qing instantly recognized the person’s identity.

"Two Daoists, the matter entrusted by the Celestial Master is urgent. We must quickly locate the demonic presence to thwart the Cangyi Group’s conspiracy..."

"General Zuo, you are not one of the sects, never have tread into cultivation, how could you know our Xuan Sect’s methods? The entrusted matter by the Celestial Master, I naturally keep in heart, and now am searching for the trail of that Dharma King."

As he spoke, the fat Daoist casually cast his mirror toward the street junction, then gleefully said, "Though only two shadows, they are extraordinary in form, not futile for my prolonged stay!"

"Resident, stop." The fat Daoist bypassed Xu Qing and looked at Liu Su’e, his eyes brightening as he said, "I observed the resident’s light steps and pure aura; she is no ordinary mortal from the dust. Why not join the wonders of our door and delve into our path?"

Liu Su’e paused, courteously replied, "I hail from worldly origins, have no mind to become a nun, I implore the Daoist to forgive."

The fat Daoist, persistent, said, "I am a disciple of the Celestial Master’s Mansion’s Star Pavilion, deeply acquainted with Celestial Master’s profound teaching. Were you to enter our sect, it would guarantee an open future and an escape from the ordinary forever!"

Upon hearing the words Celestial Master’s Mansion, Xu Qing promptly pulled Boss Liu behind, and said, "You’re late, Daoist. She has already joined my sect, can’t go anywhere else!"

"Your sect? May I ask which door or sect you belong to?"

"Funeral Door."

"..."

The fat Daoist’s face darkened, believing Xu Qing was deliberately mocking him.

"You ordinary folks could never comprehend the wonders of Xuan Sect! I will not discuss with you!"

The fat Daoist once again looked at Liu Su’e, smiling warmly, "The lady resident’s eyebrows are clear, her fate pure; her steps are light, spirit flows; indeed of excellent bone and profound awareness..."

Liu Su’e blinked curiously, asked, "What is the bone and awareness?"

Ignoring Xu Qing’s deadpan face, moving on with the implication, the fat Daoist explained, "Around you exists a trace of wood spirit’s resonance, gentle like hanging willow, tough as a new twig. Perhaps there was an affinity once, such extraordinary place in comparison is bone and awareness."

"I see, thank you Daoist for enlightening. However, I have joined the Funeral Door; henceforth am a funeral person, and cannot go elsewhere. I do seek your forgiveness, Daoist."

"..."

The fat Daoist’s face stiffened, realizing this couple was teaming up to mock him!

Funeral Door; not to say among Buddhists or Daoists, even within martial circles, none had heard of such a sect!

Ignoring the deflated fat Daoist, Xu Qing turned towards Zuo Zixiong, "General Zuo, it has been a while."

Zuo Zixiong recognized Xu Qing; they met once at Wujue Slope. He nodded and subsequently reminded the fat Daoist, "Spirit Wind Daoist, the matter at hand is urgent; recruitment can wait until after it is settled."

The fat Daoist coldly glanced at Xu Qing and Liu Su’e, then turned around and walked with his mirror further down Long Lamp Street.

Behind the fat Daoist, the Daoist with identical features and build followed silently, akin to a shadow guard.

Taking advantage of Zuo Zixiong and others not vanishing at the end of the street, Xu Qing casually took out a treasure mirror aimed at their backs for a glance.

Zuo Zixiong’s vitality was akin to a fiery furnace, evidently reaching the extreme of condensed gang, and a step away from a master.

Looking again at Spirit Wind Daoist, five shadows intertwined behind his back on the treasure mirror, while the person identical to Spirit Wind Daoist’s appearance had no silhouette behind.