The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror-Chapter 31 - 27 Crane Call

After analyzing, Xu Qing felt that there were two likely places in his courtyard that could be haunted.

One was the Old Wutong Tree, and the other was the ancient well beside the Wutong Tree.

Trees and wells themselves are often hotspots for ghostly hauntings in folklore.

"But there's nothing to be afraid of; if the ghost had such great abilities, it wouldn't be hiding from me." After thinking it through, Xu Qing realized there really was nothing to be afraid of.

Said as if everyone were a ghost.

He had been a ghost inside the bronze mirror for a long time, could have his Divine Soul leave his body, and had even been called an "Outer Heaven Demon"!

Last night, out of caution, he did not let his Divine Soul leave his body to investigate. After all, encountering a ghost suddenly, the first reaction is to be cautious.

Tonight, if the other party comes again and there's no substantial harm, he will let his Divine Soul leave his body to probe.

In the morning, he got up as usual to read and practice martial arts. Suspicious, Xu Qing exerted some force on the Old Wutong Tree. If the source of the ghost was there, this act might also create a psychological shadow in the ghost's mind.

As for retaliation?

Having been a target for so many days, if there really was resentment seeking revenge, why didn't it act last night?

Maybe it was because he was too invested in his martial arts practice, stimulating his robust Qi-Blood, and after a series of punches, the originally cold courtyard even felt a bit warm.

Not sure if it was an illusion, the leaves of the Old Wutong Tree seemed somewhat submissive.

Afterward, Xu Qing went to the west courtyard for breakfast and indirectly inquired if the Zhou Family had heard any ghostly noises last night, but nothing had happened.

It seemed that only he heard that sound.

After breakfast, Xu Fu came to report on the chicken farm.

Dong Dahai had a wide network, and the framework of the chicken farm was quickly set up, just waiting for the first batch of chickens to be ready.

Jiangning Prefecture is one of the wealthiest prefectures, with enormous consumption of meat, so these chickens had no worries about sales.

The main purpose of starting a chicken farm was not to make much money but to train workers through the operation.

In any business, organization is involved and once it scales up, there's a large group of people who rely on you for their livelihood. If the leader has a good reputation, as long as they do not rebel, the officials have to curry favor, thus allowing one to wield influence rather than be dominated by others.

Having workers and a reputation naturally allowed one to embark on even greater endeavors.

If Xu Qing had started with highly profitable products like soap or perfume, even though he was a Scholar, it would be like blood in the water for sharks, bringing immediate trouble.

After listening carefully to Xu Fu's report, Xu Qing picked a few inconsequential points to ask about again. If they contradicted what was said before, Xu Fu's loyalty would be worthy of scrutiny.

Fortunately, Xu Fu's responses were consistent, unwittingly passing Xu Qing's test this time.

He conducted these tests every now and then.

The technique wasn't particularly clever, but the key was to have a good memory, to remember everything that one sees and hears.

"Ah Fu, go buy some alcohol and meat later on, then come find me at the powder mill," Xu Qing instructed Xu Fu, then headed straight to the city's powder mill.

The place was specialized for selling rouge and face powder.

Mr. Feng was careless; a bit of alcohol and meat was enough to deal with him.

Miss Feng was a true teacher, and also had connections with the Magistrate and the Academic Supervisor, so of course, he needed to be more thoughtful.

Moreover, after ranking as a Scholar, usually there was no need to be too fearful of the Magistrate or County Magistrate, but the Academic Supervisor was not someone to provoke. Since they could grant you your credentials, they could also strip them away.

According to Miss Feng, Academician Zhou might well be their maternal uncle.

After browsing through the powder mill and making purchases, waiting for Xu Fu, master and servant together then went to the Feng Family Clan School. Buying alcohol and meat for Mr. Feng cost only half a Silver, but buying rouge and face powder for the female teacher cost a total of five Silvers.

Unfortunately, there are places where one just can't skimp.

Now was the busy farming season, and the imperial examinations were approaching, so Mr. Feng had given the students a break.

However, on the road, it seemed some of the Yan Family clan members held some animosity towards Xu Qing.

Yan Shan had appeared again.

"Xu Younger Brother, many of my clan members have heard you're studying classical Chinese with Mr. Feng and are somewhat dissatisfied."

Xu Qing sighed, "Mr. Feng has taught classes in Yan Family for a long time. Let's not say I haven't studied classical Chinese with Mr. Feng; even if I had, I couldn't compare to the descendants of Yan Family."

Yan Shan's mouth twitched, lingering he said, "Xu Younger Brother, then what are you doing here today?"

Xu Qing pointed to the alcohol, meat, rouge, and face powder he brought, "Wasn't I unsuccessful yesterday? I thought maybe it was because I didn't bring any gifts, so today I brought gifts to see if I can touch Mr. Feng's heart."

He had an expression that said, "I believe it even if you don't."

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Yan Shan couldn't help but sigh long towards the sky, fearing not those who are better than him, but those whose writings surpass his, and who are more diligent!

Seeing his good friend saddened, Xu Qing comforted him, "Don't worry, this time at the prefectural examination, everyone else is competing for third place."

Unable to help himself, Yan Shan rolled his eyes. How could Xu Qing say such cold words in this blistering summer heat? He added somberly, "The prefectural exam doesn't even have rankings."

Xu Qing coughed and quickly headed to the Feng Family's residence.

Such is the fragile boat of scholarly friendships; it capsizes at the slightest wave.

No worries, once he achieves his official title, will he lack brothers?

Besides, Yan, you do not know how deep the waters of the prefectural exam are!

Yan Shan watched Xu Qing enter the Feng Family's gates, feeling as if snowflakes were fluttering around him in the scorching summer. Forget it, I'll go work on congratulating my son.

His son was his only child, merely five years old.

"This is the face powder from Ninglu Workshop. I heard that they use the same ingredients as Dai Chunlin's shop," the girl exclaimed with joy upon seeing the gift brought by Xu Qing.

Ninglu Workshop was the powder shop Xu Qing had visited. Dai Chunlin was a famous rouge and face powder shop in the capital, whose exquisite products were contributions to the Imperial Family and not available for purchase with mere money.

"Have you been to Ninglu Workshop?"

"No, Auntie at Uncle He's house uses this brand, and she even gave me a box before. But after Daddy found out, he threw a fit and forbid me from visiting Uncle He's house again," the girl casually complained about Mr. Feng.

Just as Mr. Feng was accepting the meat and wine, he heard his daughter's complaint and couldn't help but say, "He Shunyin was only good to you because you and your mother look alike; I forbade you from going because I was afraid..."

Xu Qing thought to himself, "What is this Yin Liting drama, Mr. Feng, could it be you are Yang Xiao?"

Feng Xifeng saw that Xu Qing was present and was somewhat cautious, not continuing his words. Xu Qing sent Xu Fu to the chicken farm, which wasn't far from here, so Xu Fu didn't need to take a long detour.

Another day of diligent study ensued, and Xu Qing became increasingly familiar with the girl.

Before dusk, under Mr. Feng's "cultured and amiable" gaze, the master and disciple reluctantly parted.

...

...

Midnight, the hour of Zi (11 PM - 1 AM).

Xu Qing was again awakened by the "thud thud thud" of knocking sounds, which then disappeared, leaving the surroundings utterly silent.

This time he was prepared; he immediately got up, lit incense candles, and his Divine Soul left his body.

Thud, thud, thud!

Enveloped in the incense smoke, Xu Qing suddenly heard the "thud thud" sound that had awakened him earlier.

"So the sound is transmitted directly to my Divine Soul."

He guessed that after entering deep sleep, his Divine Soul slightly detached from his body, enabling him to hear the sound.

Now in his out-of-body state, he found that the sound became incredibly clear.

Following the sound, Xu Qing pinpointed its source.

The source of the thudding was indeed the Old Parasol Tree.

The tree, that appeared utterly calm to the naked eye, made a strange knocking sound under the observation of Xu Qing's Divine Soul. Its branches swayed, and streams of Moonlight flowed into the branches of the Old Parasol Tree.

So the swaying branches were an illusion created by the flow of Moonlight.

"Can it absorb Moonlight because of this sound?"

Xu Qing did not rashly approach the Old Parasol Tree but attentively memorized the sound he heard.

"This isn't a knocking sound; it's a breathing sound." After fully memorizing the peculiar sound, Xu Qing suddenly gained a clear understanding.

Afterwards, his Divine Soul returned to his body, and he initiated the state of "Absolute Focus" to mimic the breathing sound.

Before long, in his Divine Soul, a crane appeared to dance gracefully, singing loudly.

Meanwhile, within the bronze mirror, under the Martial Arts section, the word "Incomplete" under the Crane Form vanished and the "Great Success" evaluation gained two blurred characters that were faintly visible as,

"Crane Call".