Legend of the Great Sage

niform, neither of them tried to stop him.
After hearing him state his name, the guard immediately took him in.

The government office was busy.
Various people hurried around under the orders of guards.
It was as if they all had their own matters to attend to, not just to prove their innocence or to sue.

Zhou Wenbin received Li Qingshan in the garden behind the offices.
Under the brilliant sun, the green-clothed Zhou Wenbin sat on a cushion under a large willow tree by a pond as he admired the scenery.
He did not seem like a district magistrate, but more like a hermit.
He was at great leisure, forming quite the contrast with the busyness in the government office.

Li Qingshan clasped his hands.
“How elegant of you, sir!”

Zhou Wenbin waved his hand, and another cushion fell down before him, along with an exquisite tea set.

Li Qingshan sat down gracefully.
Zhou Wenbin waved his hand, and steam rose up from the pond as if it were gathering in his palm, turning into water and landing in the teapot.
Afterwards, it produced hot steam, and the fragrance of tea permeated the surroundings.
He filled two tea cups.

Only then did Zhou Wenbin say leisurely, “We cultivator’s shouldn’t be held up by too many everyday affairs!”

Li Qingshan said in surprise, “Then why do you still hold the position of district magistrate, sir? Why not settle down in a beautiful land and properly focus on cultivation?”

“Now that’s something you don’t know about.
This is one of the cultivation methods of the school of Confucianism, gathering the power of belief, which can also be used for cultivation.
That’s why I’m the district magistrate of Jiaping city.”

Zhou Wenbin said patiently.
Only then did Li Qingshan find out about a cultivation method like this, and it was an extremely effective cultivation method as well that did not require too much effort.
The proteges and aides under Zhou Wenbin would handle the various government affairs for him, while he normally only needed to remain in the back courtyard, drinking tea and admiring the flowers.
The paths of cultivation truly did vary.

Li Qingshan cut to the chase.
“May I ask why you’ve summoned me here?”

Zhou Wenbin said, “Are you aware that you’re living on borrowed time?”

Li Qingshan said, “I’m really not aware of that.”

Zhou Wenbin said, “You’ve deeply offended Zhou Wenbin.
He’s extremely cowardly, which is why he chose to put up with all of it.
But don’t we both know that you don’t have any kind of backing like that at all? Old Wang in Clear River city should dislike you very much.
Zhuo Zhibo will realise that sooner or later.”

Li Qingshan was unfazed.
“Then what do you suggest, sir? Am I supposed to transfer to under sir?”

Zhou Wenbin replied, “I sure would like a subordinate like you.
I’ve heard about what you’ve done in the Qingyang district, but you’ve directly increased the number of vice magistrates under me.
It’ll even cost me a bit to pay and feed him.”

Only now did Li Qingshan think of the brother-in-law of the prefect, Ye Dachuan.
Calculating the time, he should have arrived today.

“However, since you’ve joined the Hawkwolf Guard, you can’t just get away from this entire matter so easily anymore.”

Li Qingshan said, “My only option is to flee?”

Zhou Wenbin shook his head.
“The crime of deserting or betraying the Hawkwolf Guard would be even greater than that.
It’s enough to put you on the criminal list.
Despite how vast the world is, just where can you go? Are you really supposed to flee into the mountains and forests and dwell with those daemons?”

Li Qingshan considered it; this was not necessarily a difficult matter to deal with.

Zhou Wenbin said, “If you want to avoid Zhuo Zhibo, there’s only one place you can go now.”

Li Qingshan asked, “Where?”

“The Academy of the Hundred Schools!”

“Where’s the Academy of the Hundred Schools?”

“Obviously in Clear River city.”

“What kind of place is the Academy of the Hundred Schools?”

“It’s a place where ordinary people cultivate, as well as the foundation of the Great Xia empire.
As the district magistrate, not only do I watch over this region, but I also have the responsibility of choosing talents for the empire.
I can recommend talented Qi Practitioners to study in the Academy of the Hundred Schools.
Even your duties as a Hawkwolf guard will be temporarily set aside.
Obviously, you wouldn’t need to worry about Zhuo Zhibo anymore.
I’ll be honest with you, I came from the Academy of the Hundred Thoughts.
That place is much more beneficial to your cultivation than being a Hawkwolf guard.”

Li Qingshan said, “May I ask why you are favouring me so much, sir?”

Zhou Wenbin said, “Your talent is so-so, but I like your disposition very much.
I don’t wish to see you get destroyed in the hands of a crafty ruffian.
There will be a day when you return to the Hawkwolf Guard, so I wouldn’t mind you coming to Jiaping city, and we can keep working together.”

Some people might detest your disposition, but there would obviously be others who liked your disposition.
With ill will came goodwill.
Such a matter was very fair.

Li Qingshan considered it for a while before answering, “Thank you for your kind offer, sir.
There will be a day when I go there and check it out, but it’s not right now.
I still have things I want to do in Jiaping city.”

He speculated that the Academy of the Hundred Schools was a place like a school.
It was a school for Qi Practitioners to raise talents for the Great Xia empire so that they could overwhelm the talents of other sects.
However, since it was a school, it would definitely come with school fees, and moving about would become inconvenient.
At the very least, he could not go on a killing spree under the name of justice.

He needed flesh and blood to assist Xiao An’s reconstruction of his body, and he also needed to obtain even more Qi Gathering pills from these missions.
These two matters supplemented one another, and Jiaping city was highly suitable for him to complete both.
Most importantly, he was not afraid of Zhuo Zhibo, not even a bit.