Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Merit
"You were born with deficiencies, lacking in natural talent," Gu Xu's superior once told him. "Only by reaching the Seventh Realm can you shed your mortal shell and reshape your body, fundamentally solving the problem."
"Sir, is it difficult?"
"For the past four hundred years of the Great Qi dynasty, no one has been able to reach the Seventh Realm before the age of thirty."
"Just because no one has done it before doesn't mean no one will come after," Gu Xu replied, his eyes gleaming with determination, his smile radiant as the morning sun. "I want to give it a try."
"Boy, I know you have good comprehension. But cultivation is something that takes time and resources. Look at the strongest figures in the Great Qi dynasty now, the Emperor, the Five Sages... They all come from prestigious sects and big families, having cultivated for decades."
"I understand that the chances are slim, but I don't want to die young. Besides... success brings great rewards, while failure doesn't harm, right?"
His superior sighed, his eyes filled with pity as he looked at Gu Xu.
From that day on, Gu Xu devoted almost all of his time and energy to cultivation.
While others ate, he cultivated; while others slept, he cultivated; while others went on outings, he continued to cultivate.
In addition, he took on more missions than others, venturing out to exterminate ghosts in the hopes of gaining as much merit as possible and exchanging it for pills, treasures, and other cultivation resources.
Thirteen years was too short, and the Seventh Realm was too far away.
He had to seize the day and night.
...
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The midnight bell rang out leisurely.
At this moment, the entire Yishui County had fallen into slumber. Only the night patrolman, carrying a lantern and holding a gong and clapper, repeatedly shouted in a hoarse voice, "Close your doors and windows, do not go outside."
Gu Xu walked along the uneven cobblestone road, traversed several narrow alleys, and arrived at a wide street.
This street was called "Zhengqi Street," the main road that ran through the north and south axes of Yishui County.
Two solemn and dignified buildings stood on either side, facing each other across the street.
On the eastern side was the county government, responsible for secular affairs.
On the western side was the Exorcism Bureau.
Outside the county government were two stone statues of xiezhi [1], symbolising integrity and justice in law enforcement.
Outside the Exorcism Bureau were two stone lions—or more precisely, they should be called "suanni,"[2] representing strength and fearlessness, and also serving as a ward against evil in feng shui.
From this, it could be seen that in the Great Qi dynasty, the Exorcism Bureau composed of cultivators, held a high status and stood on equal footing with secular institutions.
It reported directly to the emperor and was not subject to the control of the Six Ministries, the Imperial Cabinet, or the military.
Gu Xu walked through the two suanni statues, ascended the stone steps, and entered the gate of the Exorcism Bureau.
Inside, the oil lamps cast a dim light.
A man was working at a desk under the lamp.
The man was thin, wearing a black robe embroidered with patterns of the sun, moon, and stars on his black satin hat—
He was none other than Gu Xu's immediate superior, Chen Jisheng, the governor of the Exorcism Bureau in Yishui County.
"Governor" was a seventh-grade official position, overseeing all matters related to demon slaying and exorcism in the county. It could be understood as the director of the Exorcism Bureau's branch office in Yishui County.
And the attire on Chen Jisheng's body was the uniform of the Bureau of Exorcism.
In the Great Qi dynasty, civil officials had birds embroidered on their robes, such as cranes and pheasants, to symbolise civilization. Military officials had beasts embroidered, such as lions and tigers, to show their might.
The Exorcism Bureau's uniform, embroidered with the sun, moon, and stars, was because many ghosts and monsters feared light.
Therefore, it was also called the "Seven Luminaries Robe."
Of course, someone like Gu Xu, who was not even considered a minor official, had no qualification to wear it.
Although he was a leader, Chen Jisheng rarely acted superior and was more like a close yet strict mentor to Gu Xu, often imparting his knowledge of cultivation.
Gu Xu walked up to Chen Jisheng's desk and nodded slightly.
"Governor Chen, I'm back."
"Have you dealt with the ghosts?"
"Yes."
As Gu Xu spoke, he took off the jade pendant from his waist and placed it on the desk.
He tapped his index finger on the jade pendant twice.
The jade pendant emitted a brilliant light.
The entire process of Gu Xu's battle with the ghoul was projected in front of Chen Jisheng in the form of a projection.
—This jade pendant was a specially made tool of the Exorcism Bureau, one for each person.
Its function was similar to a camera, capable of recording the entire process of a mission.
These recordings served two purposes:
First, to calculate merit, preventing false claims or exaggerated achievements;
Second, as important data for the Exorcism Bureau's research on ghosts and monsters.
Chen Jisheng glanced at the projection from the corner of his eye.
He still held a brush in his hand, not stopping his motion of reviewing documents.
A few seconds later, the projection ended.
But Chen Jisheng seemed to have not fully seen it.
"That's it?"
"Yes," Gu Xu replied.
"So short."
"I couldn't help it. Those ghosts were too weak. Before I could even display twenty percent of my strength, they were all gone."
"You, kid, are not modest at all."
"I'm just stating the facts."
"Oh, then play it again for me."
Gu Xu tapped the jade pendant twice again.
This time, Chen Jisheng put down the brush, sat up straight, and stared at the projection without blinking.
At first, his expression was placid, then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"What talisman did you use?"
"The Supreme Northern Pole Demon-Slaying Ghost-Killing Talisman," Gu Xu responded, "Governor Chen, it was you who taught me how to use it two months ago."
"Heh, I've never taught you how to use a Ghost-Killing Talisman with such destructive power."
"I merely made some minor modifications to the original."
"Minor?" Chen Jisheng let out a cold snort.
Gu Xu only responded with a quiet smile.
In the Great Wilderness, talismans were known as the "language of the gods" and served as a medium for cultivators to communicate with the heavens and the great dao. They were famous for their high entry requirements and difficulty to master—complex and elusive, requiring exceptional comprehension, an astute mind, and years of practice.
Because the study of talismans was tedious and slow to produce results, thousands of cultivators had been discouraged from pursuing it—they claimed that a true man should wield knives and hammers, fearlessly charging to the front, and only cowards would hide in the back, throwing talismans from a distance.
Of course, these were just excuses from those who had failed.
The imperial tutor of the Great Qi dynasty was an outstanding master of talismans.
He once drew a cage with a radius of a hundred miles using heaven and earth as his paper and True Qi as his ink, easily sealing a "Fierce God"-level evil spirit.
But no one dared to call him a coward.
Because of Gu Xu's weak physique, unable to wield weapons, Chen Jisheng had taught him how to draw simple talismans, hoping he would have a means of self-defence against evil spirits.
But in less than two months, this kid had already surpassed him—after all, Chen Jisheng was a sword cultivator and only had a superficial understanding of talismans, unable to teach him more.
Gu Xu's terrifying speed of improvement and his boundless creativity often surprised Chen Jisheng.
"You truly have heaven's envy..." Chen Jisheng would feel a great sense of regret whenever he witnessed Gu Xu's remarkable performance, coupled with his short lifespan.
If this kid had a stronger body and could live another thirty years, perhaps he could truly reach the Seventh Realm and become the future head of the Exorcism Bureau... or even transcend the heavenly tribulation, ascend to immortality, and break free from the boundless sea of suffering...
Alas, it was a pity, a pity...
"Well, let's get to the main point. This time, you killed four 'ghouls' and can earn a total of forty merit points," Chen Jisheng said, looking at Gu Xu's handsome and slender face, sighing, "Up to now, you have accumulated a total of three hundred and fifteen merit points.
"Do you have anything you want to redeem? Or is it the same as last time, exchanging three hundred merit points for a bottle of 'Tranquil Heart Pill'?"
"Yes," Gu Xu replied.
Chen Jisheng wrote the words "Tranquil Heart Pill" on a piece of paper, then signed his name with a flourish, and handed it to Gu Xu along with the jade pendant.
"Go to the warehouse and get it yourself!"
"Thank you, Governor Chen!"
"Also, Gu Xu, there's a box of white fungus, a basket of eggs, and a box of goji berries in that cabinet over there. They were recently sent by my relatives. I have no use for them. Your body is too weak, so take them and nourish yourself!"
"Governor Chen, there's no need—"
"—I'm telling you to take them!" Chen Jisheng forcefully cut him off.
Gu Xu reluctantly nodded and accepted.
[Chapter 2: What It's Like to Have a Domineering Superior]
Gu Xu: I almost never have to spend money on breakfast. I can save up a whole month's worth of copper coins in two months. It's really great.
Footnotes:
1)The term "xiezhi" (獬豸) refers to a mythical creature in Chinese folklore. It is often depicted as a fierce and powerful creature with the body of a unicorn, the tail of a lion, the hooves of a deer, and a single horn on its forehead. The xiezhi is known for its wisdom, righteousness, and its ability to distinguish truth from falsehood. It is often regarded as a symbol of justice, honesty, and integrity in Chinese culture. In traditional Chinese beliefs, the xiezhi is believed to have the ability to uncover lies and expose deception, making it a guardian against evil and corruption.
2)Suanni (狻猊) is another mythical creature from Chinese mythology. It is often depicted as a fierce and powerful creature with the body of a lion, the scales of a fish, and sometimes the tail of a dragon. The Suanni is known for its bravery, strength, and its association with fire. It is believed to have the ability to ward off evil spirits and protect against misfortune. In Chinese culture, the Suanni is often seen as a symbol of power, courage, and auspiciousness. It is commonly used in architectural and decorative elements, such as sculptures, to bring good luck and protection.
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