Volume I: Menial Servant of Changshui County Chapter 55: An Unexpected Delight

Evening, a narrow alley.

Lu Jiuzhang walked quickly.

Ahead, a stately residence marked the home of Master Zhou.

Lu Jiuzhang hastened forward, rapping lightly on the door several times.

When the gate opened, a servant in coarse robes recognized him and bowed, “Master Lu, Master Zhou is in the rear garden.”

Lu Jiuzhang’s status was now considerable; he had entered the ninth rank of the Confucian Path.

Thus, he had become an honored guest in Master Zhou’s household.

He needed no formal announcement to enter.

Lu Jiuzhang nodded slightly and strode into the rear garden.

“Master Lu!”

Master Zhou was fishing by the pond, and upon seeing Lu Jiuzhang, grew noticeably more courteous, rising to bow.

“Master Zhou, you are too polite,” Lu Jiuzhang replied in kind.

“I heard Master Lu has ascended to the ninth rank of the Confucian Path—truly a cause for celebration. So young and accomplished, and to utter such words that awaken the world, I am frankly ashamed,” said Master Zhou.

Though Master Zhou himself had long attained the ninth rank, he had made no further progress over the years.

To leave his name amongst scholars now seemed unlikely.

Lu Jiuzhang, by contrast, was so young—and had proclaimed such world-shaking words: “Your salary, your stipend, all come from the people’s toil and blood; the common folk are easy to oppress, but Heaven is not to be deceived.” The envy in Master Zhou’s heart was profound.

“Master Zhou, you are too kind. I came for two reasons, the first being to ask you to make a printed copy of a book for me.” Lu Jiuzhang took out the “Swift Wind Step” manual from his breast and handed it to Master Zhou.

“A martial technique? Has Master Lu made progress in the Martial Path as well?” Master Zhou inquired.

“I have gained some modest insight,” Lu Jiuzhang replied.

Few knew of Lu Jiuzhang’s breakthrough to the ninth rank in the Martial Path, so he intended to keep it hidden—a trump card.

“Remarkable talent,” Master Zhou said, setting aside his fishing rod. “Master Lu, please follow me.”

He led Lu Jiuzhang to the front courtyard, where printing tools were arranged in a side room.

“Printing a single copy is tedious, but martial techniques have few words, so it won’t be too troublesome,” Master Zhou explained.

“Thank you, Master Zhou,” Lu Jiuzhang bowed again.

After his elder brother’s death, Master Zhou had shown him much care.

This courtesy was due.

“How much silver will it require?” Lu Jiuzhang asked.

Master Zhou had a family to support; he could not work for Lu Jiuzhang for free.

“Three taels should suffice,” Master Zhou replied.

Printing was time-consuming: templates must be rearranged and the booklet assembled. It would take most of the night.

Three taels was a fair price.

At bookstores, the price was higher, and security unreliable.

Lu Jiuzhang placed the silver on the nearby table, and Master Zhou began his work.

As they waited, the two engaged in conversation.

“Master Zhou, I’ve heard that upon entering the ninth rank of the Confucian Path, one gains some power over monsters. But I don’t understand how this works, could you explain it in detail?” Lu Jiuzhang asked.

“It’s not so mysterious. The Confucian Path reveres the scholar’s fortune and literary spirit. When writing, the words are imbued with this literary essence. This essence is one method of subduing monsters.”

“Much like the talismans used by sorcerers—it possesses unimaginable power.”

“It is effective against monsters, and also certain evil men.”

“If you reach the eighth rank, the literary pool overflows with essence, transcending paper and brush; you can recite the sages’ classics aloud.”

“It’s said that in the fifth or fourth rank, your words create reality.”

“What does that mean? If you declare a mountain is not a mountain, then it is not; if you say it is something else, it becomes so...” Master Zhou spoke slowly.

Lu Jiuzhang found it somewhat incredible.

The abilities were things Master Zhou had only heard of.

Whether they were true, he could not say—for he was only ninth rank himself.

From what Master Zhou said, it seemed so: writing the words of the sages upon paper, like a talisman, could suppress or even kill monsters.

There were requirements for paper and brush; ordinary materials could not bear the literary essence.

Yet Lu Jiuzhang vaguely recalled that in Miaodi Village, he had recited the sages’ words aloud and slain the fox demon.

But that situation was unique—he had borrowed the power of the great scholar Lu Shiyi, forcing it through.

“Confucian ninth rank, Martial ninth rank... Though I’ve entered the ranks, in cultivation, I am much like a child—knowing little. As your rank grows, so does your knowledge and mastery.”

“Changshui County is too small. For you to reach the ninth rank is already remarkable. To advance to eighth, I suggest you go to Anxi Prefecture, or even the official academy or college in North Ridge District.”

“There, you’ll find many elders who may teach you.”

Master Zhou’s advice was sound.

“I will go,” thought Lu Jiuzhang.

Changshui County was too small; he would inevitably leave.

Not only to Anxi Prefecture, but to North Ridge, and ultimately the capital.

...

Their conversation slowed the printing.

Lu Jiuzhang eventually departed, arranging to return at dawn for the booklet.

He then made his way home.

As he approached, he saw Zhao Chan’er standing at the threshold, holding something in her hand.

“Chan’er!”

Lu Jiuzhang greeted her.

“Second Brother Lu, someone sent you a letter,” Zhao Chan’er hurried over and handed him the letter.

“This is—”

Lu Jiuzhang began to speak but was interrupted.

“Second Brother Lu, keep your voice down—my mother’s asleep. I only dared sneak out because of it.”

After handing over the letter, Zhao Chan’er hurried back inside.

There was no signature on the letter, only Lu Jiuzhang’s name as recipient.

He entered his room, opened the envelope, and read it by the oil lamp.

The letter contained just one line—Leave Changshui County at once, or die!

Who could have sent this? Why such a warning?

Lu Jiuzhang knew he ought to leave soon, but now was not the time.

First, he was an official.

Leaving the Demon-Slaying Bureau without orders would surely bring punishment.

Second, to leave Changshui County, he had to go through Anxi Prefecture.

The route from Changshui to Anxi followed the Great Zhou Highway.

Much of the journey was through deserted lands, with only a relay station every several dozen kilometers.

Leaving rashly was dangerous.

The sender had not revealed their identity.

Perhaps it was a ploy to pique his curiosity?

Lu Jiuzhang set the letter aside, choosing not to dwell on it. Instead, he began practicing the Demon-Slaying Blade Technique.

The meaning of the technique was simple.

Slay monsters!

How to kill them swiftly?

All monsters had their weaknesses—most often the abdomen, soft and vulnerable to injury.

Or the throat...

A few had weaknesses elsewhere, but these vital spots covered most monsters.

Thus, the blade technique was developed targeting these vulnerabilities.

Draw the blade, return the blade—eighty-one forms in all.

This martial art was not just for those at the ninth rank; even eighth and seventh rank martial artists could use it.

Cultivation was divided into four stages: apprentice, mastery, perfection, union of man and blade.

At that highest stage, man and blade became one; with a single thought, all monsters would perish.

Yet the union of man and blade was legendary. At least in Changshui County and nearby Anxi Prefecture, no one had attained it.

That night, Lu Jiuzhang did not rest, but practiced the blade technique.

In the latter part of the night, he sat cross-legged on his bed, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy to restore his strength.

...

Deep in the night, most people were sleeping.

Moonlight washed the streets, lending them a unique beauty.

At the Thousand Mechanisms Tower, Manager Chen was still awake.

He sat by a coal lamp, burning the midnight oil as he revised the ledger.

It was maddening!

No matter how he calculated, he was still ninety taels short.

Those taels were meant to buy a position.

He couldn’t stay in Changshui County—he had to go to a big place like Anxi Prefecture, where profits were greater.

But how to obtain those ninety taels?

He hadn’t seen Lu Jiuzhang from the Demon-Slaying Bureau lately.

Lu Jiuzhang was a major client—Manager Chen had made a tidy sum from him in recent days.

Selling spirit herbs was lucrative—he could skim quite a bit off the top.

Manager Chen was tempted to seek out Lu Jiuzhang personally and ask if he’d encountered any difficulties.

If worst came to worst, Manager Chen could loan him some money privately to encourage him to spend.

No need to worry about repayment—Lu Jiuzhang was an official, he would get the money back.

Lu Jiuzhang spent, Manager Chen did the accounting, and some of the money went straight into his own pocket—perfect!

Creak...

Suddenly, the door was pushed open.

Manager Chen broke out in a cold sweat.

He hurried to look outside, and finding no one, breathed a sigh of relief.

It must have been the wind.

Still, it was unnerving.

He was siphoning money from the Thousand Mechanisms Tower. If discovered, it would not be a trivial matter.

The Tower was not to be trifled with; if caught, he would truly be doomed.

He closed the door and turned back.

In the dim lamplight, a man in black sat beside the table, watching the ledger with interest.

“Damn!”

Manager Chen was startled.

“Who are you?”

He was both frightened and furious.

To intrude upon the Thousand Mechanisms Tower at midnight—did they think it was easily bullied?

“Manager Chen, what refined taste—to be doing the accounts so late,” the stranger observed, instantly spotting the discrepancies in the ledger.

Because the accounts were unfinished, Manager Chen had hoped to work through the night.

“My accounting is none of your business. But I should ask—why do you break into the Thousand Mechanisms Tower in the dead of night?” Manager Chen retorted.

“Hahaha, nothing urgent. I originally came to inquire about some information. But now, it seems I might ask you to handle a matter for me as well.”

“An unexpected pleasure, exceeding my expectations.”

From beneath the black cloak, the man spoke slowly.