Chapter 89: Ritual Soul, Dharma-Protecting Straw Man, Anping Town Harvest Festival

Zhao Xing looked back, and it was the musician Jiang Jiuxian who walked over.

Before the banquet started, he had heard Zong Shichang's introduction, this person is a clerk in the Nanyang Music Hall, considered Lu Qian's senior brother.

"Qianqian, don't trust others easily, be deceived." Jiang Jiuxian was very serious, and his gaze was very sharp when it fell on Zhao Xing's face.

"Senior Brother Jiang?" Lu Qian was a bit unhappy, "Are you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

Jiang Jiuxian saw that Lu Qian didn't seem to believe it, and quickly said: "How rare are new war lyrics and war music? If it is really for sale, it is from the hands of masters, and how can it be in the small Gu City, and he is not even a musician, just an unreliable Agricultural Official."

Zhao Xing was unhappy, what is just an Agricultural Official?

Do you look down on Agricultural Officials?

"This Brother Jiang, you say I am a liar, that's fine, don't attack my profession." Zhao Xing said.

Jiang Jiuxian snorted: "Don't call me brother, if it weren't for Zong Shichang's face, I would have exposed you in public. If you have self-knowledge, while not many people know, you should go downstairs quickly, don't play tricks here."

He had been unhappy with Zhao Xing since the dance and music performance ended.

Everyone else gave rewards, but you were empty-handed, don't you understand the rules?

Later, the junior sister he liked took the initiative to dance for this person, and he didn't know what sweet words this person said to make the junior sister dizzy!

Before Zhao Xing could speak, Lu Qian defended: "Senior Brother, you don't understand, he is not what you think."

Jiang Jiuxian felt even more sour in his heart.

It's too annoying, what do you mean I don't understand, how come you understand him after chatting for a while?

"Junior sister, wake up!" Jiang Jiuxian's tone rose uncontrollably.

Seeing that Jiang Jiuxian was still blocking, Lu Qian was also a bit unhappy: "Jiang Jiuxian, I have my own judgment on the facts, you don't need to worry about it. Shouting and disturbing people's interest, is this what a musician should do? Let go!"

After saying that, Lu Qian pulled Zhao Xing and bypassed him directly.

Jiang Jiuxian was furious, his head was about to smoke, and his eyes were simply going to eat people.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, he immediately ran to find Liu Muqing and the other girls in the Music Hall.

After such a commotion, the guests enjoying the moon in the top-floor private room were all gathered together.

"Brother Jiang, what happened, why are you knocking on the door so urgently?" Zong Shichang was a bit unhappy, I was about to touch Miss Liu's hand, you are knocking hard here, do you have any vision?

"Brother Zong, Miss Liu, follow me, Lu Qian has been deceived, and I can't persuade her, please ask the two to point it out to her."

"What?" Liu Muqing came back to her senses, "Deceived, what do you mean?"

Jiang Jiuxian simply told what happened just now.

Zong Shichang felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart. You actually dare to say that my godfather is a liar? Whether he is a liar or not, don't I know? Besides, you are making such a big fuss, where should my face go?

"Brother Jiang, I advise you not to make a big fuss, I know Brother Zhao, he will never shoot without a target."

He was persuading Jiang Jiuxian not to take humiliation.

After what happened just now, Zong Shichang's confidence in Zhao Xing was simply bursting.

But Jiang Jiuxian said:

"Shichang, you are an Agricultural Official, you don't understand, how can the war lyrics and war music of musicians be so easy to create?"

"..." Zong Shichang saw Jiang Jiuxian's attack surface directly to the profession, and felt even more unhappy. But for the sake of Liu Muqing, he was not easy to attack.

Seeing that everyone was gathered around, he had to follow him to find Zhao Xing and Lu Qian.

"Open the door!" "Open the door!"

"Miss Lu, is Brother Zhao inside?"

"Qian'er..."

Outside the private room, a group of people were knocking on the door.

"What are you doing?"

Lu Qian opened the door, looking at the crowd at the door in astonishment.

Zong Shichang said: "Brother Jiang said you were deceived, is there such a thing?"

Lu Qian looked at Jiang Jiuxian with sharp eyes: "Jiang Jiuxian, didn't I tell you not to worry about it!"

Jiang Jiuxian was drunk and couldn't care so much: "Where is he, whether it is a lie or not, call him out to see!"

Other musicians and dancers also helped: "Qian'er, high-quality newly created war lyrics and war music are too amazing, if it were me, I wouldn't believe it either."

"War lyrics, war music, war dance, it's amazing to create one, let alone two at once?"

Lu Qian glared at Jiang Jiuxian: "What are you shouting, he left."

Left?

Zong Shichang, Liu Muqing and others looked at each other.

The other guests were also a bit confused, could it be that he was really guilty and ran away?

Jiang Jiuxian became even more energetic: "If it weren't for a guilty conscience, how could he leave without saying goodbye? Junior sister, haven't you woken up yet, he is a..."

Lu Qian was too lazy to argue with him, and directly took out a water-pattern paper folding book from her arms.

After this water-pattern paper folding book appeared.

Jiang Jiuxian's words were abruptly interrupted.

Because he felt a strong "whim", this feeling even made him tremble all over, so that he couldn't speak.

The other musicians were also the same, their eyes were involuntarily attracted by the water-pattern sticker.

Dancers were a bit better, after all, only war music and war lyrics, missing a part of the war dance.

But they were also greatly shocked.

This is clearly the feeling that only the original post has!

"Actually true?"

"Did you feel it?"

"This is at least a war song that can be cultivated to the Seventh Rank?"

"You said less, if it goes through singing, the upper limit can be higher!"

"Definitely the original, only the power of the original is so strong."

Jiang Jiuxian's face turned pale, his eyes dull, he didn't expect to be slapped in the face.

Lu Qian saw this, put the water-pattern sticker away again, and stared at Jiang Jiuxian with cold eyes:

"Jiang Jiuxian, usually calling you Senior Brother is because of your early entry. Do you really think your skills are excellent and your vision is far beyond mine?"

"How can you treat me like a child!"

Lu Qian felt humiliated, she felt that Jiang Jiuxian treated her as a child, does she have no appreciation ability?

Jiang Jiuxian was ashamed and couldn't speak.

It was Zong Shichang who smoothed things over: "Okay, Brother Jiang is drunk, it's good to clear up the misunderstanding. Come, everyone continue to play music and dance, I have good things to show you, disperse, disperse!"

Then pushed the crowd to disperse.

Liu Muqing didn't leave, because Lu Qian kept her. Good things are naturally shared with best friends, as for others, they have no fate to see the original.

After closing the door, Liu Muqing stared at the water-pattern sticker: "Qian'er, did Zhao Xing really give this to you, not bought from elsewhere?"

Lu Qian smiled and opened the water-pattern sticker: "Qing'er, there is a score on it, you will know after playing it."

Jiang water-pattern sticker opened, with the big characters "Ritual Soul" written on it.

Liu Muqing walked to the zither and began to play according to the war music.

"Complete the ritual and meet the drums."

"Pass the ba and dance on behalf."

"The beautiful woman advocates and is at ease."

"Spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums."

"Long without end and ancient."

As the music and lyrics sounded together, Liu Muqing seemed to see the scene of ancient sages sacrificing gods in the Heavenly Altar Square, the war drums sounded tightly, flower gods were singing, and the time changed from spring to autumn in a short time, repeating cycles.

Ritual is for sacrifice, soul is the god of Qi.

This is the Sending God Song after sacrificing various gods.

The zither sound resonated with heaven and earth, and it seemed to have the effect of dispersing Yin souls and sending away the gods invited by other professions!

"This..." After Liu Muqing played it twice, she quickly felt a strange and familiar feeling, "Is this extended from the basis of 'Six Songs'?"

"Not bad." Lu Qian nodded, "That's what he said."

"Since it is derived from Six Songs, is there more than one 'Ritual Soul'?" Liu Muqing suddenly thought of something.

"I guess so too, unfortunately I was about to ask, but it was stirred up by that Jiang Jiuxian, he left directly to avoid making Zong Shichang difficult... Hmph, Jiang Jiuxian, really hateful!" Lu Qian was very angry.

"Okay, don't worry about Jiang Jiuxian, Qian'er, your Sparrow Feather Magic Clothing was not lost in vain." Liu Muqing teased, "It can also be exchanged for an original war lyric and song... I think it would be better to lose eight or ten more pieces."

"Do you think it was a gift? This was bought by me."

"That's a pity, making Qian'er's expectation of giving yourself away fall through."

"Qing'er, what are you being lewd about, hit me!"

"..."

Zhao Xing returned home in Pingkang Ward by moonlight.

At this time, Zhao Ruide took his wife and children out to play and hadn't returned yet.

"Wangyue Tower is not a wasted trip, solving a trouble, and can exchange for a few preaching paintings." Zhao Xing washed his face.

After giving "Ritual Soul" to Lu Qian, the other party promised to find at least two preaching paintings.

Plus the one Zong Shichang said, the money on his body can buy another one, almost can get four preaching paintings.

As for whether it is worth selling? In Zhao Xing's view, it is worth it.

In the future, these war lyrics and war music will be of no use. Once the destiny dynasty

As eras change, some professions rise to the heavens in a single step, while others fall into the dust. He was short on money now; if he could sell them to meet an emergency, he would sell them. They were windfalls anyway.

"I hope Young Master Zong and the young lady of the Lu family come through and get some good preaching paintings."

Setting this matter aside for the moment, Zhao Xing began to practice the introductory chapter of *Great Dream Spring and Autumn*.

[You have gathered the sleep-bugs from your life-soul; you have gained insight into the Sleep-Bug Spell; spell progress +10.]

[You have gathered the sleep-bugs from your life-soul; you have gained insight into the Sleep-Bug Spell; spell progress +12.]

[You have released the sleep-bugs...]

After practicing the Sleep-Bug Spell for half the night, Zhao Xing fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, he went to the Agricultural Supervision Office to practice as usual.

Although it was difficult to improve the progress of the Four Laws of Celestial Timing in the short term, Zhao Xing did not give up.

He believed this daily training was not in vain; even if the progress was less than 1 point, with time and accumulation, he would break through the bottleneck sooner or later.

The little mountain cat lay lazily on the locust tree, then used its paws to pull over a locust leaf and took a bite.

"Meow~"

It didn't taste good, so the mountain cat spat it out.

"Is that thing supposed to taste good? You really are hungry. Come on, I'll take you to find something to eat."

Zhao Xing checked the time and planned to take the mountain cat to the Chen residence for a free meal.

The Heavenly Origin Pear tree he planted was still a long way from flowering and bearing fruit.

"Meow." The mountain cat’s ears perked up. Hearing about food, it immediately jumped onto Zhao Xing’s shoulder.

Agricultural officials usually ate quite well.

When Zhao Xing arrived, Chen Shijie was eating a grand meal at his residence.

"Second-tier high-grade ingredient, large yellow croaker? And you even added rehmannia and clear goji berries?"

"Yam and white eel stew? To nourish Qi and the lungs, strengthen the body and nourish Yang?"

"And snow fungus with phoenix bird? Hiss, it’s stewed so fragrantly!"

"Hey, why are there clear goji berries in this slow-cooked chicken? Another Yang-strengthening dish. Master Chen, you should pay attention to rest; don't overwork yourself..."

Chen Shijie glanced at Zhao Xing: "Who did you learn this sarcastic tone from? Can you just eat your meal properly?"

"Hehe." Zhao Xing stopped teasing Chen Shijie, but looking at the food, he knew Gui Niang must have been staying at the Chen residence for the past two days.

The two of them were devouring the table full of good dishes when a large yellow croaker suddenly jumped off the table and ran out.

The yellow croaker was twice the size of the mountain cat; the little cat held it up by the head, its figure completely obscured by the fish.

Zhao Xing and Chen Shijie both ate very quickly, almost like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds—a habit formed in the army.

"Tomorrow is the Harvest Festival; are you leaving the city?" Chen Shijie asked after finishing.

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded, "Anping Town is in my tax collection area. The last wave of Origin Rice is being harvested, so I have to go over and take a look."

"Take Shen Zhui with you. I’ll give you another straw man." Chen Shijie waved his hand, and a straw man wearing a coir raincoat and a bamboo hat immediately ran out from the back hall.

Zhao Xing took a look but couldn't discern any of its secrets.

"A Dharma-protecting straw man." Chen Shijie introduced, "It contains two sword Qi attacks, imprinted from the sword technique secret skill of a friend of mine in the army. I couldn't even make this kind of Dharma-protecting straw man in Nanyang Commandery."

The possibility of the Profound Heaven Sect making a move in September was low, but just in case, Chen Shijie still provided Zhao Xing with an extra layer of insurance.

"Impressive." Zhao Xing gave a thumbs up. Dharma-protecting straw men were mid-tier spells and extremely difficult to master. Chen Shijie’s was even more extraordinary. When he used Five Elements Observation to look at it, Zhao Xing actually felt a stinging pain in his eyes.

The material used to weave the straw man was not ordinary; it was filled with the power of the Metal element, and its overall structure was extremely precise, completely locking the two sword Qi attacks inside so they wouldn't leak.

Such a Dharma-protecting straw man could be used for a long time; as long as it wasn't destroyed, it could last for three to five years!

Zhao Xing used Five Elements Observation to check it, but even at close range, he could only vaguely feel a sense of sharpness; he couldn't see the inner workings at all.

Chen Shijie was quite pleased with Zhao Xing’s praise. He wanted Zhao Xing to follow him into the army, so naturally, he had to show some means to attract him.

"Then I shall take my leave." Zhao Xing left as soon as he finished, crisp and decisive; he knew Chen Shijie didn't like idle chatter.

Around the Autumn Equinox was the time for the final wave of Origin Rice harvesting.

If it wasn't harvested by October, the Origin Rice would rot in the fields, and the commoners wouldn't be able to plant a new crop.

Anping Town was also in Shen Zhui’s jurisdiction for public security, though he didn't need to be there often; small squabbles among commoners didn't require high combat power to resolve.

Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui traveled in an official carriage. The carriage itself had third-tier defensive capabilities, and the horses pulling it had the bloodline of exotic beasts—they had a protrusion on their heads, thick limbs, and hooves that were a dark purple color.

"A carriage pulled by purple-horned horses; Brother Shen, you’ve really made it now, having such a ride." Zhao Xing teased.

"Don't mock me. These are just crossbreeds, only carrying a bit of exotic beast bloodline."

If the bloodline were pure, they would have purple horns on their heads, and the hooves should be purple, not the current dark purple.

True purple-horned horses were generally warhorses. However, for Shen Zhui to be assigned such a carriage showed he was doing well, or at least proved that the Martial Office valued him.

"Giddyup~"

The carriage sped along the official road, and in less than half an hour, they arrived at Anping Town.

At this time, the fields everywhere were a sea of gold. Farmers were harvesting Origin Rice in the fields, women were turning grain on the threshing floors, and children were picking up fallen rice ears, handing them to their elders like they were reporting good news after bundling them up.

This scene was beautiful and peaceful, just like the name of Anping Town.

Suddenly, the sky turned dark, and black clouds drifted in from afar; it seemed like it was going to rain.

"Brother Zhao, hurry!" Shen Zhui said hurriedly.

"What’s the rush?" Zhao Xing smiled and pointed at the sky. A golden light wrapped around a bead and flew into the sky, merging into the clouds.

It was the fourth-tier East Lake Bead.

Although this fourth-tier East Lake Bead had an ice attribute, it could also be used to absorb rainwater and cloud vapor.

Normal agricultural officials didn't use East Lake Beads but rather the official "Cloud-Rain Bead," a treasure specifically for regulating rainfall.

Although this East Lake Bead wasn't specifically for absorbing clouds and rain, its high grade meant its effect was not bad at all.

Before long, the black clouds faded, and a quarter of an hour later, they turned completely into white clouds.

"Whoosh~" The ice bead returned to Zhao Xing’s hand, the blue light on it becoming even more vibrant.

The farmers, who had been scrambling to avoid the rain and collect their grain, returned to their peaceful work.

"Brother Zhao, what a great spell." Shen Zhui smiled and drove the carriage, continuing to take Zhao Xing on a patrol of the fields.

Anping Town, the Niu family’s fields.

A group of rice-harvesters were resting under a shed after finishing the harvest for their employer.

Among them, a middle-aged man with a plain appearance, prominent cheekbones, and thick limbs was chatting in a low voice with a woman who had a barrel-shaped waist and a headscarf.

"We can't act in September," the middle-aged woman whispered. "The time is too rushed. The higher-ups plan to act in November."

"November is the last Yang month. If we don't act then, we'll have to wait until next year. I reckon it will be around the start of Winter."

"Since we aren't acting, why make us come here and suffer?" The middle-aged man hammered his waist. "Not being able to use our real strength, my waist is about to break from exhaustion."

"Anping Town is in that Zhao Xing’s jurisdiction. He has the duty of encouraging agriculture; coming early to scout the location is fine. Besides, we come to this Niu family as rice-harvesters every year; not coming this year would look strange." The woman handed over a water bottle. "Here, quench your thirst first."

"Sigh, living like a mortal, the taste is truly unbearable. Even after so long, I still can't get used to this mortal suffering." The man complained, looking at the clouds in the sky.

"Stop talking, someone is coming." The woman seemed to be suffering from the heat and grabbed her legs to stand up.

At this moment, the master of the Niu family arrived in a sedan chair, with several people carrying boxes behind him.

"Chen Deshun, Wu Chenshi, come quickly, it’s time to pay the wages!" someone shouted not far away.

The middle-aged man and the woman immediately stood up, pretending to be overjoyed: "Hey, coming, coming!"