Chapter 7: Sincerity is Required to Invite Immortals
Upon hearing that Tian Guofu, the Town Leader of Qingping Town, had arrived, Zhang Qingyun was clearly surprised.
Could it be that after being in Qingshan County for so long, someone was finally willing to pledge allegiance to him?
With that thought, Zhang Qingyun said, "Please invite Tian Zhenzhang (Town Leader) in."
Tian Guofu quickly entered and respectfully bowed to Zhang Qingyun: "This humble citizen, Tian Guofu, greets the County Magistrate."
"Tian Zhenzhang (Town Leader), please rise quickly. What matter do you have to report to this County?" Zhang Qingyun asked with a smile.
Tian Guofu hurriedly said, "Does the County Magistrate know that in Qingping Mountain, there is an evil tiger spirit causing havoc and harming lives?"
Zhang Qingyun nodded: "This County is aware of the matter. It is said that the previous two County Magistrates invited many Cultivators, but they were unable to achieve success, allowing that tiger demon to continue its evil deeds in the mountain to this day."
As he spoke, Zhang Qingyun frowned. Could this Tian Guofu be trying to get him to find a Cultivator to eliminate the tiger demon in the mountain?
If things were truly that simple, how could that tiger demon have run rampant in the mountain for so many years?
Tian Guofu seemed to have seen through Zhang Qingyun's thoughts and quickly said, "County Magistrate, you do not know. A Daoren arrived in Qingping Town some time ago. His abilities are superb, and he has already eliminated that tiger demon!"
"Hm?!"
Zhang Qingyun was startled.
He truly hadn't expected that the tiger demon, which had ravaged Qingping Mountain for so many years, devoured countless people, and killed many Cultivators, would be eliminated by a suddenly appearing Daoren!
But the next moment, Zhang Qingyun had an idea: Since that Daoren was so powerful, why not invite him to become his aide?
He was a branch of a Family and it was already a stroke of luck for him to come to Qingshan County to serve as the County Magistrate.
This time, he and his daughter came to Qingshan County to take up their posts alone, with no available manpower, otherwise he wouldn't have been easily manipulated by the gentry here.
Once he could get the help of a Cultivator, the situation would definitely be different!
Thinking of this, Zhang Qingyun immediately said, "That Daoren being able to eliminate the tiger demon is also removing a great threat for my Qingshan County!"
"Tian Zhenzhang (Town Leader), later you shall take back a thousand taels of silver and reward that Daoren on behalf of this County. Also, please invite that Daoren to the county town. This County wishes to meet the Daoren who could slay that tiger demon."
Tian Guofu was waiting for these words and quickly said, "I respectfully obey the County Magistrate's order."
Soon, Tian Guofu hurried back to Qingping Town with a thousand taels of silver.
Then he quickly organized people to wrap the silver and some fruits in red silk, and sent them up Qingping Mountain with gongs and drums.
Such a lively commotion naturally startled Jiang Sheng.
Jiang Sheng was inherently a quiet person, and seeing a large group of people coming up with gongs and drums, he couldn't help but frown.
Soon, Tian Guofu led a large group of people to the front of the Daoist temple.
Tian Guofu said with a smiling face, "Jiang Daoren, good news!"
"From where does this good news come?" Jiang Sheng's expression remained indifferent.
Tian Guofu, beaming, said, "Jiang Daoren, I have already informed the County Magistrate about you eliminating the tiger demon for our Qingping Town."
"The County Magistrate was overjoyed to hear that a Daoren like you has come to Qingshan County."
"So, the County Magistrate ordered us to send a thousand taels of silver as a reward."
As he spoke, Tian Guofu was quite excited: "The County Magistrate also wants to invite you, Daoren, to the county yamen, saying he wants to meet you in person!"
"Heh!"
With a cold laugh, Jiang Sheng's eyes held no trace of amusement.
Tian Guofu looked at Jiang Sheng's expression and his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He felt that he might have handled this matter incorrectly.
And those young men who were beating gongs and drums also inexplicably felt a chill, and one by one they couldn't help but stop the jarring festive music.
Jiang Sheng's indifferent gaze swept over everyone present, causing them all to tremble.
"A thousand taels of silver?"
"As a reward?"
"What do you all take this humble Daoren for?"
Jiang Sheng's attitude undoubtedly frightened Tian Guofu and these people.
Tian Guofu quickly said, "Jiang Daoren, we truly meant well!"
"Moreover, this matter was also brought up by the County Magistrate himself, to give you a thousand taels of silver, and he also wants to invite you to the county town."
Jiang Sheng looked at Tian Guofu with a half-smile, his eyes making Tian Guofu's heart pound, and he couldn't help but lower his head.
As Jiang Sheng's gaze swept over them, the wealthy merchants and gentry of Qingping Town present all lowered their heads like quails, not daring to look up.
The old scholar, who had been quite carefree when offering advice a few days ago, was now trembling with fear, almost collapsing to the ground.
"This humble Daoren has already told you all, this humble Daoren does not care for your thank-you gifts, and you all should not waste any more effort!"
"Did you not understand what this humble Daoren said, or do you think this humble Daoren is soft-hearted and easily bullied?"
As Jiang Sheng spoke, he waved his sleeve, and a gust of strong wind swept through, blowing everyone present, along with the silver, fruits, gongs, drums, and red decorations, flying outwards.
Tian Guofu only felt a strong wind blow him disoriented. When his vision cleared, he had already been blown to the foot of the mountain!
The wealthy gentry and young men of Qingping Town looked at each other, all covered in cold sweat, and no one dared to say anything more.
Tian Guofu, however, had a bitter expression and looked troubled as he shouted towards the halfway point of the mountain, "Daoren, it was truly the County Magistrate who asked me to invite you!"
Jiang Sheng's clear, cold voice came from the mountain: "County Magistrate?"
"A mere thousand taels of silver as a reward, and he wants this humble Daoren to go to the county town to see him?"
"What a joke!"
"If your County's County Magistrate truly wishes to see this humble Daoren, then let him come to Qingping Mountain!"
"You all disperse immediately. If you disturb this humble Daoren's cultivation again, do not blame this humble Daoren for being impolite!"
Hearing Jiang Sheng's words, everyone quickly ran back to Qingping Town.
At this moment, everyone was covered in dust and looked dishevelled.
The wealthy gentry looked at Tian Guofu with difficulty, and Tian Guofu could only sigh: "Alas, then I will go back and tell the County Magistrate again."
When Tian Guofu hurriedly returned to Qingshan County and explained the situation to County Magistrate Zhang Qingyun, Zhang Qingyun's face immediately changed.
"I, the dignified County Magistrate of a county, sent someone to invite a mountain Daoren, yet he cannot be persuaded? Must this County go in person to invite him?!"
"He is nothing but a mountain Daoren, yet he is even more arrogant than the gentry in the county town!"
Tian Guofu stood by awkwardly, not daring to speak. Zhang Qingyun, in a fit of anger, waved him away and then, in a huff, returned to the backyard to rest.
Upon returning to the county yamen's backyard, Zhang Qingyun was still so angry that he directly smashed a teacup, scaring the servants in the backyard into trembling, fearing that the sulking County Magistrate would vent his anger on them.
Zhang Qingyun couldn't understand.
Why, within the borders of Qi Country, could he, as the County Magistrate of Qingshan County, not even invite a mountain Daoren?
Could it be that he was now a universally known Puppet, merely a clay figure confined to the county yamen?
What was the point of being a County Magistrate like that?
"Father, why are you so angry? Is there anything you can't tell your daughter?"
A clear and melodious voice, like a yellow oriole, sounded in Zhang Qingyun's ears. Zhang Qingyun turned his head and saw his intelligent and pretty daughter, Zhang Qing.
Seeing that his beloved daughter had come, Zhang Qingyun's expression softened slightly: "Qing'er, weren't you going to listen to stories? Why do you have time to come find Father?"
Please continue reading, collect, and recommend. Linyuan wants to write a Xianxia story, and the first story in this book is just slowly unfolding. Please continue to read patiently. Finally, please, all sirs, be sure to turn to the last page. This is very important to Linyuan. Thank you, sirs.
