Chapter 32 Chapter 32 [VIP]
The Star Forging Division's recruitment process is not as strict as the Du'e Division's, but is instead full of "human touch".
For example, the year Ling Suye joined the Du'e Division, the Duanxing Division recruited forty-nine new people.
Apart from some with real abilities, most of them are playboys, such as the nephew of a certain minister who has failed the imperial examinations many times, and the illegitimate son of a certain vice minister who is a bully and tyrant... In short, these kids have no future, so they are sent to the Star Forging Division to improve their resumes.
After all, above the Forging Stars is the Sitianjian, the lifeblood of the dynasty.
If you can enter the Sitianjian, those evil spirits in the Du'e Division will have to give you some face.
In this way, walking around the capital city at will is no longer a dream.
Of course, ideals are ideals, and the only one who can truly enter the Sitianjian from the Tianjian Division is the Lord Siming.
Generally speaking, the Star Forging Division recruits a mixed crowd, with a fixed intake of forty-nine people every three years.
As long as you give enough chips, you can get in.
This year happens to be the year when the Star Forging Department is recruiting.
Ling Suye actually dared to go, so he must have some bargaining chips.
However, he also had some doubts.
That is, the information he knew was from three years ago, and he didn't know whether the Star Refining Division had changed the rules.
Therefore, Ling Suye did not want to waste time on the road, so he changed the original plan of "two days by boat" to "seven days", thus saving eleven days.
It originally took 28 days to travel from Mobei to Shangjing City, but it only takes 17 days if you travel half by land and half by water.
However, drifting on the vast expanse of water for seven days is truly a test of perseverance for a young man from Mobei who has rarely seen water since childhood and cannot swim.
What's more, Ling Suye couldn't even get used to eating fish, but in order to save time, he still managed to hold on.
For safety reasons, Ling Suye not only chartered a boat for himself, but also hired a boat with packhorses.
The two ships sailed eastward together and finally arrived at Fujin Ferry near Shangjing City.
When he stepped onto the ground, Ling Suye's heart settled down.
But his brows remained furrowed. Gu Xuanyou was accompanied by the princess's procession, and there was no news along the way. He could only say that the Du'e Department's confidentiality work was really good. He also didn't know when the princess's procession would return to the capital.
However, the ceremonial procession usually needs to be led by the Du'esi and protected by personal guards, so it should move slowly.
The Fujin Ferry is located in Fujin County, which is only half a day's drive from Shangjing City. It has a large population and merchants come and go, making it a prosperous and bustling scene.
Without Gu Xuanyou by my side, I feel like I’m missing a pair of eyes.
Although Ling Suye could distinguish sounds with his ears, it was not as fast as seeing with his eyes.
So he thought about it again and again and finally put on the thin jade mirror.
"Young man, what's that on your nose? It looks quite luxurious. Would you like to sell it?"
Ling Suye was walking with his horse when an old man at a roadside stall asked.
"How much can you offer? I'll buy it for five taels of gold. Are you willing to sell it?" Before Ling Suye could answer, a familiar voice suddenly interrupted.
The old man from before fell silent.
Ling Suye turned around and looked at the money-eating beast Xiao Jin. Xiao Jin raised his hand with a smile, pointed at the most magnificent Juxian Building in the distance, and said, "Let's talk in detail?"
"good."
·
In the private room, Xiao Jin carefully sensed the situation and, after confirming that no one was paying attention, he immediately smiled like Maitreya Buddha. "Ah, thank goodness I've fulfilled my mission. I'm afraid that bow of yours isn't made of ordinary material. Even with the jade covering it, I'm trembling with fear. If it weren't for this bow being yours, I wouldn't have come near him."
Ling Suye had only seen the true form of the gold-devouring beast in books before. Of course, the book also mentioned that the gold-devouring beast could transform after practicing to a certain level.
But he had never seen it.
The time three years ago doesn't count because he was already blind at that time.
Now he saw Xiao Jin's transformed appearance - he was not tall, had a big belly, and was short and round. He looked similar to those wealthy "officials" and "squires" he had seen.
"Thank you," Ling Suye poured him a cup of tea. "I'm traveling alone, carrying the Star Ghost (Note 1) on my back. I'm an easy target. Thank you for sending the caravan to bring it here."
Xiao Jin waved his hand. "If you want me to do something, just say a word. We demons are more trustworthy and moral than humans. Your Star Ghost...ah, even the name makes a timid demon like me tremble."
Ling Suye pointed out mercilessly: "I remember that you were definitely going to fight Ye San to the death."
It was quite brave at that time.
"That was because he wanted to kill me, and I hadn't swallowed anything valuable back then, so I was left with nothing." Xiao Jin laughed, "Hehe, it's different now. I have a big family and a lot of wealth, so how could I bear to die?"
He changed the subject and quietly handed Ling Suye three keys: "The Star Ghost is locked in the basement compartment of the courtyard you're about to enter. You'd better go back and take a look. This bow and sword must be extremely valuable. Don't let anyone target it."
"Okay." Ling Suye took the key.
"Ye San also wrote me a letter saying you wanted to join the Star Forging Division. Just like the 'Du' Division,' both have the word 'Di' in them, so it doesn't sound like a good place. But Ye San and I only have money left, nothing else. So I took the initiative and left you a box of gold and 30,000 taels of silver notes - try to arrange it and see if you can get in. If not, we'll find another way." Xiao Jin said, pulling out a purse from his sleeve. "Don't worry, I didn't draw it, these are real silver notes."
A box of gold and thirty thousand taels of silver?
Ling Suye's lips twitched, and he was about to refuse, but Xiao Jin immediately said, "This is all from our heart. If it weren't for you, Ye San and I would have died long ago, and we wouldn't have gotten rich. Besides, even though you're human and can ward off demons, I don't know why, but I just feel safe with you, ZY. I'm happy to give you the money. But remember, when you're done with your work, come find me in Chuzhou."
"It's a deal." Ling Suye smiled, and the young man's heroic brows relaxed, making Xiao Jin feel the urge to get close to him.
But he still held back, after all, he was a demon that had lived for a very long time.
You need to have some determination.
The next moment, Xiao Jin sat on the ground, hugging Ling Suye's legs, muttering, "You must remember to come see me. Seeing that kid Ye San is just a side note. Remember."
Ling Suye: "..."
He closed his eyes, took off the jade mirror, and thought, after all, it is a box of gold and 30,000 taels of silver notes, so I might as well take it.
·
After going out, Ling Suye did not wear a thin jade mirror, but spent thirty taels of silver to hire a luxurious carriage and rushed to Shangjing City immediately.
In addition to the gold, there was another thing that also worried Ling Suye, and that was his Star Ghost.
There are many talented people in the capital, so you must not be discovered.
The carriage traveled quickly all the way, and finally, before the evening drum sounded and the city gates were locked, Ling Suye entered Shangjing City.
The city gate was crowded with waiters soliciting customers for the inn, porters, etc. When they saw Ling Suye getting off a carriage that looked pretty good, they all started shouting.
Ling Suye called a guide and asked him to take him to Xiao Jin's residence.
——Xiao Jin bought that two and a half years ago.
Similar mansions existed in various places during the Zhou Dynasty, and there were more than one.
This is the advantage of being a money-eating beast. Even if he himself does not know the jargon about buying a house and real estate, he will still buy real estate and land involuntarily and spend it wherever he can make money.
If there were no family blood feud, becoming good friends with a money-eating beast might be a great blessing in life.
"We're here, old... young master?" The porter who led the way subconsciously wanted to call out, but when he saw that Ling Suye was so young, he quickly changed his words.
Ling Suye gave him twenty copper coins and walked into the house.
This time, the house that Xiao Jin left for Ling Suye to live in was a simple courtyard house. It was not very big. After entering the door and walking around the screen wall, there were two side rooms and a row of main houses.
Although the sparrow is small, it has all the organs.
Moreover, this house is located in the west district where civil servants of lower ranks gather. These civil servants are known to be incorruptible, and with the supervision of the Du'e Division, they are truly penniless. Even thieves don't want to step in, as they think they will be contaminated by the poor atmosphere of this place.
Ling Suye thought that Xiao Jin was really reliable.
He tied the horse in the backyard and went into the main house. He stepped lightly on the table and found a secret door.
Ling Suye used the first key to open the secret door. There was a long staircase under the secret door. He did not turn on the lamp or wear a jade mirror.
In a dark environment, his ears are his best vision.
After walking up thirty steps in total, the candlestick on the left turned and a secret door appeared again. When it was opened, it was a rather cramped environment.
His Star Ghost lay here quietly. Ling Suye even felt that the moment he opened the door, the Star Ghost's bowstring made a very subtle vibration.
Holding the Star Ghost in his hand, Ling Suye's sense of security doubled.
Even without internal strength, with the Star Ghost, he can still exert 20% of his former strength.
If anything happened to Gu Xuanyou, he could at least rescue him.
And if nothing serious happened to Gu Xuanyou, Ling Suye thought, then he would have to enter the Star Forging Division as planned.
First, he had to obtain the mermaid's tears, grind them into powder, and use them to draw talismans on his body, turning himself into a humanoid weapon. Second, before he possessed absolute strength, the material of the Star Ghost could not be revealed, otherwise it would be recognized at a glance as the celestial stone bestowed upon Ling Suye by the saint.
As for how to hide the Star Ghost, Ling Suye had heard Master Wen mention it before.
The most important material to be used is still in the Star Forging Division.
The moment Ling Suye put down Xinggui and locked the door, he heard the sound of the bowstring snapping again, this time it was very obvious.
——He even sensed anger from it.
However, Ling Suye's hands didn't even tremble, and he closed the door directly.
Just as Xiao Jin said, there was a box of gold on the other side of the door - if it weren't for Ling Suye, he wouldn't have given such a precious thing.
Ling Suye had enough silver and money on him and had no need for gold for the time being, so he locked the door, returned to the main house, took a shower, and fell asleep.
The continuous running around was a bit exhausting for him. This time he did not have any dreams, nor did he see the scene of his parents' tragic death again.
The dark night spread, and the sound of night watchmen's footsteps gradually came from outside, and then gradually faded away. The night in Shangjing City is always so quiet and deserted.
Everything seemed to go back to three years ago, when the young man who had just entered the Du'e Division was sleeping soundly and deeply, just like today.
The next morning, Ling Suye got up early and planned to go to Zhuque Street to find out some information.
Unexpectedly, he ran into the civil servant from next door who was reporting to the yamen.
The civil servant looked at Ling Suye and saw that he had a calm and dignified demeanor. As they walked, he asked his attendant, "Who is this person? Why is he staying here?"
"This house was bought by a wealthy businessman from another place. Someone came to clean it a few days ago. I heard that a distant relative of his came to live here." The long-time attendant replied.
The civil official frowned. Originally, seeing Ling Suye's handsome face, unlike that of an ordinary person, he had half considered making friends with him. But now, upon hearing that he was just a distant relative of a wealthy businessman, he immediately lost interest and said, "He's probably a poor relative who's come to seek refuge. He doesn't even have a servant. Keep an eye on the young ladies and young masters at home and don't associate with him."
The attendant replied, "Yes."
The author has something to say:
Note 1: Xinggui, the name of the bow, comes from "Shenxian" by Li He of the Tang Dynasty
Calling the stars to summon ghosts to accept the wine and food, people feel cold when the mountain spirits eat.
Good night, babies!
Don’t worry, the attacker and his loyal dog are about to meet!
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