Shushan: Extinction

Chapter 38 Meeting the Elder

After hearing what Gong Tianwu said, Di Song was shocked and even stuttered:

"Master, such a large sum of money..."

Gong Tianwu waved his hand impatiently and said:
"Go quickly, go quickly. Don't doubt the people you employ. Your wife and children are still waiting for you to return to the Xie family."

Di Song walked out in a daze.

The next day,

Gong Tianwu received two visiting cards.

One was submitted in the morning, and the other was submitted after noon.

The owners of these two visiting cards are Xu Ming and Zhou Sheng, respectively. They have many things in common, for example, they are both powerful figures in Yan Ge Lao's faction, and both of them are very keen on utilitarianism, like burning coal.

The people who brought the visiting cards were also the confidants of the two men. Their words were similar. They all said that the Prime Minister was very filial. Now the Prime Minister's Mansion was organizing his father's 80th birthday celebration. Both of them were willing to recommend Suosongke and ask him to perform a song of "A Beautiful Moon and a Full Flower" on the spot. Then he would surely become famous in Yidu again.

Of course, after successfully pleasing the Prime Minister, they might be promoted to higher positions, which would not be known to outsiders.

Looking at the two visiting cards, Gong Tianwu showed a smile, it was the relieved smile of a hunter after discovering something in the trap.

***
Eleven days later,

Year of Jiachen, Month of Renshen, Day of Xinyou

Good: Start construction of Liang'an Gate

Taboo: wedding, travel, or celebration of birth
The above is based on the record made in the old almanac, but the prime minister's residence was decorated with lights and lanterns for the old man's 80th birthday, and the atmosphere was full of joy. Who the hell cares what the old almanac says?
Before the birthday party started, a long queue of people formed in front of the prime minister's residence, stretching for ten miles. Those who were not qualified to enter the residence had to kowtow three times and nine times to the old man at the gate, wishing him a long life and blessings before leaving.
If someone received a handwritten gift from the Yan family, they would immediately become extremely excited and run around to tell others about it, and the onlookers would also be filled with envy.

At the gate, people presented gifts one by one, and then the butler called out the names. Pearls, gold, corals, jade disks, they were just like cabbages, not outstanding at all.

Later, the Jade Longevity Mountain, the elixir, the jade book, the life-extending mermaid's eye, the real dragon Ruyi and other treasures all appeared one by one, truly proving the saying "pearls are like dirt and gold is like iron".

The doorman was equipped with four skilled assistants who were responsible for receiving gifts, but in the end they were too busy to handle it all. Their hands were sore from writing in the gift books, and even the guest of honor, who was responsible for praising the gifts, had lost his voice.

This shows how powerful and popular Lord Yan was at that time.

If it were an ordinary minister, he might have to pay attention to "being cautious when alone", but when it comes to Minister Yan, who has been in power for thirty years and whose disciples are deeply rooted in the court, there is no need to hide anything anymore.

The last person to come was an old man in gorgeous clothes. He was the third uncle of the current emperor, named Lu Gu, and currently the chief of the clan. He came on behalf of the royal family. Although the gift he brought was very small, it contained the emperor's personal handwriting:
"As high as a mountain, as luxuriant as a pine tree, as constant as the moon, and as rising as the sun."

After the arrival of the clan leader, the birthday banquet officially begins. According to ancient customs, the descendants will first come to the birthday hall to pay homage, and then the guests (those with status) will offer birthday wishes (this process takes the longest), and then the birthday star will come out to express gratitude. After this link, everyone can officially start eating.

At the same time, juggling, opera, wrestling and other performances began on the stage in front. The content was all festive and entertaining, and often made the audience laugh.

However, despite such a joyful atmosphere, the expression of the Grand Master of the clan remained indifferent. After all, for their Lu clan, the more powerful Lord Yan was, the weaker the royal family would be.

Take last year for example, the son of Dazong Ling fell in love with a prostitute. He was about to redeem her, but she was forcibly married to Zhou Ding, a core member of Yan's party and the Minister of War, as a concubine.

This was an outright hatred of having one's wife stolen from him, and it was also a huge loss of face, but Da Zong Ling could not do anything to the other party. He went to the king to cry and complain, but Zhou Ding was only fined three months' salary!
With such an experience, do you think this Grand Master can have a good face towards the people in Yan Mansion?

Just as the old man was planning to leave, the stage suddenly became quiet. Then there was a series of unique ding-dong sounds, and beautiful music began to play. Everyone was familiar with the tune, which was the "A Beautiful Moon and Flowers" that is often heard at weddings and birthday parties.

However, as the music played, the group even began to see visions of colorful flowers, the beautiful sight of a full moon in the sky, and they could even smell a unique fragrance!

This is a bit unbelievable. One official couldn't help but mutter:

"When I heard Shao in Qi, I didn't taste meat for three months. This is really true!"

Not only that, several people who were obsessed with music completely lost their composure and stood up.

Even a figure like Da Zong Ling was suddenly moved and was completely intoxicated in this unique experience.

However, about one-fifth of the people present did not react that strongly, which was normal. Even with the amplification of a magical instrument like Mingpan, Gong Tianwu had just started his mental method. As a mere mortal, he could not infect and impress everyone.

When the song ended, everyone was in awe, and the curtain beside it was slowly opened, revealing the man in a straw hat. He slowly walked to the front of the stage, first bowed to the old man of longevity, but then bowed to the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, and then to the Grand Master Yan in front of the stage. This order should be fine, after all, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan represented the king, but it made some people with high political sensitivity feel subtly uneasy.

After the man finished greeting everyone, he said some polite words about how lucky he was to be here at this grand event, and how it was a great honor for him to be here. Then he said:

"In fact, I am dull and have average talent in music. The reason why I can play such a wonderful piece of music is actually very simple, it is because of this cymbal in my hand."

As soon as Suosongke said this, almost all the guests' eyes stayed on the Mingpan in his hand, and he continued:
"I got this treasure by chance. After many verifications and inquiries, I found nothing. It was not until I came to Guangchang and had the honor of meeting Master Zhu Zhenren and Master Ruchenzi that I was able to identify its origin."

At this time, Gong Tianwu once again used his reputation as a banner. He spoke as if he had a deep friendship with Zhu Aizi and Ruchenzi, and even gave people the illusion that the treasure was identified by these two people.

But if someone really wants to verify it, Gong Tianwu can confidently say:

I met two immortals on April 11, and then I found out the origin of Ming Pan on April 20. Is there anything wrong with what I said? Did I find out the origin after I met the two immortal masters?

At this time, everyone in the audience had no time to think about it. They were all concentrating on listening to the following words. Gong Tianwu did not keep the topic in suspense:
"This treasure turned out to be a mid-level Xuan-level treasure: one of the Seven Hells Pans! Although it was severely damaged, it still has unique power in terms of music!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was boiling with excitement! It even exploded!

What is the concept of a Xuan-level magic weapon? The treasures of many sects and families of cultivation are just of this level. Now it actually appears in the hands of an ordinary mortal?
When such shocking and explosive news came, some people immediately lost their composure. Ming Zhenzi, the head of Mizhen Temple in Yidu, stood up tremblingly and said excitedly:

"Can you show this to me?"

Ming Zhenzi was originally a casual cultivator, and later he joined the Baiman Mountain sect. He was a typical outer disciple. Now he was old and his strength was only at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining, and it was almost hopeless for him to build a foundation. So he gritted his teeth, spent a large amount of money on bribes, and came here directly to retire.

Because this person is smooth and sophisticated, and has no hope of success, he spends all his time on socializing, so he has a very good reputation.

Hearing what Ming Zhenzi said, Minosongke calmly waved his hand to call a servant, and handed over the Mingpan on a tray.

While Ming Zhenzi was examining and appraising, the people below were talking about it and looking at Suosongke with envy, thinking that although this guy seemed indifferent to fame and fortune, he was actually a very talented person.

This person played such a trick at the birthday banquet, and it was most likely that he would present this magic weapon as a birthday gift. Wouldn't this directly win the first prize? It also left a deep impression on Lord Yan and even his family.

This kind of thoughtfulness and scheming is really amazing! Several of Yan Ge Lao's disciples who are good at flattery, no, that's not right, good at interpersonal relationships, looked at each other and felt that they had encountered a powerful enemy!

After two minutes, Ming Zhenzi sighed, and the people around him immediately asked nervously if it was a fake. Ming Zhenzi shook his head and said:
"This treasure is indeed a mysterious weapon, but I'm sorry that it's not of the middle grade."

"It's a pity that this treasure is damaged, and it must be assembled into a set of seven pieces to exert its maximum power. Most of the things in the world are not as we wish, and I just regret that I can't see its true appearance when it is complete."

After hearing Ming Zhenzi's words, the rest of the people's doubts were immediately gone, and they simply ignored the disadvantages he mentioned - are you kidding me, if there weren't those shortcomings you mentioned, how could such a treasure fall into the hands of mortals?

I'm afraid that you, Ming Zhenzi, would be the first one to lose your shamelessness and start grabbing it directly.

Seeing Ming Zhenzi handing the Ming Pan back to the Minosuke in front of him, everyone's attention was focused on it again, and then Minosuke said lightly:

"It has been said since ancient times that treasures are created by nature and belong to those with virtue. I have been stealing this treasure for many days and I am already very nervous. Today is a good opportunity. The Lord has benefited the people and should be the real owner of this treasure!"

After hearing this, everyone immediately said in their hearts:
"Sure enough!"

"This pine man is really good at this."

"This man has entered the officialdom, and we have another powerful enemy!"

"Brilliant! Really brilliant."

"Flatterer! Damn it!!"

"."

Unexpectedly, the man with the pine branches suddenly changed the subject and said:

"only."

(End of this chapter)