The Great Seminary

Chapter 347 Night Visit
Offering to disciples, as the name suggests, means to offer money and goods to the disciples of the sect.

These people are mostly wealthy and powerful merchants or gentry.

As long as you have connections and spend enough, anyone, regardless of age or qualifications, can get started.

Essentially, it's about providing disciples with a 'tiger skin' to facilitate their audacity.

The sect provides a pretext and gains a lot of wealth for free.

It's a win-win situation for everyone; it's just an exchange.

In fact, the ancient religious temple in Zhang Guiqian's previous life also had a similar system.

The only difference is the terminology; they are called 'lay disciple' or 'benefactor disciple'.

This shows that in any diverse world or universe, as long as it is a society composed of humans, regardless of whether its underlying principles are mysterious or scientific, extraordinary or ordinary, there will always be commonalities...

Blocking the entrance to someone's busy "square" area and idly chatting will only earn you disapproving looks.

Zhang Gui, upon hearing Sun Chonghe's sudden suggestion, showed considerable interest and stepped aside with her.

“You are from a prominent family in the human world, and I am an official and a powerful figure in the human world. We both know the principle that ‘it is good to cultivate oneself in the public office.’”

The "public gate" here is naturally the "Three Holy Swords Northern Sect".

So after deciding to run a 'retirement court' here, I was already thinking about a certain 'supporting' role.

Although he wasn't a formal disciple, he was like a "tribute student" who had donated money in the Ming and Song Dynasty's Siyang County, so he was practically a "public servant."

The reason for temporarily shelving the project was that they were afraid of making a mistake and being taken advantage of, ending up with nothing but trouble instead of getting any benefit.

I never expected to run into you bringing this up again today; it's fate.

"It's best if you've had this idea all along; supporting disciples should also get you listed in the sect's supplementary register."

They are similar in nature to the nominal disciples and stewards of the outer sect.

It is said that anyone who is of good character, charitable, and respectful to the 'Three Saints Sword Sect' can be included in the register by offering one hundred taels of pure gold.

But in reality, it's unlikely to be that simple.

However, as a disciple of the sect leader of the 'Three Holy Swords Northern Sect', even if he were to blend in with the world, he could not possibly lose face when 'sending' a friend to become a disciple for the first time.

Just rest assured. "

Upon hearing this, Sun Chonghe confidently made a promise.

Her confidence was not blind; it was based on the principles of any mature system.

So Zhang Gui smiled and nodded, saying, "That would be perfect."

Life is unpredictable, and the two were still just casual acquaintances with some underlying tension at noon.

As night fell, a certain tacit understanding had already developed between them, which was truly an anomaly.

After the business was concluded and we said our goodbyes, there was a hint of genuine sincerity in our smiles…

Late at night, Zhang Gui returned to Fugui Manor, 'Eleventh Suburban Standard', by flying boat.

At this time, apart from the guards on night watch and a few servants waiting to help him wash up and rest, everyone else had turned off the lights and gone to sleep.

However, many oil lamps were still lit outdoors in the residential areas, dispelling the darkness.

After instructing Old Xu, who was navigating the boat, to rest, Zhang Gui strolled around the farm, enjoying the cool night breeze from the suburbs.

Recalling Sun Chonghe's words about "man and sword as one" not long ago, his right hand subconsciously tucked into his sleeve, caressing the Bodhi Spirit Fruit, his thoughts shrouded in mist.

"Swords are a kind of rare object, and Bodhi seeds are also a kind of natural rare object."

In a broad sense, the two are not fundamentally different; they only differ greatly in the 'details'…

Suddenly, a loud shouting sound came from afar.

"Your Majesty, Wu Quezi of the 'Three Holy Swords Northern Sect' has come to pay a visit. Please grant me an audience."

"This crazy woman is actually a hero among the Northern Branch of the Three Saints Sect."

I think the 'Three Holy Swords' have reached their peak and are now declining.

Zhang Gui was brought back to his senses by the noise and frowned in annoyance.

He activated the "Great Interplay of Celestial Phenomena and Geography" within his body, summoning a whirlwind that flew to the source of the sound. Landing atop the fence, he looked down at the crows under the bright moonlight.

With a displeased expression, he said, "It is not dignified for a female Taoist priestess like Wu Que to be drunk and making a scene at the manor gate in the middle of the night."

“Lord Zhang, you said before that if I came to see you again, I would have to announce my arrival outside the manor.”

Now that I've done as you wished, please stop nitpicking.

"Alright then." Smelling the strong smell of alcohol on her and seeing that she was clearly drunk, Zhang Gui didn't waste any more words. "What are you doing here looking for me at a time like this?"

"Let's go inside the village and talk about it. It's really important."

Wu Quezi patted her face, exhaled several breaths of alcohol, and answered seriously.

Zhang Gui stared at her for a while, and sensing that she wasn't joking, he nodded, "In that case, please."

With the power of the divine 'Great Intersection of Celestial Phenomena and Geography', it rose against the wind once more, turned around, and drifted back to the village.

Seeing this, Wu Quezi pointed his sword and drew it out, with someone flying alongside him on the sword.

They flew down together and landed in front of the main courtyard of Fugui Manor, a three-section courtyard.

There's no need for a formal hall when two people are having a conversation.

Zhang Gui said, "Let's talk in the side hall inside."

Leading the sparrow through the hall and into the study, which had flowerbeds outside the door, lotus leaves floating in the pond, and red lotuses and green hibiscus growing there, they entered.

The servants, who were exhausted from working up a sweat, served tea and fruit platters.

After Zhang Gui settled into the main seat, he instructed them, "You don't need to serve me anymore."

"The teacups and fruit can be packed away tomorrow; go to sleep now."

"Yes," the servants replied, bowing their heads and retreating.

Wu Quezi sat down opposite Zhang Gui, and after watching them leave, she said with a grin:

"Your royal families in the human world are just like what is described in the books."

Their daily lives were like those of wealthy merchants in the secular world, or disciples and stewards of sects who were not ambitious but had some money and power, and were always being waited on.

Lacking the fundamental resolve for rigorous self-cultivation and arduous training, they truly wasted their superior talents.

"What you're saying sounds to me like, 'Trying to suffer when you can't.'"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gui curled his lip and said:

"Take me for example, do I look like someone who's wasting their talent for cultivation?"

"It is not only about respecting the principle that 'the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold, and the sharpness of a precious sword comes from tempering.'"

Now we should aim for even greater heights.

"Although I am an exception, the saying 'If you don't advance, you will fall behind' applies to learning anything, so I will not refute what you said."

If a lifetime of hard work can be enjoyable and one can find great pleasure in what others perceive as 'suffering,' then I won't mention it.

Are the remaining 'forced' victims truly in the right?

Zhang Gui smiled faintly and asked Wu Quezi a question in return.

"Life requires ambition; otherwise, what's the difference between you and a salted fish? Of course, it's worth it!"

The two argued fiercely, neither willing to concede, and stared at each other for a while.

Zhang Gui changed the subject, saying, "Alright, you want to suffer, I want to enjoy myself."

But actually, you're not as good at enduring hardship as you think, and my life isn't as easy and joyful as I claim.

Stop spouting nonsense here with your "black and white" views.

Tell me, why are you drunk in the middle of the night instead of going back to your sect's cave to rest?

Why did you come all the way to the outskirts of town to find me in the dead of night?

(End of this chapter)