Chapter 65: You Han Clan Are Really Fast!

Leaving the city gate behind, Du Yuan strolled leisurely through the ancient city of Qingzhou.

It was said that this place used to be called Yidu, which was also the origin of the name Yidu Han clan.

Tracing back the years, one could go back some six hundred years. Back then, let alone the current imperial court, even the dynasty before the previous one was just establishing its reign and the dragon throne had barely grown warm.

Du Yuan remembered that in his hometown, no matter how famous an ancient capital or historic site was claimed to be, its streets and alleys were still laid out as straight as if cut by a ruler, and the roof tiles were so brand-new that not a single trace of moss could be found. How could one ever find such ancient charm there?

Therefore, strolling casually through it truly offered a scenery quite out of the ordinary.

Not to mention, the silver he had obtained from Qian Youcai could finally be put to good use.

The local food in Qingzhou was quite different from the Sichuan flavors Du Yuan was accustomed to.

Yet it possessed a unique style of its own. For instance, chopped pork offal was wrapped in lotus leaves, placed on top of a flatbread, and then scalded and infused with flavor by pouring boiling hot oil sizzling right over it.

This was truly the first time Du Yuan had ever witnessed such a culinary method.

There were also "Mi Sandao," crispy strips coated with glossy white sugar frost that shattered audibly with every bite, a name the shopkeeper had told him.

Finally, Du Yuan stood gazing blankly in front of a banner reading "Wang's Fermented Millet Cake." Those deep brown millet cakes, embedded with red dates, looked soft, glutinous, sweet, and exceptionally appetizing.

"Customer, we have small pre-cut pieces here for free tasting!"

"Then I thank the shopkeeper very much!"

Du Yuan stepped forward, picked up a piece of the apportioned millet cake from the tray, and popped it into his mouth.

Ah, it was indeed as delicious as it looked!

This was what a real human life should feel like!

Recalling the hardships of sleeping in the open air previously, Du Yuan felt at that moment that his heart was as sweet as his mouth.

"Shopkeeper, please wrap up a little more for me to eat on the road!"

"Alright, but you'll have to wait a moment. The freshly baked ones need to cool down before they can be wrapped. That won't delay your matters, will it?"

Du Yuan waved his hand with a smile and said:

"I have no urgent business!"

-----------------

Meanwhile, inside the Qian residence in the northern part of the city.

Old Master Qian, wrapped up almost like a rice dumpling, was still guarding the entrance along with Qian Youde and numerous servants, eagerly awaiting Du Yuan.

Furthermore, the doorkeeper and guards who had seen Du Yuan had long since been dispatched to various street corners.

All this was to invite the Daoist priest into the estate at the earliest possible moment.

Glancing at the sky, Qian Youde said to Qian Dafu:

"Father, your health is poor and you shouldn't overexert yourself for long. Why don't you go inside and sit down while I keep watch for you?"

Qian Dafu hurriedly waved his hand and said:

"No, that won't do. My Qian family has lacked virtue and respect, and now this is the only chance to connect with such a lofty figure. How can I not wait right here?"

"But Father, if you were to collapse first, what would we do when the Daoist priest arrives?"

This made a lot of sense, but Qian Dafu repeatedly shook his head and said:

"Still no. What if the Daoist priest specifically wants to test my sincerity? My son, although the Qian family is a prominent clan, I made a wrong turn back then and failed to send you to take the imperial examinations, choosing instead to let you take over the family business."

"As for your younger brother, I did let him study, but he still lacks the necessary caliber."

"Therefore, ever since your uncle passed away prematurely, our Qian family has not had a single person holding a proper official post!"

Qian Youde knew what his father was about to say—namely, that the Qian family's status as a prominent clan was already hanging by a thread. If they failed to produce a respectable official within his generation,

then in another generation or two, the blunt blade cast aside by the Emperor would likely prune them right out of the ranks of prominent families.

The Nine-Rank Zhongzheng system still existed, but since his uncle was already dead, that path was no longer available to the current Qian family.

Thus, a Daoist priest capable of subduing demons and ghosts, one who truly possessed supernatural powers, represented the greatest opportunity for the Qian family now and for decades, or even generations, to come.

They were not trying to patronize such a lofty master. How small was the Qian family's temple? How could they possibly be qualified to invite such a great Buddha?

What level of people did what level of things—the members of prestigious and influential families were acutely aware of this!

All they wanted was to build a good affinity to the greatest extent possible. With such a connection, once a lofty figure destined to walk the halls of kings, dukes, and generals offered even a few words of recommendation on their behalf, it would be more than enough to benefit the Qian family immensely.

Do not look down upon these two simple words of recommendation. Very often, a couple of kind words like that were far more useful than tens of thousands of glittering silver liang!

At the very worst, having the Daoist priest offer guidance on geomancy and their future path would still be vastly superior to their current predicament, where filial piety, fraternal love, loyalty, and trustworthiness had all been lost!

Just as the father and son were talking,

they suddenly heard the doorkeeper running in and shouting, "Master, an esteemed guest has arrived! An esteemed guest has arrived!"

The father and son of the Qian family were overjoyed as they stepped forward, asking:

"Is it the Daoist priest?"

The doorkeeper paused and said:

"Ah, no, it isn't."

The faces of the two father and son, who had been extremely excited just a moment ago, were instantly filled with impatience:

"Then tell him the Qian estate is declining visitors today and ask him to choose another day to return!"

The doorkeeper's expression changed as he was about to explain, but he heard a voice from behind:

"Does my uncle no longer welcome me?"

A young master in brocade robes, smiling lightly with a jade pendant at his waist and a sword in his hand,

stood gracefully before the gates of the Qian residence.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the father and son of the Qian family hurriedly cupped their hands and accompanied him with flattering smiles:

"Not at all, not at all. For Young Master Han to grace us with your presence brings absolute radiance to our humble home! But I wonder what wind has blown you here today?"

Though asking, the father and son of the Qian family had already guessed the answer.

The Qian family was indeed a prominent clan, but the Han clan was an illustrious family, a veritable aristocratic gate!

And the person who had arrived was none other than the eldest young master of the Han clan's second branch.

He was a blue-blooded scion of nobility in the truest sense.

Without needing to take the imperial examinations, as long as he was willing to enter officialdom, he could freely choose any official post of the seventh rank or below! Moreover, after serving for just a year or even half a year, he could begin rising through the ranks continuously.

Under such circumstances, for someone who could prompt such a noble young son to pay a personal visit and proactively use the term "uncle" to draw closer,

it was obviously because of the Daoist priest!

Coming entirely alone, the young master in brocade robes stepped leisurely inside and said:

"My father heard from his students that my uncle encountered some unpleasant events here last night, so he hurriedly sent me to check on my uncle, and by the way, to await the Daoist priest's instructions and see if there is any way I can help."

He really had come for the Daoist priest. But isn't your Han clan moving a bit too fast?

Qian Dafu felt a slight bitterness in his heart as he said:

"Thanks to your kind concern, our Qian family has fortunately emerged unscathed."

Glancing to the left and right, the young master in brocade robes patted the precious sword at his waist and said:

"Uncle may not know this, but this nephew has always had a special fondness for weaponry. I heard that uncle has a precious saber here capable of subduing demons and ghosts. I wonder if you might let this nephew lay eyes on it?"

Even this?!

Qian Dafu had the heart to refuse, but the moment he thought of the other's status as a young master of the Han clan, he instantly lowered his head and smiled:

"Naturally, you may."

Very soon, that ghost-head saber was brought forward.

The moment the young master in brocade robes took it in his hands, goosebumps broke out thickly all over his body.

The Han clan had operated in Qingzhou for many years, and coupled with the numerous events that had transpired recently, even if the neighbors of the Qian estate were largely unaware of what happened last night,

the Han clan knew every single detail crystal clear!

In fact, early this morning, a ghost-head saber that had likewise beheaded quite a few criminals was delivered into the hands of the Han clan.

He had seen that saber, and he had touched it; it indeed gave off an inexplicable chill, but it was absolutely incomparable to the one here.

No, it fell far, far short!

'As expected of a saber used by the Daoist priest to slay demons!'

Staring blankly for a moment, the young master in brocade robes held the saber up with both hands and said to the father and son of the Qian family:

"Uncle, you wouldn't know this, but I've heard my father say these past few days that he lacks a brilliant protégé. I've also heard my eldest uncle say that the younger generation of our clan is incompetent, to the extent that he cannot even select a single capable candidate to take up an official post in Henian County. Tell me, do you have any recommendations here?"

Looking at the ghost-head saber that was within arm's reach yet had not truly been returned, and then looking at the smiling young master in brocade robes,

the father and son of the Qian family hardly knew how to respond.

Forcible seizure? It seemed so. Providing timely assistance in a time of need? That seemed so too.

Could this be striking a snake right at its seven-inch fatal spot?