Ascendant Fuluan wondered what it was all about. He took out paper and pen, squatted on the ground, and while performing the art of Fuluan, he asked, "Don't you also practice divination? Why specifically seek me out?"
"The golden carp and the Cyan Dragon lurking in the Jin Sect seem to have some connection. My methods don't work on them. Since you're free with nothing to do, why not give yours a try?"
Am I free with nothing to do?
Ascendant Fuluan thought to himself, two years ago I almost lost half my life, and this is called having nothing to do?
Xu Qing reasoned, "People die and pass away. You are alive and well, still able to argue with people and get angry, isn't that having nothing to do?"
"..."
Ascendant Fuluan's pale face turned a few shades darker. He raised his hand to hand Xu Qing the white paper in his hands, which only had one word written on it—Dragon.
"What does this mean?"
Ascendant Fuluan said, "Encounter the dragon and you will see. Daoist Xu, as long as you see the dragon, you'll probably see those two golden carps."
You don't need to tell me. If I can see the Cyan Dragon, wouldn't I inevitably see the golden carp?
Xu Qing didn't show a good face to Ascendant Fuluan. This Immortal was increasingly perfunctory. Ever since he used him once two years ago, whenever Xu Qing sought assistance from Ascendant Fuluan, the latter would always find various excuses, fearing he'd again be cheated out of half his life.
Is he that kind of person!
Xu Qing dismissed Ascendant Fuluan and continued his own fishing endeavor.
Today the White River was calm, making it a perfect day for fishing.
Since being aided by the Cyan Dragon, Xu Qing always wanted to chat with the Cyan Dragon neighbor about lively topics.
Unfortunately, the Cyan Dragon wasn't giving him face.
This past month, he has been fishing early every day but hasn't encountered the Cyan Dragon even once.
It has been fourteen full years since Xu Qing last used the Seeking Immortals technique. The extra two years were spent handling Ghost Law corpses and matters on the waterway between the capital and Jin Sect, as well as eliminating known immortal fortunes and fishing.
Since the Cyan Dragon appeared, a legend about Cyan Dragon Divine Monarch arose by this river, and Xu Qing's shop was only a dozen miles away. If he uses the Seeking Immortals technique again, finding it on the neighbor's head would be a waste, wouldn't it?
"Wait another three days, for a full month. If not seen by then, perhaps this legendary fortune can be discarded."
Another two days swiftly passed.
On this day, Xu Qing was sitting on the pier casting his rod, when suddenly a distinguished elder appeared leading a servant, strolling over.
The servant had a pale face without a mustache, eyes always lowered, occasionally raising his hand to guide the elder's path.
Xu Qing kept fishing with full concentration, paying no attention at all to the elder who casually sat beside him.
"It's been over ten years, Brother Xu, how have you also grown old?"
Xu Qing gazed at the water's surface, replying without turning, "Everyone in this world ages; as long as one is human, there's a day they'll grow old, nothing surprising about that."
Zhu Huai'an responded with a chuckle, "I once thought you were an Immortal..."
"Immortal? Where in this world is there an Immortal? Even Jiang Taigong grew old. I'm just an ordinary Funeral Master; how could I withstand the relentless knife of time?"
Zhu Huai'an's eyes brightened at the mention of Taigong, "Back then, King Wen brought Taigong, creating an eight hundred-year foundation. Now I am old too; if I could find a Taigong for Dayan, then whenever I depart, my heart could rest easy..."
Seeing Xu Qing caught on, Zhu Huai'an continued, "My eldest son, Brother Xu's nephew, is currently in need of a suitable mentor... If Brother Xu is willing, I shall follow ancient rituals and appoint Brother Xu as the Imperial Mentor to instruct the future Crown Prince."
Xu Qing shook his head, swaying, "I've got one foot already in the grave, now only seeking peace and quiet. Besides, the palace is as deep as the sea, from ancient times to now, which Imperial Mentor has ever remained untouched?"
"King Wen invited Taigong, Taigong still managed to retire; if I go, I'm afraid I won't escape even till death."
Seeing that this approach was ineffective, Emperor Zhu decisively pointed at the river surface and said, "Then let's make a wager, based on this fishing. You and I cast together, see who can catch more fish, within the time limit of one hour, whoever catches more shall decide. If Brother Xu wins, from now on, I shall never think of Brother Xu coming to the capital again!"
Xu Qing smiled inwardly; forget trying to catch a fish, even using a bit of Water Corpse magical power to empty this water of fish wouldn't be difficult.
"Alright, let's use fish as the wager!"
Once Zhu Huai'an was seated with his rod cast, Xu Qing no longer held back; fish after fish were caught as if they were free, continually coming ashore. Initially, Xu Qing used some bait, but toward the end, he didn't even pretend, casting just empty hooks to catch fish.
Zhu Huai'an saw he couldn't catch any fish, grew anxious, quickly signaling the eunuch standing nearby.
Xu Qing didn't mind, but unexpectedly, the next moment, the person beside him let out an astonished cry, having just caught two golden carps.