thenovelthief #300 - Someone invites us to travel!
#300 - Someone invites us to travel!
Xu Chengxian was warmly invited by Qin Hong to stay at the Governor's mansion.
It was truly an offer he couldn't refuse.
The dignified Governor had probably already revealed his true colors, so he didn't even bother to pretend in front of him.
Not even a little.
He plainly stated his fear of death, wanting him, this great Buddha, to be there to keep things in check.
He had already imprisoned several heads of aristocratic families, essentially offending them completely.
Without someone to protect him, he would definitely be targeted with underhanded methods.
Then came the combination of threats and enticements.
The threat was that if Qin Hong were to encounter misfortune, the letter he left for the Empress would report the demolition of the White Maiden's Temple, listing it as a licentious shrine, to be banned altogether in the future.
The enticement was that after things calmed down, he would submit a memorial to the capital, honoring the White Maiden as the Guardian Deity of the nation and requesting an official title for her.
Xu Chengxian didn't care about the threats.
But the enticement was very effective.
The awards from mortal emperors also had the opportunity to raise the rank of a True God.
Therefore, the imperial court was very cautious about the matter of conferment.
However, Xiao Cui was already a Ninth-Rank True God, a deity recognized by the Heavenly Dao; as long as the conferment didn't skip ranks, there wouldn't be a big problem.
Therefore, there was a high probability that this memorial would pass.
Once it passed, following the official procedure, an imperial decree would be issued, and as long as there were no major mistakes, after a period of accumulation, Xiao Cui's transformation into a Flood Dragon would be stable.
Most importantly, Bai Xiaocui might advance to the Great Demon realm at any time.
Therefore, she was about to undergo tribulation.
Thunder tribulations were dangerous.
Reducing the danger by even a fraction was beneficial.
For the sake of the nation's fortune, purple qi, and dragon energy, Xu Chengxian reluctantly stayed at the Governor's mansion.
He lived a more comfortable life than in the Zhang residence.
At least here, there were little maids to serve him, and they were very beautiful.
In addition to meditating and cultivating, he also took the opportunity to advance the selection and construction of the White Maiden's Temple.
The location was chosen on the original site of Sima De's mansion.
The temple didn't need to be that big, but it could occupy the entire area.
The remaining space could be used to build granaries.
"...Are you addicted to granaries?" Da Hei asked, rolling his eyes.
"You don't understand," Xu Chengxian spread out his planning drawings, "Look, what do you think?"
In addition, he didn't like exploiting the people, so he had to get money first.
Because this temple was being built in Lingzhou City, even if it wasn't grand and magnificent, it couldn't be too small.
At least it had to look like a temple.
It would cost a lot of money.
However, the White Maiden's Temple was, after all, a folk belief, and he didn't plan to make it too aloof.
Therefore, after careful consideration, Xu Chengxian decided to build this area into a commercial district integrating entertainment and leisure.
"...A stage? Three of them? A park? An amusement park? Restaurants? Stalls for vendors? Shops for rent?" Da Hei glanced at the drawings, and although he didn't understand what a commercial district was, he roughly understood what Xu Chengxian wanted to do.
"It's a place for eating and playing!" Xu Xiaobai raised her hand to answer quickly.
She liked fun places!
"That's right!" Xu Chengxian laughed, "I always hear people say that temple fairs are very interesting."
He hadn't had the chance to join in such a lively event.
Now he had the chance to create one himself.
Just thinking about it was very interesting.
"With this free time, wouldn't it be better for you to cultivate?" Da Hei rolled his eyes again.
This was neglecting his proper business!
"Cultivation? Proper cultivation is too slow," Xu Chengxian waved his hand, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
It wasn't like he wasn't cultivating; he drew these during his free time.
"Then you have a lot of free time!" Da Hei retorted without giving him face.
Judging from the area on these drawings, the original site of the Sima family's mansion was just enough to occupy.
Such a large area was not easy to fill.
Xu Chengxian was really idle!
Looking at the markings on it, the original pond and garden should not be moved and should be used as a park. Building two stages around the park would echo the original stage in the garden.
And this amusement park, he even drew the amusement facilities inside.
If it was a few more days, he might even make a model!
And Xu Chengxian's idleness was not only reflected in drawing blueprints, but he also took the time to think of many ways to make money.
Of course, he couldn't turn stone into gold, so the main direction of his efforts was to fleece the fat sheep.
Xu Chengxian was responsible for coming up with ideas, Qin Hong was his deputy, and the scholars around Qin Hong were responsible for implementing them.
The three cooperated very well.
Whether the fat sheep were fleeced bare was unknown, but the people of Lingzhou were fed quite a bit.
"Oh, my contribution to this is not worth mentioning," Xu Chengxian rarely humbled himself, and then exclaimed, "The main thing is Lao Qin, he's really a dog!"
The Sima family became ruins.
He suggested that the government use the excuse of fearing residual demonic energy to seal it off and not allow anyone to enter.
Then they searched it first.
Qin Hong took the initiative to play his part.
The money and wealth that were searched were passed through his hands, and a small portion remained, placed in front of the Sima family, let them take a look, and then it was accounted for as hard work fees for helping them clean up the demonic energy.
Openly passed through the clear path!
After that, the ruins couldn't be left like that, so he suggested that Qin Hong order the Sima family to clean up the ruins within a limited time.
Can't do it?
Then pay the money, and the government will organize the people to do it.
No money?
The manor outside, the shops in the city, aren't these all money?
In this way, the people in the city would have disaster relief and could get some real benefits.
Grateful for the White Maiden's compassion.
Qin Hong felt it was not enough.
That's right, the land deed of the Sima family's house can also be used as collateral.
Just mortgage it to the White Maiden's Temple.
Why?
People helped you kill the Mountain-Drilling Bull, if you don't give some offerings, are you still human?
A drop of water should be repaid with a spring, understand?
Also, the demon corpse of the Mountain-Drilling Bull was painstakingly handled by Immortal Master Xu.
Isn't it appropriate to give some incense money?
Xu Chengxian's face turned slightly red when he said this hard work, the Mountain-Drilling Bull entered his body and was digested in a short time.
He didn't even burp.
After tossing it around like this, there was land and money for building the temple.
The people also got real benefits.
The Sima family had a child in swaddling clothes who was frightened and cried day and night. Xu Chengxian couldn't bear it and gave him some peach juice.
After that, the White Maiden's reputation was also spread out by Qin Hong, attracting many aristocratic families to come and investigate the news.
The merchants were sent by them.
This guy is indeed a figure.
"Dad, don't be humble!" Xu Xiaobai couldn't listen anymore, "Wasn't the demonic energy in those big households stirred up by Da Sheng and Xiao Sheng? And the fatties on the manor outside the city!"
They were all scared to death by them!
Of course, the treasures hidden in the dark by the aristocratic families were stolen by her and Da Hei together.
Everyone has been busy these days!
"Grandma Xiaocui, Ma Shijiu and Shu Laibao also went to kill demons, and Grandpa Turtle is responsible for carrying them back. You're the only one who's idle at home drawing pictures!"
"Cough cough! What idle play? This is called sitting firmly in the central command tent!"
"Spider demons are the ones who sit firmly in the central command tent, waiting for blood food to be delivered to their door.", Xu Xiaobai put her hands on her hips, "Dad, you are a snake!"
"That's right, snakes love to sleep, I'm so hardworking, I haven't slept."
"You've been sleeping all the time!"
Xu Chengxian was about to refute, but when he looked down at his true form around his waist, he found that there seemed to be no way to refute it.
At this time, the figure of the monk appeared in the Governor's mansion.
"Huh?" He was stunned at first, then immediately smiled and said, "Haha! That's great now, someone has come to invite us to travel!"