Chapter 7: The First Pot of Gold
"Well..." Ding Junjie was rendered speechless by the question.
Seeing that this woman was far prettier than herself, the jealous Zheng Peipei said snidely, "This is a matter for the Ding family. It's none of outsiders' business. If you don't know the situation, don't stick your nose in!"
At her words, the two soldiers behind Min Qingqiu immediately stepped forward, drawing their steel blades and pointing them at Zheng Peipei. "You there, woman! What is your name? Speaking to an Immortal Master like that—are you tired of living?"
"Immortal Master!" Zheng Peipei, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, turned pale with fright. In the Nine Provinces world, Immortal Masters were existences at the very top of the hierarchy.
Even if an Immortal Master killed her, the killing would go unpunished!
Having cowed the two of them, Min Qingqiu's autumn-water eyes finally fell on Ding Hao. "Young Master Ding, what exactly is going on here? You needn't be afraid. If they are maliciously bullying you, I can testify on your behalf and take the matter to the City Lord's manor!"
Ding Hao wished he could seize these two on the spot and send them to the City Lord's manor to be thrown into prison. But then he thought again—even if he filed a complaint, these two wouldn't face any serious charges.
Either don't do it at all, or if you do it, do it to the death! This was Ding Hao's motto.
Scratching an itch through a boot was pointless, and besides, he had only met Min Qingqiu once. How could he dare trouble her so greatly? Being petty would only lower his standing—better to feign magnanimity. So he quickly cupped his fists and said, "Miss Min, your gracious visit truly brings radiance to this humble dwelling. I never imagined such a thing would happen... If not for your heroic spirit and your willingness to speak up for justice, my humble life would have been in peril. I, Ding Hao, am endlessly grateful for your kindness!"
Seeing that he spoke with such refinement, Min Qingqiu's favorable impression deepened, and she said again, "If they bully you, I will see justice done for you!"
Ding Hao waved his hand. "Miss Min, this Ding Junjie is the son of the steward of my household, and Zheng Peipei and I have a marriage contract. The two of them were mocking me outside the gates of my Ding family home, which led to this dispute. But I don't wish to make a big deal of this, nor do I wish to blame them. After all, who told me to be so slow in awakening? I beg Miss Min and these two young officers to spare them!"
With Ding Hao being so magnanimous, not only Min Qingqiu but even the two soldiers following her developed a good impression of him. One of them barked, "It's only thanks to Young Master Ding's honesty and generosity that you two aren't being dragged before the magistrate! Now get lost, and be quick about it!"
Ding Junjie and Zheng Peipei were so furious they nearly vomited blood. They had been scolded roundly by Ding Hao, and now they had to scram as well.
But facing an Immortal Master and soldiers of the City Lord's manor, they had no choice but to swallow the loss and leave. Yet before they had taken more than a step, the other soldier said, "Escaping the magistrate is one thing, but you won't escape an apology! You thieving man and thieving woman, morally corrupt as you are—apologize to Young Master Ding this instant!"
"Apologize to that piece of trash!" Zheng Peipei stamped her foot in fury, her eyes nearly popping out, and said in exasperation, "I would die before apologizing to that trash!"
"Forget it, forget it. I won't stoop to their level. Let them go." Ding Hao played the magnanimous host once more, then added, "Miss Min, young officers, please come inside."
Min Qingqiu glanced back and said, "I came here after arranging to meet Boss Shang and the others. Why haven't father and son arrived yet?"
Ding Hao said, "Miss Min, please go in and sit down. We'll wait for them out here."
Watching Ding Hao usher Min Qingqiu and the others through the door, Ding Junjie and Zheng Peipei exchanged looks. Only moments ago they had claimed no woman would ever come looking for Ding Hao, yet in the blink of an eye, such a beautiful woman had come to see him—and had made them suffer such a crushing humiliation.
Zheng Peipei stared at Min Qingqiu's retreating back and muttered, "What is she supposed to be, running off to find a piece of trash? Has she no shame?"
"Watch your mouth!" Ding Junjie hissed. "Don't gossip about an Immortal Master behind her back—I have no desire to die!"
Zheng Peipei dared not say more, but she pressed, "But why would an Immortal Master come looking for a piece of trash?"
Ding Junjie said, "You go back first. I'll take a look and see."
......
Min Qingqiu entered the Ding family's main hall. Out of courtesy, she offered three sticks of incense before the Ding family's wooden ancestral statue and bowed twice.
When she finished, she asked curiously, "Why is there a broken bowl set out here?"
Ding Hao smiled faintly. "At fifteen, I still hadn't awakened my immortal root, so naturally I was looked down upon. Never mind outsiders—even the servants and hired hands gave me no face. This is the begging bowl they prepared for me."
"A begging bowl..." Min Qingqiu's beautiful eyes flickered, and she studied Ding Hao more carefully. He spoke with such calm, as if he were talking about someone else's affairs. Min Qingqiu thought to herself, this young man is strange—unnaturally composed. Could he have been through some great trial? Was he so calm because he had utterly given up, or because he had a card up his sleeve?
She couldn't help asking, "So what are your thoughts on it?"
"I suspect their good intentions are of no use to me."
Ding Hao called the humiliation others heaped on him "good intentions," and even Min Qingqiu, ever cold as clear autumn, felt a gentle smile touch the corners of her mouth. She looked at Ding Hao and said, "I believe in you."
Spring breeze swept into the hall, stirring Min Qingqiu's green robes. Ding Hao met her beautiful eyes and said, "Thank you."
While they were talking, Ding Junjie led the Shang father and son inside.
Ding Junjie did indeed know the Shangs. As he walked in, he whispered persuasively, "Boss Shang, how can you trust him? He's a piece of trash! In our Ding family, he's the most despised person of all—fifteen years old and still unawakened. Even the old washerwoman calls him trash. I've lived here for over a decade and have never once heard that he could help anyone enter meditation!"
"I see..." Boss Shang and his son had already been skeptical, and with Ding Junjie's words, they began to back out.
Fearing the deal would be ruined by Ding Junjie, Ding Hao hurried forward to greet them. "Boss Shang, Xiao Hai, you've come. Please, come inside."
At that moment, Ding Junjie pushed ahead of Boss Shang and pointed at Ding Hao. "Trash! I'm warning you—don't cause trouble!"
The two soldiers of the City Lord's manor roared, "You there! What is the meaning of stirring up trouble over and over again?"
Ding Junjie declared loudly, "Officers, I am a city runner. I've lived here for over a decade and have never heard that he could help anyone enter meditation! If you don't believe me, go ask around—I only fear you'll be deceived by him! If he truly had such ability, why hasn't he awakened his immortal root?"
Everyone felt his words had some merit, and they all fell silent, turning to look at Ding Hao.
Ding Hao was not flustered in the least. "Don't watch the advertisement—watch the results. Whether I can help someone enter meditation, one trial will tell. Besides, even if it fails, it does him no harm. What business is it of yours?"
"How is it not my business?" Ding Junjie snorted coldly. "You're disgracing the Ding family's name! The Musu Ding clan producing a swindler—how ugly would that sound if word got out?"
Ding Hao laughed. "So you're the guardian of the Ding family's reputation now."
"Of course!" Ding Junjie said smugly. "In another six months, I can take your immortal seed status! Once I'm adopted into the main line of the Ding family, I'll be the master of this house, and naturally I must consider the family's reputation! Little trash, if you behave yourself, I'll let you eat swill in the Ding household instead of begging on the streets!"
"Eat swill!" Ding Hao's eyes blazed. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Ding Junjie, what a fine dream you're dreaming. My congratulations—but now I'll give you four words: wishful thinking!"
"Wishful thinking or not, we shall see!" Seeing that it was getting late and work was about to begin, Ding Junjie snorted coldly and left the Ding residence.
"These servants have gone too far." Even Boss Shang couldn't bear to watch. Even if he was the steward's son who might one day take the immortal seed, there was no need for such an attitude toward the master of the house.
Ding Hao said, "It's nothing. I'm used to it. Come with me to my room—I guarantee Xiao Hai will enter the meditative state today, easily and effortlessly!"
"Excellent!" Boss Shang was overjoyed.
In Ding Hao's room, Xiao Hai was seated cross-legged on a bodhi cushion. Min Qingqiu said nothing, merely watching from the side. Even now, she still didn't believe that this unawakened young man could help anyone enter meditation. One had to understand—in the Nine Provinces world there was a dedicated profession called a Guide, whose sole purpose was to lead cultivators into the meditative state!
Min Qingqiu herself was a Grade 3 Guide.
If even she couldn't guide Xiao Hai into meditation, could Ding Hao really manage it?
They saw Ding Hao move his hands back and forth above Xiao Hai's head a few times, then intone in a deep voice, "With wine before us, let us sing."
"He's really in meditation!" Boss Shang nearly cried out in delight.
"How is this possible?" A trace of astonishment flashed through Min Qingqiu's beautiful eyes as well. Entering meditation without guidance—she had never seen a Guide capable of that!
"Wait a moment." She quickly produced a jade talisman and pressed it to Xiao Hai's forehead. The talisman immediately glowed a dark red. Min Qingqiu nodded. "He has entered low-grade meditation."
"Low-grade meditation." Ding Hao's hand made another theatrical pass or two over Xiao Hai's head, and then he sighed, "How many mornings yet remain?"
"What?" Min Qingqiu's beautiful eyes widened with disbelief. The jade talisman in her hand had turned pink!
"Mid-grade meditation! How is this possible?" Min Qingqiu studied Ding Hao curiously. She truly could not tell what method this fellow was using.
Boss Shang's thoughts were far simpler. Seeing his son enter mid-grade meditation, he was moved nearly to tears and said hastily, "Wonderful, wonderful! Xiao Hai has entered mid-grade meditation—his chances of awakening have greatly increased! Young Master Ding, from now on, whenever you visit my bookstore, any book you fancy, you may take!"
In truth, Ding Hao could have brought Xiao Hai into high-grade meditation, but seeing Min Qingqiu's astonished expression, he didn't dare take the risk. Putting someone into meditation at will was already frightening enough. If he could bring someone so effortlessly into high-grade meditation, it might invite serious trouble!
With that thought, he withdrew his hand and said, "All right. Xiao Hai is now in meditation. Let's not disturb him—let him rest quietly for a while."
Once outside, Boss Shang thanked him profusely, pressing a small black brocade pouch into Ding Hao's hand. It felt soft inside—it must contain banknotes.
Min Qingqiu said, "Young Master Ding, I never expected you to be so capable. Have you heard? In our Nine Provinces Academy there is a profession called a Guide, one who specializes in leading people into the meditative state. With your level of skill, you absolutely surpass a Grade 2 Guide. Would you like to go to the Nine Provinces Academy and obtain a Guide's certification? What's more, we have many classic texts there. Once you've studied them, you can raise your level further—in time, advancing to Grade 1 or even Special Grade Guide would be entirely possible!"