Cultivating in a Bizarre World

Repairing the Firework Hall was a much grander affair than expected.

At first, it was just a few craftsmen figuring out how to patch the hole in the courtyard wall, which seemed normal enough. But soon, more and more people arrived.

A dense crowd of dozens swarmed the Firework Hall, discussing animatedly. Even Ren Qing sensed that something was amiss.

The craftsmen immediately began bringing in newly-fired bricks, along with hundreds of pounds of roof tiles. It looked for all the world like they were starting a major construction project.

Ren Qing’s lip twitched. ’Did Clerk Zhao misunderstand me? I said to patch the courtyard wall, not rebuild the whole thing.’

Bo Feng was terrified, fearing he was to blame for some oversight.

Just then, Clerk Zhao came striding toward the Firework Hall, a beaming smile on his face. Ren Qing quickly pulled him into a side room.

Clerk Zhao poured some tea and said proudly, "Younger Brother Ren, I trust you’re satisfied?"

According to his plan, the Firework Hall was to be completely rebuilt and expanded, and Ren Qing’s quarters would be turned into a standalone structure.

Ren Qing asked expressionlessly, "Lord Zhao, what is it you need my help with?"

Clerk Zhao chuckled awkwardly and rubbed his hands together, putting on a servile expression he didn’t even show when meeting the County Magistrate. "Well..."

"Spit it out."

"Every five years, Sanxiang City holds a county examination. This year’s will be held at the Qinghe Examination Hall in the western part of the city, which falls under our jurisdiction."

Afraid Ren Qing would refuse, he hastily explained, "It’s not too much trouble. I just want to ask you to help keep an eye on things, Brother Ren."

After speaking, Clerk Zhao took a sip of tea with a hint of resignation.

Although the examination was limited to the Xiangxiang region, it was still a major event in Sanxiang City.

Typically, after a student becomes a child scholar, they pass a prefectural exam to become a Scholar. As for becoming a scholar, they must participate in this county examination.

Perhaps because the Xiangxiang region was relatively isolated, the interval between these county examinations was extremely long, and it was said that not many candidates were selected.

As for the Palace Examination, no one had ever heard of it here, nor had any scholars ever left to take up official posts elsewhere.

Ren Qing asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why haven’t I heard anyone discussing this?"

"It’s still over a month away. Besides, the temple fair in the west of the city has already begun, so naturally, not many people are paying attention to the examination."

The temple fair was likely organized by the Childbearing Goddess Temple, which was located in a remote area in the western part of the city.

People worshiped the Childbearing Goddess to pray for fertility, so the temple was usually quite popular. The Temple Priest was even invited to assist with childbirth, acting as a Midwife.

Ren Qing learned from Clerk Zhao that the temple fair would last about seven days and wouldn’t overlap with the examination.

He agreed. "A small matter like that is no problem at all."

Clerk Zhao thanked him profusely. As he was leaving, he quietly slipped a silver note for fifty taels under the teacup—a true master of social etiquette.

However, Ren Qing had little interest in worldly money these days. He casually stored the silver note in his Abdominal Prison.

For the next few days, he stayed in the Firework Hall practicing the Dragon and Snake Spine.

During that time, Huang Ziwang paid him a visit, but it was just to catch up and chat, which left Ren Qing somewhat disappointed.

He was hoping to take on a few missions from the Forbidden Soldier Hall to earn some Blood Crystals.

But Sanxiang City was becoming increasingly peaceful, mainly due to the upcoming temple fair and examination. As a result, large numbers of constables patrolled the streets day and night.

The local gangs were also on their best behavior, quietly managing their own little territories.

With time on his hands, Ren Qing decided to go to the temple fair to unwind. Such lively scenes existed only in his childhood memories from his past life.

Ren Qing purposely chose to go in the evening. The streets near the temple were festooned with lanterns, and the rich scent of food and festivities filled the air.

The sheer scale of it was far better than any crudely thrown-together food festival, and the atmosphere was electric.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but mouth-watering delicacies: sugar figurines, sesame cakes, stewed offal, stinky tofu...

The various aromas mingled together, causing passersby to stop and stare.

Children ran and played along the roadside, their parents and relatives chasing close behind.

Ren Qing couldn’t help but smile. The pressure in his heart eased, replaced by a growing sense of belonging to this world.

He bought a skewer of candied hawthorn and ate it as he walked. It was mostly sweet and sour, but he could still taste the subtle tartness of the fruit.

As Ren Qing neared the Childbearing Goddess Temple, he noticed a large crowd had gathered. The atmosphere was strangely silent.

The crowd consisted entirely of women and children, their ages ranging from young girls in their early teens to grandmothers with snow-white hair.

Ren Qing was startled. Fearing there had been some kind of accident, he quickly pushed his way closer.

In front of the temple stood an Old Temple Priest who looked to be in her seventies. She was handing out peanuts to the crowd, offering words of blessing as she did.

The Old Temple Priest’s gaze swept past the crowd and landed on Ren Qing. She then gave him an inexplicable nod.

Ren Qing’s brow furrowed slightly. He had no idea what she meant by that, and he was surprised to see the Childbearing Goddess Temple held in such high regard.

He glanced around and spotted Zhu Ding, clutching a handful of peanuts, squeezing his way out of the crowd.

Ren Qing walked over, waiting for a moment by an ancient tree near the temple gate. He only approached once Zhu Ding was clear of the crowd.

"Constable Ren..."

Zhu Ding jumped, his face flushing bright red as he stammered.

Ren Qing clapped him on the shoulder. "Zhu Ding, what brings you here?"

"I’m here because... well, I actually grew up in this temple. My mother passed away when I was young, so Luo Niang raised me."

"Luo Niang?"

Ren Qing then learned from Zhu Ding that Luo Niang was the elderly Temple Priest, and that she had delivered many of the children born in Sanxiang City.

The temple also took in and cared for orphans.

"Constable Ren, Luo Niang is a truly good person."

Zhu Ding scratched his head, embarrassed.

He had always seen Luo Niang as a mother. He would not only help her with cleaning, but he would also donate any extra salary he had each month to the temple.

"I see..."

Ren Qing smiled, then pushed his way into the crowd without a second thought.

The women and children nearby parted to let him pass, and soon he stood before Luo Niang. She still wore the same benevolent smile.

Luo Niang scooped up a handful of peanuts and placed them in Ren Qing’s hand. "Here, child. Take these."

Ren Qing shelled one and ate it. It was just an ordinary peanut, and a bit stale at that. It wasn’t particularly tasty.

"They’re delicious, Luo Niang."

’Of course, his goal wasn’t the peanuts. He’d come specifically to make contact with Luo Niang.’

The Information Flow surged.

[Luo Ji]

[Age: 48]

[Lifespan: 7 Years]

[Skill: Summer Grass Technique (Healthy)]

[Created by Tai Sui Daoist Monarch. Cultivating this method requires one to ingest seventy-five types of colorless, formless Disease Seeds. It can only be mastered once all resulting chronic illnesses are cured.]

Ren Qing tossed peanuts into his mouth as he walked away, his mind racing.

’Cordyceps?’

’Could the Disease Seeds be referring to pathogens? This Magic Technique is something else. And "Healthy"... it’s like the Buddhist concept of being "stainless and undefiled." ’

’I’ve never actually looked into the birth rate in Sanxiang City before.’

’Thinking about it now, in a world where Magic Techniques are rampant, maybe the perils of pregnancy and childbirth aren’t as severe as I imagined.’

’The Childbearing Goddess might be a Forbidden Guard, too. She might have even reached the Yin Messenger Realm.’

’These waters run deep.’