Qiao Zhi said, "Ding Daoxiao of the Ding family in Qingyang County."
Chu Qiguang stroked his chin, asking without betraying any emotion, "A prominent family of Qingyang County? Tell me about this Ding family in detail."
"As you know, Lingzhou is situated near the northern military garrisons. From the founding of the dynasty, it has had to directly face the brunt of the northern demon race's military might, which nurtured a fierce martial tradition over the years.
"On top of that, Qingyang County itself possesses exceptional feng shui—truly a blessed place that breeds remarkable talents. For all these years, every triennial martial examination produces at least one martial juren.
"Accumulated over time, this has resulted in numerous powerful clans within Qingyang County. They band together, command influence at the imperial court, and hold deeply entrenched sway over the county itself.
"The Ding family is one of these prominent clans. Its current patriarch, Ding Zhize, attained the rank of martial jinshi and rose to Left Vice Minister of War. Ever since he retired to his hometown, he has been a paramount figure in Qingyang County, and Ding Daoxiao is his eldest grandson by the direct line."
Chu Qiguang's eyes flickered slightly. He knew that in the Great Han Dynasty, the Left Vice Minister of War was a high official of the third rank, deputy to the Minister of War. In charge of the provisioning and mobilization of troops nationwide, as well as the appointment and dismissal of military officers, he was a figure of genuine power, surrounded by countless protégés and former subordinates.
In theory, with Zhou Ergou's background, seeking revenge within twenty years would be utterly impossible. Yet if he didn't avenge this debt, his cultivation progress would be severely held back.
Seeing Chu Qiguang's troubled look, Qiao Zhi urged, "The Ding family's influence in Qingyang County is nothing to scoff at. You'd better endure it for now. Once you enter the Dao, dealing with them will be as easy as lifting a finger."
"Ding Daoxiao must die," Chu Qiguang said, shaking his head. Inwardly, he thought, 'Because he's standing in my way.'
Ergou's memories, Qiao Zhi's instructions, Wang Cailiang's accounts... all sorts of intelligence reassembled and reorganized in his mind, and his eyes gradually grew bright.
"The one I need to deal with isn't Ding Zhize, but his grandson, Ding Daoxiao. With the right tactics, it's not out of the question.
"Tell me more about the Ding family, especially Ding Daoxiao. How did he encounter my father and older brother? What scriptures did he steal? What are his personality and talent like? And..."
A cold glint flashed in Chu Qiguang's eyes. "...how will he perform in the future?"
Seeing his demeanor, Qiao Zhi thought to itself that Ergou was indeed a sentimental soul. Knowing it couldn't talk him out of avenging a murdered father, it told him everything it could.
"When Ding Daoxiao went into the mountains to hunt, he ran into a migrating Chongming bird. In the chaotic melee, he broke his leg bone and became separated from his men. Just as he reached his wit's end, he happened upon your father and brother.
"At the time, the wilderness was freezing cold and prowled by wild beasts, making it difficult for Ding Daoxiao to move. To save him, your father and brother took him to shelter inside the nearby ruins where the scripture was kept.
"Though your father and brother did their utmost to conceal it, Ding Daoxiao still uncovered the scripture's existence. He didn't make a sound, pretended to know nothing, and patiently recuperated from his injuries. Then, as soon as he had nearly recovered, he ambushed and killed your father and brother, stealing away Jingang Temple's scripture.
"That scripture was Jingang Temple's Sumeru Mountain King Sutra, a true martial art for entering the Dao and one of the world's Twenty-Five Orthodox Arts.
"Ding Daoxiao's martial talent was already remarkable. Relying on the cultivation techniques and secret medicine formulas of the Sumeru Mountain King Sutra, combined with the Ding family's profound heritage, his martial prowess advanced by leaps and bounds, soon pushing his martial arts to the fourth realm.
"After passing the martial examinations to become a martial juren, he even presented the Sumeru Mountain King Sutra to the Demon Suppression Bureau as a stepping stone. Joining the bureau, he took the Demon Suppressor of that time as his godfather.
"Later, his martial cultivation grew increasingly profound. Twenty years down the line, he not only succeeded in entering the Dao, but first rose to become a Demon Suppressor in the Demon Suppression Bureau and then climbed all the way to Commander of the Heavenly Guard. He became the emperor's confidant, lording over the court for twelve years.
"In the end, he suffered qi deviation during a martial breakthrough and died. Posthumously ennobled as the Earl of Chengzhong, he could be considered to have left his mark on history."
Chu Qiguang knew the Heavenly Guard somewhat resembled the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Ming Dynasty in his past life, yet its jurisdiction was far broader. Subordinate branches like the Demon Suppression Bureau and the Evil Cleansing Bureau were responsible for slaying demons and exorcising evils, granting it far greater authority than the Embroidered Uniform Guard ever had.
Qiao Zhi offered a final assessment: "This man was sinister and cunning. His defining trait was that he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and he was immensely capable. When the Heavenly Guard was in his hands, he dominated the age and kept all officials under surveillance. Not a single official inside or outside the imperial court didn't fear him."
Chu Qiguang nodded. "Became the chief of secret police, did he? Quite a formidable figure. Master Qiao, do you know the martial arts from that Sumeru Mountain King Sutra?"
Qiao Zhi shook its head. "The Twenty-Five Orthodox Arts all require their original secret manuals to cultivate. They cannot be passed down by word of mouth."
Chu Qiguang was taken aback, not expecting such a restriction.
Qiao Zhi explained, "The mysteries contained within the methods for entering the Dao have already surpassed the limits of language. Without the manual in hand, it is impossible to teach them."
Chu Qiguang nodded helplessly. "Then tell me about the other local gentry and retired officials of Qingyang County."
Qiao Zhi said, "In Qingyang County, the only ones comparable to the Ding family are the Wu family and the Hao family..."
...
Early the next morning, Chen Gang was already waiting outside the door, ready to accompany Chu Qiguang to the county seat.
Before long, Wang Cailiang arrived to meet Chu Qiguang, bringing four servants with him.
Chu Qiguang bade farewell to Ergou's mother and younger sister, then set off toward the county seat together with Chen Gang, Qiao Zhi, and Wang Cailiang.
Wang Cailiang looked at Qiao Zhi and said, "Brother Zhou, it seems you truly love cats, keeping this cat with you all the time."
Hearing this, Chen Gang thought to himself, 'He licks it every day—how could he not love it?'
"Raised it from a kitten; there's sentimental value," Chu Qiguang replied with a smile. He then spoke directly to Wang Cailiang about changing his name and the phantom household, mainly asking Wang Cailiang to keep it quiet once they arrived in the county seat.
Fabricating a phantom household and attaching taxable mouths to it was routine business for the Wang family. Their household had several plots of land tied to phantom or heirless households in precisely this manner to evade taxes.
Wang Cailiang was entirely accustomed to such practices, and he thoroughly supported Chu Qiguang adopting a new name through this method. After all, the name Zhou Ergou was simply too embarrassing to present in polite company. Attending Yinglue Academy under that name would guarantee him zero friends, and Wang Cailiang would have wanted to pretend he didn't even know him.
He had originally planned to urge him to change his name, never expecting the other had prepared for it all along.
"Rest easy, Brother Zhou... no, Brother Chu. The imperial household registers have fallen into disrepair over the years, and the registries across the realm's counties have long been neglected. Just use this new name in peace."
Yet Wang Cailiang couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt in his heart, simply because the name sounded rather familiar to him.
'Chu Qiguang... Chu Qiguang... That's it! Doesn't our family have a plot of land registered under that exact household?'
Chapter 37