I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 86: Chapter 80: Completion of the Second Refinement

Deputy Director Zhou gave a noncommittal nod, and Yang Wenqing naturally went along with it.

Led by an attendant, the three left the private room and followed a winding corridor deeper into the courtyard. After passing through a moon gate, the view suddenly opened up to a much larger waterside pavilion area. Several more spacious and opulent private rooms had been built by the water’s edge, and the sound of string and bamboo instruments was clearer and more pleasant.

They were led into one of the prime private rooms, its window directly facing a red-carpeted stage in the center of the water.

On the stage, the previous troupe of dancers had retreated, replaced by a woman in a simple, elegant dress cradling a guqin. She had a refined and beautiful face, and with a light pluck of her fingertips, a zither melody like flowing water trickled out. The sound instantly silenced the background noise, bringing a sense of tranquility to one’s spirit.

Yang Wenqing thought, ’This must be the renowned Miss Liu.’

He listened with a calm heart. The elegant music did indeed help soothe his mental restlessness and inner cold. However, as his gaze swept casually across the other private rooms with their open windows, he saw a completely different scene.

In a neighboring room, several lavishly dressed men were drinking and jesting with a few gorgeous women. There were also some handsome young men attending to noblewomen.

This was clearly not just a tranquil place for listening to music.

As if sensing the direction of Yang Wenqing’s gaze, Vice Director Gao opened his eyes. He glanced over, a smile appearing on his face, and said softly:

"Wenqing, the path of cultivation is about following the course of nature and harmonizing yin and yang. Blindly training in seclusion can easily lead to extremes and give rise to Heart Demons."

He pointed to the other rooms. "Look at them. They are also seeking ’harmony.’ Enjoying the company of beautiful women brightens the mood and can relieve stress. This is the mingling of yin and yang. As long as one doesn’t indulge to the point of damaging their foundation, appropriate pleasure is in line with the Celestial Dao and human nature."

As he spoke, he winked at Yang Wenqing. "What do you think, Wenqing? See anyone you like? Since you’re here tonight, why not relax a little?"

Yang Wenqing was taken aback by the blunt suggestion. Having lived two lives, it wasn’t that he didn’t understand these things. He subconsciously glanced at Deputy Director Zhou, only to see that the man had closed his eyes again, seemingly lost in the music once more.

Before Yang Wenqing could respond, Vice Director Gao chuckled and gestured to an attendant standing nearby. The attendant understood immediately, bowed, and withdrew.

A short while later, the door to the room was gently pushed open, and two beautiful women with distinctly different temperaments entered.

One, dressed in a water-blue long dress, had a cool temperament like an orchid under the moonlight. She cradled a simple, ancient-looking pipa. Upon entering, she gave the three a graceful bow before sitting in a corner of the room to tune her instrument with her fair hands.

The other wore an apricot-colored ruqun. Her eyes curved into a smile, and she exuded a gentle, lively air. She carried a white jade Go board and walked to the tea table with a bright smile, where she began setting up the pieces on her own.

"Qingyin, Yi Xin, come and meet Captain Yang," Vice Director Gao introduced them casually. "Qingyin excels at the pipa; a single performance of *Xiaoxiang Shuiyun* from her can stir the ripples of your Heart Lake. Yi Xin is a formidable Go player who can even perceive one’s state of mind through the game. They are both artists of the highest caliber, trained here to provide pleasant conversation and refined companionship."

He looked at Yang Wenqing, his eyes holding both an elder’s playful teasing and a deeper meaning. "The path of cultivation is long and lonely. Spend too much time with plants and stubborn stones, and it’s easy to forget you’re still a person. Just look at your state today. Listening to music, playing some Go, experiencing the vibrant, lively atmosphere of the mortal world... this is the most basic, and also the most effective, form of ’yin-yang harmony.’ It’s a way to nurture the humanity within you that’s on the verge of freezing over."

His tone then turned serious. "Don’t think this is just an excuse for pleasure-seeking. Cultivators have long lifespans, vast knowledge, and extraordinary power. Over time, it’s all too easy for them to see mortals as nothing more than ants, eventually getting lost in the labyrinth of power and becoming monsters who know nothing but cultivation."

"Many powerful seniors, upon reaching a profound realm, wished to turn back and experience mortal emotions again, only to find it as illusory as a flower in a mirror or the moon’s reflection in water. That’s why you should feel and experience more while you are young, your cultivation is still shallow, and your humanity has not yet faded."

At this, Deputy Director Zhou slowly opened his eyes and, in a rare show of agreement, added, "Director Gao speaks the truth. The Inspectorate’s archives are filled with cases of those whose cultivation reached the heavens, but whose minds eventually became twisted, leading to great disaster. Power must be guided by a warm humanity. That is the righteous path."

As they spoke, the woman named Qingyin finished tuning her pipa. With a pluck of her slender fingers, a string of notes, as crisp and clear as pearls dropping onto a jade plate, flowed out. At first, it was like a babbling brook, but it gradually swelled into a rushing river. The melodious tune carried a subtle, almost imperceptible trace of melancholy and tenderness, as if telling an ancient story that effortlessly tugged at the listeners’ heartstrings.

Yang Wenqing was a little awkward at first, but as the music filled his ears, his mind involuntarily sank into it. The pain brought on by pushing his cultivation to its limits seemed to gradually soften in the gentle, winding melody.

Yi Xin, having set up the Go board, looked at Yang Wenqing with a bright smile. "Sir, would you care for a game?"

Yang Wenqing knew a little about Go and, seeing her poised and graceful demeanor, he nodded in agreement.

And so, the two sat opposite each other, picking up stones to lay out their formations. Yi Xin’s style of play was nimble and lively, often featuring unconventional and brilliant moves. Yang Wenqing, in contrast, played steadily and cautiously, consolidating each step.

On the board, black and white clashed in a silent collision of intellect, which was also a form of mental exchange and relaxation. Occasionally, Yi Xin would let out a soft, proud laugh after a clever move, and the lively expression in her eyes did much to ease Yang Wenqing’s tense nerves.

Meanwhile, Vice Director Gao and Deputy Director Zhou leisurely sipped their tea off to the side, occasionally murmuring a few words to each other as they enjoyed this rare moment of peace.

When Qingyin finished her piece, she switched to a more cheerful tune. The sound of the pipa was crisp and pleasant, like birdsong in a forest, brimming with vibrant life.