I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 90: Chapter 81: Chief Gao’s Guidance

Yang Wenqing listened in silence, his grip on the wine glass tightening slightly.

"I know you’re under pressure." Xiao Liang refilled his glass, his tone softening. "But you have to take things one step at a time. If you push yourself too hard, you’ll just burn out. What’s the point of solving cases and gaining power if you destroy yourself in the process?"

Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was Xiao Liang’s heart-to-heart words and vivid examples, but something touched Yang Wenqing. The doors to his heart, which had been shut tight, finally creaked open a little.

"Brother Xiao, I don’t want to be like this either."

Yang Wenqing’s voice was a bit hoarse. "Vice Director Gao thinks so highly of me; he’s betting everything on me. I don’t know what else to do but desperately improve my strength. He even convinced the city bureau leadership..."

"...Even though Vice Director Gao didn’t say it outright, I know he must have paid some price. If I mess this up..."

He laid bare all his inner anxiety. It was the first time since his breakthrough that he had expressed his feelings so clearly.

Xiao Liang listened intently. When Yang Wenqing finished, he clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Let’s not think about all that today." He raised his glass. "We’ll just drink, talk, and shoot the breeze. Even if the sky falls, we can deal with it after we sober up!"

Yang Wenqing looked at Xiao Liang’s sincere gaze, and the string inside him, stretched taut to its breaking point, finally went slack.

"Alright!"

He raised his glass and clinked it hard against Xiao Liang’s. No one could turn down a chance to relax and enjoy themselves.

Sometimes, a man’s mind is just that simple. A glass of wine and a good talk can wash away a lot of worries, but it all depends on who you’re with.

The two of them drank from morning until afternoon. By the time the sky began to darken, they left the tavern, tipsy. When the cool evening air hit them, they felt a sudden urge to just fall over and sleep.

As they neared Dongning Community, Yang Wenqing saw a familiar Flying Shuttle. Standing beside it was Vice Director Gao, dressed in casual clothes. The moment he saw Yang Wenqing, he immediately walked over.

"Not bad. Looks like this drink did you good."

Vice Director Gao was all smiles again. After looking Yang Wenqing over, he said, "Stop your current cultivation method for now. You’re coming with me to my manor outside the city. I’ll act as your teacher for a few days."

Hearing this, Yang Wenqing’s spirits soared, and some of his drunkenness faded. He quickly replied, "Thank you, Vice Director Gao!"

"Let’s go."

Vice Director Gao gestured for him to board his private Flying Shuttle.

How could Yang Wenqing dare to delay? After saying goodbye to Xiao Liang, he got into the front passenger seat.

The Flying Shuttle quickly ascended and headed out of Qianjiao County Town. After about half an hour of flight, vast, neatly planned fields appeared below. Most were paddy fields. In the afterglow of the sunset, some crops had already sprouted ears, while others remained a verdant green.

The Flying Shuttle hovered over a manor to the south of the fields, then landed in its small garden. The manor’s buildings weren’t luxurious; they were mostly constructed from bluestone and wood, built with the sole purpose of being sturdy.

"This is a property I acquired in my younger years. It’s mainly for growing some rice and basic medicinal herbs," Vice Director Gao said as he led Yang Wenqing into the manor.

Yang Wenqing stepped out of the Flying Shuttle and looked up. He saw that the edge of every field was lined with simple Rune Stone pillars. Spiritual Light flowed between the pillars, forming a simple Array that covered the fields.

These Arrays could enrich the soil and retain moisture for the crops. Yang Wenqing had seen them in the Yang Family Village since he was a child. They could guarantee several harvests a year from these farms, with high and stable yields.

This was the cornerstone that allowed the Wanxuan Nation—and indeed the entire known civilized world—to maintain stability, free from the fear of famine among the masses or shortages of basic goods. By using these Arrays, they only needed to occupy a few core cities and villages to produce enough food and basic medicinal herbs to support the population of a vast territory and maintain their rule.

However, small manors like this were limited to growing grain and the lowest-grade medicinal herbs.

True cultivation resources either grew in environments with extremely dense Spiritual Qi or required incredibly long growth cycles and complex cultivation techniques. Large-scale manors like that were generally in the hands of the government, managed by teams of professional Cultivators and Array Masters.

Only a very few top-tier families or factions might possess private cultivation sites for rare resources. Consequently, resources became more precious and harder to obtain the further one progressed on the path of cultivation. This was one of the reasons Yang Wenqing had chosen to enroll in the Police Academy in the first place.

"Let’s eat first."

Vice Director Gao called to Yang Wenqing and headed into the manor.

Yang Wenqing quickly followed.

When the two arrived at the manor’s dining room, servants immediately brought hot water for them to wash their hands and faces, after which the dishes were served.

The meal wasn’t extravagant, but it was exceptionally exquisite and delicious. The dishes were mostly prepared with vegetables grown on the manor and meat from Spiritual Birds. Vice Director Gao had specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare several medicinal dishes beneficial to one’s state of mind.

After the meal, Vice Director Gao took Yang Wenqing for a short walk. Once their food had settled, he led him to a spacious training ground in the manor’s backyard. The ground was paved with hard bluestone, surrounded by several wooden posts and targets for testing. The edges were inscribed with Array Runes for reinforcement and soundproofing.

"In the past, your cultivation has all been solitary, arduous training. Today, I’m going to teach you another method."

Vice Director Gao took off his jacket, revealing a lean, powerful physique. He casually rolled his wrists and said to Yang Wenqing, "Come on. Let me see your current combat fundamentals. Use all the Spells you know, and that half-assed ’Sword Control Technique’ you’ve been practicing. Don’t hold back. You can’t hurt me."