I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality

Lu Xiu, having a hard time living again, did not yearn for a long life. The only thing he couldn't let go of was his powerlessness in the face of demons in the past.

If he had the power to dispel evil and purge demons, how could Yang Mingchun have acted so wantonly until now?

"Thanks to your kindness, Master, I am willing to learn the way to establish myself and protect the Dao!"

Lu Xiu made up his mind that if he could truly learn the True Skill, he would travel the world, slaying demons and subduing devils. Even if he couldn't restore order to the world, he would do his best to reduce some of the injustice and oppression.

"There's no need for that. My path is not suitable for you; I can't be your teacher. As for the Wen Xin Diao Long Technique, I happened upon it by chance. At most, I can guide you to the entrance; future achievements depend on you."

"Once a teacher, always a teacher. The grace of passing down knowledge, I shall always remember."

Xu Qing shook his head helplessly, no longer concerning himself with Lu Xiu's thoughts.

Taking out the necessary items for tattooing, Xu Qing asked one last time, "Are you sure? Although this Wen Xin Diao Long Technique can turn words into martial skills, intimidating adversaries, once a dragon pattern is tattooed, you can no longer serve as an official."

In the Dayong Dynasty, those scholars with mediocre talent liked tattoos. They often adorned themselves with small, auspicious designs like Qilin Stepping on Clouds or Laurel Branches in the Lunar Palace, hoping for success in the imperial examinations. But a scholar with a dragon tattoo was unheard of, let alone a top-ranked scholar!

"Master, do you think I can still be an official now?" Lu Xiu chuckled lightly, with a hint of self-mockery.

Xu Qing replied with a hearty laugh, "Perhaps not. The current emperor lacks virtue, the northern star flickers mysteriously, and in three to five years, or even a decade, great changes might occur in the kingdom."

"If the tides truly turn, County Magistrate Lu's expertise might be called upon once again."

Lu Xiu shook his head and said, "As long as one is righteous, there's no difference between being an official and serving the people. Moreover, what you said is yet unproven; if the Dayong Dynasty still has the mandate, what then? Besides, if the realm truly changes hands, will the demons and devils decrease?"

"The two children, Tian Long and Di Ya, said that in today's world, heavenly secrets are not revealed, and the divine does not descend to eliminate demon influences. Demonic forces will only increase over time. If righteous officials and incorruptible scholars fall victim to them, it would be too regrettable. Rather, let me enter the fray and purify the demon miasma with my own body."

"Are you sure?"

"Indeed, I am sure; master, please proceed!"

"No, I meant the tattoo might hurt a bit..."

Xu Qing picked up an iron needle as long as a hand, which looked particularly terrifying.

Lu Xiu chuckled and even recited a poem: "Pain hurts but does not disturb my peace; this old body, alone as it may be, stays unyielding. So little pain, what's there to...hiss!"

Xu Qing couldn't stand the pretense, and without hesitation, the needle fell.

Poor Lu Xiu wasn't killed by the Fox Demon but almost died from the pain on the spot!

"If it hurts, just shout; don't endure it."

"It doesn't hurt! How painful is the hatred of ten years having risked my life! I've endured that, so why fear this pain."

Lu Xiu gritted his teeth, cold sweat pouring from his body, Xu Qing looked up in surprise, and upon seeing his blood-red eyes, he couldn't help but shake his head.

Few scholars have such backbone; today's County Lu made Xu Qing look at him with newfound respect.

Tattooing, also known as carving blue or patterning blue, is easy to learn but hard to master.

A tattoo artist must have a certain foundation in painting and also know how to mix the ink colors required for tattooing.

Even so, finding a tattoo artist is not difficult. But if you want to find one who knows the Wen Xin Diao Long Technique and excels at tattooing, it's harder than climbing to the heavens!

Xu Qing is skilled in a hundred arts of the common people, and for him, the small technique of tattooing is as simple as child's play.

Nearby, Xuan Yu was grinding gold ink with a brush of virtue, into which Xu Qing had deliberately mixed musk powder and some pearl dust.

A perfect blend of color, fragrance, and taste.

Apart from color and fragrance, the essence of Wen Xin Diao Long is 'literary energy entering the skin.' Xu Qing performed his work meticulously. As Lu Xiu endured the pain on his back, he suddenly asked, "Master, are you engraving words?"

Xu Qing raised his eyebrows, not expecting this top-ranking scholar to be a sensitive type who could tell he was engraving words.

"Wen Xin Diao Long uses words of sages to create art. Each dragon scale carries the wisdom of sages. Meeting me is truly your luck!"

Xu Qing modeled the carving on the symbols from the Divine Sayings Ruler, though the script he engraved was extremely tiny; unless examined closely, no one would realize the gold dragon was composed of countless tiny characters.

As the saying goes, a dragon tattoo should not cross the shoulder; a tiger tattoo should not descend the mountain. Dragons are celestial spirits, burdensome to bear for the ordinary, but it's different with literary energy.

Xu Qing carved the dragon's body from Lu Xiu's back, ascending over the shoulder, and started tattooing the dragon's head at the heart.

A dragon tattoo on the chest is extremely dangerous in the tattoo world. If one can bear the dragon's energy, they could soar to great heights; if not, violating taboos might lead to loss of lifespan at a minimum.

Lu Xiu had come back from the dead and had ample literary energy within him; should it be anyone else, they might not be able to handle it!

"This dragon is the manifestation of your literary energy. To use it in battle, you need to recite the incantation to enhance your literary energy. The stronger the energy, the more majestic the golden dragon. When at its peak, the dragon leaps, banishing all evil."

"Please, master, teach me the incantation."

Bare-chested, with a scholarly air, Lu Xiu bowed deeply toward Xu Qing.