Among his superiors were, in fact, some individuals who had made the important step onto the path of cultivation, a path that had allowed them to cultivate their spiritual roots. These roots gave them the ability to enter the empire's more illustrious and renowned ranks, giving them greater status in society.
If he was able to establish a bond or a link with one of these influential cultivators, he hoped that his days of helplessness and powerlessness would at last be behind him. The very possibility of this set a thrilling tingle running through him, sparking a flame of hope in what had seemed a dull and dismal life before.
Lin Yu's resolve crystallized into a steadfast and unshakeable decision, one to which he found himself unable to compromise or waver in the slightest. He was sharply conscious of the need to move rapidly and decisively; it was a brief window of opportunity that he had to grasp with both hands before the suffocating weight of his duties or some horrific act done in Zhenxun could push him down into despair and despondency.
"Prepare the carriage!" he bellowed in sheer desperation, his voice commanding with firmness and unshakable determination as he strode decisively into his humble living room, every step broadcast loudly proclaiming his new resolve.
The two youths, who attended him as faithful retainers, reacted quickly to the summons, their faces showing a curious mixture of surprise and deference. It was not their usual reaction, for they were not used to seeing such firm decisiveness in one who was normally renowned as a quiet and introspective scholar. Lin Yu, however, was scarcely conscious of the reactions taking place in front of him; his mind was filled with a mounting sense of thrill and expectation at what lay ahead.
The ride in the carriage to the administrative hall was rather bumpy and jolting, for the dirt roads of the state of Wuxiang were decidedly uneven and rough under the solid wooden wheels of the carriage.
Lin Yu sat serenely inside the carriage, his scholar's robes immaculately pressed and well-ordered, and his hands resting quietly clasped together in his lap as he mentally reviewed the particulars of his meticulously designed plan.
The predecessor's memories acted as a flawless and detailed map, charting the intricate administrative hierarchy as well as the numerous different faces which he needed to impress if he was going to be successful.
He did not need to form a deep friendship with a cultivator from the very beginning; instead, his more immediate objective was simply to gain proximity to the point where he could form a binding tie with them.
While the system had not indicated a specific range or methodology for achieving this, Lin Yu felt a firm confidence in his own judgment, trusting that he would be able to handle the situation. He was certain that he would be able to work it out as he went along. In the meantime, the carriage creaked along, bumping him slightly as it went, while the rich and verdant forests and the mist-shrouded hills of Wuxiang passed in a rapid blur beyond the window.
Their natural beauty was sadly wasted on him at this point, as he was completely absorbed by the all-important task that lay before him.
As the carriage came to a smooth halt, Lin Yu opened the door and alighted with determination. He tilted his head back and looked up in wonder at the grand administrative hall in front of him.
The structure was a wonder in itself, with its soaring columns touching the heavens and its exquisite jade carvings displaying the astounding workmanship and artistry that characterized the boundless wealth and authority of the great Xu Dynasty.
The sheer enormity of the grand building was so fantastically massive that it made the quaint little towns of Wuxiang appear regrettably insignificant by comparison to it and served to remind him forcibly of the empire's limitless and unrelenting strength.
Pensively shaking his head to himself, Lin Yu began to smile wryly at the corners of his lips. "Really excessive," he whispered to himself very quietly under his breath, though he could not help but feel a flicker of amazement and reverie at the breathtaking splendour surrounding him.
Such a wonderful place was far too great for a humble scholar like him to aspire to, but in defiance of all predictions and in contrast to all the obstacles piled against him, here he was, on the verge of taking his very first step towards challenging the fate that had so painstakingly been set in motion for him to tread along it.
Advised by the richly detailed and intricate memories that had been left for him by his predecessor with such meticulous care, Lin Yu navigated confidently through the serpent-like corridors of the building with a surprising facility, his footsteps echoing with confidence despite the nervous excitement that fluttered uncomfortably in his chest.
As he walked down the corridor, he saw for his benefit servants and under-officials rushing about him, their arms heavy with scrolls and ledgers that weighed them down and slowed their pace as they hurried on their business.
The atmosphere around him was heavy with the silent power of bureaucracy, a subtle and intricate world that Lin Yu knew well, one in which he drew upon the long-built knowledge he had accumulated from his former life as a teacher, where organization and hard work were widely known to be the keys to success.
At last, after a time, he reached his office, a small, cluttered little room hidden away in a less busy wing of the building, and he took a seat at his desk. The familiar scent of ink and parchment wafted up to meet him, a grounding experience both soothing and refreshing as it was, and it encouraged him to begin work with a degree of application that surprised him from time to time.
With the rich embroidery of memories and knowledge that his predecessor's recollections had gifted him, the different tasks he encountered were second nature to him, allowing him to execute them fluently with little conscious attention as he worked his way through them with ease.