Chapter 129: Chinese New Year
Pan Zhengyang listened to Li Ye’s ‘report’, said something, then continued:
“Ningjiang City is your turf, I won’t interfere with how you handle it. My rank is higher than yours, but I can’t just meddle casually. However, you’d better keep a low profile for a while; once you reach the Three Realms, you’ll be much safer.”
“Are the Three Realms that special?” Li Ye asked puzzledly.
“The Three Realms aren’t special; what’s special is after the Three Realms. In Director Wang’s words, that’s the true Martial Artist world, and the real slaughterhouse. Before reaching that realm, the Three Realms are definitely the safest.”
“Anyway, as a Three Realms myself, I only hear bits and pieces. Director Wang knows, but he doesn’t want to elaborate, saying it would disrupt the martial heart. It’s best to take it step by step.”
Pan Zhengyang said, “For you, no matter how talented, it won’t be that fast. First step into Kaiyuan; the Six Passes aren’t that easy to break through. You’ll need heaps of resources—probably enough to consume all the ingredients produced by an entire Demon Realm to make it.”
Li Ye laughed, “That might not even be enough.”
Pan Zhengyang was joking based on experience, but Li Ye was speaking the truth.
A normal genius reaching fullness at the Six Passes to step into the Three Realms might really require the output resources of a small Demon Realm, but Li Ye was different.
Whether the old Li family folks were fierce or not, he didn’t know, but he was fierce with strong capabilities—one definitely wouldn’t be enough.
“I need to ask you about this: I’ve been to the Demon Realm in Jinze City, and it was pretty interesting. Are there other Demon Realms? I want to go for some experience.”
“Demon Realm experience?”
Pan Zhengyang said in surprise, “What are you going there for? It’s thankless work, and it’s not time for you to serve yet. Why not enjoy life more?”
“To see more of the world and prepare for the future.” Li Ye laughed.
“I see you’re destined for a life of hard labor.”
Pan Zhengyang cursed, “You finally became the King of Ningjiang, but instead of lording it over like others with chickens and dogs ascending to heaven, you want to wander in the Demon Realm. Fine, I’ll find you one with low intensity. Don’t fall for the military’s tricks—they treat people like livestock.”
After chatting a couple more sentences, the call ended, and Li Ye headed to the Disinfection Bureau. On the way, he sent an address to Deng Hao and Jia Dong. Once there, he called Sun Shun up.
“Bureau Chief Li.”
Sun Shun came in grinning and gave Li Ye a thumbs up first. “Well done on the big deed—this is more than restoring the glory from thirty years ago; it’s way more glorious than back then.”
Li Ye shook his head with a smile and tossed him the magic treasure obtained from the Demon Realm. “Have the higher-ups test its specific effects, then forge it into a weapon.”
The Disinfection Bureau had this function itself, but it was irrelevant for their third-tier small city. It had to be sent to a superior agency for efficacy testing.
As a mineral-produced magic treasure, there was no way no reference existed for this thing, but Li Ye didn’t need to worry about it.
As for someone embezzling it or whatever
This thing wasn’t as valuable as a fiefdom; fiefdoms were given away freely, and the country wasn’t that stingy.
“Got it. I’ll head to Yangcheng and get it done for you.”
Sun Shun carefully stowed the magic treasure and added, “There won’t be any obstacles. In Jianghuai Province, few would dare not give you face.”
Slaughtering all the Martial Artists in a city—that kind of fame couldn’t be suppressed.
To the Disinfection Bureau, this was a treasure. They might not grant every request, but they’d definitely prioritize it.
Other factions were even less worth mentioning.
After waiting a bit longer, Sun Shun knocked again and let in a few people.
Yang Jie brought Yao Lèdān and the other two in together.
Except for Yang Jie, the three were somewhat nervous, looking around.
No. 14 Middle School took first in the City Martial Arts Competition, and they selected the best experience points, but today they were resting and practicing Martial Arts Training in the Martial Arts Track Class.
Right when Li Ye replied, he learned they were around, so he simply called them over.
“Brother Ye.”
Deng Hao could hardly recognize the person in uniform and cap, exuding authority and looking intimidating.
“How did you become the Sanitation Bureau Chief?”
“It’s the Disinfection Bureau!”
Yao Lèdān smacked the back of his head. “I told you before we came—it’s the agency specializing in dealing with demonic creatures. You need Six Dragon Gate to get in.”
Originally, this had nothing to do with Yao Lèdān, but lately she’d been hanging out with these two. When she heard Li Ye summoning them, she came along.
Li Ye had no ill feelings toward this woman; when he first entered the Martial Arts Track Class, she’d helped quite a bit.
“Brother Ye, did you help with our family business?”
She was sharp too—upon entering, she immediately connected it to their family business troubles that were quickly resolved.
She didn’t know the Disinfection Bureau’s status or influence, but as a bureau chief, handling that was certainly within reach.
Li Ye said, “I wouldn’t say I helped; I just steered things back to their proper track and position.”
“Damn, if that’s the case, Brother Ye, can we strut around Ningjiang from now on?” Deng Hao said excitedly.
Whatever sanitation or disinfection, it was a bureau chief position—that was enough.
Plus, he could resolve Yao Lèdān’s family issues, which was impressive at their level.
“Breaking the law isn’t allowed.”
Li Ye laughed. “I called you here for nothing else—the Gaokao is coming up, so it depends on your personal thoughts. If you want to join the Disinfection Bureau later, you can find Yang Jie. Aim to reach Six Dragon Gate by university graduation, learn a good martial art, and then come work for me after.”
“But the Disinfection Bureau is pretty dangerous and not easy. The Information Section has support, but you still need personal strength.”
“If you don’t want to, before the Gaokao, I can give you a boost. At minimum, reaching Four Dragon Gates gets you into a top Martial Arts Track university.”
Even at its worst, Hulong Palace had no issue training low-level Dragon Gate Realm folks.
For these little buddies, he’d naturally make arrangements—not to the point of one attaining the dao while his old bros only get one shot at asking for help.
That was purely because they weren’t strong enough yet, and age made hearts complicated.
Li Ye was young, and so were they—youth had its own camaraderie.
Future matters could be discussed later.
People die in the future too.
If everything’s ‘later,’ might as well do nothing.
Use power when you have it, help when you can, bring them up together to avoid regrets in old age.
Considering letting them into the Disinfection Bureau was a recent decision by Li Ye.
Things were unstable before, and he wasn’t sure about the Disinfection Bureau’s situation.
But now Ningjiang City was clearly stable, the overall environment improved, dealing with demonic creatures wasn’t as troublesome—just find the right methods, danger reduced, so they could try entering later.
Having a few trusted aides would also help him better control Ningjiang.
If unwilling, no big deal—after graduation, as long as they returned to develop, he could provide good jobs or business opportunities, repaying these years of following him.
Jia Dong was quick-witted; he glanced at Li Ye’s uniform, then at Yang Jie, and said, “Working in the Disinfection Bureau means getting on staffing, right? No exam needed?”
Other staffing positions required exams.
“Disinfection Bureau doesn’t.”
Li Ye said, “It’s the only department without exams—just need qualifications.”
Jia Dong thought for a moment and said, “Got it. I’m willing to give it a try.”
“Then count me in.”
Deng Hao grinned. “This is basically being an official—with a spot open, it’d be dumb not to take it.”
Yao Lèdān rolled her eyes at the two, thought for a bit, and said, “I’ll pass; it doesn’t suit me.”
She wasn’t that interested in Martial Arts; she trained because it was mainstream. With family resources, reaching Four Dragon Gates before Gaokao was no issue, attend a top Martial Arts Track university, then take over the family business after graduation.
Plus, with Li Ye’s connection, her family should be secure in Ningjiang.
“If you need anything, find Yang Jie—he joined early.”
Li Ye glanced at Yang Jie and nodded. “Looks like in a few more months, you’ll reach Six Dragon Gate.”
With his martial arts experience, he could not only tell a person’s exact layer in the Dragon Gate Realm but also their Qi and Blood fluctuations.
With fiefdom cultivation, Yang Jie was nearing the bottleneck; plus experience gains, at this pace, he’d break through Six Dragon Gate before the Provincial Martial Arts Competition.
After some idle chat, the three took their leave. Li Ye checked Ningjiang City’s current demonic creature traces—no powerful ones, all lesser demons that current Disinfection Bureau members could handle—so he relaxed.
Huang Qingyi was still bustling alone in the downtown area. Though Ningjiang Martial Artists had gone to Jinze, the remaining ones could still help him a lot, maintaining order.
There was nothing in Ningjiang City to worry Li Ye anymore. As Pan Zhengyang said, he was the King of Ningjiang; his subordinates were properly working to prevent demonic creatures, so naturally he had nothing to do.
Everything calmed down, and Li Ye returned to his daily routine of cultivation and supplementation.
Now when eating, he didn’t care how others saw him—eat as much as he wanted. He didn’t even need to speak; Sun Shun arranged three meals a day and delivered them to the Li residence. Every morning Li Ye went over, ate, then cultivated.
His talent improved through devouring—he couldn’t waste it; of course he had to cultivate.
In spare time, he also returned to school once. Principal Qian and Gu Yang nervously invited him to the office, their expressions a mix of helplessness, pride, and some fear.
After Li Ye left, Principal Qian sensed something off and inquired around, finally learning things beyond his level.
A student had become the Disinfection Bureau Chief.
Ningjiang’s Disinfection Bureau Chief—that was different!
They didn’t know about Jinze City, but being in Ningjiang, they knew Ningjiang matters.
But gauging the right degree was tricky.
Li Ye was a student and should participate in the upcoming Provincial Martial Arts Competition, but having him do so seemed unlikely.
Li Ye himself said he’d continue in the Provincial Martial Arts Competition, which reassured the principal.
No. 14 Middle School’s class would claim full honors this year, and next year higher-quality freshmen would join.
He’d endured as principal and finally made it.
Li Ye wouldn’t go back on his promises—even if beating up kids was a bit immoral, it wasn’t his intent, and he did need to go to Yangcheng anyway.
Pan Zhengyang called, saying at the April Provincial Martial Arts Competition, there’d be a Demon Realm still being decontaminated for him to enter.
As for others—after Chinese New Year, several Demon Realms would await his choice.
Choice?
Screw choice—he wanted them all!
Time passed over a month quickly. This year’s Chinese New Year, by their calendar, was January 18.
Li Ye had long shed his burdens and gone home a few days early to stay.
His parents also started holiday a week before Chinese New Year.
They were puzzled—usually they only got off on New Year’s Eve, and mother Liu Qingxia only until the third day before returning to work.
But this year, the boss seemed nicer, fussing over them warmly, giving them off seven days early until after the Lantern Festival.
And during this time, their salary increased, positions changed—mother from cashier and warehousing to overall manager, father promoted to engineering manager.
Completely baffling.
Their son had prospects, but it seemed unrelated to business.
After much thought, they chalked it up to good luck.
Ningjiang City’s chain supermarket boss wasn’t even a Martial Artist—just an ordinary person, uninvolved in Martial Artist matters and unaware of his identity.
But precisely so, he’d curry favor with Li Ye upon learning he worked in the Disinfection Bureau’s Information Section—which crushed them; a section chief’s word could shut down half a city.
Even as a regular employee, who knew— if displeased, a word upward could seal their industry.
So boosting his parents’ treatment and giving lighter work was a gesture.
Li Ye didn’t care much, but for many, it was the right move.
Since his parents’ promotion, the boss felt everything went smoothly—policies greenlit as long as legal.
Business deals with initial hurdles would turn around after a while.
Not huge profit margins, all normal, but willingness to cooperate was great.
Everyone’s work lighter, no complaints.
Parents accepted it contentedly, and Li Ye let them be.
On New Year’s Eve, Li Ye drove with his parents to a big hotel.
This year was with mother’s side of the family. Many relatives chose this hotel for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Just entering the private room, some had arrived early.
“Cousin!”
Two years younger than Li Ye, now a liberal arts first-year high schooler, his aunt’s daughter Jiang Shuangshuang waved enthusiastically at Li Ye, beaming.
Beside her were Li Ye’s cousin and cousin.
Aunt’s family had three kids total—eldest sister, second brother, youngest daughter—with good relations to his family.
The 200,000 he scraped together for the Martial Arts School included their contribution.
“Yo, little Ye’s here.”
Besides aunt’s family, a voice came from the head seat.
A woman with a slightly sharp-featured wavy hairstyle said, “I heard you joined some Disinfection Bureau. How is it? How much do you make a month?”
This family was a big one too—the man arrogant and disdainful, the woman decked in jewelry to stand out.
Nearby, two boys and two girls of the younger generation—but seated distinctly apart from aunt’s family.
It was aunt’s family, whose son was a Martial Artist working in Yunhai.
Sorry, late, more to come
