Chapter 133: Invited Again To The Inner Department
“Of course.”
The old man said with a smile, “But stolen goods and items with owners are not allowed, such as your Flying Immortal Strength. If you hand it over to us, we wouldn’t dare accept it.”
After all, Flying Immortal Strength is one of the several True Skills of the Tongzhou prominent Zhang Family, and Wuqing Stick Bureau does not want to inexplicably stir up trouble.
“That’s fine.”
Chen Shun’an nodded, but a bit of joy welled up in his heart.
His water skill had greatly improved, he could breathe freely, and he was even closer to the water spirits.
Even without going himself, just sending the Silver Scholar and Golden Scaled Perch, these two precious fish, into the water to hunt for treasure would be excellent.
These two had only been eating rations and had accumulated several pounds of fat on their bodies; they needed to be trained to shine for Chen Shun’an.
There was no stock of Azure Dragon Gall here at Liangjiang Military Academy; he needed to take the document to Five Rivers Water Affairs Office to retrieve it.
In fact, Wuqing Stick Bureau was extremely cautious about storing treasures. Not only did they have multiple hidden storage sites, but there were also dedicated guards, and most rare treasures were deeply buried underground, just like the vertical shaft in front of Chen Shun’an.
After all, it’s not the thieves breaking in that’s scary, but them keeping it in mind.
Without such caution, these treasuries would sooner or later fall into the hands of those wall-crawling thieves and Thousand-faced Thief Saints…
Such as Chen Shun’an.
“What a pity.”
Chen Shun’an felt somewhat regretful.
Moments later, a military officer from Five Rivers Water Affairs Office hurried over, handed over a box, and left in a rush without even looking at Chen Shun’an and the others.
This man wore a blue official robe with river algae embroidery on the patch, a water pattern token at his waist, and misty dampness around his body; his steps seemed to carry the sound of undercurrents.
Chen Shun’an watched the man’s departing back, his gaze profound.
This man’s aura was moist, his internal energy implicitly containing the intent of water marsh, evidently from long dwelling by the riverbank.
“Five Rivers Water Affairs… If there’s a chance in the future, it wouldn’t be impossible to become a River Administrator.” His mind stirred slightly.
After all, the Sacred Dynasty wanted both to suppress merchants and to make money, and there were quite a few ways to donate for titles.
Red-hat Merchants were all too common.
Holding the box, Chen Shun’an no longer lingered and strode away.
The martial artists who had been waiting a long time behind then surged forward all at once.
The old man tossed the Exchange Ledger onto the table and said indifferently,
“Look for yourselves; it’s all clearly recorded above. If you have questions, don’t come asking me…”
……
It was still early, so Chen Shun’an prepared to go back on duty.
A gust of wind swept across the bluestone path of the Martial Arts Hall, kicking up withered leaves.
As Chen Shun’an passed Tie Gong Ancestral Hall, he suddenly heard a calm voice from behind.
“Brother Chen, wait!”
Chen Shun’an turned toward the voice and saw a man in a blue robe standing under the ginkgo tree.
This man had a lean face, a sparse goatee on his chin, and half-black, half-white hair tied in a bun at the back of his head, slicked with plenty of hair oil, looking neat and tidy—not like a martial artist, but more like a foreign scholar returned from overseas.
“So it’s Instructor Shen.” Chen Shun’an cupped his hands, slightly surprised in his heart.
This man was Shen Mochuan, not only the Instructor of Wuqing County, in charge of all county student education affairs.
But also the chief tactical instructor at Liangjiang Military Academy.
He was even classmates with Scholar Ma; Chen Shun’an had heard Scholar Ma mention him many times.
Shen Mochuan returned the courtesy and got straight to the point,
“Brother Chen, to be honest, I came today as a messenger to invite Brother Chen to join the Inner Department of Wuqing Stick Bureau. There were quite a few oversights in the last vote; Brother Lu Jing has already ordered corrections. I hope Brother Chen won’t take it to heart…”
Chen Shun’an suddenly understood.
Last time, Nie Zheng, Hong Junxian, and others had rejected Chen Shun’an’s joining the Inner Department.
But now, the former was dead, and the latter owed Chen Shun’an a life-saving favor.
The situation had turned abruptly; things remained, but people had changed.
Wuqing Stick Bureau even invited Instructor Shen, this major figure with some incense ties to Chen Shun’an, as the messenger.
“I am deeply honored.”
Chen Shun’an weighed his words, somewhat hesitant.
“I’m used to being idle, I’m afraid…”
Shen Mochuan just smiled faintly and said,
“Brother Chen, hold on; hear this out, and you can refuse later…”
Moments later, Shen Mochuan turned and left.
Chen Shun’an stood in place, his expression slightly grave.
He ultimately chose to join the Inner Department.
Because the Inner Department had a benefit he found hard to refuse.
All kinds of intelligence, whether official bounties or underworld hits, the Inner Department always knew first.
Including every new arrest warrant in Wuqing County; the Inner Department could even take them up to capture the culprits.
Catch myself?
Then he had no choice but to join the Inner Department.
But…
Two points of cold starlight condensed in Chen Shun’an’s eyes.
Chen Shun’an always felt something off about Shen Mochuan, but he couldn’t pinpoint it.
“Scholar Ma, Shen Mochuan… If Scholar Ma hadn’t been so stubborn back then and chosen to buy an official post with money, perhaps this Wuqing Instructor position would have been Scholar Ma’s. Instructor…”
Chen Shun’an muttered to himself darkly.
……
“Thanks for the trip, Brother Shen. What did Chen Shun’an say?”
“He has agreed to join the Inner Department.”
Deep in the Martial Arts Hall, the small courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of wind through bamboo leaves.
Lu Jing, in loose simple clothes, set down the book in his hand and looked at the visitor.
Shen Mochuan’s gaze fell on Lu Jing’s somewhat pale face, and he said,
“How is your injury?”
“Just three lesser demons; how could they injure me?”
A trace of proud smile tugged at Lu Jing’s lips; he shook his head and continued,
“I plan to head to Banye Ferry Crossing again today and search toward Funiu Water Marsh. These demons clearly swallowed water demon blood, going berserk with surging strength…
If the source isn’t eliminated, it’s like bailing the pot instead of turning off the fire; it can’t be rooted out.”
Shen Mochuan frowned slightly and said, “You’ve rested less than half a day; so eager?”
“No time.”
Lu Jing sighed, gazing toward the distant horizon, “This year’s year-end grand celebration might be my last chance…”
Everyone was vying to cross; Lu Jing was no exception.
He too needed to use this demon slaying to fight and cultivate, seeking a breakthrough opportunity, while accumulating reputation to add some assurance for earning a quota in the year-end grand celebration someday.
“Do as you wish.” Shen Mochuan said no more.
Looking down from above, Shen Mochuan gazed profoundly at Lu Jing, as if he could clearly see Lu Jing’s qi and blood flowing, meridians writhing…
Shen Mochuan was clearly a civilian instructor without the strength to truss a chicken, yet standing before Lu Jing now, he felt no sense of inferiority; his gaze calm yet filled with detachment and indifference.
And Lu Jing was utterly oblivious to it all.
Moments later, Shen Mochuan slowly turned and left, his footsteps fading.
Until the courtyard gate closed, Lu Jing, sitting at the stone table, suddenly trembled, his face abruptly flushing blood-red.
He braced one hand on the table, his throat churning violently; finally unable to suppress it, he spat out a mouthful of bruised blood with a ‘pu’ sound.
Blood spots splattered on the bluestone, mottled and shocking.
With trembling hand, he pulled open his collar; a ferocious claw mark appeared starkly, bone-deep, the surrounding skin tinged blue-black, with faint yin chill qi leaking out.
Lu Jing’s face was somewhat gloomy.
“Those three water demons were off… Deep in the water marsh, there’s probably an even more ferocious one hiding!”
