n

n

n

n“No other clues?” Xiao Ran asked again.

n

n“All I know is that they’re from the capital city. They’re powerful beyond your imagination. I don’t know anything else.”

n

n“And how did you get to know him?”

n

nQian Yi gazed into the distance as he recalled. “Fifteen years ago, I obtained a thousand-year-old ginseng by accident. I didn’t dare to sell it as its value was too high. In my situation at that time, it was difficult for me to even get food, let alone protect myself. Once I showed my face, I probably wouldn’t even know how I died.”

n

nHe gave a wretched laugh.

n

n“However, I was unwilling to give up. This was clearly a precious treasure, so how could I let it be covered in dust! Therefore, I stayed at the city gate and observed for one whole year. Thus I developed a skill to determine a person’s identity from their clothes, temperament, behavior, followers, and so on.”

n

n“One day, by coincidence, a nobleman passed by. Even the former prefectural governor had to bow to speak to him. His identity is definitely not as simple as it appeared!”

n

nSeeing him stop, Little Zhou asked, “And then?”

n

n“Caught between death and opportunity, I chose to gamble. My gamble paid off. In exchange for my thousand-year-old ginseng, I was able to tag along on his coat tail and thereafter, went from a pauper dressed in rags to a prefectural governor,” Qian Yi said.

n

n“What’s his name? What does he look like?”

n

n“Everyone addressed him as ‘Lord.’ I don’t know his name. You may laugh at me, but though I have met him once, the moment I left his side, I forgot what he looked like. In the days to come, I only dealt with the men he sent.”

n

n“Brother Xiao, is he telling the truth?” Little Zhou seemed doubtful.

n

n“Hmm.” Xiao Ran acknowledged with a nod of his head.

n

n“When a person’s skills evolution is high enough, it’s very easy for him to make you forget what he looks like.”

n

n“In that case, not only is the other party of noble status, but his evolution level is also very high?” Little Zhou asked thoughtfully.

n

n“Based on the current information we have, that appears to be the case,” Xiao Ran said.

n

nHe assigned guards to continue to keep watch.

n

nHe left the rest chamber with Little Zhou.

n

nAfter he completed his report with the information gathered so far, he handed it to him.

n

n“Quickly send it to Lord Shen and the Imperial Court.”

n

n“Okay.” Little Zhou left with the two letters.

n

nBy noon the next day,

n

nthe news intended for Shen Yiming and the Imperial Court arrived one after the other.

n

nShen Yiming then gave instructions in his reply, reminding them to be careful and to follow the Imperial Court’s orders.

n

nAfter he was done with his duties, he rushed to Qing Province to meet up with them.

n

nThe Imperial Court issued two decisions. The first was to drag Qian Yi to the marketplace to be slashed 1,000 times to serve as a warning to others.

n

nAs for his family members, all male members were to be executed. The women were sent to the court-sanctioned brothel while all their possessions were confiscated.

n

nThe prefectural magistrate would assume the new role of the prefectural governor, while the prefectural lieutenant would be promoted to take the place of the prefectural magistrate.

n

nThe new lieutenant would be dispatched by the Ministry of Personnel and would arrive in three days.

n

nXiao Ran asked Little Zhou to summon the prefectural magistrate and lieutenant.

n

nWhen they arrived, they dragged Qian Yi and Zhao Ning’s family to the marketplace to be beheaded. Only Qian Yi would be slashed 1,000 times.

n

nThere were many onlookers, and some of them clapped and cheered.

n

nAfter completing their tasks,

n

nthey returned to the prefectural governor’s residence again to receive the Imperial Court’s appointment.

n

nThe two of them were excited and thanked Xiao Ran profusely.

n

nAt the Spring Manor, they set up an even more luxurious banquet and called for six beautiful women for companionship. All of them still had their Chastity Sand and were therefore very expensive. They were all deliberately nurtured by the Spring Manor to sell for a high price.

n

nThis time, Xiao Ran did not refuse.

n

nHowever, he only ate and drank. He did indulge in the female companionship.

n

nOn the other hand, Little Zhou, after finishing his meal, walked out reluctantly after an hour.

n

nBefore leaving,

n

nthe two officials stuffed another generous gift in their hands. Xiao Ran and Little did not reject them and accepted everything.

n

nThey then rode the Night Illumination Dragon Horse and headed for the Qing Province.

n

nAs they watched their departing silhouettes, the prefectural magistrate smiled faintly. “The mountain that has been pressing on our heads has finally fallen. From now on, it is our turn to shine in Horizon Prefecture.”

n

nThe prefectural lieutenant understood instantly. “Naturally.”

n

nXiao Ran and Little Zhou rushed to Qing Province without stopping.

n

nIt was already dark when they entered the city. Fortunately, the two of them had travel passes and identification documents. The soldiers at the city gate verified their identities before letting them pass.

n

nThe base station of the Divine Sword Guards in Qing Province was very big, and luxurious.

n

nOnce they arrived,

n

nthey saw that Shen Yiming had been waiting for a long time.

n

nIn the room,

n

nthe three of them were gathered around again.

n

nShen Yiming looked at them mischievously. “You earned a lot this time, right?”

n

nLittle Zhou was very humble. “It’s just enough to buy a smaller courtyard dwelling in Jingwen Square.”

n

nJingwen Square was a bustling area with high property prices.

n

nA smaller courtyard dwelling could easily cost 200,000 taels or more.

n

n“You’re really lucky. You can even pick up a house for free while running away from your blind date.” Shen Yiming was a little envious of this guy.

n

n“This is nothing. Brother Xiao earned a lot more.”

n

n“Not much! About 500,000 taels.” Xiao Ran replied, pretending to look humble.

n

nHe took out 200,000 taels and placed them in front of him.

n

nLittle Zhou also took out 100,000 taels and tossed them in front of Shen Yiming.

n

n“Put it away!” Shen Yiming’s face hardened.

n

n“I didn’t get involved. I can’t take this money. You guys don’t have to worry either. Just use it in any way you like.”

n

n“All right.” Xiao Ran did not stand on ceremony with his superior.

n

nAfter they put the money away,

n

nlooking at the two of them, Shen Yiming said solemnly, “The mess in Qing Province is worse than I thought.”

n

n“Why do you say that?” Xiao Ran asked.

n

n“Less than 10% of the Divine Sword Guards survived. Everyone is panicking. Even when I comforted them and used all kinds of methods to pacify them, the effect was not good.” Shen Yiming rubbed his temples to ease his headache.

n

n“On the way here, I heard that the Yellow Sand Sect and the Dark Netherworld Sect have been fighting for territory very aggressively. After nightfall, they even dare to fight each other in front of the government offices?” Xiao Ran said.

n

n“That’s not all.” Shen Yiming shook his head.

n

n“They’re a lot bolder than you think. They started fighting in front of me just two days ago.”

n

n“My Lord, did you let them off just like that?” Little Zhou asked.

n

n“No one will think you’re mute if you don’t speak!” Shen Yiming glared at him fiercely.

n

n