"In my opinion, the true worthy of the title of Grandmaster is only a Heavenly Person Grandmaster!"
"Under Heavenly Person Grandmaster, none are qualified!"
Jiang Ning sat beside them, silently listening to their conversation.
At this moment.
The flames on the grilled fish gradually extinguished, and the color on the outside turned golden brown.
"Come, master, have a taste first, and thanks to the master for enlightening us!" Bai Luoyu spoke first.
Then he used ivory jade chopsticks to pick up a large piece of the golden brown fish.
Seeing this.
Zhao Yulong also didnât hesitate to taste it first, putting the golden brown fish into his mouth and closing his eyes.
With the chewing of his jaws, he continuously nodded to show approval.
A moment later.
Zhao Yulongâs throat slightly moved, swallowing after opening his eyes.
"Master, how does it taste?" Bai Luoyu asked.
"Good!" As he spoke, Zhao Yulong gave a thumbs up: "Delicious, Iâm quite fortunate today!"
"Brother Jiang, come! Try it together!" Bai Luoyu spoke.
The two immediately picked up their chopsticks.
After putting the fish into their mouths.
Jiang Ning immediately felt a warm wine aroma in the fish.
The fish was crispy outside and tender inside, the flavor locked in the golden-brown crust.
"Not bad!" Jiang Ning also nodded.
After the three tasted it, they began to drink freely.
...
A few glasses of wine down their throats.
Jiang Ning filled his glass.
"Master, let me toast to you."
"Why toast to me?" Zhao Yulong also filled his glass and said with a smile.
Jiang Ning replied, "That reward of one million Contribution Points, itâs all thanks to the master that it came through!"
Zhao Yulong raised his glass, smiling.
After clinking their glasses, the two drank it all.
Immediately, Zhao Yulong said: "I was able to approve that reward of one million Contribution Points because I couldnât let my brothers down! After all, there is a loophole in the rules, the responsibility lies with me, not with you."
At this, he smiled again.
"Moreover, if the funds are insufficient at the time, Iâll apply for allocation from above! Anyway, itâs not my money!! Iâm not the one feeling the pinch!!"
Jiang Ning: "..."
Hearing Zhao Yulongâs words, he suddenly felt speechless in his heart.
Then, maintaining a smile, the three raised their glasses and drank freely.
The two in front of him were big figures in Dongling City.
One was a Patrol Envoy of Dongling County, possessing special authority to oversee the entire county, even Zhao Yulong, a Grandmaster and master of Dongling City, was within Bai Luoyuâs jurisdiction.
The other was the master of the Dongling City Inspection Office, a high-ranking official of Standard Fifth Grade.
Moreover, he possesses the strength of a Third Grade Grandmaster.
With these two figures showing goodwill, Jiang Ning had no reason to refuse.
This drinking went on until the sky was completely dark.
The dishes also got cold.
The fish meat of the fish demon with over two hundred years of Dao cultivation was also eaten up.
"You two keep drinking, itâs late, I should be heading back!" Zhao Yulong put down his wine glass and slowly got up.
Hearing this, the two stood up.
"Weâll see you off!" Bai Luoyu said.
Zhao Yulong smiled and did not refuse.
...
In front of Bai Luoyuâs residence.
"Just stop here!" Zhao Yulong said, stopping them from continuing to escort him further.
Then he looked at Jiang Ning: "Commander Jiang, if you have time tomorrow, come to the Inspection Office! You now have a lot of Contribution Points, and are young, itâs time to use them."
"The Inspection Office of the County is no match for that of Luoshui County, it will definitely satisfy you."
"Thank you, master, for the guidance!" Jiang Ning clasped his hands.
Zhao Yulong slightly nodded, with no trace of a Grandmaster above-it-all attitude.
Then he turned and boarded the carriage.
Immediately, the two watched the carriage Zhao Yulong rode in go off into the distance.
"I didnât expect Master Zhao, a Grandmaster, to be this approachable!" Jiang Ning remarked.
Bai Luoyu shook his head: "Brother Jiang, youâre mistaken."
Seeing Jiang Ningâs gaze upon him, Bai Luoyu suddenly appeared holding a folding fan.
"Swishââ"
The sound rang out, the folding fan was opened by Bai Luoyu.
He lightly shook his folding fan in the evening breeze.
"Master Zhao can afford to be approachable because we are worthy of his approachability."
"If it were anyone else, it would be difficult to even see Master Zhao, let alone share a table and drink with him."
"How could they see his approachable side?"
Jiang Ning smiled upon hearing this.
He naturally understood this reasoning, and had known it for a long time.
But such words were inconvenient to come from his mouth.
He immediately showed an expression of agreement.
"Brother Bai makes a valid point. After all, Brother Bai is so young, yet already a County Patrol Envoy, with martial arts prowess deeply rooted at the Fifth Grade level. Itâs almost certain heâll be among the Grandmasters of the world in the future."
Upon hearing these words, Bai Luoyu looked at Jiang Ning speechless.
"Hearing Brother Jiangâs praise, I always feel itâs a backhanded compliment! Iâm more than ten years older than Brother Jiang, yet my martial arts achievements are about the same!"
The two praised each other for a few more sentences.
Then, after exchanging smiles, Jiang Ning bid farewell and went home.
...
Walking along the dimly lit road.
The evening breeze blew.
The effects of the alcohol on Jiang Ning immediately dissipated.
He recalled everything that happened today.
"Not bad!" he chuckled immediately.
Bai Luoyuâs attitude, and Zhao Yulongâs attitude, made him feel relieved.
Though his current strength is good.
Going out alone is not a good idea.
Having official personnel makes things easier.
Can avoid a lot of trouble.
Zhao Yulongâs arrival showed him many attitudes, showed him Zhao Yulongâs attitude towards him.
This will bring him many conveniences in his actions in Dongling City.
He hasnât forgotten.
There still exists a significant grievance between Qinghe Marquis Mansion and him.
He had reached Dongling City, and Dongling City is the territory of Qinghe Marquis Mansion.
Regarding this, previously his concerns were not lower than Water Moon Sword Palace.
Though Water Moon Sword Palace is powerful, stronger than Qinghe Marquis Mansion.
But after all, Water Moon Sword Palace is not part of official forces.
No matter how strong they are, they donât dare to oppose the Great Xia court today.
Before the colossal entity of Great Xia court, whether dragon or tiger, they must keep a low profile.
Even the top worldly sect like Vajra Temple once lay dormant under Great Xiaâs pressure.
Let alone a small Water Moon Sword Palace.
Even if Great Xia is no longer at its peak, itâs not for Water Moon Sword Palace to provoke.
Xiao Qiushui, who isnât even a Grandmaster, would really dare to oppose Great Xia; Zhao Yulong might visit someday to set an example.
Hence, on this level, Water Moon Sword Palaceâs threat isnât that big.
Compared to Water Moon Sword Palace.
Itâs instead Qinghe Marquis Mansion, weak in martial power, that previously intimidated Jiang Ning more.
Because Qinghe Marquis Mansion, despite its decline, has inherited the honorary title of Qinghe Marquis.
But even as an honorary title.
Todayâs Qinghe Marquis is a Secondary Fourth-Rank official.
Looking across Dongling County, the Prefectural Governor is a Standard Fifth-Grade; Zhao Yulong, this Grandmaster appointed as Residence Master of the Inspection Office, is also a Standard Fifth-Grade.
Both are half a rank lower than Qinghe Marquis.
This also shows Qinghe Marquis is the highest official in Dongling County.
In the official system, above lies no one, without background or backing, one can be played to death.
Having read the Four Great Classics, he knew Leopard Head Lin Chong was a living example.
In his view, as long as itâs society formed by people, itâs the same everywhere.
If he was an ordinary Eighth Grade small official, under the secret machinations of Qinghe Marquis Mansion, even with robust strength, he might soon be forced to become an outlaw.
At that time, he would draw an end to a stable life.
Today Zhao Yulongâs appearance, and the goodwill expressed by Zhao Yulong as a Grandmaster, undoubtedly shown Zhao Yulongâs attitude as a Grandmaster, as the Standard Fifth-Grade Residence Master of the Inspection Office towards him.
With Zhao Yulong around, his worries about this aspect significantly decreased.
In Jiang Ningâs perspective.
Since Zhao Yulong holds todayâs attitude, Zhao Yulong likely wouldnât watch him being harmed secretly.
Qinghe Marquis as a Secondary Fourth-Rank, official rank higher than Prefectural Governor and Zhao Yulong.
But after all, itâs an idle position, without any real power, symbolic rather than practical.
Talking about influence in Dongling City, not mentioning Zhao Yulong as a Standard Fifth-Grade major official possessing Grandmaster power.
Merely Bai Luoyu as Patrol Envoy should be enough to rival Qinghe Marquis Mansion!