Morning!
Chen Xuan just opened his eyes and, upon seeing the information displayed at the corner of his eye, sighed that the hard work of the past half-month hadnât been in vain.
[Four times the happiness last night, rewarded with 850 skill points, Famous Spring Water bonus of 255 points.]
Thatâs 50 points more than he had previously estimated.
He habitually opened the panel.
[Realm: Martial Cultivator: Third Grade (Organ Tempering (24%)), Spirit Cultivator: Sixth Level]
[Cultivation Technique: Nine Revolutions Secret Technique (Zhen Realm), Myriad Manifestation Skill (Second Layer (102/16000))]
[Skills:
Eight Directions of the Nether Realm (Mastery (50/20000))
]
...
[Skill Points: 2439]
"With the upgrade of the Myriad Manifestation Skill to the second layer, the Spirit Cultivator has reached the sixth level, and the Eight Directions of the Nether Realm has also been upgraded to the mastery level."
This is the harvest of the past half-month.
Yet these skill points are once again running low.
"Sigh! Not enough, absolutely not enough!"
Now Chen Xuanâs cultivation techniques, martial skills, and divine techniques all require thousands to tens of thousands; like the upgrade of the Divine Foot Technique alone requires 60,000 skill points.
\(n)ovel(.)co(m)
Thinking about the upcoming realms, he even feels his liver tremble... oh! No, itâs his kidneys!
Itâs too difficult, each one is like a money-eating beast!
Closing the panel, he prepared to get up. He hadnât been to the Divine Capture Bureau for half a month, it was time to show his face.
...
As usual, he had breakfast with several women.
This was a habit he had formed over the years, listening to the womenâs chatter and occasionally chiming in. It was only during these moments that he felt truly relaxed, feeling the warmth of home.
What surprised him, however, was that today Yue Nan also planned to go to the Ink Lotus Pavilion, saying she wanted to meet Pei Geng.
After all, she hadnât seen him for over a month.
So, Chen Xuan first sent her over and then headed to the Government Office of the Divine Capture Bureau.
Unexpectedly, just after entering the Divine Capture Bureau, he saw Qin Gang walking over with a serious expression.
"Boss, if you hadnât come today, I would have gone to the Chen Mansion to find you."
Seeing him so serious, Chen Xuan also realized that something major must have happened; otherwise, he wouldnât have said he needed to go to the Chen Mansion.
But he still sat down unhurriedly before asking, "Whatâs wrong? Has something big happened?"
"Last night my dad came home and said the court is going to send troops?"
"Send troops? So suddenly?"
Chen Xuanâs eyebrows furrowed. Since the last major defeat of the court, it had been silent for such a long time. Why suddenly decide to mobilize now?
Could it be... is the rebellious army planning to establish a nation?
The Great Xia is panicking?
"Specifically, my dad didnât say, but thereâs quite a stir. Apart from this, I donât know much, except that in Jingzhou, the court has practically emptied the military forces of all four major counties, along with the Imperial Army. It seems they intend to reclaim Yu Province!"
"Yu Province? Doesnât that mean theyâll pass through Youlan Mansion!"
Jingzhou and Yu Provinceâs inevitable route is through Youlan Mansion.
"Yes, and my dad also vaguely hinted that this time they might also draw from Youlan Mansionâs forces, not just the Patrol Camp!"
"Does that mean the Divine Capture Bureau might also be involved?"
"Yes!"
Qin Gang nodded solemnly.
Whooshâ
Instantly, Chen Xuan wasnât in a good mood anymore, damn it.
If things are indeed as Qin Gang said, then wouldnât he also have to go to war?
âScrew that!â
Whoever wants to go can go; he definitely wonât. If push comes to shove, heâll quit being the Deputy Director of the Divine Capture Bureau.
Such a dangerous thing, not to mention, he canât yet reveal his Third Grade strength. If there are so many experts, once heâs seen through, itâll be troublesome.
Even if not, he canât leave the women at home. He needs skill points! Just for this reason alone, he canât go.
"Boss, is there any way not to go?"
Qin Gang hadnât slept all night, troubled over the news. According to his dad, the only way not to go was to withdraw from the Divine Capture Bureau, but his heart was reluctant.
Now in the Divine Capture Bureau of the East District, Chen Xuan doesnât actually manage things. Officially, heâs just the Chief Constable, but practically, heâs not much different from the Chief Constable.
Of course, if it was just about power, he wouldnât care. The key was those damned contribution points.
Even though his talent is average, he still wants to acquire a Third Grade cultivation technique.
Originally he thought heâd just endure it, since heâs young and has time, that one day he could exchange for it.
But he hadnât expected this turn of events.
His dad finally told him to handle it himself!
"Haha..." Chen Xuan saw him looking like he was constipated, extremely uncomfortable.
Truly worthy of being his subordinate, having the same thoughts as him!
So he spoke softly, "So simple; canât you think of it? Just donât go."
"Haha, Iâm afraid if charges come down from above... so..."
Of course, heâd thought of this method, but the key issue was that he feared it might seem intentional.
In the Divine Capture Bureau, heâs protected by Chen Xuan, so he should be fine. But if the court isnât convinced and charges come down, itâll be troublesome then.
"You sly rascal, understood. Itâs simple; Iâll give you a punch, and later say you were ineffective, so I punished you, but I was too heavy-handed, so itâs understandable."
What a trickster.
"Haha, then thank you for the punch, Boss."
Qin Gang wasnât embarrassed at being seen through in one sentence; he was incredibly grateful in his heart.
It really is more important to have a good superior than anything else.
Being able to meet Chen Xuan might be considered an accumulation of good deeds from a past life, but... he then asked with some concern, "And you, what will you do?"
Having known his personality for so long, going to war, impossible, absolutely impossible.
"I wonât do it, itâs just a mere Deputy Director of the Divine Capture Bureau!"
Chen Xuan spread his hands, looking indifferent.
He had silver with the Ink Lotus Pavilion, and he lacked nothing in terms of cultivation techniques, so this position was of no use to him.
Besides, his master was Xuan Er, and he and Ye Yilan were life-and-death brothers. With this identity, no one would dare to touch him in this Youlan Mansion.
Moreover, didnât Ye Yilan want him to become a live-in son-in-law!
"Boss, you are as carefree as ever, I admire that!"
With the matter settled, Qin Gang reverted to his usual self and started flattering.
"Get lost, you do what you see fit, anyway, when the time comes, just let me cooperate and announce it!" He then stood up, walked into the inner room, and began to cultivate.
...
Until the afternoon, Zhuge Potian sent someone to ask Chen Xuan to go to the Divine Capture Bureau Headquarters.
When Chen Xuan arrived at the hall of the Divine Capture Bureau, he saw him sitting there with a worried expression.
No need to guess, he must have known about the courtâs decision to dispatch troops to attack the rebels.
"Youâre here!"
Zhuge Potianâs voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Iâm here!"
"Take a seat." Zhuge Potian gestured to a chair beside him.
"Whatâs the matter, sir?" Chen Xuan asked, though he knew the reason.
"The court wants to send troops to attack the rebels, they need to pass through Youlan Mansion, and theyâre going to withdraw all the forces from Youlan Mansion, including the Divine Capture Bureau!"
The words "Divine Capture Bureau" were emphasized particularly strongly.
After a momentâs pause, he continued:
"I called you here to inform you so that you can be mentally prepared, and this matter has not been announced yet, so donât tell anyone else for now!"
But what Chen Xuan said next left him dumbfounded.
"In that case, I wonât be the Deputy Director anymore, Iâm not going to war!"
It was as if Zhuge Potian was looking at a fool.
"Whatâs wrong, sir!"
What kind of look is that? It made him feel a little uneasy.
"Should I say youâre naive or just plain stupid!" Zhuge Potian was speechless, "Do you think by not being the Deputy Director of the Divine Capture Bureau you can escape? Unless you leave Youlan Mansion now, you wonât be able to run!"
"A peak Fourth Grade Martial Dao expert, do you think the court will let you off so easily?"
"Is your brain damaged or something?"
"I canât even quit?" At this moment, Chen Xuan also felt that he had underestimated his own value, or perhaps miscalculated.
Indeed, as Zhuge Potian had described, such experts of this level, even if theyâre not court officials, are unlikely to be left alone, unless they leave Youlan Mansion.
"Moreover, the Commander-in-Chief of Jingzhou this time is the Grand Commander of the Inspectorate, Bai Ze, do you know what his nickname is?"
"I donât know!" Chen Xuan shook his head, not having a clue.
"The Butcher!" When he mentioned these two words, there was a clear trace of inexplicable fear in his eyes.
Not doing it and leaving, Zhuge Potian had considered this.
After all, he already had Third Grade cultivation techniques, and as for the position of Chief Constable of the Divine Capture Bureau, he could give it up, but ever since learning that Bai Ze was the commander, he abandoned that idea.
After all, he knew that Bai Ze was called the Butcher because he earned that title through killing.
It is said that the words Inspectorate can make those sectsâ faces suddenly change color, but the words Bai Ze are enough to make them tremble, especially the experts.
At this moment, Zhuge Potian was extremely serious, warning, "Youâd better give up that idea! Otherwise, youâre dead! Even if you leave Youlan Mansion, Bai Ze wonât let you go! The entire Inspectorate will keep hunting you down!"
...
Leaving the Divine Capture Bureau.
Inside the carriage, Chen Xuan felt very unwilling.
Does he really have to go!
According to Zhuge Potian, if Bai Ze gives the order, he wonât even have a chance to refuse.
The Butcher!
What a Butcher!
And he learned from Zhuge Potian that the court was spending major efforts this time.
Not only attacking Yu Province, but also the other three states of the rebels.
It could be said theyâve mobilized the entire national power of the Great Xia.
He got the feeling of an imminent decisive battle! Is it because the rebels want to establish a country? Such a significant impact?
"Seems like I still have to make a trip to the City Lordâs Mansion."
He sighed softly.
This matter could not be resolved by him, so he needed to ask Ye Yilan, or see if there was an opportunity to ask Xuan Er.
...
Inside the City Lordâs Mansion.
At this time in the hall, Ye Yilanâs face was also solemn, and the same was true for Feng Zheng below.
All because the commander of Jingzhou this time was Bai Ze.
A mass murderer!
When the Great Xia wiped out the sect powers, if the Inspectorate was a blade, then Bai Ze was the tip of that blade!
Charging at the forefront, killing the most people!
"Mansion Master, what do we do? Should we discuss it with Lord Er?"
At this time, Feng Zheng spoke up to inquire.
After all, if Bai Ze were to withdraw the forces of Youlan Mansion, he wouldnât be able to avoid it either since he was a Third Grade.
But he didnât want to go.
Plus, considering the courtâs determination this time, it was quite possible to be the last battle, and by then, let alone his mere Third Grade, even those at Second Grade wouldnât know how many would perish.
So even though he knew Xuan Er was in seclusion, he still said so.