Chapter 401: Heavenly Retribution

The grass and trees turned green and then yellow; it was clear that in another two or three months, the three-year term for Outer Sect Disciples would come to an end.

The performance records of Duan Rong and the others were all quite good.

The tasks assigned to them by the Sect were basically all completed relatively satisfactorily, and there wasn't even a single unsolved case. In this, the credit naturally went to Duan Rong, the "firefighter."

However, Ximen Kankan and the others had gradually matured over the last two years, and the times Duan Rong had to step in personally had become fewer and fewer.

With their merit points, advancing to Inner Sect Disciples should not be a problem for any of them.

The only thing slightly worrying was Shen Mizhi; while Shen Mizhi had also completed her tasks very well, her family background had a stain on it.

The Shen Yanliu case back then was a major case, and the Shen Family was almost entirely wiped out. If she hadn't been inside Changliu Mountain for those three years, she likely would have been implicated as well.

An unclear family background is a great taboo of the Sect.

Although her record of completed tasks was quite impressive, this point about her unclear family background would very likely cut off her path to advancement.

Shen Mizhi was very clear about this herself, but regarding this, she could only do her best and leave the rest to fate.

With only two or three months of leisure left before entering Changliu Mountain, Duan Rong frowned at the mere thought of the hardship and loneliness inside Changliu Mountain.

Therefore, he prepared to take advantage of these two or three months to enjoy himself, grasping the final tail end of these worldly pleasures.

This day, a Clerk from the Ya Men suddenly came to see him in a hurry, saying there was an urgent matter at the Ya Men and asking him to go there immediately.

During the time he had been at home, the County Magistrate Guo Baoxiang would often come over to drink tea, play chess, and chat about gossip in the marketplace. But looking at the Clerk's expression at this moment, it was clear there was truly something important.

Duan Rong arrived at the County Government Office immediately, only to find that it was someone from the Office of Transmission waiting for him.

Duan Rong produced his Sect Cloud Token, and the man handed him a confidential letter.

Duan Rong opened the confidential letter and discovered that the seal at the bottom was actually the great seal of the Sect's Inner History Department, and there was also the personal seal of Department Head Zhu He beside it.

His eyebrows immediately twisted into a knot.

Seeing that someone from the Office of Transmission had come to the Ya Men in person to find him, he knew it definitely wasn't an ordinary matter.

Now seeing the seal on this confidential letter was the great seal of the Sect's Inner History Department and the personal seal of Department Head Zhu He, his heart cried out that things were bad.

It was eight or nine parts likely that trouble had come knocking.

If it weren't a troublesome matter, how could the Department Head of the Sect's Inner History Department personally send him a confidential letter?

Duan Rong quickly finished reading the confidential letter, which further verified his thoughts.

It was indeed a hot potato!

And a very big, very hot potato at that!

It turned out that the Secretariat Chancellor, Lord Zhu Shizhong, had met with an unnatural death!

The Taiyi Sect governed the entire Qingzhou!

Shenyun Prefecture was the capital prefecture!

The Prefecture Master of Shenyun Prefecture, Wang Maochun, was the nominal supreme ruler of the secular world. But in reality, he was nothing more than a puppet. He was merely a facade propped up after the power struggles between various factions.

And below the Prefecture Master of Shenyun Prefecture, the Secretariat Chancellor held the most power and authority, managing the political decrees and documents of the entire Qingzhou.

Below the Secretariat Chancellor were the Four Ministers.

The Four Ministers were the Grand Master of Palace Revenues who managed the entire Qingzhou's finances, the Advisory Grand Master who managed inspections, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review who managed criminal law, and the Grand Protector who managed the iron cavalry and troops.

The Prefecture Master and the One Command Four Ministers were the power hub of the entire Qingzhou.

Moreover, this Secretariat Chancellor Zhu Shizhong was also surnamed Zhu, and the Sect's Inner History Department Head Zhu He had personally inquired about this matter, so it was evident this person was certainly his blood relative in the secular world.

This Zhu He was truly formidable; the Prefecture Master was merely a puppet, yet this Secretariat Chancellor, the highest civil position, was also controlled in his hands. No wonder this person was one of the strong candidates vying for the next Sect Master of the Taiyi Sect.

He certainly had great strength!

However, perhaps it was because he had uncovered the first Tainted Blood case as soon as he left Changliu Mountain, and over these past two years, he had broken quite a few thorny cases, earning himself the reputation of a "detective" in the four prefectures of southeastern Qingzhou.

He had actually been "drafted" by the Sect's Inner History Department Head to go to Shenyun Prefecture to solve the case of Secretariat Chancellor Zhu Shizhong's unnatural death.

Behind this death of the Secretariat Chancellor, it might not just be the political situation of Shenyun Prefecture; it was very likely to involve power struggles within the Sect. As a small Outer Sect Disciple, once he stepped in, he might be ground into nothingness.

But this was a transfer order from the Inner History Department Head; how could he dare to defy it?

Sigh, there were only two or three months left; couldn't they just let me muddle through peacefully?

Holding the confidential letter, Duan Rong left the County Government Office with a face full of sorrow.

Upon returning to the back courtyard of the Escort Agency, Xiao Yu immediately saw that his mood was wrong.

As soon as Duan Rong sat down, she brought him tea and asked him with concern what had happened.

Duan Rong glanced at Xiao Yu and didn't hide it from her, showing her the confidential letter directly.

After reading the confidential letter, Xiao Yu was also given a start.

But she quickly calmed down, looked at Duan Rong with bright eyes, and said, "Can this matter be declined?"

"It's a transfer order from the Inner History Department Head, how can I decline it!?"

Xiao Yu sighed and said, "Then Kankan and the others and I will go with you. You're unfamiliar with the people and the place in Shenyun Prefecture; having more people means more support."

"Forget it." Duan Rong sipped his tea and said, "I think it's more convenient for me to go alone. I can advance or retreat more freely. If you are by my side, I would have to take care of you if any changes occur."

Xiao Yu's heart stirred. What Duan Rong said was the truth, but how could she rest easy letting Duan Rong go alone?

Xiao Yu said, "Then let Shen Mizhi go with you."

Shen Mizhi had said that she would follow through fire and water without hesitation. Now was the time for her to be useful.

Duan Rong shook his head and said, "Better for me to go alone. Shen Mizhi is only at the first stage of the True Qi Realm; in a place as treacherous and unpredictable as Shenyun Prefecture, how much use could she be?"

Xiao Yu glared at Duan Rong and said, "You are running off to such a far place all by yourself, and it's a case with such huge implications; how can you expect me to be at ease?"

As Xiao Yu spoke, her eyes actually turned red.

Duan Rong laughed, "If Shen Mizhi follows, you'll be at ease? A lone man and a lone woman in a strange land, aren't you afraid something might happen?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu spat and said, "I'm talking to you about a serious matter, what nonsense are you spouting again?"

Duan Rong's expression turned solemn, and he said, "I am also speaking seriously. It is precisely because I am unfamiliar with Shenyun Prefecture and the case has huge implications that it is safer for me to go alone. By myself, there is nothing that can threaten me, and nothing that can hold me back. Anyone of you going would actually be of very limited help to me, and would instead become my weakness."

Xiao Yu stared blankly at Duan Rong; she was finally moved by Duan Rong's words.

Duan Rong rested at home for a night, and Xiao Yu prepared his luggage. At the first light of dawn the next day, he spurred his horse out of the city. Xiao Yu also rode her horse to accompany him, seeing him all the way outside the city gates.

At the fork in the Official Road outside the city, the two broke a willow branch to bid farewell.

Xiao Yu said, "Husband, if there is danger on this trip, remember to cherish yourself. I will be at home, looking forward to your return every day."

Duan Rong suddenly leaned over from his horse, wrapped his arms around Xiao Yu's neck, and kissed her.

The ancients were reserved; it was impossible for a husband and wife to kiss on the street.

Xiao Yu's face turned red in an instant, and she chided, "You are leaving, yet you still do such reckless things!"

Duan Rong laughed heartily and said, "Don't worry. Although the situation in Shenyun Prefecture is chaotic, I will definitely come back alive to see you. If that case is truly dangerous, I will just slack off and not investigate it; who could do anything to me?"

After saying this, Duan Rong stroked Xiao Yu's face before suddenly spurring his horse away.

Being kissed and touched like that by him made Xiao Yu's heart thump wildly. Watching Duan Rong ride away, a feeling of immense reluctance suddenly welled up in her heart.

Only when he was but a black dot on the Official Road, no longer visible, did Xiao Yu return on her horse, feeling dejected.

Duan Rong galloped along the Official Road day and night. Ten days later, in the bright morning light, he saw the towering and imposing city gates of Shenyun Prefecture.

He rode into the city, first found a restaurant to shake off the dust and have a full meal, then went straight to the post station to settle in.

After handing his horse over to the postman, he slept in his room until noon in one go.

After eating lunch at the post station, he strolled out onto the streets of Shenyun Prefecture.

As the capital, the atmosphere of the pedestrians was naturally prosperous and vibrant. The fashion of the people coming and going on the street was even more pleasing to the eye.

Duan Rong ate a few snacks with distinct local characteristics, then strolled to a teahouse.

No matter where one is, a teahouse is a sea of information; there are many people, many mouths, and they love to chat.

The secret letter instructed him to report to the Dali Temple upon arriving in Shenyun Prefecture. However, he decided to go to the Dali Temple tomorrow morning. Firstly, he was exhausted from the journey and wanted to rest. Secondly, before going to the Dali Temple, he wanted to gather some information to avoid being completely in the dark, becoming deaf and blind, and being led by the nose when the time came.

In the main hall on the first floor of the teahouse, an old man with a thin, horse-like face was telling a story. He was expressive, gesturing wildly, as if the characters in the book had descended upon him. Some tea guests were already mesmerized, staring at the stage without blinking for a long time.

Duan Rong gave a muffled laugh and headed up the stairs to the second floor.

Walking on the stairs, he listened for a bit; the old man was indeed a good storyteller. Those who could make a living in Shenyun Prefecture truly had some skills.

The seats by the windows on the second floor were already full.

Duan Rong had no choice but to pick an empty seat in the corner and sit down.

A waiter immediately walked over. After being greeted, Duan Rong learned that this teahouse not only had dried fruits and nuts but also small dishes.

Duan Rong ordered a few small dishes and a pot of tea.

Not long after, the waiter brought all the dishes to Duan Rong. Duan Rong tasted them and found them quite refreshing, then poured himself a bowl of tea and began to sip it slowly.

The moment Duan Rong picked up the tea, his Divine Sense suddenly expanded, enveloping the entire teahouse.

Duan Rong appeared to be leisurely tasting his tea, but in his ears, it was like a thousand birds screeching—a maddening, noisy din.

Duan Rong calmed his mind, distinguishing and filtering those sounds one by one.

After blocking out most of the noise, he selected nearly twenty tables of guests and listened carefully.

As he expected, there were indeed many people in the teahouse talking about the case of the Secretariat Director, Zhu Shizhong.

Although it had taken Duan Rong more than ten days to arrive, missing the peak of the discussion, even ten days later, many were still talking about it.

After all, the person who died was the Secretariat Director!

He was in charge of all the political decrees and documents of the entire Qingzhou, one of the most powerful people in this secular world.

After listening for several hours, although Duan Rong had not yet gone to the Dali Temple, he already had a general understanding of the case of the Secretariat Director, Zhu Shizhong.

However, what surprised him was that the untimely death of Secretariat Director Zhu did not seem to be a murder! Instead, it was a death caused by a natural disaster!

To be more precise, he was struck to death by lightning.

To use the words of those tea guests, he had suffered divine retribution!

It seemed that the reputation of this Secretariat Director among the common people was not good!

Already over sixty years old, he had actually married his sixth concubine more than a month ago. And that concubine was none other than the famous courtesan of Yanyue Pavilion, Li Muping.

The dream lover of the men in Shenyun Prefecture had been monopolized by him alone. One could only imagine how many curses he had suffered behind his back.

Even more unfortunately, that bolt of lightning not only struck Zhu Shizhong to death but also struck Li Muping to death along with him.

Both of them were reduced to charred remains, to the point where they could not even be identified as human.

It is said that one should not exhaust one's blessings. When blessings are exhausted, evil arises!

Whether this Secretariat Director, Zhu Shizhong, suffered divine retribution, Duan Rong was not sure, but he had clearly incurred people's jealousy.

An old man who insisted on marrying a young beauty—one could only say he deserved the scorn!

However, Duan Rong had no interest in Zhu Shizhong's character or official conduct. He just felt that if Zhu Shizhong had really been struck to death by lightning, why would Zhu He go to the trouble of bringing him here from thousands of miles away?

There was likely something in this that the common folk did not know.

Tomorrow morning, when he went to the Dali Temple, the mystery would naturally be revealed.

He really felt no pressure regarding the investigation. Even if he couldn't solve this case, he figured his promotion to Inner Sect Disciple was a sure thing.

The only thing he feared in his heart was that this case had far-reaching implications. During the investigation, would one wrong move affect the whole situation, causing him to accidentally step into a whirlpool?

But if he didn't put in any effort at all and just slacked off, he probably wouldn't be able to answer to Zhu He.

What Duan Rong was struggling with at this moment was actually the issue of finding the right balance.

How could he fulfill his duty to Zhu He without offending any of the various parties, so as to avoid bringing trouble upon himself?

He believed that there was definitely more to the case of Zhu Shizhong than met the eye.

But what did that have to do with him?

Figuring out how to muddle through this matter and escape unscathed from this Shenyun Prefecture, where undercurrents surged and various parties vied for power, was what he truly sought.

When Duan Rong walked out of the teahouse, the sky was already darkening, and the streetlights were beginning to glow, shining brilliantly.

He found a shop, got some wine, had a good meal, and then returned to the post station.

Upon returning to his room at the post station, Duan Rong closed the door and sat cross-legged on the bed.

He had only arrived at Shenyun Prefecture this morning, and after catching up on some sleep, he went out to scout for information; only now did he finally have some leisure time.

Duan Rong had come to this Shenyun Prefecture to verify one other important thing.

He had originally assumed that the closer one was to Changliu Mountain, the denser the heaven and earth Qi would be.

This Shenyun Prefecture was less than one hundred li from Changliu Mountain, which already counted as very close. Duan Rong very much wanted to see how the concentration of heaven and earth Qi was inside this Shenyun Prefecture.

For over these past two years, he had been in the Southeast Four Prefectures, where the heaven and earth Qi was very thin.

Duan Rong sat cross-legged on the bed, and the breathing and circulation method of the Qi Refining Realm immediately began to operate.

He sank his mind inward and instantly began to sense the surrounding heaven and earth Qi.

"Huh?!"

After sensing the surrounding heaven and earth Qi, Duan Rong was quite surprised.

The concentration of heaven and earth Qi in this Shenyun Prefecture was naturally slightly denser than in the Southeast Four Prefectures.

But the difference was truly too small!

It far exceeded Duan Rong's expectations.

In other words, the heaven and earth Qi concentration in this Shenyun Prefecture was also very thin. Even here, with such thin heaven and earth Qi, it was still impossible to break through to the Qi Refining Realm.

This Shenyun Prefecture was so close to Changliu Mountain, yet the heaven and earth Qi was still so thin; it seemed that inside Changliu Mountain, the Sect must have used some means to seal the heaven and earth Qi within the mountain, not allowing it to dissipate.

Otherwise, there was simply no way to explain why, at such a close distance, the heaven and earth Qi would be so thin.

Duan Rong suddenly thought: No wonder that Total Altar Dharma Envoy of the Filthy Blood Sect, Wei Ziyang, held such a high position yet was only at the True Qi Realm; it was not that his cultivation was lacking, but rather that outside of Changliu Mountain, it was simply impossible to break through to the Qi Refining Realm!

(End of this chapter)