Chapter 412: Inner Sect Disciple

Duan Rong was busy for several days, finally managing to handle all the social obligations.

Tomorrow, he would leave this Shenyun Prefecture and head home.

This evening, Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng invited him to dinner, considering it a farewell for him.

The three of them had gotten along quite well over the past month. Especially with Zhu Peng; for several days, Duan Rong had spent time playing with him almost every day, and since he stayed at his residence at night, they were practically inseparable.

If one were to speak of when Duan Rong first arrived at the Dali Temple, the person who disliked him the most upon their initial meeting was Zhu Peng. Yet, unexpectedly, the one he ended up being most intimate with was also this very Zhu Peng.

Life is truly strange sometimes!

The three of them did not go to a large restaurant, but instead went to that cool pavilion in Zhu Peng's residence. They prepared a few hearty dishes and began to drink.

After three rounds of drinks, Duan Rong suddenly remembered something and tentatively asked the two of them.

"It's like this! I have a friend back in my hometown. He is also an Outer Sect Disciple, but his family was involved in a legal case, the kind where the entire family is executed. However, this case occurred three years after he entered Changliu Mountain, so it is certain that he was not involved. Moreover, his record during his three years as an Outer Sect Disciple is quite good. In this situation, is it possible for him to advance to an Inner Sect Disciple?"

Duan Rong had originally been gnawing on a rather tenderly stewed pig trotter, and for some reason, as he looked at the pig trotter in his hand, he suddenly thought of Shen Mizhi.

Following that, he thought of Shen Mizhi's advancement to an Inner Sect Disciple, so he asked about it.

The two people before him—one from the Dali Temple and one from the Privy Council—were both in key Ya Men within Shenyun Prefecture, so they should be able to have a general judgment on this matter.

Zhu Peng was picking his teeth with a toothpick; he spat out the meat scraps from his mouth, looked at Duan Rong, and asked, "You don't mean to say that friend is actually yourself, do you?"

Before Duan Rong could speak, Zhu Cheng said, "It's not! Brother Duan has a clean background; he doesn't have that problem."

Zhu Cheng had seen Duan Rong's record and knew that Duan Rong had no relatives or connections, so where would a family execution come from? As for his marriage, that was something that happened after he left Changliu Mountain.

Zhu Peng laughed, "It's good that it's not you. But let me tell you! In this kind of matter, one looks at the background first, and the record second. Therefore, if the background is not clean, no matter how good the record is, it is useless. Because you would be directly screened out in the first round, so how would they even look at your record!"

"Is that so!" Duan Rong sighed. It seemed Shen Mizhi had no chance to advance to an Inner Sect Disciple.

Shen Mizhi had already pledged allegiance to him as his master, counting as one of his forces; if she could not enter as an Inner Sect Disciple, this force would be a bit crippled.

Seeing Duan Rong sigh, Zhu Cheng suddenly asked, "Brother Duan, is that person a very good friend of yours?"

Upon hearing Zhu Cheng's tone, Duan Rong felt there was a chance, so he looked at Zhu Cheng and said, "A pretty good friend. Brother Zhu, is there a way?"

Zhu Cheng said, "This matter is actually managed by the Dali Temple."

"Really?" Duan Rong's eyes suddenly brightened, and he said happily.

In this world, there are many things where, if you don't find the right path, calling to the heavens brings no response, and calling to the earth brings no answer. But if you find the right person, sometimes it is just a matter of a single word.

Zhu Peng laughed, "For Zhu Cheng, this is just a matter of lifting a hand. Right, Zhu Cheng?"

Zhu Peng naturally had long known that this matter was managed by the Dali Temple. But since Zhu Cheng hadn't spoken of it before, he hadn't found it appropriate to say anything. If he had said it, it would have felt like he was forcing Zhu Cheng to agree to Duan Rong's request; but now that Zhu Cheng had said it himself, it meant he was prepared to handle the matter, so he would just add some fuel to the fire.

Zhu Cheng glanced at Zhu Peng and said, "Is it as easy as you say? If you want your Seventh Uncle to make me the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, then that would be a matter of me lifting a hand."

Zhu Peng laughed, "That would only happen once I become the Secretariat Chancellor."

Duan Rong said, "You two stop flattering each other first. Let's talk about the real business." He looked at Zhu Cheng with a serious expression and said, "Is this matter manageable?"

Zhu Cheng said, "The step of auditing the background is indeed here at the Dali Temple. If it is truly as Brother Duan says, and he himself is clean, I will pull some strings when the time comes, and it shouldn't be much of a problem."

The reason Zhu Cheng was willing to help with this favor also involved his own considerations.

Duan Rong's assistance in investigating the Secretariat Chancellor case this time, uncovering the truth behind the murder, was a kindness to their Zhu family. Moreover, because of this matter, the secret agent beside him was exposed, which could also be considered a favor to him. On top of that, after spending this time together, he quite liked Duan Rong's character and conduct.

Since it was Duan Rong's friend, and it was within his own capabilities, he was quite willing to help, which could also be considered building a bond of goodwill with Duan Rong.

Who is to say that one day in the future, he might not need to ask Duan Rong for a favor?

Duan Rong said, "He himself has no problems. Otherwise, even with such a major case in his family, he, as an Outer Sect Disciple, would not have been able to remain at the Office of Transmission and continue receiving various assigned tasks."

Zhu Cheng said, "That's good. Brother Duan, write down his detailed situation on a note for me. When the preliminary list comes out from the Dali Temple, I will find someone to add his name to it."

Hearing Zhu Cheng speak so specifically, Duan Rong knew that this matter was eight or nine parts settled, so he immediately raised his cup and laughed, "This matter is all thanks to meeting Brother Zhu; I have truly met a noble person!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Peng suddenly chuckled and laughed, "Big Brother, this is the first time I've seen you flatter someone; don't say, it really is vivid and lifelike!"

Duan Rong laughed, "Get lost!" Then he turned his head to look at Zhu Cheng and said, "Don't listen to him, I am sincerely offering a toast."

"Of course!" Zhu Cheng also laughed, "He is just jealous!" As he said this, the two clinked glasses and drank.

"You two actually didn't include me!" Zhu Peng immediately said with great dissatisfaction, "No way, Big Brother Duan, you also have to toast me one. I was just helping you speak earlier."

Duan Rong shook his head and laughed, "Fine! I'll toast you one too!"

The three of them ate and drank until midnight before dispersing.

Duan Rong returned to the Separate Courtyard in Zhu Peng's residence, and that night, by candlelight, he wrote a detailed report on Shen Mizhi's situation, preparing to hand it to Zhu Cheng when he left the next day.

After Duan Rong finished writing, he pressed the report under the Candle Lamp before blowing out the light and going to sleep.

The next day, Duan Rong mounted his horse and left Shenyun Prefecture.

Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng followed the Official Road for seven or eight miles to see him off, and the three of them parted reluctantly.

The two reined in their horses and stood, watching Duan Rong ride away until he became a black dot on the Official Road. Zhu Peng said, "Zhu Cheng, do you think that after Brother Duan leaves this time, we will have a chance to meet again?"

Zhu Cheng laughed, "We should meet again."

Zhu Cheng turned his head to look at Zhu Peng and said, "What? Are you that reluctant to see Brother Duan go?"

Zhu Peng said, "No. I was just asking."

He had truly had a very happy time playing with Duan Rong those few days. Parting so hastily, Zhu Peng was indeed a bit reluctant.

Zhu Cheng said, "Zhu Peng, you getting closer to Brother Duan is the right thing to do. It will be of great benefit to you."

"Is that so?" Zhu Peng said, "I just simply think he is a good person."

Zhu Cheng said, "It is precisely because your temperament is straightforward that Brother Duan is willing to be close to you."

Zhu Cheng did not seem to have any intention of discussing this topic further, so he said, "Let's go, let's head back."

That day, when he and Duan Rong went to see Zhu Zhengfu, and Zhu Zhengfu kept Duan Rong behind to speak alone, Zhu Cheng had already sensed some clues.

Duan Rong was eager to return home; he whipped his horse fiercely, kicking up a long trail of dust on the Official Road.

Along the way, he ran two horses to death, and finally, on the afternoon of the seventh day, he returned to Xiangu County.

Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi had just put down their bowls and chopsticks in low spirits when Duan Rong rushed in, covered in dust.

Seeing Duan Rong's appearance, the two of them were instantly delighted.

Xiao Yu said, "Husband, look at you, covered in dirt, as if you'd rolled around in an ash heap."

As Xiao Yu spoke, she used a towel to brush the dust off Duan Rong.

She had only brushed him twice when Duan Rong suddenly hugged her and kissed her, and in an instant, half the dust on his face was smeared onto Xiao Yu's face.

"Are you trying to die? Why are you moving around with a face full of dust?"

"Fine! I ran two horses to death on the road just to get back to see you sooner, which is why I'm covered in dust. And now you're already disgusted with me."

"Who is disgusted with you?" Xiao Yu threw away the dust-covered towel and said, "Go, go take a bath first, then I'll get you something to eat."

Xiao Yu pushed Duan Rong toward the bathhouse.

After the two finished washing and came out, Zhu Xiaoqi had already set the food and dishes on the table.

Duan Rong had been exhausted from the journey, and it was rare to eat home-cooked food, so he immediately began to wolf it down.

After the meal, Xiao Yu served Duan Rong as he went to rest.

Following that, Duan Rong rested at home for two days.

Seeing that the life of an Outer Sect Disciple would end in half a month, the Office of Transmission had already stopped assigning them tasks.

This day, Ximen Kankan suddenly returned to Xiangu County.

Once he arrived in Xiangu County, he naturally went to see Duan Rong first.

Duan Rong asked, "Why did you suddenly run back?"

"In another half a month, we'll be entering Changliu Mountain again. Of course, I came back to my hometown to take a look. To tell you the truth, having run to so many places, I still like Xiangu County the best. Walking on the streets of Xiangu, I feel like the air itself is familiar." As Ximen Kankan spoke, he suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Sigh, shall we go play at Weiyang Workshop for a night?"

Duan Rong said, "Let's go during the day. If I don't return all night, Xiao Yu will ask."

Ximen Kankan sighed and said, "What's the fun in going during the day? Fine, who told you to marry so young!"

Ximen Kankan played in Xiangu County for nearly half a month, and seeing that the final days had arrived.

Three days later would be the day to go to the contact point to receive the secret letter.

At that time, the news of whether or not they could advance to Inner Sect Disciple would be distributed from the Office of Transmission to each contact point.

That night, Duan Rong, Xiao Yu, Ximen Kankan, Shen Mizhi, and Liu Shushan gathered together at a restaurant in Yuanyang Prefecture.

They chatted about their experiences over the past few months, especially asking Duan Rong to talk about his time in Shenyun Prefecture.

Duan Rong then embellished and rambled on to them about the thunder-strike case of the Secretariat Director, as well as some racy stories regarding Li Muping of Yanyue Pavilion.

Shen Mizhi and Xiao Yu hadn't seen each other for a month; the moment the two met, they sat together and chattered away without stopping.

After chatting about idle gossip, they naturally talked about the matter of advancing to Inner Sect Disciple.

When this topic came up, the expression on Shen Mizhi's face suddenly became somewhat unnatural.

Duan Rong said, "Mizhi, there shouldn't be much of a problem with you advancing to the Inner Sect."

Shen Mizhi smiled and nodded. She just assumed Duan Rong was comforting her.

This day, the day to go to the contact point to collect the secret letter arrived.

Contact points were determined by one's place of origin, so the contact points where the five of them received their secret letters were not in the same place.

Duan Rong, Xiao Yu, and Ximen Kankan were at one.

Shen Mizhi and Liu Shushan were at another.

Shen Mizhi had stayed at an inn in Ruyang Prefecture a day early; Liu Shushan had also invited Shen Mizhi to stay at his family's Separate Courtyard, but Shen Mizhi did not go.

Early that morning, Liu Shushan waited for Shen Mizhi at the entrance of the inn.

After Shen Mizhi came downstairs, the two rode their horses together toward a secret contact point in the wilderness.

The two came out of a hunter's house in the mountains, and each received their own secret letter.

They rode their horses back onto the Official Road, and Liu Shushan couldn't wait to tear open the secret letter; upon looking, he had indeed advanced to Inner Sect Disciple.

Although the result was within expectations, Liu Shushan was still overjoyed.

Shen Mizhi, on her horse, glanced at Liu Shushan and said with a dim look in her eyes, "Congratulations, Brother Liu!"

Liu Shushan said happily, "I suppose I've passed the test."

Just as Liu Shushan finished speaking, he immediately noticed the dim look in Shen Mizhi's eyes, and he immediately restrained his joy; he saw that Shen Mizhi's secret letter had not yet been unsealed.

Liu Shushan also wanted to comfort Shen Mizhi, but the words reached his lips and he truly didn't know how to say them. In the end, the two could only ride on in silence.

When they reached the city gate, Shen Mizhi turned her horse around, preparing to rush back to Yuanyang Prefecture. Even when they parted, Liu Shushan was still stammering and didn't know what to say, only managing to say, "Take care!"

Shen Mizhi rode away, her expression resolute.

Along the way, she did not open the secret letter.

Regarding this matter, she had already asked her father, Shen Yanliu. Shen Yanliu had originally been an Outer Sect Disciple as well, and after being sent out, he had even served as an Inspector of a prefecture, so he knew a thing or two about the ins and outs of this.

She still remembered that at the time, Shen Yanliu had told her directly: "Don't hold out hope for this. The Sect values a clean family background above all else, let alone for an Inner Sect Disciple."

She knew that her father pointing it out directly was actually to protect her, so she wouldn't hold onto unrealistic hopes and end up being hurt even more deeply.

Therefore, as Shen Mizhi rode home, she had basically already accepted the fact that she could not advance to Inner Sect Disciple.

Some things are fate! You have to accept it!

After Duan Rong returned that painting, "Autumn Clearing at the Fishing Village" by Ni Yunlin, to Shen Yanliu, the father and daughter moved out of the Ximen Mansion and bought a secluded residence outside, ending their days of living under someone else's roof.

When Shen Mizhi returned home, she threw the secret letter directly onto the table and lay on the bed, lost in thought.

Shen Yanliu paced over and tore open the secret letter. He took one look, and his eyes immediately widened as he exclaimed, "Mizhi, come here! You've advanced to Inner Sect Disciple!"

"What?! Advanced?!"

Shen Mizhi jumped off the bed, immediately went over to snatch the secret letter from her father's hand, and upon looking, she was overjoyed.

Shen Yanliu, however, sat there with a strange expression and said, "Your father committed a case of extermination; to think they actually let you into the Inner Sect! This matter is truly bizarre!"

Shen Mizhi had calmed down by now and said, "Could it be that there's a problem with this secret letter?"

Shen Yanliu said, "There's no problem with the letter. It bears the seals of the Dali Temple and the Inner History Department!"

"Dali Temple?" Shen Mizhi's gaze suddenly flickered.

In previous years, such secret dispatches were always stamped with the seals of the Dali Temple, the Secretariat Director, and the Inner History Department, but this year the position of Secretariat Director is vacant, so this task was actually taken over by the Prefecture Master Wang Maochun, though he only reviews them and does not affix a seal. Therefore, the secret dispatch only bears the seals of the Dali Temple and the Inner History Department.

Shen Yanliu noticed Shen Mizhi's expression and asked, "What is wrong with the Dali Temple?"

Shen Mizhi said, "Duan Rong went to the Shenyun Prefecture some time ago to assist the Dali Temple in investigating the case of the Secretariat Director Zhu Shizhong. And..."

"And what?"

"And he also told me that day that my entering the inner sect should not be a problem. It's just that I thought he was only saying that to comfort me at the time, so I didn't pay it any mind."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yanliu's gaze deepened and flickered. "It must be him. As long as the right person is found at the Dali Temple, this matter is really just a question of a name. Even if something happens later, at most it would just be a charge of negligence."

Shen Mizhi said, "Father, are you saying that it was Duan Rong who found someone to help me enter the inner sect!"

Shen Yanliu said, "That is the only explanation."

Shen Mizhi looked at the secret dispatch in her hand again, a strange radiance flashing in her eyes.

Watching Shen Mizhi's appearance, Shen Yanliu felt a prick in his heart.

The weight of Duan Rong's kindness and righteousness is truly too heavy!

He had originally thought that if it truly came to a moment of life and death, he would definitely persuade Shen Mizhi not to do anything foolish! But in the current situation, this child Mizhi is so stubborn, and he feels he can no longer persuade her!

Looking at Mizhi's expression now, Duan Rong's repeated, heavy favors have likely already completely won her over in the depths of her heart.

If this girl has set her mind on something, he cannot persuade her otherwise!

(End of this chapter)