Chapter 445: Li Shensi

When Duan Rong and Fan Hongjiao walked into the Council Hall, Zhu He was already sitting on the chair in front of the screen.

Duan Rong's brow twitched slightly; he saw that Zhu He's face was grave, lacking its usual calm and genial expression.

Clearly, something was up!

Wu Shidao, Lu Geng, and Wang Yue in the hall also sensed the situation; they all sat there obediently, not daring to even breathe loudly.

After Fan Hongjiao and Duan Rong walked in, they each returned to their places.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Zhu He swept a cold, sharp gaze over them and said in a deep voice, "I have called you here this time because there is a troublesome matter I must discuss with you."

Seeing the look on Zhu He's face, everyone in the hall knew that something must have happened.

Fan Hongjiao did not speak, but Wu Shidao smiled faintly and said, "Yunfu Peak has always been of one heart and mind. Since there is a matter at hand, it is the perfect time for us disciples to be of service."

Zhu He glanced at Wu Shidao and praised, "Well said, Shidao! You are still a filial one."

Hearing this, the others all glanced at Wu Shidao. Wu Shidao, however, remained sitting there calmly, directly ignoring the looks from the crowd.

After praising Wu Shidao, Zhu He continued with an expressionless face, "More than half a year ago, after the Secretariat Director Zhu Shizhong died, the position of Secretariat Director has been vacant for several months. The duties have been concurrently held by Wang Maochun, the Prefecture Master of Shenyun Prefecture..."

When Zhu He reached this point, his gaze flickered almost imperceptibly toward Duan Rong, and he continued, "After nearly half a year of tug-of-war, someone was finally selected. Shidao should know about this."

Wu Shidao chimed in, "More than two months ago, the new Secretariat Director took office. The one who filled the vacancy is Li Shensi, the Prefecture Master of Nanyang Prefecture."

Hearing this, Lu Geng widened his eyes and said, "Promoted directly from a local Prefecture City to be the Secretariat Director of Shenyun Prefecture—isn't that a meteoric rise?"

Wu Shidao said, "There was no other way; there were no suitable candidates. It was better to simply choose an outsider from the local regions. At the very least, it avoids further conflict. We cannot have two consecutive Secretariat Directors die in office. We must pay attention to the public opinion of the secular world."

Hearing this, Fan Hongjiao rolled her eyes at Wu Shidao. The meaning was that he was the only one who knew so much.

At this moment, Zhu He's face grew even gloomier, like water.

Wu Shidao did not care at all about the eye-roll from Fan Hongjiao, but when Zhu He's expression changed, he immediately realized he might have said something wrong and shut his mouth at once.

Everyone in the hall fell silent; it was so quiet that one could hear a needle drop.

Zhu He paused for a moment and said in a deep voice, "I fear this Secretariat Director will also die in office!?"

Once these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed.

"This..." Wu Shidao's expression was one of astonishment and uncertainty.

Fan Hongjiao looked at Zhu He and asked, "Is this Secretariat Director one of their people?"

Zhu He looked at Fan Hongjiao and said, "Correct! While Li Shensi was in office in Nanyang Prefecture, they approached him and negotiated terms first. Only then did they recommend him to Shenyun Prefecture. I had originally thought that they would not want to keep causing trouble, as, just as Shidao said, if another Secretariat Director dies in office, the public opinion would be too ugly. I did not expect..."

Fan Hongjiao, however, slammed the table in a fit of rage and shouted, "I said long ago, what is there to talk about with that bunch? A bunch of monsters and demons, whispering together every day—how could they have any good intentions!?"

Hearing this, Zhu He and Wu Shidao looked at each other, not knowing if Fan Hongjiao was scolding Lv Zhongtang, Ge Rusong, and the others, or if she was scolding them, the master and disciples themselves; after all, they were gathered here to discuss something, and what they were discussing did not seem to be anything good either.

Wu Shidao's expression shifted, and he said, "Li Shensi had already been won over by them while he was in Nanyang Prefecture. Master, is this news certain?"

Zhu He said, "The news is reliable. It is just a bit of a hindsight. I only found out two months after he took office."

Wu Shidao's face suddenly felt a bit hot. Zhu He had previously asked Wu Shidao to investigate Li Shensi's affairs, but at that time, he had failed to uncover anything.

"This person cannot be kept," Zhu He said in a leisurely tone. He looked at Wu Shidao with a heavy gaze and continued, "Shidao, just as you said earlier, two Secretariat Directors have already died in office. If this Li Shensi dies as well, I fear the public opinion in the marketplace will explode. This is also where Lv Zhongtang and Ge Rusong are cunning. This matter must be handled with the utmost caution!"

Wu Shidao's expression was heavy as he said, "Master, this matter must be done without anyone knowing."

Zhu He nodded and said, "The slightest carelessness will leave us splattered with blood."

Fan Hongjiao looked at Wu Shidao and said, "Isn't this something you are good at? Didn't you handle that last matter quite cleanly?"

Wu Shidao said, "How could it be as easy as Senior Sister says? Last time, I was in the dark while the enemy was in the light, and both sides had not yet taken action in the secular world. We struck suddenly, which caught them off guard. This time is different; I fear the other side is already prepared."

Hearing this, Fan Hongjiao said, "Why go to all that trouble? I will just cover my face, go over, and slaughter that guy. Who could stop me?"

Zhu He glared at Fan Hongjiao and said angrily, "Assassinating the Secretariat Director in the hall—are you worried that the public opinion in the marketplace isn't explosive enough?"

Seeing that Zhu He was somewhat angry, Fan Hongjiao immediately shut her mouth.

Zhu He pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked at Duan Rong, who was sitting there in silence, and said, "Duan Rong, what is your opinion?"

"Opinion?" Duan Rong did not expect Zhu He to suddenly call on him; he was slightly stunned and said, "Master, this disciple has no opinion. I have been in bitter cultivation for the past half year, and I am truly in the dark regarding the affairs of Shenyun Prefecture."

Zhu He smiled faintly and said, "If you hadn't been there during the case of Zhu Shizhong, I fear they would have fooled us. In my view, one who can destroy can also build! I am entrusting the task of eliminating Li Shensi to you. You must ensure it is airtight, and it would be best if you could guide the public opinion. Do not let the public opinion think toward the struggle of political whirlpools."

After Zhu He finished speaking, the hall fell into silence once again.

Wu Shidao had thought that this task would definitely fall to him. When Fan Hongjiao spoke just now, he had only been humble, and incidentally told everyone that the task was not that easy, but he did not expect Zhu He to actually point to Duan Rong.

Wu Shidao sat there, looking at Duan Rong with a cold gaze.

Duan Rong sat there feeling quite awkward; at this moment, ten thousand "grass-mud horses" were galloping through his heart.

What the hell? "One who can destroy can also build"? Where did this theory even come from?

And he has to guide public opinion and discourse? Do you think I am some kind of internet influencer?

This old man is really overestimating me, isn't he?!

"Do not let the public opinion think toward the struggle of political whirlpools!"

In this situation, if Li Shensi were to suddenly die in office, all sorts of conspiracy theories would definitely be rampant during tea and after-meal conversations; it is very hard not to think in that direction.

Duan Rong said with a somewhat ugly expression, "This disciple's qualifications and experience are still shallow. Master, it is not that this disciple is shirking responsibility, but this matter is of great importance. I feel it would be more stable to hand it over to a more experienced Senior Brother. This disciple is willing to assist and gain experience, so that in the future, I can handle things on my own and share the burden for Master."

Duan Rong said this quite obediently, and who he was referring to in his words was already self-evident.

In Duan Rong's view, Wu Shidao was the most suitable for this, but he did not know why Zhu He had pointed to him.

Hearing this, Wu Shidao took a deep breath and sat upright. Zhu He, however, did not even look at him, but looked at Duan Rong and said, "Duan Rong! You have been at Yunfu Peak for over half a year. Over this past half year, how has this master treated you?"

Duan Rong's heart tightened. "This is..."

The old man bringing up this topic was clearly trying to force him to accept.

Knowing this, Duan Rong had no choice but to say, "Master's kindness to this disciple is greater than the heavens."

"That is good!" Zhu He said, "The matter is settled. Get it done for me; otherwise, do not come back."

"Yes!"

Since Zhu He had made up his mind, Duan Rong had no choice but to comply.

Can an arm ever twist against a thigh?

Duan Rong's eyes flickered, and he said, "Master, could you assign me a helper?"

Duan Rong thought that an extra helper would mean extra support, and besides, if he messed things up, wouldn't there be someone else to share the blame?

Zhu He, however, smiled slightly and said, "They all have other tasks. For this matter, you will go to Shenyun Prefecture alone. Remember, hide your tracks and act in secret. As for Zhu Zhengfu and his group, I will give them a heads-up in advance; you can utilize their strength for certain things. But the overall principle remains unchanged: eliminate Li Shensi without anyone knowing, and you must also suppress the public opinion in the marketplace on my behalf."

Duan Rong's face revealed bitterness, and he squeezed the word "yes" out from the back of his throat.

Zhu He, however, suddenly looked pleased and said, "Duan, my boy, not bad! When did you break through to the Origin Qi Realm Fourth Layer?"

Duan Rong was not surprised that Zhu He asked this suddenly, because he had just felt a Divine Sense penetrate his dantian.

Duan Rong gave a miserable smile and said, "I just broke through a few days ago."

The people in the hall, looking at Duan Rong at this moment, all seemed to be gazing at some sort of miraculous spectacle, filled with surprise and a sense of unfamiliarity.

Fan Hongjiao said, "You broke through again? If you break through again, you'll be catching up to Wu Shidao."

Wu Shidao felt even more like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Duan Rong had already grasped an Artistic Conception while still in the Origin Qi Realm, and his cultivation speed was so rapid that it was simply incomprehensible.

Lu Geng and Wang Yue sat there, but they could only sigh.

Especially Wang Yue, whose expression was very mournful.

Zhu He smiled and said, "It is good that you broke through. With a higher realm, this trip to Shenyun Prefecture will be safer."

"Safer?" Duan Rong's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He remembered the Yinlu Cicada that Zhu He had suddenly given him two months ago. He had thought it strange at the time; why would Zhu He give him such a precious item for no reason?

Could it be that there would be danger on this trip to Shenyun Prefecture?

And, that a powerhouse of the Dongming Realm wanted to kill him?

How could that be? He was only a Martial Artist of the Origin Qi Realm; even if someone wanted to kill him, it wouldn't require a Dongming Realm powerhouse to take action, would it?

Why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken?

Even if he secretly plotted to kill the Minister of the Secretariat Li Shensi, he was, after all, an Elder's personal disciple; who would kill him so brazenly?

Furthermore, since Zhu He knew there was danger, why did he insist on letting him go alone?

Duan Rong felt that Zhu He had already planned this matter two months ago; otherwise, he wouldn't have given him the Yinlu Cicada back then and instructed him to refine it immediately.

Duan Rong sat there, looking at Zhu He, whose face was somewhat gloomy in front of the screen, and he suddenly felt that this old man had long since set up a trap, waiting for him to jump into it.

And he had no way to refuse.

At this moment, Zhu He looked at Duan Rong and said, "Duan Rong, there is no time to lose. Pack up and leave the mountain immediately!"

"Yes!"

Duan Rong's "yes" was quite full of vigor; since there was no avoiding it, he would just take it one step at a time. Didn't the old man give him the Yinlu Cicada? That meant he didn't want him to die; as long as he was alert, it shouldn't be a big problem.

The key was that, on this trip, he had to get done what the old man had entrusted to him.

Not only did he have to eliminate the dignified Minister of the Secretariat Li Shensi without anyone knowing, but this was the number one civil official of Qingzhou!

In the territory of Qingzhou, all documents and records were issued by the Minister of the Secretariat!

Moreover, he also had to guide the public opinion in the marketplace.

Neither task was easy to accomplish.

It was harder than herding scorpions!

At noon that day, the autumn sky was clear and cloudless for ten thousand miles. At the east gate of Shenyun Prefecture, a rather luxurious carriage, with the sound of wheels rattling, entered Shenyun Prefecture along with the flow of people.

The carriage stopped in front of the Yunlai Inn. The carriage curtain was lifted, and a merchant in brocade clothes, about forty years old, stepped down.

That merchant had a square face, a thick beard, and a sallow, dark complexion.

After the carriage stopped, the Personal Attendant of the inn had already come out and led the carriage toward the Back Courtyard.

Duan Rong looked at the person driving the carriage beside him; this person was a History Supervisor from the Inner History Department, and he had other matters to attend to by coming with Duan Rong.

Duan Rong said, "Go and attend to your business."

That History Supervisor said, "Master, take care of your own safety. This little one is off."

Duan Rong grunted in his nose and strode into the inn.

The History Supervisor, dressed as a Personal Attendant, watched Duan Rong walk into the inn before turning around, merging into the flow of people on the street, and concealing his tracks.

Duan Rong walked to the counter of the inn.

The Manager had a thin, long build and gaunt cheeks. As soon as he saw Duan Rong, he smiled obsequiously and said, "Master, are you staying at the inn?"

Duan Rong said, "Yes. Open a superior room."

The Manager asked, "How many days will you be staying, Master?"

Duan Rong said, "Not sure. Open it for five days first. Keep the rest as a deposit." As Duan Rong spoke, he had already gently pressed a banknote onto the counter.

The Manager glanced at the banknote, and his smile immediately grew wider. "Very well! Master, please follow me."

The Manager led Duan Rong to a superior room on the second floor.

Duan Rong looked at the room; the orientation was good, and the furnishings were quite exquisite, so he nodded and said, "Not bad! As expected of the capital prefecture. It is indeed grand!"

The Manager's eyes flickered, and he said, "Master, judging by your accent, you don't seem to be from the Shenyun Prefecture area."

Duan Rong smiled and said, "I am from Nanyang Prefecture, here to handle some business."

The Manager said, "I can tell at a glance that you are a big businessman."

Duan Rong said, "Business is not about size; as long as it makes money, it is good business! Alright, I am hungry; get me some food and drink."

"Very well! Master, please wait a moment!" The Manager bowed slightly and went out.

Not long after Duan Rong sat down, a Personal Attendant brought over a pot of clear tea and a few plates of dried fruit.

He sat there, drank a cup of clear tea, ate some dried fruit, and the food and dishes were brought up one after another.

Duan Rong ate with great relish. You have to admit, eating still requires being in this secular world; although on Yunfu Peak, there was everything and the food was not bad, in that place of bitter cultivation, even eating delicacies seemed to have a taste of bitterness, making one unable to eat with satisfaction.

Duan Rong finished eating and drinking heartily, then lay down on the bed to rest for a while before leaving the Yunlai Inn and heading toward a teahouse not far away.

(End of chapter)