Chapter 230: Returning Home in Glory (Combined Chapter)

Stepping out of the confinement prison, many people were waiting for Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, and Liao Rulong.

There were agricultural officials who had trained together, such as Zhuang Ziqing, Han Bing, and Che Shihai... Zhao Xing even saw Shi Yong and Feng Qi.

Among the warriors, there were Xia Jing, Chen Fang, the priest Zhang Yi, the military physician Yuan Yang, and the mechanic Wang Ji...

They should have been on the battlefield, but they had all taken the time to rush back to Yangcheng.

There were others he had met later, such as Ji Ziyun, Liu Cheng'an (the heir to the Prince of Xin), Pei Yuanchang (the grandson of the Prince of Ling Shuang), and Wu Zhengting (the heir to the Prince of Yue Gang)...

"Brother Zhao, we have all heard of your plight. That Prince of Liang is truly a piece of trash!" Zhuang Ziqing was the first to rush over, grabbing Zhao Xing's hand, indignant. "A peerless talent like you, forced to withdraw from the battlefield by the Prince of Liang's faction—it is simply intolerable to both man and god!"

"Brother Zhuang." Zhao Xing put on a moved expression and patted the back of Zhuang Ziqing's hand.

"Boss, to suffer such humiliation." Wang Ji clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. "I would rather die than forge a single nail for the Prince of Liang's faction!"

"I actually had a pretty good time inside..." Zhao Xing thought to himself if he had overdone the act of playing the victim.

"Boss, you don't have to comfort us. Look at you, how can you say you've been doing well?" Che Shihai gritted his teeth, tears in his eyes.

At this moment, Zhao Xing's hair was somewhat disheveled, and his clothes were tattered.

However, this was purely something Master Zhao had done to himself before leaving prison.

"I'm really fine," Zhao Xing reassured them.

He recalled his experience during his detention.

He had been locked up at the beginning of the fourth month, and now it was the end of the fifth.

On the first day of arriving at the Yangcheng confinement prison, according to custom, all equipment should have been confiscated, replaced with prison garb, and his Qi sealed.

But this was the Yangcheng confinement prison!

The guards were all his own people, either sent by the Prince of Rahu or Liu Tianning.

Who would dare to do such a thing?

Not to mention interrogation and torture.

Mistreat Master Zhao? That didn't exist!

Zhao Xing wasn't lying; he had actually been quite comfortable.

On the first day he arrived, his shackles were removed, though his equipment was not returned.

As for food and drink, it was all according to the meal standards of a fifth-rank official on duty, and he even lived in a large villa!

Originally, the Yangcheng prison did not have living quarters suitable for Zhao Xing's status. After all, those who were locked up were usually kept in the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Office.

But the warden of Yangcheng, in order to lock Zhao Xing up, had rushed the construction of a set of quarters within a single day.

By the second day, he had moved into a 500-square-meter villa.

If Master Zhao hadn't refused, the warden might have even sent a few dancers and musicians to offer their condolences.

Because Zhao Xing wasn't really serving a sentence; he was just being detained.

Truth be told, this past month or so was the time Master Zhao had slept the most soundly.

Only when it was time to be released did he remember he couldn't look like he had been enjoying himself.

So he put the shackles back on, wore the prison garb, and messed up his hair.

"Did the Yangcheng warden mistreat you?!" Xia Jing, who had walked over, raised his voice, his eyes staring unkindly at the jailers behind Zhao Xing.

The jailers felt wronged—how would we dare? It was Zhao Xing himself who insisted on dressing like this.

"No, no," Zhao Xing waved his hand. "Don't overthink it; they treated me very well."

He immediately used a water technique to restore his attire and appearance. This short amount of time was enough for his miserable appearance to have spread.

Among those with discerning eyes, they naturally knew Zhao Xing couldn't have been mistreated, but for those who didn't know, this impression spreading would deepen others' disgust for the Prince of Liang's faction.

"Let's go, let's talk somewhere else."

Surrounded by the crowd, Zhao Xing left the Yangcheng prison.

Afterward, Xia Jing held a small gathering in Yangcheng to welcome back Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, and Liao Rulong, with over a thousand people in attendance.

This time, Zhao Xing drank freely, getting dead drunk with everyone, and the party didn't break up until the evening of the next day.

By the time most people had left, Zhao Xing circulated his Qi to disperse the alcohol, his eyes becoming clear again.

"Hoo~" Exhaling a long breath of turbid air, Zhao Xing pulled Xia Jing over. "Brother, how have you been these days?"

Xia Jing was still somewhat tipsy, but seeing Zhao Xing return to normal, he knew he wanted to talk about serious matters, so he immediately circulated his blood Qi to recover his sobriety.

"I was also attacked by the Prince of Liang's faction, but my father and uncle stepped in to mediate, and in the end, I was not punished."

Zhao Xing nodded.

Xia Jing was not part of the Divine Might Army, his background and connections to the royal family were intertwined, and he wasn't a mastermind, so it wasn't a major issue. With the Prince of Pingyang and the Marquis of Xia mediating, naturally, there was no trouble.

Xia Jing said, "You were stripped of your honorary title and withdrew from the battlefield, and your rank didn't rise that high, so the Prince of Liang's faction can barely save face."

"It's just that Ji Chen, for some reason, lost his influence in the Prince of Liang's mansion and was sent to the battlefield."

"In these two months, the Prince of Rahu, the Prince of Xin, and the Prince of Anning have repeatedly rejected the handling results of the Yingyuan Office."

"Your teacher hasn't made any moves, still working in the Inspection Department and the two offices' transport department."

Xia Jing introduced the events that had occurred during this time.

Zhao Xing closed his eyes to review everything, and after a moment, he nodded.

"This matter can be considered settled. Brother Xia, since you haven't withdrawn from the battlefield, you must take care."

Xia Jing said solemnly, "Brother Zhao, do you have something to tell me?"

Zhao Xing pondered, then drew a flag on the table. "If you see this flag on the battlefield in the future, do not hesitate; retreat immediately. This flag belongs to the 'Nine Nether Army' in the Holy Mountain of the Southern Wilderness. They are supported by the Nine Nether Divine Sect, and their methods are extremely bizarre."

"Nine Nether Army? Why have I never heard of them?" Xia Jing asked.

"Historically, the Nine Nether Army has only appeared twice. They have never clashed with the Great Zhou, and I only found records of them in ancient books."

Zhao Xing said, "Additionally, the Insect Shamans and Blood Shamans of the Southern Wilderness are much stronger than before, which must also be guarded against. And the Seven Nights Holy Son group of the Southern Wilderness—it is best to carry out decapitation strikes..."

Xia Jing listened quietly. He had vaguely heard of what Zhao Xing was saying; perhaps it had appeared in battle reports, or a strategist had mentioned it.

The information on the Anti-Barbarian battlefield was vast—how could it be just billions? Picking out useful information from this was not simple.

Zhao Xing was now picking out events that already had signs but hadn't yet truly shown their influence to tell Xia Jing.

Perhaps he would encounter them, perhaps not, but if Xia Jing could remember them and be on guard, he might face fewer setbacks.

"Did you remember?" Zhao Xing asked.

"I remembered." Xia Jing nodded solemnly. Having experienced so much, he had deep faith in Zhao Xing's ability to analyze military intelligence and battle reports.

"I'm leaving in a few days, and after that, I won't be seeing guests; I'm going to pay a visit to my teachers," Zhao Xing said. "Brother, take care."

"Take care."

…………

At dawn the next day, Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, and Liao Rulong each went to pay their respects to their superiors or teachers who had given them help in the past.

Zhao Xing's first stop was Fuchun Garden to visit Tian Shan.

"Teacher, your student is leaving. Thank you for your efforts during these days, and please take care of your health."

Zhao Xing performed a deep kowtow to Tian Shan, because during the time he was locked up, Tian Shan had also been running around, even using the resources from the three letters he had originally given him.

"Get up." Tian Shan smiled and helped Zhao Xing up. "I actually didn't accomplish anything."

Tian Shan hadn't known at first to what extent the Prince of Rahu and Liu Tianning could do for Zhao Xing, and by the time he knew, he realized he had been busy for nothing.

But as for Zhao Xing, regardless of whether it was useful or not, the fact that someone had done it meant it was a favor, and he would keep it in his heart.

"Where are you going next?" Tian Shan asked.

"My rank hasn't been decided yet, but it should be to the East Sea," Zhao Xing replied. "However, I will go home first to rest for half a year and visit my family."

"East Sea..." Tian Shan muttered. "That's fine. If you encounter any trouble in the future, you can write to me."

"Although my old bones aren't as hard as Liu Tianning's, my bones are plated with a layer of gold."

"Liu Tianning is an Inspection Envoy; he must be fair and incorruptible, so even if he has money, I'm afraid he can't give you much help in terms of wealth."

Tian Shan said proudly, "I am different. In terms of wealth, many enfeoffed princes don't have as much money as I do."

Zhao Xing was stunned, then bowed and smiled, "Teacher has quite a family fortune; it seems that statement was still modest."

"Hahaha, that's right, my ancestor is Grand Duke Tian," Tian Shan said smugly. "Your teacher only has a bit of money left."

Tian Shan really wasn't bragging. Not long after Zhao Xing left Fuchun Garden,

he received a message on his Earth Mirror.

[Tian Shan has transferred '10 million' points to you.]

[Your point account has changed, balance: 10,021,522.]

Behind the point transfer was a postscript:

[Zhao Xing, you are going to the East Sea, and there must be many places where you will need money. In the future, you will break through to the Pure Origin Realm, which is a key node for a fifth-rank Agricultural Official. You must not settle for less when breaking through. If it's not enough, you can find your teacher at any time.]

"Giving 10 million directly, that really is..." Zhao Xing couldn't help but marvel at Tian Shan's wealth.

What is the concept of 10 million points?

Zhao Xing's original merit rank was sixth, and his annual salary plus merit rank bonus was about 350,000 points.

This time, during the struggle between the Prince of Rahu and the Prince of Liang's faction, although he wasn't promoted, his merit rank was raised again to the tenth rank.

But even so, he would only get about 800,000 points a year.

Yet Tian Shan had casually given him 10 million.

If Zhao Xing didn't take bribes and just took his salary plus merit rank, it would take him more than ten years, provided he didn't eat or drink and saved it all.

"This favor is too big." Zhao Xing felt a bit helpless. He had come to Tian Shan just to say goodbye, never thinking the Marquis of Tian would give him anything.

Even if there was a parting gift, it should have been within a normal range.

He hadn't expected to underestimate Tian Shan's financial power.

In the eyes of others, this 10 million was indeed a normal gift, no problem.

"My teacher Liu Tianning has millions of clones, and now there's another one. My teacher Tian Shan has hundreds of millions in wealth."

Thinking of this, Zhao Xing felt a bit emotional. "If I had known this, why did I struggle so hard in my past life to take bribes? If I had maxed out Tian Shan's character favorability, I would have had everything..."

…………

After visiting Tian Shan, Zhao Xing ran to the Taicang Academy to see Lu Bang.

When the Cave Heaven spiritual energy erupted, Lu Bang had sent two disciples, Cai Jin and Feng Qi, to eat fish in the Extreme Night Sea.

At that time, their relationship was considered somewhat close.

Lu Bang, Liu Tianning, and Tian Shan were originally good friends.

However, when Zhao Xing came to visit Lu Bang, he only bowed and did not perform any major rites, nor did he call him teacher, but rather Master Lu.

"Kid, withdrawing from the battlefield and losing the great future of promotion and nobility, what are your thoughts?" Lu Bang had a free and unrestrained personality, and as soon as they met, he teased Zhao Xing.

"No thoughts," Zhao Xing smiled. "Once the move is made, there is no regret; what is done is done."

"Hahaha, I like this temperament of yours. When you were inciting the agricultural officials to fight the warriors during training, I liked this personality of yours."

"Since you are returning home this time, how can you do it without some decent gifts? I am good at brewing wine, so I will give you a ship of fine wine."

"Feng Qi." Lu Bang waved his hand, and immediately a young man walked out from behind the screen.

"Teacher."

"Go to my Earth-grade wine cellar and load a ship of wine for the Marquis of Yuanyang."

"Yes."

Zhao Xing heard this and deliberately said, "Master Lu is so stingy. If you were going to give it, why not give some Heaven-grade treasures?"

"Hahaha, you kid think too beautifully!" Lu Bang laughed and scolded. "You aren't even fifth-rank yet, and you want to taste my Heaven-grade fine wine? Wait until you reach the fifth rank, condense the Pure Origin soil, and come back to see me. Then you will know the wonderful use of my fine wine."

"Master Lu is straightforward; I will definitely come back to drink to my heart's content in the future!"

…………

The third stop was Liu Tianning's Ten Thousand Laws Palace.

At this time, the Ten Thousand Laws Palace had 90% fewer clones than usual, appearing somewhat deserted.

This was mainly because Liu Tianning had become the Transport Commissioner of the two offices and was also the 'Ten Suns Inspection Envoy'.

His workload had increased, so there wouldn't be that many clones idling in the Ten Thousand Laws Palace.

"Teacher, your disciple plans to set off for home tomorrow." Arriving at Liu Tianning's, Zhao Xing didn't perform any major rites either.

His way of getting along with Old Liu was different from Tian Shan's. Old Liu didn't like playing these teacher-disciple etiquette games. Except for the first time he performed a major rite when becoming his disciple, he hadn't performed any rites during subsequent meetings and chats, at most just a slight bow.

Zhao Xing vaguely felt that Liu Tianning somewhat detested etiquette and law.

"I know." Liu Tianning pointed to a bamboo box next to him. "My true self is not here; you take this."

"What is inside?"

"Floating Vine seedling," Liu Tianning said. "Cut from the main vine, I have been cultivating it for two and a half years."

"Floating?" Zhao Xing's heart shook.

Liu had been cultivating it for two and a half years, which meant he had been doing this since November of the 17th year of the Jingxin Calendar.

That was also the time Liu Tianning first came to the Soul Sacrifice Pass.

A Floating seedling, once grown, is a seventh-rank plant life!

And this Floating Vine seedling that Liu Tianning gave had a very high ceiling because it also integrated parasitic seed characteristics.

In other words, Zhao Xing might also be able to raise a tenth-rank Floating Vine like Liu Tianning in his past life!

A rare vine-type parasitic seed—if Master Zhao had to find it himself, he wouldn't know when he would find it.

How precious was it? Assuming Liu Tianning's gift was a stroke of luck, it was so precious that Zhao Xing felt his luck as a fifth-rank derivative didn't deserve this opportunity.

"Ordinary Floating can only be planted in Pure Origin soil, but parasitic seeds are different," Liu Tianning said. "Open the box, cut your wrist, and let the Floating seedling parasitize your body to grow."

"Yes." Zhao Xing suppressed the excitement in his heart and stepped forward to open the bamboo box.

At this moment, bursts of golden light emerged from the bamboo box.

Inside the three-meter square bamboo box, there was no soil, only golden light condensed to the extreme.

A pale golden vine, two feet long and as thick as a little finger, was suspended in the box.

Zhao Xing quickly slashed at his wrist.

As a result, the force was light, and he couldn't even break the skin.

He had forgotten that his golden bones were now complete, and he no longer had his original physique.

"I'll help you."

Liu Tianning's right hand suddenly changed, looking like a liquid metal person, turning into a sharp blade.

"Swish~" The blade light flashed, and a wound deep to the bone immediately appeared on Zhao Xing's wrist, blood gushing out.

Zhao Xing: "..."

This approach was indeed very Liu Tianning.

The blood dripped onto the Floating Vine, and it immediately reacted.

The Floating slowly moved toward the source of the blood.

Zhao Xing reached his hand in, and the Floating immediately crawled in along the wound.

"Sizzle, sizzle~"

Zhao Xing felt the Qi in his body begin to drop rapidly.

Ten percent, nine percent, eight percent...

By the time the Floating Vine had completely absorbed it, Zhao Xing's Qi was actually only left with one percent!

"Hiss~ It almost sucked me dry."

Zhao Xing pulled his hand back, his body feeling weak.

Liu Tianning handed over a fruit plate from the side. "Eat this, and you can quickly replenish it."

"Okay." Zhao Xing took the fruit plate, intending to heal the wound first.

As a result, he looked down and saw that the wound had already healed!

A cool sensation came from the original wound, which was exactly what the Floating was emitting.

"The Floating is symbiotic with you; if you are injured, it is equivalent to it being injured," Liu Tianning said. "It will also slow down its growth progress. If you had continued to stay on the battlefield, I really wouldn't have been able to give it to you to raise."

"You are not yet fifth-rank, so its growth speed is relatively slow."

"How slow?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Raising a Floating at the sixth-rank realm, it won't be able to leave the seedling stage even in fifty years," Liu Tianning said. "At most, it can only reach the level of approaching the growth stage."

"At the fifth-rank realm, possessing a Pure Origin body, the Floating can enter the growth stage."

"Cultivating Pure Origin soil, it can mature in thirty to fifty years, but it still cannot be used much at this time."

"Only when the inner world is cultivated to the point of being able to perform Pure Origin projection will it be convenient for the Floating to fight alongside you."

Zhao Xing nodded.

That is to say, it can stay at the sixth-rank realm for at most fifty years; beyond this, the Floating Vine seedling will die.

Because it wasn't something that could be raised at the sixth rank, Liu Tianning had lowered this threshold and let him raise it in advance.

Planting the Floating in Pure Origin soil is the period of rapid growth.

It was also because he saw that Zhao Xing had no more battles to fight and his strength was relatively strong that Liu Tianning gave it to him in advance.

Otherwise, this gift wouldn't have been given until he reached the fifth rank.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Zhao Xing was very satisfied with this great gift.

"Go." Liu Tianning finished, and this clone lost its spirit, sitting in the chair with its head lowered.

Obviously, this clone had gone offline.

Zhao Xing bowed and then quickly left the Ten Thousand Laws Palace.

…………

The last stop, Zhao Xing came to the Divine Might Army station to meet Yang An and Jia Pu.

Yang An was still in a state of having a severed arm, and Jia Pu was still the nominal Divine Might General.

Zhao Xing cupped his fists and said, "Thanks to the General for taking me in at the beginning and letting me participate in the Ten Suns Cave Heaven training, I am extremely grateful. This time, I have dragged down the Divine Might Army. Please punish me, General and Marquis."

The quota was originally asked of Yang An by Chen Shijie, so Yang An still had a favor owed to him.

Although Zhao Xing was directly transferred away by the military world's transfer order, both publicly and privately, he had to come and see him.

Yang An gave Jia Pu a look, and before Zhao Xing could finish the action of kneeling on one knee, he stopped him.

"Zhao Xing, what mistake did you make?" Jia Pu said.

"If I really have to say I made a mistake, it's my mistake for not being able to protect you, Chen Shijie, and Long Xiao."

Yang An waved his left hand. "Alright, Military Advisor, none of you made a mistake; the mistake was the Prince of Liang's."

"Zhao Xing, you have repeatedly made military contributions in the Divine Might Army. If it weren't for you, the generals of the Divine Might Army would never have been able to push north of the Yang River."

"Although I gave you a quota, the credit was earned by yourself."

"We met once, and now that you are leaving, I will give you a gift," Yang An said. "Is your Ten Thousand Laws clone on the ship?"

Zhao Xing nodded. "Back to the Marquis, yes."

Yang An said, "Has it integrated the Way of Protection?"

Zhao Xing vaguely guessed what Yang An was going to give him. "I have already integrated this method."

The Protection Straw Man can store ten thousand laws.

It is also the foundation of the Ten Thousand Laws clone. To expand the role of the clone, one must integrate the Protection Straw Man.

Now, Zhao Xing's nine main clones all possess this effect.

Yang An stretched out his remaining left hand and suddenly shouted, "Protection Commandant Zhao Xing, listen to the order!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Zhao Xing cupped his fists.

"Receive the sword!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Xing's brow moved, and the nine clones immediately jumped down from the warship above the square.

"This Marquis will take out ten percent of the Green Dragon Sword Qi. Zhao Xing, how much power you can retain depends on how much ability you have."

After speaking, a green light flickered at Yang An's fingertips, and then it quickly burst out from the Marching Hall, like a swimming green dragon, rushing toward the warship.

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish~

The nine clones instantly appeared in the path of the sword Qi.

"Ang~"

Within the sword Qi, there was actually the sound of a dragon's roar.

The first straw man collided with the sword Qi, and then the light shone brightly.

The dragon-shaped sword Qi passed through the first straw man without showing the slightest reduction.

Zhao Xing's second Ten Thousand Laws clone went up, actively absorbing the sword Qi.

But the second Ten Thousand Laws clone was also filled in an instant.

The sword Qi dragon swam, proudly traveling through heaven and earth.

The nine clones took turns going up.

Until the ninth clone was filled with the Green Dragon Sword Qi, there was still some left!

"The Marquis of Divine Might is truly extraordinary. Even though the Prince of Liang suppressed him once, his second rise still shook the world."

Zhao Xing felt the power of the sword Qi in his clones and sighed in admiration.

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish~

The true self, along with the Ten Thousand Laws clones, landed outside the Marching Hall together.

Zhao Xing knelt on one knee and shouted, "Thank you, Marquis, for bestowing the sword!"

This was the first time Yang An had given him an order, and it was also the last. Afterward, Yang An changed his tone.

After Zhao Xing finished receiving the sword, Yang An's voice drifted leisurely from the Marching Hall: "Cherish your passion, even if scattered, it can still turn into blue waves."

"Marquis of Yuanyang, we shall meet again."

…………

Datong Prefecture, Wanfeng Mountain Range.

The calm, mirror-like lake surface suddenly rippled with circles of waves, the texture becoming denser and denser, until at a certain moment, the central area suddenly arched up.

"Splash~"

Four Kirin auspicious beasts flashing with golden light leaped out of the water. When the golden light dissipated, they were four Kirin flying boats.

Three of the flying boats were side by side, and the fourth was opposite them.

Zhao Xing, Long Xiao, and Chen Shijie stood together, while Liao Rulong stood on his own flying boat.

"Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, Long Xiao," Liao Rulong cupped his fists. "If you have time, you must come to my hometown, Boping County, to sit for a while."

"Definitely," Zhao Xing cupped his fists. "Brother Liao, take care."

"I'm off!" Liao Rulong waved his hand and entered the cabin. The Kirin flying boat turned into a stream of light and disappeared into the horizon in a short while.

Watching Liao Rulong leave, Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel some emotion.

Liao Rulong was not originally planned to participate in the impeachment, but at that time, he had shouldered the matter together.

Zhao Xing's persuasion was fruitless, and in the end, Liao Rulong was also detained together.

The handling results were all the same: unable to reach the fifth rank, transferred to a local area to be an official, and stripped of the honorary title, with a few merit ranks converted according to military contributions.

Liao Rulong's hometown was in Boping County, Binjiang Commandery, Guanghua Prefecture. He and Yang An were fellow townsmen.

Back then, he had joined the army with Yang An, but each person's achievements were different. Yang An was already a fourth-rank military general, while Liao Rulong was still sixth-rank.

Liao Rulong had left the battlefield, and Zhao Xing didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse, but since things had reached this point, he didn't think about it anymore.

"Old Chen, Long Xiao, we should go too," Zhao Xing said.

"Hmm."

Long Xiao's hometown had been flooded, and he had nowhere to go for his half-year vacation, so he planned to hang out with Zhao Xing and Chen Shijie.

Chen Shijie also planned to return to Gucheng. His hometown was in Xishan Commandery, but his relatives in his hometown were no longer there. He had an uncle and aunt who were blood-related, but they had treated him very poorly when he was young, and they had long since broken off relations.

Chen Shijie had no intention of going back to humiliate them, so he also planned to go to Gucheng; Gui Niang was still waiting for him in Gucheng.

"Let's go," Long Xiao said. "Last time I went to Gucheng, I just helped you fight and didn't get to play properly. This time I have to take a good look."

"Zhao Xing, you are the host, you have to treat us~"

"If you want to have fun, I'm afraid you found the wrong person," Chen Shijie laughed. "Does Zhao Xing look like someone who knows how to enjoy himself?"

"Hehe, you don't know about this," Long Xiao winked. "When I was his protector and followed him to handle the Shao Wanjie case, guess what happened?"

"What happened?"

"Heh, this kid disguised himself as Shao Wanjie, got two cat-eared girls to serve him in the hot spring, and even called a bunch of silk-clad dancers..."

"What? There is such a thing?!" Chen Shijie laughed and scolded. "Good for you, Zhao Xing, I didn't expect you to be so improper."

"How can you slander someone's innocence!" Zhao Xing argued. "I call that a mission, do you understand mission?"

"However, although I don't know how to enjoy myself, I have a friend who is very knowledgeable."

"Long Xiao, when we get to Nanyang Commandery, I will definitely make you not even have the strength to draw your sword!"

"Hahahaha, I'll be waiting!"

………………

Nanyang Commandery is in Dayuan Prefecture, and it is more than 40,000 miles away from the Wanfeng Mountain Range in Datong Prefecture, even in a straight line.

When they came, they borrowed the path from the fire pond of the [Lihuo Dao Academy], but they couldn't do that when going back.

Because they now had too many things—Kirin flying boats, bronze chariots, green-eyed dragon lions—it was not easy to pass these things through the fire pond, and the cost was too high.

Passing through alone meant walking 80,000 miles to return the path, but if they brought so many things, the transport power would increase, and the cost would also increase, all of which would be counted on the owner.

They wouldn't have to do anything else for the half-year they were going back; they would just be running to return the path.

Zhao Xing had also bought many goods in the military world; Lu Bang alone had given him a ship of fine wine.

And there were gifts from Xia Jing, Heir Ji, Wu Zhengting, and various friends and teachers. Just Zhao Xing's own things filled fourteen cargo flying boats.

Plus some things purchased by Long Xiao and Chen Shijie, they loaded a total of twenty.

Plus the three Kirin flying boats.

The three of them together had twenty-three flying boats.

Zhao Xing's Kirin flying boat was a supplementary one; he was returning home in glory, so how could his equipment not be sufficient?

This time they planned to fly back, and the route was already chosen.

First, they would control the twenty-three flying boats to fly to the capital of Datong Prefecture.

Then they would take a public cross-prefecture building ship to Dayuan Prefecture.

Once they reached Dayuan Prefecture, they could fly directly to Nanyang Commandery.

"The 40,000-mile straight-line distance, avoiding the no-fly routes, adds up to more than 100,000 miles. We take a seventh-rank building ship, which will take about 30 hours."

"However, we also have to count the time waiting for the building ship to take off and the flying boats to report, which will take a total of five or six days," Chen Shijie said.

"So slow," Long Xiao said. "We should have gotten a warship ourselves."

"Can you afford to raise it?" Chen Shijie squinted. "You know how many mechanics and operators a warship needs. With your ninth-rank merit level, you would go bankrupt in half a year."

"Zhao Xing can afford it," Long Xiao said.

"Even if I can afford it, I wouldn't buy it," Zhao Xing rolled his eyes. "Not to mention raising people and ships, the procedures are also troublesome."

"Warships can only be used for military purposes, unless you are an enfeoffed prince, then you can have a private warship as a carriage."

"In inland areas, you can only have commercial building ships. The procedures for commercial building ships are very cumbersome, and they won't be approved for a year or two. If you have a big family and often travel across prefectures, you can consider it, otherwise, it's not as convenient as taking a public building ship."

The Great Zhou controls the airspace within its territory very strictly, especially warships, which are too powerful.

Sixth or seventh-rank warships can truly complete a city massacre in a very short time!

There are precedents for this.

During the time of the founding emperor, warships were still common in the sky. At that time, two military marquises at the border of their fiefs were at odds and fought with fire, actually bringing out warships to bombard each other.

In the end, it caused countless deaths and injuries and destroyed more than a dozen commanderies. Such behavior shocked the world, forcing the founding emperor to behead these two founding military marquises to appease public anger.

And he formulated the "Great Zhou Airspace Management Regulations," allowing only enfeoffed princes and dukes to travel by warship.

By the time of Emperor Wen, he took the lead in being frugal, and this luxurious way of traveling by warship was reduced a lot.

When it came to the time of Emperor Jing, he simply amended this law and strengthened the management.

Even for warships at the level of enfeoffed princes and dukes, 90% of the weapon configuration had to be dismantled.

Since then, most princes and marquises have switched to building ships without weapon configurations.

Building ships of various ranks are widely used in commerce and public use.

Like Yi Zhiwen of the Leiyang Chamber of Commerce, when they take warships back, they don't use them directly, but dismantle them. Warships have enough materials, and after dismantling, one ship can become two, or even four commercial building ships. Whether they are resold or used for business, it is a huge profit.

After Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, and Long Xiao flew to Datong Prefecture, they originally had to wait for the public building ship to take off.

But not long after he arrived, the fourth-rank official of the Prefecture Building Ship Office, 'Li Yancheng', immediately ordered someone to specially allocate a seventh-rank building ship for Zhao Xing.

"My lord, why?" Zhang Zheng, the fifth-rank official who received the order, didn't understand. "They are just three small sixth-rank officials, idle marquises; is it worth you personally allocating it?"

"Why?" Li Yancheng said. "Because his teacher, Liu Tianning, is the Transport Commissioner of the two offices. Now it is wartime, and the Prefecture's Building Ship Office must be managed by the Transport Office."

"If Liu Tianning wants to make things difficult for you and me, he can easily find a small mistake of ours, amplify it, and press us to the ground."

"I seem to be on the same level as Liu Tianning, but in reality, I have to be under Liu Tianning's control."

There was another point Li Yancheng didn't say, which was that Liu Tianning would be promoted to the fourth rank this summer.

An official one level higher can crush people, not to mention the difference between fourth-rank subordinate and fourth-rank principal.

He, a fourth-rank subordinate, was already over 400 years old, and it would be very difficult for him to reach the third rank in this life, but Liu Tianning was different; his future was very bright.

Then wouldn't Li Yancheng be afraid that this kind of flattery would be counterproductive?

It wouldn't.

Because Li Yancheng was well-informed.

The three princes of the Ten Suns Cave Heaven had set the tone for the four of them as 'returning home in glory'.

That is to say, Zhao Xing must return to his hometown in a grand manner, and the display must be sufficient.

If he couldn't even understand this imperial intention, Li Yancheng wouldn't need to work anymore.

"How long have they been waiting?" Li Yancheng asked.

"They came to the Prefecture East Building Ship Office at the seventh quarter of the Yin hour, and now it is the first quarter of the Mao hour," Zhang Zheng said.

"When is the nearest seventh-rank building ship taking off for Dayuan Prefecture?"

"Building Ship No. 773, it is estimated to be at the end of the Chen hour," Zhang Zheng said. This building ship office was equivalent to an aerial post station, providing convenience for officials, but it also had to make full use of the value of the building ship.

Especially for seventh-rank building ships, they had to gather a certain number of people and goods before taking off, otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of transport capacity?

"You quickly notify the other officials and merchants who want to take Building Ship No. 773 and let them arrive at the ship by the third quarter of the Mao hour," Li Yancheng said. "If they don't arrive by the third quarter of the Mao hour, let them wait for the next ship."

"Yes." Zhang Zheng went to handle it quickly.

…………

At the Prefecture East Building Ship Office, the three of them, who were waiting in the bamboo building, were suddenly transferred to a higher-end 'VIP area'—Cloud Sea Building.

This was originally a place to entertain officials of the fifth rank and above, because the regular and court attire of fifth-rank officials were embroidered with both cloud and sea patterns.

"Official Zhao, please prepare yourself. Building Ship No. 773 will take off at the third quarter of the Mao hour," Zhang Zheng said, bringing people to Zhao Xing.

"Third quarter of the Mao hour?" Zhao Xing was stunned. "Didn't you say it would be until the Chen hour?"

"Due to a change in the weather," Zhang Zheng smiled. "The takeoff time of the building ship is advanced; this is a common occurrence."

Change in weather, my foot. It was purely because Zhang Zheng had received Li Yancheng's order and arranged it this way to flatter Zhao Xing.

For a seventh-rank building ship, what is there to worry about regarding the weather?

Even flying in the gale, it is completely fearless.

Besides, the weather in the prefecture city basically won't change much.

However, whether the weather changes or not, isn't it up to the Building Ship Office to say?

As soon as Zhao Xing saw Zhang Zheng's fifth-rank official attire, he guessed the probable reason.

Well, his teacher Liu Tianning didn't even need to report this, and people had already taken the initiative to arrange it.

The Building Ship Office had to be under Old Liu's control, so flattering him was only natural.

＿￠O

"May I ask your name?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Surname Zhang, given name Zheng, courtesy name Yuanchun," Zhang Zheng smiled. "My superior is Lord Li Yancheng."

Zhao Xing cupped his fists. "Thank you, Lord Li, thank you, Lord Zhang."

"Marquis of Yuanyang is too polite."

…………

The first quarter of the Mao hour arrived, and it took off at the third quarter of the Mao hour.

All twenty-three flying boats were stuffed onto Building Ship No. 773.

The night broke at dawn, and the building ship took off, heading toward Dayuan Prefecture.

I don't know if they had been instructed, fearing that Master Zhao was homesick. It originally took 30 hours to fly, but it took only 15 hours to reach the Building Ship Office of Dayuan Prefecture.

Only when they got off the ship did they learn that the flight route had been changed to the shortest one, and the seventh-rank building ship had reached full speed, cutting the time in half.

"It's good to have a teacher," Long Xiao couldn't help but sigh. "You didn't say anything to anyone, but you enjoyed all the benefits."

"You can take Zhao Xing as your teacher," Chen Shijie said. "Then you will be Liu Tianning's grand-disciple. In the future, when taking a building ship, you can say 'My grand-teacher is Liu Tianning'."

"Hahahaha, exactly, exactly," Zhao Xing laughed. "Come, come, good disciple, hurry up and bow to your teacher. Gifts are not necessary, just kowtow three times."

"Go to hell!" Long Xiao pushed the two of them.

…………

Once they reached Dayuan Prefecture, they could be considered to have returned to their hometown.

However, the prefecture city of Dayuan Prefecture was in the east, while Nanyang Commandery was in the south.

The territory of a prefecture is vast, and if they controlled the Kirin flying boat themselves at full speed, they could reach Gucheng in a little over two hours.

However, Zhao Xing still had twenty fully loaded cargo flying boats, so they couldn't go fast.

Controlling them together with the straw man clones, it was estimated to take four or five hours.

The fourth-rank official of the Dayuan Prefecture Building Ship Office, 'Shi Dezheng', also did the same thing as Li Yancheng.

He planned to allocate a sixth-rank building ship to send Zhao Xing to Nanyang Commandery.

Zhao Xing couldn't even refuse because the other party was too enthusiastic, and Shi Dezheng had even come out personally.

"Marquis of Yuanyang, you have returned in glory this time and made great contributions to your hometown. Your hometown should also show something."

"How can I turn a blind eye?"

"Otherwise, if outsiders hear it, wouldn't they say that Dayuan Prefecture mistreated meritorious soldiers?"

"This building ship has been idle for a long time, so I'll take this opportunity to test its functions."

"Marquis of Yuanyang is not troubling us, but helping the Building Ship Office. Don't refuse."

"Since that's the case, your subordinate thanks Lord Shi for his kindness."

"It's only right," Shi Dezheng smiled. "Marquis of Yuanyang, please."

Shi Dezheng's words left Long Xiao dumbfounded.

Well, it was clearly Shi Dezheng who wanted to sell a favor and solve Zhao Xing's travel problem.

But when it came out of his mouth, it sounded as if Zhao Xing had helped their Building Ship Office.

He even thought of a reason like testing the building ship's functions; you deserve to be a fourth-rank official!

Long Xiao didn't know that Shi Dezheng was still holding back.

Because this was, after all, transport within the prefecture, the distance wasn't long, so it wasn't easy to make too big a scene, otherwise, he would have had to prepare a seventh-rank one for Master Zhao to sit in.

But even if it was one grade lower, it was still at the level of a sixth-rank top-grade.

In addition, this ship, named the Xiaguang Building Ship, also had a very cool effect, which was that when it broke through the clouds, it would dye the surrounding clouds with seven-colored rosy clouds.

Not to mention whether it was fast or not, the cool and colorful effect was maxed out.

Shi Dezheng also deeply understood the tone set by the three princes.

How is returning home in glory enough?

Even the clouds on the Marquis of Yuanyang's way home must be beautiful!

Zhao Xing and the others boarded this sixth-rank top-grade building ship.

Looking at the cool scene around them, Long Xiao couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

"Why are you looking at me?" Zhao Xing was also admiring the clouds, not expecting Long Xiao to keep staring at him. "Hey, hey, you don't really want to take me as your teacher, do you?"

Long Xiao's appearance made it seem like he really wanted to kowtow to Zhao Xing.

"The prefecture city is already like this; when you get to Nanyang Commandery, I'm afraid there will be even more officials coming to flatter you," Chen Shijie said.

It is conceivable that Shi Dezheng would definitely pass the news down and let them entertain the Marquis of Yuanyang well.

"Not necessarily," Long Xiao said. "Shi Dezheng and Li Yancheng know the ability of his teacher, but the officials in Nanyang Commandery may not know."

"What do you, a warrior, know about civil officials?" Chen Shijie said with disdain. "If the Commandery Governor of Nanyang Commandery doesn't bring people to the Commandery Building Ship Office to greet him personally, I'll twist my head off and give it to you as a night pot."

"Marquis of Yuanzhen has such great prestige; I don't know if you think you are the Marquis of Yuanyang, humph." Long Xiao cursed and entered the cabin.

Chatting with these guys is boring; he went to pet the cat.

Nanyang Commandery, Commandery Government Office.

"Marquis of Yuanyang Zhao Xing, is returning home?"

The Commandery Governor of Nanyang Commandery, Wang Shiyang, looked up at the document official who came to report below.

"Yes, Lord Shi, Lord Liu, and Lord Li from the prefecture city personally sent letters," the document official presented the letters.

The letters were not official documents, but private correspondence between officials, which would not form official documents and did not need to be archived.

But the content of the letters often contained important information.

Wang Shiyang opened the letters from the several superiors in the prefecture city and took a look.

They were all saying the same thing: Marquis of Yuanyang Zhao Xing is a disciple of a big shot in the military, and even has the background of an enfeoffed prince. He is returning home in glory, so it must not be sloppy.

The Commandery Governor of Nanyang Commandery is a fifth-rank principal, and occasionally there are fourth-rank subordinates, depending on whether the commandery's specifications are large and whether the place is prosperous.

Wang Shiyang, this Commandery Governor, is only a fifth-rank principal, so naturally, he wants to make progress. He has a full opportunity to be promoted to the fourth rank in this position as Commandery Governor.

However, Nanyang Commandery has developed for thousands of years, and in any aspect, there is no great room for progress.

Wanting to be promoted is not simple, so he has to rely on connections to move his butt.

Wang Shiyang has always sought to go further, and now he will naturally not let go of any opportunity.

"When did he set off from the prefecture city?"

"At the second quarter of the Si hour, he took the Xiaguang Building Ship and set off from the Prefecture East Building Ship Office. It is estimated to arrive in an hour at the earliest, and by the end of the Wu hour at the latest," the document official replied.

"Quick! Immediately notify officials at all levels of the Commandery Government. Any sixth-rank official must arrive at the Commandery East Building Ship Office within an hour!"

"The Ritual Hall, eighth rank and above, must all be present."

"Dancers, musicians, and honor guards, prepare according to the corresponding specifications. As long as you don't overstep, the higher the grade, the better!"

"In addition, quickly notify the Gucheng County Magistrate to let them prepare to welcome him, especially the Marquis of Yuanyang's family. It is imperative to notify them in advance and order a few sets of gorgeous dharma robes for them."

"The ancestral land of the Zhao family should also be sent people to clean up. The Marquis of Yuanyang is returning to his hometown in glory, so he will definitely go to worship his ancestors."

"Yes, your subordinate will go now." This document official was also startled. He had never seen Wang Shiyang so solemn, and immediately got up and left.

"Come back!" Wang Shiyang thought for a while and called the person back.

"My lord, what are your orders?" the document official asked.

"Go and check to see who the Marquis of Yuanyang's immediate family and friends are, and whether they have any grudges with others recently," Wang Shiyang said in a low voice. "If there is any troublesome matter, report it as soon as possible. If it is related to the government, it must be handled quickly, understand?"

"Your subordinate understands." The document official immediately ran out.

………………

When Zhao Xing arrived at the Building Ship Office in the eastern suburbs of Nanyang Commandery, auspicious clouds were seven-colored, and rosy clouds filled the sky.

Fortunately, there were few people in the eastern suburbs, and the East Lake Army had already cleared the field, so now only officials were waiting on the ground.

"Hoo~"

With a gust of wind, the sixth-rank Xiaguang building ship slowly landed on the open space.

"Beat the drums, play the music!" Wang Shiyang transmitted his voice.

"Dong, dong, dong, dong, dong~"

The big drums were beaten, and the silk and bamboo pipes and strings were played together.

Wang Shiyang also took great pains, fearing that Zhao Xing wouldn't like to listen to decadent music, so he specially chose a few impassioned military songs.

The dancers were also practicing sword dances, each one heroic and spirited, neat and uniform.

Amidst the dance music, there were ritual officials singing names, chanting Zhao Xing's military contributions:

"Marquis of Yuanyang Zhao Xing, expedition to the Southern Wilderness, fought for four years. Summer of the 16th year of the Jingxin Calendar, broke the Fire Dragon Pass; winter of the 17th year of the Jingxin Calendar, beheaded ten thousand enemies, broke the Southern Barbarian's majestic pass..."

At this time, Zhao Xing first drove the Kirin flying boat out of the building ship.

The Kirin flying boat circled around, and then there were dragon roars and lion roars.

Two green-eyed dragon lions pulled a bronze chariot, carrying Zhao Xing to appear.

Zhao Xing had a sword at his waist, a three-colored crown on his head, wore a jade bamboo marquis robe, hung a silver ribbon and copper seal, and held a protection staff in his hand. He stood on the chariot, set off by the rosy clouds, appearing majestic and extraordinary.

As for Long Xiao and Chen Shijie, they did not appear in this scene and still stayed above the building ship.

When Great Zhou soldiers return to their hometown in glory, big officials have big official rites, and small officials have small official rites; this is to promote martial virtue.

At this moment, the process could only be enjoyed by Zhao Xing alone, because they were both outsiders.

"It makes me want to go back to my hometown to show off," Long Xiao said with some envy. He loved this kind of excitement, but unfortunately, the excitement at this time didn't belong to him.

"Just for this little vanity, why go back to your hometown," Chen Shijie said. "It's quite troublesome."

"That's true. Look at Zhao Xing, he has to take out everything the Emperor rewarded him with—what he wears, what he uses, what he flies—and show it all off. It's actually quite tiring," Long Xiao said sourly.

Zhao Xing wasn't tired at all at this time. Although the Great Zhou's red tape was many, normally speaking, this kind of showing-off moment wouldn't happen many times in a lifetime.

Having fought for four years, of course, he had to show off!

Until the ritual official chanted to the end: "...Congratulations to the imperial court, congratulations to the Marquis of Yuanyang!"

Wang Shiyang immediately led the officials to shout: "Congratulations to the imperial court, congratulations to the Marquis of Yuanyang!"

At this time, Zhao Xing stepped on the clouds and fell from the chariot step by step.

"Thank you, elders of my hometown, for coming from afar to welcome me. Xing is ashamed and dare not accept it."

"The Marquis of Yuanyang is a young hero and has made outstanding military contributions. He is the pride of our Nanyang Commandery and deserves this glory!"

"Gentlemen, join me in congratulating the Marquis of Yuanyang!" Wang Shiyang led again, cupping his fists to congratulate him.

"Congratulations to the Marquis of Yuanyang!" The officials congratulated in unison.

It took a full half-hour, but this set of etiquette was just a phased rest; it had only just begun.

Afterward, there would be ancestor worship, returning home, and they would have to send out honor guards to go to more than a hundred counties in Nanyang Commandery, holding the Marquis of Yuanyang's military contribution board, to parade through the streets and sing of his merits.

Don't look at it as just a third-rank marquis, and the official rank is only a sixth-rank principal.

But Zhao Xing had made nearly 5 million military contributions!

According to a ninth-rank barbarian being worth 10 points of military contribution, he was equivalent to destroying nearly 500,000 barbarians. If they were not ranked, it would be 5 million!

Nanyang Commandery was also considered a border prefecture, and historically it had been threatened and invaded by barbarians.

So this degree of praising merits was not excessive at all.

That is to say, he was still alive. If he were dead, they would have to build a temple and then carry Master Zhao's statue to parade through the streets and sing of his merits.

And in the first ten years, they would have to parade once every month; this was to stabilize his Yin God body.

Of course, now that he was still alive, there was no reason to build a living shrine. Those who built living shrines were all evil ways, like the Blood Spirit Venerable.

Welcoming Zhao Xing back to the Nanyang Commandery government office, the whole way was again drumming and blowing, playing and singing.

Until inside the commandery government, Wang Shiyang set up a banquet, invited major officials at all levels to attend, and it was another round of congratulations.

"Marquis of Yuanyang, congratulations, congratulations. Come, this cup, toast to the Marquis of Yuanyang!" Wang Shiyang toasted.

"Toast to the Marquis of Yuanyang!"

Zhao Xing stood up and raised his glass.

"Your subordinate only made a small military contribution, thanks to the love of Lord Wang and all the lords."

"Your subordinate will drink first as a sign of respect!"

Then he drank it all in one gulp.

After walking through a few rounds like this, Zhao Xing returned to his seat. Wang Shiyang ordered people to pull the curtains, isolating them from the banquet hall outside, and the surroundings became a bit quieter.

"Zhao Xing, how long is your vacation for returning home this time?" Wang Shiyang was getting close to Zhao Xing, and now he spoke more casually.

"Half a year," Zhao Xing said. "The Marquis of Yunxiao, the Marquis of Yuanzhen, and I are all like this."

"That's very good. You have been away from home for four years, and now that you are back, you can have a good gathering with relatives and friends and appreciate the changes in the mountains and rivers of your hometown," Wang Shiyang said.

Mentioning relatives and friends, Zhao Xing also took up the topic and said, "Lord Wang, I have a good friend who is an official in Nanyang Commandery, but I didn't seem to see him at the banquet just now."

Wang Shiyang's heart skipped a beat. Zhao Xing's good friend? How could he have missed it?

The document official next to him immediately replied instead: "This time, in order to welcome the Marquis of Yuanyang, Lord Wang handled the specifications of the welcome and the banquet a bit more solemnly. In addition, there are some officials who are busy with official business and cannot get away. Please forgive the Marquis of Yuanyang."

Zhao Xing nodded.

Wang Shiyang's heart also relaxed, and he asked with a smile, "Zhao Xing, may I ask who you are talking about?"

Zhao Xing said, "Zong Shichang. He should be the eighth-rank Pinghuai Magistrate of Nanyang Commandery now."

Zhao Xing hadn't received Zong Shichang's letters for a long time. Mainly because he had been running around on the battlefield and in the cave heaven before, and he had no time to reply at all.

The last letter was half a year ago, which was the end of the 19th year. At that time, Zhao Xing was impeaching the Prince of Liang, and he only remembered Zong Shichang saying that he was already eighth-rank.

"Zong Shichang? I have some impression." Wang Shiyang pondered slightly, but he only had some impression.

In fact, this impression was deepened today, because in Wang Shiyang's eyes, the Zong family was just a commandery-renowned family. To him, this kind of merchant family was not something he would touch. As for Zong Shichang personally, an eighth-rank official couldn't enter his eyes either.

Before Zhao Xing came back, he didn't even know there was such a person as Zhao Xing, let alone know his relationship with Zong Shichang.

Wang Shiyang turned to the document official next to him, who immediately got up to find someone.

He continued to accompany Zhao Xing.

…………

Nanyang Commandery is not big, but not small either. It has more than a hundred counties and even possesses several spiritual mountains.

Wang Shiyang was worried that Zhao Xing would encounter any troublesome matters when he went home, so he immediately sent people to investigate and inquire.

He had thought about it thoroughly enough, but not thoroughly enough.

At this time, Zong Shichang, who had a close relationship with Zhao Xing, was sleeping soundly in the Inspection Office of Nanyang Commandery city.

"Bang, bang, bang!" He had just fallen asleep when someone knocked on the fence door.

"Bastard!" Zong Shichang immediately sat up and scolded outside, "Are you not letting people sleep!"

"Young Master Zong, don't blame us," a patrol guard whispered outside the detention room. "We are also acting on orders. Patrol Inspector Song said that you cannot sleep."

"Song Ji, this bastard, go tell Song Ji that he can only lock me up for two more days at most!" Zong Shichang scolded. "When I get out, I will definitely shit and piss on his family's ancestral grave, day and night, wind and rain!"

There was no sound outside, as if they were ignoring Zong Shichang's scolding.

After scolding for a while, feeling tired, Zong Shichang lay back on the bed.

However, as soon as he intended to sleep, someone knocked on the door outside.

Making Young Master Zong annoyed.

"Damn it, Song Ji, this old bastard!" Zong Shichang hated him so much that his teeth itched.

Why was he locked up here?

This matter has to start from the flood discharge in Nanliu County before.

Summer floods are frequent, and Nanyang Commandery has many river tributaries.

Although the water conservancy projects were done well, the imperial court and the Southern Barbarians started fighting, and the Lan River and Cang River also began to flood, affecting the counties downstream of the Great Zhou.

Even after layers of attenuation from above, when it reached Nanyang Commandery, there was still some small impact.

Although Zong Shichang didn't have much ability, he was well-informed.

He corresponded with Zhao Xing and immediately realized that being a Pinghuai Magistrate to control water was a good job.

So three years ago, he was transferred to the Water Supervision Office.

Afterward, as he expected, the rainfall and river water levels in various parts of Nanyang Commandery were much higher than in previous years.

Zong Shichang practiced water control skills in advance, and with his family background, he worked in the Water Supervision Office for three years and was promoted from ninth-rank to eighth-rank principal.

However, the higher he went, the more Zong Shichang felt the difficulty of promotion. To do things properly, he had to touch other people's interests.

The reason he was locked up here was because he had repeatedly offended another big family in Nanyang Commandery, the Song family, when controlling water in Nanliu County a year ago.

A while ago, during the summer flood discharge, Young Master Zong had two choices: one was to discharge the flood toward the Song family's farmland, and the other direction was to discharge the flood toward the heads of the common people in Nanliu County.

There was no way; there had to be some losses, so Zong Shichang, as before, chose to stand on the side of the common people.

This completely angered the Song family.

You, Zong Shichang, also come from a commandery-renowned family; why should a big family make things difficult for a big family?

Why do you repeatedly pity those poor people and transfer the losses to our Song family?

The head of the Song family sent people to warn Zong Shichang many times.

But who was Zong Shichang? He was a donkey that only followed the fur, and he didn't listen to persuasion at all.

He even scolded the head of the Song family: "Damn Song Chengde, where do you have virtue? Your Song family is big and wealthy; losing a little farmland won't affect your eating, drinking, and having fun at all. If the common people's farmland is gone, they might be ruined. Nanliu County is your territory anyway, why be so calculating about these small profits?"

Young Master Zong's words made a lot of sense, and the head of the Song family listened very seriously.

He seriously analyzed Zong Shichang's working hours, location, and track of activities.

A month later, he found a small mistake Zong Shichang had made—drinking during official hours.

Then he directly let the sixth-rank official Song Ji, who was working in the Inspection Office, catch Zong Shichang into the Inspection Office, intending to detain him for seven days.

Let Zong Shichang properly understand what the Song family's truth is.

Thus, on the day Zhao Xing returned, Zong Shichang was singing the Iron Window Tears in the Inspection Office.

"Sigh, after three years of water control, I've become so thin." Zong Shichang touched his stomach and rubbed it. "It's really not easy."

Zong Shichang remembered the life he used to live, the world of flowers, paper-drunk and gold-obsessed.

The reason he had such a big change was initially to make some achievements for Liu Muqin to see, so that she would know that Zong Shichang could make changes for her.

But as he did it, Zong Shichang also realized the suffering of the world, and in the last two years, it was not purely for the sake of his sweetheart's opinion.

"When I get out, I will definitely pull a big one on the Song family's ancestral grave," Zong Shichang said indignantly.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Someone knocked on the door outside again.

"Get out! I'm not asleep!"

Zong Shichang turned his back to the prison door and scolded bitterly, "Liu Silang, are your eyes blind?"

But this time the knocking sound was accompanied by the opening of a magic circle and the sound of the door being turned.

"Hmm? Did someone come to fish me out from home?" Zong Shichang heard the movement and immediately turned around.

Moonlight shone through the windowsill, and Zong Shichang saw a strange yet familiar figure.

There was more than one such figure, and it seemed that people were standing everywhere outside.

The person at the head was handsome and seemed to be wearing a marquis robe. Eh? Since when did Nanyang Commandery have another marquis?

The person on his left seemed to be Commandery Governor Wang Shiyang, right?

On the right is Commandery Assistant He Xian, right? Why did this old dog come too?

Wait, why does the one wearing the marquis robe look familiar?

Zong Shichang's gaze returned to the face of the young man at the head.

The next moment, Zong Shichang's gaze became dull.

"Zhao, Zhao Xing?"

Zhao Xing's face was iron-blue, but seeing Zong Shichang, it turned soft again. He bent his waist and entered this narrow detention room.

He personally helped Zong Shichang up from the straw bed.

"You, are you really Zhao Xing?" Zong Shichang was overjoyed. "Why did you come back? When did you come back?"

"Brother Zong, it's me," Zhao Xing smiled. "I'm back."

"Haha, that's fine. You've become a marquis?" Zong Shichang pulled Zhao Xing's marquis robe. "Let me see if it's real... Yo, gold-threaded waist belt, Haluo silk, real goods!"

Zong Shichang didn't seem to feel wronged, only happy.

Zhao Xing looked at Zong Shichang and couldn't help but feel a bit lost.

Four years later, the slightly chubby Zong Shichang had become sharp-edged, and his whole person had lost a circle.

But he was also much more spirited, and his foundation was more solid.

It seems that he really worked hard to control water in these years.

"Brother Zong, let's go out first."

Zhao Xing helped Zong Shichang and walked to the prison door.

"Official Zhao, this matter..." The Commandery Assistant next to him wanted to say something.

"Hoo~" The iron fence suddenly burned with a burst of flames.

Startling everyone to step back.

"Pat, pat~"

The steel burned into molten iron, and even the surrounding walls were melted together.

He Xian and Wang Shiyang, who had stepped back a few steps, jumped their eyelids.

This is the magic circle prison of the Commandery Inspection Office!

The Marquis of Yuanyang waved his hand and melted it?

Is he sixth-rank?

Fifth-rank Agricultural Officials don't have such profound magic, right?!

"Brother Zong." Zhao Xing took Zong Shichang's hand and came out. "Go and wash up."

"Good, good." Zong Shichang sniffed his sleeves. "It's a bit smelly. I've been locked up for a few days, and I haven't even had a bath."

Zong Shichang's unintentional remark made Zhao Xing's brow knit even tighter.

He immediately summoned four Ten Thousand Laws clones and broke open the entrance of the Inspection Office.

"Eh? How can your straw man method turn into yourself?" Zong Shichang was quite curious. "Oh, right, lords, can I go?"

"Of course, of course." He Xian accompanied with a smiling face. His scalp was a bit numb now because he was Song Ji's recommender, and their relationship was not bad.

"Why don't you hurry up and pick up Official Zong to wash up?!"

"No need to trouble," the four Ten Thousand Laws clones spoke in unison. "Go to my Kirin flying boat to wash."

The officials present felt their scalps tighten because they couldn't distinguish which one was the real Zhao Xing.

Especially the Inspection Office Chief Song Ji, whose heart felt like it was being gripped at this moment.

After Zong Shichang left, Long Xiao, who was watching the show from the side, grinned: "Good, good, someone is going to be unlucky. I have never seen Zhao Xing so angry. This trip to Nanyang Commandery was really not in vain."