Chapter 281: Promotion, Assistant Military Commissioner Li!

Assistant Military Commissioner!

All the personnel of Anning Guard were startled.

Scholar Liu from the Hanlin Academy smiled warmly as he handed the brocade scroll to Li Rui: "Master Li, please rise at once."

Li Rui took the imperial edict.

Unlike the previous two scrolls, this one was made of five-colored silk—red, yellow, blue, white, and brown—with cloud patterns embroidered throughout, and the words "Edict by Heaven's Mandate" inscribed at the right edge.

This was a privilege reserved only for officials of fifth rank or higher.

That's precisely why officials above fifth rank are considered true officials—the format of the edict alone reveals the distinction.

Below fifth rank, only plain white silk is used, and the document is called a "chi"; above fifth rank, it is called a "zhi," a fundamental difference.

From this moment on.

Li Rui was now truly an official.

"Master Li, congratulations!"

Scholar Liu bowed his fists in greeting.

A fifth-rank official was certainly worth cultivating a connection with, for someone of his standing.

Li Rui was a military officer who couldn't directly help him, but who knew when his own descendants might need favors?

That's one advantage of the Hanlin Academy.

Wide network of connections.

Li Rui and Cao Wei rose to their feet.

"Master Liu, the meal is ready—let's eat and chat."

The two pulled Scholar Liu toward the General's Mansion.

Isn't it reasonable to treat the Hanlin Academy scholar who reads the edict—the Fu Official—to a meal and some dance?

Scholar Liu was long accustomed to such scenes.

He chuckled and followed Li Rui and Cao Wei into the mansion.

As soon as they sat, a pretty maid stepped forward to pour wine, filling the air with fragrance.

Scholar Liu closed his eyes in comfort; unlike warriors, he was merely a civilian official with no martial skill, already over sixty, with few years left—of course, when fortune smiles, one must enjoy it fully.

In short: wine and beauty, both welcome.

"Master Li, when I left the capital, I happened to meet Master Jiang. He asked me to pass along his regards."

Scholar Liu spoke of Jiang Lin.

Naturally, to curry favor.

He had heard everything: Li Rui, besides being Assistant Military Commissioner of Anning Guard, was also a martial instructor for the Annan Marquis's household—in a sense, even more prestigious than his military post.

Strengthening ties could only be beneficial.

"How is Master Jiang?"

Scholar Liu's smile widened: "Master Jiang has entered the Earth Immortal realm. Rumors say he'll be appointed Deputy Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—his future is boundless."

Speaking of Jiang Lin, he couldn't help but sigh.

If Jiang Lin had once been merely well-known in one region, he was now famed throughout the Yu Kingdom.

One day, he might even become a figure as formidable as the Director or the State Preceptor.

'Still, cultivation is better.'

Too bad he lacked the talent.

Deputy Director!

Upon hearing those two words, Li Rui and Cao Wei both raised their eyebrows.

That position was no small matter.

Aside from Director Gu of the Immortal Tower, every Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had risen from Deputy Director; by convention, Jiang Lin had a ninety percent chance of becoming the next Director.

And setting aside potential alone.

The Deputy Director himself was a third-rank official, wielding authority over surveillance of hidden sects and demonic beasts—stronger than half the Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries.

Crucially, the Deputy Director, like the Director, could be summoned to the Emperor's presence.

That was the most critical point.

Speaking of Jiang Lin, all of them sighed.

After three rounds of wine.

Scholar Liu, merely a low-level cultivator, couldn't hold his liquor and soon passed out.

At Li Rui's signal.

Three beauties summoned from the Entertainment Bureau helped the old Scholar Liu to the mansion's side chambers to assist with changing clothes.

Men remain boys till death.

Cao Wei stood with his hands behind his back:

"Jiang Lin."

He had secretly and openly competed with Jiang Lin for years, and now, looking back, he saw how foolish he'd been.

Jiang Lin could crush him with a single finger.

He glanced at Li Rui beside him.

'Better not offend him.'

He always felt Li Rui wasn't as simple as he appeared.

When he first arrived in Qinghe, he was just a lowly grain officer.

How many years had passed?

He'd already climbed to the same height as himself—how could he possibly be ordinary?

Li Rui, slightly drunk, bowed to Cao Wei: "Brother Cao, I'll take my leave."

Cao Wei returned the bow.

As soon as he stepped out of the General's Mansion, a line of small characters appeared before his eyes.

Congratulations, Host! You have completed the beginner plot "Rise to Command."

【Promotion and Title Granting—Life's Joy! Congratulations on your promotion to fifth rank! Fifth rank is the true beginning of officialdom; you are now entering real power. Keep striving!】

【Completing the "Promotion" task. Reward calculation in progress.】

【Task rating: C.】

【Obtained 20 Achievement Points!】

【Name: Li Rui】

【Age: 10】

【Talents: Martial Bone, Extraordinary Comprehension, Insightful Eyes, Great Dream Immortal Travel, Demon-Slaying Triumph】

【Cultivation Techniques: Changchun Art, Dragon Soaring Through Nine Heavens Diagram, Dragon-Elephant True Qi Force】

【Achievements: 60/100】

Detected: Host completed all beginner plots of "Rise to Command" at age ten. Outstanding performance. The next reward will be enhanced. Achieve more to unlock additional rewards!

Gazing at the small text on the panel.

Li Rui's lips curled slightly upward.

Truly, good fortune came in pairs—he had been promoted and completed all the beginner plots of "Rise to Command."

He was already eager to see what the doubled reward would be.

Scholar Liu stayed in Qinghe for three days, feasting, drinking, and sleeping well before returning to the capital, delighted.

Li Rui gifted him a young demonic beast.

Consider it... local specialty?

In any case, Scholar Liu left thoroughly satisfied.

"Good heavens, the Assistant Military Commissioner's mansion is huge!"

Yang Yong, Wang Zhao, Liang He, and Liu Tiezhu stared wide-eyed, nearly drooling.

Luxurious.

If Li Rui's former residence had been large, this Assistant Military Commissioner's mansion was both large and expensive.

Within the compound stood pavilions, terraces, towers, and halls.

Li Rui had visited several times before and was accustomed to it.

But for Yang Yong and the other three, it was a revelation.

Who in their right mind had a stream inside their estate?

"Don't fight me—I'm taking the room with the pavilion!"

"I've heard Old Zhang's stories for years—today I'm trying it out."

Yang Yong, rejuvenated, scrambled to claim the pavilion room.

The advantage of age showed.

The three young men were terrified they might accidentally kill Old Yang with their enthusiasm.

Reluctantly, they chose other rooms.

As for Li Rui.

He naturally took Jiang Lin's former room.

Even the secret chamber had been prepared in advance—perhaps Jiang Lin had foreseen this moment when he'd opened the hidden room so casually before.

Li Rui's old house had not been given to anyone else; it had been left vacant.

Too many secrets, that's why.

As a senior officer of the Anning Guard, no one would dare block him from taking over such a residence.

"Old Li's finally turned things around," Li Rui grinned.

Who'd have thought I'd one day live inside an Assistant Regional Commander's mansion?

"Xiao Zhao, go buy some beef from Old Ma's place—we're having hotpot today!"

Half an hour later.

Thin wisps of steam rose from the Assistant Regional Commander's mansion; the copper pot's broth bubbled vigorously.

A thin slice of tender beef tenderloin rested on the tip of chopsticks.

Three seconds.

Mm, good beef only needs three seconds.

Li Rui dipped it in a special spicy sauce, chewed it slowly.

This was the taste.

When he worked as a stable boy for the Zhu family, he'd secretly vowed: if he ever made it big, he'd buy beef from Old Ma's—every elder in Qinghe knew his meat was the best.

Please... collect... 6... ... ooks...!

Hotpot—yes, you must have hotpot.

For Li Rui's jaded palate, the flavor was just average.

It was like a monk who became emperor still dreaming of that leftover bowl of cabbage-and-tofu soup.

So satisfying!

Qingzhou, Ten Thousand Marshes.

Qingzhou was the largest province in the Yu Kingdom, yet in population, it ranked far from the top.

All because the Ten Thousand Marshes lay within Qingzhou.

Vast, endless swamps covered seventy percent of Qingzhou's land—this was the domain of venomous insects, fugitives, and demonic beasts.

Deep within the Ten Thousand Marshes.

A dark cave.

The cave was enormous, over twenty zhang tall, and within it stood a magnificent palace.

"Immortal Lord, shall we still invite the man?"

An old man stood respectfully beside Qu Chengfeng.

"No need."

Qu Chengfeng waved his hand dismissively.

Jiang Lin is now Deputy Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—if the Ghost Ming Sect dares touch Jiang Lin, they'll invite immense trouble.

Besides, I no longer need him.

"You truly are a celestial exile."

Qu Chengfeng's lips curled slightly: "I'd like to see who you really serve—Shenxuan Palace? Or Baiyu Jing?"

The old man stood silently beside him.

Not a word spoken.

If anyone from the martial world saw him, they'd be stunned—he was known by the fearsome nickname, Blood Shadow Patriarch.

Qu Chengfeng turned to Blood Shadow Patriarch:

"By the way, how's things in the south?"

Blood Shadow Patriarch replied coolly: "The elder of the Qi clan has agreed to act, and all eight demonic lords have pledged to join forces."

Upon hearing this, Qu Chengfeng smiled faintly.

"Good. You've done well."

He then looked at Blood Shadow Patriarch: "By the way, any leads on what I'm seeking?"

"There are clues—word has come from Wu Country."

"Excellent."

Qu Chengfeng nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, it's time for me to return."

Saying this,

his figure gradually grew hazy, then vanished entirely.

Seeing this, Blood Shadow Patriarch's eyes flashed with shock.

'Is this the power of an immortal?'

Managing grain only requires watching the warehouse; being an Assistant Regional Commander demands far more.

For example:

Should I go drink wine at Magistrate Jia's today, or recite poetry at Director Yan's?

Hard, hard, hard.

Beyond the affairs within Qinghe, Li Rui must also manage external matters.

Such as the sects in Yunzhou and beyond.

Of course,

Li Rui handled them with ease.

Elderly people are like that—having suffered enough, they no longer repeat mistakes.

Many lessons are universally applicable.

As for cultivation, it must proceed step by step. At the Sea-Observing Realm, expecting to break through a realm every year is pure arrogance toward the world's heroes. Eat your meals one bite at a time, cultivate one day at a time—or disaster will come.

"Magistrate Jia, no need to see me off."

"Oh, by the way, I happen to have a few Wu Country maidservants—I'll send them to your mansion soon."

Li Rui chuckled.

Hearing this, Magistrate Jia Qi beamed.

"Then this old brother won't refuse your kindness."

Unlike the former magistrate Zhu Renhe, Jia Qi was older and had a pitiful martial realm—he had no ambition whatsoever.

Yet why was such a man sent to Qinghe, such a critical location?

Two reasons.

First, Qinghe is important, so many people covet it—and in the end, it fell to Jia Qi.

Second, too many ambitious officials in Qinghe wouldn't be a good thing; someone must hold the line. That's the high-society way of saying it—the blunt truth is he's meant to drag things down.

Qinghe borders Wu Country, a time of turmoil.

Pushing forward recklessly won't do—you must hold steady.

Though Jia Qi spent his days indulging in wine and women, when it came to exercising his veto power at critical moments, he was utterly unyielding.

For this reason,

Cao Wei had often cursed Jia Qi in Li Rui's ear.

Li Rui: "No need to see me off, no need."

Saying this,

he stepped into the carriage.

Wang Zhao didn't even need a whip—just said, "Go."

The Crimson Dragon Horse trotted steadily toward the Anning Guard.

Now a fifth-rank official, he couldn't keep walking everywhere like before. Though cultivators had great stamina, wouldn't it invite mockery?

This wasn't about saving face.

An official must carry the dignity of his rank—or he'd never command respect.

You can't go knocking on every door yourself.

Originally, Li Rui had planned to make Tang Hai his driver—but Wang Zhao overheard and volunteered.

Li Rui couldn't refuse, so he let Wang Zhao have his way.

It was better this way.

Everyone knew the official's driver was a crucial position—he learned many secrets, and many even went out of their way to flatter the driver.

Back home,

Li Rui's alcohol fumes had mostly dissipated.

As usual, he practiced qi circulation, then ascended the Cloud Dream Terrace.

"Boss Li, a skinny kid from Yunzhou wants to see you."

Tan Hu rushed into the Assistant Regional Commander's hall.

Li Rui: "Yunzhou?"

"Yes, says he's from Marquis Yuan's mansion."

There was only one Marquis in all of Yunzhou—Marquis Yuan of Annan.

"Show him in."

A moment later,

Tan Hu led a skinny young man into the hall.

'Xu Hua?'

Li Rui had not expected the visitor to be Xu Hua, the retainer chosen alongside him by Marquis Yuan in Qinghe County.

'Brother Xu, what brings you here?'

Li Rui laughed heartily and stepped forward to greet him.

Xu Hua looked at Li Rui, smiled, and bowed with a fist salute.

'Brother Li, I've been sent by Marquis Yuan to deliver the teacher-gift.'

(End of Chapter)