Chapter 342: Ding Shan Envoy

"Master, are you going out?"

Wang Zhao spoke to Li Rui, who was dressed in an official robe.

Li Rui nodded:

"Mm, an official came to the guard battalion—I need to meet him."

Wang Zhao blinked: "An official?"

His master was the second-highest-ranking officer in Anning Battalion; those Li Rui called "officials" were few indeed.

He couldn't help but feel curious:

"Master, what kind of high official is he?"

Li Rui smiled faintly: "A seventh-rank official."

"???"

Seventh-rank? A high official?

Anning Battalion, General's Mansion.

Li Rui and Cao Wei stood side by side before the main gate.

Both wore official robes.

They stood at attention.

Cao Wei spoke: "Li my lord, do you know why this Circuit Inspector has come to Anning Battalion?"

"Cao my lord, how would I know?"

Cao Wei narrowed his eyes: "Could it be about that heretical sect?"

"Not impossible."

Li Rui replied coolly.

The so-called Circuit Inspector was an official dispatched from the capital to inspect regional administrations; his full title was Circuit Inspection Censor. Though nominally only seventh-rank, he represented imperial authority, and even high-ranking local officials treated him with great deference.

"This Circuit Inspector Song only arrived in Yunzhou a short while ago, yet came to Qinghe the very next day."

"It's almost certainly about that."

Cao Wei laid out his reasoning.

Nie Siming had approached Li Rui—and also him—so he knew perfectly well that Marquis Yuan had personally inquired into the Zijin Palace affair.

As the two spoke,

a clatter of galloping hooves approached from afar.

Both men perked up.

Four fine horses appeared before them.

Leading them was a middle-aged man in a dark, practical, short-sleeved tunic—no trace of an official about him; he looked more like a martial artist.

Li Rui and Cao Wei stepped forward:

"Inspector Song, you've traveled far."

They bowed in greeting.

Polite, but not overly respectful—

both were fifth-rank officers with real authority; this Circuit Inspector's status was high, but politeness sufficed—no need for deference.

They weren't greenhorns; they wouldn't lower themselves for no reason.

The Circuit Inspector merely glanced at the two briefly:

"Come inside and sit."

Saying this,

he walked ahead into the General's Mansion.

Cao Wei stared at Li Rui in shock.

What was going on?

Even if the Circuit Inspector held oversight authority, he'd served over twenty years and seen many such inspectors—never had he encountered one so brazen.

Li Rui offered a gentle reminder:

"Cao my lord, don't take offense."

"I heard—just heard—that this Inspector Song is the nephew of Minister Song of the Ministry of Justice, a prodigy of the Song family, and reportedly already reached the Primordial Realm."

Upon hearing this,

Cao Wei's face brightened instantly; his anger vanished completely.

The Circuit Inspector's rank was low.

But with this Song my lord's lineage, it became absurdly powerful.

Nephew of a second-rank minister.

Even the Prefect of Yunzhou might not withstand an impeachment from him.

Cao Wei hurried after him, eager and obedient.

He'd served years in the capital—he knew full well the Song family's power.

Besides, this Song my lord's martial skill surpassed his own; there was no reason not to show respect.

Li Rui watched Cao Wei's back and chuckled.

"Cao my lord's martial skill has improved again."

Soon after,

the two entered the main hall of the General's Mansion. Cao Wei immediately ordered his subordinates to serve tea and water, warmly and eagerly.

The Circuit Inspector spoke indifferently: "Enough pleasantries. Tell me—what's the situation with Zijin Palace?"

Cao Wei inwardly groaned.

It was indeed about this.

But that heretical sect was too cunning; so far, they'd obtained no useful intelligence—hard to report back.

As he pondered how to respond,

Li Rui spoke up: "Inspector Song, how is Minister Song of the Ministry of Justice?"

Song Shi raised an eyebrow, surprised:

"You know Song Chu?"

Li Rui: "We shared a few drinks at Dongbao Restaurant when I was in the capital."

He didn't exaggerate—he simply stated the facts.

Upon hearing Song Chu's name, Song Shi's demeanor noticeably softened: "You're Li Rui?"

"That's right."

Li Rui nodded.

Song Chu was a friend of Lin Hai; when drunk, Song Chu had often spoken of his cousin with admiration and closeness.

Li Rui had guessed their relationship was close.

If Song Shi was stubborn and insisted on investigating Anning Battalion's handling of Zijin Palace, he'd surely cause trouble.

Even with Nie Siming shielding them, it would still be awkward.

Song Shi clearly wasn't easy to deal with.

If he dug into this matter, Li Rui and Cao Wei couldn't possibly explain it away.

The solution wasn't to explain further—it was to interrupt.

Best to use an indirect tactic.

At this moment, the value of connections made in the capital became clear: among officials in the capital, half were related by blood or marriage; with care, one could always find ties. At any time, forging connections remained the fastest way to build rapport.

Seeing Song Shi's attitude soften,

Cao Wei silently gave Li Rui a thumbs-up.

This wasn't because he lacked social skill—he'd merely been a sixth-rank Assistant Minister in the capital, too insignificant to ever reach such powerful clans; even if he'd wanted to, he couldn't have.

Song Shi finally lifted his teacup and took a sip:

"You may leave. I have private words with Li my lord."

"Yes."

Cao Wei nodded.

He turned to leave, glancing back at Li Rui with envy—but not a trace of jealousy.

This was true mastery.

What was true mastery?

After Cao Wei left, Song Shi suddenly said: "Is it safe to speak here?"

Li Rui froze.

Then he noticed Song Shi subtly revealing a jade plaque at his sleeve's edge.

His pupils contracted slightly.

Ding Shan Envoy!

'This Song Shi is from the Shadow Guard—and a Ding Shan Envoy.'

He was a Xun Shan Envoy; that meant Song Shi was his superior.

Just as Commander Yang Bing had said.

Every single word, every single detail—perfectly accurate!

Among these shadow guards, he was the only one visible; all others remained hidden in the shadows.

Otherwise, how could they deserve the name "shadow"?

Li Rui's expression turned solemn: "My lord, please follow me."

Not long after.

The two arrived in the Assistant Military Commander's chamber.

After closing the door.

Song Shi finally spoke: "I am the Dingshan Envoy of the Shadow Guard. A few days ago, I heard from Commander Yang that a new member had joined our ranks—a man from Yunzhou. I never expected it to be you."

Li Rui bowed deeply.

"Your servant, at your service, Envoy Song."

The Shadow Guard had strict ranks; the lowest tier were certainly men like him, the Xunshan Envoys, followed by Dingshan Envoys, Zhenshan Envoys, while the highest ranks—Commanders, Directors, and the Seven Guest Advisors—existed beyond ordinary hierarchy.

Xunshan Envoys had no right to know the list of Dingshan Envoys, but Dingshan Envoys knew the Xunshan Envoys beneath them, for immediate deployment.

Song Shi nodded.

"Since you're here, that's best."

"I came to Yunzhou ostensibly to inspect, but in truth, I'm hunting a fallen immortal."

Li Rui's expression brightened.

Of course.

Wherever the Shadow Guard appears, it's because of a fallen immortal.

"That man's movements are elusive. I've been tracking him on the Commander's orders. Today I heard rumors of a heretical sect—perhaps connected."

"As an Assistant Military Commander of the Anning Guard, you have access. If you learn anything, notify me immediately."

Li Rui bowed: "Yes, my lord."

"Good."

Seeing Li Rui's respectful demeanor, Song Shi's lips curled slightly—he was quite satisfied.

"That's all. I'll be staying at a guesthouse in town. You may come find me anytime."

Finished speaking.

Without giving Li Rui a chance to protest, he strode out, pushing the door open.

A true man of decisive action.

Li Rui watched Song Shi's retreating figure, lost in thought.

'It seems the waters of the Zi Jin Palace run deeper than I imagined.'

Unlike Song Shi, who actively pursued the fallen immortal despite knowing the danger, Li Rui grew even more determined to stay out of this matter.

Gu Changsheng had said it clearly.

The Shadow Guard must give their all—but need not bear responsibility.

Evening.

Qianhe Martial Arts Hall, small courtyard.

"Again? You didn't even wait ten or fifteen days this time?"

He Qianian regarded Li Rui with a half-smile.

Li Rui showed no sign of embarrassment, grinning: "Master, I thought autumn fish would be plump, so I went to Shizigou myself and caught one—take a look, how's it?"

In his hand he held a massive catfish.

Fat and delicious.

He Qianian snorted.

"You've got some thought, boy."

"Sit."

Li Rui casually hung the fish on a tree branch nearby—he'd already picked this spot on his last visit; it was perfect.

This catfish was truly caught by his own hands.

Not borrowed from someone else.

For a top-tier master like He Qianian, ordinary spirit pills or magic treasures were beneath notice.

What mattered was sincerity.

What was sincerity?

It meant going out of your way to show genuine intent.

He had learned long ago that He Qianian once lived by the Beiding River outside Jingcheng and loved eating catfish.

A high-ranking Assistant Military Commander of the Anning Guard trekking to the wild hills outside the city to catch fish—true sincerity.

Watching Li Rui sit beside He Qianian, chatting and laughing,

Feng Yu was envious.

He'd been He Qianian's disciple for years, yet had never been treated so warmly.

'I must learn from this Li Rui.'

Little did he know,

what separated him from Li Rui wasn't just sincerity—it was potential.

Which elder wouldn't favor a talented, sensible junior?

Li Rui sat down, like a diligent student: "Master, I've studied your manual day and night, but many points elude me. Could you offer some guidance?"

He Qianian had already guessed why Li Rui had come. He waved a hand casually: "Go on."

"Master, when one reaches the Primordial Stage, true qi fills the body. Ordinary external arts cannot refine such a body. What do you suggest?"

Hearing Li Rui's question,

He Qianian's lips curled slightly.

He'd anticipated this.

Martial artists were as numerous as fish crossing a river, but those who specialized in external arts were rare—especially after reaching the Primordial Stage, where even the lowest usually practiced both internal and external cultivation.

Why?

Because true qi was simply too useful.

Enduring endless physical hardship was exhausting and yielded little. Didn't he, after a century of external training, get crushed by Jiang Lin in mere decades?

Why would a genius bother with external arts?

He Qianian spoke slowly:

"So I created my own art."

"Called Da Henglian."

(End of Chapter)