Chapter 48: Commandant of Outside Qingzhou

Shen Yi walked slowly to the courtyard outside the office.

There he saw Butcher Zhang squatting on the stone steps, yawning repeatedly, looking utterly drained.

Seeing someone approach, he looked up and teased, "How'd you take so long? Didn't you plan to wait till the last minute to shock those captains?"

At this, Shen Yi paused slightly.

Observing his expression, Butcher Zhang stood up casually and comforted him: "Hey, I had that same thought when I first joined Golden Body Sect. But these Zhen Mo Si officers have traveled far and wide—what haven't they seen? They won't be awestruck by just any talented person. Don't be disappointed."

If someone were truly gifted to that extent, they wouldn't be sent here alone.

"What are you talking about?" Shen Yi stopped walking.

"..." Butcher Zhang fell silent, then grew serious: "Just after the second drumbeat last night, every soldier and officer was summoned to Chengxi. Everyone's been selected already—they're now being addressed in the government office... Could they have missed you?"

"These bastards look down on people too much—I was counting on following you back to Outside Qingzhou to visit your old flame!"

Butcher Zhang cursed a few times, grabbed Shen Yi's arm, and rushed toward the government office.

Zhen Mo Si always operates with precision—how could they accidentally overlook someone? It's almost certainly intentional.

Shen Yi's martial strength, if grown up in Outside Qingzhou, wouldn't be remarkable at all—but here in Bai Yunxian, it's extremely rare and valuable. If not for your imperial court's skin, no sect would ever turn him away. Why treat him like this?!

Shen Yi's expression remained calm, but inside, he was genuinely puzzled.

He had imagined many scenarios—but never this.

The government office was empty now, guarded only by soldiers.

Butcher Zhang barged in without hesitation; his hardened body made it impossible for ordinary men to stop him.

Until they stood before the main hall.

Two young men in black robes and jade belts stood with arms crossed, golden wolves embroidered on their shoulders radiating menace. They said coldly: "Stop."

Butcher Zhang halted obediently, forcing a smile: "Captain my lord, there's still one more here."

Even Zhen Mo Si wouldn't attack him without cause.

But seeing those black robes, Butcher Zhang—though guilty of nothing—still felt a chill.

He gathered courage and nudged Shen Yi with his shoulder: "What're you standing there for? Go inside first!"

"Tch, don't know what's so interesting about lecturing people."

The Zhen Mo Si captain's cold expression faded as he shifted his gaze from Butcher Zhang to Shen Yi, rolling his eyes in exasperation: "Why aren't you sleeping at home? What are you doing here? We're all exhausted and stuck on guard duty—what a waste of time."

Huang Huang Lao Liu didn't carry his candy stick today, and had swapped his patched old clothes.

He stepped aside to make a path, muttering: "Fine, watch if you want—but don't get too close."

The Zhen Mo Si captain's words left Butcher Zhang stunned for a moment.

He instinctively glanced sideways.

Shen Yi stood as quietly as he did, but his eyes showed no unusual reaction.

Do these two know each other?

Inside the hall, Li Xinhan sat on the main seat, eyes half-closed, expression cold and haughty.

Six physically impressive young men stood in a line, hands behind their backs, bodies taut—all dressed as government office soldiers.

The beggar, now clad in official attire, looked utterly different from yesterday; though his features were ordinary, his eyes radiated sharp vitality.

He walked slowly before them, his gaze settling on Chen Ji, whose mind was wandering—then he suddenly kicked him.

The reprimand was already on his lips.

He looked up and saw the familiar figure outside the door; he opened his mouth—but suddenly lost the will to continue.

He muttered listlessly: "Stand straight. Don't zone out."

Seeing this, Huang Huang Lao Liu could only sigh helplessly.

The usual ritual for selecting new recruits was to first instill in them the mysterious, awe-inspiring image of Zhen Mo Si, crushing their arrogance.

But the beggar had been kicked just yesterday—and now that he saw the master himself, where was his spirit?

"Eight hundred soldiers, over a hundred officers—only six chosen, and half of them might be sent back."

Butcher Zhang sighed.

Though only a thousand people, those who qualified for imperial court pay had already been filtered once—let alone, their physical condition was at least decent.

It was like picking six from the entire Bai Yunxian.

And even if they joined Zhen Mo Si, they'd only be hired hands soaked in medicinal baths—with little chance of rising.

Those with cloud patterns on their sleeves? They were selected from childhood, trained according to their strengths, and far outclassed ordinary martial artists at the same level.

No other martial sect had such depth.

Li Xinhan finally opened his eyes, voice flat: "Return to your homes, pack your belongings. Depart for Outside Qingzhou tomorrow. You may bring at most one family member or attendant. Register your names—someone will arrange it. Personal items must not exceed eighty catties."

At these words, the six men's taut bodies relaxed slightly.

Two of them were familiar faces.

Niu Da nervously scratched his thigh, torn: "Only one person allowed... Should I bring my brother to see the world? Or my wife? My mother's got no one to care for her..."

Chen Ji, who had trained hard for three years, finally shone today: his sword and fist techniques had reached minor mastery, his Spirit Snake Eight Steps were fully perfected, and the Wind and Thunder Scripture was on the verge of breaking through its first barrier.

Even several Zhen Mo Si captains gave him extra glances.

He had none of Niu Da's troubles—he had no other relatives besides his sister.

Yet Chen Ji still frowned tightly.

From the moment the soldiers called him out of his home until now, he had not seen Master Shen's figure. Surely he hadn't overslept again?

At that moment, Li Xinhan slowly rose.

He walked to the door.

Every movement radiated profound energy.

Butcher Zhang involuntarily stepped back half a pace; the false smile he'd offered Huang Huang Lao Liu now held genuine awe.

Those who could leave three cloud patterns on their cuffs were almost all experts of the Jade Liquid Realm.

Every cloud pattern represented countless demon corpses.

Moreover, the other party was so young—one could say that given time, he would surely become a vice general defending a region.

The moment Zhang the Butcher was swept by the other's gaze, cold sweat had already seeped through his back.

Li Xinhan's hand reached toward his waist.

He stared quietly at Shen Yi before him; his indifferent expression gradually grew somewhat twisted, tangled with a touch of jealousy, and within that jealousy was mingled a hint of bafflement.

It was hard to imagine a single face displaying so many emotions at once.

After a moment, Li Xinhan withdrew his gaze and slapped a banknote and a stamped letter into Shen Yi's hand: "With this seal, any major money house in Outside Qingzhou can cash it out into silver."

Tossing down those words, he walked out the door without looking back.

He left only the few men from Boyun County and Zhang the Butcher standing dazed on the spot.

The government office giving silver to Zhen Mo Si, though it carried the suspicion of seeking death, could still barely be understood.

Zhen Mo Si handing silver to a government office constable—that was truly unheard of.

Only the few Captains who knew the situation came over grinning, seeming to enjoy watching Li Xinhan be put in his place.

Huang Huang Lao Liu patted Shen Yi's shoulder: "Don't mind him, that's just his rotten temper—no malice. Go back and pack your things, we'll escort you back to Outside Qingzhou."

"Escort?" Shen Yi stared at the banknote worth a full thousand taels of silver, feeling something was slightly off.

The beggar smacked his lips, and didn't bring up getting beaten yesterday.

He only said, a touch forlorn: "A man about to enter the Regional Commander's ranks—how could they possibly let you walk back on your own."

(End of chapter)