Chapter 66: Come Collect Your Reward

Outside Qingzhou, Zhen Mo Si.

Two carriages stopped at the side gate.

"Young Lady, perhaps we should still send the Young Master home?" Li Xiaoer hopped down, saying worriedly.

"It's all external injuries. Send him to Lord Bai's place — his medical skill is good, and he won't leave scars."

Li Mujin knew her brother's temperament. What he hated most was having others bring up his identity as a young master, attributing all his current achievements to the Li family's backing... although in fact it was indeed so. Without their parents secretly watching over him, given his greedy, reckless nature, he would have died countless times over.

The more people gossiped about this behind his back, the more he wanted to prove himself.

And thus the more impulsive he became, letting the Li family clean up even more messes for him.

Like this time with the river demon — even though several Captains had already gone missing, and even after receiving a bloodstained waist token, it was plainly clear there weren't enough hands, yet he still refused to seek help from other Deputy Generals, charging in headlong, hoping to snatch an easy win.

If not for the variable that was Shen Yi, he would have nearly gotten the entire group killed in Water Cloud Hamlet.

Suffering only external injuries now was something to be deeply grateful for.

"Serves him right to lie flat for a month — a good chance to reflect."

Hearing this, Li Xiaoer explained helplessly, "The Young Master had actually become much steadier. It's just that Lord Fang Heng, who he'd never gotten along with, was chosen as a disciple by the Regional Commander... and then he took a hit to his pride in Bai Yun County... that's why he got impatient."

As he spoke, he cast a sidelong glance at the figure ahead.

He had to admit, what allowed the other party to provoke the Young Master probably wasn't just the luck of having latched onto Lord Lin's connections. Based purely on this level of strength, given time, he would become another powerhouse no inferior to Fang Heng.

Both men came from poor backgrounds. Fang Heng caught the Regional Commander's eye by fighting alone, wrestling a late-stage Jade Liquid Realm demon to the death, and successfully rising to a three-stripe Captain.

By comparison, Shen Yi was slightly weaker — the river demon he killed was already in an exhausted state — but don't forget, the realm of this place was far below Fang Heng's.

This feat was even more shocking than Lord Fang's.

Thinking of this, Li Xiaoer shook his head, casting a somewhat sympathetic glance at Li Xinhan, who had been wrapped up like a rice dumpling, then went inside to call for hands to carry the two wounded into Zhen Mo Si.

"If you'll please, Lord Shen, it's time to collect your reward."

Li Mujin stepped half a pace to the side, gesturing with a teasing flourish.

Under her guidance,

Shen Yi quickly arrived at the entrance of the External Affairs Hall.

The Captains who had been hurrying back and forth, upon noticing the dense demonic, baleful blood energy on the young man, all involuntarily slowed their steps and cast admiring gazes his way.

A two-stripe Captain who happened to be coming out from inside also stepped aside to clear the path, cupping his hands in congratulation: "Congratulations on your victorious return, brother."

Being watched by so many people all at once,

Shen Yi felt slightly unaccustomed to it, and nodded in reply: "Thank you."

He then followed Li Mujin into the hall.

What met his eyes was a large, smooth, polished counter, behind which stood a man and a woman.

They wore the same ink-black robes; the difference lay on the shoulders.

Unlike the fierce golden wolves of the Outer Camp, the beasts embroidered on their garments were golden eagles with piercing, burning gazes.

The fierce wolf roams a thousand li; the golden eagle surveys the four directions.

Much as Liu Xiujie had described, the two Inner Camp Captains, despite wearing polite, practiced smiles, exuded an aristocratic air quite different from those outside — clearly from higher backgrounds.

Li Mujin pushed over the official document issued by the Water Cloud Hamlet government office: "All the Captains sent to observe the ritual are dead. Jade Liquid Realm demons were involved — all of them have been slain."

Hearing this, the Inner Camp Miss showed no grief on her face; her smile instead became more genuine. Clearly she recognized the Li siblings, and not a word was mentioned about the dead. She sighed, "Xinhan is about to be promoted to Deputy General now. In the future, when I see him, I'll have to address him as my lord."

A few Outer Camp Captains nearby glanced coldly at her, but didn't dare say more, and turned to leave the External Affairs Hall.

Li Mujin's expression remained calm; she had no intention of making small talk with her, and said flatly, "Then you'll have to wait a few more months. Please take the trouble to look over the document carefully."

Hearing this, the man on the other side reached out and flipped open the document, a hint of puzzlement appearing in his eyes: "First merit — Shen Yi?"

Although he wasn't familiar with the name, the matter of a team leader's achievements being listed below those of his subordinates couldn't be said to be entirely unheard of, but it was still extremely rare.

Especially given that Li Xinhan was only one first-merit short of promotion.

It made it all the more incomprehensible.

He continued reading downward, and his pupils contracted slightly: "The one you exterminated was the River God of Water Cloud Hamlet?"

The man looked up in astonishment, finally turning his gaze to the silent, taciturn young man behind Li Mujin.

After a moment, he chuckled, "Brother, your breath-concealment technique is truly impressive. Another expert the Li family's old lord has invited from somewhere, I suppose. By the rules, your rank should be raised by one grade. As for the reward — do you want a martial art or a precious pill?"

Finally, something that interested him came up.

Shen Yi stepped forward, his goal clear: "Wind Thunder Melting Sun Manual."

The moment these words left his mouth, the two behind the counter fell silent, exchanged a glance, and an inexplicable hint of reverence crept onto their faces.

Asking for a martial arts internal cultivation method — so he's really at the initial realm?

They had originally assumed he was here to clear the path for Li Xinhan, but it turned out he was here to lie back and reap the merits.

What kind of background must he have...

They quickly composed themselves, turned, and went inside. After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they came out with a brand-new ink-black robe, a hand-copied martial arts manual, and a bottle of precious pills.

"Once you've changed out of your old uniform, just leave it here — we'll send someone to collect it. This is a copy transcribed in advance by someone, so you won't have to trouble yourself. As for this pill, according to the rules, every newcomer joining Zhen Mo Si is entitled to a ten-year medicinal bath. You probably won't need it, so let's just convert it into Qi-Gathering Pills at its value."

The woman placed the items on the table with a beaming smile.

The man, meanwhile, pulled out another medicine bottle from his sleeve: "Those are from the imperial court. This one counts as a small meeting gift — just a token of our regard."

Li Mujin turned her body to the side, shifting her gaze elsewhere.

Shen Yi gathered up the items, leaving only that extra bottle of pills untouched, and said calmly, "Many thanks for the kind intention. I appreciate the thought."

Although he was unwilling to form any entanglement with them, he didn't deliberately put on a lofty, disdainful air either.

He turned and left the External Affairs Hall.

Li Mujin followed him out, laughing, "Are you really this wary of getting entangled with the scions of Qingzhou?"

Shen Yi halted his steps, turned his head, and said slowly, "Your connections are useful — useful indeed. I'm just afraid that if I use them too much, I'll end up having to change my surname."

Like just now — a ten-year medicinal bath converted into Qi-Gathering Pills.

Things like this do exist by the rules, but if no one brings them up, then they don't exist.

Someone else will fetch the clothes, and someone will have copied the martial arts manuals in advance…

It seems that as long as one has a bit of background, these trivial little matters will be quietly taken care of by an invisible hand, neat and tidy.

No one dislikes an easy life, but everything comes with a price.

"Why split hairs so much?" Li Mujin stretched her body and blinked. "Going by that kid Li Xinhan's idea—first asking you to be a guest elder, then offering his sister in marriage—maybe we'll end up being one family in the future."

Shen Yi looked at her flickering gaze, thought for a moment, and his voice grew a touch more serious: "It's still better to keep things clear."

"Pfft, what a buzzkill."

Li Mujin walked ahead with her hands behind her back: "I'll take you to see your quarters. Those few will probably all have to stay at the medical hall, so you'll be living on your own for a while."

The instant she turned around, her tone was as usual, still that playful, off-key manner, but her eyes narrowed slightly.

(End of chapter)