Chapter 226

Send Chen Mu to Zhenzhou?

Zhao Fuzhou first froze, then carefully pondered Zhang Xueli's words, and the more he thought, the more reasonable they seemed.

He knew Chen Mu's abilities and character better than anyone—undoubtedly a talent worth cultivating, and between them lay a bond of gratitude, sufficient for trust.

Sending him to Zhenzhou as a Censor would both train him and make him a powerful ally.

"Perfect! Indeed suitable!"

Zhao Fuzhou's face lit up with excitement; he rose and said, "I'll go to headquarters to find him right away."

"I'll go with you," Zhang Xueli smiled. "For caution's sake, let me meet him first."

Hearing this, Zhao Fuzhou paused, then suddenly understood.

"Then I entrust him to my lord!"

…

Southern Circuit Martial Command Headquarters, Resource Exchange Point.

Chen Mu carefully scanned the catalog's abundant array of heart-protecting and soul-protecting treasures, his gaze finally settling on a dark golden bead with a warm luster and faintly swirling Sanskrit characters.

Three-Laughter Buddha Bead!

It was a round bead engraved with three distinct Buddha smiles.

It possessed the effect of calming the mind and stabilizing the spirit, guarding against soul attacks—exactly the soul-protecting treasure Chen Mu needed.

Yet the exchange cost of this Three-Laughter Buddha Bead was exorbitant, consuming nearly nine-tenths of Chen Mu's accumulated merit points.

Once he obtained the bead.

Chen Mu carefully sensed it, and his spirit instantly grew tranquil.

According to the description, the Three-Laughter Buddha Bead could resist any spiritual attack from experts below the Earth Altar Realm's Spirit Perception stage!

At least ten times!

With such effects, the exchange cost was hardly surprising.

He ceased sensing and tucked the bead securely against his body.

Just as he prepared to leave, a middle-aged man in steward's attire hurried over.

"Censor Chen, please wait," the steward said respectfully. "My Lord Zhang requests your presence."

"My Lord Zhang?" Chen Mu blurted out. "Which My Lord Zhang?"

"Naturally, My Lord Zhang Xueli," the steward replied respectfully.

Zhang Xueli?

Chen Mu thought—Deputy Commander of the Southern Circuit Martial Command?

This was a major figure, high in rank and power.

Why seek him out?

With curiosity stirring, Chen Mu nodded. "I'm grateful for your guidance."

"Censor Chen, this way!"

The steward stepped slightly aside and walked ahead to lead the way.

Chen Mu quickened his pace to follow.

Soon, they arrived at a serene, elegant official office.

Inside the hall, a middle-aged man in elegant scholar's robes sat in the main seat, his face gentle yet radiating authority as he read a scroll.

"Subordinate Chen Mu, pays respects to My Lord Zhang!"

Chen Mu stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Zhang Xueli set down the scroll, smiling warmly and gesturing with an empty-handed supportive motion. "Censor Chen, no need for such formalities."

He studied Chen Mu, his eyes filled with admiration. "I've long heard of a remarkable young prodigy emerging in our Martial Command. Today I see you with my own eyes—your reputation is well-deserved. You dominated Wudicheng and claimed the Dragon-Tiger Storm Summit's championship, bringing glory to our Martial Command. Excellent! Very good!"

"My lord overpraises me; I am unworthy."

Chen Mu replied with calm dignity, yet his mind raced to discern the true purpose behind the Deputy Commander's summons.

Just as he was about to speak, the curtain beside the room was drawn aside, and a familiar figure stepped out smiling.

"Hah! Chen Mu, long time no see?"

Seeing the man, Chen Mu's face flashed with shock, then melted into genuine joy as he rose. "Brother Zhao! What are you doing here?"

The man was Zhao Fuzhou!

Zhang Xueli, seeing this, stroked his beard and laughed heartily. "Looks like I don't need to introduce you two."

"Indeed not—Brother Zhao is my benefactor," Chen Mu said with emotion.

"Benefactor? I merely mentioned your name," Zhao Fuzhou waved dismissively.

After a few pleasantries, Zhang Xueli rose. "This place isn't suitable for private talk. Come with me to the back courtyard."

The three moved to a more secluded room in the back courtyard, dismissed all attendants, and took their seats.

Zhao Fuzhou spoke first, smiling. "Chen Mu, it was I who asked My Lord Zhang to summon you."

Before Chen Mu could ask, he added, "Have you been assigned your next inspection location?"

"Not yet," Chen Mu shook his head.

Hearing this, Zhao Fuzhou's smile deepened; he made the invitation outright. "Then perfect—I'd like you to go to Zhenzhou as your next post, exercising your Censor authority. What do you say?"

"Inspect an entire province's Martial Command?" Chen Mu raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Zhao Fuzhou explained, "With your accumulated merit points, you're qualified to be promoted from Ding Zi Censor to Bingzi. Add your rank of 30th on the Rising Dragon List, and your title as champion of Wudicheng's once-in-a-decade Dragon-Tiger Storm Summit—you're fully qualified to serve as Provincial Censor."

His expression grew slightly more serious as he continued, "To be frank, I'm being reassigned to Zhenzhou as its chief Martial Command officer. But Zhenzhou's situation is complicated—I need someone I can trust."

Beside him, Zhang Xueli added at the right moment, his tone more solemn: "Within Zhenzhou lies a Wang Fu—the Jing'an Wang Fu. The Jing'an Prince is His Majesty's younger brother, and his mother once raised His Majesty."

"Therefore, the identity of the Prince of Jing'an is rather special. Even though his own martial dao talent is mediocre — only Innate Realm — he cannot be touched."

"However, our Zhenwu Division has received reliable intelligence that the Prince of Jing'an has been involved in matters he should not have been involved in. We simply lack solid evidence at present, so not only can we not act against him, we cannot even let the slightest bit of this information leak!"

"What I need you, Chen Mu, to do is, when you come down to it, also quite simple."

Zhao Fuzhou picked up the thread, looked at Chen Mu, and said solemnly, "You will appear in a high-profile manner in your identity as the newly appointed Inspector of Zhenzhou, drawing the attention of all the various forces in Zhenzhou — especially the Wang Fu of the Prince of Jing'an."

"This way, I can hide in the shadows, making it convenient to investigate and resolve the real problem. Though I have taken up the post of chief official, I will not publicly reveal myself right away."

Chen Mu listened to the two men's account and had already understood in his heart.

This was a stratagem of "repair the plank road openly, cross Wei secretly."

He didn't need to personally charge into the fray, investigate cases and break the deadlock — he only needed to play the part of a high-profile Inspector on the surface.

"No problem."

Chen Mu stated his position cleanly and crisply.

Being able to complete the mission without fighting and killing, and also being able to help Zhao Fuzhou — he was naturally willing.

The "Qilin Armory" opens at the end of the year, in December.

More than half a year was more than enough time for Zhao Fuzhou to root out the problem.

"Many thanks!"

Seeing Chen Mu agree so readily, Zhao Fuzhou was moved in his heart. He rose and solemnly cupped his fists in a bow.

Chen Mu hurriedly turned sideways to avoid it, shook his head and said, "Brother Zhao, you're killing me with such courtesy. If it weren't for you back then promoting me into the Zhenwu Division and recommending me to become an Inspector, how would I have what I have today?"

"Those words are wrong!"

Zhao Fuzhou's face was solemn. "Whatever achievements you have today are entirely due to your own effort and talent. Back then I merely followed the regulations and gave a trivial lift of the hand — it really doesn't count for anything."

"Brother Zhao, you're being too modest. Without that 'lift of the hand' from you, I would have had no chance to step through this door…"

"No, the key still lies with you yourself…"

Seeing the two actually "arguing" over this, Zhang Xueli beside them couldn't help but laugh out loud, interrupting: "Alright, alright, you two stop thanking each other back and forth. In this official's view, on such matters, empty argument is useless."

"How about this — tonight this official will play host, prepare a few cups of watery wine, and whichever of you wins by drinking last, that one's words shall count as right! How about it?"

Chen Mu and Zhao Fuzhou heard this, exchanged a glance, and couldn't help but burst into laughter at the same time.

"Good! We'll do as my lord says!"

……

The discussion was finished amid laughter and talk.

When leaving Zhang Xueli's office, Zhao Fuzhou took down a weapon-hiding case from his back and handed it to Chen Mu.

"This is the reward for winning the championship of the 'Dragon Tiger Wind and Cloud Tournament.'"

A mystic weapon?