Chapter 190: Half of the

Xu Yuan smiled inwardly; the credit from Qingyu Village hadn't been given to Shi Bading in vain.

When something happens, he truly steps up.

Wan Yun had originally mocked Qu Jinpeng for occupying a position without doing any work, but ended up being scolded mercilessly by Shi Bading.

Xie Qingman's face darkened as she snapped: "What's all this noise?"

You're using Wan Yun to indirectly insult me—did you think I couldn't tell you were using the "pointing at the mulberry tree to scold the locust" trick?

Shi Bading gave her no face: "Wan Yun was the one who acted unethically first!"

Xie Qingman turned to He Youxing: "My lord, are you just going to watch them behave so disrespectfully?"

He Youxing glanced at Shi Bading, who crossed his arms and huffed as he sat back down.

He Youxing spoke slowly: "It seems Inspector Wan is eager for merit—then this time, let Inspector Wan handle it."

Wan Yun certainly didn't want to go: "Give me Xu Yuan, and I'll go. Otherwise, I only have one squad—going would just make Shanhe Si laugh and bring shame to Quhui Si."

Xie Qingman let out a light, chilling laugh: "If Elder Qu feels his body can't handle it, then let Shi Bading and Xu Yuan go together. Last time in Qingyu Village, the two of them worked together very well."

Qu Jinpeng's temper flared: "Are you just handing over my subordinates at will? Don't you even ask if I agree? If this is how things are done, let's go to the Southern Office and let the Commandant decide—is this how things should be done?!"

Xie Qingman raised an eyebrow: "Elder Qu, don't try to intimidate me with the Commandant—I'm acting solely for official business!"

"I may be old and my eyesight's dim, but my heart isn't blind!"

He Youxing impatiently tapped the table: "Enough!"

Everyone fell silent.

"Let Shanhe Si choose for themselves." Unable to mediate, He Youxing handed the decision over to Shanhe Si.

Xie Qingman opened her mouth to argue again, but He Youxing waved his hand forcefully: "It's settled!"

…

Xu Yuan followed Qu Jinpeng back to his duty room and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Senior, for defending me."

Qu Jinpeng smiled: "It's nothing. After a pause, he added: "This Lady Xie has a narrow mind and limited vision—she'll keep causing you trouble. Be careful."

"Your disciple understands."

Qu Jinpeng had already figured it out: Xie Qingman's conflict with Xu Yuan wasn't just personal grudge.

She likely felt Xu Yuan's prestige in the Zhancheng Office had grown too high.

Crushing Xu Yuan would establish her authority!

Only then could she stand on equal footing with He Youxing.

A perfectly neutral figure had been turned into an enemy by Xie Qingman's doing.

Qu Jinpeng truly couldn't understand this woman's thinking…

"Senior, just who is this Lady Xie, anyway?"

Qu Jinpeng: "She was a patrol inspector in Hun City. Two years ago, one of her close friends was transferred to the Northern Capital General Office."

"She's said to have earned merit there and now holds real power—this year, she was promoted to Deputy Chief of Discipline."

Xu Yuan understood now—no wonder she was so ambitious.

"Don't worry," Qu Jinpeng said. "As long as I'm here, I won't let her sabotage you."

Xu Yuan thanked the senior again.

When Xu Yuan stepped out of Qu Jinpeng's duty room, his expression turned solemn.

He had a premonition: Shanhe Si was coming for him this time.

Qu Jinpeng had already deduced that the Black Donkey's cultivation roots lay within Shanhe Si.

His stepmother had made a special trip to inform him that Shanhe Si personnel had visited Riverwork Alley.

And precisely after these events, Shanhe Si—uncharacteristically—suddenly proposed a joint investigation with Quhui Si.

It was obvious.

Fu Jingyu noticed Xu Yuan's expression and asked: "Something happened?"

Xu Yuan nodded: "Get ready—this case will be difficult."

Back at the Nancheng patrol duty room, Xu Yuan went to find Lin Wanmo.

He had already given her the mud mask and coffin nails.

He wondered what she'd make of them.

Lin Wanmo's door was shut tight; Xu Yuan knocked, and she called from inside: "Busy right now—come back tomorrow."

Xu Yuan knew his stepmother was busy crafting something for him.

But Zhang Laoya, seeing Xu Yuan return, opened the door and said: "I had Wuwei Restaurant send over wine and dishes—let's eat together."

Xu Yuan went over.

Lang Xiao Ba followed, but Zhang Laoya slammed the door shut with a bang.

It nearly hit Lang Xiao Ba's nose.

Zhang Laoya shouted loudly inside: "This lackey of yours has no sense—when I'm teaching you business law, why is he tagging along?"

Lang Xiao Ba, equally loud: "Who cares to listen! You're morally corrupt, so you think everyone else is a thief!"

Zhang Laoya had never met such a reckless youth—he yanked the door open to scold him.

Outside, Lang Xiao Ba was already gone.

"You're an old man—why argue with a young pup?" Xu Yuan chuckled, sitting down at the table and noticing the meal was excellent: four meat dishes, four vegetable dishes.

Beside it sat a small jar of fine wine.

"Is this meal charged to my account?"

Zhang Laoya looked utterly reasonable: "I'm teaching you the Dao—do you think I should pay for my own meals?"

"Fine," Xu Yuan said, no longer caring about these matters.

Zhang Laoya ate and drank while speaking, truly hiding nothing; for anything below the Seventh Grade, he held nothing back.

But for anything above the Seventh Grade, he did not utter a single word.

Half an hour later, Xu Yuan finished eating and came out.

The sky was nearly dark; Xu Yuan went to Lang Xiao Ba's room.

Lang Xiao Ba did not expect my lord to seek him out at this hour and hurriedly welcomed him inside: "My lord, please enter quickly."

Xu Yuan told him: "Close the door properly."

Lang Xiao Ba closed the door; Xu Yuan did not sit down either, but took half a book from his bosom: "Raise your level as soon as possible."

Lang Xiao Ba took one look and saw it was half of the "Heaven-Piercing Cannon"!

"My lord, this... I, your humble subordinate, am unworthy to receive it."

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "Do not speak of this to others. Only when you establish great merit in the future will I give you the second half."

Lang Xiao Ba knelt down to kowtow, but Xu Yuan held him back: "A true man of steel should not be so fussy and sentimental."

Deeply moved in his heart, Lang Xiao Ba said: "Your humble subordinate will certainly not fail my lord's expectations!"

Xu Yuan nodded: "Cultivate diligently."

Xu Yuan had long since mastered this method thoroughly.

Giving it to Lang Xiao Ba was a reward for his hard work running errands for these past days.

Moreover, since Lang Xiao Ba was now one of his own people, it would not look good on Xu Yuan's face if his strength remained unranked.

But since there were no outstanding merits to speak of, only half was given.

For Lang Xiao Ba's current situation, this was already sufficient.

As for people like Yu Yunhang and Di Youzhi, if Xu Yuan had suitable items, he would naturally bestow rewards upon them as well.

After Xu Yuan left, Lang Xiao Ba immediately began cultivating seriously.

The pent-up resentment left in his heart from Zhang Laoya's earlier disdain and mockery through the door dissipated along with it.

What sort of person is Zhang Laoya anyway?

Only my lord Xu truly possesses such vision and stature.

Such a superior is worth following even at the cost of one's life.

In the future, I must be especially diligent; only with sufficient strength can I serve my lord properly.

Returning to his own room, Xu Yuan suddenly felt his "Merchant Arts" level shift; unexpectedly, it had reached the Eighth Grade without him noticing.

Xu Yuan smiled: "It seems those who know Sister Third have already made their decision in their hearts."

The big deal is done.

(End of this chapter)