Chapter 239: Ninth Master

"It's not difficult," Seeing Fu Jingyu said, "but our Nancheng Patrol Station already has several inspectors; where would we assign him if transferred here?"

Xu Yuan had already thought it through: "First, ask Shi Bading or Wan Yun to help guide him."

Seeing Fu Jingyu nodded: "Good, I'll write to my teacher and have them both transferred here."

The three turned back to the city, and Xu Yuan began calculating how to build his own alchemy room.

First, he needed a house.

The silver from Third Sister had already been delivered, so there was no need to worry about money for buying a house.

Xu Yuan had already sent Lang Xiao Ba to find a broker to find him a clean courtyard near the Nancheng Patrol Station.

Among all the equipment for the alchemy room, the most important was naturally the alchemy furnace; it was best to use bronze, melt it with Fu Zhong Huo in the belly, and forge it by hand...

But Xu Yuan could not forge it.

In terms of shape, a gourd shape, a ding shape, or a Bagua furnace shape would all do.

Besides that, there were also alchemy cauldrons, medicine cabinets, medicine mortars, medicine grinders, silver needles, funnels, and so on.

As Xu Yuan was thinking about these things, the three had already returned outside the Nancheng Patrol Station; he saw Lin Wanmo leading two girls of twelve or thirteen, returning with a motherly smile on her face.

Meeting everyone at the door, Lin Wanmo waved to Xu Yuan: "Come quickly and look, I bought you a maid."

Xu Yuan stood with his mouth agape: "I don't need anyone to serve me..."

"Nonsense," Lin Wanmo said angrily, "You are an official lord now, how can you have no one to serve you? Besides, how can you eat outside all day? There must be someone to cook at home."

The stepmother went on chattering, "I've already bought a house for you; it's not far from here. Although it's not big, it's clean and tidy. You can live there first, and change later when you get promoted..."

Xu Yuan was stunned again: "You've already bought a house?"

"It was also with the money you gave me before," Lin Wanmo said. "You're already quite old; which good Miss would marry in without a house?"

Lin Wanmo pushed the two maids toward Xu Yuan, then went to take Song Lu's hand: "Young Lady Song, do you have any female cousins in your family of suitable age? Keep an eye out for our A-Yuan..."

"Lin Wanmo!" Xu Yuan shouted loudly, his old face feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Tch—" Lin Wanmo was disdainful, "Still shy? What's there to be shy about? You're at the age to get a wife. Before I came out, Aunt Wang specifically urged me."

She waved her hand: "I'll handle this matter; you just listen obediently."

Xu Yuan gave Song Lu a fierce look.

Song Lu was confused: What does that mean? Do you want a wife or not? Tell me clearly; just one look from you, I really don't understand...

Xu Yuan waved his hand in annoyance and decided not to bother anymore.

Since Lin Wanmo bought the house, it saved him the trouble.

Lin Wanmo immediately took Xu Yuan over to take a look.

It was just a small courtyard with five rooms.

It was more than enough for Xu Yuan to live there with the two little maids.

Lin Wanmo arranged everything so she wouldn't worry after leaving.

"These two girls are also people of bitter fate," Lin Wanmo told Xu Yuan. "There were too many children in their families to support, so their parents had to sell them.

They are clean and clever; I'm at ease leaving them to take care of your daily life and meals. It's just that their cooking skills certainly won't be as good as mine; don't have too high expectations, or you'll scare the two girls."

"Fine, fine, fine," Xu Yuan agreed impatiently.

Then he calculated in his mind where to build the alchemy room.

He also said absentmindedly, "You still need to stay for a while; the time we agreed on with Captain Zhang Laoya hasn't arrived yet."

Also because of this agreement, Xu Yuan could not move in yet.

However, the news that Inspector Xu had bought a house had already been spread to the office by the big-mouthed Zhou Leizi.

By evening, Shi Bading and Wan Yun both arrived carrying gifts.

There were also several other inspectors.

Although Sang Yizi didn't come, she had Shi Bading bring along a gift of money.

That night, Xu Yuan hosted a table again at Wewei Lou.

A few people drank too much, and Xu Yuan arranged for people to send them back.

One cannot get drunk and fall outside at night.

Shi Bading also drank seven or eight tenths full and forcibly pulled Xu Yuan: "Let's go, let's go, you send your older brother home."

Halfway there, Shi Bading sent his Captains away: "Brother Xu is sending me; what else are you worried about? Get lost, get lost."

After only two people were left, Shi Bading's eyes cleared up: "Younger brother, Lord He might be leaving."

Xu Yuan was stunned: "Leaving?"

"Not that soon; it's estimated to take another half year or so," Shi Bading said, lowering his head, his voice somewhat low. "Lord He has also seen clearly; staying in this Champa Office is meaningless for him, and the brothers below... all have complaints against him in their hearts."

Xu Yuan nodded.

This is the benefit of having connections up top.

If one feels there is no future, one can change to another place.

But this also once again proved He Youxing's character; unable to open up a situation here, he thought of retreating when facing difficulties; I won't clash with you head-on.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment and asked, "What about you, older brother? Do you still want to leave with Lord He?"

Shi Bading raised his head and said somewhat awkwardly, "Lord He has the grace of recognizing my talent; wherever he is transferred, I should naturally follow him."

This speech obviously wasn't finished yet; Xu Yuan waited.

"But... Lord He might be leaving Southern Jiaozhi this time. My family is here; several children are not yet adults; older brother doesn't want to be too far away."

Those who had complaints against Lord He were not only the brothers below, but also Shi Bading.

One cannot blame Shi Bading for being ungrateful; the ancients also said, "Good birds choose trees to perch on"; He Youxing is not a wise lord, and he also has the power to choose.

Xu Yuan then had a clear idea: "Then older brother should stay; we brothers will work together. No matter who comes to be the Chief Law Officer, they will always need us brothers to handle affairs for them."

A heavy stone fell from Shi Bading's heart; he gripped Xu Yuan's arm tightly: "Good, then I won't leave; let's continue associating."

"Good." Xu Yuan smiled.

Xu Yuan sent Shi Bading home; the sky was about to darken.

Under the city gates everywhere, after the guards on duty gave a single shout, the gates slowly closed.

Outside the North Gate, a group rode in on horseback, covered in dust, entering Zhan City at the very last moment before the gates shut.

The group totaled five people, with a man of about thirty leading them.

He was quite burly, wearing a set of royal blue yesa robes.

The four behind him were clearly his attendants, with everything revolving around him.

After entering the city, their destination was clear; they galloped across the empty streets and suddenly reined in their horses outside the Nancheng patrol station.

The fine horses neighed and reared up on their hind legs.

They turned in circles on the spot before finally standing still again.

The man sat upright on his horse, his back straight, gazing at the Nancheng patrol station.

Inside the gate, two Captains on duty saw their suspicious behavior and were about to come out to question them.

The man suddenly wheeled his horse, and the five of them galloped away with a clatter.

Arriving at a courtyard in Chengxi, the people inside were already growing impatient: "Why haven't they arrived yet?"

Seeing the five riders galloping toward them, the people in the courtyard hurriedly shouted, "They're here, they're here," and opened the gate; the five did not dismount but rode straight in.

The courtyard was quite large; the man flipped off his horse and tossed the reins directly to the person standing nearby.

Several people came out to greet him from inside the house; the leader, whose back was slightly hunched, stepped forward, bowed, and clasped his fists, saying, "Ninth Master, the journey has been arduous."

Ninth Master strode through the door, grabbed a wine jar from the table, drank half of it in one go, then slammed the jar heavily onto the table. Without wiping the wine from his beard, he asked with the ferocity of a tiger, "What is the background of that Xu Yuan who killed my good sister? Have you all found out clearly?"

(End of this chapter)