Chapter 60: There is definitely something going on here

"Incredible, simply incredible!"

Although the Golden Rain Tower's Tanzhou branch hall could not be considered top-tier, it was still quite decent. That Shen Yu could wipe out the Golden Rain Tower's Tanzhou branch hall single-handedly, causing many assassins to fear making a rash move—this level of cultivation is likely quite formidable; it must be at least the Innate Realm.

How much time has even passed? When he saw him back then, he should have still been in the Postnatal Realm. If he hadn't repeatedly confirmed that this couldn't be false intelligence, Mr. Chen would have truly thought someone was pulling their leg.

What's more, the intelligence stated that his sword technique was as flawless and unblemished as white clouds, yet as swift and sharp as thunder, almost impeccable—truly terrifying. Furthermore, the sound-wave martial arts he unleashed with his zither were even more invincible, which is why he is called the "Peerless Zither and Sword" by people in the Jianghu, and he has carved out a place for himself in the vast Jianghu.

Is this really the Shen Hengzhi he knew? Could he have been swapped by someone?

"Good, I never expected Baian County to have such a figure; it truly has opened this old man's eyes!" The old man on the side couldn't help but exclaim once more. He suddenly felt an infinite sense of favor toward this young man he had never met.

Having both courage and strategy, high-level Martial Arts, and not being cowardly in critical moments—even daring to go head-to-head against a massive power like the Golden Rain Tower—isn't this exactly the best candidate he needs? There is no one more suitable than him.

"Peerless Zither and Sword, good, very good. If such a figure goes to Sanshui, he will surely be able to stir up a storm!" The old man slammed the table again; he had clearly made his decision.

This old gentleman was fine in every way, except for his impatient temper and his love for slamming tables. Now, the table in front of him was already covered in cracks. Another table had fulfilled its mission, having lived out its glorious yet short life.

Sigh, it's a good thing that slap didn't land on him, otherwise, he would have had to suffer for it.

"Mr. Chen, I will go prepare a transfer order right now. Once the official transfer document from the Ministry of Personnel comes down, you will personally make a trip to Baian County. Remember to remind him to set off quickly; I cannot wait even a moment longer!"

"Old sir, let's not be in such a hurry. Once your candidate is submitted and we wait for the Ministry of Personnel's transfer document to arrive, this back-and-forth will take at least a month or two. We can't rush it!"

"I know we can't rush it, but these martial arts practitioners are being too overbearing. If we have a County Magistrate with such high-level Martial Arts who isn't afraid of trouble, even if he can't kill them, he can at least disgust them to death!"

"Alright, old sir, as long as you are happy!"

Time flew by, and Shen Yu in Baian County had no idea he was already being targeted. Since he wiped out the Golden Rain Tower assassins in Tanzhou, no one had dared to attempt an assassination for two consecutive months. After all, while three hundred thousand taels were tempting, they weren't as good as being alive.

That was the Golden Rain Tower—a luxurious team consisting of the six ace assassins plus the unfathomable Tower Master and over a hundred top-tier assassins—yet they were completely wiped out in a small valley in Baian County. This truly shocked the entire Tanzhou martial arts world, and Shen Yu's name had even begun to spread throughout the entire Nanhua Domain.

However, Shen Yu was completely unaware of all this. After all, he did not mingle in the Jianghu, and there were no Jianghu experts around him. Naturally, these Jianghu rumors could not reach his ears.

The current Shen Yu was single-mindedly focused on getting things done, building his career, taking in refugees, and arranging for them to build river embankments, roads, reclaim wasteland, and dredge waterways. The entire Baian County seemed to have entered a period of great construction.

Those refugees needed all kinds of daily necessities in addition to food. When they went to work, Shen Yu even paid them wages. With money, naturally, more and more merchants began to move in. Compared to the depression in other places, the entire Baian County was booming at this time.

At this moment, only Sun Heling, the former richest man in Baian County, was silently weeping alone. The money in his estate was flowing away with a swoosh, and the family assets that should have been sold had been sold, basically all exchanged for grain. The foundation he had built with his own hands was basically all spent.

As a man who loved money, nothing was more heartbreaking than watching his money disappear before his eyes. His heart felt cold and desolate!

But he had long since completely abandoned any thought of resistance. As the richest man in Baian County and one of the top merchants in the entire Changling Jun, he had also heard of the Golden Rain Tower's reputation and knew it was a terrifying behemoth. Now that such a behemoth had been destroyed by the County Magistrate, how could he dare to have any other ideas?

He only hoped that, in view of his diligent efforts, the County Magistrate would fulfill his promise and leave him some capital to make a comeback.

"My Lord, these were all wastelands originally, but now they have been reclaimed; from here to there, it's all done!" In the countryside, an elder among the refugees stood respectfully beside Shen Yu, pointing out the wasteland that had been reclaimed during this period.

In the eyes of these refugees, Shen Yu was their savior. And as a County Magistrate, he had no airs at all, often even working alongside them. If such an official is not worthy of respect, then there are no good officials in the world worth respecting.

"Magistrate Shen, it has been many days, and Magistrate Shen is truly impressive!" Suddenly, a hearty laugh rang out in his ears. Shen Yu turned his head and saw a familiar figure heading toward him.

"Mr. Chen?" Shen Yu was also very familiar with this figure and immediately greeted him with a smile, "It has been many days, Mr. Chen, and you are as spirited as ever. May I ask what brings you to my Baian County?"

"I came for you!"

"For me?"

"Indeed!" Nodding, Mr. Chen then smiled and cupped his hands toward Shen Yu, "Magistrate Shen, congratulations, congratulations!"

"Congratulations?" Mr. Chen congratulated him the moment they met, which left Shen Yu somewhat confused. He hadn't been promoted, hadn't made a fortune, and hadn't gotten married; what was there to congratulate him for?

"Magistrate Shen, congratulations, Magistrate Shen, you have been promoted! The imperial court's transfer order will arrive shortly!"

"Promoted?" Hearing Mr. Chen's words, Shen Yu still found it hard to believe. According to the rules, wasn't there an assessment every three years? Only those with good assessment results were eligible for promotion, and that was only eligibility. After all, there were only so many positions, and if the people above were holding onto them, how could there be so many vacancies?

He had already prepared himself for three years after three years, and another three years after that, which was why he was single-mindedly focused on construction, striving to build Baian County into a wealthy, strong, and civilized county.

At this time, someone suddenly told him he had been promoted—how could he not be suspicious? He had only been a County Magistrate for a little over half a year. Even if his performance over this half-year was particularly outstanding and had been noticed by those above, it shouldn't be enough to get promoted this quickly.

"Mr. Chen is joking. What kind of position could the imperial court promote me to? A Judge? A Prefect?"

"Magistrate Shen, it is a County Magistrate position."

"What the heck? County Magistrate?" Are you pulling my leg? Is that even called a promotion? That's just a lateral transfer! Besides, he had finally managed Baian County, and before it even got warm, they wanted to transfer him away? This is coming to pick the peaches! What, do they think he's easy to bully?

Seeming to notice Shen Yu's extremely displeased expression, Mr. Chen smiled lightly, "Jiangzhou, Sanshui County, a top-tier county, Eighth Rank County Magistrate!"

"Sanshui County? Wait, could it be that Sanshui County where three rivers meet and five roads connect?" Raising his eyebrows slightly, Shen Yu almost thought he had misheard. That was a place of wealth and prosperity, incomparable to a backwater like Baian County.

Sanshui County was located at the intersection of three large rivers, with developed water transport, and was also traversed by five trade routes running east-west and north-south. The trade routes were smooth and accessible in all directions. The area of one county was even larger than some smaller Juns, and even the County Magistrate's position was Eighth Rank.

Unlike his current position as County Magistrate of Baian County, which was only a Ninth Rank sesame official. From Ninth Rank to Eighth Rank, skipping the subordinate Ninth Rank entirely, it was indeed a double promotion. If this matter were true, it would truly be a promotion, and a huge profit at that.

However, he was just a poor scholar before, with no money, no power, and no background. How could such a good thing as being transferred to Sanshui County in Jiangzhou fall on him? There is something going on; there is definitely something going on here!