Chapter 502: 476 Arrangements

Zhang Jiangjun was clearly unable to understand Tang Zhao's act of taking out a mirror. An ordinary person wouldn't understand it either.

But Tang Zhao's composure was somewhat persuasive, and the mirror in his hand did not look like a dangerous object, so Zhang Jiangjun instructed everyone to wait in the tent and turned to follow Tang Zhao into the rear tent—two powerful Sword Heroes contacting another powerful Sword Hero did not need others to watch. For one, it was disrespectful to the Sword Heroes, and for another, it was very dangerous for the others.

Seeing Tang Zhao lowering his head and swiping back and forth on the mirror, Zhang Jiangjun felt it was quite strange, but he was knowledgeable after all and could guess that it was some kind of Art Tool, only it was not one commonly seen on the market.

Then the mirror surface flashed, and a blurry shadow appeared, gradually becoming clear. Before the person was even seen, a voice came through first: "Azhao? Where are you? Are you in danger?"

Tang Zhao smiled: "That's not it, I'm fine. I have other matters to find you for."

The image on the mirror stabilized, and Xing Ji's face appeared on the surface. As soon as he started, he began scolding with a sour face: "Did I tell you or not? I'm so busy right now I don't even have time to eat. You'd better have an urgent matter to find me for, otherwise, you just wait and see if you waste my time."

Tang Zhao still smiled: "You didn't say that."

Xing Ji let out an "Ah?", and Tang Zhao repeated: "You didn't say you were very busy before."

Xing Ji said huffily: "Then I'm telling you now, did you hear me? Speak quickly if you have something to say, I have a head full of official business right now, no time for nonsense."

Tang Zhao said directly: "I am currently in Xishan. The area is under martial law and no one is allowed in or out. Although I have identification, it is not official business, so I need other proof. Fortunately, there is a general here who knows you, so I had to ask you to verify my identity for me. You have great face, and your words carry weight."

Xing Ji said unpleasantly: "Just this? Which general, hand it to him."

Tang Zhao introduced: "It is this Zhang Jiangjun." He then handed it to Zhang Jiangjun.

That Zhang Jiangjun took it and indeed recognized it was Xing Ji. In fact, the two were not very familiar, and they hadn't spoken many words, but Xing Ji was the type of person who easily left an impression, and he had previously stirred up a great storm, so he was considered a prominent figure in Yunzhou, and thus he would not be mistaken.

Xing Ji recognized Zhang Jiangjun, though of course, he only recognized him; he might not even be able to recall Zhang Jiangjun's name.

Because the relationship was distant, Xing Ji was naturally much more polite and said sincerely: "Zhang Jiangjun, Tang Zhao is a junior of mine. His background is clean, he is upright in character, and his stance is firm with absolutely no problems. He joined the Land Inspection Division when he was young. It's just that he wasn't in the main headquarters of the Land Inspection Division, but was sent by the Land Inspection Division to Zhuoyu Villa in Dongshan County to learn Sword Casting. Now that his studies are complete, he has returned to the Land Inspection Division to take up his post. He is not only a Sword Guest but also a Sword Smith, deeply valued by the Marquis. Previously, he participated in the war against the Heavenly Demons at the Qianxian and performed meritorious service, which General Cui also highly appreciates; all of this can be verified. If it is not a top-secret matter, I hope the General can provide some convenience."

Zhang Jiangjun listened with a numb expression, feeling quite doubtful about life, and couldn't help but say: "Xing Ji, are you joking with me? So young and both a Sword Smith and a Sword Hero, and also a Governor and a Marquis—where did this immortal fall from? Even if there were such a treasure, how could that old man Gongsun not hold him in his hands, but instead send him out to be some Instructor? Is this world turned upside down?"

Xing Ji smiled: "Our Land Inspection Division has plenty of talent... wait, Sword Hero? You misjudged, didn't you?"

That Zhang Jiangjun sneered: "So you didn't know? So you aren't very familiar?"

Xing Ji muttered: "How could I... return the trouble to Tang Zhao."

Zhang Jiangjun handed it to Tang Zhao, and Xing Ji asked directly: "You became a Sword Hero?"

Tang Zhao could not suppress his pride. He had always demanded himself to be humble and cautious, and even if he had truly achieved something, he should not get carried away, but in front of Xing Ji, he was exceptionally relaxed. Although he was beaming, he still deliberately used a casual tone: "Mm, yes, I am a Sword Hero. I obtained an opportunity while traveling the rivers and lakes, and I have made a little progress. I haven't had time to report the good news to you yet."

If there hadn't been outsiders present, he would definitely have laughed out loud.

Xing Ji was silent.

After a while, Xing Ji gave a light cough and said: "Azhao, have I ever offended you before?"

Tang Zhao was stunned for a moment and asked back: "What on earth?"

Xing Ji said: "Was I a bit too loud just now?"

Tang Zhao was between laughter and tears and reminded him: "Chief Xing, Zhang Jiangjun is watching right next to me."

Xing Ji sighed: "I can't worry about him—I'm saying, if I have been lacking in any way, you must tell me. I will definitely correct it. Don't hold it in and wait until you become a Sword Immortal to take revenge on me."

Zhang Jiangjun listened to the two talking on the side and felt that both were unreliable, secretly thinking that he had long heard that Xing Ji of the Land Inspection Division was a frivolous and boring person, and it was indeed true. But when he heard the words "become a Sword Immortal to take revenge," his heart stirred.

Although this was a joke among their own people, could it not also be a hint to himself?

He had previously felt that Tang Zhao was unusually young, but he thought that Sword Heroes could naturally maintain their appearance, so perhaps he was already quite old? He hadn't paid much attention. But watching the state of Tang Zhao and Xing Ji talking, they were exactly like children; he was definitely around the same age as he looked.

At this age, with this kind of strength, isn't that the bearing of a Sword Immortal?

He was also a direct descendant of the Yunzhou Land Inspection Division, and the Land Inspection Division was a direct descendant of the Hou Mansion; they were their own people among their own people. How could the Gaoyuan Marquis not value him? By then, not to mention becoming a Sword Immortal, it wouldn't be long before his status rose to catch up to or even surpass his own.

Otherwise... should he provide some convenience?

Just as Zhang Jiangjun was considering how to turn things around, he heard someone reporting from outside the tent: "General, the Deputy General has returned. He brought back the kid from the Yanyun Sword Sect, and there is other news to report."

Zhang Jiangjun went with the flow and said: "This General knows." He looked at Tang Zhao and said, "This General has official business..."

Tang Zhao immediately followed up: "General, please go ahead. I happen to have something I want to report to Chief Xing."

Zhang Jiangjun nodded and went out on his own.

After Zhang Jiangjun went out, Tang Zhao said to Xing Ji: "Chief Xing, I want to go to Zhongtian Prefecture to see the Marquis. Can I see her now?"

Xing Ji frowned: "That's not easy to say. Now that our efforts against the Turtle Bandits' forces in Yunzhou are beginning to show results, we have already swept through the major forces. But there are still many remnants left underground, and it is not time to relax. Moreover, we have not yet thoroughly investigated their purpose, which is even more worrying. The Marquis patrols Yunzhou daily. Only with her wise eyes can she timely perceive the conspiracy behind the scenes. You want to see the Marquis? Then I will report to her, and when the time comes, I will tell you the place, and you can go and pay your respects yourself."

Tang Zhao said solemnly: "I want to pay my respects to the Marquis in Zhongtian Prefecture. This is very important."

Xing Ji was stunned for a moment and said: "You mean, ask the Marquis to return to Zhongtian Prefecture specifically to wait for you? Is your face that big... no, do you think my face as Chief Xing is that big?"

Tang Zhao said: "Because it is really important. If it weren't of earth-shattering consequence, I wouldn't make such an unreasonable request."

Xing Ji had never heard Tang Zhao speak so solemnly, so he also asked with a serious face: "How important is it?"

Tang Zhao said: "Important to the point that... I don't think I should tell you privately first."

Xing Ji's expression was grave, and he said slowly: "Is that so? If you insist, I can report it to the Marquis, but the result is not something I can control. Do you have anything else to add weight to your request?"

Tang Zhao pondered: "Although it is only a guess, I think it might be related to the conspiracy of the Turtle Bandits. Do you know the relationship between the Turtle Bandits and the Eternal Night Court?"

Xing Ji heard this and said decisively: "That sentence should be enough. I will pass the word on. You return to Zhongtian Prefecture in time; don't really let the Marquis wait for you for a long time. If the one surnamed Zhang doesn't let you go, tell him I said so, and tell him to quit while he's ahead. Is he really going to detain someone from our Land Inspection Division, damn it?"

Tang Zhao nodded. He certainly wouldn't pass the message to Zhang Jiangjun, but he also decided not to delay here, saying: "You can also go back. I want to keep as many people as possible in Zhongtian Prefecture."

Xing Ji said he would see how things went and then disconnected the communication. Zhang Jiangjun did not return here, and Tang Zhao found it inconvenient to go out and listen to military secrets, so he stayed in the rear tent. At this moment, he saw a white shadow flash, and Ling Baoyu returned.

When Tang Zhao was talking to Xing Ji just now, the white fox had slipped out on her own. Tang Zhao was telling important matters and hadn't paid attention to her. Seeing her slip back in now, he remembered there was still such a person and said: "I have already arranged it. We can see the Marquis when we go to Zhongtian Prefecture."

Ling Baoyu nodded. This had already been agreed upon, and they were going to see the Gaoyuan Marquis anyway. She didn't think it was anything remarkable, and immediately followed up: "I just went to the front and saw Yue Lai. He is quite pompous; even the Sword Guests are polite to him. Although that Sword Hero doesn't buy his act, he didn't do anything to him either, just detained him. It seems he won't be able to leave for a while."

Tang Zhao said: "It really is him. So he is from the Yanyun Sword Sect. No wonder he is so proud. The Yanyun Sword Sect is indeed remarkable; it is one of the top sects in Shenzhou, a proper prestigious sect, transcendent above the secular world. I heard there are even legacies of a Sword Immortal..."

He thought of "prestigious sect," his heart stirred, and he remembered one thing, but immediately shook his head: This prestigious sect is too big; it's not something just anyone can match. It's better to be practical.

Ling Baoyu said: "Then that so-called Deputy General brought back another person, saying he was an envoy from Tongming Hall who came to Yunzhou to investigate the Wangliang. Goodness, compared to him, Yue Lai is extremely humble. That person was the one who was arrogant. When that general asked him how many people were traveling with him and what he came to investigate, that person stiffened his neck and said: 'This is a secret of the Imperial Court; you have no need to know.' It angered that general so much he almost chopped him."

Tang Zhao said: "Tongming Hall? Oh, they were established by the Imperial Court specifically to deal with the Wangliang."

Ling Baoyu shook her head: "So this is the person dealing with the Wangliang? Where do they look like people who can get things done? It's a pity you even said you wanted us to cooperate with them. Just looking at them is annoying enough. This is what you call hateful to look at."

Tang Zhao was thoughtful and said: "It might not be that he is truly that arrogant. Perhaps he is using this attitude to provide cover for his companions? There must be more than just him coming from Tongming Hall. He appeared alone; who knows what the others went to do?"

If one were to delve into this, it would probably be another long story, but this had nothing to do with Tang Zhao. After all, Zhang Jiangjun and the others were experienced; how could these tricks be hidden from them? Tang Zhao had a more important mission at hand.

Looking at the situation here, Yue Lai would probably only be able to stay in the military camp for a few days. Tang Zhao could only try to take the Black Widow away, and then he would have to rush to Zhongtian Prefecture.