Chapter 165: Watching Him Build a High Tower

"What is going on?"

The sudden sound of gunfire startled the people in the office.

Hao Yi stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside.

"It is the people from the Inspectorate and the City Guard."

Shangguan Xiao also walked to the window, looked outside, and said:

"It seems that Chief Gu's first shot in his counterattack is intended to target the Martial Arts Hall first. A clever calculation, indeed."

As she spoke, she looked toward Hao Yi.

She seemed to possess an intuition that could pierce straight to the heart, always able to see through others' intentions at a glance.

Judging by this choice of Gu Zhenhui's, she immediately felt that part of the reason was aimed at Hao Yi.

However, Hao Yi did not care about such things, so after one glance, he sat back down in his seat.

Li Fei also walked to the window at this time, looked at the situation outside, and appeared thoughtful.

His view was the same as Shangguan Xiao's, and he felt that since Gu Zhenhui had made this move, he likely would not let Hao Yi stay out of it so easily.

Sure enough, not long after, the sound of footsteps came from outside, followed by a knock on the door.

Li Fei closed the wooden box in his hands again, not wanting anyone to see the blade inside.

He still intended to let the "Green-Faced Ghost" use this Ghost-Slaying Blade in the future, so the fewer people who knew about this blade, the better.

"Come in."

Hao Yi said calmly.

The door was pushed open, and Cheng Bi walked in.

"Greetings, Mr. Hao. I am Cheng Bi, a Level 4 Inspector from the Inspectorate."

Cheng Bi swept a glance at Shangguan Xiao standing to the side and bowed to Hao Yi with a composed expression.

Hao Yi remained seated and did not move: "Do you have business with me?"

"I am not here for Mr. Hao; I am here for your student."

Cheng Bi said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Oh?"

Hao Yi's gaze finally showed a trace of fluctuation.

Only then did Cheng Bi turn to look at Li Fei: "The Inspectorate is conducting an operation at the Martial Arts Hall today and is short on manpower. You are to participate as well."

Shangguan Xiao, standing to the side, could not hold back: "He is a student of the Martial Arts Hall. Why should he participate in your Inspectorate's operation?"

Cheng Bi glanced at Shangguan Xiao, did not answer her, and instead said to Li Fei: "I will give you two minutes. I will wait for you outside."

After saying this, he bowed to Hao Yi once more, then turned and walked out of the office.

Hao Yi and Shangguan Xiao both looked at Li Fei, waiting for his explanation.

"Teacher, Martial Aunt, actually I have another identity: I am a secret inspector for the Inspectorate."

Li Fei did not hide it and directly recounted the time he was invited by Cheng Bi.

"Huh?"

After hearing this, Shangguan Xiao could not help but sneer:

"That Chief Gu really plays a good game of chess."

Developing Li Fei into a secret inspector was merely a casual move by the other party at the time; in reality, from the moment he became a secret inspector until now, no one had ever contacted Li Fei, nor had Li Fei taken the initiative to contact Cheng Bi—he simply collected his salary every month.

Now, he was suddenly being put to use.

Since Gu Zhenhui wanted to move against the Martial Arts Hall and had even mobilized the City Guard, how could he possibly be short of a student like Li Fei?

Knowing full well that Hao Yi was here, he still insisted on calling Li Fei away in front of Hao Yi; he might as well have just asked Li Fei to state his identity as a secret inspector outright.

When it comes down to it, it was just to let Hao Yi see the relationship between Li Fei and the Chief's faction, and also to let Hao Yi see this gesture of goodwill offered up voluntarily.

"It seems you are going to perform a meritorious service again this time."

Shangguan Xiao smiled as she looked at Li Fei.

Since the Chief's faction intended to curry favor by winning over Li Fei, they naturally had to give Li Fei sufficient benefits.

"Teacher."

Li Fei looked at Hao Yi, wanting to know his thoughts.

If Hao Yi did not want him to have any dealings with the Chief's faction, he could choose not to be this secret inspector.

"You do not need to ask me. Go and do what you believe is right."

Hao Yi did not give Li Fei advice, but simply said this.

Li Fei was somewhat moved.

He understood the implication of Hao Yi's words: no matter what he did, Hao Yi would cover for him!

"Yes, this student understands."

He bowed deeply to Hao Yi, then placed the wooden box in his hand on the floor and turned to walk out of the office.

"It seems, Martial Brother, that you are truly very invested in this student."

After Li Fei left, Shangguan Xiao spoke up.

"He has talent. I hope he can walk a path that is different from others."

Hao Yi said, looking toward the doorway.

Shangguan Xiao looked at her Martial Brother's profile: "Actually, when you first told me you wanted Li Fei to cultivate the 【Primordial Heavenly Gold】, I was not optimistic. But after seeing Li Fei in person today, I, like you, Martial Brother, have gained confidence in him!"

In the corridor, Cheng Bi was waiting for Li Fei.

Seeing Li Fei walk out, a trace of a smile appeared on his face:

"Let's go. You will come with me to arrest an important figure."

Li Fei did not feel surprised by this at all, only asking:

"Arrest whom?"

Cheng Bi said in a deep voice: "The Master of the Martial Arts Hall—Li Shengjiang!"

The Martial Arts Hall is semi-official in nature; although its administrators do not hold formal government posts, their authority is no lower than that of many officials.

For instance, regarding the Master of the Martial Arts Hall, many say that even if one were to trade a court official for this position, it might not be possible to secure it.

This is only because the Martial Arts Hall has two major "lifelines":

First, the production of implants.

Second, the refining of elixirs for martial arts cultivation.

In fact, these two "lifelines" are both controlled by the Stop-War Institute, because all raw materials are provided by the Stop-War Institute; the Martial Arts Hall is merely responsible for working for the Stop-War Institute and can be seen as an "outsourced unit" of the Stop-War Institute.

However, as long as people are in charge of things, there will always be loopholes to exploit. Coupled with the imperial court's policy support for Martial Arts Halls across various regions, which grants the Martial Arts Hall a certain "quota" to cultivate students, the Martial Arts Hall has plenty of profit to be made despite being mere "laborers."

That is why the authority of the Martial Arts Hall Master is so heavy.

Li Shengjiang, the Master of the Xingcheng Martial Arts Hall, is a staunch member of the Tiger Blade Gang faction and has diverted countless martial arts cultivation resources to the Tiger Blade Gang over the past few years.

For Yu Hu, Li Shengjiang's importance can be said to be second only to Zhang Mingze.

Now that Zhang Mingze has been dead for less than a day, Gu Zhenhui is moving against Li Shengjiang—one cannot say he is not ruthless!

Cheng Bi led Li Fei out of the instructor office building and walked all the way toward the back of the Martial Arts Hall.

"I am a Senior Instructor of the Martial Arts Hall! Only the Supervisory Court and the Stop-War Institute have the authority to manage me! By what right do you arrest me?!"

On the way, Li Fei saw a Senior Instructor being shackled in iron chains, being escorted by several City Guards, shouting as he walked.

Similar scenes were happening in many places throughout the Martial Arts Hall.

Any Senior Instructor, Special Instructor, or member of the Martial Arts Hall management belonging to the Tiger Blade Gang faction was to be taken away today!

"Lord Cheng, with the Inspectorate and the City Guard coming to make arrests today, have the Supervisory Court and the Stop-War Institute not reacted at all?"

Li Fei asked.

Cheng Bi turned his head to look at him.

If it were before, he would not have answered this question for Li Fei.

But now, knowing that Li Fei had a Dao Foundation-stage Master and a Dao Foundation-stage Martial Aunt, his attitude toward Li Fei had completely changed:

"There is no movement from the Stop-War Institute; that Head Venerable Yan has likely already abandoned the Tiger Blade Gang. As for the Supervisory Court, their administrative authority over the Martial Arts Hall is far less than that of the Stop-War Institute. It is very difficult to stop this matter, and that Chief Inspector Wu is currently overwhelmed and likely has no heart to manage the Martial Arts Hall."

Having said this, Cheng Bi showed a smile to Li Fei:

"Speaking of which, this matter actually has something to do with you."

"Me?"

"Chief Gu has officially proposed a commendation for Li Lei, the Captain of the First Brigade of the Supervisory Court, today in the name of the Administrative Office, recognizing his meritorious service in the Wuguang District yesterday, and has proposed promoting Li Lei by one rank to serve as Deputy Chief Inspector of the Supervisory Court!"

Cheng Bi observed Li Fei's expression as he spoke.

Li Fei was first surprised, then delighted, and finally looked at Cheng Bi with confusion:

"Lord Cheng, my Uncle Li was promoted three ranks not long ago. Can such a resume allow him to be promoted by another rank immediately and become a court official?"

Cheng Bi laughed: "Chief Gu has naturally considered this. Given your relationship with Captain Li, I can disclose this to you: the Chief's idea is to first find a way to submit the list. Even if the higher-ups do not approve it in the end, Li Lei's name will have at least appeared once in the eyes of those lords above.

Moreover, the Chief will do his best to help Captain Li achieve a promotion in position without a promotion in rank, letting Captain Li hold a nominal post as Deputy Chief Inspector to transition."

The so-called promotion in position without a promotion in rank means letting Li Lei's position in the Supervisory Court rise, but his rank remains the same.

Originally, the rank corresponding to the Deputy Chief Inspector of the Supervisory Court should be a Level 10 official, which is a third-tier court official, but Li Lei's rank is still Level 9; this is the so-called "nominal post."

This situation usually occurs with those who have performed great service but still have shallow seniority; they first transition with a "nominal post," and once their seniority is sufficient, it naturally becomes a substantive post.

If Gu Zhenhui can truly secure a "nominal post" of Deputy Chief Inspector for Li Lei in the end, then as long as there are no accidents, it is a certainty that Li Lei will be promoted to a court official.

Although the Captain of the First Brigade of the Supervisory Court has a high probability of being promoted to Deputy Chief Inspector, if Li Lei can obtain a "nominal post" in advance, this probability becomes 100%, and his speed of promotion will be at least twice as fast as it was originally!

"That is truly wonderful. Many thanks, Lord Cheng, for informing me of this."

Li Fei said with a look of joy on his face.

Cheng Bi looked at the smile on his face and struck while the iron was hot:

"You don't need to thank me; if you want to thank someone, thank Chief Gu. Little Fei, Chief Gu truly appreciates you very much. He personally commended you back then and had me arrange the identity of a secret inspector for you. Now, helping Captain Li get a promotion is partly for your sake. Can you understand Chief Gu's painstaking efforts?"

Li Fei nodded and said solemnly:

"My lord Cheng, rest assured, I understand!"

"It is good that you understand."

Cheng Bi and Li Fei looked at each other for a moment, patted his shoulder, and continued walking forward.

Before long, he led Li Fei to the outside of an independent small courtyard.

This small courtyard was the place where Li Shengjiang, the Hall Master of the Martial Arts Hall, lived and worked daily. The other party did not purchase property outside but lived right inside the Martial Arts Hall.

At this moment, this courtyard had already been surrounded by dozens of City Guards wearing heavy armor and inspectors holding guns.

A military officer clad in heavy armor and holding an iron spear stood outside the main gate of the courtyard. Seeing Cheng Bi bring Li Fei over, he nodded toward Cheng Bi:

"My lord Cheng, the person is inside; we can move at any time."

"Thank you for your hard work, Platoon Leader Zhang."

Cheng Bi said to the other party, his attitude very polite.

Military officers of the Great Lan Dynasty must at least be martial artists; a Platoon Leader who can lead a hundred men is almost always a Qi Transformation stage martial master.

This Platoon Leader Zhang was a martial master, and today he was leading the team responsible for targeting Li Shengjiang.

Li Shengjiang was also a martial master at the early Qi Transformation stage, and his strength was not considered too strong. Having a martial master lead more than twenty City Guards in heavy armor, plus the people from the Inspectorate assisting on the perimeter with guns, was enough to deal with him.

Moreover, Cheng Bi himself also possessed the strength of a martial master.

"Li Shengjiang, will you come out and surrender yourself, or shall I lead my men in to capture you?"

Cheng Bi shouted toward the inside of the courtyard.

No movement came from within the courtyard.

"Enter!"

Cheng Bi stopped waiting and made a gesture.

Two City Guards in heavy armor kicked the courtyard gate open and rushed in first, with the others following one after another.

In the courtyard, a middle-aged man wearing a deep cyan robe was sitting and drinking wine.

He was Li Shengjiang, the Hall Master of the Martial Arts Hall.

Regarding the group that had rushed into the courtyard, Li Shengjiang acted as if he did not see them, simply pouring himself a cup of wine, drinking it in one gulp, and then continuing to pour more.

The group surrounded him tightly.

"Li Shengjiang."

Cheng Bi walked toward the other party, stopped ten meters away, and said slowly:

"I can wait for you to finish this pot of wine. This might be the last pot of wine you drink in your life. Drink slowly, there is no rush."

Li Shengjiang finished another cup of wine and finally stopped pouring more for himself.

He looked up at Cheng Bi, his cheeks somewhat flushed:

"Heh, you are that what's-his-name again?"

"."

"Right, Cheng Bi, is it?"

Li Shengjiang stood up abruptly.

Swish, swish, swish, swish—

The surrounding heavy-armored warriors drew their blades one after another, and the people from the Inspectorate also raised their guns to aim at Li Shengjiang.

But Li Shengjiang did not make any aggressive moves; he just pointed at Cheng Bi and laughed loudly:

"I bet you, this will definitely not be the last pot of wine I drink in this life! Hahahahaha—"

After saying this, he laughed wantonly, then directly picked up the wine pot and poured it into his mouth.

"Take him away!"

At Cheng Bi's order, the surrounding heavy-armored warriors pounced on him.

Li Shengjiang did not resist, allowing the group to bind him tightly with iron chains before taking him away.

Next, Li Fei followed Cheng Bi to capture a Deputy Hall Master and a special-grade instructor, playing a background role the entire time, just standing by and watching.

After capturing these three important figures, Cheng Bi suddenly said to Li Fei:

"Little Fei, I heard that you and a Grade-A student in the Martial Arts Hall named Yuan Dao have some friction. He is also on the arrest list this time; why don't you lead the team to capture him?"

Li Fei was startled, then smiled.

He naturally understood that Cheng Bi was giving him a chance to "show off in front of others," take the opportunity to vent his anger, and it was also a means of showing goodwill.

If Li Fei were merely Li Fei, he might have been interested in this matter.

But since the "Green-Faced Ghost" had even killed the Private Secretary of the Tiger Blade Gang, how could he possibly be interested in a lackey supported by the Tiger Blade Gang?

From beginning to end, he had never truly taken Yuan Dao seriously.

"Haha, many thanks for your kindness, my lord Cheng, but there is no need. My lord Cheng can just have someone capture him."

Li Fei said to Cheng Bi.

"Oh?"

Cheng Bi carefully observed Li Fei's expression and, seeing that he was not being polite but truly did not care about this matter, nodded inwardly:

"This child has a good temperament; no wonder he is so highly regarded by Hao Yi."

So he turned his head and instructed his subordinates:

"You go and capture Yuan Dao and his accomplices together."

And so, Yuan Dao's fate was decided just like that.

This "prominent figure" of the Martial Arts Hall, who had been making threats to Li Fei not long ago, was taken away before he could even see Li Fei's face.

From the moment the Inspectorate and the City Guards entered the Martial Arts Hall, the arrest operation concluded in less than an hour.

When Li Fei first entered the Martial Arts Hall, what he saw was the Tiger Blade Gang's control over the Martial Arts Hall and the prestige of Yuan Dao and the others.

But now, the era of the Xingcheng Martial Arts Hall belonging to the Tiger Blade Gang had completely passed!

As the saying goes:

Watch him build his high tower, watch him feast his guests, watch his tower collapse.

Requesting monthly tickets.

(End of chapter)