Dismissed from Office

When he arrived at the city gate, it was about to close, but the soldiers guarding the city reached out and stopped him.

"Hey, what are you thinking about? Where's your travel permit?"

Shen Jingchuan was taken aback, only then realizing that he had no travel permit. Ever since he started cultivating immortality, he had never taken his identity and travel permit seriously.

He didn't say much, but raised his hand, and a flame suddenly shot up from his fingers.

The soldiers were so frightened when they saw this that their fierce expressions vanished instantly.

"Immortal... Immortal Master!"

They quickly bowed and saluted, their backs bent like shrimp.

"So it's you, Master Immortal! Please, please. I was blind and offended you."

Shen Jingchuan waved his hand, didn't reply, and stepped into the city.

Once in the city, he inquired around and found out where Great Confucian Yan lived, then went to find him.

He had said before that he wanted to come to the Capital to find this master and formally become his disciple, but he hadn't had the time until now.

Although he has now cultivated immortality and become a cultivator, this person is still his master, who once recognized him.

This old gentleman is a good person and very knowledgeable. He has always remembered the bond between teacher and student. Oh, and he hasn't seen his senior sister for a long time either.

When Shen Jingchuan arrived at the gate of the Yan Residence, he didn't put on airs as a celestial master. He stepped forward, cupped his hands to the gatekeeper, and said that he wanted to pay his respects to Lord Yan.

The man gave him a wary look, speaking politely.

"Young master, my master is unwell and has been staying home these days, refusing to see anyone. Please leave your name, and we can visit you again once my master is fully recovered."

Shen Jingchuan smiled.

"Since Master is unwell, I must see him. Go in and tell him I'm from Yuxi Prefecture, and my surname is Shen."

The doorkeeper was taken aback. After looking at him carefully, his expression immediately changed. He was both surprised and delighted, and stepped forward to bow deeply.

"Oh my! You must be that Young Master Shen who rose to fame at the poetry gathering? My master often talks about taking you as his apprentice; the whole household knows it! I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you. Please come in, please come in!"

Shen Jingchuan waved his hand.

No need for such formalities.

The doorman called to another doorman to accompany him as he ran inside, quickly heading to the backyard to report.

As soon as Shen Jingchuan stepped into the second courtyard, an elderly man with half-gray hair came out to greet him, looking excited. He hadn't even put his cotton coat on properly; it was just half-draped over his shoulders.

"Master! Your disciple greets you."

Shen Jingchuan quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.

Jingchuan! You've finally arrived! It's good that you're here!

Great Confucian Yan reached out to help him.

"It's cold outside, so let's skip the formalities and come inside."

Shen Jingchuan stepped forward and helped his master straighten his cotton-padded coat.

"Master, it's so cold outside, why aren't you dressed properly? Please come inside."

The father and son entered the house and had just sat down, before the tea was even served, when a crisp voice came from outside.

"Is that my junior brother?"

Before he finished speaking, a pretty figure lifted the curtain and entered the main hall. As soon as she saw him, her eyes lit up, and she immediately began to scold him.

"Oh, so you've finally decided to come. You've said so many times you wanted to go to the capital, and you're only just arriving now. You've finally decided to climb out of your lap of luxury?"

Shen Jingchuan quickly stood up and bowed.

"Greetings, Senior Sister. You've wronged me terribly, Senior Sister! I've been so busy these past few days, I haven't had a moment to breathe."

Great Confucian Yan glared at his daughter.

"Shuyao, don't be rude. I've spoiled you rotten."

Yan Shuyao sat down to the side with a smile.

"Father, he promised it himself. Last time I was in Yuxi Prefecture, he said he wanted to go to the capital before I left. Look how long it's been delayed!"

Great Confucian Yan shook his head.

"You know perfectly well that there's been a rebellion in Yuxi Prefecture, it's in complete chaos."

As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at Shen Jingchuan with concern.

"Jingchuan, what's the situation over there now? You weren't implicated, were you?"

Before Shen Jingchuan could speak, Yan Shuyao spoke first.

"Father, don't worry about it," she spoke up from the side. "Didn't I tell you long ago? Your precious disciple is already a Celestial Master."

"Those rebels outside are all mortals. How dare mortals provoke a celestial master?"

After she finished speaking, she turned to look at Shen Jingchuan.

Shen Jingchuan nodded.

"Master, don't worry, Senior Sister is right. To be honest, the leader of this rebellion Hu Tieniu, I know him."

Great Confucian Yan was taken aback.

"You know him?"

Shen Jingchuan then briefly recounted what happened back then.

Hu Tieniu was originally a desperate man driven to desperation by the government. He led a group of refugees on a robbery and ran into Hu Tieniu. Hu Tieniu saw that Hu Tieniu was a good man who had been driven to rebellion by corrupt officials, so he let him go.

As Yan Daru listened, the smile on her face slowly faded, replaced by a look of worry.

"Jingchuan, even though you are now a celestial master, you cannot associate with these rebels."

He leaned forward and spoke, word by word.

"Now that you've embarked on the path of cultivation, you should know the rules here: worldly conflicts are not to be meddlesome."

"Besides, this imperial court is no simple matter either. There are also immortal masters in the Capital, and I've heard their cultivation levels are quite high. They're not something you can handle right now."

Yan Shuyao remained silent, glancing up at Shen Jingchuan.

With that one glance, her brows furrowed. She couldn't discern the true extent of this junior brother's abilities at all. He seemed ordinary, no different from a mortal, yet his depths were unfathomable.

Shen Jingchuan saw this and smiled.

"Senior sister, this is really inappropriate of you." He picked up his teacup. "How can you casually probe someone's cultivation level? It's so impolite."

Yan Shuyao, however, wasn't buying it.

"Alright, stop interrupting. You're not an outsider. But why can't I see through you? Tell me honestly, what is your cultivation level now?"

Shen Jingchuan didn't hide it from her.

"Qi Refining Seventh Layer."

Yan Shuyao gasped, her eyes widening in shock.

"Good heavens, then aren't you practically the same as the Third Princess?"

Shen Jingchuan nodded slightly.

Yan Shuyao's teasing expression gradually faded, and her look became serious.

"Junior brother, even if you are very capable, I still advise you not to get involved with those people."

She lowered her voice.

"I've heard the Third Princess mention that the royal family has an ancestor, but I don't know the exact level. I only know that his cultivation is terrifyingly high, and he's not someone you can afford to offend."

"Master, Senior Sister, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I just..."

He paused, his voice lowering.

"I feel these people are suffering too much. You haven't seen it; in the worst-hit areas, people are even resorting to cannibalism. Countless people die every day by the roadside and in the ditches."

He then recounted how rice was scattered from the sky along the way, and the horrific scenes he witnessed, one by one.

People were selling their children; some collapsed and never got up again. In the village hardest hit by the disaster, nine out of ten households were empty.

The main room was quiet; no one made a sound.

Yan Chongli's chest heaved violently, and he suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

"Why--"

He let out a long sigh, his white beard trembling, and he couldn't speak for a long time, his eyes reddening.

"This imperial court..."

Yan Shuyao looked at her father, her expression darkening, and then turned to Shen Jingchuan and whispered.

"Junior brother, my father has twice petitioned the imperial court to open the granaries for disaster relief and to investigate and punish those corrupt officials who embezzled the disaster relief grain."

"In the end, the corrupt official wasn't punished; instead, he was impeached and dismissed from office, now confined to his home to reflect on his actions. Fortunately, my father was also a renowned scholar, and he saved my life."

Yan Chongli sat in his chair, gazing at the heavy sky outside the window, a heavy breath pressing on his chest, and remained motionless for a long time.