The Mission Arrived

In the study in the county yamen's rear courtyard.

Gao Yunyi sat with a calm gaze and an unruffled expression.

County Magistrate Zhang stood respectfully, bent at the waist with his eyes lowered and a tense expression on his face.

Unlike his earlier panic and trepidation, County Magistrate Zhang seemed much more at ease now.

After all, he had resolved to become a good official: honest and upright, diligent in his duties and devoted to the people. Though he had yet to put it into practice, he felt a newfound, inexplicable confidence.

Perhaps it was just as people often said: a straight body feared no crooked shadow; a man with no guilty deeds feared no ghosts knocking at his door.

County Magistrate Zhang pondered this to himself, sinking ever deeper into the feeling, unable to pull himself free.

From now on, I must be a good official, an incorruptible official.

It feels so damn good to be open and upright, with a clear conscience.

Gao Yunyi had no idea how lively County Magistrate Zhang's thoughts were at that moment, much less that his arrival had made a corrupt official rein in his horse at the edge of a cliff and turn over a new leaf.

He was sorting through the information he had just obtained from the man.

Neither the Daliang Kingdom nor the dynasties that came before it matched any of the historical dynasties he knew. In other words, this was a completely unfamiliar ancient world.

That was not good news for Gao Yunyi. It meant he could not use his prior knowledge of history to foresee the major events that would occur.

There was good news, however. This was not a xuanhuan or xianxia world, and it might not even qualify as a high-martial world.

There were martial artists in this world, but they did not seem very powerful. At any rate, according to County Magistrate Zhang, he had never seen anyone who could split a mountain with a sword stroke or sever a river with a slash of a saber.

County Magistrate Zhang was an official appointed by the imperial court, a seventh-rank county magistrate.

His experience, knowledge of the world, and even his learning were beyond anything ordinary commoners of shallow experience could compare with.

Thus, County Magistrate Zhang's words were highly credible.

As for tales of immortals, ghosts, and monsters, County Magistrate Zhang had never believed them before, but now he believed them without a shred of doubt.

After all, an immortal was sitting right in front of him.

Looking at the little stars twinkling in County Magistrate Zhang's eyes, Gao Yunyi's mouth twitched slightly.

Those eyes were full of worship, reverence, and fanaticism. Although the magistrate only stole occasional glances while pretending not to notice, they still made Gao Yunyi uncomfortable all over.

He disliked being the center of attention, let alone the object of such fervent worship.

For someone with social anxiety like him, it was like having a swarm of ants crawling all over his body. It was unbearably uncomfortable.

Yet his current identity destined him to be the focus of countless eyes and the object of their worship.

Even without his identity as an immortal, that peerless face alone would keep his life from being peaceful in the future.

Sigh!!!

Sure enough, being handsome was a mistake too.

What else could I do but endure it and get used to it?

Gao Yunyi was somewhat troubled by the thought.

After gaining a general understanding of the world, Gao Yunyi composed himself and asked a question in an even tone, leaving County Magistrate Zhang baffled.

"County Magistrate Zhang, is there anything you can't handle?"

County Magistrate Zhang: "..."

What does the immortal mean by that?

Is he hinting at something?

Or did I do something wrong and anger him?

Could it be that the immortal already knows I used to be a corrupt official and intends to punish me?

It's so hard to understand, so hard to guess!!!

County Magistrate Zhang first stared in astonishment, then cold sweat streamed down his forehead. Finally, he fell to his knees with a thud.

"Please forgive me, exalted immortal! Spare my life!"

Gao Yunyi was dumbfounded as he watched County Magistrate Zhang kneel on the floor, kowtowing frantically and begging for mercy.

He had tried his best to put it in simple terms, so why was this fat magistrate still reacting so strongly?

"Get up. I'm not blaming you."

Gao Yunyi spoke, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

County Magistrate Zhang froze. He secretly raised his head and glanced at the immortal, seeing no sign of anger on his face. He immediately breathed a sigh of relief and, as though granted a full pardon, shakily rose to his feet.

"Let me finish speaking first," Gao Yunyi said helplessly.

County Magistrate Zhang nodded like a pestle pounding garlic. "Yes, yes, yes. Please, immortal, go on. Please go on."

"What I mean is, is there anything you or Heyang County can't resolve?" Gao Yunyi asked succinctly.

County Magistrate Zhang shook his head frantically. "No, no. The people of Heyang County are honest and simple, with plenty of food and clothing. The officials are upright and incorruptible, and the common people live and work in peace."

Gao Yunyi: "..."

In an ancient feudal society, you're telling me the people are honest and simple, everyone has plenty to eat and wear, the officials are upright and incorruptible, and the common people live and work in peace? Do you take me for an idiot?

"I'll give you one more chance. Try again."

Gao Yunyi spoke in an indifferent tone, his eyes fixed coldly on the man.

County Magistrate Zhang was instantly cowed. He felt the immortal's frost-cold presence and saw the sharp eyes that could see through everything as clearly as a blazing fire.

"Reporting to the exalted immortal, yes, there is. There is."

County Magistrate Zhang fell to his knees again with a thud.

This time, however, Gao Yunyi did not tell him to get up.

This fat magistrate is the kind who only responds to force, not kindness. What a lowlife.

"Speak."

Gao Yunyi sat up a little straighter, suppressing the emotions rising within him as he spoke with a cold expression.

Under Gao Yunyi's formidable presence, County Magistrate Zhang finally told him the whole story, trembling with fear.

It turned out that more than sixty li from Heyang County's seat stood Crouching Ox Mountain, where a gang of bandits had seized the mountain and ruled it as their own.

The bandits not only robbed merchants and travelers passing by but also frequently descended the mountain to raid villages. They murdered and set fires, raped and pillaged; vicious beyond measure, there was no evil they would not commit.

County Magistrate Zhang had once reported them to the prefectural authorities, who sent soldiers to suppress them, but to no avail. Crouching Ox Mountain had sheer cliffs on three sides, with only a narrow path at the front for entering and leaving. The bandits had also built stockade walls, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Not only did the soldiers fail to wipe out the bandits, but they also suffered heavy casualties and a crushing defeat.

Heyang County was an impoverished lower-grade county and lacked the means to organize a second campaign. The bandits of Crouching Ox Mountain grew even more brazen, running rampant without restraint and bringing calamity to the region.

After hearing County Magistrate Zhang's account, Gao Yunyi's eyes lit up.

"I'll help you wipe out the bandits on the mountain."

Though excited inwardly, Gao Yunyi spoke without betraying it.

At those words, County Magistrate Zhang jerked his head up, his face full of disbelief.

"Th-th-this... how could I dare trouble the exalted immortal with mundane affairs?" County Magistrate Zhang replied in fear and trepidation.

Gao Yunyi could not be bothered to give him a lofty speech. He simply said coldly, in a tone that brooked no refusal, "I think it's acceptable. What do you think, County Magistrate Zhang?"

"Acceptable, of course it's acceptable! If the exalted immortal is willing to act, rid us of the bandits, and bring peace to the people, it would be Heyang County's greatest honor. I, Zhang Huaimin, thank the exalted immortal for his grace on behalf of the people of Heyang County."

County Magistrate Zhang bowed deeply to Gao Yunyi. This bow was sincere, from the bottom of his heart.

And just as County Magistrate Zhang finished speaking, a translucent mission panel appeared before Gao Yunyi's eyes.