In truth, Ye Liuyun himself was rather confused as well.
But recalling Xing'er's mysterious expression when she got up that morning, he had more or less made a guess.
"Hmph, don't get smug!"
Seeing Ye Liuyun like this, Lu Quan quickly composed himself.
Even if Ye Liuyun's strength had improved and his official rank had risen.
He was also a Centurion. What did he have to fear? Besides, he had cultivated his position as Centurion for many years. He was not at all worried that Ye Liuyun would be capable of taking revenge on him.
"Don't think your wife can keep helping you forever. Centurion is the limit of your career. As for Chieftain, don't even dream about it for the rest of your life."
In the Great Qian Dynasty, Chieftain was already an official rank that allowed one to attend Imperial Court. It required more than connections and backing; it also required personal ability and a certain measure of fortune.
Lu Quan only believed Ye Liuyun's cultivation was, at most, on par with his own as a First-Rate Martial Artist. It had never crossed his mind that Ye Liuyun had already become an Acquired Realm martial artist.
"Then I won't trouble Centurion Lu to concern himself with it."
His bargain father-in-law truly had no ability to help raise his rank any further, but for now, the position of Centurion was enough.
"I heard Centurion Lu has occupied this position for nearly ten years. There has never been any news of a promotion. I fear this is all you will amount to for the rest of your life!"
Wasn't it just mockery? Who didn't know how to do that?
"When Centurion Lu gets promoted someday, I'll reserve the entire Golden Pavilion and hold a banquet for you!"
The moment he said that, Lu Quan thought of what had happened the previous night.
Because Ye Liuyun had not come, Lu Quan had no choice but to pay for it himself. Though he had money, spending that much still made his heart ache.
"If I am promoted to Chieftain, it won't be your turn to host a banquet for me."
By then, others would naturally come fawning over him.
"Is that so?" Ye Liuyun was not surprised. He merely continued with a smile, "In that case, since I've now been promoted to Centurion, why not have Centurion Lu reserve the Golden Pavilion and host a banquet for me? I hold you in very high regard, my lord!"
"..."
Lu Quan did not reply.
After glaring at Ye Liuyun, he simply left.
He had figured it out as well. Ye Liuyun had truly become much sharper with his tongue. Staying any longer would bring him no advantage, so he might as well leave first and scheme his revenge later.
"My lord truly calculates every step without a single omission—wise and mighty indeed!"
Once Lu Quan had left, Si Nan hurriedly moved to Ye Liuyun's side.
His face was covered in a fawning smile.
"My lord, now that you are a Centurion, then as for me..."
Si Nan's original rank was Squad Leader in the Brocade Guard. A Centurion had the authority to appoint Banner Chiefs, though only three times.
Though Si Nan's strength was ordinary, he was quite skilled at observing expressions. In addition, he was loyal and handled matters thoroughly. Ye Liuyun did not mind promoting him.
After patting Si Nan on the shoulder, he said directly.
"Go collect your official seal yourself."
"Thank you, my lord!"
It was done! Hearing Ye Liuyun say this, Si Nan knew the position of Banner Chief was his.
Delighted, he hurriedly dropped to his knees.
"This subordinate will go through fire and water for my lord, never hesitating even unto death!"
Ye Liuyun did not take such formal words too seriously.
He merely waved a hand, signaling Si Nan to rise again.
"My lord!" Si Nan knew full well that his strength was lacking, so he naturally had to demonstrate his value to Ye Liuyun through other means.
Otherwise, after enough time passed, if he remained useless, he would soon be cast aside.
"Now that you are a Centurion, why not use the Banner Chief positions to recruit two more trusted aides?"
Ye Liuyun could still promote two more Banner Chiefs, or transfer two Banner Chiefs from elsewhere into his command.
He said nothing, merely sitting in his chair and lightly tapping the armrest with his fingers.
Si Nan sensibly fell silent, not disturbing Ye Liuyun's thoughts.
There was no rush to fill all three Banner Chief positions, but as Si Nan had said, he was now a Centurion. He could not possibly handle every matter personally and do everything with his own hands forever.
His tapping fingers came to a stop.
"Transfer Shi Sheng here."
"Ah?"
Si Nan froze for a moment.
Shi Sheng was a Banner Chief, but because of his temper, no Centurion wanted him, afraid that he would bring trouble upon them.
"Just go transfer him!"
Waving his hand, Ye Liuyun did not explain further.
Temperament aside, Shi Sheng's current strength as a First-Rate Martial Artist already placed him on equal footing with Centurions within the Brocade Guard.
As for his temper, if a transmigrator with a cheat system did not even have the confidence to subdue a subordinate, he might as well smash his head into a block of tofu and die.
"Yes, my lord!"
Seeing that Ye Liuyun had made up his mind, Si Nan could not say anything more and immediately went to handle it.
Taking advantage of this time.
Ye Liuyun paid a visit to the Imperial Prison.
"Centurion Ye!"
The moment he arrived at the Imperial Prison, Xiao Yongning, the Banner Chief responsible for guarding the place, came forward to greet him.
His face bore a brilliant smile.
He appeared to have learned that Ye Liuyun was now a Centurion.
"Centurion Ye's honored presence makes this little place shine with splendor!"
His attitude was entirely different from when they had first met. His smile was so radiant it nearly bloomed.
"I only hope Banner Chief Xiao won't blame me for constantly coming here to trouble you."
"What are you saying, Centurion Ye?"
Xiao Yongning's expression changed as he immediately replied.
"Centurion Ye coming here is already giving me face. How could I possibly have any reason not to welcome you?"
The people here all had dog faces.
Now that they knew Ye Liuyun was a Centurion, whether currying favor would prove useful or not, they would first curry favor and talk later.
As he spoke, Xiao Yongning directly kicked the subordinate following beside him.
"Do you have no eyes? Can't you see Centurion Ye has arrived? Hurry up and serve tea."
"Yes, my lord!"
Seeing this, Ye Liuyun wore a faint smile from beginning to end.
So power really was a good thing. Being a Centurion already brought this much change—if he could become a Chieftain, or even a Pacification Commissioner, what expressions would these people wear then?
Moreover, as his status rose, Ye Liuyun came to learn some things about the Great Qian Dynasty.
For example, the Great Qian Dynasty had a place specifically used to imprison powerful, heinous criminals, called Purgatory.
The weakest people imprisoned there were First-Rate Martial Artists. Unlike the Imperial Prison, where people could be casually killed, the prisoners in Purgatory were tortured every day, yet they could not be allowed to die.
Either they wanted to interrogate martial arts manuals from those martial artists, or those people knew information about some secret treasure and they wished to interrogate it out of them.
But to Ye Liuyun, Purgatory was an enormous Talent Trait Vault.
What a pity.
Not just anyone could enter Purgatory. At the very least, one needed the rank of Chieftain or above.
Before you continue