Collecting Money on Behalf of the Master

Ji You was then invited out of the Hall of Affairs, and as he left, he called Kuang Cheng out with him.

The last time they met, Kuang Cheng had said he'd joined the Immortal Affairs Supervision Bureau, but Ji You couldn't figure out why the Celestial Academy had summoned him.

"The day you were attacked, I happened to be investigating another missing persons case."

"Another one?"

Ji You was surprised by Kuang Cheng's words. How could there be so many missing persons cases these days?

Seeing the question in Ji You's eyes, Kuang Cheng immediately explained, "After the Immortal Affairs Supervision Bureau was established, His Majesty planned to start with a tax evasion case to thoroughly investigate the matter of Wei Li and Prince Chong colluding for personal gain. This involved a missing persons case."

"Aren't you an administrative official? You usually just deal with documents, why are you personally investigating cases?"

"My colleagues in the bureau felt that even if this matter was cleared up, it would be a minor inconvenience to Chancellor Wei, and they weren't willing to delve deeper. So, I had to use my free time to look for clues."

Ji You looked at him. "What missing persons case?"

Kuang Cheng lowered his voice. "Do you remember I mentioned the orphanage in the west of the city?"

"I remember. All my money was donated there by you."

"That was my money!"

After Kuang Cheng retorted, he continued, "Before we went to the capital, many children disappeared from there in a single night. Most of them were abandoned infants. I was investigating door-to-door when I was summoned by the Celestial Academy for questioning."

Ji You's brow furrowed deeply. He wondered if it was because Yuyang County was too isolated, or if suspicion had truly arisen during this period.

First, the academy lost students, then Old Qiu wrote saying Thirty Mile Shop lost livestock, and now Kuang Cheng told him that many children had gone missing in Shengjing.

There were no similarities among these missing persons. People and livestock couldn't be compared in the same way.

But for some reason, the timing of these disappearances was too coincidental, as if they were being systematically gathered. It was hard not to make connections.

After a long period of thought, Ji You came back to himself. "Have you found any clues?"

"Because I donated quilts to the children there before, some of them weren't wary of me. They privately told me that on several nights, they could hear people coming and going through the doors, and the sound of large carriage wheels."

Kuang Cheng rolled up his sleeves. "Only post stations or large merchant houses have large carriages. It's hard to investigate merchant houses, so I plan to start by digging for clues at the post stations."

Ji You's brow couldn't help but furrow. "You're going alone without any help. The risk is too high."

"That's why I need you to become the Sect Master of the Celestial Academy as soon as possible."

"I already told you, I can't outmaneuver him."

Ji You frowned and pondered for a long time. "Let me ask you, does Prince Chong have a daughter?"

Kuang Cheng was stunned for a moment. "Prince Chong's Mansion has a County Princess. But she's said to have excellent cultivation talent, one of the few talented individuals in the royal family. Later, she took up the lineage of Spirit Sword Mountain."

"Wait, wait, wait," Ji You interrupted him. "The Celestial Academy is part of the Great Xia Sacred Sect, so why is Prince Chong's daughter cultivating the lineage of Spirit Sword Mountain?"

"It's said that His Majesty doesn't allow imperial relatives to cultivate immortality. But Prince Chong is highly skilled. He invited a highly accomplished Daoist from Spirit Sword Mountain to reside in Prince Chong's Mansion."

Prince Chong was already a member of the Pro-Immortal Faction and harbored ambitions for the throne. It seemed the emperor wasn't foolish; forbidding anyone in his mansion from cultivating was a way to limit him.

After considering for a while, Ji You looked up. "Then the County Princess of Prince Chong's Mansion is not suitable. What about Wei Li? Does he have a daughter?"

"Yes, she's about my mother's age. She married an official in the Ministry of Revenue when she was young. Wei Li's daughter is also among our targets for investigation."

"Do you mind… an older one? An older one is actually good, they know how to care for people."

Ji You gave up after speaking.

This era was still feudal, after all, and couldn't accommodate such stimulating things.

Kuang Cheng was also confused. He didn't understand what "older" meant, or where it was bigger, nor did he understand the connection between Wei Li's daughter and himself.

A moment later, Ji You said again, "Then Wei Li must have a granddaughter, right?"

Kuang Cheng thought for a moment. "Indeed, he has a granddaughter. She's said to be learned and virtuous, with a gentle personality."

Ji You nodded and looked at Kuang Cheng. "Has anyone ever told you that handsome men like you and me look at dogs with affection?"

Kuang Cheng was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Ji You pulled him down to the grass at the foot of the mountain and squatted down. "Find an opportunity to 'accidentally' meet her. Kick her shins, or just pick something up and ask if she dropped it. The point is to make contact."

Kuang Cheng squatted in the grass, completely bewildered. "And then?"

"Once you get to know her, use your charm to woo her. Recite poetry, compose verses, talk about romance, play hard to get, make her fall in love with you."

Kuang Cheng's face immediately flushed red. "I haven't achieved anything yet, how can I think about romance!"

Ji You sighed. "There are only three ways for power to spread: sex, blood, and mother-child relationships. You are alone now. Even if you find something, can you come back alive? If you want Wei Li to have scruples, this is the only way."

Kuang Cheng pondered for a long time. "Brother Ji, do you like older women? Does your Sect Master have a daughter?"

"Heh, you learn fast. It seems you've understood. Get lost!"

After watching Kuang Cheng descend the mountain, Ji You intended to return to the Jade Garden of Bingshui Lake when he suddenly saw a group of people approaching him.

These were the wandering cultivators from other sects who had watched the fight in the street. Now, they walked up with their swords, bowed to him, and there were more than twenty of them.

"Young Master Ji, I am Bai Xi, a wandering cultivator from Spirit Sword Mountain."

"I am Chen Buwang from the Chen Clan Immortal Family. Greetings, Brother Ji."

"Qiu Ni from the Mountain Sea Pavilion!"

Ji You looked at them. "What business do you have with me, fellow Daoists?"

Bai Xi heard him and respectfully replied, "After seeing Young Master Ji's sword on the street, I've been unable to forget it. Do those three swords have a name?"

Ji You thought for a moment. "Three Swords Return to Origin."

The people around exchanged glances, nodding and praising, thinking what a magnificent name.

Bai Xi then said, "May I ask who Young Master Ji's sword techniques are inherited from?"

Ji You instantly understood. They wanted to learn swordplay. "I am a disciple of the sword master Wang Xinan. I enjoy my work. If any of you fellow Daoists wish to learn swordplay, I can collect fees on behalf of my master, one tael per person."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned for a moment, and then they all took out silver from their sleeves and waists...

Wang Xinan had been living the good life these past few days, drinking tea and slacking off in the Sword Testing Forest every day. He was incredibly pleased.

However, at this moment, a group of disciples from other sects were heading towards the Sword Testing Forest with imposing momentum.

The杂乱 footsteps grew closer, waking Wang Xinan, who had been closing his eyes and savoring tea.

What the hell is all this noise?

Wang Xinan got up from his rattan chair and saw a group of people rushing towards him, kneeling on one knee and begging him to teach them swordplay.

Seeing this, Wang Xinan immediately understood. Ji You had amazed them with his fight yesterday, and then they learned that he was his esteemed sword master. Now they had come to learn his art.

Wang Xinan laughed heartily for a long time. "Although I do enjoy teaching people swordplay and have never been weary in my diligent efforts every day, you are not students of my Celestial Academy. How can you learn the art within my Celestial Academy?"

"But, Brother Ji has already collected the money."

"?????"