The Thousand-Household Officer's Appreciation

Chapter 4: The Thousand-Household Officer's Appreciation

"Excellent. A wise choice."

Bai Yan clapped his hands and chuckled softly.

Ren Hong and Li Kaiyao withdrew their Spring Embroidered Sabers, exchanged a glance, then knelt before Bai Yan in unison and said, "We are willing to serve you, my lord!"

After killing Ye Zhiji, they and Bai Yan were all in the same boat.

From now on, aside from obeying Bai Yan's orders, they had nowhere else to go.

Ding. The host has slain Ye Baili and completed the Eye-for-an-Eye mission. Reward obtained: max-level Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. Claim the reward?

Ding. The host has slain Liu Hu and completed the Avenge-Father mission. Reward obtained: max-level Lightning-Fast Movement Steps. Claim the reward?

The system rang out with two consecutive notification sounds.

Bai Yan answered inwardly, "Claim."

Countless abstruse characters surfaced in Bai Yan's mind. They were none other than the essential secrets of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and the Lightning-Fast Movement Steps.

At that instant, two tiny figures appeared in Bai Yan's mind, rapidly demonstrating every detail and technique of the two supreme arts.

Bai Yan's comprehension of both martial arts instantly reached the maximum level.

"My lord, what should we do next?"

Ren Hong looked at Bai Yan anxiously and asked,

"Ye Baili is dead. How are we going to explain this to the Thousand-Household Officer?"

"Explain? What is there to explain?"

Bai Yan chuckled.

"Ye Baili was killed by Liu Hu. What does that have to do with us?"

"Deputy Hundred-Household Officer Ye was fearless and brave. He led from the front, risking his life to capture Liu Hu."

"Unfortunately, Liu Hu was treacherous and sinister. He used despicable means to ambush Deputy Hundred-Household Officer Ye, causing him to fall off the cliff and leaving his fate unknown."

"Before falling, Deputy Hundred-Household Officer Ye successfully killed Liu Hu. We merely found Liu Hu's corpse and brought back his head."

"Is there any problem with that?"

"Yes! This subordinate understands!"

Ren Hong and Li Kaiyao lowered their heads at the same time.

Afterward, Bai Yan struck Ye Zhiji's corpse with one palm, turning it into a mist of blood. At the same time, he swept away every trace of blood remaining on the ground, sending it all over the cliff.

There was no need to think of an excuse to cover up Ye Zhiji's death. He was merely a Squad Leader.

Dead was dead. The Pacification Bureau would not care.

"Let's go. Back to the Pacification Bureau."

Carrying Liu Hu's head, the three of them walked out of the bamboo grove.

When they returned to the village, the bandits had already been slaughtered by the Imperial Guard. They were cleaning up the battlefield and searching for their comrades' corpses.

Seeing the three of them return, Song Jiangfeng, the Brigade Leader of the Fourth Squad, hurried over.

Not seeing Ye Baili, he quickly asked, "Where is the Deputy Hundred-Household Officer?"

The three of them silently shook their heads and said, "The Deputy Hundred-Household Officer was knocked off the cliff by Liu Hu. His fate is unknown."

"This is Liu Hu's head. The Deputy Hundred-Household Officer killed him before falling."

"The Deputy Hundred-Household Officer fell off the cliff?"

Song Jiangfeng's heart jolted. His face filled with worry, and he did not doubt Bai Yan's account in the slightest.

No one would ever imagine that a Brigade Leader could kill a Deputy Hundred-Household Officer.

Besides, Bai Yan had only met Ye Baili for the first time today.

They had no grudge against each other, so Bai Yan had no motive to kill him.

"We can only send people to search beneath the cliff. Hopefully, the Deputy Hundred-Household Officer will be blessed by heaven."

"That is the only option."

Song Jiangfeng sighed.

In truth, he had already given up hope that Ye Baili could survive.

After collecting their comrades' corpses, everyone left the village and met up with the First and Second Squads outside.

Seeing Bai Yan return alive and unharmed, Zhao Guangli let out a sigh of relief.

"Well done. You didn't disgrace your father!"

When he learned that Bai Yan had killed more than a dozen bandits, Zhao Guangli slapped Bai Yan heavily on the shoulder, extremely excited.

He and Bai Lizheng had been as close as brothers. Seeing Bai Yan grow capable, he was genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.

At the same time, everyone learned that Deputy Hundred-Household Officer Ye Baili had fallen off the cliff, which took some of the joy from their faces.

"Let's go. We'll return and report what happened here to the Thousand-Household Officer. Let him decide."

Everyone set out and returned to the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau in Yongtang City. Bai Yan submitted Liu Hu's head and recounted what had happened.

Throughout the entire process, Thousand-Household Officer Zheng Haihan remained silent. In the end, he waved his hand and dismissed Bai Yan.

Bai Yan did not know whether Zheng Haihan suspected him, but even if he did, Bai Yan was not afraid.

Ye Baili had already been blasted into a mist of blood. It was impossible for the Imperial Guard to find evidence.

Even if the truth eventually came to light, Bai Yan could simply leave the Imperial Guard and roam the martial world alone.

With the system, Bai Yan could live well wherever he went.

For several days afterward, the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau remained calm and peaceful.

Just as Bai Yan had expected, the people of the Pacification Bureau could not find the slightest clue.

Thousand-Household Officer Zheng Haihan sent people to search beneath the cliff, but they found nothing. In the end, they could only determine that Deputy Hundred-Household Officer Ye Baili had died in battle.

After that, the matter of Ye Baili's death was completely closed, and no one mentioned him again.

As for his nephew Ye Zhiji, no one asked about him from beginning to end. It was as if everyone had forgotten that such a person had ever existed.

Several more days passed before Bai Yan and the other three Brigade Leaders were summoned by Thousand-Household Officer Zheng Haihan.

Zheng Haihan sat in the principal seat of the Thousand-Household Officer's main hall, leaning back in his chair. He radiated authority without anger.

Bai Yan stood shoulder to shoulder with the other three Brigade Leaders.

"You handled this mission well. Although Ye Baili died, your contributions were still substantial."

Zheng Haihan swept his gaze over Bai Yan, Zhao Guangli, and the others below. His eyes lingered briefly on Bai Yan as he said solemnly,

"The bandit chief Liu Hu was killed, and every bandit was slaughtered. This is a great achievement."

"Each Brigade Leader will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver, and each Squad Leader with twenty."

"Bai Yan in particular killed sixteen bandits and brought back Liu Hu's head. You will receive an additional reward of one third-grade martial art!"

"Bai Yan, you are already a First-rate Martial Artist. Focus on your cultivation, and do not disappoint me."

"Thank you, my lord!"

Everyone cupped their fists and answered. Zhao Guangli, Song Jiangfeng, and the others looked at Bai Yan with envy.

They knew that Bai Yan had entered Thousand-Household Officer Zheng Haihan's sights.

An eighteen-year-old First-rate Martial Artist was worth far more than First-rate Martial Artists like themselves, who were already in their thirties or forties.

Bai Yan had immense potential. He would certainly break through to the innate realm in the future, and the position of Deputy Hundred-Household Officer would definitely be his.

As for men like them, their potential had already been exhausted. Their martial cultivation could not advance much further in this lifetime.

If they wanted to rise to Deputy Hundred-Household Officer, they would have to leave Yongtang and develop in a local prefecture or county.

But who would be willing to abandon prosperous Yongtang for a prefecture or county?

"You may withdraw."

Zheng Haihan waved his hand.

"This subordinate takes his leave."

Everyone cupped their fists in salute, turned around, and left the main hall.

As soon as they reached the doorway, the other three Brigade Leaders immediately gathered around. Song Jiangfeng spoke first:

"Bai Yan, you really made an impression before the Thousand-Household Officer this time. You have to treat us to a meal."

The other two Brigade Leaders quickly chimed in.

"That's right, that's right. You have to treat us."

"If you don't have enough silver, we can help you make up the difference."

Bai Yan had immense potential and would surely become a Deputy Hundred-Household Officer in the future. He might even become a Thousand-Household Officer.

If they did not build a relationship with him now, when would they?

None of the Brigade Leaders wanted to let this opportunity pass.

Bai Yan smiled and said,

"No problem. Let's go to Baiwei Tower."

"However, I have to make a trip to the Scripture Pavilion first. Let's arrange the dinner for tonight. You gentlemen can go collect your reward money first."