While Chu Ge was studying the condition of the dragon clock, inside the Lin family's estate.
In a study decorated with an antique charm and featuring meticulously carved red mahogany furniture, Lin Tao was listening to a report from a subordinate he had sent out to tail someone.
Hearing the end of the report, a surprised smile appeared on his face, and he said.
"I certainly didn't expect that he would have no wish to join a lineage, and instead wants to go throw his lot in with the Demon Suppressing Division. Heh heh heh, how interesting."
Although the Demon Suppressing Division was not as strict as sects in controlling its disciples, it handled a fair number of assignments on a daily basis. Furthermore, people lacking strength, background, and natural talent might never make a name for themselves after joining the Demon Suppressing Division, remaining mere errand-running thugs forever.
In Lin Tao's view, Chu Ge was acting somewhat foolishly; he ignored the Hidden Water Sect where he had connections, and chose to join the Demon Suppressing Division instead—it was rather stupid.
However, he would naturally set things right.
Because what he wanted was for Chu Ge to join his Lin Family and follow him with absolute loyalty, which would make it convenient for him to take down Chu Feixue. He could not allow him to join the Demon Suppressing Division.
"Young Master Lin, the threshold for joining the Demon Suppressing Division is still very high. That brat merely went to register his information, so he will definitely be unable to join them."
The middle-aged scholar reporting the news smiled.
"Nothing is absolute; there will still be accidents. I will naturally intervene myself, and you only need to handle your own responsibilities."
Lin Tao shook his head.
"Understood!"
The middle-aged scholar's expression immediately grew stern as he stepped forward and respectfully presented with both hands a letter retrieved from the post office earlier today.
"Just as Young Master Lin anticipated, that brat mailed a letter to his elder sister."
Lin Tao nodded slightly, took the letter, and unfolded it. After reading its contents, he smiled, "This brat still has desires; he asked his sister in the letter about arcane techniques and legwork movement arts."
Having desires makes things manageable; I'd only worry if he had no cravings at all."
Pausing in his speech, he glanced sideways at the scholar and said, "He didn't let you discover you were following him, did he?"
"Naturally not."
The scholar hurriedly waved his hand and smiled with confidence, "Although I am unworthy, I am exceptionally skilled in tracking. That brat is also at the bone-forging level of strength just like me, so he won't discover me."
"That's good. Go collect your reward and continue tailing him.
He will definitely go to the Yun family tomorrow. I've already made arrangements over there; after he hits a wall everywhere, you can bring him to see me."
Inside the Moon Xi Inn.
After careful consideration, Chu Ge ultimately decided against hastily consuming a thousand strands of strange energy to supply the dragon clock.
This was not only because he currently lacked that much strange energy, but also because he was temporarily in an unfamiliar environment. Whether it was his daily martial arts cultivation or maintaining his left-hand arts utensils, he needed to consume strange energy.
Moreover, what changes the dragon clock might undergo after being supplied with a thousand strands of strange energy was something he could only guess at, and everything remained unknown.
To play it safe, it was better to make thorough preparations first and buy himself more time to accumulate additional strange energy; he must not act rashly and stake everything on a single throw.
He immediately stopped paying attention to the demanding dragon clock and turned instead to check the treatment conditions offered by that external affairs deacon of the Demon Suppressing Division.
Blood Ranking expert: upon joining the Demon Suppressing Division and passing background, biography, and background checks, one may bypass examinations and directly become a Golden Sparrow Tiger Guard. Enjoying the official rank and salary treatment of a grand Zhou ninth-rank official, with a monthly stipend of ten taels of gold and one bottle of Qi and Blood Pills. Those possessing Spiritual Aptitude may choose one Force Condensation level strange energy arcane technique and Force Condensation Realm cultivation method to learn. Enjoy contribution redemption qualifications for Demon Suppressing Division Golden Guard level divine weapons, spiritual materials, pills, cultivation methods, and other treasuries, as well as cultivation qualifications in special strange energy cultivation locations.
Reading carefully to the end, Chu Ge discovered that the notes at the bottom stated that if one's contributions were sufficient and strength was adequate, a Golden Sparrow Tiger Guard could also take an examination and challenge a promotion to become an Attendant of the Demon Suppressing Division.
Attendants were also divided into ranks.
However, after becoming an Attendant, one would be at least a grand Zhou eighth-rank official, and the various treatments enjoyed along with the access level of the treasuries would be upgraded together.
According to Feng Shan's words, since he was a Blood Ranking expert, if he remained in the position of Golden Sparrow Tiger Guard for a year or two, accomplished deeds, and accumulated contributions, he could easily be promoted to Attendant.
However, for other Blood Change Realm cultivators who were not on the Blood Ranking, it would not be so easy, as their strength simply fell short first.
"This treatment is still quite good, especially the qualifications to directly learn strange energy arcane techniques and cultivation methods, as well as the redemption access to various treasuries of the Demon Suppressing Division. Such resources are very difficult to find outside."
After reading through the terms of treatment, Chu Ge felt quite tempted.
For the time being, however, he could only suppress this temptation.
The porter would never pass the background and biography review stage.
Although he himself could pass it, he would still need to wait a few days for the Blood Augmenting Marrow Cleansing Pill to serve as a cover before he could proceed.
Even assuming he joined the Demon Suppressing Division in the identity of a porter, he would still need to accumulate contributions and deeds before he could be promoted, only bypassing the examination.
Therefore, joining later with his Blood Change Realm identity wouldn't make much difference, except that he would need to go through an examination.
The advantage, however, was that his background and origins would be completely clean, arousing no suspicion.
"The Demon Suppressing Division! Splendid! That's the one."
Chu Ge's eyes gleamed brightly. "The grand Zhou is merely in a state of decline now; as long as the Martial Emperor does not fall, no matter how chaotic things get, the chaos won't reach major cities like the prefecture capital.
On the contrary, just as small-scale chaos begins to stir at a time like this, talent is all the more in demand. By joining them, it will be easier for me to acquire resources, and I'll also have a layer of tiger skin to shield me."
He put away the various invitations.
Then he walked out of the room, summoned an errand boy, and sent him to fetch Wang Xiuyun.
Wang Xiuyun had been handling caravan matters in the vicinity during the day.
She soon arrived at the room.
By this time, Chu Ge had already rewritten a letter addressed to his eldest sister. Handing it to the arrived Wang Xiuyun, he smiled to explain the situation and express his gratitude.
"It's just a letter; why are you being so polite with me? It's just that there haven't been any teams heading in the direction of the Hidden Water Sect these past two days. Are you certain you must send the letter through my Wang Family's caravan?"
Wang Xiuyun pondered for a moment, then asked with some surprise, "If it's urgent, though."
"It's fine, not urgent. A couple of days from now is fine too."
Chu Ge waved his hand.
He intended to stay in Jiangcheng Prefecture for some time anyway, to purchase certain resources while broadening his horizons.
The Hidden Water Sect's location was, after all, rather remote, and he might not even be able to enter the sect's interior.
Coupled with the oddities he had observed regarding the Lin family, heading over there too early before figuring out the situation might only bring trouble to his elder sister.
"Very well, I'll make arrangements for you immediately."
Wang Xiuyun agreed quite crisply.
The Wang Family also operated some businesses within the prefecture capital, so minor matters like delivering a letter could naturally be arranged.
After she finished speaking, her expression turned bright and pleasant as she said, "Right, do you remember that benefactor I told you about?
I heard news today that he seems to have come to the prefecture capital as well, and even went to the Demon Suppressing Division to collect a reward."
Her voice was full of spirit, but immediately afterward, she made a crying face and said, "It's a pity that his venerable self is truly as elusive as a dragon seeing its head but not its tail. By the time I heard the news and rushed to the Demon Suppressing Division, there was already no trace of him left. I have no idea where his venerable self is right now; I'd love to thank him in person!"
"This—" Chu Ge felt somewhat awkward.
This had actually happened in person.
Being worshiped like this made him feel quite embarrassed as well, while also stirring a bit of curiosity. "How do you plan to thank his venerable self?"
Wang Xiuyun was momentarily stunned. "Ah, indeed. I haven't even thought of that yet—"
"But it doesn't matter. Whatever his venerable self likes, I am willing to satisfy him as much as possible."
Wang Xiuyun broke into a smile. "The pity is that it's simply impossible to see him. If you happen to encounter him in the prefecture capital in the future, you must help me detain him."
"Alright, that's definitely not a problem."
Chu Ge agreed without a blush or a skipped heartbeat, and then escorted Wang Xiuyun out of the inn. The two of them agreed to head to the Yun family early tomorrow morning.
After Wang Xiuyun left, Chu Ge released Little Sprite Qian—who had been nearly suffocating from confinement—from his pouch. Pressing the little one's head with his finger, he smiled.
"You stay in the inn by yourself for now. Wear whatever clothes you like, and don't go wandering outside. I'm going out for a bit."
"Xiao Qian wants to go too! We didn't get to play properly all along the road before."
Xiao Qian puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms angrily.
Chu Ge asked, "Could it be that you still want to be stuffed back into the pouch and stay there?"
"Bad great pillar!" Xiao Qian was immensely annoyed, turning around with her hands behind her back in high dudgeon.
Chu Ge was amused. "Alright, when I get back I'll make you some little toys. Don't forget, I'm a skilled artisan after all."
Xiao Qian's anger came and went quickly; she turned her head to steal a glance at Chu Ge.
Sometimes it was hard to believe how exquisite the craftsmanship of this bulky, towering great pillar really was, yet as it happened, this was the truth.
Leaving Xiao Qian behind in the inn, Chu Ge took a Thousand Mile Kite and went out to fly a kite.
He was rather curious about just how many experts existed within Jiangcheng Prefecture, and how strong they were.
In particular, regarding the Lin Mansion that had targeted him, he wanted to see how many experts could be found within it.
Using the Thousand Mile Kite to observe was the most covert method, making it very difficult for others to discover him.
Meanwhile, along a mountain road less than thirty miles outside the prefecture capital.
Four sturdy men clad in green garments, possessing bodies as tough as bronze and iron, were carrying a golden palanquin. Their steps were brisk and swift as they galloped along the mountain path, soon catching sight of the outline of the prefecture capital on the distant horizon.
The person sitting upon the golden palanquin, however, was a silver-haired elder.
His face was lean and haggard, with deeply sunken eye sockets. A horse-like face paired with purplish-black lips made him a rather unpleasant sight to behold.
At this moment, the elder sat leisurely inside the palanquin, appearing completely devoid of the fatigue of a long journey. His right hand cradled a teacup while his left hand used the cup lid to stir a few tender leaves on the surface of the tea. After taking a sip, he said indifferently.
"Soon, soon. This old man can already sense the corpse blood stirring. The lost Little Sprite Qian is right here in this Jiangcheng Prefecture."
"Halt!"
Pausing in his speech, he suddenly raised his hand.
The four galloping men instantly obeyed the order with absolute discipline, coming to a uniform halt in a manner that appeared quite eerie.
"Very well, we'll stop right here. It has been many years since this old man personally entered the territory of a grand Zhou prefecture capital. The four of you, sneak into the city first, find Little Sprite Qian, and bring her out!
If you cannot bring her out, there is no need to force it; retreat swiftly, and this old man will find an opportunity to strike personally!"
Hearing this, the four sturdy men gave a succession of dull, low shouts of acknowledgment, slowly lowered the golden palanquin onto the hillside, and then bolted as one directly toward the direction of the prefecture capital...
(Second update of 6K, please pin the latest chapters and maintain the formation.)
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