Fengxian's Protector of Righteousness (Fourth Update)

Xiang Yuan explained his concerns. Xiao He said it wasn't a big problem: when you got to the mountain, there'd be a way through; there were always more solutions than difficulties. Maybe in half a year, he'd catch a new weakness and be lucky enough to win the favor of the Eastern Qingyan or Yuchi Qingyan.

Why were they always women?

Xiang Yuan shook his head and asked what identity Xiao He planned to arrange for him.

In terms of personality and character, outsiders wouldn't consider steady Xiang Yuan and the jokester Xiao Xu to be cut from the same cloth. Xiang Yuan wanted to temper his Martial Path by seeking challenges beyond the ordinary, so he needed to keep his distance from Xiao Xu. Otherwise, spending every day together would not only hold Xiang Yuan back but also make it easier for Xiao Xu to give himself away.

Once was a coincidence, twice an accident. If it happened every time, people would certainly grow suspicious.

Like Yue Huanjiang, who had already begun to suspect that Xiao He was only pretending to be crazy and stupid, given how Xiang Yuan acted and how little he had in common with useless Xiao He.

That was why it was crucial to arrange another identity that would give him plenty of free time.

"Every village has a Protector of Righteousness. It's an official position, yet grants plenty of freedom. I can help you secure the title of Bao Yi Lang. With it, you'll have room to maneuver, and everything you do will have a just and honorable reason behind it..."

After explaining the benefits, Xiao He continued, "There are many villages around Fengxian County, broadly divided between the north and south. The north is relatively peaceful, while the south has more barbarians and bandits. Which would you prefer?"

As for the arrangements, Xiao He was using the same old trick: relying on his father, the lord of eight prefectures, to abuse his power for private gain. The three officials at the County Yamen would turn a blind eye, then turn another. No one would offend Xiao He over such a minor matter.

Don't pick a fight with a wastrel. It wouldn't be good if the complaint reached King Zhao.

So even though Xiang Yuan was still listed at the County Yamen, and wasn't a local gentry or powerful landowner who met the court's requirements for recruiting Protectors of Righteousness, Xiao He could still get it done.

The only question was where Xiang Yuan wanted to go.

Time for another multiple-choice question!

Last time, Xiang Yuan had chosen to bring an umbrella, only for Xiao He to mooch off him. He still regretted it deeply. This time, he had learned his lesson: make a quick decision and don't overthink it.

The thousand-year-old snake demon was a cautionary tale. This time, he absolutely mustn't get his hopes up!

After a moment's thought, Xiang Yuan chose the south. Dezhou had a tough local culture and no room for idlers. The north only looked peaceful; in essence, it was no different. It didn't matter whether he chose north or south.

If both were chaotic, why not choose the more chaotic one?

The southern part of the city was closer to the Southern Border, with plenty of secret dealings and even more whetstones. It was perfect for him, since he was at the Acupoint Opening stage.

It was also close to Yulin Academy, making it convenient to ask Wang Wenxu for supplies. If he ran into an opponent he couldn't beat, he could retreat as swiftly as the wind and lure them to the academy, where Wang Wenxu could take care of them.

He could venture into the Southern Border—just to look, not to enter—and if he had to retreat, Wang Wenxu would have his back. A gentleman's business was reassuring.

"Brother Yuan, you've got guts! I knew you had a steadfast heart for the Martial Path, just like me. Neither of us can stand a quiet life. You're destined to accomplish great things," Xiao He flattered him.

"I think so too. Brother Yuan has courage to spare, and even as a young man, he's already got the spirit of a hero. One day, your name will be known throughout the land. Who knows how many widows will whisper it night after night?" Xu Jixian sliced open the human-skin mask on his face with a small knife, then chimed in with a compliment.

Xiang Yuan was utterly speechless. Xu Jixian was always going on about widows, even when they ran into ghosts. His preferences were obvious. Could he be Cao Cao reborn?

And besides, they'd already wrapped filming. There was no need to keep acting.

Xiang Yuan was being a little unfair to Xu Jixian. If Xu Jixian stopped acting, his naturally subdued personality would make him the sort of man who couldn't get a word out of him even if you hit him with three sticks. At most, he'd be a little lecherous, but his lips would be tighter than anyone's. If he wanted to curry favor with Xiang Yuan, he had no choice but to act like a shameless, lecherous fool. Otherwise, he'd never be able to open his mouth to ask for help.

"Brother Yuan, come take a look. Which of these villages would you like to choose?"

Xiao He took a simple map from the bookshelf and pointed to the villages south of the city. "Li, Lin, and Song Family Village, plus Mute Village. These four currently have vacant Protector of Righteousness positions."

Oh, so Fengxian had its own Silent Hill?

Xiang Yuan looked at the map with interest. Before long, Song Family Village caught his eye. Nestled between two mountains that enclosed a valley, it would have been a paradise on earth if it weren't so close to the Southern Border.

Mute Village, on the other hand, was too far from Yulin Academy. If trouble broke out, no one would answer his cries for help. It wasn't the sort of place where he wanted to hone himself.

Honing himself was all well and good, but he couldn't actually risk his life. His steady temperament wouldn't let him choose that place.

Most importantly, Song, Protector of Righteousness... There was something to it. Xiang Yuan couldn't stop thinking about it. The name had good feng shui; perhaps he'd meet a hundred and seven brothers willing to lay down their lives for him.

His heart yearned for it.

"Song Family Village..."

Xiao He considered it for a moment. "My worthy teacher has heard that many Yellow Springs Dao disciples have been pouring in lately. A few of them have their eyes on Song Family Village. They plan to refine all hundred households in the village into ghosts, then fight among themselves until they produce a powerful fiend to raise as a 'ghost god.'"

Xiang Yuan frowned slightly as Xiao He continued, "My worthy teacher can't intervene in a matter like this. He's an upright man, and he can't just stand by while people die. I'll ask him in a moment whether he's contacted his informant in the Six Doors."

"Sir has an informant in the Six Doors?"

"Of course. Sir has worked in Fengxian for many years. By now, everything has fallen into place," Xu Jixian said admiringly.

Since it was Xu Jixian saying it, Xiang Yuan couldn't help feeling as if he were making a dirty joke.

"And this informant is someone you know, Brother Yuan," Xiao He said mysteriously.

"Who?"

"Fengxian's chief constable, Liu Jingsheng."

"..."

Good grief. Did everyone have a secret identity?

Xiang Yuan shook his head slightly. He remembered Old Liu saying that Liu Jingsheng disliked the Six Doors. And yet... Fengxian's waters ran deep. Everyone had two faces. Even the thick-browed, big-eyed Liu Jingsheng was in on it.

"Liu Jingsheng doesn't know about Xu and me, let alone the Imperial City Directorate. He only knows that my worthy teacher is a planted agent of the Six Doors in Fengxian. I think he has decent character and would like to bring him into the Imperial City Directorate, but not yet. He's not like you, Brother Yuan. This is a serious matter, so we'll have to watch him a little longer." Xiao He gave himself a little pat on the back.

Xiang Yuan thought of something and frowned. "Xiao Forty, I chose Song Family Village. Don't tell me that was part of your plan too?"

"Brother Yuan, you're overthinking it. I can make calculations, but I'm nowhere near infallible. There isn't a single person like that in the whole world," Xiao He said cheerfully.

Hard to say. Maybe you just haven't seen enough of the world.

Xiang Yuan shrugged and waited for Wang Wenxu to arrive so he could ask him. If Wang Wenxu hadn't contacted Liu Jingsheng yet, then he'd be Xiang Baoyi of Song Family Village.

Fengxian's Protector of Righteousness. It had a nice ring to it.

Before Wang Wenxu arrived, Xiang Yuan went back into the underground palace and looked through several basic cultivation manuals. One of them contained the Yellow Springs Dao's method.

He memorized the entire route of the qi circulation. With the Formless Seal Method, he could imitate any school's techniques as long as he had seen their general principles. Once he joined the Imperial City Directorate, he'd no doubt have to do some work with his face covered. With the Formless Seal Method at his disposal, he could wear whichever identity he wanted. It couldn't be more suitable.

"Hey, could this be part of Master's divination too?"

Xiang Yuan leafed through the sword manual in his hand. When he saw the tiny line of text at the bottom of the last page, his eyes widened in alarm, and he instinctively read it aloud. "To practice this art, you must..."

He turned the page.

"...work hard."

What kind of nonsense was this? The Fengxian County branch of the Imperial City Directorate was a little off. The jokester had warped the whole place's style.

At the hour of the rabbit, Wang Wenxu arrived late. Xiao He grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him into the underground palace. His scholarly face was full of shame, and the moment he saw Xiang Yuan, he started stammering.

"Sir, you've finally arrived."

"I'm ashamed to come here..."

Wang Wenxu spoke haltingly. "Xiao He has explained everything to me. Since you've decided to join the Imperial City Directorate, I hope you can understand my predicament. I wasn't deliberately hiding the truth or deceiving you. I truly had a heavy responsibility and couldn't reveal it lightly."

Xiang Yuan said nothing. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked as if he were holding back tears like a wounded tiger.

Wang Wenxu was mortified. He blamed himself for being unworthy of a scholar and wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground.

Xiao He was furious. "What a silver-tongued scholar! Brother Yuan is as clumsy with words as I am. How could he possibly stand up to your honeyed tongue? Let me guess. Are you about to say, 'I've prepared a small gift; please forgive me'?"

Wang Wenxu's face darkened. That was exactly what he'd planned to say, and he'd brought a generous gift. But Xiao He had said it first, making him seem like a petty man.

Unbelievable. Suffering a little was one thing, but how could anyone suffer forever?

Then he looked at Xiang Yuan, and his anger immediately faded. Sighing, he said, "You're a fine candidate for a scholar. If you're dissatisfied, I'll make it up to you in the future. I only hope you won't neglect your studies and will visit the academy more often."

"I really do enjoy reading..."

Xiang Yuan sighed too, but before he could finish, Xiao He picked up where he left off. "My worthy teacher, you know how to write. Give Brother Yuan a few pieces with lines like 'I'll fuck everyone.' You don't have to make too many—just three to five hundred, to show you mean it."

Three to five hundred, and that was just to show he meant it? He might as well ask for my life!

Wang Wenxu's mustache bristled as he glared. But when he looked at Xiang Yuan, he felt guilty and lowered his voice. "I'll do my best. I'll start writing as soon as I get home tonight."

"Don't forget to paint, too. Words without pictures won't give us the best of both worlds..."

Xiao He nodded with satisfaction, then added, "I won't make things difficult for you. Another three to five hundred paintings. Make them a matching set. If you do any more, Brother Yuan will come after you."