You're Dead!

Taking up a post as a guardian was like being tethered to one place. You could only retire if you died, grew old, or were left disabled. Otherwise, the only way out was to fight your way up the ranks.

With Left Commander Zuo Qianqiu's strength and accomplishments, he could have taken a powerful post as a Commander at the Yun Prefecture Jinyiwei Myriad Household Office long ago.

But the demonic threat at Purple Mountain had yet to be quelled, and he still hadn't found a suitable successor, so he had delayed taking up the post.

That was when he began accepting disciples and training a successor. But even if his Senior Disciple, Wang Teng, wanted to take over, it would still take at least a decade or more.

Without the strength of the peak Spirit Aperture Realm, no one could hold on to the position of Commander of Longyuan Prefecture.

Longyuan Prefecture was a border prefecture, unlike the others in the heartland.

"If I get the chance, I'll definitely go and see it for myself."

Chen Fan was filled with longing at the thought, but he knew you had to take one step at a time and eat one bite at a time.

He had a Golden Finger. Give him enough time, and he would surely stand at the pinnacle of martial arts!

"You're from Ping'an County, and you've never traveled far. The journey to Yun Prefecture is long. The round trip, plus the time spent at the Myriad Household Office, will take at least a month."

"I recall that in three days, a noble will be requisitioning a squad of Jinyiwei from Longyuan Prefecture to accompany her to Yun Prefecture. You can lead the squad."

Left Commander Zuo spoke up.

Wang Teng's eye twitched when he heard that. He knew his master was trying to fool someone again.

It was true that the Commander's Office didn't have any good body-tempering Cultivation Methods, and it was also true that the Myriad Household Office had body-tempering Cultivation Methods for the Spirit Aperture Realm. But it was also true that Chen Fan was being lured into a trap that had been laid long ago—to escort that noble home!

"What kind of noble needs our Jinyiwei to escort them?"

Chen Fan frowned at that.

The Jinyiwei were the emperor's personal guards. They could execute first and report later, wielding authority granted by the emperor. They were responsible for monitoring the aristocratic families and sects, slaying demons and monsters, and safeguarding the peace. That was their duty.

How had they become dogs guarding the home of some damned noble?

"Even royal princes and ministers can't command the Jinyiwei without His Majesty Emperor Wu's special permission. But this noble is a member of the imperial family, so her status is naturally beyond compare."

"The road from Longyuan Prefecture to Yun Prefecture is long, with many places teeming with Demonic Creatures and danger lurking everywhere. The noble's identity is sensitive, so an imperial order was sent from the Central Province Imperial Capital, requiring the Jinyiwei stationed along the route to escort her."

"Still, the noble isn't some helpless weakling. Perhaps you'll be relying on her and her bodyguards to keep you safe."

Left Commander Zuo spoke with a meaningful look.

In his eyes, it was really just a matter of putting on a show. If that noble and her bodyguard were traveling alone, they could reach Yun Prefecture in a few days on fast horses. Why would they need the Jinyiwei?

But they were nothing more than dogs raised by His Majesty Emperor Wu. Whatever the emperor ordered, they had to obey. They had no choice. He only hoped the noble wouldn't be too difficult to deal with.

"All right, then."

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Left Commander."

Chen Fan didn't dwell on it. He had a particularly heart-wrenching problem to deal with: he genuinely didn't know the way to the Jinyiwei Myriad Household Office in Yun Prefecture.

There was surely a map at Longyuan Prefecture, but it would be hard to read. If he took a wrong turn, he'd only waste time and make a fool of himself.

"You're welcome."

Left Commander Zuo nodded.

"Chen Fan, come on. I'll take you to get something to eat!"

Just as the three of them stared at one another, unable to think of anything to say and preparing to force out a few awkward remarks, Lu Xuenning appeared at Chen Fan's home, dressed in a gown patterned with standing waves and the Eight Treasures. When she saw Left Commander Zuo and Wang Teng there too, her face immediately fell.

"Junior Sister, listen to me!"

Before Lu Xuenning could say a word, Wang Teng knew she must have misunderstood the reason for her sour expression.

She thought he and their master had come to persuade Chen Fan to cripple his cultivation.

He immediately pulled Lu Xuenning aside and whispered a few words in her ear.

"Really?"

Lu Xuenning stared at him, stunned, then asked in disbelief.

"Absolutely."

"Deputy Commander Chen's condition is pretty good. After examining his body, Master suggested a way to suppress the Blood Baleful Intent from corroding his flesh."

"In three days, he'll set off for the Jinyiwei Myriad Household Office in Yun Prefecture to look for a body-tempering Cultivation Method that suits him!"

Wang Teng spoke with absolute conviction.

Of course, he didn't mention that his master was setting Chen Fan up to serve as the noble's bodyguard.

"That's wonderful! I knew he'd be fine."

"He didn't look like someone who'd practiced the Blood Sha Skill at all."

Lu Xuenning smiled happily when she heard that.

"Junior Sister, I have to say, you look pretty good dressed like this today."

Wang Teng waggled his eyebrows at her as he spoke.

"Go to hell!"

Lu Xuenning punched her Senior Disciple hard, her cheeks flushing red.

There were female Jinyiwei at the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office, but they all usually wore Flying Fish Robes and carried Embroidered Spring Blades. The only difference was in their hairstyles; otherwise, they all dressed alike.

The female Jinyiwei only changed into women's clothes on their days off, but few of them actually did. Lu Xuenning herself rarely wore them.

She was here to see Chen Fan and wanted to take him around Longyuan Prefecture City, so a Flying Fish Robe wouldn't be suitable for strolling about. That was why she had put on ordinary clothes.

"Xuenning, you're just in time. Deputy Commander Chen is new here and doesn't know Longyuan Prefecture very well. For the next few days, show him around and help him get familiar with the place."

Left Commander Zuo nodded to Chen Fan, then left Chen Fan's Separate Courtyard with Wang Teng.

"Your subordinate respectfully sees you off, Left Commander!"

Chen Fan clasped his hands and bowed as he spoke.

"Come on, Chen Fan. I'll show you around."

Lu Xuenning spoke excitedly.

"Then I'll have to thank you."

"I'm hungry anyway."

Chen Fan smiled as he spoke.

For some reason, seeing Lu Xuenning dressed in women's clothes felt strange to him. It was like your good buddy suddenly turning into a woman and going shopping with you.

Back in Ping'an County, Lu Xuenning always wore the uniform of a ninth-rank Black-Robed Head Catcher, and it was the men's version. She wore a hat, and although her face made it obvious she was a woman, he usually forgot about it when they were together.

Now she'd suddenly dressed like this, and he didn't quite know how to react.

"You're going out with me dressed in that Deputy Commander uniform? Be careful—the common folk will all go out of their way to avoid you."

Lu Xuenning reminded him.

"Why would they do that?"

"Does the Jinyiwei in Longyuan Prefecture City have a bad reputation?"

Chen Fan asked, a little surprised.

After all, the Jinyiwei and constables in Ping'an County always wore their uniforms when they went out. It saved them a lot of trouble, and they could even shake people down for a little extra cash.

"That's a rule Master made. The Jinyiwei at the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office aren't allowed to wear their Flying Fish Robes into the inner city to eat, drink, and shake people down."

"And it's not just the Jinyiwei. The Government Office's constables and yamen runners aren't allowed to do it either."

"The common folk are afraid of the authority we wear on our backs. They don't dare set a price, and some won't even dare ask for payment. Who would dare do business if things went on like that?"

Lu Xuenning explained.

"That makes sense. Wait a moment; I'll go change too."

Chen Fan replied.

"Change your shoes too."

Lu Xuenning suddenly remembered the embarrassing time she and Chen Fan had gone to Spring View Pavilion together.

If even a high-class courtesan had such a sharp eye, the owners of shops would be even more perceptive.

So, to avoid being recognized, it was best to change everything from head to toe.