"You see how well I'm doing now? Number One Inner Palace of the World, hey, Number One!
"I've got a huge fief in Qi State, and the people there are all honest and simple. There's also a fascinating building on my land, one with an ancient feel to it, called Zhengsheng Hall. You have to go sit there sometime.
"As for me, I'm now the Baron of Green Sheep Town in Great Qi, and a Fourth-rank Green Badge Constable, too.
"Qi State's Green Badge Constables are like the Criminal Investigation... Ahahaha, what does fourth rank mean? Only Outer Tower cultivators can cross that threshold, and your big brother got it ahead of time!
"From the Near-Sea Archipelago to Linzi in Qi State, I've got friends everywhere. There's nothing I can't smooth over.
"Whether it's my title or my official rank, I'll be promoted again when I return after winning the tournament!"
Jiang Wang rambled on, though it was hard to tell what he was trying to explain.
But as he went on, he finally couldn't keep laughing.
In the end, he said, "Enough about me. Tell me about you. Have you been staying in Mu Kingdom these past two years?"
"Ah, I've been in the Border Wasteland." Zhao Rucheng's gaze shifted from the wine to Jiang Wang. He looked up and smiled. "I'd wasted too much time before, so I put in a little effort. Never thought that after such a casual effort, I'd become the fourth-ranked Inner Palace cultivator in the world."
"The Border Wasteland..."
Jiang Wang repeated the words. His gaze fell on Zhao Rucheng's close-cropped hair, its luster gone. His eyes were gentle. "How many Shadow Demons have you killed?"
"How many Shadow Demons have I killed..." Zhao Rucheng seemed to calculate for a moment, then smiled.