Commandery Princess Requests an Audience, Wolf Cub, Seeing Through His Intentions, To Kill or Not?

The next day, the city Terrain Map was distributed. Li Xian, Su Pofu, Yang Buyan, and Bai Zhenglong formed a patrol team to inspect the western suburbs, which required visiting several mining areas. Li Xian was the leader of the middle formation; although his rank hadn't been promoted, his jurisdiction was greater, making him the leader of the patrol team. He took the Terrain Map and frowned. He had received a secret message the night before, instructing him to meet at Jade Pillar Mountain during his patrol today. Today's patrol schedule indeed included passing through Jade Pillar Mountain.

Li Xian thought to himself, "Can Commandery Princess Anyang control the patrol routes of the Gold-Seeking Guard, or can she know the patrol arrangements before anyone else? Now that I've become Gold-Seeking Guard, I'm back in her sights. I must be cautious about this matter. I know nothing about her strength, the number of her undercover agents, or the depth of her abilities. If things come to a head, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it. I'll play along for now, test the waters, and then plan something else."

Suppressing his emotions, Li Xian glanced around and said, "Let's go!" He led his men out of the shop and headed out of the city along Westwind Avenue.

The Gold-Seeking Guard Gold-Seeking Guard responsible for maintaining stability in the west, encompassing markets, city gates, suburbs, and forests. Their patrol Terrain Map on maps, indicating areas requiring special attention and areas needing investigation.

Gold-Seeking Guard was directly under the jurisdiction of "Heavenly Pivot" in Jade City, and patrolled on behalf of "Heavenly Pivot," holding a prestigious position. When passing through the city gate, the city guards were all respectful and admiring. The city guards also performed the duties of protecting the city, but were not subordinate to Gold-Seeking Guard. Gold-Seeking Guard was not the superior of the city guards, and ordinary Cavalier could not dispatch or order the city guards, but they could exercise the power of supervision and management.

As Li Xian and his entourage passed through this area, the Terrain Map indicated that they needed to monitor the city's situation, obtain the "roster" of those entering and leaving, and supervise the conduct of the city's guards. Li Xian immediately arranged for "Su Pofu" to stand by the city gate to monitor the soldiers' performance of their duties, checking for any instances of bribery, fraud, or laziness. If any were discovered, they could be punished immediately.

Then, Yang Buyan was assigned to inquire about the soldiers' current situation and get a rough understanding of the affairs of the soldiers guarding the city, while Bai Zhenglong was assigned to inspect the armory to see if any weapons or armor were missing or if any had been used without authorization.

Ensure the city gates are intact and maintain strict military discipline.

Before long, the head soldier respectfully greeted Li Xian and led him up to the second floor of the city gate. Above the city gate was a magnificent mahogany pavilion, which contained a tea room and also offered a panoramic view of the surrounding terrain.

The second floor of the city tower was more than ten feet off the ground, and the wind was very strong. It made Li Xian's tiger-and-python robe flutter loudly. Li Xian's long hair was tied up with a copper crown, which covered his face, but he still looked very elegant. Although Li Xian was a newcomer, he was serious and meticulous in his work.

They obtained the entry and exit registers and traced back three or four days to find those who had entered or left Jade City. Those who were martial artists and had a sect or faction behind them would have their origins clearly marked on the register.

Jade City stipulates that anyone entering or leaving Jade City who is a martial artist must register truthfully.

If someone intends to hide it, Jade City will find it difficult to know. However, if someone commits violence and injures another in the city, the city's constables will routinely check them, asking for their name and origin. They will then check the entry and exit registers, comparing each person's name and origin. If a name and origin do not match, the person will be immediately exposed and punished according to Jade City's laws.

On the contrary... if Registered truthfully, there are few restrictions in the city. Even if one is routinely questioned by the city's constables, one only needs to give their name truthfully, and after checking the register, nothing will happen.

In the past three days, there have been about 79 warriors coming in and out. Most of them are tourists from the rivers and lakes. Here and there, you can see the "Five Mountain Sword League", "Bronze Body Sect", "Qiu Jin League", "Weijiang Fishing"... on Yunan Road, the "Natural Sect", "Dayao Sect", "Zhen Beast Villa"... on Guanlong Road, "Purple Peak", "Heqimen", "Jianhu Villa", "Bian Family" on Wanghe Road...

Their origins are all extraordinary.

Li Xian flipped through the register, thinking, "Jade City truly is a gathering place of heroes. All the famous sects in the world frequently visit this place. This Westwind Gate is just one of its many gates. So many figures have visited and passed through in just three days. This is just a glimpse into the whole picture. I still need to work harder and truly make a name for myself!"

He carefully perused the pages, his expression serious. The foreman handed him a vermilion brush and said, "Sir, would you like some vermilion ink?"

Li Xian said, "It's just a routine matter, let's do a little!" He took the vermilion brush, frowned, and observed carefully. Then, he lightly dotted the name "Rare Beast Manor; Five Elements" with Li Wuxing. He flipped through the register and then added a vermilion seal to "Big-Coat Sect; Duan Wuya".

Those marked with a red mark were judged by Li Xian to be either suspected of harboring hidden dangers or having the potential to harm or cause trouble. After the mark was applied, the city guards would send them to the respective ward chiefs. The ward chiefs would then lead their constables to visit the marked individuals and routinely inquire about their current situation.

If there are no problems, then remove the red dots.

Li Xian sat for a while longer, admiring the scenery of the green mountains. Looking down at the passing mortals, he waited for Bai Zhenglong, Yang Buyan, Su Pofu to report back, finding nothing amiss. This first priority was thus completed. Li Xian had a small bamboo tube at his waist, which he uncorked. Inside were a patrol Terrain Map, slips of paper, and a short pen. Li Xian wrote on the slips of paper, "Passing through Westwind Gate, the soldiers are well-disciplined, the roster is clear, and the armory is complete." He then rolled it up again, put it back into the bamboo tube, and called to Su Pofu, Bai Zhenglong, Yang Buyan, and others to continue their patrol.

After leaving the city gate and walking for a while longer, Li Xian suddenly said, "Everyone, let's rest here for a bit."

Li Xian Yang Buyan, "Buyan, my water bottle is empty. Would you please fetch some water for me?" Yang Buyan and said, "Of course." He took the water bottle and searched for a nearby stream.

Li Xian's eyes flickered. Of the four people patrolling today, only Yang Buyan came from a poor background. Su Pofu and Bai Zhenglong both came from clans. If Commandery Princess Anyang was secretly observing Li Xian, Yang Buyan was the most suspicious.

Li Xian felt that Yang Buyan, but to be on the safe side, he first found an excuse to distance himself from him. Then, during a break, he casually asked, "Brother Su, who usually arranges our daily patrols?"

Su Pofu had a yellow gourd at his waist, an Mundane Common Goods filled with water. When it was almost empty, he only needed to shake it a few times to refill it. He took a sip of water and said strangely, "Your question has really stumped me. I've been so busy patrolling every day that I've never thought about who arranges the daily patrol routes."

Bai Zhenglong said, "I know a little about that. The appointment of the Gold-Seeking Guard patrol should, in principle, be directly issued by the Heavenly Pivot. The patrol route should be determined by the Heavenly Pivot." He pointed to the sky.

Li Xian had always been curious about the location of "Heavenly Pivot," but not wanting to ask too many questions, he suppressed his curiosity and continued listening to Bai Zhenglong's explanation, "However, if there were no important matters, Heavenly Pivot wouldn't be idle every day planning the patrol routes of the Gold-Seeking Guard. Therefore, the daily patrol route arrangements were delegated to the Central Lang General and the Listening Wind Pavilion." Li Xian asked, "The Listening Wind Pavilion?"

Bai Zhenglong said, "The Listening Wind Pavilion is like the Clear Peace Tower Artifact Cauldron Pavilion, assisting Heavenly Pivot in managing Jade City and specializing in handling certain types of affairs. The Listening Wind Pavilion aims to gather information, provide intelligence, and offer advice."

"Our duty Gold-Seeking Guard is to protect the stability of Jade City. Our patrol routes are naturally quite particular. For example, since the recent unrest in Gold Ingot Ward, our Gold-Seeking Guard will naturally focus on patrolling and suppressing the villains. If there are suspected undercurrents in a certain place, we will naturally patrol there to investigate. Or if a certain Lineage is holding a wedding banquet or a grand event, we will also make sure to be there during our patrol. Although we do not need to personally manage these many things, just by standing here, the might of Jade City will be omnipresent."

"However, the Central Lang General usually needs to practice martial arts and has important duties to attend to. Naturally, he cannot always observe the streets and neighborhoods. The Listening Wind Pavilion has a keen eye and ears, so over time, it was the Listening Wind Pavilion that made suggestions, and the Central Lang General drew up the routes."

"Sometimes the Central Lang General would glance at it and, finding nothing of great importance, would hand it over to his subordinates, such as Lei Chong, or a clerk, to determine the route. There's no fixed rule for this." Li Xian pondered, "In this way, the Commandery Princess Anyang has a lot more room to maneuver. Her influence lies with the Gold-Seeking Guard, the Listening Wind Pavilion, or even the Heavenly Pivot. Even if she's not in any of these three places, as long as she's familiar with the inner workings, she can still influence my patrol routes."

"I had hoped to use this to find out what Commandery Princess Anyang was capable of. It seems I've come up empty-handed."

He frowned, sensing that Commandery Princess Anyang was no ordinary person, her actions were meticulous. "She can influence my daily patrols and secretly transmit signals to me. I don't know who is doing this. Well, I'll learn from her later."

At this moment, Yang Buyan brought over a water jug. Li Xian called out a few times and then continued patrolling forward. Soon they arrived at Jade Pillar Mountain.

It was late Chen Hour, early afternoon. The jade miners had already ventured deep into the mountains, digging for jade in the dark and dirty land. According to Su Pofu, the "Su Family" and the "Xu Family" had shares in this Jade Pillar Mountain.

Both the Su and Xu families were involved in "Heavenly Crafted Wonders." Su Pofu spoke of this with great pride and invited Li Xian to visit the Su Family's "Heavenly Craft Workshop" when he had free time in the future.

Li Xian had long been curious about this path and was naturally eager to learn, so he readily agreed.

The purpose of this visit to Jade Pillar Mountain is to rectify the guards stationed there, to crack down on the illegal possession of jade, and to investigate the collusion between the guards and jade miners for personal gain.

This matter is not difficult. Li Xian once worked as a jade miner in this area. In order to seize the opportunity, he scattered strands of hair, making him well-informed and able to listen in and spy on everything around him. He has a thorough understanding of the inner rules of the jade miners in this area.

He is decisive and efficient.

He immediately issued an order, summoning all the jade miners out of the ley lines. The guards on duty dared not disobey and relayed the message. Soon, the jade miners emerged from the mountains, forming orderly lines.

Once everyone was present, Li Xian saw his former comrades Zhang Cun, Wang Shan, Liang Huohuo, Yue Fanluo, and others standing inconspicuously among the crowd, cautiously observing Li Xian and the others with suspicion and apprehension.

Li Xian suddenly thought, "If I hadn't taken the risk to seek change, I would still be standing among the crowd, trapped in one place, frustrated and unfulfilled."

Then they saw the local bullies Jiang Huchen, Qiu Lie, Biao De, who also lowered their heads slightly, not daring to make a sound, their usual arrogant expressions gone.

Li Xian began his routine cleanup, glancing over indifferently before calling Jiang Huchen, Qiu Lie, and Biao De to his side. He first inquired about trivial matters with a friendly tone.

Taking advantage of the three men's relaxed guard, he suddenly shouted loudly about the matter of the hidden jade mine. Jiang Huchen, Qiu Lie, and Biao De were all cunning people and would not easily admit it. Moreover, although the three were rivals, they were on the same side in this matter and were very tacitly in sync. Their fabricated lies could corroborate each other and were perfectly flawless.

But lies always have flaws, and their supposed hiding of jade must have left clues in the account books.

Li Xian immediately demanded the account book, pointed out the loopholes, and used them to expose the lies and put pressure on them. Then, he explained everything that had happened behind their backs to them in person.

Jiang Huchen, Qiu Lie, Biao De, and the others broke out in a cold sweat, their faces turning pale with fright. They felt as if struck by lightning, never Gold-Seeking Guard would investigate their trivial matters so thoroughly. Knowing that no matter how they tried to explain, it would be in vain, they finally knelt down and begged for mercy, weeping bitterly.

Seeing that things were clear, Li Xian thought, "I have important matters to attend to, and it is not advisable to linger here for too long. The Su Family has shares in Jade Pillar Mountain, so Su Pofu should decide how to punish them. I will take this opportunity to leave and meet with Commandery Princess Anyang." He then entrusted the aftermath to Su Pofu, with Bai Zhenglong and Yang Buyan assisting him.

He wandered around, away from the crowd.

After traveling for a short while, the place gradually became quiet and secluded. Li Xian looked around and, seeing that no one was following him, took out Terrain Map to observe the terrain of Jade Pillar Mountain. He thought to himself, "If I pass through this place, Commandery Princess Anyang will surely notice. My affair with her must be faced eventually; hiding is useless. Since we are going to meet, then let's meet. But she only said we would meet at Jade Pillar Mountain Jade Pillar Mountain, without saying where. Could it be a test? Is she making me find it myself?"

Then he thought, "She must be hiding somewhere secluded. I'll go look for her."

Following the Terrain Map, they searched specifically in areas with dense trees and sparse population, but still found no trace of it.

Suddenly, Li Xian's sharp eyesight alerted him to notice a very faint mist floating in the southeast corner, among the green bamboo grove.

The fog was strange, almost imperceptible.

It was already past 9 AM, and the morning mist had dissipated, leaving Jade Pillar Mountain free of miasma. Li Xian activated his Double Pupils, observing intently. He saw a gentle breeze rustling the Ye Qing, but the even lighter, thinner mist remained stagnant. He confirmed that the mist was unique, not natural, and seemed to contain the evolution of martial arts techniques or the effects of Precious Extraordinary Treasures. He thought to himself, "This mist is floating here for no reason; it must be suspicious. It might fool others, but it won't fool me. Commandery Princess Anyang must be hiding in the mist. Commandery Princess Anyang wasn't too arrogant after all; she knew to use the mist to hide and conceal herself. She must be observing me right now. I'm not in a hurry to meet her; I'll circle around a bit more and make her underestimate me."

He pretended not to know and circled the mountain twice. On the third circle, he feigned surprise, as if he had discovered fortuitous opportunity location of the fog by chance. After a moment of Celestial Person struggle and hesitation, he stepped deeper into the fog. Li Xian walked for a while, feeling cold all over. Although the fog was thin, it blocked his five senses and blocked out sound. After walking for a short time, the fog gradually dissipated, and he saw a red sedan chair under a bamboo tree in the distance. Standing in front of the sedan chair was a woman in a green dress with a graceful figure, who was none other than Qingyao from before.

Li Xian stepped forward and called out, "Sister Qingyao!" Qingyao was also surprised to see Li Xian again. She quickly glanced at the red sedan chair behind her, as if to say: You little rascal, you have no sense of propriety. The Commandery Princess is here, how can you call me first?

Li Xian stepped forward, feigning ignorance, and cupped his hands, saying, "Commandery Princess Li Xian, I am sorry for not being able to greet you properly!"

A cold snort came from inside the sedan chair. Commandery Princess Anyang narrowed her eyes and scanned Li Xian. Li Xian felt as if a sharp sword had been pressed against him, and his whole body felt uncomfortable. Intestine-Turning Narrow Passage, "This Commandery Princess Anyang not only wields power, but her own strength is also quite remarkable!"

Commandery Princess Anyang flicked her sleeve and said, "With your status, you are far from qualified to welcome me from afar. Let's talk about welcoming you when you've ascended to the position of Silver-Faced Lang."

Li Xian asked, "I wonder what brings the Commandery Princess Li Xian see me?"

Commandery Princess Anyang did not answer, but her voice softened as she said, "You've surprised me. In less than half a year, you've risen from a debt slave to Gold-Seeking Guard. At this rate, while the Silver-Faced Lang is still a distant dream by the three-year deadline, the Bronze Face or the Bronze Body Man might not be out of the question." Qingyao said, "Commandery Princess, this man is quite talented. If used properly, he might bring unexpected good fortune." Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Are you pleading for him, to waive the three-year bet?"

Qingyao said, "I wouldn't dare. The Commandery Princess's decision is none of Qingyao business." She took a half-step back. Commandery Princess Anyang asked Li Xian, "What do you think?" Li Xian replied, "Since it's a bet, it should be honored. I have no objection."

Commandery Princess Anyang praised, "Very well, if you had used this opportunity to beg for mercy just now, I might have spared your life and postponed the three-year agreement, or even five or ten years. But since you have done so, then the agreement will remain as it is!"

Li Xian remained composed, thinking to himself, "Hmph, you old woman, you have quite the plan, but how could I possibly abide by the bet? Three years is a long time; too many things can change. I will do everything in my power to secure my own survival. But this Commandery Princess Anyang is truly not to be underestimated." He asked again, "May I ask what important matter the Commandery Princess wishes to discuss this time?"

Commandery Princess Anyang glanced at Qingyao. Qingyao nodded slightly and said, "Given your status, you are not weak even in Jade City. Yet you lack means of communication. The Commandery Princess has summoned you this time to offer you a ' Mud Sparrow '."

She took out a small, yellowish-brown bird and said, "With this bird, you can communicate with me in the future. I can also assign you tasks."

Li Xian accepted the "Mud Sparrow," understanding dawning on him. "I was previously an insignificant figure; they didn't expect me to achieve anything. That's why they wouldn't even give me the Mud Sparrow. Now that I've become Gold-Seeking Guard, although I'm not much in the eyes of Commandery Princess Anyang, I've become useful. That's why I've replenished the communication item." Qingyao said, "With the Mud Sparrow, you're now the Commandery Princess's person. Here's a contract; sign it." She took out a piece of leather paper from her sleeve. This leather paper was made from the hide of a "Twin-Born Beast." This was the "child paper," also known as the "Child Contract." The words written on the Child Contract would immediately appear on the "mother paper" and the "Mother Contract."

Qingyao took out a writing brush and said, "Sign the contract now."

Li Xian cursed inwardly, "This Commandery Princess Anyang has so many tricks up her sleeve. Being targeted by a woman like this is just Li Xian bad luck." He had no choice but to sign the contract as instructed. Qingyao rolled up the contract and said, "Now that you are the Commandery Princess's person, you will not serve Commandery Princess for nothing. You are now Gold-Seeking Guard Cavalier, with a monthly salary of ten taels of silver and two coins of Essence Treasure meat. When the Commandery Princess is involved, she will only be generous, never stingy."

"From this day forward, your monthly salary will be twenty taels, and five qian of lean meat per month. If you are promoted in the future, the salary promised by the Commandery Princess will be double that of Jade City."

Li Xian felt slightly relieved, thinking, "There are some benefits, but don't even think about me risking my life." He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Commandery Princess." Commandery Princess Anyang nodded slightly and said, "This county has always favored people with ability and skill. Although your rank is low, your abilities are quite impressive. I have said before that I will not help you with money. But this salary will still be allocated to you as usual."

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "If I'm not mistaken, Xu Shaoqian will summon you to the Blue-Heavens Long Dream Tower the day after tomorrow to attend a banquet. After the banquet, you should go to the Nine-Zhang Money Tower and open a money account."

Li Xian asked, "Will the Commandery Princess then pay me a monthly salary in cash? Wouldn't that make it easy to be exposed?"

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "Nine-Zhang Money Tower... is an extremely secretive money exchange. Although it is located in Jade City, it is not under the control of Jade City. Nine-Zhang Money Shop has its own rules. Moreover, it is extremely secretive, and all transactions are conducted on tokens. If you do not show your face, no one will know it is you."

Li Xian understood. Commandery Princess Anyang then said, "Let's leave it at that for now. If anything happens in the future, we can use Mud Sparrow to carry messages."

Li Xian took his leave. Commandery Princess Anyang gazed at his retreating figure, her brows furrowed in thought. After Li Xian's figure had completely disappeared, Commandery Princess Anyang asked leisurely, "Qingyao, what do you think of this young man?"

Qingyao said, "This person is usable. Congratulations, Commandery Princess, on this unexpected good fortune. Commandery Princess verbally expressed your disdain for him, yet you personally met with him. Could it be that you are also weighing this young man in your heart..."

Commandery Princess Anyang sneered, "If we're talking about ability, this boy is truly remarkable. My precious nephew, Wei Chu, has been a Mud Face Mud Body since entering Jade City. Nearly half a year has passed, and despite numerous attempts, he has struggled to Leap Ascension even a single step. During this time, I've invested tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to build his reputation and cultivate his image. Although there are some initial results, it's been a steady process."

"But look at this young man, born into debt, owing tens of thousands of taels of silver. Upon entering Jade City, he was first imprisoned in a water dungeon for a long time. Later, he was sent to Jade Pillar Mountain to mine jade, a long and arduous task. Yet, in such dire straits, he discovered a glimmer of hope and risked his life to enter the Deathwish Valley."

"Having survived three hundred perilous battles, he actually managed to pay off his debts. This situation would be difficult for anyone else to resolve. And the Deathwish Valley- Deathwish Valley... some of the most heinous criminals in Jade City, who were originally sentenced to death, can choose to enter the Deathwish Valley -Die to cleanse their past and regain their innocence. This young man's emergence from the Deathwish Valley is truly perfect; his background couldn't be cleaner!"

"This is something that no amount of money could buy. After joining the Miraculous Healers Pavilion, he truly lived up to his words; his medical skills were quite remarkable. He quickly distinguished himself again. During one of his medical consultations, he even seized the opportunity to be recognized Gold-Seeking Guard."

"He seized every opportunity. From Probationary Cavalier a full-fledged Cavalier, and now he's at the forefront of the enemy ranks. In less than six months, the extent of his transformation has been truly astonishing. When I looked at his resume, I couldn't help but praise him repeatedly, marveling at his young heroism."

"Pity..."

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "That's precisely why I realized it so late. The boy I casually grabbed back then is probably no ordinary person. His abilities, intelligence, courage, and boldness are beyond the reach of ordinary people. Tell me... do you think such a person will stay put?"

Qingyao hesitated, as if she wanted to speak. Commandery Princess Anyang said, "I deliberately hid myself and had him search for us. This thin mist was very faint. He only circled around three times before he noticed us. It's clear that he's meticulous and has excellent eyesight. But he called you first, and then me? Did he not notice me? Perhaps he was resentful and deliberately didn't want to call me."

Qingyao knelt down in fear. Commandery Princess Anyang said, "This matter has nothing to do with you. You have followed me for many years, and I know you."

Qingyao said, "Thank you, Commandery Princess!"

Commandery Princess Anyang said, "But this boy is not to be underestimated. I then deliberately said that if he begged for mercy, the bet would be extended. He remained neither humble nor arrogant. I suspect he is not overly confident in fulfilling the bet, but rather that he doesn't intend to abide by it. For someone like this, ordinary rules are probably not suitable to restrain him." Commandery Princess Anyang said calmly, "Is this a wolf cub, or a wolf cub that hates me?"

"Though that wolf cub is formidable, he doesn't know how sharp my eyes are. He's good at hiding his true intentions, but my keen eyes are not to be trifled with."

"If he gains power in the future, dealing with Xu Cheng will be extremely easy for me. But if I cannot nip this kid in the bud as soon as possible, I will lose the initiative!"

Qingyao said, "Your Commandery Princess means..." Commandery Princess Anyang said, "I met him today to assess whether this young man is capable or not. I have always favored truly capable people, and this young man's abilities are not limited to martial arts. If he is capable, then everyone will be happy. If he is not, then we should eliminate him as soon as possible. Now it seems that it is best to eliminate him as soon as possible."

Qingyao said, "Why didn't the Commandery Princess send me to do it just now?"

Commandery Princess Anyang remained silent. Qingyao understood. Although the Commandery Princess wanted to eliminate Li Xian, she saw his considerable talent and realized he was a rare talent if she truly helped him. Qingyao said, "Commandery Princess, all the great talents in the world are arrogant. Stifling them is extremely easy; making them work for me is true skill." Commandery Princess Anyang was delighted to hear this and said, "Very well, it's a pity to kill this boy like this. I need to test him in a life-or-death situation. If he can truly be used by me, that wouldn't be bad."

"If not, this wolf cub may be cunning, but if I, the Commandery Princess, want his life, I have many ways to do so." The moment she spoke, the wind suddenly subsided, and the leaves froze.

Not far away on the ground, a strand of hair swayed gently.