Taking Up His Post

Princess Xuan Yi's fingertips kneaded deep creases into the brocade hem of her dress, while withered leaves crumbled to dust beneath her feet.

The setting sun stained the palace walls blood-red, yet it could not brighten her reddened eyes.

Li Chen Zhou suddenly pressed a hand to his chest, his brows knitting slightly. "System, what is this feeling?"

"Ding—Host's heartbeat has accelerated. Adrenaline secretion has increased. This matches the characteristics of human emotional fluctuations."

"Ding—Emotional fluctuations detected in host. Mission activated: conquer the emperor's daughter and become Great Qian's strongest imperial son-in-law, strongest imperial son-in-law. Reward: one god-tier draw."

After a moment, Li Chen Zhou said:

"After I get off duty tomorrow, I'll bring Your Highness some food as an apology."

Li Chen Zhou softened his voice by several degrees, his thumb unconsciously rubbing the lingering begonia fragrance on his sword hilt.

A flicker of delight crossed Princess Xuan Yi's eyes. "Really?"

Then she became doubtful. "Can you get in?"

Li Chen Zhou gave a slight nod. "I have my ways."

What a joke. If he could not even get through the door, what the hell was the point?

At that moment, the eunuch beside them softly reminded her, "Princess, it is time to return to the palace."

Princess Xuan Yi shot Li Chen Zhou a cutely fierce glare. "If you lie to me again this time, I'll make you pay the price." With that, she turned and left.

Watching Princess Xuan Yi's retreating back, Li Chen Zhou said, "She's pretty great. Why didn't the original owner marry her?"

"Searching for the reason for host..."

"Ding—Flat as a board. Can't afford it."

Just as Li Chen Zhou was about to lose his temper with the system, a voice shattered his thoughts.

"Congratulations, Young Duke~"

A yin-soft voice pierced the twilight.

As Liu Xian's wide sleeves fluttered, his blood-red lacquered fingertips brushed across his Adam's apple—under the effects of Dark Yin true qi, the pale blue veins there had somehow taken on a woman's alluring contours.

Li Chen Zhou sneered. "Eunuch Liu, even the top courtesan of the Pleasure House would die of shame upon seeing that rouge of yours."

Crack! Liu Xian's left hand within his sleeve instantly turned transparent like ice, only to forcibly return to normal amid an explosive crack.

The Blood Demon Blade reflected this detail upon its sheath, sending strange ripples spreading across it.

"The latter half of the Dark Yin Sword Canon." Liu Xian suddenly stepped closer, the scent of face powder rushing at Li Chen Zhou. "Name your terms."

"Why the hurry?" Li Chen Zhou's white python robe swept through the frost-covered ground. "When you grow a young lady's chest, I'll naturally hand it over."

"Ha ha ha ha..."

Before his words had even faded, he was already thirty feet away, leaving only the black qi surging in Liu Xian's eyes.

"Ding—Warning! Baleful Intent level has exceeded the critical threshold."

Watching Li Chen Zhou's back, Liu Xian's eyes brimmed with disappointment and anger. Black qi instantly coiled around his fingertips, only to disperse into the air moments later.

The temptation of the Dark Yin Sword Canon was gnawing away at this eunuch's reason—and that was precisely the effect Li Chen Zhou wanted.

The Dark Yin Sword Canon was a god-tier cultivation art. Could Liu Xian, having tasted its benefits, really escape Li Chen Zhou's grasp?

The one with goods in his pocket was the boss. Give it to him? Dream on.

The Dark Yin Sword Canon was a god-tier cultivation art with the power to reverse yin and yang. Before Li Chen Zhou drew a cultivation art capable of contending with it, he would never hand it over to Liu Xian.

Just as he turned around, Li Chen Zhou saw Wei Wuji coming out as well.

He immediately stepped forward to pay his respects, neither servile nor overbearing as he cupped his hands slightly. "Lord Wei."

Wei Wuji nodded without saying much.

Li Chen Zhou thought, This immediate superior sure knows how to put on airs.

Then Li Chen Zhou directly followed behind him as they left together.

After leaving the imperial palace, the two headed straight for the Brocade Guard command post.

Before the Brocade Guard command post, black iron door knockers gleamed coldly in the twilight. Faint dark-red bloodstains appeared and vanished upon the vermilion gates, while iron chains held in the mouths of the roof-corner guardian beasts clinked in the draught passing through the halls.

Once they returned to the Brocade Guard command post, Wei Wuji casually pointed.

One of the Brocade Guards stepped forward. "Greetings, Commander."

Wei Wuji nodded, then casually pointed at Li Chen Zhou. "He's new. Take him to register."

Then he went off toward his own office without another word.

The man who had been called over replied, "Understood."

After watching Wei Wuji leave, the man examined Li Chen Zhou before asking, "New here? What's your status?"

"My father is Li Qing Shan. How does that status sound?"

"Li Qing Shan..." The man mulled the name over for a moment.

"Li Qing Shan of Duke Zhen's Estate?"

He hurriedly changed his demeanor. "Oh, so you're the Young Duke. Please follow this humble subordinate."

He then brought Li Chen Zhou to the Southern Investigation Bureau to complete his intake.

The moment he stepped through the gates of the Southern Investigation Bureau, the smell of rust seeped from the cracks between the green bricks.

The guide led Li Chen Zhou to the registration desk.

"This Young Master Li is a newcomer brought back by Lord Wei. Register him and see where manpower is needed. Make the arrangements."

"Lord Wei? He didn't leave any other instructions?" the registrar asked.

"No. I'm only responsible for handing him over to you. The rest is none of my business."

With that, he turned to Li Chen Zhou. "Young Master Li, then this humble subordinate shall take his leave."

After the guide turned and departed, the registrar began registering Li Chen Zhou.

"Name?"

"Li Chen Zhou."

Li Chen Zhou? That name sounded rather familiar.

"Where are you from?"

"Duke Zhen's Estate."

"Duke Zhen's Estate..."

The registrar repeated the words aloud. The instant those four words left his mouth, he jumped in fright. The tip of his brush spread an ink blot across the rice paper, and when he looked up again, his expression held three parts fawning smile. He had just thought the name Li Chen Zhou sounded familiar. As expected, anyone Lord Wei personally brought back was no ordinary person.

"So it's the Young Duke!"

"Young Duke, there are only a few items left. Please state your cultivation level."

"Sixth rank."

"Six... sixth rank?" The words startled the registrar so badly that the brush in his hand nearly fell again.

"Registrar's brainwave detected: Sixth rank... Assign him as a Xiaoqi officer? Have the higher-ups lost their minds? Next time, will they have me send him to guard the gate?"

Was that appropriate?

For a well-connected newcomer brought in by an important figure, if there were no special instructions, they were generally assigned a Xiaoqi position.

He then forced himself to speak to Li Chen Zhou.

"The First Hundred-Household Office under the Third Thousand-Household Office of the Northern Investigation Bureau still has an opening for a Xiaoqi officer beneath the Second Banner Officer. What do you think?"

Li Chen Zhou said, "Fine, as long as it's not guarding the gate."

The moment the words "guarding the gate" came out, the registrar broke out in a cold sweat.

"No, no, no... Young Duke, you jest. How could that be?"

As he spoke, he took out a brand-new Flying Fish Uniform and a command token stained with a little blood.

"Brocade Guard tokens are passed down for reuse. As for weapons, you'll need to collect one from the armory." Ever since learning Li Chen Zhou's identity, the registrar had become much more respectful.

"No need for a weapon. I have my own." As he spoke, Li Chen Zhou raised the Blood Demon Blade in his hand slightly.

The Blood Demon Blade's eerie aura even made the registrar lose focus for a moment.

"Do I start duty today?" Li Chen Zhou's voice pulled the registrar back to reality.

Having only just come to his senses, the registrar hurriedly said, "No, no. Tomorrow at roll call, just report to the designated location. Someone will arrange things for you."

Li Chen Zhou nodded and did not linger any longer. Taking the Flying Fish Uniform, he left.

After returning to Duke Zhen's Estate, Li Chen Zhou immediately began merging with the Hell Soul Exchange Scripture as soon as he entered his room.

"System, merge the Hell Soul Exchange Scripture."

Deep within his sea of consciousness, a netherworld bell tolled, and seal-script characters emerged: Hell Soul Exchange Scripture fusion begins.

As the candle flame burst open with a pop, revealing a ghostly blue core, the system's prompt sounded like a funeral bell:

Hell Soul Exchange Scripture fusion begins

Eighteen ice-spike-like bursts of pain exploded along his spine in an instant. In the bronze mirror, blood-colored vortices appeared in his eyes—countless rebel souls howled within his meridians.

When the black-blue mist finally condensed into two vertical pupils in his eyes, a trembling call sounded from outside the door at just the right moment:

"Young Master... Madam summons you..."

Creak—

The instant the door opened, in the servant's pupils were reflected those inhuman vertical eyes. Li Chen Zhou heard abyssal murmurs roll from his own throat:

"Look into my eyes..."