The envoy's name was Zhu Changwen. He had not held the post long and was still at the stage of being blinded by profit and desire. Their appointments rotated; they could hardly let one man occupy the position and feast without end. Everyone had to take turns sharing the proceeds.
"Hou Niao, Junior Brother Hou? I won't waste words. There are roughly two options. You can decide for yourself."
He took out a map and began marking it. "One option is a permanent island posting, meaning one of the resource islands belonging to the Quanzhen Sect. There are twenty-three in all. If you want to cultivate in peace, those islands will mean a little less trouble. After all, everyone knows they already have an owner.
"Every year, cultivators apply for transfers between islands. Some want to get out, while others want to cultivate in peace. There's room to maneuver there."
Hou Niao did not rush to answer. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. What about the other option?"
Zhu Changwen stroked his long beard. "The other option is assignment as circumstances dictate. Every year, the Lihai Military Governor's Office reorganizes the forces at sea according to the specific situation: the main points of Sea Demon incursions, the areas ravaged by pirates, personnel losses among the various sects, temporary shipping-route adjustments, and so on.
"These islands don't necessarily belong to any particular kingdom or faction. They're held jointly by the Southwest kingdoms. They're also a little farther out, mostly over a thousand li offshore, so it's difficult to guarantee exactly where you'll be assigned.
"This option carries greater risks, but its freedom makes it quite suitable for cultivators with ideas of their own.
"In another month, the Military Governor's Office will begin this year's reassignments. If this option appeals to