Chen Fan followed Jiang Qingyuan down Central Avenue, surrounded by a constant stream of people and numerous cultivators.
Yet no one dared come within three paces of them-the cold, aloof presence Jiang Qingyuan naturally exuded made people instinctively retreat even from far away.
Today, she had changed into formal silver-white embroidered robes, with dark gold cloud patterns stitched along the collar and cuffs. Her long hair was tied up, her eyes sharp, and she carried a more forbidding air than usual.
This was the standard attire of a Heaven-Rank Envoy of the Law Enforcement Immortal Hall.
"The Law Enforcement Immortal Hall has four ranks: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow," Jiang Qingyuan explained quietly to Chen Fan as they walked. "Yellow Rank is the grassroots level, responsible for ordinary cases and routine patrols. Profound Rank handles major cases and evil cultivator gangs. Earth Rank oversees a province or city and coordinates affairs throughout the province. Heaven Rank answers directly to headquarters in the Central Continent and can inspect all Nine Provinces, executing first and reporting afterward."
"Across the entire Nine Provinces, there are no more than a hundred Heaven-Rank Law Enforcement Envoys. Every one of them has Mahayana cultivation and wields tremendous authority."
Chen Fan was astounded.
A hundred Heaven-Rank envoys, all at Mahayana, and this was only their publicly known law enforcement strength.
The Law Enforcement Immortal Hall's reserves were terrifying. No wonder the Immortal Palace held its position as sovereign of the Nine Provinces so securely. The strength of this coercive institution alone was beyond what ordinary factions could contend with.
No wonder the likes of the Netherworld and the Freedom Divine Domain only dared pull little tricks rather than confront it head-on. The Law Enforcement Immortal Hall had more than enough strength to steamroll them.
"The person in charge of the Jingzhou City Law Enforcement Immortal Hall in Xuzhou is Lin Feng, an Earth-Rank Law Enforcement Envoy with late Tribulation Transcendence cultivation," Jiang Qingyuan continued. "He isn't stupid, just a little slippery, and likes to leave himself room to maneuver. You can approach him when handling matters in Xuzhou, but don't trust him completely. If you run into something you truly can't decide, come straight to me."
"Understood." Chen Fan nodded and committed it to memory.
As they spoke, the two of them had arrived at the entrance of the Xuzhou Law Enforcement Immortal Hall.
The entire hall was imposing and solemn, built entirely from pitch-black black-iron stone. Two evil-suppressing stone lions stood at the entrance, bristling with Sha Qi.
Black-armored law enforcement guards stood watch at the doors, each with a steady presence and cultivation of at least Foundation Establishment.
Seeing Jiang Qingyuan approach, the guards immediately bowed in greeting, not daring even to raise their heads. "Greetings, Heaven-Rank Envoy Jiang!"
They were all too familiar with the presence of a Heaven-Rank token. This was someone at the very pinnacle of the Nine Provinces. Never mind them-even Hall Master Lin Chuan had to treat her with courtesy.
Jiang Qingyuan gave a slight nod and walked straight inside.
Chen Fan followed behind her, meeting no obstacles. Every law enforcer they encountered, regardless of rank, bowed and stepped aside, their expressions reverent.
Along the way, Chen Fan finally witnessed the prestige of a Heaven-Rank Law Enforcement Envoy.
This authority was even greater than he had imagined.
Upon reaching the Yellow Rank administrative chamber, Jiang Qingyuan went directly to the steward.
Upon hearing that this was someone recommended by a Heaven-Rank Envoy, the steward dared not neglect him. He personally ran around handling the paperwork, even waiving the standard entrance assessment. It was green lights all the way.
In less than an hour, a bronze-colored token was placed in Chen Fan's hand.
The front of the token bore the ancient characters for "Law Enforcement Immortal Hall," while the back bore the character for "Yellow," along with two smaller characters meaning "Reserve." It felt slightly cool in his hand and carried a faint pressure, a symbol of his status.
"From today onward, you are a Yellow Rank Reserve Law Enforcer of Jingzhou City," Jiang Qingyuan said evenly from beside him. "You'll receive a basic monthly stipend, have access to Yellow Rank case files, and be allowed to assist with cases. To become a full member, you need to accumulate a hundred merit points or earn a third-class merit or higher."
Chen Fan turned the token over in his hands, finding the experience rather novel.
Yellow Rank reserve doesn't sound like much, but at least it's an official position. Back in my previous life, this would be like passing the civil service exam—and getting into a provincial program for selected graduates, at that.
"Come, let's look at the case archive." Jiang Qingyuan turned toward the archive. "We'll find a suitable case for you to practice on and earn enough merit to become a full member while you're at it."
Chen Fan immediately followed.
The case archive was on the western side of the hall, protected by layers of formations and under heavy guard.
Jiang Qingyuan scanned her Heaven-Rank token, and the formations opened automatically, allowing the two of them inside.
The space within was enormous, with rows of shelves stretching out of sight and case files neatly arranged by category.
A faint scent of ink and Spiritual Qi filled the air, and every case file was sealed with a formation.
"The Yellow Rank cases are all over here." Jiang Qingyuan pointed to the shelves on the left. "There are evil cultivators causing trouble, brawls between aristocratic clan disciples, academic fraud, and civil disputes. Pick one yourself—something you think is suitable."
Chen Fan nodded, walked over, and picked up a file at random to read.
[Case of Evil Cultivators Consuming Essence Blood in Western Qizhou City], fifty merit points, moderate danger.
[Case of Armed Fighting over a Spirit Field Dispute Between the Li Household and Wang Household], thirty merit points, low danger.
[Alchemist Association Counterfeit Production and Sales Case], eighty merit points, moderate danger.
He browsed through them, but they either offered too little merit or were too ordinary to interest him.
Only when he reached the innermost corner of the shelves did he spot a file with a "Pending" label on its cover, also marked "Foreign Affairs Involved." It had been tucked away alone in a corner, clearly deliberately shelved by someone.
Curious, Chen Fan pulled it out.
The file's cover read: [Case of Foreign Exchange Students Coercing and Sexually Assaulting Female Students at Mysterious Spirit Academy].
He frowned and opened the file.
The record inside was very simple. It merely stated that a female student of Mysterious Spirit Academy named Su Wan had filed a report, claiming she had been coerced and sexually assaulted by foreign exchange students. The academy had suppressed the case without reporting it, and she requested the Law Enforcement Immortal Hall's intervention.
A note was attached at the end: Involves personnel from the Freedom Divine Domain and the Holy See. The foreign affairs department has sent word. Recommend shelving the matter.
The more Chen Fan read, the darker his expression became.
Just these few simple lines, a report, and they've buried it without doing anything? They even recommend shelving it?
"What, interested in this case?"
Jiang Qingyuan walked over. Her gaze grew colder when she saw the file in his hands.
"Yes." Chen Fan looked up. "Professor Jiang, why hasn't anyone taken this case? Aren't they just a few international students? Could it be harder to handle than a case involving evil cultivators?"
"What makes it difficult isn't the case itself, but the connections behind it." Jiang Qingyuan's tone was calm, yet carried a hint of mockery. "Mysterious Spirit Academy is a third-rate institution in Jingzhou. In recent years, it's been trying to climb the Star Universe university rankings. It treats foreign exchange students like precious treasures, giving them a whole host of privileges beyond those enjoyed by citizens, terrified that any shortcomings in its hospitality might affect its ranking."
"The girl who filed the report is Su Wan, one of Mysterious Spirit Academy's top students. Several exchange students from the Freedom Divine Domain and the Holy See set their sights on her. At first, it was harassment.
"Later, certain people threatened to expel her and spread rumors about her to force her to submit. The girl gave in once, but they only grew more brazen and dragged others into it as well. All told, more than a dozen girls fell victim to them."
"Driven into a corner, the girl secretly reported it to the Law Enforcement Immortal Hall. But the moment the case was submitted, Mysterious Spirit Academy's vice principal, Hu Zhongyuan, came knocking. He said it would damage relations between the academies and tarnish the academy's reputation, and asked for the case to be suppressed.
"Someone from the foreign affairs department also sent word, saying we shouldn't let such a trivial matter affect diplomatic relations with the Freedom Divine Domain."
Chen Fan clenched his fists as he listened.
"Just because of that? More than a dozen girls were victimized, and they simply buried it? The academy won't do anything, and neither will the Law Enforcement Immortal Hall?"
"It's not that nothing will be done. It's that no one wants to take it," Jiang Qingyuan said evenly. "Taking this case means offending Mysterious Spirit Academy and the foreign affairs authorities, while also dealing with protests from the Freedom Divine Domain and the Holy See. It's a thankless task, and you might even end up facing disciplinary action. Who would want to wade into these muddy waters?"
Chen Fan fell silent.
He understood. Reality was like this: better one less problem than one more. No one wanted to invite trouble.
But understanding did not mean he could accept it.
Just because of so-called reputation and diplomacy, the victims have to suffer for nothing while their abusers remain beyond the law?
What kind of reasoning is that!
Besides, this is the Immortal Palace's Nine Provinces, not a colony of the Freedom Divine Domain.
What gives a bunch of foreign exchange students the right to run roughshod over the Immortal Palace's territory?
He suddenly raised his head and looked at Jiang Qingyuan, his gaze resolute. "Professor Jiang, I'm taking this case."
Jiang Qingyuan was not surprised, as though she had expected him to choose it all along.
Looking at the anger and stubbornness in Chen Fan's eyes, an almost imperceptible smile curved her lips.
I was right about him after all. This brat might look quietly devious, but he hasn't lost the righteousness in his bones.
"Have you thought it through?" Jiang Qingyuan deliberately asked. "This case will be a great deal of trouble. The foreign affairs department might come after you, and Mysterious Spirit Academy will put obstacles in your way. Although the merit is enough to make you a full member, the risks aren't small."
"I have," Chen Fan said firmly. "The merit is one thing, but the main reason is that I can't stand this. How is it a bunch of outsiders' place to run roughshod over the Immortal Palace's territory? And we're supposed to indulge them?"
"Besides," he said, changing tack as a wicked smile curled his lips, "with you, a Heaven-Rank Envoy, backing me, Professor Jiang, what do I have to fear? If things really blow up, we're in the right. Surely the foreign affairs department won't turn against the Law Enforcement Immortal Hall over a few pieces of foreign trash?"
He had worked it all out clearly.
The law was on his side, Jiang Qingyuan stood behind him, and the Immortal Palace's overall strength utterly eclipsed theirs.
The Freedom Divine Domain and the Holy See would only dare bitch a little in private. They would never dare openly resort to force.
His words made Jiang Qingyuan chuckle and shake her head.
This brat really won't take a single loss. His abacus is clacking away.
But she liked that.
The cultivation world was no charity. Righteousness alone was useless; one also needed brains and methods.
"Good." Jiang Qingyuan nodded, a measure of approval in her eyes, and began teaching him how to deal with people and borrow strength. "The case is yours. You'll lead it from start to finish. I won't intervene on my own initiative; I'll only provide a safety net if your life is in danger. If you truly encounter pressure you can't withstand, learn to borrow strength."
"Understood." Chen Fan smiled. "Don't worry, Professor Jiang. I know what I'm doing. Dealing with a few small fry won't require you to act."
He might not be good at other things, but pinning labels on people, fanning the flames, and shutting people down with words were ancestral crafts of his.
Seeing how confident he was, Jiang Qingyuan did not ask further.
"Go back and make some preparations. Tomorrow, go to Mysterious Spirit Academy yourself and look into the situation," Jiang Qingyuan said. "Remember, gather evidence first, act afterward. Above all, leave a record of everything you do. Bring out the Law Enforcement Immortal Hall's rules. If you run into someone truly tough, crush the protective jade talisman I gave you, and I'll be there."
"All right."
Chen Fan put the file away and tightened his grip on the reserve token in his hand.