Chapter 143: By Master's Decree, Capture the Criminal!

Hugging a porcelain jar, Zhao Ping traversed the winding and secluded alleys with an expression as calm as usual.

He moved like the wind, his steps exceptionally swift.

A single stride carried him soaring across a distance of several meters.

Clearly, he was also a martial artist well-versed in the arts of lightness and leaping.

Rounding a corner of an alley, Zhao Ping suddenly felt a cool sensation on his face, as if he had run into a patch of water mist.

"What..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a large hand appeared out of thin air, gripped his neck, lifted him off the ground, and slammed him hard against the wall. Dust showered down in a rustle, and the porcelain jar he had been holding slipped from his grasp into the hands of the assailant.

"Interesting. Instead of using cultivators, you use mortal martial artists. Going against the grain to create a blind spot in thinking, is that it?"

A figure materialized within the mist, and Qi Xiu cast a glance at the terrified and astonished man before him.

A common Qi Condensation realm martial artist.

In his forties, nothing else particularly noteworthy about him.

"A character like you is probably just an errand runner, a mere pair of legs. You likely don't know any important information either. Oh well, might as well ask."

With a thought, Qi Xiu rendered the man unconscious and began questioning him from various angles about the information he possessed.

Just as he had anticipated.

This man named Li Ping was simply an errand boy in the employ of the Sun Family Escort Agency.

According to his memories, he only knew that on the seventh day of every month, he was to punctually go to the Serene Heart Pavilion, retrieve a porcelain jar, and deliver it to the Xin Family Congee Shop.

Beyond that, he knew nothing at all.

His gaze falling upon the porcelain jar in his hand, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes, raised his protective true essence, and opened the jar.

"This is..."

Seeing the substance inside the jar—which resembled a brain, pulsating incessantly like a living creature—Qi Xiu frowned.

"Could it be that Liu Liansheng established so many industries and secretly nurtured those bizarre infant entities simply to manufacture this kind of thing?"

Feeling as though he had touched upon the main thread of the matter, Qi Xiu flicked his wrist and stored Li Ping away into his spirit elixir pouch.

With a shimmer, he transformed himself to take on Li Ping's appearance.

"The Xin Family Congee Shop, is it?"

...

The Xin Family Congee Shop.

A dilapidated and obscure little shop nestled in the Rain Alley Ward, the most remote and impoverished district in Jiang'an Prefecture, situated precisely at the wedge-shaped junction between two mountain ranges.

The terrain tended to accumulate foul weather, bringing frequent rainfall.

Mudslides, tumbling rocks, and landslides were common occurrences here.

Aside from impoverished folk, few people ever made a living in this place.

Consequently, it was an area with an exceptionally low profile throughout the entire Jiang'an Prefecture.

Slap!

Lazily swatting at the buzzing flies with a flyswatter, wearing an apron and letting out a yawn, the congee shop owner Chen Wu drooped his eyelids in utter boredom.

Just as he successfully swatted the seventeenth fly of the day, a hurried figure rushed up to the congee shop, holding a porcelain jar in his arms.

Upon seeing the person carrying the porcelain jar, the drowsy expression of the congee shop owner instantly vanished.

"Old Chen, time for delivery."

Casually setting the porcelain jar on the table, the newcomer wiped the sweat from his brow, picked up the kettle, and guzzled the water straight from the spout.

"Coming right up."

Picking up the porcelain jar from the table without even looking at it, Chen Wu turned and shoved it into the wooden cabinet behind him, then retrieved an empty jar and handed it to the newcomer.

"Your reward is inside the jar."

Peering slightly into the mouth of the jar and catching sight of the gleaming white silver within, the newcomer's eyes curved into a smile as he said, "Alright then, see you next month."

Throughout the entire afternoon, dozens of people, one after another, came to the Xin Family Congee Shop cradling porcelain jars, leaving them behind, collecting their reward money and empty jars, and turning to leave.

Chen Wu was responsible solely for receiving the porcelain jars.

As for what was actually inside the jars, he seemed entirely incurious.

As evening approached.

"Your reward is in the jar."

Pushing the empty porcelain jar toward the errand runner named Li Ping, Chen Wu stretched his back and was just about to sit back down in his seat when he noticed that this errand runner showed no intention of taking the money and leaving; instead, he was staring at him thoughtfully.

"You fellow, why aren't you taking your money and getting..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Chen Wu's eyes rolled back into his head, and his entire being lapsed into a daze, reduced to a state of complete docility.

After rendering Chen Wu unconscious, Qi Xiu subjected the congee shop owner to the same round of questioning.

Much like Li Ping the errand runner, this congee shop owner was merely following orders.

Every month, he was responsible for receiving the porcelain jars delivered by the runners, and then distributing empty jars and reward money to them.

These collected porcelain jars would be picked up by someone on the very same night, leaving behind empty jars in their wake.

"Layer upon layer of isolation; even if one seizes a single link in the chain, it remains impossible to discern the function of the preceding link. A clever arrangement, a meticulous structure. It's just that Qi happens to be cursed with an overabundance of curiosity. I want to see what on earth you are attempting to accomplish by wrapping yourselves in so many layers of secrecy."

He stuffed the unconscious congee shop owner and Li Ping together into the backyard woodshed.

Enveloping himself in the watery escape technique to thoroughly conceal his presence, Qi Xiu sat right inside the main hall of the congee shop, waiting for the person who came to collect the porcelain jars to appear.

Clang, clang!

The sound of the night watchman echoed from outside.

Midnight had arrived.

Sitting quietly within the congee shop, Qi Xiu maintained a calm expression, unhurried and composed, as he awaited the arrival of the next link in the chain.

Another hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Just as the outside world fell completely silent and almost everyone had safely drifted off into dreamland, a secretive, pitch-black streak of light darted swiftly through the alleyways and arrived instantaneously at the Xin Family Congee Shop.

They had arrived.

Hearing the commotion, Qi Xiu's gaze flickered slightly.

The newcomer moved with practiced familiarity. Upon entering the main hall of the congee shop, he produced a dark brown wrapping cloth and swept it across the cabinet filled with porcelain jars.

All the jars stored within the cabinet were instantly bundled up in the cloth.

Subsequently, the person produced another wrapping cloth and, employing the exact same method, refilled the cabinet with empty porcelain jars.

Having accomplished this, the person turned on his heel and left.

The entire process was smooth and fluid, without the slightest hesitation.

Clearly, this was a task performed countless times before.

In the dead of the silent night.

Two streaks of light sped rapidly through the alleyways.

Utterly oblivious to the fact that someone was trailing closely behind him at a distance of less than five meters, the cultivator tasked with collecting the jars traversed the streets and finally arrived at a grand estate.

Before the gates of the estate, Qi Xiu came to a halt.

He lifted his gaze to look at the plaque adorned with black lacquer and gold borders, inscribed with flying, vigorous calligraphy.

Three prominent characters dazzled the eye.

[The Inspector General's Residence]

...

"My husband, your inauguration ceremony is right around the corner. Soon, your name will resound throughout the entire Dianchuan Province."

Cradled in Gan Xingba's embrace, Nian Yiyi gently stroked his jaw, her eyes brimming with affection.

"This is all thanks to you."

Holding his fragile yet softly fragrant wife in his arms, Gan Xingba wore an expression of utter fulfillment.

"Back then, when master told me to descend the mountain and enter the secular world to temper myself, I was initially reluctant. Now that I think about it, I was truly foolish. No matter how wonderful the mountain peaks are, they lack the vibrant colors of the mortal realm. Besides, had I not descended the mountain, how could my wife and I have ever met?"

Speaking of this, Gan Xingba tightened his embrace around his wife, as if he wished to melt her into his very flesh and bones.

"We are bound by fate; no matter what, we would have met eventually." Causing her hand to gently stroke her husband's arm, Nian Yiyi asked, "But speaking of which, will your master approve of you entering officialdom to become an official?"

"Rest assured, master has doted on me since I was a child. I am becoming an official to bring blessings to the common people, not turning to demonic ways to wreak havoc. He will be too overjoyed to object, so how could he possibly disapprove?"

Seemingly oblivious to any impropriety in taking up an official post, Gan Xingba waved a hand dismissively.

"That's good then."

Pressing closely against Gan Xingba's chest, Nian Yiyi's eyelashes fluttered slightly, while her clear and bright eyes quietly rippled with an unusual hue.

...

"Did that child notice anything amiss?"

Within a dim and shadowy hall.

Nian Yiyi knelt prostrate upon the smooth, pitch-black marble floor.

Before her sat five figures seated upon high thrones, their faces obscured by deep shadows.

"No, Xingba has a simple, straightforward, and bold disposition, and he holds nothing back from me. As for the matter of taking up office, he harbors no resentment whatsoever and is even quite joyful."

Nian Yiyi replied.

"That is good. We chose this child precisely because we valued his pristine and innocent heart. Yiyi, once he assumes office, you must assist him diligently. We will arrange everything so that his reputation spreads far and wide."

One of the figures spoke in a deep voice.

"By the way, you must consume more of the infant marrow. That substance is a supreme entity of extreme vice and wickedness, and only you are capable of digesting it. It can increase the concentration of your yin-origin blood. Your yin-origin blood will be of immense benefit to that child. Not only will it enhance his cultivation and martial prowess, but it will also lower the threshold for him to step into the Blood-Stained Realm. Aside from causing him to develop a certain degree of dependency on you, there are no other side effects."

Another figure spoke up.

"Yiyi understands. As long as it is for Xingba's benefit, Yiyi will spare no effort."

...

Under a clear blue sky, the vast firmament was empty and boundless.

Inside the Inspector General's Residence.

The prominent and influential figures of Jiang'an Prefecture had gathered within this official mansion, where magnificent embroidered curtains hung from the towering red walls.

Following a prolonged ceremonial horn blast.

Amidst a reverent and solemn atmosphere, the procession commenced its grand and stately entrance ceremony.

Clerks holding golden record books and official attire raised plaques aloft as they walked in the vanguard, proclaiming the merits and virtues of the official about to assume office.

They were followed by drummers, a lion dance troupe, and a banner-bearing contingent, creating a lively and bustling spectacle.

When all the ceremonial procedures concluded.

The main hall doors slowly swung open.

Dressed in immaculate attire, radiating a dazzling presence, Gan Xingba stepped out.

He wore brocaded garments bound with a jade belt, and a scholarly cap upon his head, appearing imposing and majestic in the sunlight.

At this moment, everyone offered him their congratulations.

In this very instant, Gan Xingba felt he had reached the pinnacle of his life.

He glanced sideways to look back; his wife was standing just behind the doors of the main hall, watching him with an expression of gratification and encouragement.

"We invite the Inspector General to receive the appointment document and take up the jade-tied official seal!"

Straightening his attire with a serious expression, Gan Xingba slowly raised his hands to receive the document and seal that symbolized the status and authority of the prefectural inspector general.

Just as his hands were lifted into the air—

Boom!

A deafening roar shattered the air!

Everyone was startled, turning their heads in the direction of the sound.

The front gates of the Inspector General's Residence were kicked wide open.

A slender, upright figure stood indifferently at the threshold.

"Impudent! On the day the Inspector General assumes office, what petty scoundrels dare to come and cause trouble!"

In an instant, several armored Daoist cultivators with stern expressions stood up and shouted harshly.

Stepping forward into the view of everyone present, this young Daoist, with a face as smooth as jade and a fair, refined complexion, cast his gaze around and slowly raised a token in his hand:

"Qi Xiu, senior disciple of the Shenxiao Sect. By order of my master! I have come here to apprehend the criminal, Gan Xingba!"

...

(End of this chapter)