Chapter 141: The Inspector General
Chapter 141: The Inspector General
Amidst the solemn silence between towering walls, Chen Mu walked with a calm demeanor. He was now close to the Inspector General's office, having entered the vicinity of the Prefecture Office.
"Those two auras just now..." He muttered to himself.
A faint glimmer shone in the depths of his serene eyes.
When he passed through the outer alley, two unusual auras suddenly appeared and vanished in an instant. However, due to the close proximity and his keen perception of auras, known as 'Autumn Wind Sensation,' he could still sense a trace of their presence.
The first aura was heavy and profound, likely belonging to the Kun Mountain lineage. The second, which followed closely, was moist and agile, undoubtedly from the Kan Water lineage. With this information, he could make an educated guess about their identities.
The one from the Hao family.
And the other from the Yu family.
"The Hao family is indeed bold. Knowing that I'm under the Inspector General's summons, they still dare to make a move against me so close to the Prefecture Office. If I don't kill them in one strike, they will leave traces, and it won't end well for them afterward."
A chill crept into Chen Mu's heart.
Being so close to the Prefecture Office, his displayed strength wasn't something to be taken lightly. Even if a Five Viscera Realm cultivator made a move, they couldn't do it silently. They would have to reveal their Essence Energy aura to have a chance at capturing him in one strike.
But even so, they might not have time to take away the body and erase all traces. What if the strike didn't kill him, and it caused an even bigger disturbance? The Inspector General, Yan Jingqing, was right there in the Inspector General's Tower! It would take less than a few breaths to reach this place!
Chen Mu surmised that the one from the Hao family was probably half testing and half desperate. If there was a real opportunity, they would definitely make a move. As for Yu Jiujiang, who was secretly following him, Chen Mu would retreat without hesitation, leaving no room for complications.
In fact, Chen Mu hadn't sensed Yu Jiujiang's presence along the way, but he had his suspicions. The reason was simple. The summons from the Inspector General, conveyed through Yu Zuyi, made it clear that the Hao family probably hated him enough to want him dead. Yet, not a single person from the Yu family accompanied him. This didn't make sense.
So, either this journey was absolutely safe, with no one daring to defy the Inspector General's will, or there was an even more secure presence than a regular follower. In the Yu family, there was only one person who fit the bill—Yu Hongyu's great-grandfather, Yu Jiujiang.
Chen Mu hadn't even met Yu Jiujiang yet.
"Actually, if He Wuyou made a move, I'd like to see what a Five Viscera Realm cultivator is capable of..."
Chen Mu shook his head slightly.
He Wuyou's retreat without attacking was actually a fortunate turn of events for the Hao family. With He Wuyou's current Thunder Step Two abilities, it was impossible for him to deliver a fatal blow to Chen Mu. Chen Mu only needed to withstand a few moves before a loud commotion would attract Yan Jingqing's attention. By the time Yan Jingqing arrived, the Hao family would be in deep trouble.
However, this situation was also favorable. Chen Mu could continue to conceal a portion of his strength and engage in a potentially dangerous battle with a Five Viscera Realm cultivator. After all, he had never encountered such a cultivator before, and avoiding risk was always preferable.
Soon, Chen Mu passed through the towering blue stone wall and entered the Prefecture Office. He made his way past the City Lord's Mansion and arrived at the newly established Inspector General's Tower, a six-story building located behind the City Lord's Mansion.
In the past, the City Lord's Mansion was the tallest residence in the Prefecture Office, with only three stories but each one soaring high. It was even taller than the four or five-story buildings outside. Now, the newly built Inspector General's Tower stood even taller.
Although it was called a tower, due to its height, it resembled a pagoda. However, this pagoda was only a part of the Inspector General's establishment. The vast area and courtyards behind it also belonged to the Inspector General.
"Elder Chen."
At the base of the tower, a prefect stood guard and greeted Chen Mu with a slight bow. "The Inspector General is on the top floor. Please proceed."
"Thank you."
Chen Mu bowed to the prefect and then entered the Inspector General's Tower, climbing the stairs.
Upon reaching the sixth-floor penthouse, a prefect was waiting to escort Chen Mu to the main hall.
The hall wasn't particularly spacious or elegant, but it exuded simplicity. It contained only a single table and two rows of bookshelves. A man in plain white clothing sat behind the table, appearing youthful, as if only in his thirties. With the demeanor of a scholar and a refined aura, he was absorbed in reading a book.
If one didn't know better, it would be hard to believe that this was the Inspector General from the Prefecture Government, a fourth-rank official in the court.
Yan Jingqing quietly read his book, seemingly engrossed, unaware of Chen Mu's arrival. Chen Mu, in turn, stood quietly at the front, waiting patiently.
After a while, Yan Jingqing's face suddenly showed a faint smile, as if he had read something delightful. He picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, nodded slowly, and then put down the book.
He raised his head to look at Chen Mu, examining him closely. Then, he asked, "How does a gentleman cultivate himself?"
Chen Mu was slightly taken aback but quickly replied, "A gentleman's conduct is to cultivate the mind in tranquility, nurture virtue through frugality, and clarify aspirations through tranquility. Only by being unattached to the world can one's aspirations reach far."
A hint of surprise flashed in Yan Jingqing's eyes, but he continued, "How does one govern a country?"
Chen Mu thought for a moment and then responded with a bow, "Guide with politics, align with punishment, and ensure that the people are not ashamed. Guide with virtue, align with rituals, and ensure that there is shame and order. Those who govern the people should not rely solely on the superficial but should also understand their essence."
This time, Yan Jingqing didn't speak but fell into deep thought.
After a while, he sighed and said, "In times of chaos, how can one talk about governing a country?"
The title 'White Robe Scholar' in the martial world wasn't something he put on; it was his genuine aspiration. He longed for a prosperous era, where he could govern the country and its people through politics, not through martial power and bloodshed.
Looking at Chen Mu, Yan Jingqing's eyes showed even more surprise.
When he had asked the question earlier, he was merely curious. He hadn't expected Chen Mu to answer each one, and every response contained principles and practical wisdom, not just empty words. These were thoughts that Yan Jingqing often had but had never summarized so concisely.
"Who is your teacher?" Yan Jingqing asked after a brief pause.
Chen Mu shook his head. "I have no teacher. I've just read a lot of books."
"Hmm..."
Yan Jingqing nodded slightly. He also remembered that Chen Mu was a low-ranking clerk with no formal education in grammar. For him to speak those words, he must have read many books, not just one or two.
As he looked at Chen Mu, a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes.
As the esteemed Inspector General, there were countless people who tried to curry favor by feigning an interest in literature and the arts. However, Chen Mu was clearly not one of them.
After all, Chen Mu had only recently arrived in Yu Prefecture, and his insightful opinions couldn't have been gained from casually skimming through a few grammar books. It was evident that he had given these matters some thought, and Chen Mu's resume also indicated that he had once held the position of Clerk. This position wasn't particularly high-ranking, but it was the most grassroots level of governance.
"In times of peace, you and I might both be officials in the imperial court. But in these turbulent times, it's difficult to fulfill one's ambitions. The Heavenly Dao has been so unkind to me," sighed Yan Jingqing.
In the 1691st chapter, he read a flawless version!
Chen Mu chose not to respond to this statement.
Instead, he silently criticized in his mind, thinking, "The Inspector General of Jade Province, a fourth-rank official, and a top-tier Hex Viscera Realm cultivator. How many people would dare to dream of such a status? Yet, this person is still dissatisfied, claiming that the Heavenly Dao is unfair."
Of course, these thoughts couldn't be voiced aloud.
Yan Jingqing seemed to sense Chen Mu's hesitation and paused before continuing, "With your exceptional martial arts talent, if you had joined the Seven Mysteries Sect earlier, you might have even been considered for the True Lineage. It's a pity that you come from a poor background and started a little late. Joining the Seven Mysteries Sect now might not be suitable. Listening to your views, I believe you have your own perspective on the current state of the world, especially since you've risen from the grassroots level and even held the position of Clerk, giving you a deeper understanding of the people."
"The position in the Demon Slayer Bureau doesn't suit you, but it's a relatively relaxed department anyway. There's no need to completely detach yourself from it... Hmm, I'll appoint you as the Inspector General Director, and I'll also write a recommendation for the Demon Slayer Bureau to add another Director position, which you can also hold."
The Inspector General Director was a position of great power and influence, overseeing the entire Yu Prefecture, from the highest officials to the common people. In essence, it was an all-encompassing role, allowing him to manage almost any matter.
As for the Demon Slayer Bureau Director, it went without saying that he would enjoy the resources of the bureau. The bureau was practically a direct affiliate of the Seven Mysteries Sect, as most of its exchangeable resources originated from the sect. Moreover, the bureau's status was already high, and in cases of demon investigations or disturbances, it could command the cooperation of all government offices.
The only office the Inspector General couldn't oversee was the Demon Slayer Bureau.
Jumping from a lowly white-robed guard in the Demon Slayer Bureau to the Director of the bureau, with a simultaneous promotion to Inspector General Director, was unprecedented in the entire Yu Prefecture. With such authority, one could practically move freely throughout the prefecture!
"I fear my limited knowledge and abilities may not be sufficient for such a role..." Chen Mu hesitated.
Indeed, the power and status of these positions were significant, but precisely because of their magnitude, they would attract a lot of attention. It was almost as if they were on the front line, facing off against the four major sects. Governing the people, managing politics, slaying demons, and potentially clashing with disciples of the four sects—it was absurd! Chen Mu would have preferred a peaceful environment to focus on his cultivation.
If only he hadn't answered Yan Jingqing's questions earlier; he could have just remained a silent, unrefined martial artist.
A gentleman keeps his talents hidden, waiting for the right moment to act... Well, now he had to act.
Yan Jingqing chuckled upon hearing this, "There's no need for modesty. I've heard that during your tenure as a Clerk in Paulownia Lane, you not only maintained order but also received a grand send-off from the people when you left. In these turbulent times, who else could accomplish such a feat?"
As he looked at Chen Mu, he found himself liking him more and more.
Chen Mu's humility, composure, and understanding of governance, coupled with his proficiency in both civil and martial arts, were rare qualities for someone of his age. Even during the heyday of the imperial court, he would have been considered a pillar of the nation. It would be a waste for such a talent to join a sect, and even the Seven Mysteries Sect would hesitate to let him go.
A grand send-off from the people—that was an exaggeration.
Chen Mu silently criticized in his mind, wondering who had told Yan Jingqing such a story. At most, there were a thousand people, and most of them were disaster-stricken refugees who had come to see him off, which was only natural.
But with Yan Jingqing's words, it was impossible to refuse. Chen Mu could only sigh and ask, "Thank you for the Inspector General's trust. I will do my best, but there's one matter..."
Yan Jingqing smiled and said, "You're talking about the Hao family, right? I heard that something happened on your way here. The Hao family isn't very smart. I've already sent someone to deal with them. You don't need to worry too much about the conflict between your families."
The incident along the way was barely worth mentioning. The encounter between the Hao family member and Yu Jiujiang didn't even lead to a real confrontation. It was merely a brief exchange of Qi movements to test each other before they parted ways. Yet, it seemed even this couldn't escape the notice of Yan Jingqing, the Inspector General.
This made Chen Mu realize the true weight of the Inspector General's position, as it was the office that oversaw and coordinated all the government offices in Yu City, keeping a watchful eye on everything. Among all the government offices, only the Demon Slayer Bureau could somewhat rival the Inspector General's authority at this time.
However, Chen Mu's concern wasn't about the Hao family.
He shook his head, "Thank you for your consideration, Inspector General. But what I wanted to ask is, when dealing with the four major sects, should we primarily follow the court's laws or the rules of the martial world?"
In the past.
Even asking this question, let alone mentioning it, would be considered a crime. During the heyday of the imperial court, all sects had to abide by the law. Anyone who dared to kill indiscriminately, even if they were a sect's true lineage or the head of the Seven Mysteries Sect, would be sent to prison.
But now, the court's decrees didn't reach the Central Province, and the Jade Province was effectively controlled by the Seven Mysteries Sect. Most of the time, the rules of the martial world took precedence over the court's laws, especially since the Inspector General's office was essentially under the sect's influence.
Upon hearing Chen Mu's question, Yan Jingqing sighed and said, "It's up to you to decide."
Although Yan Jingqing didn't give a direct answer, his ambiguous response was enough for Chen Mu to understand. After all, Yan Jingqing was a man who valued stability and the rule of law. If even he couldn't bring himself to say, 'follow the court's laws,' then there was no need to ponder which path to take.
Chen Mu heaved a sigh of relief. In these turbulent times, if Yan Jingqing insisted on following the court's laws, it would involve numerous complicated matters. Fortunately, although the Inspector General was a white-robed scholar, he was also a part of the martial world and not a rigid, old-fashioned official.
(End of Chapter)
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