Chapter 165: The Journey

Chapter 165: The Journey

In the 1428th year of the Grand Proclamation Era, on the 24th day of the first month.

Inspector Bureau.

Chen Mu sat in the main hall on the fifth floor of the Surveillance Tower, continuously reviewing and approving various matters.

Half a month had passed since the annihilation of the He family. The He family was a colossal entity, and its branches and roots were not just limited to the Inner City. It wasn't enough to merely eradicate them within the city; there were numerous other branches that needed attention.

These matters couldn't be delegated to others, especially not to the Yu family. They had to be handled by him, the Director of the Inspector Bureau, who meticulously reviewed and approved each case before passing down further instructions.

However.

This period was coming to an end.

On one hand, after half a month, most of the official matters had been addressed. Officials clearly affiliated with the He family had been dismissed, investigated, or executed on the spot for their heinous crimes.

For those officials with unclear affiliations, leaning more towards the He family, the various government offices were left to handle the situation. Any violation of laws and regulations would be strictly dealt with. If no such violations were found, these officials would temporarily remain in their positions until other matters were resolved, and then their cases would be re-examined.

On the other hand, Yan Jingqing was returning.

After half a month, the battle in the Purple Mist Mountain Range had mostly concluded. The main altar of the Sky Corpse Sect's remnants had been thoroughly searched by the four major sects, and various resources had been distributed accordingly.

Chen Mu took a sip of tea and picked up another document.

"Fu Linjiang, abandoned his official position and fled. He was identified while attempting to escape the city and resisted, resulting in his execution on the spot..."

Hmm.

He vaguely remembered this person from a long time ago, a minor official who had followed He Mingxuan. However, he wasn't worth Chen Mu's attention, so he had never paid much mind to him.

Although Fu Linjiang was affiliated with the He family, if he hadn't committed any crimes, Chen Mu would likely not have bothered with a minor official like him. But thinking about it, it made sense that he was executed on the spot for his association with He Mingxuan.

"Director, the Inspector General has returned!"

An official from the Inspector Bureau reported.

Chen Mu marked the document with a 'reviewed' and stood up. He followed the official downstairs and soon saw Yan Jingqing approaching from a distance, still dressed in white, accompanied by two Directors.

"We pay our respects to the Inspector General."

The numerous officials of the Inspector Bureau all bowed.

Yan Jingqing didn't adhere to formalities and quickly approached Chen Mu. Together, they went upstairs to the sixth floor, where Chen Mu provided a comprehensive report on various matters in Yu City.

After listening to the report, Yan Jingqing nodded slightly and said, "Hmm, I'm aware of most of these matters. The He family got what they deserved. Although you acted hastily, the situation at the time called for swift action, and you handled the aftermath well. It seems you have your own insights when it comes to official matters."

For Yan Jingqing.

Dealing with the He family wasn't difficult; destroying them could be done in the blink of an eye. But the key challenge was how to quickly restore order to the chaos within the various government offices and the Inner City after the He family's demise.

After eradicating the He family, Chen Mu didn't hastily fill all their vacant positions with members of the Yu family. Instead, he acted with remarkable clarity. First, he issued an order to temporarily assign important positions to higher-level officials from the same government office to maintain stability. Then, he meticulously handled each step, from arrests to interrogations, trials, and official appointments, all in an orderly manner.

Only after that did he start filling the vacant positions, carefully selecting suitable personnel based on intelligence from various government offices. Some were promoted, while others were transferred, resolving most issues within a short half-month period.

"I merely did what I could. Without the Inspector Bureau's intelligence on the various government offices in Yu City, I'd likely be lost in a mess of confusion."

Chen Mu responded modestly, not taking credit.

It wasn't that he was particularly remarkable; the corruption in the bureaucracy had reached a certain level. A simple alteration of the records could have improved the situation, but he adhered to the principle of seeking truth from facts and addressed each issue practically.

However, in this era where self-interest reigned supreme, and everyone sought to place their relatives and distant acquaintances in clear positions, Chen Mu's practical approach stood out like an untainted lotus in the mud.

Yan Jingqing smiled and said, "There's no need for modesty. The credit is yours. Meng Danyun told me that joining the Seven Mysteries Sect would be a suitable path for you. But I feel that your talents would be wasted if you didn't serve as an official. Of course, joining the Seven Mysteries Sect for cultivation would also be beneficial for you. I once studied under the Seven Mysteries Sect as an external official for some time. Hmm, when Meng Danyun returns to the Seven Mysteries Sect, if you're interested, you can accompany her."

Upon hearing Yan Jingqing's words, Chen Mu's heart relaxed.

If he had expressed his intention to join the Seven Mysteries Sect, Yan Jingqing would certainly not have objected. But it was better that he didn't have to say much. According to Yan Jingqing, Meng Danyun seemed to be in Yu Prefecture at the moment.

Chen Mu thought for a moment and said to Yan Jingqing, "Thank you for your consideration, Director. Now that the incident has been resolved, I have some personal matters to attend to, which require me to leave Yu City temporarily. Additionally, regarding the pursuit of the Sky Corpse Sect's remnants, I can also contribute in that regard."

"You may handle it as you see fit."

Yan Jingqing said calmly, "The position of Bureau Lord in the Inspector Bureau is still vacant. Are you willing to take it up?"

This statement caused Chen Mu's heart to skip a beat, and he silently shook his head. Although he had already advanced in his Whistling Wind Intent to the second level, significantly improving his ability to mimic and disguise his aura, it seemed he couldn't hide it from Yan Jingqing, a top-tier expert in the Six Viscera Realm. No wonder Yan Jingqing had kept him in the Inner City, probably for this reason as well.

The official position mentioned in the Grand Proclamation actually corresponds to the levels of martial arts, except for the honorary first-rank position. From the second to the ninth rank, they correspond to the eight levels of martial cultivation, with the fifth-rank Overseer position corresponding to the Inner Organ Realm.

Yan Jingqing specifically mentioned that he could take over as the Overseer, subtly revealing his cultivation level.

"I haven't been the Director for long, and I'm not yet familiar with all the affairs. It's still too early for me to take over as the Overseer." Chen Mu responded after some thought.

Yan Jingqing's tone wasn't commanding but carried a hint of negotiation, seeking Chen Mu's opinion. Chen Mu simply expressed his thoughts, not wishing to be promoted to Overseer at this time. Mainly, he would soon be heading to the Seven Mysteries Sect for cultivation, and becoming an Overseer now held little meaning.

"That's good," Yan Jingqing nodded slightly.

In truth, he had never opposed Chen Mu's pursuit of martial arts. However, the Inner Organ Realm was a watershed in martial cultivation. Yan Jingqing himself had also gone to the Seven Mysteries Sect for secluded cultivation after reaching this realm, before re-emerging into the world.

Before reaching the Inner Organ Realm, going to the Seven Mysteries Sect wouldn't be very beneficial. Even if one comprehended an Intention, mastering various Intention secret techniques would still be challenging, often leading to difficulties. Only after entering the Inner Organ Realm or comprehending the second step of an Intention could one truly begin.

...

After leaving Yan Jingqing, Chen Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Handling the various trivial matters following the Hao family's annihilation had kept him extremely busy. Now, he could finally complete his tasks and no longer needed to waste his efforts on official affairs.

In fact, he had a matter that required him to leave Yu City for a while, concerning his mother Liu Ping's sister, Liu Rong. Someone had been found in Anyu County.

Chen Mu had kept this matter in mind and hadn't forgotten about it. However, he hadn't broken through to the Inner Organ Realm earlier, and with various threats looming, it wasn't an appropriate time to leave the city. Later, when he became the Director, he was kept in Yu City by Yan Jingqing to manage the overall situation, making it impossible for him to leave his post.

Until now.

Finally, all matters had been settled, and he could make a trip to Anyu County.

Additionally, Xu Hongyu was still serving the Demon-Slaying Command, hunting down remnants of the Sky Corpse Sect outside the city. Currently, she was in the vicinity of Anyu County, so this trip would allow Chen Mu to meet up with her and return to Yu City together.

As for the Hao family remnants...

Yan Jingqing had told him that most of the Hao family's elite forces had been eliminated, leaving only He Wuyou still at large, though he had been injured by Meng Danyun. This was a minor concern, and it was better for Xu Hongyu to return to Yu City sooner and seek refuge under Yu Jiujing's protection. Yu Jiujing, despite being slightly weakened after the previous battle, remained a formidable Inner Organ Realm cultivator.

Of course, it would be best if He Wuyou, who held deep grudges, were to intercept and kill them on the way. Then, Chen Mu could thoroughly resolve this matter. Therefore, during this trip, he also planned to take some action.

After some thought, Chen Mu returned to the Yu family residence.

Yu Jiujing had returned from the Purple Mist Mountain Range battle, and Chen Mu found him and conveyed some matters before quietly departing with Chen Yue.

...

Seven or eight days later.

On the official road connecting Yu Prefecture and Anyu County.

A horse-drawn carriage sped along, its wheels rolling over the ground, kicking up a trail of dust.

Chen Mu wore a simple long robe and sat at the front, driving the carriage. Chen Yue, instead of sitting inside, perched on the other side of the carriage frame, her small feet in delicate shoes swaying with the carriage's movement. Her big eyes constantly scanned the distant mountains and waters, filled with excitement.

For many years, aside from accompanying Chen Mu to pay respects to their parents, she hadn't left the city. Now, she was filled with curiosity about the outside world, feeling excited along the way.

In reality, the Yu Family Martial Academy's disciples, after reaching the Iron Muscle Realm, would have opportunities to venture outside the city with martial artists to hunt and capture various creatures. However, since the arrival of the four sects in Yu Prefecture, all the families' martial academies had ceased such activities, including the Yu family. They wouldn't leave the city without good reason.

"Brother, do you think we're now roaming the world and entering the jianghu?" Chen Yue suddenly leaned closer to Chen Mu with a cheerful smile.

Chen Mu glanced at her and said, "Roaming the world is still far off; we're just in a remote place. But entering the jianghu... When have we ever left the jianghu?"

Perhaps it was because of the environment in the inner city that she hadn't realized that the world was already one big jianghu.

"Oh, I see." Chen Yue's face lit up with delight as she looked up at the sky. "Brother has told me many stories. When I was little, the thing I wanted the most was to be in a story with you."

Chen Mu looked at Chen Yue and then at the official road stretching endlessly into the distance. For a moment, he felt a sense of tranquility. Initially, all he wanted was to have a good life with Chen Yue.

But human desires are insatiable.

"You're already in a story." Chen Mu reached out and patted Chen Yue's head, then glanced to the side of the road.

Chen Yue noticed Chen Mu's gaze and followed it, only to see seven or eight figures emerge and block the carriage.

The leader, with a sinister expression, held a steel blade and said, "This mountain is mine, this tree is mine..."

"Here, the jianghu you desire." Chen Mu smiled at Chen Yue.

Traveling on the official road in broad daylight, without a large escort, they rarely encountered bandits. The arrival of the four sects in Yu Prefecture had only slightly improved the situation, and in reality, it remained largely unchanged.

"Hehe, then let's have this maiden be a chivalrous hero."

Chen Yue blinked and, with a quick shake of her hand, drew her soft sword, which had been tucked under her bottom to prevent it from falling due to the swaying of the carriage. She then leaped out and charged towards the group of seven or eight bandits ahead.

"Hey, she's a pretty lass."

The closest bandit with a blade on his hand revealed a lecherous smile. But just as he swung his knife, he felt a blur before his eyes, and Chen Yue's figure swiftly passed by. He felt a sharp pain in his throat, and a rush of heat flowed down.

His eyes widened slightly, and when he touched his throat, his hand was covered in blood. He staggered and then fell.

"This lass is quite something."

Chen Mu sat on the carriage frame, observing the scene with a faint smile.

Chen Yue wasn't weak by any means. With her Muscle Training realm and advanced sword technique, she could handle ordinary bandits. However, compared to someone like Chen Mu, who stood at the pinnacle of the entire county, it wasn't much to speak of.

This was Chen Yue's first real combat experience, and perhaps because Chen Mu was by her side, she remained composed. Her ability to kill with a single sword stroke without hesitation showed that, at least in terms of mental fortitude, she was much stronger than Yu Ru and indeed suited for martial arts.

"This lass is quite a handful!"

"Be careful!"

"Ouch! Quick, kill this guy!"

Sensing the situation turning against them, the bandits became ferocious, surrounding Chen Yue. They brandished their steel knives at her, and the leader snarled, "Daring to kill one of our brothers, you've lived too long! I'll have my brothers taste your flesh and use your body as a side dish for our wine!"

A barrage of foul language and curses came her way, but Chen Yue remained surprisingly calm. She waved her soft sword, blocking attacks from all directions while retreating and occasionally counterattacking, wounding or even killing one of them.

"Hiss..."

One of the bandits was stabbed in the thigh and stumbled, falling to the ground. He struggled to get up, his eyes filled with rage as he looked at Chen Yue. But suddenly, his gaze shifted to Chen Mu, who sat motionless on the carriage frame.

This young woman's martial skills were impressive, and this pretty boy must be her lover. If they took Chen Mu first, it would make Chen Yue hesitate, allowing them to capture her easily.

With a sinister smile, he headed towards Chen Mu on the carriage frame.

However, as he reached the side of the carriage, his vision spun, and in the confusion, he saw a familiar headless corpse standing there—his own.

Even in death, his eyes held a trace of bewilderment, wondering how his head had fallen.

The number of bandits dwindled with each passing moment.

Soon, only the leader was left, engaging in a one-on-one fight with Chen Yue.

The leader seemed to have never practiced Body Tempering Techniques, but his naturally robust physique and skilled knife technique, including his mastery of blade forms, allowed him to match Chen Yue's Muscle Training realm.

As he watched his brothers fall, either killed by Chen Yue or severely injured and unable to get up, a fierce glint finally appeared in his eyes. With a surge of courage, he unleashed a powerful strike with his knife towards Chen Yue.

This strike was a fierce, mutually damaging blow.

Given the momentum of the blade, Chen Yue's sword would undoubtedly pierce his throat. His knife, at most, could shatter Chen Yue's shoulder bone. Chen Yue had the advantage, but he met her attack with ferocity, refusing to dodge or evade, willing to take a hit to deal damage.

Chen Yue noticed this, and after a brief flash in her eyes, she didn't retreat.

Pfft.

The sword pierced the bandit's throat.

The bandit's knife barely landed on her shoulder, but an invisible force blocked it, preventing it from cutting even a hair's breadth. The entire knife began to shatter from the blade, breaking into iron fragments that fell to the ground.

"Ugh..."

Blood overflowed from the bandit's mouth, and his eyes widened slightly in disbelief.

In the end, he fell, unwilling to accept defeat.

Chen Yue's small chest heaved violently, indicating her inner turmoil. She glanced at her shoulder, at the scattered iron fragments on the ground, and sighed softly before sheathing her soft sword and returning to the carriage frame.

"Why didn't you dodge?" Chen Mu asked gently.

Chen Yue's face was still slightly pale, and she shook her head. "I could win."

Chen Mu looked at Chen Yue, understanding that her actions weren't solely due to his presence but were her own decisions and judgments made in the heat of battle. He reached out and patted her head.

"It's your first time, but you did well."

Although he spent most of his time cultivating, he was aware of Chen Yue's efforts. Initially, she wanted to help him, and now she didn't want to become a burden.

Chen Yue's emotions gradually calmed, and she smiled. "I want to become as strong as Sister Xu Hongyu."

Chen Mu smiled. "Be a little bolder, and aim to be like Senior Sister Meng."

"Who's Senior Sister Meng?"

"Oh, I haven't told you about her. She's Meng Danyun, the direct disciple of the Spirit Mystic Peak of the Seven Mysteries Sect."

"A direct disciple? So, she's even stronger than you?"

"Senior Sister Meng is indeed ahead of me in cultivation."

"So, you're slightly stronger than her?"

"I deeply respect Senior Sister Meng."

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end