Chapter 315: The Deputy Inspector

Chapter 315: The Deputy Inspector



Eastern Yard.

Bai Luoyu took out a palm-sized black token from his bosom, its surface intricately engraved with mystical patterns.

At a glance, Jiang Ning recognized the patterns as a type of talisman.

According to the records in the books, talismans were the manifestation of the Dao and the Fa, representing the principles and laws of heaven and earth.

In ancient times, the Dao and the talismans were closely related.

At this moment, Bai Luoyu noticed Jiang Ning's gaze on the black jade token, and he spoke, "This is the Celestial Scroll, the identity token and symbol of a Prefectural Inspector. I'm giving this to you, but since you, Brother Jiang, are currently only considered a deputy inspector, you haven't passed the trial from above and haven't received the talisman. So, this token can only represent your identity, without the original function of transmitting messages over a thousand li."

"Transmitting messages over a thousand li?" Jiang Ning's expression was filled with surprise.

Bai Luoyu nodded, "The Celestial Scroll has the function of transmitting messages over a thousand li. This is one of the means by which we, as inspectors, can oversee a prefecture. If a major issue arises in Dongling Prefecture, I can transmit a message to the prefectural city, and a grandmaster will arrive in Dongling Prefecture, and their might is enough to quell any unrest."

"Transmitting messages over a thousand li, that's quite a remarkable ability!" Jiang Ning exclaimed in feigned astonishment.

Bai Luoyu smiled, "It's indeed remarkable for ordinary people, but in ancient times, this ability was common. Anyone who stepped into the Dao and made certain achievements and accumulations could possess a message-transmitting talisman."

"The methods used by the Celestial Scroll also originate from the research of ancient times."

"That's why only those with immortal roots can become a prefectural inspector."

"Without immortal roots, one can't use the Celestial Scroll and naturally doesn't qualify to be an inspector."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but feel curious.

As Bai Luoyu said, only those with immortal roots could use the Celestial Scroll and have the qualification to become a prefectural inspector.

Before Bai Luoyu came to Luoshui County, he had clearly received instructions from above to offer Jiang Ning the choice to become a prefectural inspector.

This clearly indicated one thing.

That was, before Bai Luoyu's arrival, those above had already known about Jiang Ning.

Suppressing this doubt in his heart, Jiang Ning spoke, "Thank you, Brother Bai, for clearing my doubts."

A smile curved Bai Luoyu's lips, and he asked, "What are your plans for the future, Brother Jiang?"

"In a few days, I'll naturally go to Dongling City to take the imperial exams and then head to the Martial Academy for further training."

"Good! Then I'll wait for you in Dongling City, Brother Jiang." Bai Luoyu said.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning also raised the cup in his hand.

"Thank you, Brother Bai," Jiang Ning said.

Bai Luoyu smiled and clinked their cups together, then took a sip from his cup.

Jiang Ning followed suit, drinking the wine in his cup.

Glug, glug, glug—

As their empty cups were refilled with wine, Bai Luoyu spoke again, "Brother Jiang, do you know why Xiao Emei has come to Luoshui County?"

"I have some guesses," Jiang Ning said, raising his cup.

Xiao Emei's unexpected arrival didn't cause him much pressure.

Among the younger generation, he no longer felt any fear.

Especially after understanding Xiao Emei's approximate strength, he had no reservations at all.

He had already killed two fifth-rank warriors from the God Worship Sect over a month ago.

Moreover, those two were even stronger than Xiao Emei.

If we're talking about a fair comparison, Xiao Emei would only qualify if she reached the level of condensing inner breath into prana.

And that was just his achievement from over a month ago.

By now, his strength had multiplied several times.

Why would he fear Xiao Emei?

The only person he truly respected was the Palace Master of the Water Moon Sword Palace, known as the first under the grandmaster.

But now, with his elevated status, he felt a little less intimidated.

The higher one's status, the less daring the martial world would be to act recklessly.

If there were no guarantees of safety, how could the Great Xia Dynasty have ruled for over eight hundred years?

Meanwhile, Bai Luoyu, hearing Jiang Ning's words, asked again, "Brother Jiang, since you've guessed Xiao Emei's intentions, what's your plan?"

"When the enemy attacks, we defend; when the water rises, we build an earthen dam!" Jiang Ning declared.

"Good!" Bai Luoyu praised, "It seems you have a plan in mind, so I won't interfere too much."

Jiang Ning smiled, but Bai Luoyu's words were only partially sincere, as he himself wasn't entirely confident.

Although Bai Luoyu, this prominent figure, showed goodwill towards him on the surface, this was their first meeting, and he wasn't so easily trusting.

Moreover, Xiao Emei had come today, accompanying Bai Luoyu.

He didn't believe for a moment that they had no connection.

On the other side, Xiao Emei stood at the entrance of Jiang Ning's mansion, deep in thought.

Action: Today was her first time meeting Jiang Ning.

She also realized that the task her master had given her wasn't as simple as she had initially imagined.

Inviting Jiang Ning to visit was no easy feat.

From the moment she saw them, she understood the key point—Bai Luoyu held Jiang Ning in high regard.

Bai Luoyu's respect not only represented his own attitude but also that of the Inspection Office.

Facing someone as influential and popular as Bai Luoyu, she dared not provoke him.

Previously, she had considered using her strength to force Jiang Ning to return to the Water Moon Sword Palace as a guest, completing the task her master had given her.

However, after witnessing Bai Luoyu's attitude towards Jiang Ning, her initial hesitation grew even stronger.

"Should I test the waters tonight?" She turned her head slightly towards Jiang Ning's direction, murmuring to herself.

Just then, she heard two sets of footsteps approaching from behind, along with the voices of Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu in conversation.

Xiao Emei snapped out of her thoughts and quickly adjusted her expression, revealing a faint smile.

The next moment, she turned to see Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu walking side by side, chatting and laughing along the way.

She immediately smiled, as if welcoming their arrival.

A moment later, Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu reached the door.

"Jiang Xiong, let's meet again tomorrow, and I'll treat you to a drink," Bai Luoyu said.

"Then it's settled!" Jiang Ning smiled.

"It's settled!" Bai Luoyu also smiled faintly.

Then, he turned to Xiao Emei, who was standing beside him.

"Miss Xiao, do you have something to say to Jiang Xiong?"

Xiao Emei nodded and looked at Jiang Ning. "Jiang Commander, may I have a word with you?"

Jiang Ning glanced at her and nodded slightly.

"Inspector Bai, I'd like to speak with Jiang Commander first!" Xiao Emei turned to Bai Luoyu.

Bai Luoyu smiled and waved his folding fan, "Please, go ahead!"

By the Luo River.

Several dozen zhang downstream from Bai Luoyu, where the cold wind blew.

"Jiang Commander!" Xiao Emei lifted her hair, which had been blown by the cold wind, and tucked it behind her ear, revealing a beautiful face and a fair neck.

Seeing Jiang Ning's gaze, Xiao Emei felt a hint of joy.

She enjoyed the attention from men.

The next moment, the cold wind blew again, and her hair, which she had just tucked behind her ear, was once again tousled by the wind.

"Jiang Commander!" Xiao Emei spoke again.

"Miss Xiao, please speak your mind," Jiang Ning said.

Xiao Emei brushed away the strands of hair that had fallen onto her lips and said, "Jiang Commander, my master would like to invite you to the Water Moon Sword Palace as a guest for a banquet. Would you be willing to grace us with your presence?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile. "I'm not a fool. Your master's banquet isn't a simple affair!"

"You misunderstand, Jiang Commander," Xiao Emei said, her face showing a hint of apology. "My master only wants to invite you as a guest and treat you well. At the same time, he wants to investigate and clarify whether your visit is related to my master's nephew."

"No way!" Jiang Ning waved his hand dismissively.

"Young Master Jiang!" Xiao Emei's tone softened, and her voice became gentler. "I can't disobey my master's orders. Please help me!"

After that, she only saw Jiang Ning's departing figure and his unwavering footsteps.

Seeing this, her gaze fell on Jiang Ning's back, and the thought that had just crossed her mind resurfaced.

"I'll go and test the waters tonight!" Xiao Emei thought to herself.

A moment later, she saw Jiang Ning and Bai Luoyu exchange a few words, and then Bai Luoyu walked towards her.

"Inspector Bai!"

"What's up!" Bai Luoyu smiled. "Did Miss Xiao's beauty strategy fail?"

Xiao Emei's originally cheerful expression froze for a moment.

"What beauty strategy?" She tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear, revealing her fair and snowy neck.

Bai Luoyu saw this and smiled without saying anything.

On the other side.

Back at the mansion.

Jiang Li appeared before Jiang Ning.

"Younger Brother, what did that big shot from the county come here for?"

"To promote me!" Jiang Ning replied.

"To what rank?" Jiang Li's eyes lit up.

"Sixth rank."

"Sixth rank!!!" Jiang Li's eyes widened.

Then, Jiang Li walked into the house with a dazed look, muttering to herself.

"Sixth rank!"

"Sixth rank!!"

"My Jiang family's ancestral tomb is smoking, and a high official is about to emerge!!!"

Seeing this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Eastern Yard.

Jiang Ning looked at the neatly arranged contribution point tokens in front of him, feeling incredibly pleased.

Within the Inspection Office, contribution points were like a universal currency.

They could be used for promotions, wealth, and exchanges for higher positions or gold and silver.

The Inspection Office's treasury is connected to the Saint Martial Mansion's treasury, allowing access to various resources, martial arts techniques, and even closely guarded secrets of various sects. The accumulated wealth of the Saint Martial Mansion over hundreds of years is also available to qualified personnel from various inspection offices.

The Martial Sage, during the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, traveled across the land, subjugating various sects and collecting their cultivation techniques. As a result, the Saint Martial Mansion's centuries-old accumulation of resources are incredibly abundant.

Jiang Ning was well aware that the contribution points he currently possessed were a fortune he wouldn't be able to obtain for a long time.

Therefore, he had to carefully plan how to utilize the 1.4 million contribution points he had just acquired, along with the 30,000 points he had saved previously, totaling 1.43 million.

Thinking about the contribution points he had spent earlier, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.

A few days ago, he had spent 100,000 contribution points at the Internal Affairs Department to promote to a higher rank, thereby increasing his authority.

Now, that decision seemed like a waste.

The Deputy Commandant position was equivalent to a sixth-rank official.

With this identity, the previous expenditure of 100,000 contribution points was as good as wasted.

Thinking about the value of 100,000 contribution points, which was equivalent to 100,000 silver ingots, he couldn't help but feel the pain of that loss.

"Forget it!"

He shook his head, dispelling the negative emotions in his heart, and put away the pile of spirit stones and jade discs in front of him.

Then, he continued his cultivation practice.

Although Xiao Emei's arrival didn't pose a threat to him, he was aware that it meant the Water Moon Sword Palace was truly targeting him and had taken action.

Even if Xiao Emei returned without success, the Palace Master wouldn't give up.

And even if the Palace Master did give up, her sister, He Jinyun's mother, wouldn't.

A mother who had lost her child could do anything.

This was a hidden threat.

It was a problem he couldn't solve with his current strength, nor could he eliminate it in advance.

He could only respond to changes with unchanging principles, just as he had told Bai Luoyun earlier.

To resolve this problem, he would ultimately rely on strength and sufficient power.

Meanwhile, Bai Luoyu and Xiao Emei returned to the inn.

Xiao Emei went back to her room and closed the door.

She stood by the window, gazing in the direction of Jiang Ning, her eyebrows furrowed in concern.

Upon arriving in Luoshui County, she realized that the matter was more complicated than she had anticipated.

Initially, in her eyes, Jiang Ning was merely a seventh or sixth-rank martial artist.

His position as a deputy commander was only an eighth-rank official.

Neither his strength nor his status was enough to make her feel apprehensive.

However, today's events had overturned her understanding.

The fact that Bai Luoyu was so polite and addressed him as a senior brother indicated the importance the Inspection Office attached to this matter.

She was well aware that Bai Luoyu carried the mission of the Dongling Inspection Office and knew much more about Jiang Ning than she did.

Bai Luoyu's actions meant that she had underestimated Jiang Ning before.

"He's not as simple as I thought."

"Tonight, I'll test the waters and probe his background before making a decision."

After making up her mind, Xiao Emei called for the inn's attendant and prepared to take a hot bath, waiting for the night to fall.

At midnight, the bright moonlight was sometimes obscured by thick clouds, creating a hazy and mysterious atmosphere.

She stood by the window, her body revealed in all her glory.

Her chest was tightly wrapped in black cloth, and her feet were bound with black cloth strips. Then, she slowly put on her tight-fitting night walker's garb.

Soon, only her dark eyes were visible.

She picked up the longsword on the table, thought for a moment, and put it down. Then, she picked up a dagger from the side.

After inserting it into her waist, she nodded in satisfaction.

The window of the Cloud Arrival Inn, facing the street, was opened.

A slender figure emerged from the window's gap, glanced around, and then moved like a cat, silently disappearing into the night.

Only when the figure was far away did the window of Bai Luoyu's room open.

"Xiao Emei has made her move!"

He watched Xiao Emei's disappearing figure, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head.

"Forget it! I won't interfere tonight!"

"If the person chosen by the higher-ups can't even handle a small problem like Xiao Emei, that's too weak!"

"And it's not appropriate to do favors tonight, Xiao Emei doesn't dare to kill him."

After clearing his thoughts, Bai Luoyu closed the window.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end