Chapter 349: The Approachable Zhao Zongshi!

Chapter 349: The Approachable Zhao Zongshi!

In the backyard.

Zhao Yulong smiled, "What, does Inspector Bai not want to invite me in for a drink?"

"My apologies!" White Luo Yu spoke and stepped aside, gesturing with his hand, "Department Head, please!"

As Zhao Yulong stepped into the backyard.

"What a wonderful aroma!" He immediately noticed the fish meat already laid out on the table, his expression becoming approachable.

"You've arrived at the perfect time, Department Head. Let's try the meat of this two-hundred-year-old fish demon together!" White Luo Yu said.

"The meat of a two-hundred-year-old fish demon?" Zhao Yulong looked at White Luo Yu in surprise.

Then he continued, "Where did you find such a rare item, Inspector Bai?"

"This was brought by Jiang Brother!" White Luo Yu smiled.

Upon hearing this.

Zhao Yulong turned to look at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning replied, "I happened to discover a two-hundred-year-old fish demon in Luoshui Lake by coincidence and caught it."

Zhao Yulong's expression turned contemplative, "To cultivate for two hundred years in this era is truly rare. Unfortunately, the fish demon's fate was not good, and you were its destined calamity."

After saying this, the three of them took their seats.

Zhao Yulong said, "Since the fish demon could cultivate for two hundred years, it must have had some accompanying treasures, right?"

Before Jiang Ning could respond, White Luo Yu spoke first, filled with envy, "Department Head, your guess is spot on. Jiang Brother just told me that it was his coincidence, and he obtained a hundred-year-old Thunderfruit."

"So that's the case!" Zhao Yulong nodded slightly, "Now it makes sense. No wonder Jiang Commander's cultivation is so profound, it's truly beyond belief!"

Jiang Ning smiled, "It's just good luck."

Zhao Yulong said, "Good luck means you have deep blessings and fortune. On the path of martial arts, if you want to go far, deep blessings and fortune are extremely important. I've had quite a few fortuitous encounters to reach where I am today."

Upon hearing this, the two men nodded.

Jiang Ning also deeply agreed with Zhao Yulong's statement.

For any successful person, looking back, they would find that luck played a significant role.

Just like in his previous life, he considered himself somewhat fortunate.

This is why wealthy businessmen particularly believe in feng shui and fate.

Because success is truly inseparable from luck.

"Department Head, let's eat first and talk later!" White Luo Yu smiled and suggested.

"Good, let's eat! I want to taste the meat of this two-hundred-year-old fish demon." Zhao Yulong was also quite tempted, "I've never tasted such a rare item before. It's all thanks to Inspector Bai!"

White Luo Yu smiled, "This is all thanks to Jiang Brother."

As his words fell.

He waved his hand.

The maid waiting by the side hurried over in small quick steps.

"Master!" the maid said respectfully.

White Luo Yu instructed, "Give this grilled fish the final touch!"

"Yes, Master!" the maid replied.

Then, she held up the wine gourd beside her with both hands.

Zhao Yulong and Jiang Ning watched attentively as the maid performed her task.

They saw White Luo Yu's maid evenly pour the wine from the wine gourd onto the grilled fish.

Then, she took out a fire tinder from her sleeve.

She lit the tinder with a gentle blow, and the flames rose.

The moment the flames touched the wine on the grilled fish, a layer of bluish flames danced before their eyes.

In an instant.

Catalyzed by the flames, the aroma of wine mixed with the fragrance of meat filled the air.

"So fragrant!" Zhao Yulong smiled and nodded.

White Luo Yu said, "Department Head, you haven't mentioned who the other prodigy you saw these past two days is, the one who can rival Jiang Brother."

Zhao Yulong replied, "He's a young monk from Vajra Temple, and he looks about the same age as Jiang Commander, but he has already comprehended the realm of Heaven-Human Unity."

"Heaven-Human Unity?" White Luo Yu was shocked.

"Yes!" Zhao Yulong nodded, his expression filled with emotion, "Heaven-Human Unity is one of the essential prerequisites for becoming a Heaven-Human Master. If I could comprehend the realm of Heaven-Human Unity, I would have already become a Heaven-Human Master."

"Monster!!!" White Luo Yu slowly uttered two words.

"Indeed, a monster!" Zhao Yulong nodded in deep agreement, "That young monk's comprehension is truly terrifying!"

"According to an agreement I made ten years ago with a high monk from Vajra Temple, I passed on the Dragon Strike skill to that young monk two days ago. In just one day, the young monk completely mastered it, and his grasp of Dragon Strike is no longer inferior to mine!"

At this moment.

Jiang Ning, upon hearing Zhao Yulong's words, couldn't help but recall the white-robed young monk he had seen at Shuangyang Mountain.

"Could it be him?"

After a brief moment of thought, Jiang Ning felt that the young monk Zhao Yulong mentioned was most likely the one he had encountered at Shuangyang Mountain.

After all, the realm of Heaven-Human Unity.

Those who have achieved it are very few.

Not to mention that it corresponds to both the monk and the youth.

"Vajra Temple, indeed one of the top sects in the world!" Jiang Ning couldn't help but sigh.

Heaven-Human Unity.

It is the most direct ticket to becoming a Heaven-Human Master.

Even Zhao Yulong, the Department Head of Dongling City's Inspection Department and a top figure at the pinnacle of Dongling Prefecture, has not mastered Heaven-Human Unity.

This shows how difficult it is to achieve Heaven-Human Unity.

Yet, a young monk in Vajra Temple has achieved this.

This made Jiang Ning instantly feel the profound depth of Vajra Temple.

"Indeed, there are mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people!" White Luo Yu also sighed deeply.

Zhao Yulong nodded in deep agreement.

"The further you go on the Martial Dao path, the more you feel the gap between yourself and others, as vast as a heavenly chasm."

"But Department Head, you're a Master, and you feel this way?" White Luo Yu asked.

Zhao Yulong shook his head, "There are great differences even among Masters!"

"In my opinion, only Heaven-Human Masters can truly be called Masters!"

"Below Heaven-Human Masters, no one has this qualification!"

Jiang Ning sat aside, quietly listening to their conversation.

Just then, the flames on the grilled fish gradually extinguished, and the exterior turned golden brown.

"Come, Department Head, have a taste first, and thank you for your guidance!" White Luo Yu took the initiative to speak.

Then, he used the ivory chopsticks to pick up a large piece of golden-brown fish.

Seeing this, Zhao Yulong didn't hesitate and took the initiative to taste it, putting the golden-brown fish into his mouth and closing his eyes.

As he chewed with his jaws, he nodded continuously, expressing approval.

After a while, Zhao Yulong's throat moved slightly, and after swallowing, he opened his eyes.

"Department Head, how is the taste?" White Luo Yu asked.

"Good!" Zhao Yulong spoke, giving a thumbs up, "A heavenly delicacy, I'm fortunate today!"

"Jiang Brother, come! Try it!" White Luo Yu invited.

The two of them started using their chopsticks.

After putting the fish into their mouths, Jiang Ning instantly felt a warm aroma of wine in the fish.

The fish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the flavor was locked within the golden-brown exterior.

"Not bad!" Jiang Ning nodded in approval.

After the three of them tasted the fish, they began to drink freely.

After a few cups of wine, Jiang Ning poured himself a full cup.

"Department Head, a toast to you."

"Why are you toasting me?" Zhao Yulong also poured himself a full cup of wine and smiled, "Because of the million contribution points reward, it was thanks to you that it could be approved!"

Zhao Yulong smiled at this gesture.

After clinking cups, the two of them drank it all.

Then, Zhao Yulong said, "I was able to approve the million contribution points reward because I couldn't let my brothers down! After all, there was a loophole in the rules, and the responsibility lies with me, not you."

At this point, he smiled again.

"Besides, if there's a shortage of funds later, I'll just apply for a new allocation from above! It's not like I'm paying for it anyway!!!"

Jiang Ning: "."

Hearing Zhao Yulong's words, he was suddenly speechless.

Then, he maintained his smile, and the three of them continued to drink freely.

The two people in front of him were both prominent figures in Dongling City.

One was the Inspector of Dongling Prefecture, with the special power to oversee an entire prefecture, even Zhao Yulong, the Master of Dongling City and Department Head, was under White Luo Yu's jurisdiction.

The other was the Department Head of Dongling City's Inspection Department, a prominent figure with the official rank of Fifth Rank.

He also possessed the strength of a Third Rank Master.

With these two figures expressing goodwill, Jiang Ning couldn't help but feel their kindness.

They drank until the sky turned completely dark.

The food also turned cold.

The meat of the two-hundred-year-old fish demon was all eaten.

"You two keep drinking, it's getting late, I should head back!" Zhao Yulong said, putting down his cup.

The two heard this and stood up.

"We'll see you off!" White Luo Yu offered.

Zhao Yulong smiled and did not refuse.

In front of White Luo Yu's manor.

"Let's stop here!" Zhao Yulong spoke, asking the two to stop seeing him off.

Then he looked at Jiang Ning, "Jiang Commander, if you have time tomorrow, come to the Inspection Department! With your million contribution points and youth, you'll be satisfied."

"Thank you for your guidance!" Jiang Ning bowed.

Zhao Yulong nodded slightly, not showing any arrogance as a Master.

Then he turned and boarded the carriage.

The two watched as Zhao Yulong's carriage drove away.

"I didn't expect that Zhao Yulong, as a Master, would be so approachable!" Jiang Ning spoke.

White Luo Yu shook his head, "Brother Jiang, your words are not accurate."

As Jiang Ning's gaze landed on him, White Luo Yu suddenly produced a folding fan in his hand.

"Swoosh—"

The fan opened in White Luo Yu's hand.

He gently fanned himself in the evening breeze.

"Department Head Zhao is approachable because you and I are worth his approachability."

"If it were anyone else, it would be difficult to even see Department Head Zhao, let alone drink with him."

"How could we see his approachable side."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled.

He naturally understood this reasoning and had known it for a long time.

But it was not appropriate for him to say such words.

Then, he nodded in agreement.

"Brother White's words make sense. After all, at such a young age, you are already an Inspector of the Prefecture, and your martial prowess is extremely profound even among Fifth Rank cultivators. In the future, becoming one of the top Grand Masters in the world is almost certain."

Hearing this, White Luo Yu looked at Jiang Ning speechlessly.

"Hearing Brother Jiang's praise, I feel like you're mocking me! I'm more than ten years older than you, yet we are peers in martial achievements!"

The two of them then exchanged a few more flattering words.

After a mutual smile, Jiang Ning bid farewell and left.

Walking on the dimly lit road, the evening breeze blew past.

Jiang Ning's drunkenness instantly dissipated.

Recalling everything that had happened today, he smiled.

"Not bad at all!"

White Luo Yu's attitude and Zhao Yulong's demeanor made him feel much more at ease.

His current strength was not bad.

However, being alone outside was not a good thing.

Official connections were essential for getting things done.

Zhao Yulong's arrival allowed him to perceive many attitudes and understand Zhao Yulong's intentions.

This would bring him much convenience when acting in Dongling City.

He had not forgotten that there was still some unresolved grudge between him and Qinghe River God Mansion.

Now that he had arrived in Dongling City, which was the territory of Qinghe River God Mansion.

Regarding this, he had no reason to feel more cautious than the Water-Moon Sword Palace.

Although the Water-Moon Sword Palace was powerful, it was still inferior to Qinghe River God Mansion.

But the Water-Moon Sword Palace did not belong to the official forces.

No matter how strong they were, they dared not oppose the Dasha Dynasty Court.

In front of the mighty Dasha Dynasty Court, even dragons and tigers had to be cautious.

After all, even the Vajra Temple, a top-tier sect in the world, had once lain dormant under the pressure of Dasha.

Not to mention the insignificant Water-Moon Sword Palace.

Even though Dasha was no longer at its peak, it was not something the Water-Moon Sword Palace could provoke.

Xiao Qiushui, who was not even a Grand Master, dared to oppose Dasha. If Zhao Yulong came knocking on his door one day, it would be a case of killing the chicken to scare the monkey.

Therefore, at this level, the threat from the Water-Moon Sword Palace was not that significant.

Compared to the Water-Moon Sword Palace, Qinghe River God Mansion, which was not as strong in martial might, was what Jiang Ning feared more.

Because even though Qinghe River God Mansion had declined, it had inherited the title of Qinghe River God from the past.

But even this title was merely an honorary position.

The current Qinghe River God was only a Fourth Rank official.

In the entire Dongling Prefecture, the Prefect was a Fifth Rank official, and Zhao Yulong, the Grand Master, held the position of Department Head of the Inspection Department, also a Fifth Rank official.

Both were half a rank lower than Qinghe River God.

This indicated that Qinghe River God was the highest-ranked official in Dongling Prefecture.

In the official system, without anyone above and without any background or support, one could be easily crushed.

In his previous life, he had read the Four Great Classical Novels, and the character Lin Chong was a perfect example.

In his opinion, as long as it was a society composed of people, it would be the same everywhere.

If he were just an ordinary Eighth Rank minor official, even with his formidable strength, he might not last long before being forced to become a bandit due to Qinghe River God Mansion's underhanded methods.

At that time, he would have to bid farewell to a stable life.

Today, with Zhao Yulong's appearance and the goodwill expressed by this Fifth Rank Grand Master, it was clear that Zhao Yulong, the Department Head of the Inspection Department, held a positive attitude towards him.

With Zhao Yulong's presence, Jiang Ning felt much more at ease regarding this aspect.

In Jiang Ning's opinion, since Zhao Yulong had shown such an attitude, he was sure that Zhao Yulong would not stand by and let others harm him.

Qinghe River God, a Fourth Rank official, was higher in rank than the Prefect and Zhao Yulong.

But it was merely an honorary position, with no real power, and its symbolic significance outweighed its practical value.

In terms of influence in Dongling City, even without considering Zhao Yulong, a Fifth Rank official with the strength of a Grand Master, Inspector White, should be enough to stand on equal footing with Qinghe River God Mansion!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end