Chapter 349: The Approachable Zhao Zongshi!

Chapter 349: The Approachable Zhao Zongshi!

In the backyard.

Zhao Yu Long chuckled, "What's this, Inspector Bai, you don't want to invite me in for a drink?"

"My apologies," Bai Luoyu spoke, then stepped aside to make way, gesturing with an open hand, "Marquis, please!"

As Zhao Yu Long stepped into the backyard, he exclaimed, "What a delightful aroma!" His eyes lit up upon seeing the fish and meat already laid out on the table.

"Marquis, you've arrived just in time. Let's try the meat of this fish demon with over two hundred years of cultivation together!" Bai Luoyu suggested.

"The meat of a fish demon with over two hundred years of cultivation?" Zhao Yu Long looked at Bai Luoyu with surprise.

Continuing, he asked, "For such a rare creature, where did you find it, Inspector Bai?"

"Jiang Ning brought it!" Bai Luoyu smiled.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu Long turned to Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning explained, "My subordinate stumbled upon a fish demon in Luoshui Lake with over two hundred years of cultivation and decided to catch it."

Zhao Yu Long sighed, "In this era, to cultivate for over two hundred years is truly rare. It's a pity that its cultivation was cut short, which can only be blamed on its unlucky fate, and you, Jiang Ning, were the calamity it encountered."

After speaking, the three of them took their seats.

Zhao Yu Long said, "Since the fish demon had cultivated for over two hundred years, it must have had some accompanying treasures, right?"

Before Jiang Ning could respond, Bai Luoyu spoke with admiration, "Marquis, your guess is spot on! Jiang Ning just told me that it was his lucky encounter, and he obtained a hundred-year-old Thunderfruit."

"I see!" Zhao Yu Long nodded slightly, "In that case, it makes sense. No wonder Jiang Tongling's skills are so profound and beyond imagination!"

Jiang Ning smiled, "Just good luck."

Zhao Yu Long said, "Good luck indeed. It shows that your blessings and destiny are profound, and you've attracted good fortune. On the path of the Martial Dao, having deep blessings and attracting good fortune is extremely important. My success today is also due to numerous fortuitous encounters."

Hearing this, both of them nodded in agreement.

Jiang Ning also deeply agreed with Zhao Yu Long's statement.

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

Even in his previous life, he had achieved some success.

Reflecting on it, he sometimes felt fortunate.

This is why wealthy merchants especially believe in feng shui and fate.

Because success is truly inseparable from luck.

At this moment, Bai Luoyu smiled and said, "Marquis, let's eat and chat. I want to taste the meat of this fish demon with over two hundred years of cultivation."

"Good, let's eat! I'm eager to try the flavor of this rare meat," Zhao Yu Long said, his interest piqued. "I've never tasted such a delicacy before. It seems I've benefited from your good fortune, Inspector Bai!"

Bai Luoyu smiled, "This is all thanks to Jiang Ning."

As his words fell, he waved his hand.

A female servant waiting nearby hurried over with small, quick steps.

"Master!" the servant girl said respectfully.

Bai Luoyu instructed, "Give this grilled fish the final touch!"

"Yes, Master!" the servant girl replied.

Then, she carefully lifted the wine flask beside her.

Zhao Yu Long and Jiang Ning watched intently as the servant girl skillfully poured the wine from the flask evenly over the grilled fish.

Bai Luoyu's servant then took out a fire-starting tool from her sleeve.

She struck the tool, igniting a small flame.

As the flame touched the wine on the grilled fish, a momentary flash of pale blue fire danced in front of their eyes.

In an instant, the wine's aroma blended with the grilled fish's scent, creating a tantalizing fragrance.

"It smells amazing!" Zhao Yu Long smiled and nodded.

Bai Luoyu asked, "Marquis, you haven't mentioned who the other Heaven's Prodigy you met a few days ago, the one comparable to Jiang Ning, is."

Zhao Yu Long replied, "He's a young monk from Vajra Temple. He looks about the same age as Jiang Ning but has already attained the state of Heaven and Man as One."

"Heaven and Man as One?" Bai Luoyu's face was filled with shock.

"Indeed!" Zhao Yu Long nodded, his expression filled with emotion. "Heaven and Man as One is the essential state to achieve the Heaven and Man Master. If I had attained this state, I would have become a Heaven and Man Master long ago."

"Monster!!" Bai Luoyu exclaimed, his eyes wide.

"Indeed, a monster!" Zhao Yu Long agreed, deeply impressed. "That young monk's comprehension is truly terrifying!"

"According to an agreement I made with a senior monk from Vajra Temple ten years ago, I taught that young monk the Dragon Roar Strike two days ago. In just one day, he completely mastered it, and his understanding of the technique is no longer inferior to mine!"

At this moment, Jiang Ning, upon hearing Zhao Yu Long's words, couldn't help but recall the white-robed young monk he had encountered at Shuangyang Mountain.

"Could it be him?" he wondered.

After a brief moment of reflection, Jiang Ning felt that the young monk Zhao Yu Long mentioned was most likely the one he had met at Shuangyang Mountain.

After all, the state of Heaven and Man as One was a significant milestone.

The ability to master it is extremely rare.

Not to mention, it also corresponds to both the monk and the youth.

"Vajra Temple, truly one of the top sects in the world!" Jiang Ning sighed in admiration.

Heaven and Man as One.

It is the most direct ticket to becoming a Heaven and Man Master.

This shows how difficult it is to grasp Heaven and Man as One.

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

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

"Indeed, there are always greater mountains and people beyond our sight!" Bai Luoyu also exclaimed with deep emotion.

Zhao Yu Long nodded in agreement.

"The further one ventures on the Martial Dao path, the more one feels the gap between oneself and others, like a vast chasm."

"But you're a Grandmaster, and you feel this way?" Bai Luoyu asked.

Zhao Yu Long shook his head. "Even among Grandmasters, there are significant differences!"

"In my opinion, only those who can truly be called Grandmasters are Heaven and Man Masters!"

"Below the Heaven and Man Master, no one is qualified!"

Jiang Ning sat quietly, listening to their conversation.

Just then, the flames on the grilled fish gradually died out, and the outer layer turned a golden brown.

"Come, Marquis, have a taste first. And thank you for your guidance!" Bai Luoyu spoke up first.

He then used ivory jade chopsticks to pick up a large piece of golden-brown fish meat.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu Long also eagerly tasted it, putting the golden-brown fish meat into his mouth and closing his eyes.

As he chewed, he nodded repeatedly in approval.

After a while, Zhao Yu Long's throat moved slightly as he swallowed the fish meat, then opened his eyes.

"Marquis, how is the taste?" Bai Luoyu asked.

"Excellent!" Zhao Yu Long exclaimed, giving a thumbs up, "A heavenly delicacy! I'm truly fortunate today!"

"Jiang Brother, come and try it!" Bai Luoyu invited.

The two of them picked up their chopsticks.

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

The fish was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with all the flavors sealed within the golden-brown exterior.

"Not bad!" Jiang Ning nodded in agreement.

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

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

"Marquis, a toast to you."

"Why are you toasting me?" Zhao Yu Long also filled his cup and smiled.

Jiang Ning said, "That one million contribution points reward wouldn't have been possible without you, Marquis."

Zhao Yu Long smiled at this gesture.

After clinking their cups, the two of them drained their cups.

Then, Zhao Yu Long said, "I approved that one million contribution points reward because I didn't want to disappoint the brothers. After all, there's 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 more from above! It's not like I'm paying for it! I don't mind at all!"

Jiang Ning: "..."

Hearing Zhao Yu Long's words, he was momentarily speechless.

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

Moreover, he also possessed the strength of a third-rank Grandmaster.

With these two esteemed figures expressing their goodwill, Jiang Ning had no reason to refuse.

They drank until the sky grew completely dark.

The food had cooled down.

The two-hundred-year-old fish meat of the fish demon had been devoured.

"You two continue drinking. It's getting late, and I should head back!" Zhao Yu Long put down his cup and slowly stood up.

The two of them also got up upon hearing this.

"We'll see you out!" Bai Luoyu offered.

Zhao Yu Long smiled but did not refuse.

In front of Bai Luoyu's mansion.

"Let's stop here!" Zhao Yu Long said, asking the two of them to halt their steps of seeing him off.

Then he turned to Jiang Ning, "Jiang Tongling, if you have time tomorrow, come to the Patrol Office. With the one million contribution points you have, and your youth, it's time to put them to use."

"The Patrol Office in the prefectural capital is far superior to the one in Luo Water County. It will surely satisfy you."

"Thank you for your guidance, Marquis!" Jiang Ning bowed respectfully.

Zhao Yu Long nodded slightly, showing none of the arrogance often associated with Grandmasters.

Then he turned and boarded his carriage.

The two of them watched as Zhao Yu Long's carriage drove away.

"I never expected that Marquis Zhao, being a Grandmaster, would be so approachable!" Jiang Ning exclaimed.

Bai Luoyu shook his head, "Jiang Ning, you're wrong about that."

As Jiang Ning's gaze landed on him, a folding fan suddenly appeared in Bai Luoyu's hand.

"Swoosh—"

The fan opened with a sound.

He gently fanned himself in the evening breeze.

"The reason why Zhao Fuzhu is so approachable is because both of us are worthy of his approachability."

"If it were anyone else, even meeting Zhao Fuzhu once would be difficult, let alone drinking with him."

"How could we see his approachable side?"

Jiang Ning smiled at his words.

This logic was something he naturally understood and had known for a long time.

But it was not something he could say out loud.

He then showed his agreement.

"What you say makes sense, Bai Luoyu. After all, you're so young and already a county inspector. Your Martial Dao strength is profound, even among those at the Fifth Tier. In the future, becoming one of the Heavenly Masters is almost certain."

Hearing these words, Bai Luoyu couldn't help but look at Jiang Ning with a speechless expression.

"Hearing your flattery, I feel like you're trying to insult me! I'm over ten years older than you, and our Martial Dao achievements are on par!"

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

After a shared smile, Jiang Ning took his leave and headed home.

Walking on the dimly lit path, the evening breeze blew.

Jiang Ning's drunkenness dissipated.

He reflected on everything that had happened that day.

"Not bad!" He smiled to himself.

Bai Luoyu's attitude and Zhao Yu Long's demeanor made him feel much more at ease.

Although his current strength was not bad, venturing out alone was not a good idea.

Having official connections made things much easier.

Zhao Yu Long's arrival allowed Jiang Ning to perceive many attitudes and understand Zhao Yu Long's stance towards him.

This would bring him much convenience in his future endeavors in Dongling City.

He hadn't forgotten the grudge between him and the Qinghe River God Manor.

Now that he had arrived in Dongling City, the Qinghe River God Manor was also located there.

Regarding this, Jiang Ning's previous concerns about the Water Moon Sword Palace were unnecessary.

Although the Water Moon Sword Palace was strong, it was still inferior to the Qinghe River God Manor.

But the Water Moon Sword Palace was not an official power.

No matter how strong they were, they wouldn't dare to challenge the Great Xia Dynasty.

In front of the Great Xia Dynasty, even the most powerful entities would have to tread carefully.

Even Vajra Temple, one of the world's top sects, had once been forced into seclusion under the pressure of Great Xia.

Not to mention the small Water Moon Sword Palace.

Even if Great Xia was no longer at its peak, it was not something the Water Moon Sword Palace could provoke.

If Xiao Qiushui, who wasn't even a Grandmaster, dared to challenge Great Xia, Zhao Yu Long might pay a visit to teach her a lesson and make an example of her.

So, at this level, the threat from the Water Moon Sword Palace wasn't that significant.

Compared to the Water Moon Sword Palace, Jiang Ning was more wary of the Qinghe River God Manor, which was not as strong in terms of martial prowess.

Because even though the Qinghe River God Manor had declined, it had inherited the prestigious title of Qinghe River God.

But even this honorary title was only a Fourth Rank official position.

In the entire Dongling Prefecture, the Prefect was a Fifth Rank official, and Zhao Yu Long, the Grandmaster and head of the Patrol Office, was also a Fifth Rank official.

Both were half a rank lower than the Qinghe River God.

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

In the official system, there was no one above them, and without any background or connections, they could be easily crushed.

In his previous life, Jiang Ning had read the Four Great Classical Novels, and the character Lin Chong was a prime example of this.

In his opinion, as long as it was a human relationship, it would be the same no matter where it was.

If he were an ordinary Eighth Rank official and the Qinghe River God Manor used underhanded means, even with his strong abilities, he might not last long before being forced to become an outlaw.

At that time, he would have to bid farewell to his peaceful life.

Today, with Zhao Yu Long's appearance and his show of goodwill, it was clear that Zhao Yu Long, a Fifth Rank official and Grandmaster, had a favorable attitude towards Jiang Ning.

With Zhao Yu Long's support, Jiang Ning's worries in this regard diminished.

In Jiang Ning's opinion, if Zhao Yu Long had shown such an attitude, he wouldn't just sit back and let others harm him.

Although the Qinghe River God was a Fourth Rank official, higher in rank than the Prefect and Zhao Yu Long, it was still a ceremonial position with no real power.

In terms of influence in Dongling City, even without considering Zhao Yu Long, a Fifth Rank official and Grandmaster, Bai Luoyu, as the county inspector, should be enough to rival the Qinghe River God Manor!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end