154: Chapter 153 Right and Wrong [Extra for Alliance Hierarch Handsome Bro] 154: Chapter 153 Right and Wrong [Extra for Alliance Hierarch Handsome Bro] Wang Zhongjin’s expression was gloomy as he brushed his sleeve and left.
Stepping forward, Colonel Wu Zhiying gave the three of them a careful look, “Good, you’ve got spirit!
Kill those demons when they should be killed, are we to keep them for the New Year?
Visit the central military mansion more if you have the chance.
If you were one of our men, you wouldn’t have to endure such grievances.”
Having made his point, Wu Zhiying strode away, leaving Sang Junzi behind with a smile.
“Three troublemakers!
Do you have any idea how difficult you’ve made things for the Capital Commandant’s office?
But luckily the punishment isn’t severe.
As for the positions, they are just tiny official posts, so promotion or demotion doesn’t really matter.
As for the confiscation, you didn’t come away empty-handed; and regarding the restriction of no promotion for three years and not returning to the city for five, it will automatically be lifted once you make the Bridge Connection in the Upper Realm.
It’s all bark and no bite, that’s all.”
Wang Mian was not a fool, “Thank you, Junzi, for mediating on our behalf at the Capital Commandant’s office.
Please allow us to treat you to a meal.”
Sang Junzi drifted away, “I don’t have that kind of influence to mediate for you…
As for treating me to a meal, don’t you know that the Capital Commandant’s office does not engage in private banquets when conducting affairs outside?”
The Upper Envoys were reluctant to stay longer, not wanting to form close ties with these troublesome fellows; in the Quanzhen Sect’s low-rank disciples, there were many such mischievous characters.
Most of them would gradually find their place after experiencing the difficulties of cultivation, either hiding their mischievous nature deep within to await fermentation or changing their ways to align with the Daoist Sect’s conventional cultivation philosophies.
In this process, the vast majority of these troublemakers would die of various accidents, either perishing in endless troublemaking, halted by their increasingly desolate provisions, becoming sacrifices in the infighting of the Quanzhen Sect, or sinking into mediocrity due to their low aptitude…
Because they expect others to look at them differently after one successful mission of exterminating rats in Suqiu, it’s a bit naive; in the Cultivation World, the middle way is prevalent, ‘The taller the tree, the harder the wind blows’ is the philosophy of many sects and is indeed reasonable.
Hou Niao was sentenced to five years of service, Wang Mian and Fang Yazi each to one year, and nobody really cared.
The junior brothers wouldn’t complain, nor would the senior brother apologize; what they each gained from that dragon-riding rat-slaying adventure was clear to all.
“What is ‘Patrol’?” Hou Niao was still not quite clear about this aspect of the Quanzhen system.
Wang Mian laughed, “Although the rank of Patrol is low, at least it’s an official role with a rank.
In some large states or regions, when Patrols are limited and cannot cover everything, they employ local Loose Cultivators or disciples practicing Energy Induction from within the sect to act as informants, known as ‘Ding’.
In plain terms, it means working for free without a formal position or compensation, purely as a way for newcomers to gain experience, or for Loose Cultivators to curry favor with Quanzhen disciples as a temporary affiliation without being officially recognized; the sect won’t care if something happens, and any credit goes to the higher-ups…
Congratulations, senior brother, you’ve taken yet another step back, and if you step back any further, you’ll be digging into the dirt.”
The two laughed heartily without a care, and Hou Niao joined in, “Are you saying that if I cause more trouble, nobody will care?”
Wang Mian shook his head with a smile, “There is a difference with this ‘Patrol’ position of the senior brother, it has an official role, so of course someone is in charge, and that would be just one person – myself.
For example, whatever I and Yazi say right now, theoretically, you have to listen; if we scold you, you have to take it; if I tell you to fetch foot-washing water…”
Hou Niao’s gaze sharpened, “Not bad, I can also give massages, relax muscles and scatter bones, would you like to enjoy that?”
Wang Mian hurriedly waved his hands, “I wouldn’t dare to presume, I’m afraid you’d dismantle my bones!
But to speak the truth, your identity as the Patrol doesn’t really matter here in Yinling, who wouldn’t give you some respect?
Not to mention how all the patrolling brothers deeply admire you, if those from the Town Government dare to be disrespectful, I’d be the first to not let them off!”
“But I’m afraid that one day, if you, elder brother, were to leave Yinling and go to another place, and if you still carry the name of this Patrol with you, there might be those who would kick you while you’re down without realizing the consequences.”
Fang Yazi just laughed, “I think such a position isn’t bad, since there’s no fixed patrol area anymore, I can just focus on my Cultivation.”
Wang Mian shook his head, “It’s not that simple.
Have you not heard what the Upper Envoy said?
All unrest within the Yinling Demon Clan that results from the extinction of the giant rats, as long as it’s a linked reaction, is elder brother’s responsibility.
“How do you define a ‘linked reaction’?
If you say it is, then it is; if you say it’s not, then it’s not—too subjective, without any standard to speak of.
Dealing with the Upper Envoy is still fine, as he definitely wouldn’t make things difficult for elder brother and would even cover for you.
But what about the Fang Family’s Castle Town Government?
They’re known to be associated with the Mu Shuai’s line, and they might just trouble elder brother.”
Hou Niao shook his head.
Who could be clear about the future?
He didn’t care about his position within the Quanzhen System, as he didn’t plan to spend his entire life here anyway.
Sooner or later, he would leave.
The higher the position he held, the more troublesome it would be to move, the bigger the commotion and the less likely the Quanzhen Sect would let it go.
Only if his position was lower would no one care, he was just a Patrol after all, who would be concerned if he transferred elsewhere?
“Therefore, enough talk.
I see that the sky indicates it will be clear tomorrow.
You both go and prepare quickly, gather all the river workers at the River Diversion tomorrow.
We’ll use the old method, focus on a collective battle, live there, and aim to finish within ten days so that it won’t delay the spring plowing.”
Both of them nodded, as this was an important task.
Everything needs to begin and end perfectly, otherwise all prior efforts would be severely discounted.
Wang Mian asked, “These past days, as I traveled around several fortresses, I’ve also met a few wandering Daoists.
They’ve expressed their willingness to help with the river, whether guarding the fortresses or the riverbanks.
What do you think, elder brother?”
Hou Niao made a grand gesture, “We do not refuse those who come!
Nor need we worry about what they can partake in; we’ve eaten the meat already, we should at least leave them some soup.”
The following day, the entire population of both the small and large front fortresses mobilized, as they were the ones most concerned about the rerouting of the river; no mobilization was needed.
Men and women, old and young, with pots, pans, and ladles, livestock and food; they were all prepared.
Additionally, strong laborers from the nearby fortresses came without the need for pay, just food, showing that the ordinary people of Yinling were still very honest and simple.
Hou Niao personally took charge of the River Diversion, along with Wang Mian and Fang Yazi, plus several wandering Daoists who had come because of their reputation.
Up to this day, the news that the Quanzhen patrolling forces had exterminated the Suqiu giant rat clan had spread throughout the Yinling Wilderness.
The external message from the Quanzhen Sect was that because the rat clan had privately altered the river course sixty years ago for the security of the Suqiu Underground Palace, it had led to countless deaths and injuries among the people of the two front fortresses over the following decades; it was a great crime and they were eradicated as a warning to others.
To be fair, this reasoning stood its ground.
In Yinling, one of the compromise agreements reached between humans and the Demon Clan was that none shall privately change the natural conditions such as geography and rivers for their own profit.
The main issue with the giant rats’ extensive burrowing to expand their palace was waterproofing, and altering the course of the river was the most effective and permanent solution.
However, the Demon Clan was puzzled.
Altering the course of the White Ribbon River was not something that could be done secretly, and humans couldn’t possibly be oblivious to it for sixty years, so why wasn’t it raised as an issue before, only to now eradicate them entirely?
Was there another reason behind this?