181: Chapter 180: The New Patrol Envoy 181: Chapter 180: The New Patrol Envoy After a lengthy conversation, the truth was that neither had managed to convince the other.
Yet this did not harm their friendship.
Hou Niao resumed his Patrol lifestyle, never staying overnight at the small outpost again.
Once he had fulfilled his promise, the deal had ended, and he should not have continued; it would have been irresponsible.
Yes, that’s what he thought.
This wasn’t about reneging after raising one’s pants, but rather about a harsh reality.
The three sisters-in-law had achieved their goal, and what they needed to pursue now was their happiness.
And if he remained by their side, that happiness would never arrive.
He was still mortal at the moment, but Cultivation was not far away.
When that time really came, the harsh truth about lifespan would be even more cruel.
The later it ended, the more painful it would be.
Thus, when he sensed that the sisters-in-law’s feelings had started to evolve from a simple transaction to something more dangerous, he decisively put a stop to everything.
Let them become a part of his memory, and he a part of theirs.
Why should things go on until everyone involved couldn’t face each other?
Was this the selfishness of the Demon Sect?
What he did know was that as his enemies grew ever more numerous, it was inevitable that those around him would be dragged into the fray, and he would need friends who could withstand these burdens.
If that was selfish, so be it; he didn’t care.
During his Patrols, he gradually turned his attention back to his Cultivation.
The essence in his Dantian was complete; the process took several months, which was quite average.
Wang Mian and Fang Yazi, who had begun fasting for Cultivation at the same time, had achieved this as well.
But he might have misunderstood something; their speed was actually quite fast.
However, mingling with these two real geniuses, he couldn’t sense what was special about him.
The question facing the three of them now was how to link the Purple Mansion and the Dantian to create a Bridge Connection, exploring the Inner Secrets of the body in preparation for the most important stage of transcending the mundane through Tongxuan.
These methods and skills were clearly explained in the texts, but to actually achieve them required a bit of luck, a bit of insight, and a flash of inspiration on any given day.
His case was a little different from the others, though.
The Purple Mansion was hardly a secret to him; it was that Purple Mansion Vortex, something he’d encountered regularly.
The real question was how to link this abnormality to the Dantian?
He pondered over this problem throughout his Patrols.
But while his thoughts were slow, the movements in Jin City were swift.
The orders for Xiang Zhiwen’s transfer came down, and the new Patrol Envoy took up his post at Fang Family’s Castle.
Why does this name sound familiar to me?”
A group of people stood in the long-unvisited hall of the Town Government in Fang Family’s Castle.
This was an unavoidable courtesy, a ceremony that took place every time a new Town Government and Patrol Envoy were appointed.
Of course, it was also the result of Xiang Zhiwen forcefully dragging his subordinates along; otherwise, not a single one of them would have shown up.
Dou Gong added, with a hint of teasing, “Junior Brother Hou’s memory doesn’t seem too sharp.
Or are these matters too painful to recall, so you’re pretending to have forgotten?
You may forget the person, but have you also forgotten about the five years’ worth of salary that was deducted?”
Everyone laughed heartily.
Wang Zhongjin—yes, that was the Senior Brother who had come to read out the Triple Prefecture’s punishment to Hou Niao.
Because of the massacre at Suqiu, even Wang Mian and Fang Yazi had experienced a share of the blow.
Wang Mian gloomily said from the side, “If he’s sensible, fine; if not, I’ll sort him out!”
Feng Yaochen rebuked him, “What kind of talk is that?
No respect for a superior at all!
Are these things you can just say?
Learn from your older brothers; they never say anything, but they’ve already dug the pits…”
Xiang Zhiwen just smiled wryly, understanding the sentiments of his subordinates all too well, so he didn’t say much more for fear of throwing fuel on the fire.
Town Government Guo watched the commotion with a smile.
Before the New Year, their lineage in the town government had been given a hard time by the beeswax, and now, they were finally catching their breath.
It seemed that the wheel of fortune had turned, and it was now the turn of the Patrol men to be put through the grinder.
All Cultivation Sects share one unbreakable rule: one must not betray or harm one’s teachers or ancestors, nor kill fellow sect members!
The Quanzhen Sect was no exception, but to them, Uncle Zheng was neither a teacher nor an ancestor; at most, he was just another sect member.
In a place like Yinling, there were plenty of ways to give him a hard time.
There have been historical precedents for such cases, and without concrete evidence, those higher up could only ultimately let them slide.
For a Demon Sect like Quanzhen that favored bravery and fierce fighting, it was also impossible to enforce this rule too strictly.
Amid the clamor, a man walked into the courtyard from outside.
Who could it be if not Wang Zhongjin, the same as always?
Still high and mighty, still dismissive of everyone else, where on earth did he get the confidence to take up his post alone, facing a group of proud and ruthless soldiers with blood on their hands?
He nodded to Town Government Guo as a greeting, then quickly went through the handover with Xiang Zhiwen.
The rules of a Cultivation Sect are, of course, not as intricate as those of the real officialdom.
During this process, the former official had to leave quickly to not interfere with the new official’s efforts to win over people’s hearts.
So, after the handover, Xiang Zhiwen took his leave.
Although reluctant, a cultivator must continually face new environments to progress.
It was true for him, and the same for these Patrol subordinates.
Once Xiang Zhiwen had departed, Town Government Guo would certainly not stay and make himself uncomfortable; he quickly excused himself with other business, leaving Wang Zhongjin to face the indifferent subordinates.
This very first meeting would determine whether his next three years in Yinling would be leisurely and happy, excruciatingly difficult, or perhaps even his last?
After the two men left, Wang Zhongjin’s expression changed as if he was a different person.
He transformed from a haughty and arrogant Brother Wang into a smiley, amiable gentleman.
He bowed to everyone, and his first sentence surprised them all, “I’m here just to pass the days!
The Jin City system stipulates that if you want to climb higher in the three-governments system, you must have experience governing a territory.
That’s why I’m here.”
He smiled self-deprecatingly, “Yinling is not a pleasant place.
But precisely for this reason, the officials here have somewhat noteworthy personal experiences amidst the chaos.
However, I believe that with the annihilation of the Giant Rat Clan and the closure of West Mang Mountain, there should be a buffer period, a time of relative stability in Yinling, so I’ve come to take advantage of this opportunity!”
Looking at Hou Niao, he bowed again, “Whether it’s the Giant Rat Clan or the incident with West Mang Mountain, Brother Hou has made strenuous efforts in these affairs.
So, in a way, I’m basking in your radiance.
I, Wang Zhongjin, am not blind.
I see clearly and will remember this in the future!
As for the punitive commands initially announced, I didn’t have the decision-making power; I was merely an executor.
I’m sure Brother Hou understands that no matter who took my place, the outcome would have been the same.
Therefore, you should not hold a grudge against me.
As cultivators, maintaining this perspective and not dwelling on past grievances is proper.”
Hou Niao felt somewhat exasperated; this man…
Wang Zhongjin turned once more to the crowd and reached into his Treasure Gourd as if by magic, pulling out a large pot of fine wine and ten cups, filling each one in turn,
“I’m a sword-wielding ‘mixer’ from a mixed-system!
So, naturally, discussing sword-wielding ‘mixers’ like Town Government Guo will be left to me; the resources of the Patrol lineage will not be shortchanged by a dime, as I say so, I do so.
But as for the life-and-death matters outside Fang Family’s Castle, I won’t get involved; we’ll follow the old rules, you manage them yourselves.
If you wish to notify me, just say the word.
If it’s something too significant and you’d rather not speak of it, I’m not interested in hearing it either.
So, if we can coast through these three years, we’ll still be friends afterward.
Does that sound good?”
A group of rugged men were left utterly speechless…