18: Chapter 15 Cao Xuan 18: Chapter 15 Cao Xuan The narrow bluebrick house had flickering lamplight inside.
Households Commander Cao Xuan held a tea cup carved from a bamboo tube, sitting facing south at a worn-out square table.
The tea cup was clearly a rough and shoddy item, even with leftover burrs, and the tea was brewed with mugwort leaves.
But Cao Xuan’s expression was very relaxed, as if he were holding the finest aromatic tea.
While sipping the tea, he spoke, “About today’s incident with the Blood Wind Thieves hijacking the Library, I really have to thank you.
If the situation had continued to drag on, both Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall and our Jinyi Guards would have lost face.”
“Households Commander, you flatter me.”
Chu Xisheng smiled faintly, his words watertight, “The Blood Wind Thieves are nothing but a minor ailment to you, Households Commander, easily suppressed.
Besides, it was someone else who actually killed that sorcerer; I was just helping out, really unworthy of your thanks.”
Cao Xuan was clearly unimpressed, as he had heard this rhetoric from Chu Xisheng at noon.
However, at that time, his subordinates had searched the Library inside and out but could not find the woman surnamed Lu whom Chu Xisheng mentioned.
The reason this young man said so was likely due to two reasons, one being fear of Blood Wind Thieves’ revenge; as for the other—
“You seem quite resentful, young man.” He smiled as he took an elixir bottle, a heavy silver ingot, a golden sparkling vest, and two bronze waist cards out from his sleeve, placing them in front of Chu Xisheng.
“I am not one to go back on my word.
It was just that the earlier situation was a bit inappropriate.
This is the reward I promised you, along with your inheriting documents, tokens, and official registration.
You’ll receive them in two days.”
Chu Xisheng finally raised his eyebrows, showing a slight reaction.
The elixir bottle was identical to the one he had previously acquired, likely containing five Essence Building Pills.
The golden sparkling vest was woven with top-grade silk and copper wire, clearly not an ordinary item.
The key items were the two bronze waist cards.
Chu Xisheng picked up a waist card to examine it closely.
This object was slightly heavy, indicating its sufficient material.
A totem of the Divine Beast Bi’an was carved on it, and below it, the words ‘Xiushui Jinyi Thousand Households Flag Officer Chu Xisheng’ were inscribed.
The other waist card was also a flag officer’s, but the name was ‘Chu Yunyun.’
Seeing this, Chu Xisheng’s expression stiffened slightly.
Instead of being delighted, he looked at Cao Xuan with a hint of vigilance, “Households Commander, I only wanted a hereditary flag officer title, not an active appointment.”
From the founding of Daning, it had been a tradition to appoint noble scions as hereditary positions within the Jinyi Guards.
After eight hundred years of the dynasty, the hereditary flag officers within the Jinyi Guards were as numerous as carps crossing the river.
Most of them did not serve in the Jinyi Guards, only drawing a salary.
Later, their sheer number overwhelmed the court, stopping even the payment of salaries.
Chu Xisheng wanted this hereditary flag officer title to solve his and Chu Yunyun’s identity issue.
Having this official cover would make their future endeavors easier.
He never intended to serve actively within the Jinyi Guards, under their orders.
Moreover, as the saying goes, a favor done demands a favor in return, and this surname Cao was obviously up to no good.
Cao Xuan did not look at Chu Xisheng’s expression; he leisurely blew at the mugwort leaves floating in his tea, “The reason for changing it to an active flag officer is that I need a favor from you, Mr.
Have you heard of the Dominating Martial King Qin Muge and the Rebellious God Flag?”
Chu Xisheng had resolved that he would refuse whatever the request was.
But upon hearing the name ‘Qin Muge,’ he was inwardly stirred and suspiciously replied, “Who in the world doesn’t know the Dominating Martial King Qin Muge?
As for the Rebellious God Flag, I am not very familiar.
But those Blood Wind Thieves today were after it.
Your Jinyi Guards searched the Library for half a day, probably for this item too?”
Cao Xuan responded with a wry smile, “Indeed, the favor I need is related to this matter.
Chu can keep an eye out for any clues about Qin Muge and the Rebellious God Flag in the Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall.”
Chu Xisheng felt an indescribable strangeness, as if he were tasked to investigate himself.
However, his face showed difficulty, and he pushed the waist cards and golden silk armor back, “Households Commander, this is really too much to ask.
I cannot betray the Martial Arts Hall, nor do I dare get involved in such chaos as the Rebellious God Flag.
Households Commander, please find someone else.”
“I am not asking you to betray Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall.”
Cao Xuan put down the tea cup, looking fixedly at Chu Xisheng, “I can make a spirit contract with you.
It won’t require you to do anything adverse to the Martial Arts Hall or the Formless Divine Sect.
I only need clues about the Rebellious God Flag.
The Rebellious God Flag is the supreme treasure of our Human Clan, with the power to defy fate and oppose the might of the gods.
If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Today, you were courageous enough to risk your life and kill that sorcerer of the Blood Wind Thieves; I see you have a chivalrous heart.
Would you watch idly as this item gets snatched by the evil forces like the Blood Wind Thieves?”
At this point, Cao Xuan shifted his tone: “Before I came here, I actually investigated your background.
To be honest, your travel permit and registration are not reliable.
You stated you migrated here from Taishan County in East State, yet you speak with the Capital’s accent.”
Chu Xisheng remained composed.
This Household Commander Cao was simply using a mix of threats and inducements.
In his heart, Chu Xisheng actually agreed a thousand times over; after all, investigating oneself was an easy task and could even earn salaries from the Jinyi Guards.
However, he felt it best to discuss it with Chu Yunyun first.
“I am curious about your origins, Mr.
Are you an escaped slave from an official family in the Capital, a wanted criminal by the court, or a vagrant from across the sea?
But it doesn’t concern me.
In today’s world, there are too many like you and your sister, coming from who knows where, going to who knows where without anyone caring.”
Cao Xuan smiled, picking up the scissors on the table, slowly trimming the wick of the oil lamp, “However, if you and your sister want to advance in Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall or join the Formless Divine Sect, your current identity won’t earn trust.
I can help make your identity impeccable, leaving no flaws, and you might even gain access to unique elixirs and Martial Arts Secret Methods of our Jinyi Guards.
But everything has a price, doesn’t it, Little Chu?”
Chu Xisheng squinted, watching Cao Xuan’s careful trimming with a cold demeanor.
Cao Xuan was intensely focused, as if he were trimming the plants in his own garden.
His hands were steady, meticulously so.
Chu Xisheng unconsciously gripped his waist knife, his mind echoing with Cao Xuan’s words, ‘who knows where to go.’
After a long contemplation, Chu Xisheng released his grip on the knife, “This matter is significant.
Please, give me some time to consider it, Households Commander.”
Cao Xuan frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.
His hand trembled, cutting away most of the lamp wick.
Feigning embarrassment, he smiled and set down the scissors.
“Fine, it’s natural to have concerns.
I will give you five days.
If interested, you can buy three orange peel buns at the bun shop northeast of the Martial Arts Hall.
He patted the golden silk armor and waist cards on the table, “These items will stay here.
Whether you agree or not, this is the reward I promised you.”