Chapter 335
Chapter 335
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 335
>Chapter Title: Record Minister
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Chapter 335: Record Minister
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> The "clop clop clop" of horse hooves kept echoing through the streets of Yinling City. Because of the rain, there were few people on the road, allowing the horse to pick up speed.
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> The rider lifted his bamboo hat, revealing Li Huowang's resolute gaze. He held the reins in one hand and pulled a note from his bosom to check it again.
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> This was a message from Tuoba Danqing via homing pigeon. There weren't many words on it: "Record Minister summons. Come at once. Yinling City Prison."
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> Li Huowang felt he already knew Tuoba Danqing well. For someone like him to give an order without even eating or drinking showed just how urgent this matter was.
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> He had no idea whether this would be a blessing or a curse for him. All he could do was prepare for the worst.
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> Fortunately, he was on his own now. Even if something went wrong, he had nothing to fear.
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> After swinging down from the saddle, Li Huowang looked up at the grim building made of blue bricks in front of him. The jailers at the door, their eyes gleaming with menace, confirmed this was where serious criminals were held in Yinling City.
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> Those jailers reminded him of some soldiers he'd seen.
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> The moment Li Huowang dismounted, he felt a faint stinging sensation at his vital points. Someone was aiming a hidden weapon at him from out of sight.
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> He flashed his Celestial Surveillance Division badge and stepped through the prison gates, guarded by two ferocious stone lions.
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> Just as he entered, he spotted Tuoba Danqing sitting on a long bench, waving him over.
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> "Ear, wise brother! Over here, quick!"
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> Li Huowang walked over and glanced at the man beside him. It was a familiar face—Hong Da, the credit knife man he'd met once before.
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> Before Li Huowang could cup his hands in greeting, Tuoba Danqing enthusiastically pulled him down to sit on the same bench. "Ear, wise brother! See? How much does your big brother think of you? Got a good assignment and I came straight to you."
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> "Oh? A good assignment this time?" Smelling the cold, rotten stench in his nose and seeing the prisoners in the surrounding cages—unclear if they were dead or alive—Li Huowang didn't think this looked like good news.
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> Tuoba Danqing slapped his thigh excitedly, his face lighting up as he spoke. "Of course it's a good assignment! Because this time... it's against the Sitting Oblivion Dao!"
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> "Don't you have a grudge against those swindlers? Big brother saved it especially for you, so you can get your revenge. How about it? Am I good to you?"
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> Hearing this, Li Huowang's heart jolted. He quickly asked, "Please explain in detail. What's this assignment about?"
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> "Don't rush. Wait for the Record Minister to arrive and have him tell you. We don't know much either." Hong Da said absentmindedly, sipping from a teacup.
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> "Hong, senior, long time no see. Many thanks for your recommendation back then. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have made it into the Celestial Surveillance Division."
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> As Li Huowang saluted Hong Da, he thought to himself, "The Record Minister, who's all the way in the capital, is coming too? Is this assignment that dangerous?"
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> Aside from knowing he was Tuoba Danqing's superior, Li Huowang knew nothing else about the so-called Record Minister. But holding such a key position in a place like the Celestial Surveillance Division meant his abilities were surely formidable.
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> "What thanks? You chose the path yourself anyway. Just don't blame me for dragging you into this den of thieves if things go south later."
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> "Hey~ Hong Da, I don't like hearing that. How can you call our division a den of thieves? You never miss out on the Lifespan Pills after every job, right? Your food, clothing, and expenses every year? Never shortchanged."
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> "For this Mid-Autumn Festival, the division's mooncakes didn't skip you, did they? The division even covers your brothel visits. The division treats you so well—how can you badmouth it in front of this newbie?"
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> "Fine, you're the loyal minister, I'm the big traitor. Happy?" Hong Da seemed annoyed by Tuoba Danqing's nagging. He rolled his eyes, turned away, and gave him the back of his head.
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> Seeing Tuoba Danqing point and launch into another long-winded speech, Li Huowang held him back. "Brother Tuoba, why are we discussing matters in this prison today?"
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> "Wise brother, see that over there? The second-to-last cage at the very back. The prisoner locked inside is one of ours from the Celestial Surveillance Division. He'll be coming with us later."
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> Li Huowang looked over in surprise. The cage was far away, and even with his excellent eyesight, he could only make out a vague, tall figure lying in the straw.
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> Just as Li Huowang was about to stand and get a closer look, a shrill, duck-like voice rang out from behind. "Yo~ Danqing, everyone's here? Looks like our house arrived late."
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> "Hmm? A eunuch?" Li Huowang turned in confusion and saw an elderly man, plump and pale, dressed in official robes with a feather plume in his hat.
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> That face smeared with white powder, paired with the official attire and his oily smile—if he hadn't walked right in, Li Huowang might have mistaken him for a zombie turned demon from a zombie flick.
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> This was the man standing there, cradling a golden abacus in his arms and eyeing them with a squinting smile. This was the Record Minister.
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> Li Huowang tensed up immediately, worried the man might see through his disguise. When there was no reaction, he finally relaxed.
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> The moment this man appeared, Tuoba Danqing lit up like he'd seen his own father—neck shrinking, stature dropping an inch, expression obsequious as he hurried forward to greet him.
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> "Aiya aiya, Record Minister, sir! What are you saying? You didn't arrive late—we're the ones who came early."
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> He gently supported the fat eunuch's hand, adorned with a jade thumb ring, and escorted him to the table. A cloyingly sweet fragrance wafted over, making the sharp-nosed Li Huowang wrinkle his brow slightly. The scent was odd, laced with a whiff of urine.
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> "Record Minister, sir, you know Hong Da. Let me introduce this one—wise brother Ear Jiu. His abilities from the Ao Jing Teachings are truly remarkable. A Xuan-rank renunciate is nothing to him. He'll be a huge help on this assignment!"
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> The Record Minister looked Li Huowang up and down again, that strange glint in his eyes making Li Huowang uncomfortable. "I've met the Record Minister, sir."
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> "Mm, Ear Jiu, right? I remember you. Little Willow mentioned you to me—said you're from the Ao Jing Teachings. But your temper's not great, huh? Last time, you lost it and burned a whole nest of White Lotus Cultists being transported to the capital. If Little Willow hadn't let it slide, and since you're Danqing's man, the division was going to demand an explanation from you."
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> Hearing the Record Minister say this, Tuoba Danqing quickly smoothed things over. "Heh heh heh, my wise brother's just passionate about fighting evil. A bit of a temper's normal. Someone with great skill who's also approachable? In the whole division, only you, Record Minister, sir~"
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> The Record Minister's eyes vanished into slits of laughter. "Oh hoho~ Danqing, our house loves going out with you. Words from your mouth just sound so pleasing~"
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> As the two bantered amiably back and forth, Hong Da suddenly cut in from the side. "Record Minister, can we go over the assignment first before listening to this flatterer?"
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> The two fell silent at once, faces drooping. Just as Li Huowang thought the Record Minister would snap at Hong Da, he pointed toward the distant cage with his gold-ringed hand instead.
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> "Danqing~ Fetch Zen Master Xinchí over. Let's sort out the details of this assignment."
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> As the newbie, Li Huowang quietly observed it all. The hierarchy in the Celestial Surveillance Division didn't seem as rigid as he'd imagined.
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> (End of chapter)