Chapter 484
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 484
Chapter Title: Is the Imperial City Department the Demon Sect's Old Nest?
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Tianwu City, Imperial City Department office.
*Knock knock knock*
Xiao Shan carefully rapped on the door. Only after a calm voice called out from inside did he muster his courage, push open the door, and stride into the room.
What met his eyes was a quaint and elegant study, simple at first glance. Yet whether it was the four treasures of the study on the desk or the furniture itself, all were crafted from the finest spirit materials. Even an ordinary cultivator sitting there would see their cultivation speed improve.
On the wall behind the desk hung a scroll of calligraphy.
[Clear Politics, Harmonious People]!
Seeing those four large characters, Xiao Shan immediately stiffened his expression. With utmost reverence, he solemnly turned to the figure seated at the desk.
"Lord Duchuan... the matters have been handled."
Lu Yang came back to his senses. Xiao Shan took out a storage pouch and gently placed it on his desk, alongside a thick ledger.
Xiao Shan instinctively lowered his voice, speaking tensely.
"Lord Duchuan, these are the gains from this cleanup operation, along with the corresponding accounts. Your subordinate has gathered them all. Please review and tally them, my lord. Once you've finished, we'll deliver them to the palace."
Lu Yang, however, ignored them. He chuckled lightly.
"Xiao Shan, I heard you clashed with Commander Ning of the Capital Heaven Department earlier? And you publicly snuffed out one of his innate divine abilities?"
At these words, Xiao Shan immediately bowed his head, trembling with fear.
"My lord, forgive me. That Ning fellow obstructed the investigation. Your subordinate had no choice."
"That's still not allowed!"
Lu Yang shook his head.
"Who would dare approach the Imperial City Department after this? Watch yourself! Is the Imperial City Department some lair of the Demon Sect in Jiangbei?"
"...My deepest apologies."
Seeing Xiao Shan bow deeply in full acceptance of punishment, Lu Yang nodded.
"But that said... I can understand you."
"Still, you're just a subordinate official of the Imperial City Department, with no formal rank on the surface. How could you publicly clash with a third-rank Capital Heaven Department commander?"
"Be more careful next time."
With that, Lu Yang patted Xiao Shan's shoulder. He then pulled a bulging storage pouch from his robes and casually slipped it into Xiao Shan's hand.
"Hold onto this. You did well with the cleanup this time. Consider it a personal reward from me."
"Hiss—" Xiao Shan drew in a sharp breath.
Not even a few days had passed, and another bonus?
The pouch looked even thicker than his pillow.
At this moment, without even needing Lu Yang to activate [Puppet on Strings], the red packet-receiving Xiao Shan was already wild-eyed. He stamped his foot, clenched his fist in salute, and declared:
"Loyal! Honest!"
Only then did Lu Yang nod in satisfaction. He picked up the investigation ledger Xiao Shan had brought, while casually opening the storage pouch and scanning it with his divine sense.
He froze.
Truth be told, he had assumed that with the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] overseeing things, corruption couldn't be too severe.
He was wrong.
As the saying goes: There's a countermeasure for every policy.
Where there are people, no system is perfect.
The Dao Court's official system might seem flawless, with the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] ensuring a realm of upright officials. But in private, everyone played all sorts of tricks.
Take these ill-gotten gains, for instance. Though the Dao Court issued salaries only once a century, new appointees received an initial payout. Banner officers exploited this loophole, constantly cycling through their subordinates, devouring "blood steamed buns," or simply pocketing multiple shares by falsifying records.
The tricks were so numerous that Lu Yang could only marvel.
'After all, the Saint Sect doesn't bother with these fancy ploys—they just rob outright. The Sword Pavilion too, at most being a bit more polite about it.'
By comparison, the Dao Court was far more "civilized."
'Spirit materials and techniques aside—they even have [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] invocation privileges!'
Looking at the ledger on the desk and the seized spoils from this cleanup of Capital Heaven Department corruption, Lu Yang couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
"My heart aches for the nation~ Deep sorrow~!"
Xiao Shan stood there at a loss.
"My lord... We've achieved great success. It's cause for celebration. Why weep?"
"You fool!"
Lu Yang slammed the desk.
"To think these vermin in the Capital Heaven Department have fleeced so much from the people's hard-earned wealth. I weep for the nation, for the people."
Wiping away crocodile tears, he gritted his teeth, fist clenched.
"Damn it, how did the Dao Court come to this!"
"I'll head to the palace right now and report to His Majesty!"
With that, Lu Yang stowed the ledger and storage pouch. A sweep of his divine sense left him privately pocketing three tokens granting [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] invocation privileges.
Tianwu Hall.
Emperor Jiayou's face darkened as he eyed the ledger Lu Yang presented, along with the storage pouch so full that spiritual energy wafted out upon opening.
Outrageous!
As Dao Court sovereign and Golden Core True Lord, he didn't lack for spirit materials. But the problem was, these embezzled resources came from his own Capital Heaven Department.
This was right under the emperor's nose, and they'd skimmed so much. What about elsewhere? The Six Ministries? If the Capital Heaven Department was half-rotten, the rest of the Dao Court would be worse! The siphoned materials would be tenfold, hundredfold, thousandfold—and not a scrap reached him!
With this in mind, Emperor Jiayou glanced at Lu Yang.
He had his own ledger from the inner court's secret probe. Comparing it to Lu Yang's, he found no major discrepancies.
Spirit materials, techniques—nothing missing.
Just three [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] invocation privileges short, which meant nothing to Emperor Jiayou, who could summon the law at will.
This realization greatly pleased him.
'This little dragon takes his cut, but he knows the rules—takes what he can, leaves what he shouldn't. Better than some blind fools!'
Yet the more satisfied he was, the angrier he grew.
Even an overseas demon cultivator knew restraint. These corrupt officials didn't—and they put on loyal faces all day.
They take my money and expect my thanks?
".Tell me, how do you think this should be handled?"
After a moment of silence, Emperor Jiayou spoke. Though rage burned within, his tone remained calm, as if unconcerned.
But Lu Yang wept.
"Your Majesty... These Capital Heaven Department officials are Your Majesty's direct subordinates, paid from the inner treasury, yet they betray from within. They're bullying you, Your Majesty!"
"It's intolerable! A full investigation is a must!"
Gritting his teeth, Lu Yang rasped,
"Your Majesty, give the order! This subject guarantees to return you a clean and honest Capital Heaven Department!"
Emperor Jiayou: "."
For a fleeting moment, Emperor Jiayou was tempted. But he quickly regained composure, deeming Lu Yang too extreme.
A true purge of the Capital Heaven Department would shatter the tacit understanding with the Three Dukes.
He still needed their cooperation for his Golden Core late-stage breakthrough. He couldn't afford a real fallout—which was why he'd sent Lu Yang to probe corruption.
Success, and the Three Dukes acquiesce—perfect.
Failure, and backlash from the Three Dukes and officials? He'd simply discard Lu Yang and the Imperial City Department to quell the fury.
He did favor Duchuan's loyalty, but loyalty wasn't food. And if loyal, taking the fall for him was only right. Four-legged true dragons were everywhere; as long as ambition burned, loyal subordinates were never in short supply.
'Still... the little dragon has a good heart.'
Emperor Jiayou didn't care how much of Lu Yang's performance was acting. The key was his bold stance, willingness to fully investigate the Capital Heaven Department for him.
Willing to act—that was true loyalty.
Empty words of loyalty meant nothing without action. What use was that? Better to raise pigs!
At least fattened pigs could be eaten.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang kept watching [Never Submissive]—the golden innate ability's boost had reached eighty percent.
Just a bit more to hit max-level, one hundred percent amplification.
At that moment—
"Hm?"
Lu Yang looked up sharply, sensing vast karmic turbulence. Across from him, Emperor Jiayou's brows furrowed as he pinched his fingers to divine.
Soon, Lu Yang pinpointed the source:
'Uncle-Master Chongguang... has begun seeking the metal!'
(End of chapter)