Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Heroes Face Many Hardships, Not Failing in Old Age
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Chen Shi spotted an old acquaintance and couldn't contain his joy. He hurried forward with quick steps, laughing as he said,
"Lord Zhuge, it's been over half a year since we parted hastily in Huangpo Village. We haven't seen each other in ages! Where have you been posted these days?"
He had a deep impression of Zhuge Jian.
Zhuge Jian had once investigated one of Chen Shi's cases. Of course, Chen Shi had been the culprit—and his first-time offender at that—exposed by Zhuge Jian.
Later, Zhuge Jian had resigned from his post in Water Buffalo County, and there had been no news of him for a long time.
Chen Shi had even felt guilty about it for a while, thinking he had dragged the man down.
Zhuge Jian was equally delighted to run into him and replied,
"Back in Water Buffalo County, I wasn't happy with my work anyway, so I simply used your case as an excuse to resign.
After that,
I took some time off and sought positions in a few counties near New Village. It was hard to find one, but luckily I landed a job in New Village County.
Unfortunately, before I could even take up the post, the Zhao family fell, and the county magistrate was dragged out and beheaded.
My position went up in smoke as well."
Chen Shi fell silent. It seemed this matter was somewhat connected to him—his grandpa had taken down the Zhao family's provincial governor, leaving the Zhao family without their foundation. The court then found a pretext to execute them.
The New Village County magistrate at the time had also been one of the Zhao family's men and got the chop alongside them.
"Couldn't the new county magistrate honor that appointment?"
He couldn't help but ask.
Zhuge Jian glanced at him and said, "The new county magistrate got beheaded too."
Chen Shi fell silent once more.
New Village County's new magistrate had been named Geng Chun. The magistrate's wife loved eating geese, and the killer who beheaded the couple bore the surname Chen—a lowly scholar who had just reported to the Literary Talent Academy.
Zhuge Jian continued,
"I figured if I couldn't handle it, I'd go far away, so I headed to Thunder County.
I still had some traveling money left—savings from my old salary—so I greased the palms of the clerks at the Thunder County yamen, hoping to snag an official post.
With my skills, I was sure to make a name for myself in
Thunder County.
I always thought I was different from those aristocratic young masters. I had real talent. In any place, I could shine.
Chen Shi, why aren't you asking what happened next?"
Chen Shi replied dryly, "What happened next?"
Zhuge Jian sighed, looking utterly dejected as he said,
"Then Thunder County's Magistrate Yan got beheaded."
Chen Shi shifted uncomfortably.
Zhuge Jian appeared somewhat listless, his gaze fixed straight ahead. After a moment, his eyes finally moved with effort. He said, "I must have rotten luck, stumbling at every turn. But my money ran out too—I can't live without an income, right? I thought, if I can't make it in New Village, at least I can leave. Chen Shi, quickly ask me what happened next."
Chen Shi blinked. "What happened next?"
"Then I went to Arch Province and served as a personal guard under General Xia's command. It wasn't an official post, but being close to General Xia meant that once he recognized my talent, he'd surely promote me to company commander."
A flicker of hope appeared in Zhuge Jian's eyes, only to fade quickly.
"Old Madam Xia's birthday was approaching, so General Xia sent me to Yudu to buy some Soul Revival Pills as a birthday gift for her.
On my way back from Yudu, I saw Arch Province City enveloped by the demonic domain."
He seemed to have aged several years in an instant. Steadying himself, he continued, "By the time the demonic domain lifted, forget General Xia—even the Xia family of Arch Province was gone, along with untold losses in the border army.
Luckily, I had met the Young Master in Yudu. He thought highly of me, so when I came to join him, he recommended me for the position of subprefect in Yudu, in charge of investigating murder cases."
Chen Shi mumbled awkwardly, "I had no idea your fortunes had been so twisted. This is all my fault."
Zhuge Jian shook his head. "It's not your fault.
I wasn't happy working in Water Buffalo County, but the New Village County magistrate wasn't any better either. If I had discovered Magistrate Geng was possessed by evil, I would have taken him down myself.
Thunder County's Magistrate Yan allowed that flood dragon to run rampant, drowning countless people along both riverbanks. If I had found out, I would have clashed with him too.
As for the demonic upheaval in Arch Province, that was the old monk turning into a demon. What does it have to do with you?"
Chen Shi was quiet for a moment before saying, "I'm glad you see it that way."
Zhuge Jian glanced at him again. "The Young Master showed me great favor. When I was down and out, he gave me a job.
I had reached Golden Core, with little progress in my cultivation, and he even bestowed upon me the Wind-Thunder Yu Step Divine Incantation to aid my practice and push me further.
I now have hope of breaking through Golden Core to Nascent Soul.
The Young Master's kindness to me is immense."
Chen Shi nodded and said,
"When you were destitute, the Young Master provided you with substantial support—that was aid in your hour of need.
You're a man of loyalty and righteousness, so naturally you're grateful."
Zhuge Jian replied, "It's been half a year since I had any income. I finally found a position in Yudu, and I don't want to leave and wander aimlessly again."
Chen Shi sighed. "You've suffered too much this past half year."
Zhuge Jian fell silent for a long while before saying, "But my letter of resignation is already on the desk in Yudu's Zheng Royal Manor, before Lord Zheng."
Chen Shi stared at him in shock, not understanding why he had still resigned from this hard-won position.
Zhuge Jian smiled faintly and said leisurely,
"I'm no great man, Zhuge Jian, but I've always had a scale in my heart to weigh right and wrong.
You handled the Rouge Alley case well—doing what I wanted to do but didn't dare.
You left no flaws for me to arrest you.
I didn't want to betray the Young Master, nor did I want to arrest you, so I had no choice but to resign as subprefect."
Chen Shi was deeply moved. "Brother Zhuge, I've dragged you down again."
"It's got nothing to do with you."
Zhuge Jian laughed and said,
"This is simply a matter of my principles.
I'm fated to be poor and never get rich.
If I'd been a bit more ruthless and black-hearted, I might have soared high long ago."
Chen Shi was filled with admiration. Such people were rare these days.
He asked, "Now that you've resigned, what are your plans?"
Zhuge Jian laughed. "That's why I came looking for you.
Chen Shi, tell
me—where's your next destination? Can I avoid you? Just name a place, and I'll steer clear!"
His gaze was earnest, even pleading, as if he couldn't wait to put distance between himself and Chen Shi.
Chen Shi looked a bit embarrassed and mumbled, "I'm planning to head to the Western Capital for the imperial exams."
Zhuge Jian let out a long breath of relief, laughing. "Good! Then I'll steer clear of the Western Capital!"
Chen Shi mumbled,
"You're thinking too highly of me.
What kind of place is the Western Capital? It's the capital, under the court.
You think I can run wild there?"
Zhuge Jian laughed. "Hard to say.
But let me give you one piece of advice: once you're in the Western Capital, you must behave yourself. Our backwater places aren't like the Western Capital. Even street sweepers there could be fifth-rank officials!"
He prepared to take his leave, but Chen Shi suddenly said, "Brother Zhuge, what kind of person is the Young Master?"
Zhuge Jian paused slightly, unconsciously revealing a trace of reverence. "The Young Master is nearly a perfect man. He's around our age, yet carries a natural nobility—as if he's undergone the strictest ritual training. His speech and manners are like a spring breeze.
Even when dealing with beggars or tenant farmers, he smiles warmly, without any aristocratic airs.
His gaze is gentle; when you speak, he listens quietly, his eyes filled with encouragement and affirmation, letting you express yourself freely.
He's charitable too, always spotting your strengths and offering guidance on your cultivation.
Despite his youth, his knowledge is profound, giving an impression of immense maturity without being off-putting."
Even when speaking of the Young Master to Chen Shi, he couldn't help but show respect. "Being around him, you feel no pressure.
He's like a friend, happy for your achievements, and like a true friend, he'll correct your mistakes.
Everyone likes the Young Master—and reveres him."
Chen Shi frowned slightly.
Such a person was perfect.
But how could a perfect man have under his command filthy operations like Peaceful Gate and Rouge Alley?
Zhuge Jian suddenly said, "If he's not a saint, then he's a great villain."
Chen Shi looked at him in confusion.
He had just been praising the Young Master's virtues—why now say he might be a great villain?
Zhuge Jian laughed.
"But no matter which he is, he's someone you can't help but like and can't bring yourself to hate."
Chen Shi said,
"The Young Master has Peaceful Gate under him. Peaceful Gate buys boys and girls from Tianlao Society, sending them to the underworld to steal Soul Revival Lotuses, and many children my age died because of it.
I even suspect that Tianlao Society, which deals in abductions and live-harvesting, is also the Young Master's enterprise."
Zhuge Jian had worked in Arch Province and heard of Tianlao Society's infamy. He frowned slightly. "You have no proof."
Chen Shi said, "I killed one of Tianlao Society's incense masters. He used a golden body technique similar to Big Sis's—also derived from the Great Wheel Bright King's Golden Light Incantation.
But that incense master had only cultivated the golden body up to his palms.
He was in charge of Tianlao Society's
Live-Harvesting Hall. You can investigate."
Zhuge Jian's eye twitched.
The Great Wheel Bright King's Golden Light Incantation was Grand State-Repaying Temple's golden body method. Without the true transmission, it couldn't be cultivated, as it involved incantations.
And incantations required precise pronunciation—esoteric Buddhist syllables that couldn't be figured out alone!
Even cultivating the golden body just to the hands required the correct esoteric syllables and true transmission.
Chen Shi asked,
"Is the Young Master short on money? He already has more than enough for ten or a hundred lifetimes. Why stoop to such despicable deeds for more? What does he need all that money for?"
Zhuge Jian recalled the Young Master's businesses in Yudu—all the most profitable trades—and felt some doubt. He shook his head. "That's beyond my knowledge."
Chen Shi asked again, "What's the Young Master's name? What does he look like?"
Zhuge Jian hesitated before saying, "The Young Master has shown me kindness. I can't betray him."
Chen Shi decided not to press him and said,
"The technique the Young Master taught you is the Wind-Thunder Yu Step Divine Incantation? Don't rush off—wait for me a bit. I have something for you."
Zhuge Jian nodded lightly but didn't enter the village. Instead, he waited outside.
This village was a massive tomb, its residents
not human.
His eyes could see through them. He knew these weren't people and didn't want to get close.
"Chen Shi walks too closely with these demon cultivators, and his actions carry a whiff of evil."
He thought to himself.
He sat quietly outside the village, resting his three-barreled flintlock across his knees, eyes on nose, nose on heart.
Outside the village, a little girl rode a black dog dressed in red clothes, racing wildly through the woods. The girl giggled nonstop, utterly delighted.
"Not afraid of ripping her pants."
Zhuge Jian thought.
He waited a while and saw the dog fawning over the little girl, playing with her.
At this moment, Chen Shi emerged from the village and handed him a handwritten booklet. "I've seen a Wind-Thunder Yu Step Divine Incantation too. Paired with your spear arts and flintlock, it should complement them perfectly.
Take a look—see if anything's missing."
Zhuge Jian flipped through the booklet. The ink wasn't fully dry yet—clearly just written!
This Wind-Thunder Yu Step Divine Incantation from Chen Shi was far more complete than what the Young Master had given him! The more he read, the more shocked he became.
When the Young Master taught him the Wind-Thunder Yu Step Divine Incantation, he had said it was a fragmentary scroll from an ancestor of the Fei family—not complete.
The Young Master had been upfront about its incompleteness, but Zhuge Jian was immensely grateful.
Given his background, even a fragmentary technique was beyond reach!
That was why he held the Young Master in such high regard and felt his debt of gratitude—even knowing the Young Master commanded many villainous forces, he couldn't turn against him.
But the Wind-Thunder Yu Step Divine Incantation Chen Shi gave him included the complete Yu Step: stepping the astral tread at the start, feet treading wind and thunder, bolstered by the full Daoist divine incantation. It was enough to cultivate him up to the Refining Spirit or even Void Returning realm!
Though Chen Shi's version still lacked corresponding spells and mudras, the core technique was intact—unparalleled support for him!
Zhuge Jian's eyes grew moist and blurry. This gift was far too precious!
With just a fragment, the Young Master could win hearts and loyalty unto death!
And Chen Shi's was so much more complete than a mere fragment!
If loyalty had a price, how many lives could it buy?
"I can't match the Young Master's timely aid like snow in winter."
Chen Shi laughed. "But I can give you something better.
This comes from the Tomb of the True King.
I've seen it and memorized it. If you achieve something with it, next time I commit a crime..."
Zhuge Jian cut in firmly, "I'll run as far as I can!"
The two men looked at each other and burst into laughter.
When the laughter faded, Zhuge Jian took his leave. "The Young Master's forces extend far beyond Yudu—Yudu is just the place he's invested in most deeply.
He has other operations scattered across the provinces.
Chen Shi, you must be careful.
In Yudu, watch out for Red Matchmaker Society, Luban Gate, Phoenix Cry Pavilion, and Happy Forest.
But outside Yudu, I only know three forces tied to the Young Master: Auxiliary Justice Pavilion, Empty Gate, and Mountain-Moving Sect."
Chen Shi committed these names to memory.
Zhuge Jian said,
"In Zheng Royal Manor, there's Lord Zheng, whose cultivation is profoundly unfathomable.
Lord Zheng is lukewarm toward the Young Master and rarely interferes in matters.
Aside from him, the Grand Steward Zhang Ji is the strongest—also immeasurably deep.
I've heard in the city that the Grand Steward's strength might even surpass Lord Zheng's, making him Yudu's true top expert."
Chen Shi saw him off, bowing as he said, "Thank you for the guidance."
Zhuge Jian bowed in return. "Before I go, I'll make a trip to Arch Province to investigate Tianlao Society.
If it's truly as you say and tied to the Young Master..."
He hesitated, then said resolutely, "I'll come aid you in toppling him!"