Volume One: The Menial Servant of Changshui County Chapter 124: Promotion to Demon-Slaying Envoy

For Lu Jiuzhang, the fact that Auntie Zhao had sold his house without his consent was nothing short of an unforgivable atrocity. If, before, she had merely been annoying, she had now touched his absolute limit.

"Let's get some sleep and talk about it tomorrow morning. Don't worry, Master Lu, I'm on your side," the big black dog said. "If we don't teach that fat woman a lesson, she won't even know who she is anymore!"

...

That night, Bai Xiaosu slept on the cold, hard wooden bed, while the big black dog curled up in the corner. Lu Jiuzhang did not rest; as was his routine, he spent the first half of the night practicing martial techniques and divine abilities, and the second half cultivating his internal energy. He still had plenty of spirit herbs in his storage ring, and he intended to convert them into cultivation progress as quickly as possible.

Lu Jiuzhang’s strength already surpassed that of Chen Xuanfeng, though only by a small margin. At this rate of progress, it would be only a matter of time before he left Chen far behind.

The next morning, when Bai Xiaosu woke up, she found Lu Jiuzhang sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, absorbing spiritual energy. She cautiously made her way to the latrine.

"You're up," Lu Jiuzhang said softly, opening his eyes.

"Yes! You work so hard. My master used to say that in the path of cultivation, talent is one thing, but diligence is just as important. I’ve decided: from now on, I won't sleep either; I'll practice hard every day!" Bai Xiaosu clenched her fists, trying to motivate herself.

"Hahaha, I’ve noticed that every time you speak, you start with 'Master said'," Lu Jiuzhang chuckled. "There's no need for that; just be yourself. You don't have the burdens I carry, so you don't need to live as exhaustingly as I do."

Bai Xiaosu nodded, seemingly half-understanding. "Oh!"

Lu Jiuzhang closed his eyes again to continue absorbing the spiritual energy from the herbs. Using them this way was quite wasteful. Ideally, they should be refined into pills to maximize the medicinal and spiritual potency—that would be the most cost-effective method. However, there were no alchemists in the remote Changshui County. Pills could be purchased at the Qianji Tower, though. That reminded him: Boss Chen of the Qianji Tower still owed him a favor. Furthermore, Chen had swindled him out of a significant amount of silver in the past, and it was time to settle that score. Lu Jiuzhang’s money wasn't so easily taken.

*Knock, knock, knock...*

Just as he was about to resume his training, a series of knocks echoed at the gate.

Lu Jiuzhang stood up and went to open it. Standing outside was Zhao Chan'er, holding a parcel wrapped in oil paper. "Brother Lu, I bought these steamed buns for you. You should eat them while they're hot. What my mother did was truly wrong; please don't take it to heart."

"That smells so good!" Suddenly, a voice drifted from inside the courtyard, and a woman, still looking sleepy, poked her head out. She was roughly the same age as Zhao Chan'er, but compared to the common folk like Zhao, she possessed a refined, noble air.

Seeing this young woman, Zhao Chan'er felt a sense of inferiority. She hadn't seen Brother Lu for a few days, and she hadn't expected such a stunning woman to appear by his side. She had actually seen her yesterday but hadn't paid much attention; it never occurred to her that this woman had spent the night in Brother Lu's home. A wave of heartache washed over her.

"You wretched girl, why are you running off to someone else's house at the crack of dawn?" Her neighbor, Auntie Zhao, pushed open her door and began berating her. "Can't you see he's got a new woman by his side? Why are you still hovering around? Don't you have any shame, rubbing your hot face against his cold backside? Get back here this instant, or I'll break your legs!"

"Woof!" The big black dog had been woken up by the commotion. Hearing the threat about breaking its legs, it was not pleased. It rushed to the gate, baring its teeth and snarling at Auntie Zhao.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Being an official really makes a difference; even the dog in the house is so vicious," Auntie Zhao sneered. Seeing Zhao Chan'er retreat, she grabbed her by the ear and dragged her back into their house.

"Damn it, Master Lu, I've been annoyed by that fat woman for a long time," the big black dog growled angrily. "One of these days, I'm going to bite her!"

"Let's eat breakfast first. No rush," Lu Jiuzhang replied.

...

After the meal, Lu Jiuzhang took Bai Xiaosu and the big black dog to the market to buy some household necessities. He hired a carter to help transport them back, and then he and Bai Xiaosu cleaned up the house. With beds, bedding, a tea table, and chairs, the place finally felt like a home.

That evening, Lu Jiuzhang took them to a tavern, ordered a few side dishes, and drank some wine. Bai Xiaosu had never drunk before; after just one small cup, her face turned bright red. The unfiltered wine was spicy, and she stuck out her tongue, though she seemed quite interested in the food and had a hearty appetite.

The big black dog’s appetite was equally large. The two of them ate and drank their fill, and when Lu Jiuzhang went to pay the bill, he found it had come to over a dozen taels of silver. In Changshui County, a few hundred copper coins would usually suffice for a grand meal; a dozen taels was truly absurd. As they left the tavern, the owner was beaming from ear to ear.

The next day, Lu Jiuzhang rested again. It wasn't until the eighteenth of May that he finally headed to the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

In the morning, Chen Xuanfeng gathered everyone to announce the appointments. Lu Jiuzhang had been promoted to the rank of Demon-Slaying Envoy. At the same time, the Anxi Prefecture had sent two Deputy Directors to assist Chen Xuanfeng in his duties. Both were at the eighth level of the Martial Path. While ostensibly there to assist, it felt more like a check on his power—a subtle dynamic that was difficult to articulate.

The two deputies were in their fifties, approaching the age where one "knows the decree of Heaven." At their age, advancing beyond the eighth level was extremely difficult; they would likely remain at that level for the rest of their lives. But they were likely content—living in Changshui County, where they were highly respected, was far more comfortable than being in Anxi Prefecture.

After the ceremony, Lu Jiuzhang was called to the back courtyard. Chen Xuanfeng sat in a grand armchair with a letter laid out before him.

"Take a look," Chen Xuanfeng said, handing it to him.

The contents were brief: "Order: Chen Xuanfeng, Director of the Changshui County Demon-Slaying Bureau, is to proceed to the Anxi Prefecture Demon-Slaying Bureau to report for duty and participate in the demon-suppression campaign. Must arrive by the middle of the sixth lunar month."

"You will accompany me," Chen Xuanfeng said. "It will be a chance for you to witness the grandeur of the Anxi Prefecture. Use this time to stabilize your cultivation. During the campaign, perform well, and I will strive to promote you to Deputy Director. The Anxi Prefecture originally intended to send three deputies, but I rejected one—that vacancy is being reserved for you. Your qualifications and achievements were previously insufficient for such a role, but this is your opportunity. Once you are a Deputy Director, those forces working behind the scenes won't dare to move against you so openly."