Volume One: Menial Servant in Changshui County Chapter Forty-Eight: Clearing Doubts

Indeed!
And what about those lofty officials?
Lord Wang, the county deputy, ruler of the county, shelters his nephew—the Zhang family bully—allowing him to run rampant in Changshui County!
A certain lord from the Demon-Slaying Division was even responsible for the death of Lu Huaigu’s elder brother, Lu Jiuzhang!
How much corruption festers in the shadows, or even brazenly in broad daylight!
No, this isn’t hidden anymore—it’s open protection, open oppression!
Darkness, utter damnable darkness!
This is the wretched world we live in!
“Something is certainly wrong,” Zhou Cheng mused. “Even during these last two demon hunts, I sensed many suspicious points.”
Such a multitude of demons is unnatural.
And this time, even a powerful shaman appeared!
Utterly absurd!
Changshui County is a remote and impoverished backwater—most people avoid it at all costs.
For that shaman to come here, he must have received a hefty reward!
“I might as well be straightforward. I suspect that my eldest brother’s death was orchestrated by Chen Xuanfeng,” Lu Jiuzhang said bluntly. “That’s why I must question you—can you present any evidence to prove you aren’t one of Chen Xuanfeng’s men?”
“If you can’t, I’m afraid you won’t be leaving here today!”
Everything was laid bare.
If Zhou Cheng were released and he truly was in league with Chen Xuanfeng, then Lu Jiuzhang’s future would be bleak indeed, fraught with even greater danger.
“In terms of factions, I am certainly not aligned with Director Chen,” Zhou Cheng replied. “I don’t know how else to explain it to you. I have always acted alone within the Demon-Slaying Division, unaffiliated with any clique.”
“Only recently have I grown acquainted with Director Chen.”
“He’s entrusted me with two tasks. First, to teach you the way to cultivate martial arts. Second, he gave me a letter—upon dealing with the demons at Sanyi Manor, I’m to proceed to Anxi Prefecture!”
“I have the letter right here!”
Zhou Cheng drew a letter from his chest.
Lu Jiuzhang tore open the envelope and carefully read its contents.
The contents were entirely contrary to his initial suspicions.
“How can this be?”
After reading the letter through, Lu Jiuzhang exclaimed in astonishment.
“There’s nothing impossible about it. Director Chen gave me these instructions just yesterday,” Zhou Cheng said. “We’ve been together the whole time—you know I couldn’t have tampered with anything.”
Lu Jiuzhang was still reeling in shock!
What was in that letter?
Chen Xuanfeng instructed Zhou Cheng to go to Anxi Prefecture and register Lu Jiuzhang’s information.
In the Great Xia, those who attained official rank were strictly monitored.
Since Lu Jiuzhang had reached the ninth rank of the Confucian Path, he had yet to report to the county office.

This was already a violation of the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
If Lord Wang, the county deputy, wanted to punish Lu Jiuzhang, this statute alone would cause him no end of trouble.
By taking this initiative, Chen Xuanfeng had, in fact, resolved a looming problem for Lu Jiuzhang.
“Chen Xuanfeng sent you to Anxi Prefecture just for something so trivial?” Lu Jiuzhang pressed.
“Of course not. He also asked me to inquire when Director Zhong would return, and to help him handle a personal matter,” Zhou Cheng replied. “But since it’s a private affair relating to Director Chen, it’s not my place to speak of it.”
“Speak!”
Lu Jiuzhang stood with his blade, missing no opportunity for a clue.
“He asked me to investigate a man known as Old Crippled,” Zhou Cheng said.
Old Crippled?
Was there such a person?
Or was Zhou Cheng inventing a lie?
Seeing Lu Jiuzhang still doubtful, Zhou Cheng continued, “I know you suspect Director Chen of murdering your eldest brother and targeting you.”
“But I don’t think he’s the mastermind behind all this!”
Not Chen Xuanfeng?
Then who?
The only other deputy director in the Demon-Slaying Division was Yuan Wufeng.
Yuan Wufeng had never shown Lu Jiuzhang any kindness either.
Could it be him?
Noting Lu Jiuzhang’s silence, Zhou Cheng added, “I never said it was Director Yuan Wufeng. The facts aren’t clear yet—it’s too soon to draw conclusions.”
“But as for Director Chen, I think we can rule him out. You underestimate the man—he’s a soldier through and through, full of mettle. If he meant to take you down, he’d do so openly, not through demon attacks and clandestine schemes.”
“Otherwise, why would Director Zhong, upon leaving, entrust the Demon-Slaying Division to Director Chen instead of Director Yuan?”
Zhou Cheng’s reasoning was sound, but Lu Jiuzhang couldn’t immediately accept it.
If not Chen Xuanfeng, then who?
All this time, Lu Jiuzhang had regarded Chen Xuanfeng as his main adversary, his imagined enemy.
Now, with most of the suspicion lifted from Chen Xuanfeng, it felt as if his punch had landed on cotton—forceful, yet finding no purchase.
“Change of topic—why would Chen Xuanfeng help me?”
Lu Jiuzhang asked.
“How should I know?” Zhou Cheng’s face darkened.
“Then what about you? Why help me?” Lu Jiuzhang pressed.
“Well... I don’t have many friends in the Demon-Slaying Division,” Zhou Cheng replied slowly. “The other day at Sanyi Manor, I was simply fulfilling my duty—not there specifically to save you.”
“And afterward, when I gave you the Ninefold Chaos Technique, it wasn’t of my own accord—it was Director Chen’s instruction.”
“He’s the deputy director. Orders must be followed, and he compensated me generously.”
There was another crucial reason: Zhou Cheng genuinely thought Lu Jiuzhang was a decent person.

He left a good impression.
“All right, I’ll trust you—for now,” Lu Jiuzhang said, clapping Zhou Cheng on the back. “Next time, when you have the time, I’ll invite you—”
“I’ll take you for a night at the Red Blossom Pavilion!”
What...
Shouldn’t it be a night of drinking and merriment?
How did it turn into a night at the Red Blossom Pavilion?
Absurd!
“I’ve never been fond of such places,” Zhou Cheng shook his head.
“That’s only because you haven’t experienced the charm of the girls there! There’s a first time for everything. For your first, I suppose I’ll take you,” Lu Jiuzhang replied with a laugh.
This conversation had dispelled most of Lu Jiuzhang’s suspicions.
Yet at the same time, it left him with a host of new questions.
Why was Chen Xuanfeng going to such lengths to help him?
Coveting his body?
Some sort of forbidden affection?
Nonsense!
Lu Jiuzhang shook his head—what ridiculous thoughts!
Chen Xuanfeng was certainly not that sort of man.
And as for Lu Jiuzhang himself, he was not that way at all.
When it came to women, Lu Jiuzhang’s interest was considerable.
A youth of high spirits, eager to seize the moment, dressed in finery and riding a spirited steed, winning the scented keepsake of a lovely lady...
These were the golden years—how could he waste such precious time?
…
At the foot of the mountain, Chen Xuanfeng’s brow was furrowed.
Lu Jiuzhang and Zhou Cheng shouldn’t have gotten far!
Yet they had searched the surroundings thoroughly and found not a trace of the two men.
There was only one place left unchecked.
Chen Xuanfeng turned his gaze to the mountaintop.
At first, everyone had searched from the mountainside downward, reasoning that anyone escaping would surely head down the mountain.
Since there was nothing to be found here, it was time to try the summit.