Chapter 172 - 170: Warning and Wariness
Chen Yuan exchanged a few more perfunctory words with Chao Hongtu. After Chao Hongtu offered some words of encouragement, Chen Yuan bowed and took his leave.
After Chen Yuan had left, a figure emerged from within the hall. It was none other than the Celestial Martial Guard Captain, Qiu Sheng.
"Grand Commandant, this Chen Jiutian cannot be trusted! He has a silver tongue and a cunning mind. The way he flattered you... I don’t believe it was sincere."
Qiu Sheng’s gaze, fixed on the direction Chen Yuan had departed, held a trace of jealousy and resentment.
To make it onto the Hidden Dragon Rankings and become famous throughout the Jianghu—what Martial Artist hasn’t had such a wonderful dream?
But for most, it was just a dream. Only a few ever possessed such strength.
’Chen Yuan went to the Furnace Festival and made a name for himself in the Jianghu. If it had been me instead,’ Qiu Sheng thought, ’would my name be on the Hidden Dragon Rankings right now?’
Chao Hongtu chuckled. "Of course I know he wasn’t being sincere. If it’s spoken aloud, can it still be called a heartfelt truth?
I only need him to know who the Zhenwu Hall belongs to. That’s enough.
This Chen Jiutian is a clever man who clawed his way up from the bottom as a Loose Cultivator.
I don’t expect him to act on his words, but the fact that he said them proves he understands the situation."
Chao Hongtu rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and said coolly, "Qiu Sheng, I know you envy Chen Jiutian.
But you must understand, you are the trusted subordinate I personally groomed. You don’t need to compete for anything. What is yours, I will give to you.
I’ve already paved the road for you. You just need to walk the path I’ve laid out.
The precondition, however, is that you must not entertain any other ideas. I can make you, and I can just as easily make someone else!"
A chill went down Qiu Sheng’s spine, and he hurriedly knelt to bow.
"Forgive me, Grand Commandant! Everything I have today is thanks to your patronage. My life belongs to you, Grand Commandant!"
Chao Hongtu walked toward the back of the hall, patting Qiu Sheng on the shoulder as he passed.
Though not a single word was spoken, Qiu Sheng let out a sigh of relief.
...
After bidding farewell to Liu Suifeng, Chen Yuan headed straight back to the White Tiger Hall. He planned to check in with Feng Wushang before returning to Kaiping Prefecture.
However, as soon as Chen Yuan arrived at the hall’s entrance, he found that all the other Inspectors of the White Tiger Hall were already there.
When some of them saw Chen Yuan arrive, their faces took on knowing expressions.
Among the White Tiger Hall’s Inspectors, Chen Yuan was only familiar with one: Du Tianfeng, the Inspector of Linzhong Prefecture.
Seeing Chen Yuan now, Du Tianfeng hurried over with a smile. "Lord Chen, you’ve really made a name for yourself in the Jianghu this time. You’ve brought great honor to our Zhenwu Hall.
Before, our Zhenwu Hall had no one from the younger generation who was particularly outstanding. Now that we have you, Lord Chen, we can all hold our heads a little higher when we’re out and about."
"Lord Du, you exaggerate."
Chen Yuan said modestly, then asked, "Why has everyone come to the Main Hall today?"
Du Tianfeng glanced at the others present and lowered his voice. "We were also summoned here suddenly. I heard there’s going to be a change in the Inspector positions.
It was only after I arrived that I heard it might be your position in Kaiping Prefecture that’s changing. Be careful in a moment."
Before Du Tianfeng could elaborate, Feng Wushang walked in, and Du Tianfeng could no longer continue passing on information to Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan frowned slightly.
’My position as Inspector of Kaiping Prefecture is changing?’
’Why change it all of a sudden? Is it because I made a name for myself at the Furnace Festival?’
’If that’s really the reason, it’s completely unnecessary. I’ve got Kaiping Prefecture running smoothly. There’s no need to change my post.’
Feng Wushang walked into the Council Hall, looked at Chen Yuan, and said with a smile, "This time, you represented our Zhenwu Hall at the Furnace Festival. Not only did you not tarnish our reputation, but your ranking on the Hidden Dragon Rankings has also skyrocketed.
After the news arrived, the Grand Commandant himself praised you. You could say you’ve brought glory to my White Tiger Hall as well."
"It is all thanks to the Hall Master’s guidance," Chen Yuan said, rising and clasping his hands in a salute.
A cryptic smile appeared on Feng Wushang’s face. "You performed exceptionally well this time. The Main Hall has given you quite a few rewards, and the Grand Commandant even gave you a Token that authorizes you to command other Inspectors at critical moments. This is an unprecedented honor for someone at the Inspector level in the Zhenwu Hall in all these years."
After giving Chen Yuan the Token, Chao Hongtu had also used an Array to transmit this news to the other Inspectors of the Zhenwu Hall.
Otherwise, if Chen Yuan were to present the Token only for the other Inspectors to not recognize it, that would be rather ridiculous.
Upon hearing this news, most of the other Inspectors of the White Tiger Hall were naturally displeased, and some were filled with jealousy and resentment.
Chen Yuan, a newcomer, was not only their equal, but now he was climbing over their heads. ’At this rate, isn’t he going to be the next Hall Master?’
Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
’Why do I get the feeling that Feng Wushang’s words have a hidden meaning?’ he thought. ’It seems he’s not happy with Chao Hongtu’s decision.’
Feng Wushang continued, "The Main Hall has already given you a reward, so my White Tiger Hall can’t be too stingy.
As it happens, the Inspector of Yangshan Prefecture retired half a month ago due to old age and failing energy, leaving the position vacant.
Yangshan Prefecture is the largest prefecture city in Western Ning Province. In terms of area, it’s even bigger than Lujiang Prefecture, where the Main Hall is located.
From this day forward, Chen Jiutian, you are transferred to the post of Inspector of Yangshan Prefecture.
As for the Inspector of Kaiping Prefecture, that post will be filled by Xu Feizhou."
From among the Inspectors, a Martial Artist who looked to be in his late thirties with a Cultivation at the Condensing Truth Realm stepped forward, smiled, and bowed. "Thank you, Adoptive Father."
Chen Yuan glanced at Xu Feizhou.
Although he wasn’t familiar with the White Tiger Hall’s Inspectors, he was certain this man had not been among them before.
’And he called Feng Wushang "Adoptive Father"? When did Feng Wushang take an adopted son?’
"Hall Master, I’ve accepted the reward from the Main Hall, but we’re all family here in the White Tiger Hall. There’s no need for this. Besides, I only just took over Kaiping Prefecture a short while ago. It’s unnecessary to change posts."
’Feng Wushang makes Yangshan Prefecture sound so wonderful,’ Chen Yuan thought. ’If it’s so great, why not let his adopted son take charge of it?’
Even if Yangshan Prefecture was truly as good as he said, Chen Yuan wasn’t interested.
He had whipped everyone in Kaiping Prefecture into shape, and the local Jianghu Forces were relatively well-behaved.
The most powerful faction, Celestial Star Ranch, followed his lead without question. In Kaiping Prefecture, Chen Yuan was practically a local emperor, his word was law.
Such a comfortable environment was more suitable for his Cultivation. Besides, why should he just hand over the power he had so painstakingly consolidated?
’Even if I were to give it up, it would have to be to someone of my own choosing.’
Just like when he had given the position of Guardian Envoy of Linyuan City to his confidant, Lu Wenxing.
Xu Feizhou shot Chen Yuan a smirk. "As the saying goes, one does not refuse a gift from an elder. My adoptive father has good intentions in transferring you to the larger Yangshan Prefecture. How can you possibly refuse?
Or is it that you’ve made a name for yourself and forgotten your own place? Do you look down on the reward my adoptive father has given you?"
"And who the hell do you think you are? Is this your place to speak?"
Chen Yuan shot Xu Feizhou a sidelong glance and sneered, "The Hall Master hasn’t even spoken. Is it your turn to run your mouth?"
Xu Feizhou hadn’t expected Chen Yuan to come on so strong, basically cursing him to his face.
After a stunned moment, he roared in anger, "Chen Jiutian! How dare you be so arrogant and domineering in front of my adoptive father! Have you no sense of decorum?"
"Decorum? You’re the one who has no sense of it!"
Chen Yuan sneered. "In the Zhenwu Hall, we’ve always let merit and strength do the talking. With so many Inspectors present, none of whom have spoken, is it your place to spout such nonsense?
Besides, speaking of merit, where were you when I killed the Saint Heir of the Blood God Sect? Where were you when I led my men to annihilate the Blood God Sect and besiege their Blood God Church Master?
Where were you when I was making a name for myself at the Furnace Festival, competing against all those chosen geniuses?
Decorum? You think you’re worthy of talking to me about decorum?!"
When Chen Yuan finished his tirade, many of the Inspectors present wanted to cheer on the spot.
It was true that they were jealous of Chen Yuan, but they despised Xu Feizhou even more.
Chen Yuan might be young, but at least he had the merits to back him up.
They could criticize Chen Yuan for this or that, but they could not question his ability or his achievements.
This Xu Feizhou, on the other hand, had shamelessly latched onto Feng Wushang as his adoptive father. Despite having no foundation or accomplishments in the White Tiger Hall, he acted as if he was superior to everyone else. It was utterly nauseating.
"Enough!"
Just as Xu Feizhou was about to say something more, Feng Wushang barked, his expression darkening.
"Chen Jiutian, you have been under my command ever since you joined the Zhenwu Hall, and I have not treated you poorly.
Now you’ve made a great name for yourself in the Jianghu. You are a chosen genius on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, a dragon among men. Even the Grand Commandant, Lady Yun, and others value you, seeing you as the face of the Zhenwu Hall.
So, is this little reward from an old man like me beneath your notice? Or are you saying what I’ve given you is too little?
How about I just give you my position as the Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall?"
Feng Wushang stared at Chen Yuan, his face devoid of expression. It was obvious he was deeply dissatisfied with Chen Yuan’s attitude.
Xu Feizhou was his newly adopted son. For Chen Yuan to slap Xu Feizhou’s face was equivalent to slapping his own.
Chen Yuan smiled and clasped his hands. "Hall Master, you speak too gravely. This subordinate is deeply grateful for your patronage. How could I possibly think it’s too little?
Just now, I was merely being modest. It was Lord Xu here who was being aggressive and wouldn’t let me finish my sentence, which is why my words were a bit extreme.
Since the Hall Master has shown me such favor, it would be disrespectful to refuse. I accept the position of Inspector of Yangshan Prefecture."
This was exactly how Feng Wushang had put Qi Yuanming in his place before. Now, it was Chen Yuan’s turn.
One could only say that what goes around comes around, but Chen Yuan was no Qi Yuanming.
His smiling face betrayed no hint of dissatisfaction, but beneath that smile was a bone-chilling coldness.
Seeing Chen Yuan compromise, Feng Wushang’s expression finally softened.
"Xu Feizhou is new to our White Tiger Hall. From now on, he’s one of us. Don’t be so stiff with each other."
Feng Wushang waved his hand. "Since that’s settled, the two of you can go get your new Waist Tokens and then head to your respective posts."
Xu Feizhou was overjoyed and quickly clasped his hands. "I will obey my adoptive father’s command!"
Chen Yuan, on the other hand, gave a careless salute and withdrew.
He couldn’t be bothered to feign civility with Feng Wushang any longer.
After today, his relationship with Feng Wushang was half-severed.
At the very least, they could never go back to their previous, simple relationship of bribery.
’I must have risen too quickly,’ he thought, ’and made the Hall Master feel a bit threatened.’