Chapter 73 - 72: Are You Teaching Me How to Do My Job?
The White Tiger Hall was located in Lujiang Prefecture, the center of Western Ning Province.
Lujiang Prefecture was about half the size of Taining Prefecture, and also very prosperous.
Ning Province was a crossroads, so almost all its prefecture cities were bustling and prosperous.
The White Tiger Hall looked similar to the Zhenwu Hall’s Main Hall, but it was much smaller. A large White Tiger banner flew above it.
After entering the hall, Feng Wushang immediately summoned the Inspectors from the eight prefectures under his command for a meeting.
Each Inspector was in charge of an entire prefecture, and all of them had reached the Condensing Truth Realm.
The Zhenwu Hall was a vast organization and used Arrays for communication.
Although not every city had an Array, almost every prefecture had a communication Array.
In less than half a day, the Inspectors from all eight prefectures had arrived.
These eight Inspectors were not too old; most were around forty.
These were the true pillars of the Zhenwu Hall. Having reached the Condensing Truth Realm in their forties, almost all of them had the potential to strive for the Primordial Pill Realm and become a Grandmaster.
Of course, this Realm was incredibly difficult to reach. Some were stuck for a lifetime, unable to take even half a step forward.
Inside the Council Hall, the eight Inspectors glanced at Chen Yuan, who was standing behind Feng Wushang, and were somewhat surprised.
’Where did this young man come from? Why have we never seen him before?’
Feng Wushang cleared his throat. "Chen Tian is a young talent who was personally recommended to join the Zhenwu Hall by Military Advisor Liu Suifeng. The Grand Commandant has assigned him to my White Tiger Hall.
"I intend to make Chen Tian a Guardian Envoy, to preside over a city. Which of the smaller cities under your command has a vacancy?"
Inspectors presided over Prefecture Cities, while Guardian Envoys presided over ordinary smaller cities. Although their levels were different, they were not in a subordinate-superior relationship; both answered directly to Feng Wushang.
However, for the sake of convenience, the Zhenwu Hall granted Inspectors some extra authority, allowing them to mobilize the forces of surrounding smaller cities in critical moments.
But aside from mobilizing martial power, the authority of Inspectors and Guardian Envoys was the same in all other matters. This was especially true for things like taxes, which both had to deliver personally to the Hall Master, who would then submit them to the Zhenwu Hall headquarters.
The Inspectors present exchanged glances but said nothing.
Some of the smaller cities under their command did indeed lack a Guardian Envoy, but they would rather promote a Captain close to them to the position than have someone parachute in from above.
Seeing that no one spoke, Feng Wushang snorted lightly. "I recall someone reporting some time ago that Peng Jing, the Guardian Envoy of Linyuan City under Kaiping Prefecture, died unexpectedly. A new Guardian Envoy hasn’t been assigned yet, so let’s have Chen Tian go to Linyuan City to serve as its Guardian Envoy."
Hearing this, Qi Yuanming, the Inspector of Kaiping Prefecture, immediately said, "Hall Master, that’s not appropriate. This Chen Tian is only at the Qi Casting Realm. To be a Guardian Envoy, one must at least reach the Sea of Reincarnation Realm."
Qi Yuanming was in his early forties, with a burly build and a stern, righteous-looking face. He certainly looked the part.
He hadn’t spoken up earlier precisely because he didn’t want Chen Tian under his Kaiping Prefecture’s jurisdiction, yet Feng Wushang had forced him on him anyway.
"How is it not appropriate? It’s not as if there’s no precedent for someone at the Qi Casting Realm serving as a Guardian Envoy," Feng Wushang said with a slight frown.
"But those cases were because the person already had deep seniority, understood the city’s affairs, and was familiar with the personnel. Only then could they take on the role."
Qi Yuanming pleaded, "Hall Master, please reconsider! In Linyuan City, many old Captains at the Qi Casting Realm have toiled for over a decade without getting a turn at the Guardian Envoy position.
"This Chen Tian wasn’t even part of the Zhenwu Hall before. If he becomes Guardian Envoy, I’m afraid the brothers below will be disgruntled."
Chen Yuan glanced at Qi Yuanming and sneered inwardly.
’Qi Yuanming most likely wants to install one of his own confidants as the Linyuan City Guardian Envoy. That’s why he’s obstructing this at every turn.’
Chen Yuan stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said, "Hall Master, Lord Qi makes a good point. I have neither the Realm nor the foundation. What virtue or ability do I possess to take charge of a city and serve as Guardian Envoy as a newcomer?
"It would be better to give this opportunity to one of the more senior brothers. I would be content to serve as a Captain in any city, which would also allow me to familiarize myself with the rules of the Zhenwu Hall."
Qi Yuanming looked at Chen Yuan in surprise.
’I didn’t expect this fellow to be so self-aware.’
But as soon as Chen Yuan said this, Feng Wushang’s expression darkened, and his gaze toward Qi Yuanming turned hostile.
Before coming here, he had tested Chen Yuan, but Chen Yuan had been very obedient, appearing ready to follow any arrangement. This attitude had greatly pleased Feng Wushang.
In return for that respect, he had promised not to treat Chen Yuan poorly.
But now, when he wanted to appoint Chen Yuan as a Guardian Envoy, this Qi Yuanming was obstructing him at every turn and opposing him. Who exactly was in charge of the White Tiger Hall?
Besides, Chen Yuan had been recommended by Liu Suifeng, and the Grand Commandant himself had ordered him placed under his command.
If he only gave Chen Yuan the position of a Captain, it would be a slap in the face to Liu Suifeng, and it would also mean he wasn’t taking the Grand Commandant’s words seriously!
"Qi Yuanming, are you trying to teach me how to do my job?"
Feng Wushang stared at Qi Yuanming, his face devoid of expression, and said coldly, "As the Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall, do I need your permission to appoint a Guardian Envoy? Or do you think I, the Hall Master, don’t understand the rules? Perhaps I should tell the Grand Commandant that you should be the Hall Master instead?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Qi Yuanming broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly bowed. "This subordinate wouldn’t dare!"
"I should think not!"
Feng Wushang snorted coldly and waved his hand. "It’s settled. Chen Tian will take charge of Linyuan City, effective today. Immediately have someone use the Array to transmit the appointment notice throughout the Eight Prefectures and Forty-Two Cities.
"Chen Tian, go and collect your armor and Waist Token. You may then proceed directly to Linyuan City to assume your post."
With that, Feng Wushang summoned a young White Tiger Guard to take Chen Yuan to collect his Waist Token and other items.
A smile on his face, Chen Yuan bowed to Feng Wushang. "This subordinate thanks the Hall Master."
With that said, Chen Yuan left directly.
Qi Yuanming kept his head down, but his eyes, fixed on Chen Yuan’s departing figure, were filled with fury. He didn’t dare say anything more, looking utterly dejected after the scolding.
The remaining Inspectors exchanged glances, their expressions all somewhat subtle.
’This one’s no pushover.’
’That move—advancing by retreating—really put Qi Yuanming in a deep hole.’
Chen Yuan knew he had thoroughly offended Qi Yuanming this time, but he didn’t care.
Normally, as a newcomer, he shouldn’t have made an enemy of an Inspector.
But since this man was determined to suppress him, Chen Yuan wasn’t about to just hand over the position of Guardian Envoy.
He had gone to great lengths and taken a roundabout path to join the Zhenwu Hall precisely to obtain a high position.
Blocking someone’s path to fortune and hindering their future is akin to murdering their parents.
Chen Yuan followed the young Guard to the logistics department, collected his armor, and changed into it immediately.
A Guardian Envoy’s armor was similar in appearance to that of an ordinary White Tiger Guard, with a White Tiger emblem engraved in the center.
The only difference was two blood-red, claw-like marks on the left side.
One mark represented a Captain, two a Guardian Envoy, and three an Inspector.
Furthermore, while the armor of an ordinary White Tiger Guard was forged from Hundred-refined Steel, a Guardian Envoy’s armor was made of Refined Cold Iron, capable of blocking strikes from a Profound Soldier.
However, Chen Yuan felt it wasn’t very useful.
It could only block ordinary Profound Soldiers, not a top-tier one like the Cyan Dragon Blood Drink.
Moreover, it could only block physical strikes, not True Qi, so its defensive capabilities weren’t that high.
After receiving his Waist Token and a horse, Chen Yuan headed straight for Linyuan City.
Linyuan City was in a rather remote location in the far west of Ning Province Prefecture, near the Grassland. It was quite a distance from Lujiang Prefecture, where the Main Hall was, requiring two to three days of travel by a fast horse.
Along the way, Chen Yuan wracked his brain, trying to recall any plots or events related to Linyuan City.
Ning Province was vast and resource-rich, but it was also a battleground on all sides, making for a chaotic environment. Consequently, many plot points were related to Ning Province.
After thinking hard for a long while, Chen Yuan actually did recall a few good things.
Spurring his horse onward for two days, Chen Yuan finally arrived outside Linyuan City.
Linyuan City was considered a small city in Ning Province, but it was still larger than most cities in You Province, at least three to four times the size of Lianshan City.
And because Linyuan City bordered the Western Grassland, where water and grass were plentiful, the area was also an excellent pastureland. The outskirts of the city were quite prosperous, with one small town and market after another.
After entering the city, Chen Yuan headed straight for the Garrison Mansion in the center of Linyuan City.
The Garrison Mansion wasn’t large. The Zhenwu Hall only stationed a few hundred Martial Artists in each small city.
However, though there were only a few hundred of them, they were all elites.
Even a Third-class Guard at the Body Tempering Realm had to pass an examination and show a certain degree of talent and potential to qualify for the Zhenwu Hall.
Just as he stepped through the entrance of the Garrison Mansion, two White Tiger Guards on gate duty blocked his path. "Excuse me, Lord Guardian, what official business brings you to our Linyuan City?"
"I am your new Guardian Envoy, Chen Tian."
The two White Tiger Guards exchanged a look, both showing hesitation.
"My apologies, my lord, but we have never heard anything about Linyuan City having a new Guardian Envoy."
Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
’It seems the people in this Linyuan City Garrison Mansion are not very welcoming.’
Feng Wushang had sent the news of Chen Yuan’s appointment as Linyuan City’s Guardian Envoy directly to the Eight Great Prefecture Cities via an Array. The prefecture cities would then dispatch messengers to the surrounding smaller cities.
Therefore, Linyuan City must have received the news long ago. The fact that the other White Tiger Guards hadn’t been informed... the meaning was obvious.
’A show of dominance to put me in my place. How cliché.’
Chen Yuan couldn’t quite understand what the people in Linyuan City were thinking.
His appointment as Guardian Envoy was a direct order from the Hall Master, Feng Wushang. Even if they tried to put him in his place, what could they do? It wouldn’t change the outcome.
’If it were me,’ he thought, ’I would first feign civility to gauge their background, then gradually strip them of their power, rather than being so obvious from the start.’
’Arrogant and brainless. A bunch of idiots.’
From this single incident, Chen Yuan had already gotten a good measure of the kind of people he was dealing with.
"This Waist Token should be proof enough, right?"
Chen Yuan tossed over the Waist Token. Engraved on the front were the words "Guardian Envoy," and on the back, "Linyuan City."
It was a specially made Waist Token of the Zhenwu Hall. Everything from the material to the script was custom-designed and difficult to forge.
After examining the Waist Token, the two White Tiger Guards’ expressions changed instantly, and they hurriedly bowed.
"This subordinate was ignorant. Please forgive us, my lord."
"No matter. The ignorant are not to be blamed."
Chen Yuan took back his Waist Token and strode into the Garrison Mansion.
The two White Tiger Guards let out a long sigh of relief.
’Thankfully, this new Lord Guardian has a pretty good temper.’
’If he had a bad temper, he could have just slapped us and asked if we recognized him then. That would have been entirely possible.’