Chapter 1222: The Consequences of Eavesdropping
“Commandery Governor Zhou Hai has taken office and requests all Zhongshan Commandery’s county magistrates to a meeting in the commandery tomorrow?” Man Gu received the notice right after a busy day of work.
He was currently handling matters left by the two former commandery governors, making the past few days hectic.
Fortunately, with his two senior brothers here to help, he could still clock out on time.
“Finally, a new commandery governor has arrived.” Man Gu sighed. In just a few days, we’ve changed the commandery governor twice. What a ride.
After deliberating for a while, Man Gu told Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou about the meeting, hoping they could accompany him tomorrow.
Normally, county magistrates traveled with attendants or bailiffs to serve and protect them.
“Go to the meeting together? That makes sense. Junior Brother Man, since you’re at the Void Refinement Stage, staying within the county is fine, but you could run into danger outside the county town.”
This meant that after Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou’s night duty searching for female ghosts, they had to accompany Man Gu to the meeting during the day without a break in between.
Although Transcendent Tribulation cultivators could go eighty or a hundred days without rest, Man Gu was still deeply moved.
~~~
Quyi County was peaceful and well-governed. The two new constables encountered nothing unusual during their night shift. After work, they accompanied Man Gu to Zhongshan Commandery.
They had been there a few days earlier to deal with the Hundred Swords Alliance, but that was at night, when the streets were empty.
In the daytime, Zhongshan Commandery was bustling. Although Quyi County had flourished under Man Gu’s governance over the past few years, it was still just a county and couldn’t be compared to Zhongshan Commandery.
Outside the Provincial Governor Estate, they bumped into several county magistrates coming for the meeting. Some sat in sedan chairs, while others rode carriages, all looking quite grand. Only Man Gu’s trio walked here.
Although Man Gu came on foot, none of the county magistrates dared underestimate him. As they alighted from their vehicles, they all smiled at him.
Two commandery governors captured in three days, with the second thrown into prison on his very first day in office—who wouldn’t be terrified?
“Lord Man, it’s been a long time since we last met. Your bearing is as distinguished as ever.”
“Lord Man is swift and decisive indeed. You tolerate not the slightest grain of sand in your eyes. You’re truly a role model for us all!”
“A Dao-Seeking Sect disciple and a zhuangyuan top scorer—it’s enviable that you possess both identities, Lord Man.”
Man Gu returned the courtesy. “I will definitely interact with all of you more in the future.”
Hearing that, the county magistrates hurried into the Commandery Governor Residence. Please don’t interact with us more; otherwise, nothing may be turned into something.
Man Gu scratched his head. This shouldn’t be. I’d said exactly what the registrar taught me. Why are their reactions different from what the registrar said?
“Never mind. Let’s go in.” Man Gu was always sanguine. There’s no point wasting brainpower on things I can’t figure out.
Inside the residence, Man Gu entered the discussion hall, while Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou could only wait outside as sidekicks.
Along with the two were other county magistrates’ servants and constables, so they wouldn’t be lonely.
“I’ll have to trouble you both senior brothers then. I don’t know how long the new commandery governor’s meeting will be. Feel free to explore the commandery while you wait.”
Lu Yang waved dismissively. “No need, no need. We came to protect you. How could we leave?”
Inside the discussion hall, Man Gu had just sat down when an unfamiliar county magistrate approached.
“Lord Man, many thanks.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Yang Dinghai, the newly appointed county magistrate of Guyuan County.”
“So it’s Lord Yang. May I know the reason for your gratitude?” Man Gu cupped his hands in greeting.
“I hardly deserve the title ‘Lord.’ Originally, when Zhang Tongheng became the commandery governor, the position of Guyuan County Magistrate opened up. Both Liu Wangzhi and I were candidates, but he was a bootlicker and knew how to curry favor with Zhang Tongheng, so he had better odds. However, you had Zhang Tongheng and Liu Wangzhi arrested, which gave me the opportunity to become the county magistrate.”
Man Gu finally understood. “I see. It was simply my duty. There’s no need for thanks.”
“Lord Man, if you ever need my help in the future, just say the word. I will do my best.”
They chatted a while longer, and Man Gu grew puzzled. “We’ve been talking for quite a while. Why hasn’t the commandery governor arrived yet?” My senior brothers are waiting outside. I want the meeting to finish early.
Man Gu wasn’t the only one growing impatient; the other county magistrates were also wondering why Commandery Governor Zhou was so late to his first meeting.
“A new official lights three fires when taking office. Is he making a show of authority to intimidate us?”
~~~
A man stood outside the discussion hall. Judging by his outfit, it was clear that he was the commandery governor.
Commandery Governor Zhou heard the discussions inside and smiled.
He had served as the advisor in the Wilderness Province, with immense authority over personnel appointments, and even commandery governors treated him politely.
His coming to Zhongshan Commandery as the commandery governor was merely a gilded stepping stone to polish his credentials. Once he accumulated enough seniority, he could be promoted to a higher rank.
My current success is all thanks to my cultivation technique.
His cultivation technique was somewhat unique, similar to the Buddhist mind-reading ability, though not as powerful; it only allowed eavesdropping. As quick-witted as he was, through overhearing conversations, he could figure out the people’s relationships to sow discord or play both sides for profit.
He had arrived late because he wanted to eavesdrop on the county magistrates inside and the bailiffs outside, thereby gathering useful intelligence.
“It’s about time to go in.” Commandery Governor Zhou smiled, though he somewhat regretted not catching the conversation between Man Gu’s two companions.
Suddenly, their words streamed into his ears.
“I feel like the Midheaven Emperor-Lord’s Devouring Dao Fruit is pretty powerful; it can even devour others’ Dao Fruits. Wouldn’t that mean he could possess multiple Dao Fruits?”
“Guan Shanhai’s Imprint Dao Fruit is also quite impressive. Given the chance, he might even be able to create a new world.”
“I wonder what kind of Dao Fruits we’ll condense. What kind of heaven-defying effects will they have?”
Commandery Governor Zhou blinked. What just happened? I feel like I’m missing a piece of memory.
“It’s about time to go in.” Commandery Governor Zhou smiled, though he somewhat regretted not catching the conversation between Man Gu’s two companions.
Their words streamed into his ears.
“Senior Heaven Mandate Immortal’s Tribulation Mandate Dao Fruit controls heavenly tribulations. It sounds so majestic.”
“Senior Nine-Layers Immortal’s Dao Fruit treats the world as a chessboard, assigning yin and yang attributes to obliterate all things.”
“I wonder who is stronger.”
“Why is the commandery governor eavesdropping on us? Can he even understand? Dao Fruit knowledge has an oblivion effect, right?”
“No idea. If he wants to listen, let him be. He won’t remember anyway.”
Commandery Governor Zhou blinked. What just happened? I feel like I’m missing a piece of memory.
“It’s about time to go in.”
“This Dao Fruit...”
~~~
“Why isn’t the commandery governor here yet?” Man Gu grew increasingly anxious. They had been waiting from noon until now.
The other county magistrates were also grumbling.
“I’ll go look for him.”
Man Gu opened the door of the discussion hall, only to find Commandery Governor Zhou standing there in a daze, his eyes vacant.
“Commandery Governor, why are you standing here?”
On his first day in office, Commandery Governor Zhou lit three fires. He burned himself with the first fire while standing at attention outside the discussion hall for nearly three hours.