Shen Hao actually invited Chen Tianwen over for drinks because he had something to ask, but he wasn’t in a rush for it. Hearing the other mention Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, he got interested instead.

"Mid-next month? That’s not far off. Tell me about it. Five years ago I was still running around outside, didn’t pay attention to this stuff at all—what’s the deal?"

Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute is located north of Li City, next to Pingjiang City. It’s a first-class sect within the Jingjiu Dynasty’s borders. It’s not small—there are thousands of disciples in the sect. Usually, they stay inside cultivating in seclusion, rarely coming out, and they meddle in worldly affairs even less. Shen Hao has been working in Li City for eight years and has never met any inner sect members from Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, nor gotten involved in any cases related to them.

Perhaps "great reclusion within the city" refers precisely to places like this.

Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute opens its gates to the public every five years, making a show of "widely recruiting disciples" for ten days. Basically, it’s their "enrollment season," except the interval is a bit long.

Those who want to join the Institute usually arrive in Li City half a month early or simply stay in Pingjiang City and wait.

The last time Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute opened its gates, Shen Hao wasn’t even a Small Banner Officer yet—just kept his head down and ran cases outside, without getting involved at all.

Chen Tianwen thought the wine was pretty good. He grabbed the jug and filled himself another bowl, this time without draining it in one go—just sipping bit by bit, and judging by how he held on to the jug, he wasn’t planning to let go.

"Mmm... good wine. Say, can I haul a whole cart of this back later?"

"A cart? Keep dreaming! Two jars at most. When the production kicks up, then we’ll talk about taking more. Come on, get to the part about Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute opening the gates."

Hearing that, Chen Tianwen finally nodded with satisfaction and, smacking his lips twice, continued, "You ought to know the status of Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, so I won’t say much. They open their gates to outsiders every five years, mainly to recruit. Anyone between six and fifteen years old is eligible to join.

The ’Age Stone’ you borrowed from their Outer Sect Steward last time is actually the first gate for newcomers. Only after passing the age inspection with the Age Stone can candidates proceed to aptitude and other checks.

Of course, none of this matters to us. What we need to do is maintain order.

Can you imagine people coming from all over Jingxi—maybe even further—bringing their kids to take part in Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute’s entry selection? We’re talking hundreds of thousands of people, most of whom are cultivators—some loose cultivators, some kids from the cultivation races. If a conflict breaks out, it wouldn’t be just your typical street brawl. If ordinary folks get caught up in it, it’d be a disaster.

So, according to the usual rules, everyone in Xuanqing Guard—except those on active duty or who must stay behind—has to go to Pingjiang City to help keep order.

And in return, every time, Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute picks a few from Xuanqing Guard with exceptional talent to give guidance."

Shen Hao leaned forward, put his wine bowl down, and said in surprise, "Guidance? Are you saying they actually teach us magic or something?"

"How would I know? I’ve never been picked myself."

"So, has anyone ever been picked?"

"In nearly thirty years, not one."

Shen Hao: "..." Is this a joke?

Chen Tianwen was speechless too. He explained, "That’s just the way it is. The rule’s always the same, but every time, Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute says not a single one of us is worth their effort. What can you do?"

"That’s just empty words!"

"Empty or not, what difference does it make to us? Are we not going to Pingjiang City to maintain order? If trouble breaks out, we’re the ones in for it, aren’t we? By the way, this fish is great. Got more? Cook up another one, yeah?"

"Aunt Zhang, one more fish!"

They continued eating and drinking, but had no more interest in talking about the Institute, naturally shifting the topic to the Wen Family case. Shen Hao started this line.

"You think there’ll be any changes over in Fengri City after this?"

"Lord Jiang?"

"Yeah."

Chen Tianwen grinned slyly: "Is this what you really invited me to drink for?"

"When you don’t know, ask—that’s my way. Or do you not know either?"

"Of course I don’t know, but I can still analyze a bit. Just saying though, what I say doesn’t necessarily count for anything!"

"Yeah, I know, go ahead."

Chen Tianwen took another gulp of wine. "First, you look at who benefits most from this, then follow the thread—that’s how you get to the point. Who do you think gains the most from this case?"

"Lord Jiang?"

"Tsk tsk, how could it be Lord Jiang? Higher up—it’s Lord Pang, the Commander, who profits most. Not only did he break through the deadlock in one move, he slapped both the Nobles and the Cultivation Race in the face. For a while now, no one in court will dare cross Lord Pang even a little. And who knows, he might snag the Military Supervisor post from the army and let the Xuanqing Guard Inspector roll those duties into one.

Just wild guesses, mind you, take it or leave it."

Chen Tianwen paused, then went on: "So, the biggest benefit goes to Lord Pang—or you could say, to the Xuanqing Guard as a whole. Next in line is the team that handled the investigation. At the top would be our Jingxi Town Governor’s Office—Governor Liao will get a fair share of the credit, and after him, it’s Lord Jiang. Then comes Lord Tang from Li City Guard Station, and finally, little folks like you and me.

To put it another way, Lord Jiang will be lucky if he gets thirty percent of the credit. Plus, with his current position, it’s not easy for him to get a promotion. The next step up would be Junior Fourth Grade Governor, but all four Directions Governor slots are filled. Unless one gets knocked down, you get it?"

Shen Hao’s eyes shone. He lowered his voice, "Jingbei Commander?"

"Hard to say. Jingbei Army screwed up this time, so there will definitely be a major reshuffle, plus so many Inspectors in Jingbei Army were assigned there by the Jingbei Governor. If there’s an investigation, isn’t there a suspicion that the Jingbei Governor was derelict in duty?

Mind you, this is just my speculation—just a possibility," Chen Tianwen was wary not to overstep.

The conversation ended there, both tacitly not continuing the topic. They raised their wine bowls and started drinking again.

This wine wasn’t very strong—not even thirty degrees—but that was already intense for Chen Tianwen. After a little over a jin, he started getting tipsy and didn’t dare drink any more. So he swapped for tea to end the drinking session, sat for a bit longer, then got up and left.

Shen Hao walked him to the door, then turned back into the main hall, fetched a jug of wine and carried it into his study.

Shen Hao agreed with some of Chen Tianwen’s analysis, but not all of it.

For example, regarding Jingxi Governor Liao Chengfeng. Shen Hao had met this man—Jiang Cheng had especially briefed him on Liao’s stance: he’s just an old-fashioned conservative, no sense of responsibility, no sharpness, a fossil. Even sitting as Jingxi Governor, he probably wouldn’t score much credit, because he clearly doesn’t fit with Lord Pang’s style.

But whether Jiang Cheng is qualified for a promotion after this incident matters a lot to Shen Hao. It’s precisely because it matters so much that he’s been so unsettled, and so he’s turned to this short, chubby Chen Tianwen for advice.

If Jiang Cheng can get promoted and leave, a vacancy will open up in Fengri City. That means Tang Qingyuan, who’s also made great contributions, will have a shot at moving up. If Tang Qingyuan leaves, then Shen Hao—as the General Flag with the Trial Hundred Households title—just might get to take a step up as well.

Otherwise, whatever’s coming for him—good or bad—who knows?