Shen Hao returned to the foot of the mountain, and a group of Xuanqing Guard members looked at him with eyes that seemed about to burst into flames—jealousy!

Originally, everyone was on the same level, but you, Shen Hao, shot ahead without a sound. How could anyone not feel some kind of way about that?

Envy was envy, jealousy was jealousy, but there was nothing they could do. No one even asked Shen Hao what he learned up the mountain. The atmosphere was awkward. The only one whose expression was still normal was Chen Tianwen, who smiled and cupped his hands to offer congratulations to Shen Hao.

"Since Shen Zongqi is down now, let’s go."

As soon as the grand ceremony at the Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute’s gate ended, Pingjiang City would quickly return to its usual peace, and there was no need to keep so many Xuanqing Guard stationed here.

However, as soon as Liu Chuan thought about the two troublesome cases still at hand, his head started to ache. By his experience, it would be hard to crack these two cases in a short time, because the murderer’s cultivation was likely very high, perhaps even beyond the Li City Guard Station’s investigative ability. In this situation, all he could do was report it upstairs.

And so, as soon as Liu Chuan announced they were pulling camp and heading back, Shen Hao rolled up his bedding and left. The entire Black Banner Battalion went with him. Only then did the other banners realize that the Black Banner Battalion guys had packed their things in advance—why were they leaving in such a hurry?

Wang Jian and Zhang Liao also couldn’t quite figure out why their General Flag was leaving in such a rush. Wang Jian had even planned to stay the night in Pingjiang City with a few rowdy friends.

Back in Li City, Shen Hao felt himself finally relax—his earlier sense of urgency disappeared in an instant.

No sooner had he returned than word spread through the city that, after his mission in Pingjiang City, Shen Hao had received guidance from a Profound Sea Realm cultivator. After so many years of doing free work for Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute, the Li City Guard Station was finally seeing some return, though it was a benefit only Shen Hao got to enjoy.

No sooner had he entered the station than Tang Qingyuan sent for someone to call Shen Hao over.

After greeting Shen Hao, Tang Qingyuan pulled a slip of paper from the drawer and handed it over. "You’re just in time. This note came from Fengri City the afternoon before yesterday. You weren’t here, so it was delivered to me."

Shen Hao took it; the signature seal was still unbroken. The signature was Jiang Cheng’s.

"Thank you, Lord Hundred Households."

With the note in hand, Shen Hao went back to his own public office room and used his waist token to open it. Inside, there was just one sentence: Report to the Thousand Households Station within three days for detailed discussion.

The note had come the day before yesterday, and today was already the last day of the deadline.

Not daring to delay, Shen Hao applied for leave from Tang Qingyuan, then immediately took two guards and headed to Fengri City.

When he saw Jiang Cheng, the Lord Thousand Households’ brow was full of spring breeze, and his face was wreathed in smiles. Shen Hao, whose heart had been uneasy on the way, suddenly felt excited. He sensed that Jiang Cheng summoning him probably meant good news.

"Sit. I heard you went to Pingjiang City—how did things go?"

"Thank you for the seat, my lord." Shen Hao sat down and continued, "Finished. But during that time, two murder cases occurred—six people dead: five cultivators, one child. Very tricky. Initial judgement is the murderer’s cultivation is likely at Gathering Spirit Realm Perfection, perhaps even Primordial Pill Realm level."

"Any motive?"

"Not clear, but I guess it was to find some object, and when that wasn’t found, the killing followed. The case is being handled by the D Flag and Ji Flag from Li City Guard Station. I expect the files will be reported up tomorrow." Shen Hao kept his face impassive and gave a brief explanation. Anyway, after his chat with Liu Chuan, he felt he’d kept his hands clean.

But Jiang Cheng didn’t seem to care much for the case Shen Hao mentioned, asked casually, then changed topics.

"In the next few days, the higher-ups will completely settle the Wen Family and the Jingbei Army affair. Tomorrow I’m going to the Imperial City for the audience. If you didn’t come today, a lot of things wouldn’t get explained to you."

"Your subordinate is all ears." Shen Hao finally got confirmation—the Wen Family had been settled, which meant rewards were coming, and with them the chance to divvy up the assets previously confiscated from the Wen Family.

Of course, what Shen Hao cared about most was whether there would be personnel changes related to this—something that mattered to his future.

"The higher-ups’ meaning is: the Wen Family is no longer needed. Anyone connected must cut ties cleanly, or if they play both sides, they’ll be implicated. As for the Jingbei Army, it’s a complete purge: anyone in the private arms smuggling ring is gone, but there’s no collective punishment. The Jingbei Army governor, Xu Country Soldiers, has been demoted two ranks and will retire in the Imperial City, and more than a hundred others are being demoted and dismissed. Ministry of Revenue, Border Army—no one got away. Heads are rolling.

Right now the Jingbei Army is being thoroughly purged, top to bottom—a total clean house."

Shen Hao said nothing, but he could feel a massive earthquake from above. As for that fat piece of meat, the Jingbei Army, who knew who would get to eat it in the end?

Jiang Cheng continued, "The Jingbei Army is a tangled mess now—no one will be able to straighten it out soon. This shakeup also hit us—Jingbei Town Governor’s Office of Xuanqing Guard took a heavy blow.

Unlike the military, we Xuanqing Guard are the personal guard of His Majesty. When things go well, we’re in the limelight; but when something goes wrong, we get shunned even more than others. So, just the day before yesterday, the Jingbei Governor’s head was taken off and hung on the gate of his office."

"Hss!" Shen Hao sucked in a cold breath. The dignified Junior Fourth Grade Governor just got beheaded like that?

At this point, Jiang Cheng’s expression grew serious. "I heard that along with the Jingbei Governor, three Thousand Households and more than ten Hundred Households were executed. As for further connections, who knows how many were implicated."

Shen Hao quickly caught on and said quietly, "With such a big vacancy at Jingbei Governor, who will fill it? My lord, are you...?"

"Heh, you sure are quick on the uptake. That’s right, I may well get a transfer this time."

"To Jingbei Governor’s Office?"

"No, staying in Jingxi, possibly taking Lord Liao’s post." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Lord Liao? Liao Chengfeng? Jiang Cheng would take Liao Chengfeng’s seat as Jingxi Governor?! Then what about Liao Chengfeng? Where would he go?

"That’s Lord Pang’s intention. Lord Liao will go serve as Jingnan Governor, and the current Jingnan Governor, Lord Lin, will fill the vacancy at Jingbei Governor. Jingdong stays as is."

Now Shen Hao understood. Except for the special case of Jingdong, three out of the Four Directions Governors would be shuffled.

Maybe this would become regular in the future—a rotating system. The benefit was that no one would stay in one place too long and get corrupt; it would also help the internal cycle and boost officials’ efficiency.

Shen Hao just skimmed these thoughts; he was waiting for Jiang Cheng’s next words.

"Calling you here today, actually I wanted to hear your opinion. What are your thoughts for what’s to come?" Jiang Cheng smiled, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Shen Hao, at ease.

"Your subordinate wants to try commanding a region."

"Ho! Quite some ambition. But if you want to command a region, with your current Gathering Spirit Realm First Layer cultivation, you’re still far off. And I think you’re still more suitable to stay in the Black Banner Battalion..."