3: Chapter 3: 500% Return?

Taiping County.

The population was close to, or perhaps slightly over, one hundred thousand.

The standing army numbered around ten thousand.

Under its jurisdiction were dozens of towns.

And Qinghe Town was merely one of the more unremarkable ones among them.

It was bustling and lively here...

Passing through the bluestone road, one arrived at the busiest and most prosperous district.

Places like the Imperial Music Conservatory usually only opened at night... Yet today, for no apparent reason, they had opened during the day.

One could see martial artists wearing robes of various noble families blocking the entrance, holding long blades with sharp gazes!

Inside the hall, there were women everywhere, and there was no shortage of fruits and vegetables; they had even managed to procure lychees from Lingnan.

They looked quite fresh, too.

It was incredibly extravagant.

It made those women seem less like damned criminals and more like pampered Young Misses!

"Next!"

A brothel madam swayed her waist as she walked out the door.

Although the term 'brothel madam' sounded unpleasant, she was truly not old and possessed a lingering charm.

She was only in her forties and was extremely alluring.

Her waist was as slender as a willow in the wind, swaying... her large hips traced curves that made one's heart race.

Watching this, the onlookers felt their mouths go dry.

Two martial artists walked out, dragging an Immortal Dynasty official... and then, they actually tossed him onto the open ground!

This woman was the person in charge of the Taiping County Imperial Music Conservatory and was considered an Immortal Dynasty official, so naturally, she had nothing to fear.

She sneered and said.

"Zhao San... you already came yesterday and took one away."

"And you've come again today."

"I'm afraid you've gambled everything away, haven't you?"

"You had better watch your head... or watch out for when your home is raided in the middle of the night!"

That man got up with a shameless expression and smirked.

"Ah, I was just thinking about relieving some pressure for our Imperial Music Conservatory, wasn't I?"

"Get out, get out, get out! Scram quickly... don't be an eyesore here!"

The woman said, hands on her hips, scolding angrily.

"You bunch of ruffians... if you have a family at home, don't bother coming up here; it's a waste of time."

"With your pathetic political achievements and low official ranks, you can't afford to support these noble women!"

"Also, those who are unsightly are not allowed up here either!"

"The ones remaining now are all noble women; you all better weigh your own ugly faces!"

"If there are no more Immortal Dynasty officials... then we will choose from the young talents of Taiping County!"

"Is there anyone else..."

Seeing that no one stepped forward, a flash of disappointment crossed the madam's eyes.

Just as she was about to speak... she saw a figure in white being pushed out.

The madam frowned... but upon looking closer, her eyes crinkled with a smile.

"Oh, what a handsome Young Master... I wonder where you serve in the yamen? And whose son might you be?"

Having lived two lives, Shen Yi was much thicker-skinned than before, but he still hadn't mastered it completely... He regained his composure and glared at Wang Teng, who was snickering in the crowd.

He braced himself and said.

"Shen Yi... a Disciple from a humble background."

The madam was stunned for a moment, and her smile faded significantly.

"Oh? That's rare. I suppose you must have some talent? I wonder what official position you hold in the yamen, and what rank it is?"

"...I have no official position."

The madam couldn't sit still immediately and glared fiercely at Shen Yi.

"Young man, don't think that just because you're handsome, I won't beat you up!"

"I can't bear to do it myself... but these ferocious thugs won't care about your handsome face."

"They might even specifically target that face of yours!"

Shen Yi felt a bit helpless.

"I am currently... the Town Chief of Qinghe Town."

"The Town Chief of Qinghe Town... unranked. Even if you're in the official registry, it's just so-so..."

Just then, some whispers suddenly emerged from the crowd.

"Town Chief of Qinghe Town, why does that sound so familiar?"

"Are you stupid! A while back, during the yamen's performance review, many new Immortal Dynasty officials arrived."

"Among them, the one with the most distinguished reputation was a man from a humble background named Shen Yi!"

"He was the third-place finisher in the prefecture-level Dao examination, but because he lacked connections... he was assigned to a remote county, and then when he arrived at the yamen, he was pushed out by the Sun family's manipulations... and afterwards,"

"He was dispatched to the godforsaken Sanchuan region to take over as the Town Chief of Qinghe Town."

"In the end, even his ninth-rank official position was gone."

"Half a year has passed, and this person had disappeared; I thought he was dead."

"I didn't expect... that he was actually alive, and by the looks of it, living quite well."

"Hmm... looking at it this way, this person is indeed qualified to step forward."

"After all, in practical terms, a third-place finisher in the prefecture-level Dao examination is at least equivalent to an eighth-rank Immortal Dynasty official."

"Of course, it's an empty title."

"Heh, nowadays, when you're out in the world, it's all about strength and background... who cares if your talent is outstanding or what you look like..."

"That's true..."

Seeing this, the madam frowned... she called over an official and whispered something in his ear.

She then turned and walked into the hall.

Not long after... the madam walked back out, a smile once again gracing her face.

"Since you've come, young man... why don't you come in and let the many noble women take a look at you."

Seeing this, Shen Yi's mouth twitched.

"Damn it... is this supposed to be officials selecting the daughters of convicted criminals?"

"Isn't this just the daughters of convicted criminals selecting Immortal Dynasty officials?"

"If the enemy can go, so can I; the tables have turned, haven't they?"

But still, as the saying goes.

Since he was already here...

Shen Yi helplessly stepped forward and slowly walked into the main hall.

In the main hall, there was an open space.

Shen Yi stood slowly, looking as elegant as a jade tree in the wind.

The mixed fragrances lingering at the tip of his nose kept his mind wandering.

After all... this was still the body of a young man.

He was full of vigor!

In just a few seconds... a screen was slowly pulled open.

A young girl with a delicate face, wearing a pink skirt, looked at Shen Yi with longing eyes.

She kept tugging at the middle-aged steward in front of her.

"Uncle Zhou... I want this one."

Shen Yi's expression was calm... Since he was here to 'sell', he had to follow the rules.

Not only that, he even cast a gentle gaze in her direction.

Just like a thoughtful big brother.

"Uncle Zhou! I want him! I want him! I want this one!"

The steward, whose eyes were shining with shrewdness, sighed helplessly and looked at Shen Yi.

Shen Yi didn't speak, and then two or three more curtains were lifted.

A thoughtful big sister... but not very old.

One who was gentle as water... but looked a bit frail.

Seeing this, the guards standing watch nearby felt a mix of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

"Brother... quite handsome, aren't you?"

Shen Yi quickly waved his hand.

"Just a little handsome, just a little..."

This made the surrounding guards' faces turn green.

No way, can't he tell that's sarcasm?

"Pfft."

A burst of pleasant laughter suddenly rose in the hall... and just then, a series of notifications suddenly appeared before Shen Yi's eyes.

[Currently, choosing Liu Miao on the left, return rate (77%)]

[Currently, choosing the thoughtful big sister Feng Yang, return rate (98%)]

[Currently, choosing Duanmu Rou of the Medicine Valley, return rate (123%)]

Shen Yi's eyes lit up... and just then, another curtain was slowly lifted.

The Golden Finger before his eyes kept flickering!

[Currently, choosing Pei Lingshu, return rate (500%+)]

Shen Yi's breathing quickened.

"No way? After Wang Dachui... another SSR has appeared?"