124: Resignation

"Yes, I have seen it. It is still that ordinary stone-textured book, which doesn't look special at all."

It's just that another matter is even stranger. The Chu Family was only established recently, yet they suddenly have more than ten new Contract Masters among their servants. Judging by their aura, they don't seem to have been recruited from the town; rather, they seem to have just undergone Spirit Opening.

Perhaps this Origin Artifact of the Chu Family is more inclined to grant Spirit Opening to others?"

Tang Cheng lowered his brows and thought for a moment, "That is possible. Didn't they offer three spirit opening quotas for celebration at their banquet? That Origin Artifact should possess such an ability."

Old An remained silent for two seconds before relaying the last and most critical piece of news to Tang Cheng,

"Do you remember the two types of Source Beasts that caused a stir in the town: the Moon Worshipping Rabbit and the Flower Fragrance Pink-Eared Rabbit?"

Tang Cheng nodded, "Of course I remember."

Old An slowly spoke after rubbing his withered palm against his staff a few times, "In the Chu Family residence, there are no fewer than ten of these two types of rabbits."

Tang Cheng's eyes widened in shock. These two types of rabbits were quite valuable, and their abilities certainly warranted the price.

That such sought-after Source Beasts, prized throughout the entire county seat, could be found in such numbers within a small Ninth-Rank Humble Family Noble Family, left Tang Cheng utterly astonished.

"Could it be that Sun Chunchen is boarding them at the Chu Family?"

Old An pondered for a moment before shaking his head, "It's unlikely. Sun Chunchen's courtyard is not small. Why would he specifically send just a few rabbits to the Chu Family to raise?

Even if their relationship is good, if something happened in a remote area like the Chu Family's territory, he wouldn't be able to look after them in time. These Source Beasts must have been bred by the Chu Family."

"Are you suggesting that the Chu Family might have produced a Breeder?" Tang Cheng seemed to utter this sentence with some difficulty.

"It's highly likely the Chu Family just stumbled upon it by chance. How could a remote small town possibly produce a Breeder? Talent, experience, resource support—which one doesn't require massive expenditure?

However, regardless of the reason, if you want to leave Heyu Town soon, you must seriously consider how to approach the Chu Family."

Tang Cheng narrowed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.

After a long pause, a soft sigh finally escaped him, "The Chu Family truly encountered a good era. If this were before, they would likely have been attacked by all the other Noble Families before their potential could even sprout."

...In the following days, Chu Jingyu maintained a lifestyle of leaving early and returning late. Even the Hunting Team was divided into three squads.

Chu Jingyu stood suspended in the air. The other three squads centered around him, hunting for Source Beasts in the nearby territory, and he would provide assistance if any situation arose.

As a result, the hunting efficiency truly improved significantly. Although Heyu Town is only a town, its territory encompasses mountains, plains, and rivers.

At first, they could only clear the area generally, ensuring that people wouldn't encounter Source Beasts immediately upon leaving their homes.

As the Hunting Team's killing spree grew louder, the smarter Source Beasts had long hidden themselves in the wild mountains and forests. Some possessed excellent hiding abilities and were not easily found.

Within a week, the visible Source Beasts were mostly cleared out, allowing the Villagers, who had suffered from the Source Beast attacks, to successfully leave their homes and return to normal life.

Despite this, the Source Beast disaster still resulted in many deaths in the village. Just like during the Liu Family Grand Sacrifice, the village began to look somewhat desolate.

After another two weeks of detailed searching, and dealing with quite a few more Source Beasts, Tang Cheng finally called a halt to the hunting operation.

Once finished, Tang Cheng held a banquet for all the surviving members of the Hunting Team and distributed their due rewards.

This hunting operation, which lasted three weeks and more than twenty days, finally concluded. The situation within Heyu Town's jurisdiction was about to return to its former stability.

At the banquet, Chu Jingyu brought up the matter of Chu Shengfan's resignation.

Tang Cheng was very surprised, "Xiao Fan was doing fine in town, why the sudden request to resign? Did you, Old Chu, decide this suddenly without asking the young man's opinion? Or did our Town Head's Residence treat him unfairly somewhere?"

More than just surface surprise, Tang Cheng was thinking deeper: Did the Chu Family discover something? Or were they trying to distance themselves from the Town Head's Residence?

"It's not a sudden resignation, nor was he mistreated. Xiao Fan is still young, and his knowledge is shallow. I want him to go for further study and training. Once he achieves success in his studies, he can return to help build the town."

Chu Jingyu did not know Tang Cheng's true thoughts, but he simply stated his plans, as this was not something worth hiding.

Hearing his words, a look of realization flashed in Tang Cheng's eyes, and he smiled lightly, "So that's it. Old Chu truly has a heart full of deep love for his grandson.

However, going to an academy is extremely expensive. If he is truly selected by an academy, the Chu Family would essentially be pooling the strength of the entire Family to support one person.

If it were me, I would find it difficult to make such a decision."

Tang Cheng's words seemed to carry a hidden meaning, but Chu Jingyu smiled faintly.

"The Chu Family has few members, so there isn't much conflict of interest, allowing us naturally to reach this point. I only fear that when we have more people in the future and Family members become disunited, who knows what kind of situation that will bring."

Tang Cheng stretched his shoulders, "Old Chu is truly farsighted; why would the Family worry about not prospering? In that case, I can only let Xiao Fan return home. In the days I remain on duty in Heyu Town, I will still need Old Chu's continued support."

"Not at all, Town Head Tang is the true young Talent, and he will surely ensure Heyu Town flourishes."

After exchanging compliments, Chu Jingyu appropriately excused himself to leave first.

Tang Cheng did not linger long at the banquet either. After giving a few encouraging words to the Hunting Team members, he returned to the Town Head's Residence.

With these two 'big figures' gone, the atmosphere at the banquet became even more lively.

Inside the Town Head's Residence, Old An watched Tang Cheng return to the study and said in a hoarse voice,

"Word came from the Family: someone will arrive tomorrow."

Tang Cheng paused his movements, "Who is coming?"

"Your Second Uncle."

...Zhiyao County Magistrate's Office.

The County Assistant Magistrate sat in the subordinate position, looking somewhat constrainedly at a robust middle-aged man seated in the main position.

Another man in a greenish-gray robe stood below the hall, reporting,

"The Source Beasts within the various towns have been mostly cleared out, and the common populace has returned to normal recuperation and rest.

However, many towns were attacked by Source Beasts, resulting in significant casualties. True recovery will likely require several years of recuperation."

The man seated in the main position frowned slightly, "If the population is insufficient, use the county seat's floating funds to purchase people. Since you, the County Assistant Magistrate, are currently under penalty, I presume you are willing to contribute some funds for atonement?"

Hearing the man in the main position speak, the County Assistant Magistrate immediately nodded vigorously, "Willing, willing."

If simply spending money to bring back some population could allow him to escape this punishment, that would be fortunate.

But the matter would certainly not end so simply.

"This matter is concluded. Now, we should discuss your crimes." The man in the main position looked calmly at the County Assistant Magistrate.

"Yes." A few drops of cold sweat appeared on the County Assistant Magistrate's forehead, but he dared not refuse.

"The Huo Family of Zhiyao County, the main lineage, fled carrying the Town-Protecting Source Artifact. You failed to discover and report this promptly, nearly causing the Danger of a Realm Breach. This is a severe crime. Do you admit guilt?"