31: Chapter 31 Collusion between Officials and Businessmen

"Deficits in the warehouse, delays in projects, falsified ledgers, the approaching Director of Justice... Heh, the heroes of this world are truly like carps crossing a river."

"jade's... Xu Mingxuan, what a Xu Mingxuan."

Shen Moyan was so angry he laughed.

The key was that he couldn't run now; after all, in Xu Mingxuan's eyes, he was a member of the Biyang Sword Sect.

Once Shen Moyan's departure from his post was discovered, Xu Mingxuan would immediately find a way to report him, saying he was a spy from the Immortal Lineage.

Shen Moyan couldn't prove his innocence either; his entire Cultivation Technique and cultivation base were still the Biyang First Rising Art—that was an indisputable fact.

In less than a month, the Directorate of Justice Office would come to audit the accounts. Before that person arrived, all departments were forbidden from leaving their posts. Shen Moyan couldn't contact Xu Mingxuan now, nor could he reason with him.

Absconding with funds, backstabbing fellow disciples, making someone else take the fall—is this what a disciple of the Biyang Sword Sect is like? Truly a piece of jade's work.

A full-service setup; Shen Moyan had been thoroughly played. This Deputy Director's medallion of the Construction and Maintenance Department now felt like a red-hot branding iron, burning Shen Moyan with pain.

Furthermore, Xu Mingxuan was only a Deputy Director. The Main Director was a Four-Xuan Official, but his whereabouts were currently unknown. The ledgers for the past ten years in Shen Moyan's hands were all written by the Deputy Director; the Main Director had no idea where he had fled to.

For a moment, Shen Moyan had a mouthful of complaints but didn't know where to vent them.

"Hmph, do you really think I can't leave?" After thinking for a long time, Shen Moyan let out a cold snort.

"Heaven never cuts off all paths. As long as I want to leave, the path is beneath my feet!"

Shen Moyan stood up abruptly, took the Deputy Director's medallion, informed the other managers in the department, and turned to leave.

Leaving the Construction and Maintenance Department under the guise of official business couldn't possibly count as abandoning his post, right?

Moreover, before the one-month deadline arrived, he was a high-ranking official of the Xuan-3 level and could unscrupulously take kickbacks.

With the Director of Justice absent, I am a Three-Xuan upright official. Who can catch me, and who dares to catch me?

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Finally, what does the promise He Liang made have to do with me, Shen Moyan?

As long as Shen Moyan's original identity wasn't exposed and he washed away this nine songs seal, he could also be free, leave the system, and roam the outside world.

In short, he wasn't losing out... Kongsang Prefecture, Cen Family.

An uninvited guest arrived at the home of a merchant family famous far and wide.

"Greetings, Second Uncle." Shen Moyan was dressed in white, looking elegant and poised.

"Zhiyuan, you're not dead? Four years ago, I clearly saw your soul lamp extinguished in the ancestral hall."

Cen Zhiyuan's second uncle, Cen Gewu, looked at Shen Moyan, whose aura had changed greatly, with a face full of disbelief.

How could he have expected that in just four years of traveling for business, Cen Zhiyuan, a mere first-layer Qi Gathering practitioner, would actually reach the Mortal Transformation Realm? He had transformed into a figure he needed to look up to.

Good, it seemed his nephew definitely had an Opportunity.

While Cen Gewu showed joy on his face, his heart was filled with fear and uncertainty.

He couldn't let the other party discover that he had privately seized Cen Zhihong's property.

"Where is your father?" he asked tentatively.

"During this trip to the East Mountain, we encountered bandit cultivators. My father... he unfortunately fell." Shen Moyan put on a look of profound grief.

"As for me, I encountered a high expert from the Holy Court while fleeing and narrowly survived."

"If I were given another chance, I would rather die in battle with my father than flee like a coward."

"Is that so? My condolences." Cen Gewu sighed in relief inwardly. Fortunately, Cen Zhihong was dead; otherwise, the matter of the property would definitely be exposed.

"I've come back today because there's a big business deal to be done," Shen Moyan said in a low voice.

"Second Uncle, you wouldn't want the matter of you privately seizing your brother's property to be exposed, would you?"

Shen Moyan had investigated clearly in the past two days; to get in touch with the head of the Cen Family, Cen Gewu was a very good entry point.

Cen Gewu was capable and managed the merchant guild's affairs in an orderly manner, making him a strong candidate for the next Family Head.

Therefore, his reputation within the clan would be extremely important when electing the Family Head in the future.

"What do you mean?" Cen Gewu's heart skipped a beat.

"I want to see the Family Head," Shen Moyan said word by word... The main hall of the Cen Family was exceptionally grand, with gold bricks on the floor reflecting the shadows of the glazed lamps on the pillars.

"Family Head Cen, the quality of the fire melting pearls from last time was quite good."

"Oh, not at all, not at all. Director Xu's personal visit truly brings light to my Cen Family!" The Family Head, Cen Jing, directed the servants and hurriedly brewed tea for Shen Moyan.

Shen Moyan was wearing the standard official uniform of the Holy Court, and the Deputy Director's medallion at his waist shone brightly. The breath concealing talisman was also operating non-stop, packaging him as a seasoned official.

With a flick of his finger, the tea in the cup turned into a stream of clear spring water and was sucked into his mouth, the aroma of tea overflowing for a moment.

"Enough small talk. I've come here for deep cooperation with your Cen Family." Shen Moyan's expression was normal as he tried his best to maintain his cold and aloof persona.

Shen Moyan used his identity as Cen Zhiyuan to climb onto Xu Mingxuan, the Deputy Director of the Construction and Maintenance Department.

Even if Xu Mingxuan wanted to report him, he would first have to move the community of interests between him and the Cen Family.

"What kind of business is it this time?"

"The items on the list must be gathered within a month." Shen Moyan placed a hand scroll on the table and pushed it in front of the other party.

Cen Jing's gaze swept over the hand scroll. At first, it was normal, but then his brows furrowed tightly, and his pupils shrank suddenly. Cold sweat soaked his palms.

"Peach wood rotten for a thousand years, incense ash with deathly intent, abandoned infants whose resentment has condensed into yin water..."

Why does the Construction and Maintenance Department want such things of the Demonic Path?

"The Demon Sealing Array of the Demon Suppression Department in Kongsang Prefecture is damaged, and the higher-ups are pressing hard for the Materials for repair." Shen Moyan saw Cen Jing's doubt and spoke to explain.

"One month. If this matter is successful, I guarantee that from now on, the Cen Family will be a fine partner for the Construction and Maintenance Department of Kongsang Prefecture. In the future, whatever is needed, the Cen Family will be the first supplier the department considers."

"This..." Cen Jing's breathing became rapid.

This was a heaven-sent fortune for his Cen Family!

"Director Xu, rest assured, I guarantee that within a month... no, within twenty days! Not a single item on this list will be missing."

"I will have Cen Zhiyuan go to the Construction and Maintenance Department to coordinate."

"Good, this official will await your news."

Shen Moyan did not linger and left as a streak of light.

"Family Head, how did the talk go?" Cen Gewu rushed over from outside the hall.

"Where is Cen Zhiyuan?"

"He's cultivating in the guest room."

"Call him here after he finishes his meditation."

Cen Gewu looked puzzled. Did it not work out? But the Family Head's happy appearance suggested otherwise.

"Call him over and reward him! Reward him heavily!" Cen Jing was overjoyed.

"I want to open a separate page for him in the genealogy!"

"The Construction and Maintenance Department and the Demon Suppression Department—as long as we maintain good relations with these two institutions, my Cen Family will have a thousand years of blessings!"

"Demon Suppression Department?!" Cen Gewu was greatly shocked.

The Demon Suppression Department was an institution that only answered to the Holy Court headquarters. It had cross-prefecture law enforcement powers, and even a prefect of a province had no authority to command them.

They were the most violent institution of the Holy Court, having once served under the Xuanhuang Emperor Lord.

Being able to establish a connection with the Demon Suppression Department meant that smoke was rising from the Cen Family's ancestral graves.

At the same time, operating the Turtle Breathing Great Technique and the Concealment Art, Shen Moyan secretly slipped back into the guest room of the Cen Family and changed his appearance to that of Cen Zhiyuan.

Using the Earth Hearing Ear to listen to the movements in the Cen Family's main hall, he couldn't help but give a cunning smile.

"The plan is going smoothly, and the harvest is good."

Eating from both ends, navigating between officials and merchants, acting with arbitrary power.

Shen Moyan had to squeeze out a bit more residual value and rake in more profit before the people from the Directorate of Justice Office arrived and he made his exit.

As for those Materials needed to repair the Demon Suppression Department, they were naturally in short supply in the department. However, he had just added a "little" bit of what he needed for the Heavenly Demon Ritual to the list.