125: Chapter 125 Not to Respect Your Martial Arts Cultivation

At the Fuyang Prefectural Office, the vermilion gates stood wide open. Two rows of runners holding water-and-fire staves lined the sides with solemn expressions. The courtyard was brightly lit, making the bluestone ground shine brilliantly.

Chen Fan stepped inside, and the heavy wooden gate behind him slowly closed with a dull thud, cutting off all the noise from the outside world.

The air was filled with a mixture of aged sandalwood and ink—solemn and oppressive.

The lead constable, Constable Li Hu, had put away the politeness he showed at the inn. He walked ahead with silent steps, his back held perfectly straight.

After crossing several courtyards, they finally stopped before an elegant study.

"My Lord, Master Luo has arrived."

"Invite him in."

A steady middle-aged male voice came from inside the study.

Constable Li Hu pushed the door open and made a gesture of invitation, but he did not follow him in. Instead, he and another runner stood guard at the door like two door gods.

Chen Fan walked into the study.

Inside, the room didn't have the expected official solemnity; instead, it was decorated like the private residence of a wealthy old man. The red sandalwood bookshelves were not filled with dossiers, but with various antiques and jade wares.

A man about fifty years old, wearing a dark green brocade robe, stood with his back to him in front of a landscape painting.

He wore no official hat, and his hair was bound with a green jade hairpin. He wasn't particularly tall, but his posture was upright, carrying the natural aura of someone long accustomed to high status.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around.

The man's face was lean and scholarly, with a long three-part beard, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp, as if they could pierce through the human heart.

"Jade-Faced Asura, Luo Hengsheng."

The Fuyang Prefect, Prefect Zhao, looked Chen Fan up and down and spoke slowly.

"This official invited you here, but not out of respect for your Sixth-Rank Martial Artist cultivation."

He walked to the master's chair and sat down, gesturing for Chen Fan to take a seat.

"Rather, it is out of respect for the title of first on the hero ranking list."

A trace of prideful laughter appeared on Prefect Zhao's face.

"There are so many experts in the world. Fifth-Rank, or even Fourth-Rank—as long as Huai Prefecture can afford the price, they can be recruited. A mere Sixth-Rank is not worth this official personally hosting a banquet."

These words were spoken quite bluntly.

It seemed like a belittlement, but it was actually a warning.

Chen Fan's heart didn't feel the slightest ripple.

Prefect Zhao's words reminded him of Mr. Know-It-All's warning.

Daoist Priest Qingxuan, a Third-Rank Great Grandmaster.

Compared to such a figure, a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist was indeed nothing much.

The Huai Party, or rather this Fuyang Prefect, had the confidence to say such things.

Chen Fan sat in the guest chair and did not touch the fragrant tea already prepared on the table.

"If you have a purpose, Prefect, you might as well speak plainly."

Prefect Zhao's sharp eyes narrowed slightly.

He had thought that this man of the Jianghu would have some emotional fluctuations after hearing his words, whether it be anger or resentment.

But beneath that pale mask, he could sense nothing.

There was only a bottomless calm.

This feeling made him somewhat displeased.

"Straightforward." Prefect Zhao retracted the smile on his face. "Master Luo killed thirteen death-sworn soldiers of my Huai Party at Cuiwei Mountain. The people above are very unhappy about this and need an explanation."

Chen Fan's voice remained indifferent.

"That was their own doing."

"Perhaps." Prefect Zhao was noncommittal. "But in the end, you were the one who killed them. This grudge has already been formed."

He leaned forward slightly, interlacing his fingers on the table.

"However, the lords above have said that it is better to resolve an enmity than to keep it. As long as Master Luo is willing to help our Huai Party solve a small trouble, the previous matter will be written off."

Chen Fan remained silent.

Prefect Zhao was very satisfied with this feeling of controlling the pace of the conversation.

"Recently, the demons of the White Lotus Sect have been stirring up trouble within my Huai Prefecture, repeatedly opposing the imperial court, killing my officers and soldiers, and deluding the common people. Their crimes are heinous."

His knuckles tapped lightly on the tabletop, making a rhythmic thudding sound.

"Especially that so-called Saintess, Su Xin; her actions are even more arrogant. This official hopes that Master Luo can use your identity as first on the hero ranking list to raise a call in Huai Prefecture, gathering a group of Jianghu righteous men to exterminate these demons for my Huai Prefecture."

He paused and added a sentence.

"If you can personally cut off that demoness's head, the entire Huai Party would be even more grateful."

The study fell into a deathly silence.

Chen Fan did not answer immediately.

This condition was even more malicious than he had imagined.

Asking him to deal with the White Lotus Sect? To deal with that crazy woman Su Xin?

One must know that Su Xin had another identity: a Princess of the Great Shang Dynasty!

This was no longer as simple as killing with a borrowed knife.

This was to completely tie him to the Huai Party's war chariot.

Using his reputation as the top of the hero ranking list to gather those scattered Jianghu warriors and have them chew on the hard bone of the White Lotus Sect for the Huai Party.

If they won, the credit belonged to the Huai Party.

If they lost, the one who died would be him, a man of the Jianghu, having nothing to do with the government.

What a brilliant move of 'driving the tiger to swallow the wolf.'

What if he refused?

Prefect Zhao's words had already made it very clear.

Those who do not cooperate are enemies.

With the Huai Party's power to cover the sky with one hand in Huai Prefecture, he, Hong Shao, and Qing Luo likely wouldn't be able to walk out of this Fuyang City.

He could die; if he died, he could reincarnate.

But who would he reincarnate into?

The Huai Party death-sworn who killed him?

And then? Continue to be hunted by the Huai Party?

It was a death loop.

Unless he could reincarnate into Prefect Zhao, or even a higher-level figure of the Huai Party.

But that was too passive.

Moreover, Hong Shao and Qing Luo were still at the inn.

They were his current identity's greatest weakness.

After thinking it over, rather than constantly guarding against the Huai Party's Shadow Hounds, it was better to directly plot with the tiger.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Fan slowly raised his head.

"I can agree."

A trace of satisfied smile finally appeared on Prefect Zhao's face.

"But, I need some things," Chen Fan continued.

"Oh?" Prefect Zhao raised an eyebrow with interest. "Let's hear it."

"First, money. Exterminating demons and recruiting men both require money. I have no money."

"That can be done." Prefect Zhao nodded. "The treasury can allocate five hundred taels of gold to you as startup funds."

"Second, intelligence. The White Lotus Sect's strongholds in Huai Prefecture, their personnel distribution, and the Saintess's movements. I need the most accurate and timely intelligence."

"That is natural." Prefect Zhao's smile deepened. "The prefectural office's secret agents will fully cooperate with you."

"Third." Chen Fan's voice turned deep. "My two maidservants at the inn are just ordinary people. I do not want them to be disturbed in any way. Their safety requires you, Prefect, to personally guarantee it."

Prefect Zhao looked at that pale mask and the eyes exposed outside—calm, yet carrying a trace of unquestionable coldness.

He suddenly burst out laughing.

"Master Luo is indeed a man of sentiment."

He stood up and walked over to Chen Fan.

"This official can promise you. As long as Master Luo is working for my Huai Prefecture, your women are honored guests of my Fuyang City. I will send people to bring them to the rear residence and look after them well, ensuring not a single hair on their heads is missing."

Chen Fan also stood up.

He didn't say anything more, only gave Prefect Zhao a slight nod.

Then, he turned and walked toward the door.

Prefect Zhao watched his departing back, the smile on his face slowly fading.

An aide stepped out from behind a screen.

"My Lord, can this person really be trusted?"

"Whether he can be trusted or not, does it matter?" Prefect Zhao sat back in the master's chair, picked up the long-cold tea, and drank it in one gulp.

"As long as he enters this game, it will no longer be up to him."

"He is a blade, a very useful blade. Using this blade to cut those mad dogs of the White Lotus Sect is perfectly appropriate."

Prefect Zhao's fingertip lightly traced the rim of the empty tea bowl.

"Pass down the order: tell the 'Shadow Hounds' to keep their eyes sharp. Watch him, and also 'protect' those two women well."

...

When Chen Fan returned to Juxian Restaurant, the night was already deep.

In the inn's lobby, those two runners were still guarding the stairs.

Seeing Chen Fan return, they only gave him an indifferent glance without any reaction.

Chen Fan went straight upstairs.

He first pushed open the door to Hong Shao and Qing Luo's room.

The lights were still on in the room.

The two sisters hadn't slept; they were waiting for him restlessly.

Seeing Chen Fan push the door and enter, their hanging hearts finally settled.

"Master Luo!"

Qing Luo ran over quickly and grabbed Chen Fan's hand, her small face full of worry.

Hong Shao also came forward, her charming eyes filled with uncontrollable alarm.

"Master Luo, are you alright? That Prefect... he didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

Chen Fan shook his head.

He closed the door behind him and sat down at the table.

"I'm fine."

He briefly recounted the conversation at the prefectural office.

When they heard that Chen Fan had agreed to the Huai Party to deal with the White Lotus Sect, the two sisters' faces instantly turned deathly pale.

"Master Luo, how could you agree to them! Those White Lotus Sect people are a bunch of lunatics, we... we should leave quickly!" Qing Luo was so anxious she was about to cry.

"Leave?" Chen Fan looked at her. "Where to? This Huai Prefecture is all Huai Party territory. We can't walk out of this city."

He reached out and lightly patted Qing Luo's head.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

His voice carried a reassuring power.

The two sisters looked at him; although their hearts were still filled with fear, they still chose to believe him.

"Then... what do we do next?" Hong Shao asked softly.

"Wait." Chen Fan uttered a single word. "Wait for the money, wait for the intelligence, and also wait for them to lower their guard."

After comforting the two sisters and telling them to rest early, Chen Fan returned to his own room.

He did not light a lamp.

He just walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked at the bright lights of Fuyang City outside.

This prosperous city, to him, was already a giant cage.

After standing for an unknown amount of time, a very faint sound of a door opening came from behind him.

A warm and soft body gently hugged him from behind.

It was Hong Shao.

She was only wearing a thin sleeping robe, carrying the fragrance of having just bathed.

"Master Luo, I'm scared."

Her voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling.

Chen Fan did not turn around.

He just reached out and covered her cool little hands wrapped around his waist.

"I am here."

Hong Shao didn't say anything more.

She just pressed her cheek tightly against his broad back, feeling that steady heartbeat and reassuring body temperature.

The night wind blew in from the window, fluttering the woman's long hair and the gauze curtains before the bed.

The room was very quiet.

So quiet that they could only hear each other's breathing and heartbeat.

Chen Fan slowly turned around, picked her up in his arms, and walked toward the bed.

The gauze curtains fell gently, shielding the room's intimacy.

In the darkness, Hong Shao's breathing gradually became rapid.

She was like a frightened kitten, using all her strength to cling to the harbor that could bring her the only sense of security.

...

The next day, the morning light was bright.

Chen Fan opened his eyes; Hong Shao beside him was still fast asleep.

She was like a lazy fox, curled up in Chen Fan's arms, with a trace of satisfied moisture at the corner of her eyes.

Chen Fan gently pulled his arm out.

He sat up and looked out the window.

Fuyang City's morning was full of the bustle of daily life.

But he smelled an unusual scent within this bustle.

Downstairs, the two runners were already gone.

Replacing them were several men who seemed to be strolling along the street, but their steps were steady and their internal breath was restrained.

Shadow Hounds.

They had changed shifts.

Chen Fan put on his clothes, walked to the table, and put that pale mask back on his face.

Just then, the door was tapped lightly.

It was the inn's waiter.

"Master Luo, the prefectural office has sent people to deliver things."