126: Chapter 126 Is it the Jade-Faced Asura in person?

"Master Luo, someone from the Prefectural Office has sent some things."

The waiter's voice sounded outside the door, carrying a hint of deliberate respect and unmistakable fear.

Chen Fan pulled open the door.

Standing outside was not just the shop waiter.

Two runners dressed in official black uniforms with steel sabers at their waists stood on either side. In the middle was a middle-aged scholar wearing a cyan silk shirt and sporting a goatee. In his hands, he held a heavy red sandalwood tray, upon which sat several wooden boxes of varying sizes.

Seeing the mask on Chen Fan's face, the scholar's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He then forced a smile and bowed.

"Master Luo, I am the Prefect's staffer, surnamed Wang. His Honor has specifically ordered me to deliver some small gifts to you."

He stepped aside, revealing the two runners behind him. They carried a heavy chest into the room and set it on the floor with a thud.

Staffer Wang walked in, personally placed the tray on the table, and then opened the chest on the floor.

A brilliant golden light instantly filled the entire room.

A chest full of neatly minted gold dazzled the eyes in the morning light.

"Here are five hundred taels of gold, provided by His Honor as funds for Master Luo." Staffer Wang had a professional smile on his face.

He then opened the wooden boxes on the table. In the first box was a thick stack of banknotes, each with a denomination of one hundred taels.

"These are an additional five thousand taels in banknotes for Master Luo to recruit men and horses, to be used at your discretion."

In the second box were neatly arranged scrolls of dossiers.

"These are all the intelligence reports gathered by the Prefectural Office's secret agents over the past few months regarding the White Lotus Sect within Huai Prefecture. This includes their strongholds, a list of their main leaders, and... the locations where that Saintess Su Xin is most likely to appear."

Money and intelligence.

Prefect Zhao moved quickly; the things he provided were indeed what Chen Fan needed most right now.

Yet, every one of these items carried a scorching implication.

Every tael of gold was a link in a shackle. Every piece of intelligence was a fuse.

Having done all this, Staffer Wang showed no intention of leaving. He simply stood to the side, looking at Chen Fan with a smile.

"The Prefect also asked me to pass a message to Master Luo."

He cleared his throat.

"His Honor's inner courtyard has already prepared a quiet residence for the two young ladies. The meals there are much more exquisite than those at this inn. His Honor's meaning is that the Jianghu is treacherous, and as Master Luo travels about, it's inevitable that some petty scoundrels might target the ladies. Why not invite them to stay at the residence for a few days? This would also allow Master Luo to have no worries about the future."

These words were spoken flawlessly, each sentence seemingly considering Chen Fan's best interests.

But the meaning behind them was as clear as day.

Hostages.

Chen Fan did not look at the gold, nor did he touch the intelligence. He simply walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked down at the bustling street below.

"Thank the Prefect for me."

His voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

"Tell him I appreciate the sentiment. However, my maidservants are not used to living in government residences. They are fine staying here."

The smile on Staffer Wang's face froze for a moment.

He hadn't expected the other party to refuse so bluntly.

"Master Luo, this..."

"See the guest out."

Chen Fan didn't turn around, simply uttering two words.

Staffer Wang's expression changed several times before he finally took a deep breath and bowed again to Chen Fan's back.

"I have been presumptuous. Since Master Luo has other arrangements, we shall not disturb you further."

Having said that, he led the two runners and silently withdrew from the room, leaving even the chest of gold untouched where it was.

Silence returned to the room.

Chen Fan remained by the window, watching the heavy traffic below.

This Fuyang City, to him, was already a giant cage. And Hong Shao and Qing Luo were the weakest links in this cage.

He couldn't leave, and he couldn't face them head-on.

He could only follow the Dao that Prefect Zhao had laid out for him.

...

Half an hour later, a crowd gathered in front of the proclamation wall at the entrance of the Fuyang City Prefectural Office.

A proclamation, personally stamped with the Prefect's seal, was posted in the most prominent position.

The content of the proclamation was very simple.

By order of the Prefect, the top of the hero ranking list, Jade-Faced Asura Luo Hengsheng, will gather righteous warriors within Fuyang City to jointly suppress the White Lotus Demon Sect and restore peace to Huai Prefecture. All those interested may go to the Juxian Restaurant to sign up.

This proclamation was like a giant boulder crashing into the seemingly calm Jianghu of Fuyang City.

"What? The Jade-Faced Asura? The one who recently became number one on the hero ranking list?"

"He actually came to our Fuyang City? And he's helping the government deal with the White Lotus Sect?"

"Tsk tsk, this is big news! It's not often you see a Jianghu person acting as a lackey for the imperial court."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, and various speculations were rife.

Meanwhile, Chen Fan sat in the main hall of the Juxian Restaurant, at a seat by the window.

Before him was a table, upon which sat only the four treasures of the study.

He didn't shout or speak; he just sat there quietly, his pale mask isolating all emotion.

But his presence itself was the loudest advertisement.

On the first day, most who came were there to watch the spectacle. Only a few scattered brave Loose Cultivator Martial Artists came forward to ask a few questions, left their names, and hurriedly departed.

On the second day, news spread, and the number of people coming to sign up gradually increased. Some were there for the bounty promised by the government, some for the hollow fame of "enforcing justice on behalf of heaven," and some simply wanted to see the legendary top of the hero ranking list.

By the third day, the main hall of the Juxian Restaurant was packed to the point that not a drop of water could trickle through.

The rallying power of the top of the hero ranking list far exceeded everyone's imagination.

In the study of the Prefectural Office's back courtyard.

Prefect Zhao listened to his subordinate's report, stroking his beard with a satisfied smile.

"Good, good. This Luo Hengsheng is indeed a fine blade."

He said to Staffer Wang beside him.

"At this rate, within half a month, we can raise a team of hundreds of Martial Artists. When the time comes to face those mad dogs of the White Lotus Sect, we will have enough cannon fodder... no, assistance."

Staffer Wang quickly flattered, "Your Honor is far-sighted and masterful in strategy. I am in awe."

Prefect Zhao laughed heartily, in a great mood.

Everything was under his control.

Inside the Juxian Restaurant, Chen Fan looked at the names on the register, his heart feeling no ripple of emotion.

These people, in his eyes, were merely a series of symbols that could vanish at any moment.

Just then, an exceptionally loud voice erupted from the entrance of the inn, drowning out all the noise.

"May I ask, which one is the Jade-Faced Asura, Master Luo?"

The crowd parted to reveal a path.

A burly man, built like an iron tower, strode in. He carried a giant sword on his back that was wider than a door plank. His face was covered in a thick beard, but his eyes were clear and bright, carrying the heroic spirit of the Yan-Zhao region.

Chen Fan looked up at him.

The burly man's gaze paused for a moment on the mask on Chen Fan's face, then burst into a glimmer of surprise and joy.

He took a few steps to the table and gave Chen Fan a grand Jianghu salute with cupped fists.

"I am Tu Xiao of Yanzhou, greetings to Master Luo!"

Chen Fan did not speak, only nodding slightly.

Tu Xiao didn't mind at all and laughed heartily to himself.

" I had long heard of Master Luo's formidable reputation.， See you today， Indeed, he has an extraordinary demeanor.！ What I, Old Tu, admire most are heroes and valiant men.！ The Battle of Tianchi Mountain， I saw it with my own eyes from the audience.！"

Mentioning Tianchi Mountain, his face was full of reverence.

Getting excited as he spoke, he slapped the table, causing the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to jump.

The surrounding Jianghu guests also cast curious glances.

Tu Xiao seemed to enjoy being the center of attention. He cleared his throat, and his tone shifted, carrying a hint of regret.

"However, speaking of which, the most regrettable thing that day was still that Chen Jinzhong of the Longxing Sect."

He smacked his lips, looking full of sighing emotion.

"Now that was a real man! Covered in blood, with a severed arm, yet he still dared to fight Nie Shu to the bitter end. Sigh, truly a tough guy. It's a pity he ended up dying at your hands, Master Luo."

The main hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone's eyes converged on Chen Fan.

Only after speaking did Tu Xiao realize in hindsight that praising the soul of the man who died by the Jade-Faced Asura's hand right in front of him seemed somewhat inappropriate. He scratched his head awkwardly.

"Master Luo, I'm a straight talker, please don't mind me. I just felt that kid... died a bit unfairly."

Chen Fan's hand holding the writing brush hung in mid-air.

Ink dripped from the tip of the brush onto the snow-white Xuan paper.

It blurred into a small, pitch-black ink dot.