Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Undercurrent
Hearing Han Yuan’s words, Duan Xu couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. "Young people really are different. They have a certain fearless drive."
"But the Bai Family has considerable influence in Cangshui County. You’ll need to be careful from now on."
Han Yuan then uncorked the wine jug and took a large swig. "The Bai Family should be the ones worrying."
"Why is that?" Duan Xu asked, confused.
"Because they crossed me," Han Yuan said seriously.
"You kid..."
"But you’re right. They say the Martial World runs on connections and knowing the rules of the game."
"But in the end, it all comes down to fighting and killing."
Duan Xu didn’t think Han Yuan was being arrogant.
Given the talent and strength the young man had displayed so far,
if he was allowed to keep growing,
it would indeed be a disaster for the Bai Family.
"Drink up!"
Han Yuan and Duan Xu clinked their jugs together.
After taking a drink, Duan Xu started to go over a few things.
"Han Yuan, once you’re officially registered tomorrow, you’ll no longer be a Chief Constable of the Qingshui County Yamen. You’ll be a Demon Exterminator for the Observatory."
"According to regulations, you can go to the Martial Arts Pavilion and claim a first-rate Martial Arts Technique."
Han Yuan couldn’t help but ask, "Then how do I get other Cultivation Techniques, or things like Spirit Pills, in the future?"
’Of course, he hadn’t joined the Observatory just for a single Inner Breath Technique.’
’He wanted more!’
Duan Xu smiled and explained, "For that, you’ll need to complete missions issued by the Demon Extermination Tribe and earn Contribution Points."
"The Demon Extermination Tribe missions generally fall into a few categories. One is hunting down wanted criminals from the Black List. Another is assisting the local Government Offices with solving cases."
"And the last type is cleansing Evil Spirits."
"As long as you’re strong enough and keep completing missions, you can get just about anything you want."
Han Yuan nodded. "That sounds pretty good."
"Of course."
"That Luo Zhang you killed earlier, for instance, was worth five hundred Contribution Points."
"I’ve already redeemed them. Once you get your Token tomorrow, I’ll transfer them to you,"
Duan Xu said softly.
He could have easily pocketed those five hundred Contribution Points, but he chose to give them to Han Yuan instead.
"You can do that?" Han Yuan asked, stunned.
"Of course. The Government Office and the Observatory are two completely different places."
"You have to remember, the Demon Extermination Tribe only cares whether the mission is completed. They don’t care who actually did the killing,"
Duan Xu explained.
Take Luo Zhang, for instance.
Even though Han Yuan was the one who personally killed him,
the mission was accepted by Duan Xu. As long as he brought back the body, the Observatory wouldn’t care who did the killing; they would just mark the mission as complete under Duan Xu’s name.
"I see."
"In that case, thank you, Brother Duan."
Han Yuan knew he was in desperate need of those five hundred Contribution Points, so he didn’t bother with false modesty.
"Don’t mention it."
"You’re the one who killed him in the first place."
Duan Xu waved his hand dismissively.
The two of them chatted a while longer, and after finishing the wine, Duan Xu left.
And Han Yuan, despite his injuries, still practiced his Seven Stars Step in the small courtyard, not going to bed until late into the night.
.....
In a great hall within the Observatory.
A single oil lamp burned slowly, its light illuminating a weathered face with chiseled features.
"Old Du, this Han Yuan seems to be quite a character."
A tall, thin man was reading a file in his hands by the lamplight, clicking his tongue in wonder.
The file was filled with information on none other than Han Yuan.
"Yes, I didn’t expect it either."
"When Duan Xu first recommended him, I thought he was just some kid with a bit of talent."
"I never thought he’d turn out to be a raging dragon crossing the river."
Even Du Qiuxu himself was a bit surprised.
"A raging dragon is a good thing!"
"That raw ferocity is exactly what we need."
"Otherwise, I’m afraid Cangshui County will remain a stagnant pond forever."
"Forget the Three Major Sects—even the Five Great Noble Families right here in the city have become insatiably greedy."
"If we want to break this stalemate, we have to muddy the waters a bit,"
the tall, thin man said in a deep voice.
It’s easier to move a mountain than to shake the Noble Families and Sects.
They are tumors growing on this land, bleeding the people dry, yet they are nearly impossible to root out.
Due to years of recurring disasters, the Imperial Court’s power has waned. Without the support of the Noble Families, it can’t even maintain stability in the provinces.
"But expecting Han Yuan to shake these great tumors all by himself... I’m afraid that will be difficult,"
Du Qiuxu said, his brow furrowed.
"Let’s watch and see."
"Just remember to give the Bai Family a warning. Don’t let them do anything too drastic."
The tall, thin man put down the file.
"Right."
"I’ll give Bai Qi a stern warning tomorrow."
Du Qiuxu nodded.
.....
The Bai Family Estate, Main Hall.
Bright candles burned, making the hall as bright as day.
The Patriarch of the Bai Family, Bai Muxin, sat in the master’s seat, his face dark as a thundercloud.
Bai Qi and several other key members of the Bai Family were seated on either side.
"Who on earth is this Han Yuan?"
"How could some nobody from a backwater county beat Bai Hao into such a state?"
Bai Muxin said coldly.
Han Yuan had kicked Bai Hao so many times that he’d suffered a severe concussion and was still unconscious.
Even if he were to wake up, his face would likely be permanently disfigured.
As Bai Hao’s father, Bai Muxin was naturally furious.
"I’ve already investigated Han Yuan."
"He really is from the Qingshui County Yamen... there’s nothing questionable about his background,"
Bai Qi said in a deep voice.
"He’s really from some backwater town?"
"In that case, this kid’s talent... is truly terrifying."
The various Bai Family members spoke up one after another, their voices filled with astonishment.
Bai Qi added, "And judging from Du Qiuxu’s actions today, it seems he wants to use Han Yuan to send our Bai Family a message."
A senior member of the Bai Family sneered. "Without us Noble Families of Cangshui County, what does the Observatory have to keep the Three Major Sects in check?"
That may be so, but Bai Muxin still mulled it over for a moment. "Bai Qi, you keep an eye on this kid in the Demon Extermination Tribe for now. The moment he steps outside Cangshui County... find someone to kill him."
"As long as it’s done cleanly, leaving no traces, then even Du Qiuxu won’t be able to say a thing."
Remembering what Han Yuan had said to him earlier that day, Bai Qi wished he could tear the man limb from limb.
Now, hearing Bai Muxin’s order, he gave a sinister smile. "Rest assured, Patriarch. I won’t let him out of my sight."
....
「The next day.」
Han Yuan, of course, had no idea that his arrival was causing the hidden undercurrents of Cangshui County to begin to surge.
Early in the morning, an attendant came knocking on his door and led him to a large hall.
"Sir, this is the Spiritual Mortal Hall."
"Within the Observatory, besides the Three Great Departments, there are also eight halls, each responsible for different matters."
"The Spiritual Mortal Hall handles miscellaneous duties, such as registration,"
the attendant explained.
Han Yuan glanced around the Spiritual Mortal Hall and smiled. "The division of labor is quite meticulous."
Upon entering the Spiritual Mortal Hall, an old man greeted him.
He first collected Han Yuan’s official documents, then handed him an Identity Token.
"This is a Demon Extermination Token."
"From this moment on, you are an official Demon Exterminator."
"This Demon Extermination Token was crafted with a Secret Technique, and it records your Contribution Points."
"Sir Duan Xu already came by last night to transfer five hundred Contribution Points to you."
"They are now stored in your Demon Extermination Token,"
the old man said softly.
"So, can I go to the Martial Arts Pavilion and claim a Martial Arts technique now?"
Han Yuan asked softly.
"Of course."
"You just need to bring your Demon Extermination Token."
The old man nodded.
