The three Cabinet ministers approached Chen Tang. Xia Canghai offered a respectful greeting and said, "Minister Chen, the Xia Family does not intend to be your adversary. It's just that our family's affairs are vast, and there are always areas where discipline is lacking. I ask for your understanding, dear friend."
Chen Tang remained expressionless and returned the courtesy. "I wouldn't dare."
Gao Quan walked over, laughing heartily. "Minister Chen, you've done an excellent job managing the Ministry of Revenue, and your son-rearing skills are also commendable. A tiger father does not beget a dog son! A tiger father does not beget a dog son!"
Chen Tang bowed slightly. "You flatter me, Minister Gao."
Yan Shuhe came to his side and said, "Regarding what happened today, please be magnanimous and do not take it to heart. As for those within the clan, I will naturally restrain them."
Chen Tang replied, "This humble official is filled with trepidation."
The three ministers departed.
Chen Tang watched them walk away, feeling quite puzzled. He was just about to go ask Chen Shi when a voice spoke, "Minister Chen, care to take a walk together?"
He followed the sound and saw a carriage parked not far away. The carriage window was open, revealing the profile of Zhang Fuzheng, the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.
Chen Tang walked over. A servant had already opened the carriage door. Zhang Fuzheng did not step out. Chen Tang hesitated for a moment before entering the carriage.
Zhang Fuzheng gestured for him to take a seat. The carriage began to move.
The carriage rumbled along the road from Guangji Treasury to the Ministry of Revenue. Throughout the entire journey, Zhang Fuzheng remained silent, simply sitting quietly.
Chen Tang sat opposite him, watching this elder minister, and also did not speak.
When they reached the gate of the Ministry of Revenue's yamen, the carriage stopped.
Zhang Fuzheng finally spoke. "Many people just want an attitude from me."
Chen Tang was slightly taken aback but immediately understood. "The Chief Grand Secretary sharing a carriage with me and escorting me to the Ministry of Revenue is your way of showing your attitude to outsiders."
Zhang Fuzheng nodded gently. "It's not enough."
He stood up and opened the carriage door for Chen Tang.
Chen Tang gave him a deep look, bowed slightly, and stepped out of the carriage.
"Minister Chen," Zhang Fuzheng said.
Chen Tang turned around. Zhang Fuzheng revealed a smile.
Chen Tang returned the smile.
Zhang Fuzheng returned to the carriage compartment, his smile fading as he closed the door. The carriage departed from the Ministry of Revenue yamen.
He didn't need to say much. Just a few small gestures, a smile, and a single call were enough to show his attitude to all the factions in Western Capital.
As a scion of a great clan, he had to fight for the greatest benefits for his clan, but also for his own interests.
His seniority was shallow. He couldn't compete with the former Chief Grand Secretary, Yan Xianzhi, for the position of Chief Grand Secretary. To secure his seat, he had to find another path.
Before Creation Little Five arrived, Yan Xianzhi abandoned the position of Chief Grand Secretary. Zhang Fuzheng took the fall, became Chief Grand Secretary, and shouldered that black pot.
Now, the founding ancestors of the Thirteen Great Clans had severely wounded Creation Little Five. Both sides were restraining each other. Yan Xianzhi wanted to reclaim the prized position of Chief Grand Secretary, but after Zhang Fuzheng had paid such a price, would he give him that opportunity?
Not long after, from the Prefectural Assistant and Administrator down to the Instructors and Inspectors of Gongtian Prefecture, all were arrested on charges of corruption and malfeasance, handed over to the Eastern Depot and the Court of Judicial Review for interrogation. Prefect Xia Jiuge submitted his resignation, taking responsibility, and retired to his hometown.
For a time, the court and the public were shaken, a wave of uproar sweeping through.
On the third day after Child Prodigy entered the capital, Gongtian Prefecture collapsed, its followers scattering. The shockwaves were even greater than those caused by the Gongzhou demonic transformation. The legends about Child Prodigy gained another layer of mystery.
The Gongzhou demonic transformation only saw the complete wipeout of local officials. This time, however, it was the capital officials of Gongtian Prefecture who were completely wiped out. The weight of officials from these two places could not be mentioned in the same breath.
Gongtian Prefecture managed finances, grain, criminal justice, and state affairs for the capital region, as well as the provincial and metropolitan examinations. Its power was immense. All matters, big and small, in Western Capital and its vicinity, aside from court administration, fell under the jurisdiction of Gongtian Prefecture.
The position of Prefect of Gongtian Prefecture was not one just anyone could hold; it had to be someone trusted by the court.
Xia Jiuge hailed from the Xia Family, one of the Thirteen Great Clans. Now that he had retired to his hometown, his successor would inevitably also be from the Thirteen Great Clans. However, the intricacies of the power transition were not something outsiders could know.
Chen Shi, busy all day, returned home to find Chen Tang already waiting. "The meal is ready," Chen Tang said.
Chen Shi washed his hands and face, glanced at the food on the table, saw it was already fully laid out, and asked, "Black Pot made it?"
"How did you know?" Chen Tang asked, puzzled.
Chen Shi sat down, smiling. "Black Pot thinks I'm still growing, so he makes a lot of food."
Chen Tang fell silent for a moment, feeling his own cooking wasn't as good as Black Pot's.
"How are you finding Guangji Treasury?" he inquired.
"It's great. Everyone is very friendly."
Chen Tang nodded. "What about those few you tied to the rockets?"
"Don't worry about them. They've been dismissed from their posts and are under investigation."
Chen Shi said, "Their families also came to Guangji Treasury to apologize to me."
Chen Tang remained silent.
After a moment, Chen Tang said, "Do you know why they fear you? Today, several high-ranking Cabinet officials sought me out. Because of you, they treated me with considerable respect. It wasn't like this before."
Chen Shi thought for a moment. "Probably two reasons. The first is because of the corpse cloud over Western Capital."
Chen Tang nodded gently. The corpse cloud was the work of Creation Little Five. Creation Little Five did this to put pressure on Western Capital, to force them to hand over the true culprit who severed Chen Shi's Divine Embryo. The Thirteen Great Clans should have long known the reason. Therefore, they hesitated to act against Chen Shi, fearing it might provoke Creation Little Five into a massacre.
"The other reason is that there might be something inside me."
Chen Shi said, "When Grandpa pulled me back from the underworld, something might have followed me in, hiding inside my body. During the Gongzhou demonic transformation, I was beaten to death by a beggar. The things inside me acted up because of that, triggering the second demonic transformation. Perhaps this is the reason Western Capital is unwilling to move against me, to avoid provoking these things."
Chen Tang inquired, "What things?"
Chen Shi hesitated. "Probably... many demons."
Chen Tang's heart skipped a beat. "How did they enter your body?"
Chen Shi pulled open his clothes, revealing the Cyan Ghost Hand on his chest. "They probably entered my body through this ghost hand. Granny Sha, Uncle Blue Goat, and Uncle Hu know about this, but every time I ask them, they hem and haw, unwilling to explain clearly."
Chen Tang looked at that Cyan Ghost Hand. He saw the ghost hand move slightly, as if it were alive.
"Does it hurt?" he inquired.
A warmth spread in Chen Shi's heart. He smiled. "It hurts. It's squeezed me to death many times. Fortunately, Grandpa, Granny Sha, and Black Pot have saved me repeatedly."
Chen Tang glanced at Black Pot sitting by the table and picked up some food for it.
Father and son ate. Chen Tang said, "If you're unhappy at Guangji Treasury, I can use my connections to transfer you out."
Chen Shi smiled. "I'm very happy there."
"Don't engage in corruption or malfeasance."
"I haven't!"
Early the next morning, Chen Tang went to the morning court session. Chen Shi took Black Pot and left the house, arriving outside the Ministry of Works yamen. Black Pot looked around curiously.
Not long after, a minor clerk hurried out. Chen Shi left, and the clerk followed.
Chen Shi went to a teahouse and sat down. The clerk sat opposite him, glanced at Black Pot outside the door, looking quite surprised, and smiled. "Yan Jiu of the Lu Ban Sect, greets the Instructor!"
Chen Shi inquired, "You hold a post in the Ministry of Works? What's your official rank?"
"No official rank, just a clerk."
Clerk Yan Jiu said, "We're in charge of construction. No rank, just responsible for the work. Those with ranks are the supervisors, jailers, and directors—the ones who manage people. Those of us without family backgrounds can't climb up."
Chen Shi was stunned. "Those who do the work can't become officials? What kind of logic is that?"
"That's been the rule since ancient times. That's the way of the world," Clerk Yan Jiu said.
Chen Shi said, "Where is your Sect Leader? I need to mobilize the Lu Ban Sect's strength to help me investigate something."
Clerk Yan Jiu stood up, smiling. "Instructor, please wait a moment. I'll go notify the Sect Leader."
"Situ Wen is also in Western Capital?" Chen Shi was surprised.
Not long after, Situ Wen, covered in dust, hurried to the teahouse. He glanced curiously at Black Pot guarding the door outside, then quickly came to sit before Chen Shi. He drained the tea in the cup in front of him in one gulp and smiled. "What urgent matter does the Instructor have?"
Chen Shi asked, puzzled, "Why is the Master Craftsman in Western Capital?"
Situ Wen smiled. "My Lu Ban Sect's disciples are spread across the land. Half of the minor clerks doing the work in the Ministry of Works are members of my Lu Ban Sect. Although our cultivation isn't high, building city towers and defenses, refining treasures—they still need us poor laborers. Business has been plentiful in Western Capital lately, so I needed to come supervise."
Chen Shi explained the matter of searching for Zhong Kui in Duxian County. Situ Wen smiled and said, "My Lu Ban Sect has many disciples. There are quite a few in Duxian County as well. Over the years, building houses in Duxian County's towns and villages, handling funerals, relocating graves, building bridges, repairing roads—all require my Lu Ban Sect. However, when it comes to finding people, of course, the Red Mountain Hall's talisman master association is more adept."
"Red Mountain Hall?"
Chen Shi was astonished and exclaimed, "When did Red Mountain Hall open a branch in Western Capital?"
Situ Wen said, "They established a branch here before the new year. Although there are no evil spirits within Western Capital city, the outskirts of Western Capital are teeming with fierce evil spirits. The government repeatedly sends troops to clear them out, but with little effect. Therefore, many talisman masters make a living from this. So, Hall Master Yu came before the new year and established a branch of the talisman master association."
He explained further. The Red Mountain Hall's talisman master association hadn't actually entered the capital city. They operated in the counties and villages outside Western Capital, venerating Mazu to avoid government interference.
There were many exceptionally skilled talisman masters in Western Capital. They worked as minor clerks without official rank in the various departments' yamens under the Six Ministries. Because the court's salary was too meager, in addition to their posts, they worked as talisman masters, going to the countryside to sell talismans, slaying evil and eliminating spirits to earn some money to get by.
Therefore, the Red Mountain Hall's talisman master association was even more prosperous in Western Capital than in Gongzhou.
The talisman master association was itself a mutual aid society for talisman masters, exchanging talisman techniques and Daoist methods, helping each other. Most of these minor clerks weren't from great clans, couldn't climb the ranks, didn't have superior cultivation techniques, and their cultivation couldn't advance. Joining the talisman master association, on the other hand, allowed them to learn decent techniques.
Situ Wen said, "Leave this matter to Zhuge Jian. He'll definitely find that Zhong Kui within three days."
"Zhuge Jian is also in Western Capital?"
Chen Shi stared at him. "Zhuge Jian came to Western Capital too? Is there something you're all keeping from me?"
Situ Wen shook his head. "Not at all. Zhuge Jian currently serves as an Incense Master in Red Mountain Hall. He followed Hall Master Yu to Western Capital for matters related to establishing the Western Capital branch of Red Mountain Hall."
Chen Shi looked at him with a knowing smile. "What about Shao Jing? Has Shao Jing come too?"
Before the new year, while in Xinxiang, he had informed the talisman masters of Red Mountain Hall that Shao Jing was the Shopkeeper of the Celestial Court, asking them to relay this to Yu Tiancheng.
Situ Wen smiled. "Shopkeeper Brother's business in Xinxiang is booming, but Xinxiang County is, after all, a small place. So, he opened a branch of Juxian Pavilion in Western Capital, right on Nanjing Street. The Shopkeeper also said the Instructor's Soul-Returning Pills sold very well, but they're sold out. He hopes the Instructor can send another batch."
Chen Shi crossed his arms over his chest and sneered. "So, that means Master is also within Western Capital city?"
The 'Master' he referred to was the private school teacher from Qiaowan Town, Fu Leisheng.
Situ Wen shook his head. "Master is not in Western Capital city. He teaches talisman masters at the Western Capital branch of Red Mountain Hall. The Western Capital branch of Red Mountain Hall is in Gaoshan County, under the jurisdiction of Western Capital."
Chen Shi frowned. "Who else has come to Western Capital?"
Situ Wen smiled. "Also, the older generation of the Celestial Court."
Chen Shi's heart skipped a beat. "Granny Sha? Uncle Blue Goat? Uncle Hu? They've also come to Western Capital?"
Situ Wen smiled. "Currently, they are guest elders at the Western Capital branch of Red Mountain Hall. Although we younger generation can't fight much, the guest elders are very capable fighters."
Chen Shi frowned. These lawless fellows from the Celestial Court had all run off to Western Capital.
Gaoshan County was a county under the jurisdiction of Western Capital, only a little over a hundred *li* from Western Capital. Guangji Treasury, because it stored too much gunpowder and feared explosions, was built about thirty *li* outside Western Capital city. The two places weren't far apart; travel between them was quite convenient.
Situ Wen asked, "Does the Instructor wish to see them?"
A glint flashed in Chen Shi's eyes. He smiled. "See them? Of course, I'll see them. You notify them. We'll meet at Guangji Treasury."
Situ Wen immediately found a talisman master and asked him to contact Yu Tiancheng, who would then notify Granny Sha, Blue Goat, and the others.
Chen Shi paid the bill and left the teahouse with Situ Wen, heading towards Guangji Treasury.
Black Pot quickly followed the two.
Situ Wen looked around cautiously and whispered, "Instructor, there are quite a few Heaven's Listeners monitoring us. Moreover, Western Capital has numerous spies from various factions..."
Chen Shi smiled. "That's why Black Pot needs to follow. As long as they aren't experts like Chen Tang, Black Pot can alter their memories and perceptions."
Situ Wen felt relieved. "What is Minister Chen Tang's cultivation level?"
Chen Shi shook his head. "I don't know either, but it shouldn't be weak."
The two talked as they walked. Situ Wen practiced the Dragon Soaring Art and had made significant progress compared to over half a year ago. He was now in the Spirit Transformation realm. He was originally at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm. With the complete Dragon Soaring Art, breaking through the Nascent Soul realm to achieve Spirit Transformation was a natural progression.
Chen Shi took out a wooden box and handed it to him. Situ Wen opened it and saw inside a magic treasure—a furnace about ten feet in diameter. Inside the furnace were thousands of mirror surfaces.
Situ Wen was startled and exclaimed, "The hall-suppressing treasure of Hundred Refinements Hall?"
He quickly lowered his voice. Hundred Refinements Hall also had many disciples in the Ministry of Works and had influence in Western Capital. If people from Hundred Refinements Hall learned that their Mysterious Mechanism Hundred Transformations Furnace had fallen into the hands of the Lu Ban Sect, it would likely cause another significant dispute.
Chen Shi inquired, "Can the forging techniques of the Hundred Transformations Furnace be applied to the Lu Ban Sect's magic treasure, the Shuji?"
Situ Wen couldn't hide his excitement. He smiled. "The Lu Ban Sect was originally famous throughout the world for forging magic treasures. Back then, when Hundred Refinements Hall split off and became independent from the Lu Ban Sect, it dealt a heavy blow to our sect. Our Lu Ban Sect also forges magic treasures, but because of the split with Hundred Refinements Hall, our heritage is not what it used to be. The Mysterious Mechanism Hundred Transformations Furnace and the Shuji can complement each other!"
Chen Shi smiled. "That's good."
They arrived at Guangji Treasury. Not long after, Granny Sha, Blue Goat, and Hu Xiaoliang also arrived.
The minor clerks of Guangji Treasury already knew this Grand Emissary had an extraordinary background, someone even the Prefect of Gongtian Prefecture couldn't afford to offend. Therefore, they dared not question Chen Shi's actions.
Granny Sha and Blue Goat entered Guangji Treasury, their eyes going wide as they looked around, touching things here and there. Hu Xiaoliang, being more timid, quickly urged them not to touch things randomly, lest they explode.
Situ Wen also stared wide-eyed, muttering, "In the past, these were all things our Lu Ban Sect could make. Now, they're all made by the Ministry of Works... Instructor, can we set off a few?"
He stood before the iron caltrops taller than a man and looked at Chen Shi.
As soon as he said this, Granny Sha and Blue Goat immediately looked at Chen Shi as well, expressions of anticipation on their faces.
Chen Shi smiled. "I am the Grand Emissary of Guangji Treasury. The things in Guangji Treasury are my things. I'll write a note approving them for you later."
Everyone's eyes lit up. The Deputy Emissary of Guangji Treasury broke out in a cold sweat, his voice trembling. "Sir, the inspectors won't be easy to explain to..."
"Then don't explain."
Chen Shi called towards the outside of Guangji Treasury. "Black Pot."
A large black dog walked into Guangji Treasury. The Deputy Emissary and the group of minor clerks seemed to look right through everyone present.
Chen Shi looked at the countless firearms within Guangji Treasury, his confidence greatly boosted.
"With the three Celestial Court seniors—Spirit Medium, Celestial Fox, and Blue Goat—here, and with so many firearms in Guangji Treasury, I'd like to see just how capable this supposedly 'incapable fighter' Zhong Kui really is!"
