Chapter 2492: Chapter 101: No News (Part 2)
Jiang Wang acknowledges Tang Dun as his disciple.
He always admits he has such a great disciple.
He is proud to have such a disciple, but also ashamed for not being able to protect such a disciple.
This is one of the things he once told Chu Yao would make him feel disgraced.
He has never detailed to Chu Yao what kind of person his first disciple was. He wanted to, one day, take Chu Yao to Fenglin City and slowly tell Tang Dun’s story.
He believes that day is not too far away.
"Marquis."
When Chu Yao was panting heavily from exhaustion, housekeeper Xie Ping walked into the courtyard holding a letter: "The letter has been returned again."
Jiang Wang took it and looked at it, frowning, "What’s going on?"
The letter he had sent to Lin Youxie through Qi Country’s channels to the Cliff of Celestial Punishment had been returned untouched.
Because it was not an urgent letter, Xie Ping had no ideas to contact him already in the South Border.
When he returned to Linzi, he was made aware of this matter, not knowing what went wrong, asked Xie Ping to send it again. Unexpectedly, it was returned again...
He felt a vague unease.
"This time I specifically asked the communication officer." Xie Ping explained, "The response from Triple Punishment Palace was... unable to find the person."
"Unable to find the person?" Jiang Wang’s brows furrowed: "Lin Youxie went to Triple Punishment Palace for advanced studies, how could she be ’unable to find’?"
"I don’t know about that..." Xie Ping tried to ask, "Did Master Lin change her mind and decide not to go to Triple Punishment Palace?"
"Are you sure it was delivered to the disciple of Triple Punishment Palace, and not intercepted outside the Cliff of Celestial Punishment?" Jiang Wang asked.
Xie Ping replied, "Marquis, with your status and position, the letters sent from our house can’t be taken lightly by the communication officer, nor by Triple Punishment Palace."
"Then this is strange..."
The more Jiang Wang thought, the more he felt something was wrong. He had deep insight into the style of Triple Punishment Palace from the Blood River Sect. They definitely wouldn’t casually find an excuse to return his letter. Nor was there any reason to do so.
And if Lin Youxie didn’t intend to go to Triple Punishment Palace, what’s the point of deceiving him?
He pondered for a moment and instructed, "Take my name card to the Imperial City Inspection Mansion and ask them to check Lin Youxie’s whereabouts. Additionally, in my name, ask Triple Punishment Palace to confirm whether Lin Youxie isn’t in Heavenly Rule Palace, Palace of Outline, or Executioner Palace, these three main Palaces of Law?"
Xie Ping immediately complied, turned around to carry out the tasks.
"Wait." Jiang Wang called him again, "I’ll go to the Imperial City Inspection Mansion myself, just let Triple Punishment Palace verify the information for me. Use some gold to expedite the communication officer’s work."
"Alright. I’ll have someone prepare a car for you."
They decided the matter hurriedly.
On the other side, Chu Yao’s eyes brightened and looked over expectantly: "Master!"
The Imperial City Inspection Mansion sounded like a grand office. He also wanted to see it.
Jiang Wang just pointed his finger: "Practice your punches at home."
The mischievous monkey then obediently lowered his head, placed himself in stance, and began practicing martial arts vigorously.
...
Marquis Wu’an hadn’t been to the Imperial City Inspection Mansion for a long time, but upon his arrival, he was still warmly welcomed.
This military merit Marquis with a third-grade Qing brand hanging at his waist was a pride of Qi Country’s Qing brand. The splendid leap from Qing brand catcher to military merit Marquis astonished many.
Recently, there have been several personnel changes in Qi Court that caught Jiang Wang’s attention.
One was that Duke Hou Cao Jie stepped down from the position of Spring Death Army Commander, replaced War God, taking command of Heaven Cover Army as the Heavenly Emperor.
On the surface, Jiang Mengxiong no longer commands a strong army, but that doesn’t mean he has lost power. He still heads the Military Affairs Hall and is the National Guardian Marshal of Daqi. Moreover, the new commander of Spring Death Army is the War God’s first disciple, Chen Zeqing.
This military position change undoubtedly had some political exchanges. However, Jiang Wang believed that the more important significance behind this might lie in the War God himself.
He speculated that War God Jiang Mengxiong might be making strides to another level.
Similar to how Yan Ping, after stepping down as a State Minister, consolidated his skills and finally achieved Yandao True Monarch. Now having released all military power, where will the War God venture in terms of realm?
Another noteworthy element is Zheng Shi, the former Beiyar Commander, who left his post, released his suppressed cultivation with ease, achieved God Descending, and swiftly took a position in the Rain-slicing Army, ranking first among the eight rightful generals, evidently vying for the vacant position of Rain-slicing Army Commander.
Yan Tu died from bodily torture, leaving the position of Rain-slicing Army Commander as a substantial prize.
Had Tian Anping’s troops not suffered such severe casualties in the Qi Xia War to cause soldiers to desert, with the merits he earned and the cultivation matching the Nine Soldier Commander, this position could very well have been his.
If Tian family could command a Nine Soldiers strong army, the momentum would certainly be amplified.
Unfortunately, Tian Anping is difficult to trust.
Zheng Shi, having commanded Beiyaduwei for years, lacks neither merit nor seniority, but his cultivation is somewhat lacking. Directly assuming the position of Nine Soldier Commander may struggle to gain support. Nonetheless, it seems he already views the position as within his grasp.
Back then, Zhongxuan Chuliang could command Autumn Kill with top-tier God Descends cultivation; he may not be comparable to Zhongxuan Chuliang, but having just achieved God Descending, he already stands strong among the realm, aiming high isn’t impossible.
While it’s not that every Beiyar Commander can rise high, many don’t end well in that position.
But one who can sit steadily and long as a Beiyar Commander must be a confidant of the Son of Heaven and certainly possesses sufficient talent.
Still, it’s unclear which type the new Imperial City Inspection Mansion Commander Yang Weitong is.
Yes, among the two who competed actively for the position, Jiang Wang having resigned his post is expected, while Chen Fu’s protégé Zhang Weiyu failed to achieve his ambition.
Ultimately, the one who secured the position was Yi Xingchen’s protégé, the always understated Yang Weitong.
Former Inspection Vice Director Yang Weitong was purposely groomed by Yi Xingchen to inherit the political legacy, undoubtedly possessing talent.
Jiang Wang had brief interactions with him before, garnering a good impression; yet, relying only on preliminary impressions. After Yi Xingchen adopted Fourteen as his goddaughter, they had more exchanges.
When he arrived at Beiyaduwei, without notifying anyone beforehand, he coincidentally encountered Zheng Shangming.
"Marquis!" Zheng Shangming appeared quite delighted, stepping forward enthusiastically: "How come you have the time today?"
As the son of the former Beiyar Commander, he didn’t, as Jiang Wang expected, immediately secure an Inspection Vice Director’s post. His waist still bears only a Grade-5 Qing brand.
Thinking deeper, this approach might be wiser. Incrementally rising step by step, restores Beiyar Commander’s post will face much less opposition.
"Brother Shangming." Jiang Wang smiled, "Let’s continue addressing as before; it’s quite unfamiliar being called like that."
The acquaintances met early in Linzi drift and diverged as paths evolved.
He shared honor and disgrace, collaborated with Zhongxuan Sheng.
With Yan Fu and Li Longchuan, sought commonality amidst differences, relied on mutual trust.
With Gao Zhe, they pursued diverging paths, leaving only surface courtesy and vested interests.
With Zheng Shangming, likewise divergent paths, individuals harboring their ambitions, couldn’t become close friends, yet retained some cordiality. Currently due to relationships with Yi Xingchen, there’s room for slight intimacy.
Connections between people are influenced by numerous factors. Those intricate threads weave into the swirling red dust. Jiang Wang continues forward, continually feeling.
"You’re the Marquis everywhere, I’m concerned if I suddenly call you Brother Jiang, it might catch you off guard." Zheng Shangming laughed, picking up the thread, then naturally asked, "Did you come to inspect or concerned about citizen welfare, personally handle several cases?"
His smooth demeanor starkly contrasts his prior self.
"No other matters." Jiang Wang stated directly, "I have a friend, recently lost contact; I hope to leverage Qing brand channels to help find her whereabouts."
"Finding someone is our office’s forte." Zheng Shangming, hearing the situation, initially agreed, then asked, "Your friend is?"
"Lin Youxie." While speaking, Jiang Wang watched Zheng Shangming’s eyes.
Zheng Shangming’s gaze tightened briefly, his brows furrowed, but quickly relaxed.
"Constable Lin is missing?" He remarked, "I’ll immediately order thorough investigation."
