Chapter 303: Chapter 243: I’m Going to Save a Woman (2)
"Yes, yes. I think managing that dock would be a great gig. The pickings are sure to be rich!"
"To land a post like that, we’ll probably have to spend a fair bit of coin. We need to plan this out carefully..."
Hu Dachun and Lin Maoju had their arms around each other’s shoulders, whispering to one another.
Hu Jun Hall strode into the Mountain and Sea Station and immediately started shouting, "Who’s the shopkeeper? Get out here! I’m booking this entire inn. Get all these peasants out of here. What sort of riffraff do you think you are, daring to stay in the same inn as me?"
After speaking, Hu Jun Hall plopped himself down in an official’s hat chair and propped his feet up on the tea table, making his wife and concubine knead his shoulders and pound his legs.
The attendants at the Mountain and Sea Station were all new hires from commoner backgrounds. They had never seen anyone put on such airs as Hu Jun Hall, so they simply ignored him, pretending not to hear as they continued to serve other guests.
When Hu Jun Hall saw that no one was paying him any mind, he felt he’d lost face. He kicked Li Tao’Er and Li Xing’Er away and bellowed, "Are you all deaf? I’m speaking! Do you want this inn to stay in business or not?"
The inn’s attendants still ignored him, but a tall man in coarse linen clothes frowned and looked down from the second floor, shouting, "Who dares to cause such a commotion here?"
"Well, now! What peasant dares to meddle in my business!" Seeing the man’s shabby clothes, Hu Jun Hall paid him no mind and said with a sidelong glance, "My father is a County Magistrate. You dare to interfere? You’d better see how many lives you’ve got to spare!"
The man laughed. "A County Magistrate? My, what a high-ranking official!"
"If you’re scared, then scram! Otherwise, I’ll break your legs!"
"Oh? Someone dares to be this arrogant in the Huaguo Mountain Territory?"
Another person emerged from behind the man in the coarse linen clothes. This newcomer wore the red robes of an official and was observing Hu Jun Hall with great interest.
The moment Hu Jun Hall saw the official robes, he realized this was a person of importance. His bravado faltered. "Who... who are you?"
The man in the official robes was none other than Zhao Wenliang.
Zhao Wenliang ignored him, speaking only to the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Lu Datong, who stood beside him in coarse linen. "Commander Lu, we should keep our distance from this young hero, lest we get splattered with blood when he’s beaten to death."
"A sound point, my lord!"
Lu Datong agreed, and the two of them paid Hu Jun Hall no more mind, returning to their room.
Hu Jun Hall wanted to call out to them, but the black-bearded man, Yan Tie, quickly blocked his path, frowning. "Young master, don’t seek your own death!"
"Seek my own death?"
"Judging by his official robes, he must be an Inspector Imperial Censor from the Imperial Censorate. That’s a Second Grade position!"
"What? You’re saying he’s a Second Grade official?!"
Hu Jun Hall was so scared he pulled his head back.
Just then, Hu Dachun and Lin Maoju entered the inn. Yan Tie whispered a few words in Hu Dachun’s ear, and the County Magistrate was instantly so terrified that a cold sweat broke out on his brow. He nearly collapsed to the floor.
"Yan, Leader of the Escort Team! Quickly, slap his face! Beat that little bastard until he can’t speak! I will go and apologize personally!"
"Very well!"
Yan Tie didn’t hesitate. He struck at once, and screams of pain instantly filled the inn.
Meanwhile, Hu Dachun went to seek an audience with Zhao Wenliang, trembling with fear and trepidation, but he couldn’t even get through the door.
Zhao Wenliang couldn’t be bothered with a minor County Magistrate like him.
Hu Dachun had no choice but to go back downstairs. He obediently booked rooms and settled everyone in, his heart pounding with anxiety. He felt completely unnerved.
A short while later, a group of three arrived at the Mountain and Sea Station. One was a young, beautiful woman in a long dress with short sleeves, her hair pinned up in a neat and tidy style. This was Pei Xue, the Secretary-General of the Eggshell Castle’s Secretariat.
Of the other two, one wore a leather tunic and a Cloak. His smile gave him an air of stability and reliability. He was Pei Zhi, the head of the Fire Dragon Trading Team.
The last person was draped in a black robe, with a full head of white hair and eyes that glowed green. It was Yang Wanli.
The three had come on official orders, representing the Secretariat and the Foreign Affairs Department, to discuss with Zhao Wenliang matters such as tribute to the Court.
The attendants of the Mountain and Sea Station immediately gathered to welcome them. To these workers, the arrival of Pei Xue and her companions was like a visit from top leadership.
Hu Dachun saw them from a distance and his heart leaped with joy. He recognized Pei Zhi and wanted to go over and curry favor with him.
But before he could even get close, the silver-haired old man beside Pei Zhi glanced at him. Hu Dachun felt a chill wash over him. An inexplicable terror made his skin crawl, sweat bead on his back, and his legs give out, causing him to collapse to the floor.
"Minister, you should restrain yourself a bit. Look how you’ve scared the man!"
Pei Zhi quickly said to Yang Wanli beside him.
Yang Wanli laughed heartily. "With my current level of Cultivation, can ordinary people no longer withstand my gaze?"
"Of course! In the old days, you’d at least be considered an Immortal!"
Pei Zhi said, his face full of envy. Ever since his direct superior, Yang Wanli, had returned, he had been bragging in front of him all day, showing off his abilities from time to time, making Pei Zhi burn with envy and jealousy.
"I heard that a second piece of Tongyou Jade has emerged from the General’s Tomb. You need to perform well and strive to have the big boss award that Tongyou Jade to you. We in the Foreign Affairs Department are often in the public eye. Once you’ve practiced the Tongyou Spell, you won’t have to fear assassination!"
Pei Zhi said seriously, "You’re right, Minister. I will certainly work hard!"
"Good. If you really do end up practicing the Tongyou Spell in the future, I can even give you some pointers!"
Yang Wanli stroked his beard smugly, then added, "By the way, I heard there’s someone else holding a nominal post in our Foreign Affairs Department. A minstrel, I think? And the pay isn’t low. Have you met her?"
Pei Zhi shook his head, but Pei Xue spoke up. "Minister Yang must be talking about Beruna. She’s not a minstrel, she’s a musician. She’s currently at the textile mill producing ’Ten Billion Light-Years’. Once we’ve handled the trivial matters here, I’ll take you to meet her."
