Free Web NovelChapter 148: Chapter 110: The Six Sects of the Prefecture, Background and Backing
Would he be unable to stomach the insult and lash out on the spot, or would he prove to be a man who knows when to yield and simply back down?
However, Chen Sheng’s reaction once again defied their expectations.
Not only did he show no sign of displeasure, but he actually nodded in deep agreement, his tone placid as he added:
"Peacekeeper Envoy Zhan’s words are very prudent. Since that is the case, then let’s do as Peacekeeper Envoy Zhan says. It will not be too late to make arrangements after the new Deputy Captain is appointed. I have only just arrived, so it works out perfectly. I need some time to properly familiarize myself with the operational procedures of the Jingwu Bureau."
Lu Cheng and Zhao Changqiu were both stunned. They were surprised that Chen Sheng had so readily accepted this cold reception, and even appeared so nonchalant, as if he didn’t care at all.
Upon hearing this, Zhan Fusheng’s eyes narrowed, a cold light flashing in their depths. His tone grew a few shades colder as he said:
"Good. In that case, Peacekeeper Envoy Chen can..... slowly get acquainted."
"Since you gentlemen have important matters to discuss, I won’t impose any longer. I’ll take my leave."
As if he hadn’t detected the chill in the other man’s words, Chen Sheng calmly rose. He clasped his hands in a small bow toward Lu Cheng and Zhao Changqiu, then turned and walked out of the Government Office with a steady stride, showing not a hint of hesitation.
Watching Chen Sheng’s back disappear through the doorway, Zhan Fusheng fell silent for a moment before his gaze shifted to Zhao Changqiu. His tone was impossible to read.
"Peacekeeper Envoy Zhao, this Peacekeeper Envoy Chen... where does he come from?"
Zhao Changqiu’s heart tightened, and he rushed to deny any connection.
"Captain Zhan, I... I really don’t know. Today was the first time I have ever met Peacekeeper Envoy Chen. I know nothing about his background."
For one, Zhao Changqiu truly didn’t know. For another, he didn’t want to offend either side. He would never pick a side before the situation was clear. If he chose the wrong one, the consequences would be dire.
After all, the other man might have a powerful backer and come out unscathed, but he had no such protection. It was only natural for him to look out for number one.
"Didn’t you hear Peacekeeper Envoy Chen refer to me as ’Peacekeeper Envoy Zhan’ just now?"
Zhan Fusheng’s tone turned cold, carrying a hint of warning. "Peacekeeper Envoy Zhao, you would do well to be more careful with that ’Captain’ title. You wouldn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble for me... or for yourself."
A chill went down Zhao Changqiu’s spine. Realizing Zhan Fusheng was now displeased with him, he quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Yes, yes, of course. It was a slip of my tongue. Perhaps Peacekeeper Envoy Chen is just unaware of the full situation. How about... I find an opportunity to go and clarify things with him?"
"Hmph. My official letter of appointment has not yet arrived. If you go to ’enlighten’ him now, wouldn’t it appear to others that I’m eager to seize power, making me a laughingstock?"
Zhan Fusheng snorted coldly, then his tone shifted. "Peacekeeper Envoy Zhao, if you truly want to help, how about you look into this man’s background for me?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Changqiu’s face immediately clouded over, and he fell into a troubled silence.
Secretly investigating a colleague’s background was no simple favor. The moment he did, it would mean he had completely sided with Zhan Fusheng, making an un-reconcilable enemy of Chen Sheng. He was absolutely unwilling to take that step before he had a clear grasp of Chen Sheng’s true standing.
"It seems... I can’t prevail upon Peacekeeper Envoy Zhao." Seeing his reluctance, Zhan Fusheng’s expression darkened completely. He shot to his feet, tossed out one last cold remark, and departed with a flick of his sleeves.
Zhao Changqiu watched his departing back, his own face a mask of utter exasperation.
’One has a Vice Envoy for a backer, and the other is likely no small fry either. When gods fight, why must they make things difficult for a mortal like me?’
...
Meanwhile, after briefly getting Xu Shenzhi and the others settled in, Chen Sheng had gone straight to the Jingwu Bureau’s Archives Pavilion.
Zhan Fusheng was unwilling to grant him any real authority or even a full staff, which, as it turned out, suited Chen Sheng perfectly.
Having just arrived in Ning’an Prefecture, he knew almost nothing about the intricate local power dynamics. Although he had heard snippets of information from Wu Kuang and Lin Shou, it was far from a systematic or clear picture.
This was the perfect opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the situation and plan his future moves.
He spent the entire day buried in the records of the Archives Pavilion. Only when the sky outside the window began to darken did Chen Sheng rub his throbbing temples and slowly close the file in his hands.
After the better part of a day spent cramming, he finally had a clearer outline of the distribution of power in Ning’an Prefecture.
The waters in Ning’an Prefecture ran deeper than he had imagined.
The factions within the prefecture were a tangled, intricate web. At the very top, six major powers were universally recognized: the Golden Spring Temple, the Iron Sword Sect, the Ning’an Wang Clan, Qingfeng Temple, the Danxia Sect, and Luoyun Manor.
All six boasted lineages stretching back hundreds of years and possessed deep foundations. They were each presided over by formidable Martial Dao experts above the Innate realm, and their prestige was profound.
Beneath these were the numerous second- and third-rate factions that survived by attaching themselves to the six great powers, creating an incredibly tangled web. The Xu Family, to which Xu Shenzhi belonged, was a good example. They were considered a leader among the second-rate factions, with a Martial Master of the Earth Fiend realm serving as their pillar of strength.
And aside from these orthodox factions, Ning’an Prefecture was also home to a number of active demonic and heretical groups.
Among the bandits, the strongest was the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, which, despite being founded only a decade ago, had grown with astonishing speed. Many of the water bandits within Ning’an Prefecture had inextricable ties to it.
Among the Demon Dao factions, the most rampant was the Blood River Sect, which had recently relocated from an Outer Mansion and was attempting to put down roots. The collision between orthodox and demonic factions had left the situation in Ning’an Prefecture fraught with roiling undercurrents in recent years, and it was far from peaceful.
As for the government authorities, their power was naturally not to be underestimated.
Whether it was the Military Preparation Army that guarded the region or the Jingwu Bureau which specialized in suppressing the martial artists of the Jianghu, both wielded tremendous power. No single one of the top factions could contend with them head-on.
However, it was also utterly impossible for the government forces to completely suppress all the local factions.
Behind these Noble Sects were their own tangled networks of patrons and alliances of interest.
Overall, the situation could be aptly summarized in a single phrase: the court and the Noble Sects governed the realm together.
Especially against a backdrop of frequent rebellions and the stirring of both the Taiping Dao and the Demon Dao, maintaining superficial stability was a tacit understanding for both the court and the local magnates.
The only thing that disappointed Chen Sheng was that the files stored below the third floor of the Archives Pavilion consisted mostly of introductions to these various factions and the general situation; he had found no concrete clues about the Blood Spirit Jade Marrow. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
To consult more confidential files and secret information, one needed to ascend to the fourth floor or higher.
But that wasn’t a given.
After all, something like the Blood Spirit Jade Marrow was, strictly speaking, classified as a treasure.
The Jingwu Bureau might have information about such treasures, but not necessarily any record of its whereabouts.
And his current authority as a Peacekeeper Envoy was not enough to set foot there.
Chen Sheng let out a slow breath, pushing the thoughts from his mind.
Since he couldn’t obtain more information for the time being, the most urgent priority was to increase his own strength.
An important reason for his transfer to the Prefecture City was that he had his eye on its more abundant Cultivation Resources.
The Jingwu Bureau naturally had a place for exchanging merit points. Although he lacked merits, he held a huge sum of several dozen Elemental Crystals, enough to exchange for some resources to aid his cultivation.
This half-month of free time was the perfect opportunity to focus on his cultivation and strive to advance his strength.
...
「A few days later」
While Chen Sheng was deep in cultivation at his residence, Zhan Fusheng had used his own channels to roughly ascertain Chen Sheng’s background.
Staring at the report his subordinate had presented, Zhan Fusheng was first stunned, then a wave of fury at having been played for a fool surged through him.
He had originally thought Chen Sheng’s audacity meant he had to have a powerful backer, but the investigation revealed the man was merely a disciple from a county with no background to speak of.
He had only been promoted to the Prefecture City by a stroke of luck, having earned some merit by suppressing bandits down in the counties.
His transfer into the Jingwu Bureau was simply because the bureau was short on manpower and he had been temporarily pulled from the Military Preparation Army ranks to fill the gap. There was no special treatment to speak of.
The thought that he had actually been bluffed by this person—that he had even been cautious enough to investigate him—made Zhan Fusheng’s face burn as if he had suffered a great humiliation.
"So that’s Chen Sheng for you. A mere nobody from the counties dares to put on airs in front of me."
Zhan Fusheng gritted his teeth, his heart churning with rage, and muttered to himself.
"I’ll let you be smug for a few more days. Once my appointment papers arrive, we’ll see how I deal with you. I’ll make you understand just who calls the shots in this G Camp!"
He had already made up his mind. As soon as he officially became Deputy Captain, his first order of business would be to properly put this ignorant and arrogant Chen Sheng through the wringer, to make him thoroughly understand his own place.
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