Free Web NovelChapter 997: Chapter 243: A Lifetime on Paper
Lin Youxie did not come in person, a cleanly dressed middle-aged man did, his hair meticulously pinned without a hair out of place.
From the keen gaze that habitually surveyed his surroundings, he must also be a Qing brand catcher, but there was no badge hanging at his waist, so it was unclear what grade he was.
He arrived holding a brocaded box, merely stating that his surname was Lin, with no further introduction.
Jiang Wang didn’t dig any deeper.
He cared not how much inheritance Lin Kuang, the legendary arrest officer, had actually left to Lin Youxie.
Still, the thoroughness of the information in the brocade box caught Jiang Wang by surprise.
Inside the brocade box were three booklets in total.
The first book chronicled the history of Beam Top Building, starting from the founding master of this sect up to the present day of the Year 3919 of the Dao Calendar. Each significant milestone was detailed: what happened, the impact it caused... Much intelligence was provided, some of it perhaps even unknown to the current Tower Master of Beam Top Building. However, in this book, nothing was secret.
The degree of control Daqi’s royal court held over the country’s various martial arts sects far exceeded Jiang Wang’s imagination!
No wonder they could give orders at will and call upon sects as they pleased.
No wonder the disputes between the major sects were often settled through official channels rather than private fights.
From this perspective, the sects within Qi Boundary, despite their sect names, were nothing more than another form of government office, incomparable with forces such as East King Valley or Diao Hai Building.
The second book in the brocade box contained information about Chu Mi. This data seemed to have been recently compiled, unlike the first booklet’s old scent; this one had a fresh ink fragrance.
The details were incredibly specific, including Chu Mi’s master, his disciples, his family—
His master had died before him in the Lost World, slain by members of the Sea Clan. His disciple had died even earlier before any of them went to the Lost World. As for his family... Chu Mi had always presented himself as a sly character, known for his craftiness. No one in Beam Top Building knew he had a family, perhaps not even his master. But sure enough, there was a record on the Qing brand catcher’s side.
Chu Mi had a wife and son, both ordinary people, living in a simple small town within Baolong County, far away from Beam Top Building’s main activities in Qingtou County. (Since Beam Top Building had no permanent sect residence, due to its poor reputation, the organization was also more loosely structured.)
This record made Jiang Wang inwardly startled; such meticulous intelligence on an unknown Chu Mi dug deep by the Patrol Inspection Bureau. Then what about others with a name and reputation? Even...himself? fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
The third booklet elaborated on the detailed case of Chu Mi being sentenced to atonement in the Lost World, the entire cause and background of the affair, the hidden truths, all laid out clearly.
These three booklets stacked together formed a thick pile, chronicling one person’s life.
It was evident that Lin Youxie had put thought into the casual "request" that Jiang Wang made only to take a step back. Not willing to take advantage – after all, I’ve made a significant effort, I’m genuinely reciprocating. Whether or not you need information as detailed as this, that’s your own business.
Jiang Wang offered no comment, merely put away the brocade box and said to the middle-aged man named Lin, "I’ve received the intelligence. Please convey my thanks to Officer Lin."
The man met his gaze calmly, "Is there anything insufficient, or not fully comprehensive? I can help you supplement it at any time."
Jiang Wang shook his head, "No, I’m very satisfied."
"That’s good," said the man, then proceeded to leave, not dawdling, "Please, stay."
It seemed both sides agreed on maintaining a distance.
Jiang Wang thus stopped, not seeing him off.
The manager of the villa approached with a slight bow, curiously asking, "Young Master, who was that? Such arrogance."
Everyone up and down in the mansion knew that Jiang Wang and Zhongxuan Sheng were as close as brothers in arms. Especially since Zhongxuan Sheng started gaining the upper hand in the contest for the Family Head position, often staying at the Marquis of Bowang’s Mansion to solidify his status as heir. In this villa, Jiang Wang could almost be regarded as another master.
Jiang Wang smiled, "He’s not any significant figure. He’s just from a background above a Fourth Grade Green Badge, why, were you going to teach him a lesson?"
"How could I have such ability?" The manager shrank back, slipping away to the side.
Living under the Zhong Xuan Family, these people inevitably carried some arrogance. But in any case, he did not dare to disregard an arrest officer of a grade higher than fourth.
Jiang Wang casually said, "Prepare a carriage for me. I need to make a trip to Qiuyang County."
The manager was efficient, immediately going to make arrangements. In less than a moment, a luxuriously decorated carriage pulled up in front of the villa.
Jiang Wang didn’t actually like such showy carriages, but he said nothing, boarded the carriage, and left the mansion straight away.
He had ventured out this time, of course, to take care of Chu Mi’s funeral affairs. He wanted to meet Chu Mi’s wife and children and see what he could do for them.
Chu Mi’s wife and children were in Bao Long County, which happened to be adjacent to Qiu Yang County.
And Qiu Yang County was where the Zhong Xuan Family’s clan land was located.
Jiang Wang had chosen to go to Qiu Yang County under the pretense of helping Zhongxuan Sheng pay respects at the ancestral shrine on the clan land, planning to find an opportunity to secretly visit Bao Long County after arriving at the Zhong Xuan Family’s residence.
The reason for making it so complicated was because Chu Mi certainly wouldn’t have wanted anyone to know about his wife and children’s whereabouts. Chu Mi had kept it a secret all his life, allowing his wife and children to live the lives of ordinary people, and naturally he had his reasons. Now that he was dead, Jiang Wang would not allow himself to inadvertently reveal this information under the guise of goodwill.
It was unclear what day it was today. freewёbnoνel.com
Jiang Wang had been practicing in Xia Shan Villa for several days, undisturbed by visitors and without incident.
Today, he finally made a move, but as his carriage left Xia Shan Villa and had yet to clear Linzi, it was stopped by someone.
"Young Master, someone is asking to see you," the carriage driver’s voice called out from beyond the curtain.
Jiang Wang paused his practice and slightly lifted a finger, and a wisp of wind rolled up the curtain.
Having obtained the Divine Skill of Boundless Wind, he had also started to devote some of his energy to practicing the Dao Technique of Wind, using it whenever he had the chance. It wasn’t out of greed, but to better utilize his Divine Skills.
After all, the Boundless Wind infused with the Killing Life Nails was already stronger than the Samadhi True Fire.
Bending at the waist and standing respectfully by the side of the carriage was a tall man.
Jiang Wang didn’t remember this person at all until he saw the man’s exceptionally large hands and then vaguely recalled that he was called Yan Er, the Fuhai Hand, known as the first Ascending Dragon in Near the Sea.
When Jiang Wang was in the Ascending Dragon Realm, this man, along with those two rascals from the West Screen Duo, had been qualified to cross hands with him.
As for now...
His current waiting posture said it all.
Jiang Wang didn’t intend to slight him on purpose and simply asked, "What do you want?"
Yan Er clasped his hands together and respectfully said, "My master is hosting a banquet at Warm Jade Pavilion and would like to invite Young Master Jiang to grace us with your presence."
Bao the leper?
Jiang Wang frowned slightly and said in a calm voice, "I need to go out. Whatever the matter is, we can discuss it when I return to Linzi."
With that said, the curtain naturally fell.
The carriage driver gathered the reins and the well-trained steeds began to trot forward.
Yan Er stood by, unsuccessful in his invitation and naturally unwilling to accept this outcome, but he did not dare to stop the carriage again.
Jiang Wang of today was not someone he could afford to offend.
What could Bao Zhongqing possibly want by seeking him out?
Inside the carriage, Jiang Wang gave it a brief thought without a clue and then cast it aside.
If Bao Zhongqing truly had something important, approaching with proper respect to request a meeting, Jiang Wang might have been willing to have a chat. As for casually sending a servant to extend an invitation, so to speak, the man currently did not have that kind of standing.
Moreover, Zhongxuan Sheng had also mentioned that this Bao the leper was no simple character.
Anyone feared by Zhongxuan Sheng was definitely not easy to contend with.
To hell with whatever his intentions were!
People with deep schemes and nimble minds were, anyway, difficult to read through. He decided to simply wait for Zhongxuan Sheng’s return to engage in the intricate games with him.
Jiang Wang closed his eyes and let the carriage move forward as he once more submerged himself into his daily cultivation practice.
