In the main hall, Lei Yun sat high in the host's seat.
Chen Fei beckoned two subordinates to carry in a large chest, then waved his hand for them to leave. Now only Lei Yun, his staff officer, and Chen Fei remained in the hall.
Chen Fei cupped his hands in salute and said, "Lord Lei, I come at Small Banner Gu's command to pay you a visit on his behalf. Originally, he should've come in person, but he's currently tied up at the Prefecture Government and truly cannot spare the time. He says he's been with the Embroidered Uniform Guard for some time but hasn't yet come to see you—a serious oversight. Once he's out from the Prefecture Government, he'll come to confess and apologize himself, without delay."
"Hmph." Lei Yun snorted coldly, the veins bulging on his skinny neck as he spoke in a low voice: "A visit? Is this his way of paying a visit? He killed a colleague in the Hundred Households Office. I cannot afford to accept such a visit!"
Chen Fei hurriedly said, "Lord Lei, after all, Small Banner Gu is only just of age, young and hot-blooded. When attacked in public, he acted impulsively. Now that it's happened, he regrets causing you trouble, which is why he specially ordered me to come and apologize on his behalf."
As he spoke, Chen Fei slowly opened the chest.
The shining silver ingots glistened with a unique brilliance—an entire chest packed full.
Seeing this, Lei Yun's gloomy expression instantly softened, and he spoke slowly: "What you say is reasonable. Young men are indeed easily impulsive. Tell me exactly what happened. As long as Small Banner Gu didn't kill for no reason, I won't chill the hearts of my own people. I worked with his father for years. Though he's about the age of my grandson, in terms of seniority, he's as my young nephew."
Chen Fei hurriedly recounted every detail of the events in the dungeon and what had happened later in the Hundred Households Office.
He followed Gu Zhan's instructions, adding nothing extra.
After he finished, Lei Yun nodded slightly,
Exactly as he'd heard from his own sources,
He instantly felt assured, saying: "You may go now. Since it was Cao Feng who, desperate after his plot to assassinate Shangguan was exposed, hired killers, then Small Banner Gu has no crime. I'll explain the matter to Lord Hundred Households—there will be no consequences for him."
"Many thanks, my lord."
Chen Fei bowed deeply and withdrew from the hall.
Once Chen Fei was gone, Lei Yun slowly turned to his staff officer and asked: "What do you think of that Gu Zhan kid?"
The staff officer smiled and said, "A fine young man. Though impulsive, he knows what's important and didn't exaggerate matters—he's clever. Still, whether to help him or not depends on your will, my lord."
Lei Yun glanced at the chest of silver, pondered for a moment, then said: "He's sensible too. Compared to his father, he quite surpasses him. I can give him an opportunity—his Small Banner post is safe."
The staff officer smiled faintly, took another look at the chest, and inwardly admired Gu Zhan's boldness.
One thousand taels of silver—no small sum.
Chief Banner Lei couldn't possibly ignore it.
Decisive, bold, and still young—these traits alone already set him above most in the Hundred Households Office.
Lei Yun looked again at the chest, his aged face full of smiles. He said, "I never noticed before—this kid really knows how to get things done. Far more reasonable than Cao Feng. Hmph, that Cao Feng, just recently pocketed eight hundred taels from the Celestial Water Gang's affair, but only gave me three hundred. Dead is dead—so be it!"
...
The next day, Gu Zhan, who'd spent a night locked up in the Prefecture Government, was released.
The Prefecture Government quickly closed the case,
Cao Feng died for nothing, had a heap of charges pinned on him, and even his family implicated. Zhang Peng was sentenced directly to execution,
While Gu Zhan wasn't affected in the slightest.
At the Prefecture Government gate,
Chen Fei had been waiting for some time. Seeing Gu Zhan come out, he hurried to greet him, "My lord, I just heard the case is closed."
Gu Zhan nodded.
Chen Fei sighed, "If I'd known it would be so easy, there'd have been no need for gifts. Pity about all that silver!"
A thousand taels,
Chen Fei felt pain just thinking about it.
Gu Zhan sneered, glanced at Chen Fei, and said, "Captain Chen, your cultivation and experience are no less than Cao Feng's—in fact, you're stronger. Do you know why all this time you've been suppressed by Cao Feng?"
Chen Fei paused, doubtfully shook his head.
Gu Zhan said, "Because he's more skilled at handling affairs. Sacrifice and gain. No sacrifice, no gain!"
With that, Gu Zhan said no more.
He knew perfectly well: the reason this situation resolved so easily was mainly thanks to those one thousand taels of silver.
Though he had reason to kill Cao Feng,
No matter the era, reason alone is never enough—especially in the Government Office, where things are always complicated and nothing is ever simple.
First and foremost, regardless of his justification,
To kill someone in the Hundred Households Office is a big deal—this would cause significant negative impact on South City Hundred Households Office.
Even martial world gangs care about reputation, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard cares even more.
Internal fighting is already bad enough if it gets out, let alone public murder.
Although Cao Feng's deeds were exposed and Gu Zhan didn't end up in prison, Hundred Households Office, for its reputation and internal public opinion, would still punish Gu Zhan.
Most likely he'd be suspended for a while, to let the disturbance die down and see what happens.
But now, Gu Zhan has just taken office—if he's suspended, his Small Banner post would essentially be over.
Moreover,
If Hundred Households Office didn't intervene, the Prefecture Government wouldn't have closed the case so fast. Who knows how long he would've been locked up.
...
The next day.
Gu Zhan once again reported for duty at Hundred Households Office.
This time, everything was totally different. Previously, Gu Zhan's presence at Hundred Households Office was negligible—not just people from other departments, even his own subordinates didn't pay him any mind.
But today,
All the Embroidered Uniform Guards he passed greeted him respectfully.
However,
Gu Zhan first went to pay respects to Chief Banner Lei Yun.
The conversation was very pleasant.
After leaving Lei Yun's office, Gu Zhan did not return directly to his own office, but headed for the Hundred Households Office's Inheritance Pavilion.
As Small Banner, he was entitled to claim two martial arts secret manuals,
Yet, because previous Gu Zhan's martial cultivation was entry level, he had no need and had never claimed them.
He arrived at the Inheritance Pavilion,
Where a specialist handed Gu Zhan some reference materials.
After pondering a while, Gu Zhan chose a saber technique and a Qinggong skill.
The saber technique was the Mountain-Opening Saber Technique, a grand, powerful slaughter technique; the Qinggong was the Big Goose Skill, suited both for combat footwork and for traversing rooftops and walls.
Both martial arts secret manuals were of considerable grade—above-average in the martial world. The Inheritance Pavilion had even higher ones, but without merit, Gu Zhan couldn't claim them.
But for Gu Zhan's current situation, these two manuals were already enough. He could plot for more advanced ones later.
After receiving the two manuals,
Gu Zhan left the Inheritance Pavilion, checking his system page as he walked:
Player: Gu Zhan
Realm: Sixth Grade
Cultivation Technique: Profound Yuan Skill (Fourth Floor 0/300)
Skills: Wind-Breaking Saber Technique (Great Success)
Big Goose Skill (Entry Level 0/10)
Mountain-Opening Saber Technique (Entry Level 0/10)
Experience Points: 20
...
As expected, just as Gu Zhan guessed, these two secret manuals were quite advanced—even just entry level required experience points equal to that needed for Wind-Breaking Saber Technique's great success.
At once,
Gu Zhan used up his remaining twenty experience points!