Chapter 417: What Did You Say You Were Going to Do to Minhu?!!! (Two-in-One)

"Working hard?"

Yan Jing's eyes held a smile, making Mo Lian feel a little guilty. "Yes, yes, I've already been here five times this month. It's been very hard work—"

"I can tell."

Yan Jing smiled and nodded. "I see you've become quite familiar with all the major food stalls in Bianliu County, Miss Mo. Your face has gotten a bit rounder."

"Has it—"

Mo Lian subconsciously touched her cheeks, then realized Yan Jing was teasing her. She flushed instantly. "I actually have been working on the tasks you assigned me—"

"Is that so? I imagine tasks as difficult as street sweeping can't be found anywhere else, let alone ones that offer an Ancient Relic as a reward," Yan Jing said with a beaming smile.

Mo Lian's face grew even redder. "I know, I know. You're only treating me so well because of your relationship with Mr. Yan. I really have been working hard. I'm almost at the fifth tier now—"

Mo Lian was telling the truth. When she previously met Yan Jing, she had only been at the second tier. Things were completely different now; she had almost caught up to the First Echelon, which was naturally all due to Yan Jing's efforts.

Yan Jing nodded. "Miss Mo, you really have worked hard."

Delight appeared on Mo Lian's face. She was just about to offer a few words of modesty, but before she could speak, Yan Jing shifted his tone. "But it's not enough."

"According to you, each task takes three days. In a thirty-day month, you could enter Bianliu County ten times at most. But you've only been here five times. That's too few."

When Yan Jing finished speaking, Mo Lian was somewhat dumbfounded.

"But—but I need to rest too—"

Hearing this, Yan Jing sighed. "Miss Mo, Mr. Yan and I are friends, so I understand him. He rarely rests outside of Dungeon cooldown periods. Do you think you're better than him?"

'But you can't compare me to a freak—'

Mo Lian screamed inwardly.

Of course, she couldn't say those words out loud. She could only lower her head dejectedly. "I understand. I'll work twice as hard."

"Very good."

Yan Jing nodded in satisfaction. "Have there been any letters recently?"

"Yes."

Mo Lian—moonlighting as the Bianliu County Magistrate's hand-picked messenger—pulled two letters from her robes.

"Two letters have arrived in the past five days. One is from Director Bi and the other is from Deputy Director Liu. Which one will you read first?"

Bi Jie, current Director of the Inspection Department, and Liu Ye, current Deputy Director of the Negotiation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both of their positions had undergone some slight changes after Luo Sheng left. Of course—it wasn't a simple promotion.

During the great battle that night, Yan Jing had appeared in the guise of Luo Sheng, but not many people had seen his true face. Because it was a match against Heaven, no one—neither low-tier nor high-tier—was willing to taint themselves with that kind of karma.

Even so, the Deputy Prefecture Head of the East Lake Prefecture had painstakingly investigated the aftermath and found a few traces, which led to a rather awkward situation for both Bi Jie and Liu Ye.

In the end, Bi Jie's rank had risen by half a level, but his actual power remained largely unchanged. He was assigned as the Director of the Inspection Department Procurement Office and now spent his days enjoying an abundance of free time.

Liu Ye fared even worse. It was a textbook case of being openly promoted, secretly demoted. He was transferred from the Patrol and Inspection Office to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With the East and West Lake Prefectures currently experiencing an eventful and troubled period, one could imagine that his days were not easy.

"Read Director Bi's first," Yan Jing said.

Bi Jie had contacted him previously, and the two had discussed a rather important matter.

"Alright."

Mo Lian nimbly opened the letter. "Lord Magistrate, in accordance with what we discussed last time, I have decided to set out. If my calculations are correct, my arrival should not be far off from the time this letter reaches you. Sincerely yours."

Yan Jing blinked. "When was this letter received?"

"Yesterday," Mo Lian said.

"Then he should be arriving soon—" Yan Jing nodded. "Alright, next letter."

"Okay." Mo Lian opened Liu Ye's letter. "Lord Magistrate, I heard from Bi Jie that he is preparing to head to Bianliu County to meet with you. I politely declined your request last time; the reason was already explained in my previous letter—there was a rather important meeting."

"But the situation is different now. This matter is truly urgent, so I had no choice but to come rashly without asking for your opinion first. Please forgive my impudence."

"Barring any accidents, I should arrive at your place roughly two or three days after this letter reaches you. Sincerely yours."

Liu Ye was coming too.

Yan Jing hadn't expected such a coincidence. He looked at Mo Lian and asked, "And when did this letter arrive?"

"Three days ago," Mo Lian said, checking the postmark.

"Call our train station master over."

"Will do."

A short while later, the train station master was brought before Yan Jing.

"Lord Magistrate."

Looking at the magistrate before him, the station master didn't dare show the slightest negligence. He had heard exactly how his predecessor had disappeared.

"Mm. I called you here to ask—have there been many trains coming to Bianliu County from the Third Lake Prefecture recently?"

"Not many, not many at all."

The station master waved his hand and leaned in closer to Yan Jing. "Things haven't been peaceful over there lately."

"Many stations have been closed. During this time, there have only been two trains heading our way in total. One arrived three days ago, and the other should be arriving tonight."

"I see," Yan Jing nodded. "Alright, that's all. Sorry to trouble you with the trip over."

"No trouble, no trouble at all."

After the station master slipped away, Yan Jing mounted the Buddha Bird and turned to Mo Lian. "Take a trip to Old Monkey's place and tell him to prepare some food."

"Consider this one of your tasks for this time."

"Understood, understood."

Mo Lian nodded vigorously. Where else could she find such a good gig? The tasks were simple, the rewards were rich, and the residents spoke so nicely.

Riding the Buddha Ear Bird, Yan Jing directed it to fly east. About an hour or two later, he saw an inverted cone of steam in the distance, slowly moving toward them from the horizon.

He immediately controlled the Buddha Ear Bird to descend, landing next to the conductor's cabin. He tapped lightly on the window and amplified his voice just a "little bit."

The dozing train conductor felt as if thunder had detonated right next to his ear. He was instantly startled awake. Upon seeing the Buddha Ear Bird and the black-robed Yan Jing on its back, he leaped straight out of his chair, turned around, and bolted toward the passenger carriages.

Before long, a group of people surged over from the carriages. The leader was a man wearing a Chinese tunic suit, sporting a small mustache and a square face. The other man was emaciated, bearing the classic look of a starved ghost.

"Vile beast!!!"

Bi Jie roared as soon as he stuck his head out the window. A second later, upon seeing Yan Jing, he blinked and quickly pulled his head back in.

"What's wrong?" Liu Ye looked at Bi Jie in confusion.

"The situation is a little complicated," Bi Jie said, unconsciously gnawing on his thumbnail.

"Let me see."

Throwing caution to the wind, Liu Ye shoved Bi Jie aside and stuck his head out. "Audacious! This is the territory of the East Lake Prefecture! An unawakened beast spirit actually dares—"

He choked on his words and pulled his head back in as well.

"It really is a little complicated," he said, looking at Bi Jie.

Just as the group was at a loss for what to do, several threads surged in through the window. Amid the chaos, the threads forcefully wrapped around the two men and yanked them right out the window.

"Everyone, don't be afraid! With me, Director Bi Jie of the Inspection Department Procurement Office here, this vile beast won't be able to stir up any trouble!!!" Bi Jie bellowed, leaving behind his "final words."

At this time, Liu Ye, finally coming to his senses, hurriedly spoke up: "Right! And there's me, Deputy Director of the Negotiation Division of the Ministry of Foreign—mph!"

He was too slow and couldn't finish his sentence before he completely disappeared without a trace.

The two men landed on the back of the Buddha Ear Bird. They opened their eyes and looked at Yan Jing.

"It has been a long time, my lords," Yan Jing said with a smile, clasping his hands together.

Both Liu Ye and Bi Jie clasped their hands in return. "Mr. Yi, it has been a long time."

During their written correspondence, they had always used "Lord Magistrate" to address him out of fear of exposure. In reality, the two of them already knew that Luo Sheng had gone to another region.

"It has been a long time since we last parted ways." Yan Jing smiled. "As I mentioned in the letters, I invited the two of you here this time because there are some important matters I wish to discuss."

"Please speak, sir," Bi Jie said.

"This matter is quite delicate. Let's wait until we get to the county to discuss it," Yan Jing smiled.

Seeing Yan Jing act so urgently and mysteriously, the two grew even more curious about what he had to say.

Bi Jie looked at the rapidly passing scenery around them, feeling exceptionally relaxed.

For him, this trip to Bianliu County was essentially meant to be a vacation to clear his head.

He couldn't help it. Ever since being promoted to Procurement Director, he found his days somewhat boring. Whenever he had free time, he would deeply miss his days in Bianliu County.

Unfortunately, neither Luo Sheng nor Old Master Liu could be found anywhere right now. It just so happened that Yi Ji had mentioned having something important to discuss, so he had taken the opportunity to sneak away from his duties and chat with him.

Liu Ye beside him, however, was a different story. His face was currently scrunched up like a bitter melon, and he sighed incessantly.

"Is something weighing on your mind, Lord Liu?"

Bi Jie threw an arm around Liu Ye's shoulders and pointed at the low-lying mountains and plains below. "Relax a little. Look. Look at these mountains, this grass. What is there to be so upset about?"

"I feel like I really am not suited to be an official."

"Why would you say that, Lord Liu?!" Bi Jie's eyes went wide. "Where could anyone find a good official who serves the country and the people like you nowadays?"

Liu Ye let out a long sigh. "Just now, I didn't even think to announce my title. I'm truly too politically insensitive. It got to the point where I didn't even manage to say my own name in the end—"

Bi Jie truly hadn't expected Liu Ye to still be hung up on that.

Changing his train of thought, he suddenly said, "Wait, that's not right, Lord Liu. I saw you looking like this on the train earlier. You must have something else on your mind, right?"

Beside them, Yan Jing picked up the thread of the conversation. "Lord Liu wrote to me saying he had run into an emergency. I wonder what the problem is?"

Looking at the two curious men, Liu Ye let out another heavy sigh. "You two wouldn't know this, but I'm going to be leaving Minhu for a business trip to the outer domains. Once I leave, I have no idea how long it will be before I can return."

"A business trip?" Yan Jing and Bi Jie were both taken aback.

"They're sending you on a business trip at a time like this? Where are you going?" Bi Jie asked in confusion.

"To a Domain called the Heavenly Kingdom." Liu Ye's words stunned Yan Jing once again.

"Right now, the two Lake Prefectures are on the verge of war, yet our surface strength is practically identical. So, both sides are currently seeking help from external forces."

Liu Ye continued, "As for me, I am being sent to a place called the Survival Heavenly Kingdom. It would be fine if I were going to any other Heavenly Kingdom. I've heard there are many countries in that Domain that are quite civilized and reasonable. The Heavenly Kingdom the West Lake Prefecture allied with previously is even more incredibly prosperous. But of all places, this Heavenly Kingdom—"

Liu Ye paused for a moment. "I've heard it's an extremely remote and desolate land that only survives in the cracks by relying on a secret weapon. The residents there don't have enough to eat, making it no different from a land of barbarians."

Hearing this, Bi Jie gave Liu Ye a highly sympathetic look.

Indeed, being sent to that kind of Domain was no different from being exiled.

However, he still offered some words of comfort. "Don't worry too much. Perhaps it won't be as bad as you think."

Upon hearing Bi Jie's words, even though Liu Ye knew the man was just consoling him, his heart still felt a slight sense of comfort. But unexpectedly, Yan Jing suddenly spoke up from the side, "Wrong! I know that Domain."

"What do you mean?" Hearing Yan Jing say this, the heart Liu Ye had just managed to settle leapt right back into his throat.

"That place is the worst place I've ever been to! The people there are simply unreasonable! Impossible to communicate with! Utterly stupid! Aside from a small handful who still retain a conscience, the rest are either walking corpses or perpetrators of the most heinous crimes!!!"

"What?" Hearing this, Liu Ye felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His eyes lost their focus.

"Lord Liu! Lord Liu, you have to stay strong!!!" Bi Jie looked at Liu Ye, who seemed to have lost his soul, and hurriedly grabbed his shoulders to keep him from falling off the Buddha Ear Bird's back.

He looked at Yan Jing, who seemed incredibly indignant, and couldn't quite wrap his head around it. In his impression, Mr. Yi had always been emotionally stable. Why was he so furious today? Moreover, it seemed like he was harboring some serious personal grievances.

A long while later, Liu Ye finally seemed to regain his senses and let out a heavy breath of stale air. "It's fine. I had already mentally prepared myself. I'm not the only one going this time; there are several others. If we adapt to the circumstances as they arise, nothing bad will necessarily happen. Thank you for the warning, Mr. Yi."

He cupped his hands toward Yan Jing and then said, "I wonder if, after we arrive in Bianliu County, Mr. Yi could tell me a little more about that Heavenly Kingdom so I can be properly prepared."

"No problem." Yan Jing nodded, then looked at Liu Ye. "However, you still need to mentally prepare yourself, Lord Liu. The local customs there aren't nearly as honest and simple as they are here in Bianliu County."

'What?! Even more treacherous than Bianliu County?!'

Liu Ye's body swayed. The state of mind he had just barely managed to stabilize shattered to pieces once again, and he nearly tumbled right off the bird's back.

"Lord Liu! Lord Liu!!" Bi Jie hurriedly stepped forward to support him again, then looked at Yan Jing with a bitter smile. "Mr. Yi, you're right. We'd better wait until we get to Bianliu County to talk, or else I'm afraid Mr. Liu won't be able to hold on."

Yan Jing nodded. "Lord Bi makes a valid point. Actually, I have already thought of a way to help Lord Liu. We can discuss it when we arrive."

"Wait!"

Liu Ye bolted upright like a dying man in his sickbed, looking at Yan Jing upon hearing that there was a solution. "Mr. Yi, you have a solution?"

"I do," Yan Jing nodded.

"Could you reveal a little bit of it, Mr. Yi?" Liu Ye's eyes shone brightly.

"Old Ye, we really should wait until we reach Bianliu County—" Bi Jie advised from the side. He had a terrible premonition and felt that Yan Jing was about to say something utterly appalling. He was worried Liu Ye wouldn't be able to handle it.

"Just a little bit."

Liu Ye was resolute. He had always been the quiet, reticent type, but this matter didn't just concern his political career—it even concerned his very life. Thus, he wanted to settle his nerves.

"I can handle it, Mr. Yi."

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Yan Jing blinked.

"I'm sure," Liu Ye nodded. Beside him, Bi Jie had already gripped his shoulders tightly in advance.

"Alright then—"

Yan Jing gazed into the distance and spoke softly, "I am still able to contact Young Master Luo through a certain method. Therefore, after discussing it with him, I have decided—"

Under the two men's serious gazes, Yan Jing enunciated clearly, "To conquer Minhu."

"Boom!!!"

It was as if a bolt of heavenly lightning had struck down. Bi Jie and Liu Ye lost their senses simultaneously and nearly slid right off the Buddha Ear Bird's back together. Fortunately, Yan Jing's eyes had preemptively unfurled threads to stabilize the two of them.

Even so, the two sat on the back of the Buddha Ear Bird in a daze for a long time, their pupils unable to focus.

"Mr. Yi, you're... being very humorous today..."

This time, Liu Ye was the first to recover. He flashed Yan Jing a smile that looked uglier than crying.

He decided he would absolutely never bring up the matter of solving the business trip again. At the same time, his estimation of his own fate on this trip sank even lower.

Hadn't he heard what the man just said?

Solving the business trip was actually harder than conquering Minhu!

That was enough to show just how difficult this trip would be.

Unexpectedly, Yan Jing shook his head. "I'm not being humorous, my lords. I'm completely serious."

Bi Jie and Liu Ye exchanged a glance. Then, with a stern expression, Bi Jie declared loudly, "That is absolutely impossible, Mr. Yi! I am the Director of the Inspection Department Procurement Office of Minhu's East Lake Prefecture! As the saying goes, born a person of Minhu, die a ghost of Minhu! Although Minhu is currently going through an eventful period, there is absolutely no way I would ever betray—"

Before his words had completely fallen, a massive expanse of dark clouds suddenly drifted rapidly toward them from the distance.

The Buddha Ear Bird beneath them abruptly let out a piercing shriek. Its entire body began to tremble as if some unimaginable existence was rapidly approaching.

In the next instant, countless shards of dark clouds pierced out from beneath the Buddha Ear Bird. In a mere flash, the bird's wings were entirely impaled. With a tragic cry, its body rapidly plummeted.

At the same time, a giant gray hand reached out from within the dark clouds and grasped toward them, terrifyingly intending to crush them right in its palm.

"Oh no, it's the Ancestor Hand!!"

Bi Jie cried out in alarm. He immediately materialized a python robe and mobilized his dragon aura to pull the three of them backward.

The Ancestor Hand's tier was two tiers higher than the Ancestor Ear, already approaching the Sixth Tier. It was absolutely not something they could fight against.

They were in mortal danger today!

Both Liu Ye and Bi Jie wore solemn expressions.

Unexpectedly, in the very next instant, several pitch-black, thunder-like objects tore through the gloomy sky with the momentum of a mighty army, ripping the heavens apart as if a thunderstorm were surging upward in reverse.

"Bang!!!"

On that giant, mountain-like hand, three fingers instantly blew apart.

Blood poured down like a torrential rainstorm, and chunks of minced meat the size of millstones flew everywhere.

Under the shocked gazes of Liu Ye and Bi Jie, Yan Jing flapped the wings behind his back. Grabbing hold of the two men, he flew straight toward the Ancestor Hand. "My lords, your luck is quite good. You've gotten a new mount right after arriving. You really are guided by lucky stars. This is truly a great blessing for our Bianliu County."