I Have A Qi Fortune Altar

Chapter 161: Chapter 153: Sword Control in Action! (Please Subscribe)

After several days passed without incident, Chen Yuan set aside his eager thoughts and instead focused his spirit entirely on cultivation!

Although his cultivation had reached the pinnacle of Qi Absorption, he could still refine his foundation or practice techniques like the Wind Controlling Body Method.

He had come to understand that one probably could not force Qi Fortune; based on past experiences, it might actively seek him out without his pursuing it.

In that case…

It was best to cultivate slowly.

Yet no sooner had Chen Yuan made up his mind about this than he was summoned before Tao Qingyuan by means of a waist token, to be given a new task. To this… Chen Yuan was somewhat expectant,

wondering if the whereabouts of the child of Qi Fortune might be related to this new mission.

Just as capturing Ren Changyi had led to his grandson.

“Your mission this time is to investigate a person!”

Tao Qingyuan’s expression was as still as an ancient well, showing no emotion.

“Investigate?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan was a bit surprised; he had thought his task would be the same as the last, to annihilate something. Compared to that, tracking a criminal’s traces could take too long.

It bore a great deal of uncertainty and might even delay Chen Yuan’s time, far less straightforward than eradicating a sect or killing someone.

“Correct…” Tao Qingyuan nodded his head.

He knew Chen Yuan quite well; whether it was his previous time in Ping’an County or in Nanling Prefecture investigating criminals and solving enigmas, his methods were quite extraordinary.

So when this task came up, the first person to come to his mind was Chen Yuan.

“May I ask who the criminal is?”

Chen Yuan asked.

Yet another thought he kept to himself was his suspicion that the person he was to hunt might be connected to his own Qi Fortune. With this in mind, Chen Yuan grew more interested.

“A major case occurred in Cao County a few days ago, which angered not only the Magistrate but also caught the attention of the State Governor. You should take this responsibility seriously,

and if you can solve the case quickly, your name might soon be on the lips of the State Governor, which would be greatly beneficial to your future prospects.”

“Moreover, the State Governor is known for promoting those with potential…”

By this point, Chen Yuan had understood clearly.

If he could gain the favor of the State Governor, Chen Yuan’s future prospects would be even brighter, and he might even be transferred to serve directly under the State Governor.

A State Governor, a Third Rank authoritative official, even though a civil servant, held a very high position, stronger than even a Heavenly Patrol Golden Envoy of a higher level, and were real regional chancellors.

Compared to the County Magistrate, a Heavenly Patrol Green Envoy and a Magistrate were not under each other’s jurisdiction, and a State Governor was nominally even a partial superior to a Heavenly Patrol Golden Envoy.

Sometimes they also had to act on orders.

Looking across the realm, there were less than ten such powerful officials, with some states not even having the position of State Governor…

It was a new role established by the Emperor a few years ago to deal with the increasingly unstable situation in the world.

“Please give your commands, my lord. I will do my utmost.”

Chen Yuan quickly said.

Tao Qingyuan ‘hmm’ed, then began to describe the specifics of the case:

“A few days ago, a swordsman in green attire in Cao County…”

Hearing this, Chen Yuan was quite stunned.

Several major families were slaughtered to the last, and the entire County Government was killed; the swordsman in green robes left unchallenged.

This was indeed a shocking case of annihilating a County Government, no wonder the Magistrate was so angered, as this was a blatant defiance of imperial authority.

The No-Life Sect had done the same in the past and were met with severe punishment by the imperial court.

The imperial court could allow Jianghu forces to act out to a certain extent, but it absolutely could not tolerate such treasonous crimes, as it would be the end of the imperial court if others were to follow suit.

Nowadays, with the Jianghu forces vast and powerful, the imperial court turned a blind eye for the sake of stability and would not act rashly, but such actions could not be tolerated.

Even the major Jianghu sects would not challenge the imperial court so openly, at most killing a few officials.

If it were troublesome, the imperial court might even present it as the act of corrupt officials.

Having been shocked, Chen Yuan then turned his attention to ‘Cao County’.

Familiar with this county not far from Ping’an County, since he personally had led the annihilation of the Liu Family and interacted with some forces,

he now suddenly learned of their deaths; Chen Yuan did not gloat, nor did he feel sorrow for them, but he suddenly thought of a possibility.

That swordsman in green, with such a targeted extermination of these families, must have had deep hatred and could have lost his rationality to the extent of wiping out the County Government.

This… could it be the person he had anticipated before?

Indeed, when the Liu Family was destroyed, Chen Yuan had considered a great possibility: the much-rumored missing Liu Changkong, absent for three months, might not actually be dead!

And that he would one day return for revenge.

It was not strange for him to think so, the storyline was just too old.

So-called ‘hack writers’ had only so much skill, wasn’t it easy to be guessed?

Of course, this was still just a possibility, and the specifics required looking into the records at the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, to learn precisely who the dead were!

“What do you think?”

After speaking, Tao Qingyuan paused for a moment, giving Chen Yuan enough time to respond.

Boasting was no talent, delivering on one’s word truly was.

“If the swordsman in green robes exterminated those people, it must not have been without reason. I suspect there might be some deep hatred. Starting from this, identifying him won’t be difficult,

but finding him, unless he continues to act, will indeed be challenging if he hides away in a certain place…” said Chen Yuan in a low voice.

“This envoy knows it’s challenging, which is why I called for you. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

“I will do my utmost.”

“Hmm.”

“I’d like to review the specific case files to use as the most basic lead.”

“That is only right, go ahead.”

“I shall take my leave.”

Chen Yuan bowed and turned to leave.

Watching his departing figure, Tao Qingyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, hoping in his heart that Chen Yuan would not let him down and would handle this case beautifully.

Only by demonstrating his own value could he better support Chen Yuan.

Tao Qingyuan indeed valued him, especially after he made it onto the Hidden Dragon List. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have showed up at Tingyu Pavilion to support him when he heard about Chen Yuan killing Bei Le.

The usual Heavenly Patrol Envoys didn’t receive such treatment; this was almost on par with Zhang Xuan.

As for Zhang Xuan, Tao Qingyuan mostly wished for his safety so that he could report back to the higher-ups. Zhang Xuan wasn’t someone he could invest in; at best he was hoping for a good turn of fate.

But Chen Yuan was different; he had no background, with his only significant connection being Zhang Xuan’s regard. If he supported Chen Yuan wholeheartedly, there was a great possibility of future rewards.

The precondition was that he hadn’t fallen.

So for this case that shook Nanling Prefecture, he thought of Chen Yuan first, not only because of his ability, but also in hopes that he would make a name for himself,

and even get recognized by the governor of the State…

Ah, so many worries!

…

Heavenly Patrol Bureau’s case file repository.

Chen Yuan easily found the case file for the Cao County bloodbath. All this information came from the descriptions by some people of Cao County and findings by the Heavenly Patrol Bureau’s investigative department.

Very detailed.

They didn’t know who the masked man in green robes was, but the identities of the deceased weren’t hard to investigate.

After reviewing all the family names carefully, Chen Yuan’s earlier guess grew stronger because these families, including those from the County Government, all shared one thing in common.

They had once together bullied the Liu Family!

Forcing them to give up interests, pressuring the Liu Family to back down, they even got all of the Liu Family’s assets!

Almost all evidence pointed towards the man rumored to have disappeared, the eldest son of the Liu Family, Liu Changkong!

He was touted as the number one genius of Cao County for decades and the hope for the rise of the Liu Family.

Chen Yuan’s lips curved into a cold smile.

If even those who oppressed the Liu Family were dead, then…

Would Liu Changkong, the main culprit behind the Liu Family’s destruction, miss out?

Of course not!

Luckily, Chen Yuan hadn’t slipped up and didn’t have any lingering attachments that Liu Changkong would likely kill, after all, no one in Cao County knew of their good relationship.

They were just superior and subordinate…

Chen Yuan had a big reputation, especially in the regions of Ping’an County and Cao County. His credentials were also readily accessible; parentless and without ties, he was transferred to Nanling Prefecture to serve as a Heavenly Patrol Envoy.

He guessed that, if nothing went wrong, Liu Changkong should now be on his way to Nanling Prefecture City, ready to intercept and seek revenge.

He knew a bit about Liu Changkong’s strength; before disappearing, he was at the Qi Absorption Level, and by the rule of thumb… cough, if nothing went wrong, the guy’s breakthrough would at most be to the Condensing Evil Realm.

He could handle it!

Of course, he still needed to make some preparations in advance, just let him dare to come, and he’d be dead for sure!

For this purpose, Chen Yuan decided to stay in Nanling Prefecture City for three days. If the person didn’t come looking for him in those three days, either he had the wrong person,

or he didn’t dare to battle in the City.

After all, the City had powerful figures from the court like the Wind Control Capital Commandant.

The Government wouldn’t discuss things like Jianghu righteousness; once he showed himself, it would definitely be an attack by numbers.

Thinking this, Chen Yuan felt somewhat relieved.

He was actually more concerned that Liu Changkong wouldn’t dare to come and that he would have to act as bait himself, but that might indeed get troublesome.

…

…

North of Nanling City.

Above the expansive Yunjiang River, a passenger boat travelled downstream from another state, and a young man in green robes, carrying a long sword and standing with his hands behind his back on the deck, gazed at the approaching Nanling City which grew larger by the moment.

He… Liu Changkong, was here today to take revenge for the dozens of the Liu Family, and to honor the spirits of his parents and siblings with Chen Yuan’s head!

“I’m here…”

Liu Changkong whispered to himself with an icy expression.

He wasn’t thinking of assassination but intended to kill Chen Yuan openly and honorably, as a challenger.

Chen Yuan’s name was on the Hidden Dragon List; it was normal for a genius to challenge him, and it was unlikely anyone would know his real purpose for a short time.

“Whoo…”

A gust of cold wind howled.

Liu Changkong’s eyes widened as he saw the figure flying ahead with Sword Control.

————-

Thank you to the mighty patron Li Shang Ruo Xie for the 10,000 point coins reward at the start of the month, coincidentally… A minor character officially appears!

At the beginning of the month, I’m asking for Monthly Tickets, don’t hold back on the votes!