Chapter 49: Buying a House and the Yellow Registers

“What a nuisance,” Zhao Xing muttered to himself.

The Xuantian Sect was like a stubborn skin disease; even if a few strongholds were uprooted, it made no difference—no pain, no itch.

Even after the Great Zhou quelled the chaos in Guangling Prefecture, the Xuantian Sect behind it remained unscathed. It hadn’t truly entered worldly affairs yet.

“There’s not enough information on the Poxing Almanac to report, and doing so might alert the Xuantian Sect. They might mistake me for some prodigy and focus on me even more.”

“If I can’t provoke them, I can at least avoid them.”

Zhao Xing tucked away the Poxing Almanac, deciding to keep his distance.

He couldn’t predict when the Xuantian Sect might strike—maybe in a few years, maybe next month. In any case, caution was key. Avoiding this storm would mean it would eventually pass.

But if he couldn’t dodge it?

“Don’t force me; if cornered, I might just dig up your sect’s mountain gate…”

...

The head of the Sanwan Hall was reviewing intelligence.

Because the Protector had raised Zhao Xing’s capture priority, the target received special attention, with efforts invested in observing his habits, personality, and travel routines.

Yet, after half a month, results were scant.

No opportunities presented themselves at all!

“This guy’s strange. Others have a fixed routine—Sanong Supervision, home, and public fields—but he wanders here and there daily, visiting places and sitting around, never alone. Or else, he just stays home all day, doors shut.”

“He’s too idle. Doesn’t he have to go into town for official duties?”

The Sanwan Hall’s head was puzzled. The paperwork revealed no patterns whatsoever.

A woman playing the role of the hall master’s wife approached, glanced at the notes, and smiled: “His teacher is Xue Wenzhong. He’s spared from menial tasks. It’s normal for him not to leave town; naturally, he’s less busy than other clerks.”

“If he doesn’t leave town, we can’t learn more. Our covert agents within the city find it inconvenient to operate.”

“Take it slow. Still, these two weeks have revealed something.”

“What exactly?”

“He likes visiting others.”

“...”

The hall master was speechless. What kind of trait was that?

“At least it shows he enjoys socializing. Since we can’t find an opening now, we can proceed gradually. The Protector said there’s no need to rush,” the woman reassured.

...

“That’s true. Report honestly to the Protector. With Autumn Equinox approaching, let’s not keep tabs on him within the city. Focus on the outskirts, shrink our efforts, and avoid getting caught by the officials.”

...

Zhao Xing wanted to buy a house—outside the city.

“Why buy a house? Don’t want to live at home anymore?” Zhao Ruide asked, puzzled. “Even if you want to move, why buy outside the city?”

“The houses outside aren’t expensive. I don’t plan to renovate, just need a place to settle,” Zhao Xing said. “The Sanong Officer advises on agricultural affairs. If I need to stay outside the city sometimes, having my own house and land is better.”

“Why buy so many then?”

Seeing Zhao Xing silent, Zhao Ruide stopped asking. He knew his adopted son always had his own ideas. “I’ll handle it for you.”

“Foster father, make sure the official registry lists my name,” Zhao Xing instructed.

“Don’t worry,” Zhao Ruide nodded.

The government’s Yellow Register and Land Register were hailed as the "Twin Yellow Treasures" of the Fortune Dynasty.

When the Great Ancestor of Zhou passed down the myriad laws, he also established many rules, such as “Non-citizens of our dynasty shall not cultivate.”

Without household registration, one wasn’t a citizen of Zhou and couldn’t cultivate at all.

Another rule was: “Do not enter privately owned land without permission.”

This meant that the local government’s land registers officially recorded property ownership.

Once registered, practitioners with magical abilities couldn’t trespass without invitation, as magical protections would bar them.

No matter how powerful the magic, as long as the Fortune Dynasty’s system remained intact, a law-abiding resident was well protected against magical harm at home.

Provided they obeyed the law.

Cases where someone might enter a house uninvited despite magic protections were limited:

One, the homeowner invited them in.

Two, the authorities suspected criminal activity and had formal search warrants.

Three, property disputes caused temporary invalidation of the register.

Four, “benevolent magic” that benefited the homeowner was permitted.

Therefore, Xuantian Sect followers had limited actions within the city and couldn’t just abduct people there.

“Reducing trips outside the city; if I must go, I’ll stay at a property under my name. That lowers the risk of abduction,” Zhao Xing thought.

...

Dealing with the Xuantian Sect was difficult and he didn’t want to invite trouble. But he had plenty of ways to hide.

Having briefly joined the Xuantian Sect in a past life, he was well aware of their methods.

Yet, no matter how prepared—with the Poxing Almanac and Long-Distance Dispatch Token—it was never completely foolproof.

“I can’t rely on the government to eliminate them all. I have to become stronger myself.”

...

The day after the White Dew Assessment ended, Zhao Xing reached the third stage of Energy Consolidation.

He then took a Heavenly Origin Pear every two days, rapidly increasing his vitality.

The ten Energy Consolidation Pills given by Young Master Zong had a balanced, moderate effect and could be used alongside the Heavenly Origin Pears.

In just eight days, Zhao Xing neared the fourth stage of Energy Consolidation.

To the Sanwan Hall’s head, Zhao Xing’s apparent sociability was actually a strategy suggested by Chen Shijie: to spar with peers, improve the digestion of his energy artifact, and accelerate consolidation.

However, none of the clerks under Sanong Supervision could truly challenge him.

Few officials could match Zhao Xing’s magical strength in the agricultural department.

He had thought to spar with the old Sanong Officer but gave up considering his age, his many students to instruct, and official duties.

In the end, Chen Shijie offered a suggestion: “If you want to improve artifact digestion through magical combat, you don’t have to limit yourself to Sanong officials. Let me check the county office for suitable people.”

Martial artists? That was a good idea.

The county office oversaw three armed groups: the Martial Detention Unit, the Patrol Division, and the Judicial Guard. Locals generally called them the Martial Office.

The Martial Detention Unit’s catchers and trainees were unofficial ranks, like the Sanong clerks, with only a few Martial Officers holding official titles.

The Patrol Division was fully official, with a limited number based on the county’s size—thirty to a hundred.

The Judicial Guard handled criminal cases and also had considerable combat power, as catchers and trainees could be promoted to either the Judicial Guard or Patrol Division.

Additionally, Donghu had a garrison, not under civilian control but available for assistance if requested by the county magistrate.

That afternoon, Chen Shijie found Wang Long from the Martial Office and borrowed someone from his team.

When Zhao Xing met the person, he realized he actually knew him.

“Brother Shen?”