Chapter 89: Pressing One’s Advantage

Below the arena, Yuan Kun’s expression darkened. “His combat power has grown again, and even the sword in his hand has become a mid-grade magical artifact. How are we supposed to deal with him now? Will I never get my Immobilizing Mirror back?”

His face twisted with unwillingness as he quietly withdrew.

At this point, anyone who still dared to step onto the stage was either a fool or a lunatic.

To kill such a lovely woman without the slightest hesitation, and with a mid-grade magical artifact in hand besides—how many could possibly prevail against that?

In a corner at the side stood two middle-aged men.

“Old Wang, what do you think?”

“An excellent seedling! Calm, decisive, without the slightest hesitation. With such a beauty before him, there was not the least ripple in his eyes; he killed without blinking. Good temperament. Even more rare, he is not from a sect, but stumbled upon immortal fate by chance. For us, that makes him a truly excellent seedling. Changyuan, we can take him in!”

“Old Wang, his immortal fate should be connected to the Lifeless Sword Sect from a thousand years ago. If we take him in, there may be troublesome aftereffects.”

“Heh! Looking across the world, what force do we fear? The Lifeless Sword Sect is reduced to just him now. There is no need to worry about sect entanglements. Besides, we are only giving him a relatively fair environment. As for how far he can go in the future, that will depend on his own efforts. If he is a worm, the birds will devour him sooner or later. If he is a dragon, one day he will soar through the heavens.”

“You still have the boldness for this. Old Wang, Du Yan is dead.”

“Dead is dead. Does Marquis Anle dare come to our Investigation Office for someone? He must be tired of living!”

“Hahaha, since you say that, I am completely at ease now!”

“You rascal Changyuan, so you had already made up your mind and were deliberately testing me!”

“Alas. Only lately, with the sects restless, demons and fiends rampant, and people obstructing us from the shadows, I have been troubled.”

“Rest assured. We only need to do our own duty.”

On the arena, Jiang Fan swept his gaze left and right. Seeing that no one came up, he leaped lightly through the air and landed before Jiang Shan. “Third Brother, send the corpse to the prefectural manor. Remember to leave behind one hundred thousand silver notes.”

“Alright, leave it to me!” Jiang Shan nodded and led several household servants to clean up the body.

Jiang Zhengan and his wife also let out a breath of relief.

The group returned home, where there was inevitably a lively bustle.

Eastern Peace Pavilion.

“The information on Marquis Anle, and Chen Hao’s background—cousin, sort it out for me as soon as possible and send it over!” Jiang Fan took a sip of tea, his eyes burning brightly.

“So now you are treating me like a servant!” Nangong Rou stamped her foot.

“Since this started because of you, naturally you should bear more of the burden!” Jiang Fan said. “Such a small matter, Cousin, should not be much trouble for you, should it?”

“I’m hungry,” Nangong Rou suddenly said, patting her stomach with a completely irrelevant expression.

“Then eat.”

“I’m full again!” Nangong Rou’s eyes flashed. “Tell me, how would it be if I told Aunt that I’ve been sneaking meals at your place every night these past few days, to the point that my belly has grown a whole circle?”

Jiang Fan shuddered and said helplessly, “That trick again? Is it interesting?”

“Whether it is interesting does not matter. It works, and that is enough. Cousin, don’t push your luck.”

“There is cause, and there is effect. Cousin, if it weren’t for you, how would there be so many troubles?”

“The trouble has already happened. What else can be done?” Nangong Rou suddenly smiled sweetly. “Their information is not hard to obtain, but I’ve already spent all my savings. I need some spiritual liquid to use.”

“Alas! I never should have come back so early,” Jiang Fan sighed. “As soon as the information is delivered, I’ll give it to you.”

“Fine.”

Nangong Rou left.

Jiang Fan stared at the courtyard gate, his brows slightly furrowed. “She has me completely pinned down? She is spending so much for this—what exactly does she want to do?”

As for asking for spiritual liquid, Jiang Fan was certain this was deliberate on Nangong Rou’s part, meant only to deepen their connection.

Since she could casually produce a treasure pouch and a mid-grade magical sword, what did a little spiritual liquid amount to?

“Better not be plotting anything bad,” Jiang Fan murmured. “Otherwise...”

The next day, Nangong Rou brought news and tossed over two case files. “Tonight, I’ll take you to the Investigation Office branch for assessment.”

Jiang Fan nodded and opened the files.

Marquis Anle was simple enough: an ancestor had once produced a powerful expert, who later fought the demons and fiends and was gravely wounded, after which he was granted the title of Marquis Anle.

The current Marquis Anle was also a spirit soul expert, though only at the first step, so he was nothing much.

Chen Hao, however, was somewhat troublesome.

The Divine Sword Sect where he belonged could barely be considered a second-rate sect, and he had been the core senior disciple. Now that he was dead, the sect members would likely come looking for trouble.

“Best not come looking for my trouble.”

Jiang Fan casually tossed the file aside.

A second-rate sect, with not even a single earthly immortal among them—there was truly not much to fear.

That night, Jiang Fan followed Nangong Rou to the Heavenly Edge Pavilion.

It was a five-story tower, ancient and elegant, and Nangong Rou walked in with ease.

Jiang Fan clearly felt that many deep and hidden auras were concealed here. After he entered, strands of consciousness swept over him, then disappeared.

He did not mind.

Soon, they arrived at the inner reception hall, where an elderly man was seated.

“Grandfather Changyuan, I’ve come to see you again!” Nangong Rou curtsied. “This is my cousin, Jiang Fan. Cousin, this is Changyuan, the head of the Investigation Office branch in the prefectural city, and also a close old friend of your grandfather.”

“Greetings, Senior.” Jiang Fan bowed, and everything became clear in his mind.

No wonder Nangong Rou could recommend him, and no wonder she could so easily obtain intelligence.

His grandfather was not to be underestimated either.

Changyuan nodded and said with emotion, “Back then, your ancestral grandfather, Ren Gong, in order to protect the prefectural city, did not hesitate to damage his own foundation in order to destroy the demons. Such great benevolence and virtue are truly admirable!”

“My ancestral grandfather is my model!” Jiang Fan said solemnly.

“He is the model for all cultivators of our human race,” Changyuan said. “Since you are willing to join the Investigation Office, the rules have probably already been explained to you by Xiaorou, so I won’t be long-winded. I will speak only one point. To join the Investigation Office is to oversee the world, slay demons and eradicate fiends, and guard the territory of our human race. For this, even if you must sacrifice your life, can you do it?”

“Slaying demons and eradicating fiends is the duty of us all!”

“Good. To become an inspector, there will be three trials of assessment. Today, I will give you the first one.” As he spoke, Changyuan handed over a dossier.

Jiang Fan took it and opened it. The first thing he saw was the word “Judgment.” Beneath it were detailed records. After reading them, he looked up at Changyuan. “This...!”

“How to deal with it is up to you.”

“Now?”

“Right now.”

“Fine. I’ll go at once.”

Jiang Fan nodded, took the dossier, and turned to leave.

Changyuan stood and pointed outside. “Xiaorou, coming with him?”

“That works too.” Nangong Rou smiled. “For my cousin, this trial is very easy.”

“Easy?” Changyuan shook his head with a smile. “It may seem easy, but most candidates end up failing right here.”

“Without enough courage, this trial indeed cannot be passed,” Nangong Rou agreed deeply.

The two of them also walked out.

The night was deep, but the prefectural city remained lively.

Especially the entertainment houses, where the day’s boisterous life had only just begun.

Jiang Fan arrived before an ordinary residence, paused slightly, and pushed the door open to enter.