428: Chapter 427: Just Right [Seeking Basic Monthly Ticket Support] 428: Chapter 427: Just Right [Seeking Basic Monthly Ticket Support] Hou Niao left the main gate and headed straight for the Sikong Mansion.
The time had come, there was no need to drag things out any longer.
If between him and Li Chuping one had to make the first move, it would certainly have to be him.
It was a perfect opportunity to brush away this minor issue involving the young master of the Duan Family and, once cloaked in the authority of the Sikong Mansion, dealing with the Duan family would be a completely different matter.
He felt no psychological pressure about this matter.
Ordinary people might be terrified at the prospect of offending such a colossal entity, but in essence, the situation wasn’t a big deal.
The young master of the Duan Family hadn’t died; in the Cultivation World, losing arms or legs was hardly considered an injury; the death of the servant who was an unknown Loose Cultivator could be attributed to a normal conflict between cultivators—nothing could be more commonplace.
During his years of cultivation, he had come to understand some of the Cultivation World’s unwritten rules: don’t be afraid to stir up trouble, and don’t doubt the wisdom of those above you.
They know very well what to do and what not to do.
Thus, by seeking refuge with the Sikong Mansion here, and manipulating public opinion over there, at the very least the current disturbance would be temporarily resolved; as for the future, he wouldn’t be stationed in Jade Capital permanently.
Once he obtained the complete Body Sword Skill and made a full retreat, even with the Duan family’s influence reaching to the heavens, would they really chase him down to the Lizhi Sea?
The Sikong Mansion in Jade Capital was not a place just anyone could enter casually.
Complex arrays blocked his entry, so he could only stand outside the grand gates and wait, which was the common treatment for non-insiders.
After a short while, a cultivator of the Natural Realm appeared before him with a scrutinizing look,
Where do you come from?
Who are you looking for in the Sikong Mansion, and for what purpose?”
Hou Niao bowed solemnly, “Hou Niao, from Jin City in the Da Feng Plain of the Border State.
I have come here to seek Li Chuping, the Assistant, wishing to join the Sikong Mansion and offer my humble services.”
The cultivator seemed surprised; this man was quite direct, “Has Assistant Li promised you anything?”
Hou Niao gave a dry laugh, “Not yet!
But as cultivators, our Divine Thoughts resonate, and our spirits are kindred.
So it is not rash or foolish presumption to take the initiative.”
The cultivator nodded, meaning he felt it himself?
It sounded implausible, but for cultivators, it was normal.
Some things need not be spoken for both parties to roughly understand each other’s intentions.
I will return shortly.”
As Hou Niao waited for the man to verify his claims, he observed the layout of the entire Sikong Mansion.
It was, to say the least, magnificent, solid, and solemn, consisting of a large complex of buildings.
Those who came and went maintained silence and restraint, with no one showing the slightest curiosity toward him.
In Jin City, one could freely enter the Capital Commandant’s office if they dared; but not here.
As the monitoring center of a nation, it seldom handled specific cases.
Instead, its oversight extended over the whole of Shan Country and even the entire continent.
There were countless feelers and spies everywhere, constantly collecting sensitive information from all regions and forces, which was then aggregated, sifted, prioritized, and orders dispatched accordingly.
Supporting such a colossal undertaking, even with the mental capabilities of cultivators, required a substantial workforce.
Hence, there were many Lower Realm civil servant cultivators, mostly from the Tongtian Realm, with a majority in the Tongxuan Realm; sitting here, they truly realized the extent of knowing all the affairs of the world without stepping outside.
In terms of the status of the Three Mansions, the Sima Mansion naturally took precedence, as it controlled resource distribution and personnel movements; the Situ Mansion possessed the strongest military might, with endless battles occurring around it and even further afield.
But in terms of the breadth of influence, depth of power extension, and secrecy of information sources, no other mansion could compare with the Sikong Mansion.
It’s just that their power was hidden, not as visibly apparent or flaunted with fanfare.
Two quarters of an hour later, he was granted entry; this was a delicate waiting period, neither too long to disrespect the visitor nor too short to appear overly eager on the part of the mansion’s residents.
It was a ceremonial waiting time, and everything was done by the book.
The Golden Core Assistant, now having his own independent sitting space at Sikong Mansion, Hou Niao walked in looking around with curiosity, without the reverence one should show to a superior.
They had known each other for too long.
“This place is a bit small, not fitting for your status…
This wall should be turned into a bookshelf wall.
I still vividly remember the scroll of the Spiritual Book when we first met…
It lacks a tea table.
Hmm, and there should also be a couple of incense burners, we should use the best quality whale ambergris!”
Li Chuping watched his performance quietly, “Alright, I’ll leave it all to you!”
Hou Niao chuckled, “For someone of your status, that’s nothing, right?
Besides, shouldn’t there be a special official budget for this at Sikong Mansion?”
Li Chuping humphed, he was actually quite pleased with this initiative—had something tipped Hou Niao off?
Was that why he came over to offer help proactively?
At last, he showed a bit of ingenuity.
For official business, this office is no place to discuss private matters.”
Hou Niao was earnest, “This is the thing, it’s been almost twenty years since I entered Quanzhen, and it was you who mentored me in the beginning.
In the blink of an eye, the years are merciless, looking back, a century has passed.
Over these years, I’ve always kept in mind the help you’ve given, feeling a special closeness to you and the Capital Commandant’s Office; nowhere else gives me such a sense of belonging.
In these twenty years, other government offices have invited me to join, but I’ve always thought…”
Li Chuping interrupted him rudely, “Should we really be discussing this?
We both know what’s what.
Jin City’s Mu Shuai and central army have invited you?
How come I didn’t know about it?”
Hou Niao wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest, “Indeed, indeed, they’ve mentioned it in secret several times, but I’ve never been tempted, feeling that joining another office would betray the trust you placed in me…”
Li Chuping scoffed, “I didn’t notice that at all.”
Hou Niao, unchanging and unflappable, “I’ve always felt that my temperament and character suit the supervisory system well, and before entering the path, I was from a legal background, so that’s also professionally relevant…”
Li Chuping was merciless, “What you’re really suited for is Sima Mansion, a forehead full of slaughter; your so-called law is just killing to stop killing, am I wronging you?”
Hou Niao boasted shamelessly, “Even in the Buddhist Sect, there are those who use thunderous methods to carry out a Bodhisattva’s heart.
Moreover, what about us from the Shan Sect Sword Cultivators?
You can’t just look at the surface; what’s important is the inner essence…”
Li Chuping cut to the heart of the matter, “Your essence is that after the thrill, who cares if a flood follows!”
Hou Niao kept white-washing himself, “Actually, every time I act, although the process might be reckless, when you get down to it, when have I ever been unreasonable?
Yinling even wants to establish a shrine for me; does a bloodthirsty person deserve that?”
Li Chuping stared him down, “Tell me, did you mess up again?
Is that why you’re looking for a big tree to shelter under?”
Hou Niao, having beaten around the bush for quite some time and seeing that this chief spy wasn’t playing along with his conversation, decided to get straight to the point.
“Capital Commandant, let’s be frank, I want to join your team, is that possible?”
Li Chuping gave a slight smile, who initiated this conversation was very important—it signified who was asking whom for a favor, which in turn would imply whether he could control Hou Niao in the future.
“In that case, I will make an exception and accept you on behalf of Sikong Mansion.
I’ve always been too soft-hearted to turn people away.”