This Junior Brother seems to be a very cautious person, Yan Wen thought.
"This isn’t just about bringing some people along to handle miscellaneous affairs, is it?" Chen Jiuge laughed it off. I certainly can’t say I’m afraid of death, so I brought more people, can I?
"That’s true. The Spiritual Energy in the Mortal World is too scarce; it’s indeed inconvenient for us Mahayana cultivators."
"Servants, take my Junior Brother’s men to the barracks first. Make sure they have good food and drink," Yan Wen casually ordered a few young eunuchs who had just emerged.
Although I really want to finish my business and run off, I still need to meet the Emperor of the Great Cheng Dynasty first, Yan Wen mused.
The Emperor of the Great Cheng Dynasty, having just received the news and intending to leave the Imperial Study Room, opened the door to see his current State Preceptor and the newly arrived one.
"What a coincidence, we’re here. Cai He, this is my Junior Brother, Chen Jiuge. He will also be your future State Preceptor," Yan Wen introduced, his tone lacking much respect, more like he was addressing a junior.
"Uncle, Little He understands. Greetings, State Preceptor Chen," Cai He said respectfully.
"No need for formalities. I don’t understand court politics and won’t interfere," Chen Jiuge stated directly.
"Now that we’ve met, we should discuss the matters of the State Preceptor. Oh, right, Little He, prepare a banquet for later. Junior Brother Chen and I will attend," Yan Wen instructed.
「National Master Hall」
Yan Wen poured a cup of Spiritual Tea, a hint of reluctance in his eyes; this was his last pot of Spiritual Tea. Thankfully, he was about to be free.
"Junior Brother Chen, let me briefly tell you about the stationing task."
"You can ignore the details in the mission brief. All that nonsense about ensuring the common people’s well-being isn’t important."
"We only have three things to do."
"First, when natural disasters occur in the dynasty, lend a hand. You can choose not to, but you can’t ignore it every time. In any case, there shouldn’t be too many mortal casualties."
"Second, deal with those troublemaking Demon Cultivators. Their Cultivation is usually around the Golden Core realm, and most are Loose Cultivators who have reached the end of their path. They use mortals’ Life Souls to cultivate Demon Techniques, attempting to break through. These must be eliminated promptly; otherwise, they’ll cause massive mortal casualties, even worse than natural disasters."
"Third, Spiritual Energy. Don’t use Spiritual Power carelessly. Our Cultivation doesn’t recover easily in this Mortal World."
"Alright, that’s all. Nothing else matters. Junior Brother, you could even become the Emperor if you wished. However, if you choose not to, the throne must still be returned to the Cai clan. They are the legitimate line, supposedly descendants of a True Immortal Elder from Xuanwu Peak."
Yan Wen finished in one breath, his mouth a bit dry. He couldn’t help but take a sip of Spiritual Tea, then gestured for Chen Jiuge to ask if he had any other questions.
Chen Jiuge digested this for a moment, then asked, "Are there no other prohibitions?"
"Of course not. We are Mahayana cultivators, after all. Not to mention the Cai clan are merely distant mortal descendants of a True Immortal Elder. Even descendants of a Heavenly Immortal Elder would receive such treatment. Of course, Golden Immortals are different," Yan Wen said, surprised. Does this Junior Brother not understand this task at all?
"I understand," Chen Jiuge mused. This task, with hardly any prohibitions, truly seems to test one’s heart.
All the notable officials of the Great Cheng Dynasty had arrived; even concubines and Princesses from the harem were present.
The scene was quite lively. Yan Wen, who was about to depart, was also in high spirits, repeatedly pulling Chen Jiuge into toasts.
Mid-banquet, Emperor Cai He appointed Chen Jiuge as the new State Preceptor and designated his thousand cavalry as the National Protection Army, specifically to deal with the troublesome Demon Cultivators.
Mortal wine had almost no effect on high-level cultivators; at least, it couldn’t get a Mahayana cultivator drunk.
Chen Jiuge watched Yan Wen walk towards his own palace with a Noble Concubine in his arms, feeling quite speechless. This Senior Brother seems a bit unreliable. And Cai He can tolerate this?
What Chen Jiuge didn’t know was that half of the Noble Concubines in the harem belonged to the State Preceptor. This particular Noble Concubine was not actually one of Emperor Cai He’s women, so, of course, Cai He had no reaction.
The new National Master Hall had actually been completed some time ago, right next to Yan Wen’s. Once Yan Wen left, the original National Master Hall would be demolished. What to build in its place would be decided by the new State Preceptor.
Chen Jiuge looked at Yan Wen, who was accompanied by a large group of people, and a string of questions popped into his mind.
"Senior Brother, what is this?" Chen Jiuge asked, pointing to the group, which consisted mostly of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment cultivators, with a few at the Golden Core realm.
"Junior Brother, do you know how many years I’ve stayed here? A full three hundred years! There was nothing here to attract me. So, on a whim, I inadvertently indulged in some beauties, and now it has come to this," Yan Wen said, somewhat distressed.
Chen Jiuge’s mouth twitched. Is this ’a little’ indulgence? Cultivators and mortals rarely have children together. Besides, even a slight consumption of Spiritual Energy to destroy one’s own essence would make it impossible to leave offspring. This Senior Brother Yan truly is unrestrained!
Amidst the cries of numerous mortal children, Yan Wen stylishly departed with his cultivable offspring.
"State Preceptor, these are the recent reports on the livelihood of the Great Cheng Dynasty and the tax revenue for the past ten years," Cai He said respectfully, handing over two memorials.
Chen Jiuge looked at the yellow booklets, somewhat exasperated. "You don’t need to show me these. I’ll only be here for a hundred years. You can handle such matters as you see fit."
Half a month had passed since Yan Wen’s departure. During that time, different concubines, Princesses, officials’ daughters, and legitimate daughters from prominent families came to the National Master Hall to disturb him every day.
Especially after discovering that this State Preceptor was rather mild-mannered, they became increasingly brazen, the fabric of their clothes diminishing day by day. Annoyed beyond endurance, Chen Jiuge decided to see how the dynasty’s court session was conducted.
The result was the scene before him. Looking at the trembling officials who spoke in soft, hushed tones, and then at the Emperor who managed state affairs while glancing at his expression, Chen Jiuge felt even more stifled.
"I have some matters to attend to, I’ll be leaving first," Chen Jiuge said, then vanished from the main hall with a grand teleportation.
"Your Majesty, what’s wrong with the State Preceptor? Did we do something amiss?" the Prime Minister stepped forward to inquire.
Cai He thought for a moment. The State Preceptor hadn’t seemed particularly upset just now. Perhaps he simply found the court session boring. Indeed, court sessions were quite dull.
After the minor interlude with the State Preceptor, the court session resumed as usual, though this time, the officials’ voices were noticeably louder.
「National Master Hall」
Taking a sip of the so-called tribute wine, Chen Jiuge felt that accepting this stationing task was truly a huge loss.
"State Preceptor, what is troubling you so much?" a seductive voice sounded.
Chen Jiuge glanced over. "And you are?"
He marveled inwardly. Isn’t this the Noble Concubine Yan Wen took with him from the banquet that night?
Dressed in thin gauze, her snow-white skin was faintly visible. Her swaying posture as she walked exuded an irresistible charm.
"State Preceptor, my name is Su Mei, and my title is Noble Concubine Mei. I am the State Preceptor’s concubine, you see," Su Mei said, licking her red lips, her eyes alluring.
"COUGH. COUGH. COUGH." Chen Jiuge choked. I’m a normal man, but I’m not about to become a kindred spirit with Senior Brother in *this* regard.
After a few perfunctory drinks with Su Mei, Chen Jiuge saw it was getting late and hurriedly said, "It’s getting late, and I haven’t prepared lunch. I won’t keep Noble Concubine Mei any longer."
Su Mei looked at Chen Jiuge with a hint of sorrow and left him with, "I am still untouched. That night, State Preceptor Yan took me away only to inform me that I would serve the new State Preceptor in the future."
Su Mei’s words and the lingering fragrance in the hall stirred something within Chen Jiuge. He immediately regained his senses, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and thought, Is this the Mortal World? Its power is truly formidable! It hasn’t even been a month, and I almost couldn’t hold back.
"Enough, I need to find something proper to do."
"Yue Li, go inform the thousand men I brought. Have them form small squads and search the Great Cheng Dynasty’s territory for Demon Cultivators and rare Exotic Beasts. I want the Exotic Beasts alive. For the Demon Cultivators, dead or alive doesn’t matter."
Yue Li, munching on a white radish, emerged from the back of the hall. "Understood."
Watching Yue Li hop away, Chen Jiuge felt a surge of anticipation. The Great Cheng Dynasty once harbored the Ten Great Vicious Beasts. I wonder if any of their Bloodlines remain? If there’s even a trace, I should be able to nurture a new one within these hundred years.