The laughter and merriment at the county yamen's banquet subsided as Qian Ni Chang entered Xu Lin's small courtyard.
It wasn't until an incense stick's worth of time had passed that the individuals, representing various factions from the prefectural city, began to sense something unusual.
Among them, a middle-aged man from the prefectural governor's office had the most somber expression.
"Lord Li?"
Someone's soft call finally snapped the official of the prefectural governor's office back to attention.
Li Wen Qing, the chief official of personnel in the prefectural governor's office, held the authority to appoint and dismiss officials within the prefecture, his status second only to a few high-ranking lords.
He took a sip of wine from the table, his eyes flickering with thought as if contemplating something.
Within the prefectural city of Luoxia, almost all factions knew that although Li Wen Qing appeared to have no ties to the Ming Xin Xuan, he was, in fact, the illegitimate son of the Li family patriarch.
His rapid rise to the position of chief official of personnel was no doubt due to the Li family's covert operations and vast sums of money spent in bribing various channels.
"Let's go take a look."
Li Wen Qing slapped the table and immediately stood up to leave.
Just as he reached the threshold of the main hall, he paused, turning back to the banquet attendees. He said thoughtfully, "Today's banquet is to discuss the resettlement of the city's common folk. How could we possibly proceed without Lord Xu, who slew the demon?"
"Why don't we all go invite Lord Xu together?"
He spoke with a smile, his question seemingly polite, but his eyes held a sharp glint that compelled everyone present to nod in agreement.
A mortal with no cultivation at all held the position of chief official of personnel, possessing the power to appoint and dismiss all officials below the county magistrate within a prefecture, without requiring the prefectural governor's seal.
Otherwise, the weakest among them was a cultivator or martial artist of the first realm, backed by the major powers of the prefectural city, and they would not easily yield to the words of an ordinary person.
Thus, at Li Wen Qing's summons, a large group set off towards the small courtyard where Xu Lin was temporarily residing.
As the group appeared outside the courtyard, the constables who had been waiting there for some time hurried in to report.
The three people inside, engaged in a pleasant conversation, exchanged glances, a smile appearing on their faces. It seemed fortuitous that just as they were discussing these people, they had come knocking on their door.
This would save them some trouble.
"Then, shall we proceed as agreed?"
Xu Lin asked solemnly.
Opposite him, Ji Yuan sat at ease. Hearing this, he blinked and replied, "Indeed, it should be so."
Seeing this, he let out a hearty laugh, contentedly tucking the jade box before him into his robes. Despite having seen countless rare treasures and precious spiritual items, he couldn't suppress his current exhilaration.
With the assistance of this Misty Barrier-Breaking Pill, he was confident that he could break through a minor bottleneck within six months, and reach the peak of the second realm within a year at most!
A single pill could save him two to three years of arduous cultivation, how could he not be overjoyed?
"Hahahaha, Lord Xu, what good news brings you such joy?"
Outside, Li Wen Qing's voice echoed, slowly entering the small house.
Xu Lin immediately suppressed his laughter. The three exchanged glances and then rose, stepping out into the small courtyard.
Glancing at the more than a dozen faces with varied expressions, Ji Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. He subtly stepped back, minimizing his presence as much as possible.
"Does Lord Li require something?"
From the moment he stepped out of the room, Xu Lin's face had regained its cold demeanor, even his eyes radiating a chill.
He was like the saber at his waist, exuding a sharp edge that made anyone who looked at him feel that he was difficult to deal with.
There was an air of "stay away" about him.
"I have invited various factions here today to discuss a solution for the plight of the city's residents, and I have come to invite Lord Xu to join the banquet."
Li Wen Qing said with a smile, his gaze subtly sweeping over Qian Ni Chang and Ji Yuan as he spoke.
As for the maid and constables beside them, he completely ignored them, assuming no one here would pay attention to them.
Even upon noticing that the latter only possessed cultivation at the initial stage of the Enlightenment realm, no one bothered to waste their mental energy.
Ji Yuan was not at all angered by this situation; rather, he was pleased. The less attention drawn to him, the less trouble he would face in the future.
After all, offending half the major powers in the prefectural city, even for a cultivator of the second realm, would be somewhat difficult to handle.
"A solution for the plight?"
Xu Lin's eyebrows shot up. He was blunt, tearing away the pretense: "Isn't it just about dividing the spoils that are about to be obtained? You've put it quite nicely."
His tone carried a distinct sarcasm.
As these words were spoken, the expressions of those present changed drastically, and a murderous intent flared in the eyes of several of them.
While the truth was indeed as he stated, it could never be brought out into the open. Call it self-deception, call it burying one's head in the sand, but a fig leaf was essential.
Who knew that Xu Lin would speak up and tear off this fig leaf, fearlessly bringing unspoken matters from the shadows into the light?
If this were to spread, no one could predict the consequences.
Although their actions were understood by many, as long as they weren't openly displayed, no one would truly pursue the matter.
But once brought before the public eye, or even if it provoked widespread public outrage, not only would the various factions represented here, but even the prefectural governor's office, be unable to bear the consequences.
If nothing else, the imperial censorate would descend like wolves smelling blood, swarming in with lightning speed.
These individuals were constantly watching, eager for someone to slip up, otherwise, how would they earn merits and financial benefits?
Not to mention, hostile factions and other sects and schools would undoubtedly fan the flames or even kick them while they were down. How could they miss such a golden opportunity?
It was no wonder that some among them had already harbored murderous intent over a single sentence.
"To those who harbor murderous intent, I advise you to reconsider. If your own necks cannot bear the blade, it is best to abandon such thoughts."
Xu Lin sneered, unconcerned that some harbored killing intent.
He even wished they would make a move. Attacking an executioner of the Ming Jian Division was a grave offense, and they could retaliate directly without needing to report.
Let alone renowned sects within a prefecture, even a sacred cultivation ground within a region could be eradicated with relative ease.
He paused, then seemed to realize something and quickly added, "You all feast on the blood of the people, and yet you try to present yourselves as virtuous. I truly wonder if your parents would feel ashamed, regretting having given birth to you?"
Hearing this, Ji Yuan's mouth twitched slightly, his face a mess of dark lines as he stared at the retreating figure, feeling an urge to kick him.
Even if you wanted to enrage some people here, causing them to lose their reason in anger, so that you could demand benefits from the Ming Jian Division after they attacked, you didn't have to do it so... obviously!
Anyone with a normal brain wouldn't fall for such a trick!
As expected, after Xu Lin's words, the few individuals who had harbored murderous intent immediately dispelled their killing aura and put on friendly smiles.
However, they all grumbled inwardly, "Are such crude and clumsy tactics really not embarrassing to use?"
"Lord Xu, why do you say that? We are all wholeheartedly devoted to the country and its people!"
Li Wen Qing's eyes twitched, and he forced a strained smile, suppressing his inner grumbles.
Regardless, some semblance of decorum had to be maintained. Even if the other party insisted on tearing down the facade, they could not truly acknowledge it; they had to deny it with all their might.
As long as they insisted on denial, without conclusive evidence, even if some matters were understood, they would be powerless.
However, he seemed to have underestimated the "integrity" of the Ming Jian Division's executioner.
"Devoted to the country and its people?"
Xu Lin sneered, his eyes showing undisguised contempt: "You know better than anyone what you've done. Stop putting on a show in front of me."
As he spoke, one of his hands quietly rested on the scabbard at his waist, his gaze scanning around as if observing the best place to draw his blade.
Although he knew this was just for show, and Xu Lin merely wanted to scare him, Li Wen Qing instinctively took a step back, his mind flashing with some of the things Xu Lin had done.
This was a person who feared nothing, relying on the backing of the prefectural city's Ming Jian Division commander, he didn't even put cultivators of the third realm in his eyes. He had berated important figures in the prefectural governor's office and elders of various sects.
However, with the backing of a commander who was considered the top ten in killing power in Luoxia Prefecture, and even in a larger region, as long as he didn't violate imperial law, no one dared to lay a hand on him.
"Enough. Don't flaunt your unsavory dealings in front of me, or I might really lose control and draw my blade."
Seeing that Li Wen Qing seemed intent on saying more, Xu Lin directly waved his hand to interrupt him.
However, Li Wen Qing had been in officialdom for twenty to thirty years, and his composure was well-honed. He showed no anger and instead bowed courteously to take his leave.
"Almost forgot. The Qian family is wholeheartedly devoted to the people and wishes to cooperate with the Ming Jian Division to help the citizens of Qian Yu City."
Xu Lin suddenly called out. Seeing everyone who had already reached the courtyard entrance turn back, he grinned and said, "You all understand what I mean, right?"
The faces of the group turned ashen. They said nothing more, bowed, and then departed, their backs suggesting a sense of misfortune.
They were probably regretting why they had decided to come here in the first place. If they had stayed in the main hall for the banquet, perhaps they wouldn't have encountered this situation.
Now that the executioner favored by the Ming Jian Division commander had spoken, even though they were unwilling and reluctant to give up the benefits they were about to obtain, they could only complain inwardly.
"Thank you, Lord Xu, for speaking up!"
After everyone had left, Qian Ni Chang said with a faint smile.
How could she not know that the benefits these people were about to divide at the banquet today were built upon the foundation that the Qian family had painstakingly laid with countless silver taels and manpower over time?
The Qian family, a declining clan, was powerless to resist the more than ten major factions of the prefectural city and Li Wen Qing of the prefectural governor's office, even though they knew what was happening.
"It was part of the transaction. Each takes what they need."
Xu Lin shrugged, appearing indifferent.
The transaction in the room earlier was precisely Ji Yuan's exchange of a Misty Barrier-Breaking Pill and a substantial amount of merit for his current endorsement.
Otherwise, given his temper and disposition, no matter how displeased he was with these people, he wouldn't get involved in such a mess for mere money.
For him personally, a Misty Barrier-Breaking Pill could save two to three years of arduous cultivation without any side effects or depletion of his potential, which was something ordinary wealth couldn't buy.
And for the Ming Jian Division, a substantial amount of merit was an opportunity not to be missed. If not for the Ming Jian Division's insufficient finances, they wouldn't let the Qian family, or any other force, interfere; they would have taken it all themselves.
Who could blame them? Although the cultivation techniques of the Ming Jian Division were extremely powerful after cultivation, as time and cultivation level increased, the karmic sin of killing grew more profound, requiring vast amounts of merit to suppress and neutralize.
Otherwise, over time, at best, their cultivation would stagnate, and at worst, they would lose their minds and descend into madness.
"But is the Ming Jian Division really short on money?"
Seeing that no outsiders were present, Ji Yuan couldn't help but ask, "As an organization backed by the imperial court, surely they wouldn't be so desperate, right?"
The way this guy just acted was as if he had "Come and kill me" written on his face, practically begging them to attack so he could solidify the crime of assassinating an imperial official and a Ming Jian Division executioner.
Once such a crime was established, regardless of who it was, there would only be two consequences: either surrender a large sum of silver, or have their mountain gate directly kicked in and their property confiscated by the Ming Jian Division!
"Is it that obvious?"
Xu Lin was slightly taken aback. Seeing the two in front of him nod, he turned to the constables and maidservant nearby, still unconvinced.
They naturally dared not nod directly, but their strange expressions were enough to convey everything.
Seeing this, he sighed, a hint of melancholy appearing in his eyes.
"Although we are backed by the imperial court, the meager silver allocated each year is only enough to cover basic daily cultivation."
He shook his head, looking quite helpless.
Despite its formidable reputation, the Ming Jian Division had been short of money since its inception, like a bottomless abyss. Tens of millions of silver taels poured in annually, and barely a ripple was heard.
And such a vast sum of money could only sustain the minimum daily cultivation. To advance one's cultivation level further required even more resources.
Moreover, due to their cultivation techniques, the executioners of the Ming Jian Division often possessed an overwhelming aura of killing. They would charge into battle without a word when encountering trouble, their fighting style indeed fierce, but they often returned injured.
In Luoxia Prefecture alone, the annual expenses for the executioners' medical treatment exceeded a million taels of silver!
Not to mention, with this fighting style, coupled with the fact that the Ming Jian Division personnel always appeared in the most dangerous places, the probability of injury, disability, and death even exceeded that of border troops stationed on the frontier.
These settlement allowances, pensions, and other expenses amounted to several million taels of silver annually!
The entire Ming Jian Division, from the renowned commander to the old woman who cooked and bought vegetables in the division, everyone was constantly thinking about how to save some money.
And these executioners racked their brains, wanting to find more "avenues" for the Ming Jian Division to earn silver.