A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Yang Yi watched Duan Rong leave, then glanced down at the resignation letter in his hand and couldn't help but sigh.

He didn't really want to leave. Over the years, he had developed a strong attachment to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and he could also fully utilize his talents there. It was just that seeing his uncle being forced to leave made him feel like he had a lump in his throat.

His resignation was somewhat of a fit of pique. He knew he would regret it after leaving, and his uncle would scold him, but at this juncture, he had no choice but to do it.

But Duan Rong's words just now deflated the anger in his chest.

Yang Yi put away the resignation letter and walked out. His state of mind had changed, so he went to the dungeon to attend to his business.

Duan Rong left the Court of Judgment and headed towards Yunfu Peak.

When he arrived at Yunfu Peak, he scanned the area with his divine sense and found Zhu He sitting there, so he went straight into the room.

Zhu He was reviewing memorials when he suddenly noticed a figure appear in the distance. Without looking up, he guessed it was Duan Rong. As he wrote his comments on a memorial with a vermilion brush, he said, "You've come here again now. Is there something you need?"

Duan Rong said, "Master, I have now become the head of the Judgment and Clan Affairs Department. I have taken a close look at the work there and feel that we are not enough manpower."

Duan Rong adopted a very humble attitude today, immediately referring to himself as his disciple. The moment he uttered the word "disciple," it aroused Zhu He's suspicion.

Sure enough, upon hearing Duan Rong's next words, Zhu He chuckled, put down his pen, and looked up, saying, "You want me to hire people? Let me tell you, I'm short-handed. I don't have any people to hire."

Duan Rong wasn't annoyed when Zhu He flatly refused him. He just smiled and said, "Master, let me tell you the truth. I'm going into seclusion for a while. Master, think about it, the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs is such a crucial place, it needs someone to oversee it."

Upon hearing this, Zhu He's expression hardened, and he asked, "You're going into seclusion? For how long?"

Duan Rong said, "It's hard to say how long it will take; it depends on the situation. Master, think about it. I used to be a deputy chief, so it was fine if I left. But now I'm the chief. What if I leave and the Judgment and Clan Affairs Department is leaderless? Wouldn't that cause chaos?"

Zhu He laughed in exasperation and said, "You've already prepared a trap, waiting for your master to fall into it."

Duan Rong laughed and said, "Master, you are so shrewd and calculating. How could I dare to trick you? I am just telling you the truth. I hope that you can send a reliable person to the Court of Judicial Review to take charge of the affairs there while I am away."

Zhu He looked at Duan Rong, a deep, cold glint in his eyes, then suddenly smiled and said, "You may go now. I will think about who to send."

Duan Rong said, "Then I will take my leave. Master, please don't stand me up."

Zhu He smiled but didn't say anything.

Duan Rong bowed to Zhu He, and then his figure disappeared.

After Duan Rong left, Zhu He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. He knew that with Duan Rong's talent, he would not devote his energy to the mundane affairs of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs for long. If Duan Rong was not there, such a crucial place as the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs needed to be handled by a very reliable person.

The following day, Duan Rong was in a room in the Imperial Clan Court, examining the catalog of last year's case files.

His visit to Zhu He yesterday was a plan he had carefully considered. After he left, Yang Yi, Ximen Kankan, and Shen Mizhi would naturally handle the specific tasks, but someone still needed to oversee everything. Ideally, this person could report directly to Zhu He. This way, if any unexpected situations or urgent matters arose, Zhu He could intervene promptly.

Once Duan Rong understood this, he directly addressed Zhu He, explaining the situation and passing the buck to Zhu He.

He was flipping through files on his desk when suddenly a red figure darted in through the open door, followed by a sweet voice: "Junior Brother, you've got quite the airs! You've only just become the Chief Supervisor, and you're already trying to wash your hands of the job?!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong smiled and raised his head, saying, "Senior Sister, I guessed it was you who came."

Fan Hongjiao snorted and said, "I thought Master had called me over so early in the morning for some reason? Turns out it's to be your assistant! Junior Brother, I'm supposed to be the senior sister, how embarrassing is it to be reduced to being your assistant?!"

After Fan Hongjiao finished speaking, she stood there, looking down and picking at her fingernails.

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong immediately stood up, walked out of the table, and bowed to Fan Hongjiao a short distance away, saying, "How could I ask Senior Sister to assist me? It is clearly because I am incapable of managing this Judgment and Clan Affairs Division that I have asked Senior Sister to come out of seclusion to relieve my urgent crisis."

Upon hearing this, Fan Hongjiao chuckled and said, "Oh, Junior Brother, you're still as sweet-talking as ever."

As Fan Hongjiao spoke, she walked towards Duan Rong, her stunning figure almost right in front of him.

Duan Rong gave an awkward laugh and took a step back.

"What are you afraid of?! Do you think your senior sister would eat you?" Fan Hongjiao said reproachfully.

Duan Rong said, "Senior Sister, please wait here for a moment. I'll go and call a few stewards over so you can get along better after you've met."

As Duan Rong spoke, he fled the room as if escaping.

Not long after, Duan Rong summoned several stewards, including Yang Yi, Ximen Kankan, and Shen Mizhi. Duan Rong introduced Fan Hongjiao to them and explained that if he was not present, Fan Hongjiao would be in charge of the daily affairs of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs.

When the bloodstained case was being investigated, Fan Hongjiao was helping out here. Most of the managers knew her and were well aware that she was a confidante of the sect leader, Zhu He. Moreover, those managers were all shrewd people; as soon as Duan Rong explained, they understood what was going on.

Fan Hongjiao was always decisive and efficient. After Duan Rong finished his introduction, she immediately inquired about the arrangements for daily affairs from the stewards. Duan Rong took the opportunity to slip away and return to the Lü family residence.

As soon as Xiao Yu saw Duan Rong return, she brought him tea.

Duan Rong took a couple of sips of tea and thought that the arrangements for the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs were almost complete. He also thought it was time to let Xiao Yu know that he was going to Yongzhou in the Western Regions.

Duan Rong then told Xiao Yu that he was going to leave for a while to cultivate in Yongzhou in the Western Regions.

Xiao Yu was naturally worried, but she couldn't stop Duan Rong from cultivating, so she just said many comforting words.

After the family finished dinner, Duan Rong suddenly had someone summon Fan Yuan.

Duan Rong waited in his room while drinking tea. Soon after, someone brought Fan Yuan over.

After Xiao Yu served tea to Fan Yuan, she knew the two had something to discuss, so she closed the door and left.

Duan Rong gestured for Fan Yuan to sit down and said, "Mr. Fan, I would like to ask if our intelligence system has infiltrated the Western Regions, specifically Yongzhou?"

"Yongzhou in the Western Regions?" Fan Yuan's eyes flickered. "Is Duan referring to the Faxiang Sect?"

Duan Rong smiled slightly and said, "That's right. You're referring to the Faxiang School."

Duan Rong remembered that last time Fan Yuan handed him intelligence, besides Qingzhou, there were also scattered spies in other prefectures, including Yongzhou. Duan Rong thought that if he went there on his own, he would be completely unfamiliar with the place and people in Yongzhou in the Western Regions, and he would have to investigate many things by himself. But if there were spies there, many things would be much simpler.

Fan Yuan said, "We did send two spies there, but they were of little use. If you ask about Yongzhou in the Western Regions, they are naturally there. But if you ask about the Faxiang Sect, those two spies haven't even gotten close to the sect. However... I have heard that... the spies from the Tongzhengshi Division seem to be deeply embedded in Yongzhou in the Western Regions and have already made some connections with the sect."

Duan Rong's eyes suddenly narrowed. He knew very well what it meant to have ties with a sect. His purpose in going there was to infiltrate the Dharma Aspect Sect and steal its cultivation techniques. If he had this intelligence support, wouldn't it be of great benefit?

Duan Rong asked calmly, "Mr. Fan, is this information accurate?"

Fan Yuan said, "That's true, but not entirely true." Upon hearing this, Duan Rong did not get angry or agitated, but patiently looked at Fan Yuan, waiting for his explanation.

Fan Yuan naturally noticed Duan Rong's sharp and serious gaze and said, "It's like this. We've only found out some clues. The sect leader once sounded out Elder Lin Youjian, who is in charge of the Office of Transmission, about this. However, the two of them had a rather unpleasant conversation, and since then, they've had some conflicts within the Elders' Council."

"It's hard to say for sure. We've only gathered some clues, so it's difficult to confirm. Elder Lin hasn't said anything either, so we can't verify it. But the sect leader once mentioned to Elder Lin that he would exchange intelligence from Qingyang Sect's spies with Elder Lin Youjian's intelligence on the Western Regions Faxiang Sect. In other words, intelligence from both Qingyang Sect and Faxiang Sect is shared between the two sides."

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. Zhu He was truly cunning and shrewd; he could even come up with such a method.

Fan Yuan continued, "But Elder Lin Youjian was furious when he heard the sect leader's suggestion and sternly rejected it."

"Is that so?" Duan Rong took a sip of tea with interest.

“Exactly,” Fan Yuan said. “Elder Lin’s attitude precisely demonstrates that the intelligence gathered by the Office of Transmission in Yongzhou, Western Regions, has indeed been very effective. It is highly likely that they have deep connections with the sect. From this perspective, it is somewhat credible.”

After hearing this, Duan Rong glanced at Fan Yuan with admiration. No wonder Zhu He chose this person to be in charge of the entire intelligence system; this person's analytical ability was indeed insightful and perceptive.

Duan Rong and Fan Yuan discussed some issues, and the two talked until late at night. Duan Rong then asked Xiao Yu to prepare a guest room for Fan Yuan to stay there.

In the latter half of the night, Duan Rong lay in bed, but still couldn't fall asleep.

He didn't doubt Fan Yuan's deduction, and he trusted Zhu He's judgment even more. That old guy would never make a fuss without reason; he must have sensed something before he sought out Lin Youjian.

The key issue is that Duan Rong is now more concerned about Lin Youjian's intelligence network in Yongzhou, Western Regions, than Zhu He is about it. Therefore, he talked to Fan Yuan for a long time, subtly inquiring about the intelligence situation in Yongzhou.

However, Duan Rong also understood one thing. That is, if even that old bastard Zhu He couldn't get his hands on something, the chances of him getting it were slim as well.

He knew Zhu He's methods all too well. He knew he couldn't compare to him in that regard.

Duan Rong tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, because he was thinking of someone.

That was Jiang Hanyan, Lin Youjian's only personally taught disciple.

He had a good relationship with this woman and had done her favors on several occasions.

It would be difficult for Zhu He to succeed by targeting Lin Youjian, but what if he targeted Jiang Hanyan instead?

Duan Rong hesitated and tossed and turned because he felt that what he was doing was somewhat despicable and suspected him of taking advantage of Jiang Hanyan.

However, his trip to the Western Regions Dharma Sect was very important to him. If he could find a technique to further enhance his spiritual power, he could continue to improve his realm by devouring the spirits of divine statues, and even condense a nascent soul.

If not, he would have to continue his investigations, seeking a medium, and referencing figures like Chu Wushang and Chu Qiushan. Before he knew it, a hundred or two hundred years had passed.

Duan Rong pondered repeatedly, Jiang Hanyan's gazing eyes occasionally appearing in the darkness. As dawn broke, Duan Rong looked at the window screen bathed in the soft morning light and decided he absolutely had to obtain the intelligence from that side.

After getting up and washing up in the morning, he went directly to the Judgment Department. He sat in his room in the pavilion for a while, and when he felt that it was about time, he called Shen Mizhi and asked her to go to Tianzhu Peak and invite Jiang Hanyan over.

Duan Rong felt that the pavilion of the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs was actually a suitable place to discuss this matter with Jiang Hanyan. Firstly, his divine sense was strong enough that he wasn't worried about anyone eavesdropping. Secondly, this was, after all, where the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs handled its daily affairs, so Jiang Hanyan would be less wary.

Not long after, Shen Mizhi led Jiang Hanyan into Duan Rong's room.

Upon hearing that Duan Rong needed to speak with her, Jiang Hanyan put down her work and came over with Shen Mizhi.

As soon as Jiang Hanyan entered, she smiled and said, "Brother Duan has been promoted to the position of Director of the Court of Judgment and Clan Affairs. I was just thinking of going to congratulate him, but I heard that he returned all the gifts that were offered to him. I was a little scared, so I didn't dare to go."

Duan Rong laughed and said, "You should have come to offer your congratulations. Even if I declined someone else's offer, I couldn't decline yours."

Jiang Hanyan laughed like a silver bell.

Duan Rong said, "Senior Sister Jiang, I've brewed some tea. Let's enjoy it and chat."

Jiang Hanyan smiled and said, "Then I must try Brother Duan's cooking."

"please!"

Duan Rong invited Jiang Hanyan to sit down before taking his own. He personally poured a cup of tea and offered it to Jiang Hanyan.

Jiang Hanyan picked up the cup, took a sip, and praised, "Good tea."

Duan Rong was about to pour Jiang Hanyan another cup, but Jiang Hanyan lifted the cup away and said, "The tea is good, but Brother Duan wouldn't have specially invited Hanyan over to drink it, would he? If Brother Duan doesn't say why he invited Hanyan over, I dare not drink it."

Duan Rong smiled and said, "I do have a problem that I would like to ask Senior Sister Jiang for help."

Jiang Hanyan put down her teacup and said, "Brother Duan, please speak freely."

Jiang Hanyan stared blankly at Duan Rong, thinking to herself that no matter what Duan Rong said, as long as it was within her power, she would definitely agree.

Duan Rong glanced at Jiang Hanyan, then poured a cup of tea for each of them before saying, "I need your information about the Western Regions Faxiang Sect."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hanyan was slightly taken aback, her face flushing. She took a sip of tea. If someone else had asked, she would have already refused outright. But when Duan Rong brought it up, she was momentarily at a loss for words.

In fact, as Lin Youjian's only direct disciple and successor, her master naturally regarded her as a confidante, and she was the one who controlled the intelligence of the Western Regions Faxiang Sect's spies.

She couldn't tell Duan Rong that they hadn't been gathering intelligence there. She couldn't lie to Duan Rong. But she also couldn't hand over the intelligence, because that would be tantamount to betraying her master.

Jiang Hanyan took a sip of tea, then looked up again, her eyes brimming with tears, and asked, "Is this matter very important to Brother Duan?"

Duan Rong said, "Yes. It was almost a matter of life and death. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have been able to bear seeing you struggle so hard."

Jiang Hanyan picked up the teapot, poured herself another cup, took a sip, and said, "Betraying my master is a betrayal of trust. Not helping Brother Duan is also a betrayal of trust. I never thought that I, Jiang Hanyan, would have to be a villain today."

Duan Rong understood Jiang Hanyan's meaning; no matter what choice she made at this point, it would be wrong.

Duan Rong said, "Senior Sister Jiang, don't worry. I will only keep the intelligence about the Western Regions Dharma Aspect Sect's spies, and I will never leak it to anyone, including my master."

Jiang Hanyan gave a wry smile and said, "Brother Duan, this is what I, Jiang Hanyan, owe you. But after this, we are even."

Duan Rong pondered for a moment and said, "I am willing to exchange this information with my spies at Qingyang Sect. That way, if your master discovers this, my senior sister will have someone to cover for her."

Jiang Hanyan looked at Duan Rong for a while, then suddenly said, "No need. I have already betrayed Master by telling Brother Duan the information, so how dare I deceive him further? If Master finds out, I will accept the punishment."

"Brother Duan, please wait a moment. Hanyan will bring the intelligence shortly." Jiang Hanyan said, rising to leave, but suddenly stumbled. Duan Rong reached out to support her, but she pushed his hand away and rushed out the door. (End of Chapter)