Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

After a brief chat, Chen Yuancheng fell silent, and the atmosphere in the hall gradually became heavy.

Zhao Xian sat upright on the couch, his eyes fixed straight ahead, waiting quietly.

"Lord Cao, where is Huang Liang now?"

Chen Yuancheng suddenly broke the silence and asked.

"He is currently being held in the cell, and I have arranged for a doctor to treat him."

Cao Miao immediately responded solemnly.

"Keep an eye on him, and do not let him die in his country house."

After pondering for a few moments, Chen Yuancheng gave the order.

"Mr. Chen, regarding this matter..."

Cao Miao nodded in agreement, but hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

"Bo Zhang, regarding the matter of surveying the land and calculating the population, you, along with Liu Mao and the others, continue to investigate the remaining two pavilions."

Chen Yuancheng ignored Cao Miao and instead looked at Zhao Xian, giving instructions with a smile.

"Chen Jun, Liu Jun, and the other two were greatly frightened yesterday and have resigned from their posts with Cao Jun to return home and recuperate!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately cupped his hands in response.

"Hmm?" Chen Yuancheng was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized what was going on and couldn't help but chuckle. "In that case, Cao Jun, please arrange for three more people to investigate together with Bo Zhang."

Upon hearing this, Cao Miao readily agreed.

"Mr. Chen, we need to devise a solution to this matter as soon as possible!"

"The Yan family will never allow Huang Liang to live in the countryside!"

After a few moments of silence, Cao Miao looked at Chen Yuancheng and said resolutely.

"I also have my own thoughts on this, so please rest assured, Lord Cao!"

Chen Yuancheng smiled calmly, his face showing confidence.

After exchanging a few words, Cao Miao rose to take his leave, and Zhao Xian also rose and followed him out.

In the hall, only Chen Yuancheng and the scholar in the blue robe remained.

After leaving the backyard, Cao Miao led Zhao Xian to the front yard.

......

"You lot really do fall ill like a landslide!"

In the front courtyard, Cao Miao stared at the village officials before him, his face contorted with anger.

Upon hearing this, all the officials and clerks of the villages remained silent and knelt on the ground.

Today, Liu Mao and his two companions resigned and returned home. They found that Huang Liang, a guest of the Yan family, was being held in their house. The minor officials knew that there must be something hidden about yesterday's events, and that it was related to the Yan family. They dared not participate in the land survey and population calculation.

"Bo Zhang~"

Cao Miao looked at Zhao Xian with a face full of shame.

The fact that the village officials were so fearful made him feel extremely ashamed.

"I'd rather fail a family with a salary of two thousand bushels of grain than fail a wealthy and powerful family!"

"I thought it was just a wild claim, but it turns out to be so true!"

Zhao Xian sighed deeply, his face also showing a solemn expression.

The Yan family was merely a local tycoon, not even worth a hair on the head of a two-thousand-stone official, yet they commanded such fear from the local officials.

How powerful and influential must those truly powerful families be!

"Lord Cao, I will investigate the remaining two pavilions myself!" Zhao Xian looked at Cao Miao and gave a wry smile, "However, it will take a long time if I do it alone!"

"No problem, it's early July now, we can finish the land survey and population calculation by early August!"

Cao Miao immediately replied, and the other village officials also breathed a sigh of relief.

"In that case, thank you very much, Lord Cao!"

......

A moment later, Uncle Zhao Li prepared the oxcart and loaded several boxes of bamboo slips onto it.

Zhao Xian tidied up the horses and mounted them together with his fourth brother, Zhao Cheng. Both of them were dressed neatly with bows and arrows on their backs and ringed swords hanging from their waists.

Upon learning that the village officials were afraid of the Yan family's power and dared not travel with Zhao Xian, Chen Yuancheng felt quite helpless.

Zhang Wen and Zhao Ji still had to keep an eye on Qi Lian's residence, while Wang Cong, being quick-witted and lively, had no choice but to serve in front of them.

Zhao Cheng was quite capable, skilled in archery, and had a calm personality. As Zhao Xian's cousin, he was more than capable of assisting Zhao Xian in managing the land.

Before leaving, Zhao Xian also told Chen Yuancheng the secret that Liu Mao had mentioned the night before.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuancheng was also greatly shocked. After pondering for a moment, he instructed Zhao Xian not to divulge it to anyone!

Zhao Xian knew the gravity of the matter and nodded in remembrance.

As the sun rose in the east, the three of them traveled westward along the official road.

"The poor and honest are as muddy as dirt, while the high-ranking officials and virtuous generals are as timid as chickens!" After leaving the village and finding no one around, Zhao Li loudly recited a line, then looked at Zhao Xian with disdain, "Xian, do you now know the true nature of the village officials?"

"These people are arrogant and haughty when they bully us common folk, but when they face the power and influence of the local big families, they become as meek and submissive as chickens and dogs!"

"Cowardly as a mouse, utterly cowardly!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian, who was seated high on his saddle, also sighed deeply.

What his uncle said was all true; what words could Zhao Xian possibly use to refute it?

"Uncle Jiu, Lord Chen is not like these cowardly petty officials!"

Seeing that Zhao Xian was speechless, Zhao Cheng immediately turned to look at Zhao Li and said with a smile.

Zhao Li was the ninth among his peers, and Zhao Xian was also the ninth among his peers.

"I agree with what Cheng said! Mr. Chen is indeed extraordinary!"

Zhao Li also responded loudly.

The three chatted idly along the way, and before they knew it, they had arrived at Dahu Pavilion.

Upon arriving at the Great Tiger Pavilion, the pavilion's father, seeing Zhao Xian arrive, immediately showed a look of awe and respectfully bowed.

Before long, Da Hu Ting Qiu Dao stepped out of the pavilion, but the pavilion chief did not appear.

"Tingjun was unwell and has returned home to rest!"

Seeing the doubt on Zhao Xian's face, Da Hu Ting Qiu Dao gave a wry smile and answered.

"Oh!"

Before Zhao Xian could speak, his uncle Zhao Li sneered.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was extremely jarring. Upon hearing it, Da Hu Ting Qiu Dao and the guards behind him all turned red in the face.

"It's alright, you may all come with me!"

Zhao Xian dismounted and said nonchalantly.

After all, I had already experienced something like this in the countryside.

After a night, the Daoist of Dahuting seemed to finally understand how treacherous yesterday's events had been!

Today, the land survey and population assessment were conducted. The residents of Dahuting were very cooperative, but unfortunately, there were not enough people, and only a few dozen households could be surveyed each day.

As night fell, Zhao Xian and his party returned to their country house.

Upon returning to his hometown, Zhao Xian noticed that the officials were looking at him furtively and evasively.

After Zhao Xian finished his dinner, he learned the reason for this from a familiar minor official.

Around 7 a.m. today, Yan Heng and his son Yan Su came to visit.

The father and son stayed in the elegant house in the backyard for most of the day before taking their leave.

However, the father and son looked quite unwell when they left.

In the afternoon, several more riders arrived at the village house. The riders were all dressed in fine clothes and had an extraordinary air about them.

The group stayed in the backyard for a while before leaving the country house and disappearing onto the main road.

Before long, Yan's guest Qi Yuan and several attendants arrived at the country house and took Huang Liang away.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Xian was not surprised, but instead fell into deep thought.

While he was pondering, Wang Cong arrived at the front yard and said that Chen Yuancheng had summoned him.

Zhao Xian immediately got up and followed him to the backyard.

After the two men left, the village officials exchanged glances and then got up to leave.

......

In the main hall, Zhao Xian sat upright on a couch, opposite Cao Miao, the village assistant.

"Bozhang, you must have already learned about today's events from the village officials."

Chen Yuancheng looked at Zhao Xian and gave a wry smile.

"Mr. Chen, Bozhang is already aware of this."

Zhao Xian bowed respectfully and replied solemnly.

"Yan Heng invited an elder from Chen Jun's clan to come and mediate."

"Let's drop this matter!"

Cao Miao also chimed in from the side.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian nodded slightly, showing no unusual expression.

Seeing this, Chen Yuancheng waved his sleeve, and several white jade porcelain bottles landed in front of Zhao Xian.

"This is a gift from the Yan family as an apology: six bottles of Essence Pills. I have inspected them all; you can refine them with peace of mind."

"Bozhang, is this method acceptable?"

At this point, Chen Yuancheng looked at Zhao Xian and asked seriously.

"Chen Jun is Bo Zhang's superior, and Bo Zhang should naturally obey Chen Jun's will!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately bowed respectfully.

"Next year, after Bo-zhang has served for a year, he may be promoted further!"

Seeing that Zhao Xian had agreed, Chen Yuancheng also spoke solemnly.

"Thank you for your kind hospitality, Mr. Chen!"

Zhao Xian's face lit up with joy, and he answered respectfully.

Six bottles of Essence Pills cost only three hundred low-grade spirit stones, and this was merely the compensation the Yan family offered to Zhao Xian.

As for the compensation the Yan family paid to Chen Yuancheng and Cao Miao, Zhao Xian didn't bother to find out.

Zhao Xian was very pleased to receive Chen Yuancheng's promise.

I am currently a minor official, and the next step forward will be to become a lowly official in charge of food and drink.

The head of a pavilion, though called the magistrate of ten miles, was merely a low-ranking official.

Of course, the village magistrate was also a food official, but Zhao Xian would never have thought that he could rise from a lowly clerk to the top!

After calming Zhao Xian down with gentle words for a while, Chen Yuancheng then tried to give him some pointers on his cultivation.

Seeing this, Cao Miao, the village official, was very sensible and immediately got up to take his leave.

After Cao Miao left, only Zhao Xian and Chen Yuancheng remained in the hall.

"Ah Xian, this matter will not end here!" Chen Yuancheng looked at Zhao Xian, his expression turning grim and dark. He then added, "You must not divulge what you said this morning."

"Ah Xian will keep this in mind!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian replied in a solemn voice.

Seeing this, Chen Yuancheng picked up a wooden mallet and lightly tapped the small bell on the table.

"Ding!"

With a crisp sound, the small bell emitted rays of clear light, enveloping the entire main hall.

"Yan Heng has a daughter who has entered the Yunlan Sect to cultivate. She has already established a foundation for the Dao and is an inner disciple." Putting down the gavel, Chen Yuancheng looked at Zhao Xian with a very solemn expression. "This girl is not a concern, but she has given herself to a true disciple of the Yunlan Sect as a concubine."

"Only by forging a superior Dao foundation and condensing the elixir with the sword can one become a true disciple of the Yunlan Sect."

Seeing that Zhao Xian did not understand the value of the true teachings, Chen Yuancheng explained again.

"Among the four high-ranking officials in the county, the county magistrate, Gao Jun, is a core disciple of the Yunlan Sect, while the county assistant, Wang Jun, the left lieutenant, Xu Jun, and the right lieutenant, Song Jun, are all inner disciples of the Yunlan Sect."

"Whether they are inner disciples or core disciples, their status in the sect is far inferior to that of true disciples."

"The Prefect of Rong County was a disciple of the true master in the past. He was appointed as the Prefect after he reached the Core Formation stage."

"Our Chen family has been able to establish itself in the county because one of our ancestors was a prefect."

Chen Yuancheng's words also made Zhao Xian aware of the power and influence behind the Yan family.

"With such powerful backers, why is the Yan family living in such a small place as Wohu Township? Could they be plotting something else?"

Zhao Xian pondered for a few moments, then asked again in a low voice.

"Perhaps he didn't want to cause trouble."

Chen Yuancheng pondered for a few moments, then said uncertainly.

"The Yunlan Sect is not a monolithic entity!"

At this point, Chen Yuancheng also revealed a mocking expression.

"Then, Mr. Chen, what should we do from now on?"

Zhao Xian asked again in a low voice.

"Focus on your cultivation and observe the situation calmly!"