The proof of Emperor Wu began with daily rewards for diligence.

Chapter 69 Subtle Influence

Outside the Honglin Garrison, Chen Jue was talking to Meng Liang by the roadside.

The two security guards, each slapped in the face, pondered and hesitated for a long time before finally sighing in dejection and returning to their posts like defeated roosters.

Meng Liang is a ruthless man recognized by the garrison. His strength is unfathomable, and even the garrison chief is no match for him.

The suspicious young man wearing a mask, who was not only Meng's good friend but also wielded the double-handed sword with ease, was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

Chen Jue ignored the two guards, whose eyes were sometimes gloomy and sometimes timid.

During his conversation with Meng Liang, he learned some secrets that he had never known before.

The chaos in the outer city was already a result of the suppression by the four major families and the Jiangnan Wanhu Mansion.

The most important point is that the four major families do not allow experts above the third level of the Feather Transformation Realm to participate in the conflicts in the outer city, in order to prevent the entire outer city from being destroyed.

You might say the four major families completely ignore the outer city, but it seems they've even implemented restrictive policies; yet, aside from restricting martial artists above the third realm from participating in the unrest, they haven't done anything else.

In the end, all I can say is—like a pipe.

After discussing with Meng Liang about the meeting point and time for the surprise attack on the Ghost Gold Cult three days later, Chen Jue moved back to his new residence in the inner city.

The petty thieves and demons in the outer city were ultimately afraid of the boundless power of the four families and one prefecture. The inner city remained as peaceful and tranquil as ever, the safest place in the southern province.

"Huh? Uncle, what's wrong with you? I remember you weren't on the night shift today?!"

'

As soon as Chen Jue entered the courtyard, he saw his uncle squatting under the eaves smoking. He had thrown all the cigarette butts into an empty can, and it looked like he had already smoked half a pack.

"What's wrong? Is Old Dog Zeng making things difficult for you again?"

As his understanding and perspective broadened, Zeng You, who had previously shown interest in challenging him, was now treated by Chen Jue as nothing more than a passerby.

The kind of person you could kick to death on the way.

"You think you can make things difficult for me? Old Zeng doesn't deserve that."

Upon seeing Chen Jue return home, He Yuanshan immediately extinguished his cigarette and reached out to stroke the steps beside him.

Chen Jue plopped down and sat down next to his uncle under the eaves.

"What's going on? Aren't those civil officials at the garrison quite close to your uncle? How could they let you suffer like that?"

'

He Yuanshan sighed and said, "The new director has arrived. He's from the Qi family in the inner city, his name is Qi Kun—"

"On my first day in office, they transferred me and Lao Lin to the logistics department. We're afraid things will be tough from now on." Upon hearing this, Chen Jue slapped his thigh and said, "Uncle, this is a good thing! The outer city is in turmoil right now. Staying in the garrison to manage logistics is much safer than patrolling or going on business trips!"

'

"That being said, without the fieldwork allowance, rank bonuses, and under-the-table income, my salary is actually lower than your aunt's —"

He Yuanshan rubbed his face and sighed, "I already had a low status in the family, and now I dare not speak loudly at all."

Chen was speechless.

Damn it, I was thinking about how to comfort my uncle, but I didn't expect that's what he was struggling with.

He was always busy trying to comfort his uncle.

"By the way, now that your uncle is in trouble, Tangtang's education and martial arts will be in your hands from now on." He Yuanshan patted Chen Jue on the shoulder and casually handed over the responsibility.

"Don't worry, Uncle!" Chen Jue readily accepted, saying, "As the saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father. You entrust He Tang to me, and I'll make sure you raise her to be plump and healthy, and grow into a refined young lady!"

'

Ever since he and Pei Qingying confessed their feelings to each other, He Tangtang has taken advantage of his status as his wife's best friend to boss him around and act extremely arrogantly.

He was just worried about not having a chance to establish his authority, and now that he has guardianship power in his hands, the little thing will be completely under his control!

"He Tang is truly blessed to have a brother like you." He Yuanshan felt a great weight lifted from his heart, a sense of relief as if he had raised both his son and daughter. He continued to sit on the porch, watching the weather outside.

Seeing He Yuanshan's strange state, Chen Jue couldn't help but ask, "Uncle?"

"What?" He Yuanshan turned to look at him.

"With your nephew around, there's no shortage of pills at home. Since you're so bored, why don't you pick up martial arts again?"

"Or you could talk to your aunt and suggest making another small one?" Chen Jue suggested earnestly.

"Get lost! You little brat, you think you're all grown up now, daring to talk nonsense about your elders!" He Yuanshan was embarrassed and waved Chen Jue away.

"Tch! Coward! I bet you're just too scared to tell your aunt you want a second child." Chen Jue stood up disdainfully, patted his butt, and went to his meditation room.

"You!" Watching Chen Jue's dashing departure, He Yuanshan was both annoyed and amused.

After thinking it over carefully, he realized that he was indeed bored out of his mind after retiring from the front line.

Or should we really have a second child?

He Yuanshan shuddered as he recalled how He Tang had been mischievous and naughty as a child, and how he had been punished along with her.

Now that the children are all grown up, if this happens again, how can we, as elders, save face?

Looking at the two quiet rooms next to the courtyard, He Yuanshan felt that the middle-aged passion hidden deep in his bones had been awakened by something.

"How about we give it another try?" He Yuanshan stood up from under the eaves, his eyes gradually hardening and shining with light.

He Yuanshan! Stand up! Don't lose points!

Let's give it one last push so we don't fall too far behind the kids!

At Linjiang Martial Arts High School, the ranking arena was bustling with activity.

He Tang, a spirited girl from Class 5 of Senior Three, wears a blue and white school uniform. She is tall and has her hair tied in a high ponytail. With her invincible talent, she defeats seven opponents at once and becomes the number one fighter in the martial arts high school.

She had an oval face and pretty features, and her cheeks were flushed from the continuous fighting.

Below the stage, a group of ordinary students were cheering for her, while the aristocratic scions who had just been knocked off the stage stared at the bright and beautiful He Tang on the stage with gloomy expressions and complicated gazes.

This is so illogical.

Although most of the children from powerful families who come to Wugao High School are of average talent.

Usually, these were just mediocre students that families casually threw out to fool the education officials in response to the imperial court's call.

But no matter what, they grew up receiving a monthly allowance from the family and consuming family resources.

He Tang's father, a mere patrol inspector in the outer city, a lowly clerk who wasn't even an official, how could he have raised his daughter to be like this?

I'm only a senior in high school and I'm already at the fifth level of Qi and Blood!

At this rate, won't graduation require mastering martial arts foundations?!

'

He Tang! Don't be so arrogant! Do you think you're a martial arts genius just because you've defeated every martial arts master?!

"Let me tell you! The true geniuses from prestigious families don't attend martial arts high schools! You're just a frog in a well!"

Below the stage, a pretty girl with a bruise on her left cheek roared in frustration at He Tang, who was looking up at the sky at a 45-degree angle.

As she said, in aristocratic families, the truly gifted geniuses are taught individually by powerful family elders and invincible ancestors.

Nobody wants to come to Wugao High School to suffer and eat communal meals with peasants.

For ordinary martial artists to compete on the same stage as geniuses from powerful clans, they need to achieve great things by passing the entrance exam for a martial arts university.

"How about it?"

'

"What else can we do?"

'

He Tang's beautiful jawline was high, giving her an air of "I'm just so arrogant".

If you haven't seen her, then you don't have her. Anyway, she's currently ranked number one in the whole school.

He Tangtang never engages in internal strife.

The cheers from the audience grew even louder.

Many ordinary students had long been disgusted by the arrogant attitude of the children of powerful families. Now that someone had stepped forward to bring these children of powerful families down from their pedestals, the students naturally supported them wholeheartedly and regarded them as idols.

Pei Qingying recorded the entire video from the audience, capturing He Tang's impressive feat of "one against seven" and preparing to edit it into footage to upload to Chen Jue's video account.

After moving to the inner city, the possibility of the Fire Cult villains attacking her best friend was greatly reduced.

Although the laws in the inner city are strict, they cannot prevent people from taking risks by boat.

At this point, all that's needed is to create a "martial arts genius" persona for He Tang.

Whether it's public opinion or the leaders of Wugao High School, they tend to protect "talented people," giving their best friends a golden aura that makes bad people wary.

However, Brother Chen is truly amazing. He refined a top-grade Qi and Blood Pill that contained no dan poison and fed it to He Tang as easily as a candy.

Even I benefited from it.

Well, I guess I benefited from it.

Thinking of the Qi and Blood Pills that Chen Jue had refined for her, which came in more than a dozen flavors such as strawberry, pineapple, banana, and apple, the girl blushed and showed a hint of shyness.

Hmm, how about I send him another bowl of "Ginseng, Poria, Jujube, and Bird's Nest Congee" tomorrow?

Meanwhile, under the shade of trees not far away.

The newly elected deacons of the Shihuo Society were watching He Tang on the arena with gloomy eyes.

It's just a mere offering; while there's still some time, let it jump around as much as it wants.

When the Grand Sacrifice of Ten Thousand is launched and the True Demon descends, a sixth major power will emerge in Linjiang, in addition to the four major families and the Jiangnan Wanhu Mansion—the Fire Sect!