From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

"Instructor Qin is here."

In the main hall, the chief priest Su Beikong was reading a book. When he saw Qin Zhuyue walk in, he smiled and gestured.

"Please sit down."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

After bowing, Qin Zhuyue sat down in the seat below.

The servants came in and served tea and refreshments.

"Instructor Qin, you've come at the perfect time. I remember that General Qin's birthday is in two months. I have prepared a birthday gift for you, and I would be grateful if you could take it back with me."

Su Beikong said with a smile, his face gentle, unlike Qin Zhuyue's boss, but more like a kind elder.

"I'm sure I'll convey your message, Your Excellency."

Qin Zhuyue smiled and did not refuse.

The mere head of the Imperial Secretariat probably doesn't even have the qualifications to curry favor with her father. However, since she's working there, she naturally has to give him face.

"well."

Seeing that Qin Zhuyue agreed, Su Beikong was overjoyed.

After chatting with Qin Zhuyue for a few more minutes, he asked the question.

"Instructor Qin, is there something you need?"

"It is indeed a small matter."

Qin Zhuyue didn't mince words and spoke directly.

"I've recently been compiling information on Zhuge Liang's life, and I've come to the stage of Zhuge Liang establishing the Zhuge Pavilion. There are some things I'm not clear about regarding the books in the Wujing Pavilion, so I've come here specifically to ask the Chancellor for advice."

"Zhuge Liang is a role model for us all, and Instructor Qin's actions are commendable. As for the books in the Wujing Pavilion, they are not much different from what we have now, except that some military books from later generations have been added."

"That's true, but I still want to try my best to reconstruct the original situation."

Qin Zhuyue paused slightly before speaking.

"Does Your Excellency possess the earliest catalogue of texts from the Martial Arts Pavilion?"

"List..."

Su Beikong thought for a moment before speaking.

"I do recall this list you mentioned. The Gyeonggi General Hospital did have one, but it was lost later."

"Lost? How could it be lost?"

Qin Zhuyue looked at Su Beikong with surprise on her face.

As the head of the Zhechongyuan (a military academy), how could they be so negligent in their duties?

"They said it was lost, but actually it was robbed. For a prestigious military academy to be robbed by thieves would be too shameful to admit, so they said it was lost. I was working at the main academy at the time, so I know some of the inside story."

Su Beikong smiled and gave a general account of the situation.

"so."

Qin Zhuyue nodded, then asked.

"Do you know which thief stole it?"

"It's unclear who exactly it is, but I've heard it's a secretive underworld force."

Su Beikong pondered for a moment and then said something.

Hidden forces within the martial arts world?

Upon hearing the news brought back by Qin Zhuyue, Chen Shi immediately thought of the Fufeng Association!

In fact, Qin Zhuyue thought so too.

It is illogical to go to great lengths to seize a catalog of ancient books, but this is exactly in line with the Fufeng Society's style of doing things.

If it were the Fufeng Association, that would be much simpler.

……

A few days later, late at night, Chen Shi, wearing a red mask with black patterns and a scorpion design, and completely covered up, walked the streets of Shengping City.

Suspecting that the list had been stolen by the Fufeng Society, Chen Shi immediately ordered Qin Zhuyue to investigate.

The results came quickly; they had indeed guessed correctly.

However, Qin Zhuyue did not obtain the list.

After investigation, it was learned that the person who seized the list was an elder from the capital region.

The Fufeng Society, with its five ranks and three departments (Feng, Ya, Song), appears loosely organized but is actually a complex group. The elders, second only to the president Fufengzi, possess a degree of independent authority.

The elder from the capital region did not contribute the list to the Fufeng Association; instead, he kept it for himself.

Therefore, even though Qin Zhuyue was also an elder, she could not obtain the list of names from that elder in the capital region.

"Looks like I'm pretty lucky."

Just when Chen Shi thought there was no way out, unexpectedly, things in the world happen by such coincidences.

That elder is currently in Shengping Prefecture!

According to Qin Zhuyue, the elder had been there for a month.

It is unclear what secret mission he was carrying out. Not only did he not inform Qin Zhuyue, but he also did not bring his subordinates from the capital region. Instead, he recruited people in the Jiangnan region.

After some deliberation, Chen Shi put on the red scorpion mask with black patterns, preparing to approach the elder from the capital as the Red Scorpion and obtain the list of names.

In addition to the list, Chen Shi also needed to confirm whether this person was the Third Elder he was looking for!

The Fufeng Society is backed by a prince, and the Third Elder is in charge of confidential files and is well-liked by newcomers. He is likely someone close to that prince, and this elder happens to be located in the capital region.

"Why have the people from the Yongqiu branch ended up in Shengping Prefecture?"

At a secluded stronghold of the Fufeng Society in Shengping Prefecture, a one-eyed man sized up Chen Shi and casually asked him a question.

"Although I live in Yongqiu, there is no rule that says I can't come to Shengping."

Chen Shi said something, his voice devoid of any emotion.

The one-eyed man chuckled and, without arguing with Chen Shi any further, took out the mission book.

Although the Fufeng Society has set up branches in various places and the members are managed by the branch masters, the main body is still the Feng, Ya and Song three parts, and members can take on tasks in various places.

Chen Shi opened the Yabu mission book, and after flipping through more than twenty pages, stopped at a mission.

Assassination of the Deputy Transport Commissioner of Jiangnan

According to Qin Zhuyue, this elder from the capital region is recruiting people, mainly targeting members of the Ya tribe, but not just anyone.

He seems to have some kind of requirement, and has issued some tasks specifically for this purpose. Only those who complete these tasks will be recruited by him.

As for why Qin Zhuyue knew so much detail...

Shengping is, after all, her territory!

The Fufeng Society deliberately bypassed her this time and sent another elder to handle the matter. How could she not harbor resentment? So she conducted a special investigation during this period.

That elder probably didn't want to clash with Qin Zhuyue. He noticed Qin Zhuyue's probing but didn't react, so Qin Zhuyue discovered some things about him.

The task that Chen Shi chose at this moment was the one set by that elder.

"This task is not simple."

Upon seeing Chen Shixuan's chosen task, the one-eyed man smirked coldly.

Although the Deputy Transport Commissioner of Jiangnan was only a sixth-rank official, as an assistant official of the transport commissioner, he was responsible for managing the finances and transport of grain in Jiangnan Circuit, and also had the function of supervising the officials of the prefectures and counties.

He held a low position but wielded great power!

It is said that this Vice Envoy Yang embezzled a great deal of money; not only was his mansion magnificent and imposing, but he also kept a large number of guards and servants.

When they go out, they are always surrounded by a large entourage, and strangers can hardly get close to them.

After all, a guilty conscience needs no accuser.

Therefore, assassinating him would be quite difficult.

Has anyone done this task before?

"All three fourth-rank members failed."

The one-eyed man nodded and looked at Chen Shi with a smile.

Judging from Chen Shi's token, he was only of the fourth rank.

"There are also differences between the fourth class and the fourth class."

Chen Shi said calmly and tore up the task.

The one-eyed man gave a soft snort and said nothing more.

After all, he only cares about issuing tasks; what does it matter to him whether the person accepting the task lives or dies?

After accepting the task, Chen Shi went straight to the residence of the Deputy Transport Commissioner.

Shengping Prefecture was the seat of the Jiangnan Circuit. Most of the government offices and official residences of the Jiangnan Circuit were located in Shengping City, and this Vice Envoy Yang was no exception.