The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

So that's what it was about.

Jiang Ning shook his head: "There's no need for that."

Jiang Ning quickly changed the subject, asking, "Is your daughter feeling better now?"

"Much better, much better."

Prefect Chen nodded repeatedly: "Since Tian Boguang died last time, my wife told my daughter the news, and now her condition is much better."

He thought that Tian Boguang's death had spurred his daughter to recover from her mental illness.

Jiang Ning nodded.

"By the way, I haven't seen you for a while, young hero. What brings you to Hanzhong today?"

After expressing his gratitude, Prefect Chen inquired about the situation.

At this point, the woman also withdrew.

“I have several Taoist friends who recently arrived in Hanzhong. I don’t know if they are still there. I would be grateful if Prefect Chen could help me find them.”

Jiangning Road.

"It's no big deal, no problem."

Prefect Chen readily agreed, saying it was a minor issue. Then, with a somewhat grave look, he asked, "I've heard that recently many people from the martial arts world have come to Mount Hua seeking revenge. I wonder how your sect is doing now?"

Prefect Chen looked worried and apologized to Jiang Ning: "Young hero, I have already reported this matter to the imperial court, but the court has not responded. I really cannot help the Huashan Sect. Please forgive me, young hero."

A large number of江湖人士 (jianghu figures) gathered in Shaanxi, intending to stage a large-scale armed conflict. Prefect Chen had already written twelve memorials and sent them to the capital overnight, but they all disappeared without a trace, causing no ripples. The authorities completely ignored the matter, leaving Prefect Chen helpless.

"It's nothing."

Jiang Ning remained calm: "These people are nothing to my Huashan Sect; they can't break through."

The current dynasty has become so corrupt that it is out of control in many places. He had already learned about this from his travels around the country, such as the Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan regions, where the local governments had become mere figureheads.

Jiang Ning didn't want to say more about it and thanked Prefect Chen.

"Then thank you very much, Prefect Chen."

After saying that, Jiang Ning left his address and prepared to leave.

"Young Master Jiang, please wait."

At this moment, Prefect Chen called Jiang Ning back.

"There is something I haven't given to you yet, young hero."

"thing?"

Jiang Ning turned his head, a look of doubt in his eyes. A moment later, a servant came in carrying a wooden tray covered with a red cloth.

Prefect Chen strode forward, lifted the red cloth, took the wooden tray from the servant, and came to Jiang Ning.

"Young hero, please take a look."

Jiang Ning looked at the wooden tray with curiosity and saw a plaque lying quietly on it, with silver ingots placed next to it.

"The Great Hero of Guanzhong?"

Jiang Ning's gaze fell on the sign, and he softly read out the four large characters on it.

"Prefect Chen, what is this?"

Jiang Ning looked surprised.

"This was awarded to you by the imperial court. Take a look at the back of this plaque."

Prefect Chen smiled slightly.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning picked up the plaque. It was quite heavy; it was made of gold.

Looking at the back of the sign, there were a few more small characters.

Gold Medal Holder: Jiang Ning.

Just these few words.

"Young hero, your killing of the lecherous scoundrel Tian Boguang is an act of eliminating a scourge for the people. It is not only for the people of Hanzhong, but also for the entire Shaanxi province, to rid them of this menace and to avenge all the women and their families who have been violated by Tian Boguang."

"Chen wrote a letter to the court on behalf of Young Hero Jiang, and after more than half a year, there was finally a result. The court specially awarded him a gold medal as the Great Hero of Guanzhong."

Chapter 219 Evil Can Never Triumph Over Good

Although Prefect Chen spoke lightly, obtaining this plaque was actually not easy.

He and his daughter were so humiliated by Tian Boguang that he truly hated Tian Boguang, and he was also genuinely grateful to Jiang Ning for killing Tian Boguang with his own hands.

To help Jiangning win this gold medal, he spent half a year maneuvering and countless sums of money feeding the officials before finally securing the medal.

Although this gold medal was issued by the imperial court, it was just a plaque with no real function. It was only prestigious and its only purpose was to be officially recognized by the imperial court. That was all it did.

When this gold medal was awarded, there was actually a reward of one hundred taels of silver, but the reward was embezzled by those officials. The silver on the plate now was paid for by Prefect Chen himself.

But that's enough. At least the plaque has been issued, and those corrupt officials who took the money at least got things done.

"This……"

Jiang Ning looked at the plaque in his hand with some surprise.

Actually, he wasn't very interested in such titles; his ambitions lay elsewhere. However, seeing Prefect Chen's earnest expression, Jiang Ning still nodded and thanked him.

"Thank you, Prefect Chen."

I wonder what Yue Buqun's attitude will be after we bring this gold medal back.

When Yue Buqun learned that people in the martial arts world had given Jiang Ning the nickname "Ning the King of Hell," he had a very long face for a while, as if someone owed him money every time he saw him.

Upon seeing Jiang Ning accept the gold medal, Prefect Chen smiled.

"This is what the young hero deserves."

"I won't bother you any longer, farewell."

Having accepted the gold medal, Jiang Ning prepared to leave.

"Young hero, why don't you stay at my residence? I'll have the constables from the yamen search the city later, which will make things easier."

Prefect Chen hurriedly chased after him.

"No need, thank you."

Jiang Ning smiled, shook his head, and then left the Chen residence.

"Young hero, please take care. I will contact you as soon as I find your friend."

Prefect Chen watched Jiang Ning leave from outside the gate, then returned to his residence, where he encountered his daughter running out.

"Jin'er? Why did you come out of the room?"

Prefect Chen looked at his daughter in surprise. Although she had recovered from her illness, she had mostly kept herself locked in her room and only occasionally walked around in the backyard. Why was she out now?

Chen Jin ran all the way to the gate, looking at the empty street, a look of disappointment in his eyes.

"You're looking for Young Master Jiang?"

At this moment, Prefect Chen walked over and realized that his daughter had come to see Jiang Ning.

"Ah."

Chen Jin turned away dejectedly and went back to his residence.

Prefect Chen asked, "Do you wish to thank Young Hero Jiang?"

"Ah."

Chen Jin nodded.

She still remembered that Jiang Ning saw through her madness and told her that he would kill Tian Boguang. Later, Jiang Ning did what he said and helped her avenge herself. She wanted to see Jiang Ning again to thank him in person, but she never had the chance.

Seeing her like this, Prefect Chen said, "Since you want to express your gratitude, why don't I take you to see him tomorrow? I know which inn he's staying at."

Upon hearing that they were going out, Chen Jin's face immediately showed fear, and he shook his head frantically.

"Hey."

Upon seeing this, Prefect Chen sighed.

Since that incident, Chen Jin has been afraid to leave the mansion, confining himself to the Chen residence for fear of being gossiped about by outsiders. He originally wanted to take this opportunity to let his daughter go out and see the sunshine, to bravely take the first step, but he failed time and time again.

It seems the only option is to find an opportunity to have Young Master Jiang visit again.

Prefect Chen thought to himself.

……

Back at the inn he had booked, Jiang Ning's thoughts drifted back to Mount Hua, hundreds of miles away.

I wonder how Master is doing...

Jiang Ning thought to himself.

After the initial strong attack, the two sides are now locked in a stalemate. With Mr. Mo stirring things up inside the enemy ranks, things should be relatively quiet for a while. Once the enemy realizes that they can't break through with a strong attack, they may come up with other methods. As long as Yue Buqun and his men are careful, there shouldn't be any major problems.

As Jiang Ning pondered, he unconsciously frowned again.

His innate skill had been at the peak of the third stage for some time, but there was no sign of him breaking through. Even the battles he fought while guarding the Thousand-Foot Crag hadn't made him feel anything.

"An opportunity..."

Jiang Ning murmured.

After racking his brains without success, Jiang Ning shook his head to clear his mind and stop thinking about how to break through the barrier, allowing himself to calm down.

Taoist martial arts strongly discourage impatience; the more impatient you are, the more counterproductive it will be.

Jiang Ning got up and took a shower, then lay down on the bed to rest. He hadn't had much rest in the past few days.

Jiang Ning slept until evening and woke up to a knock on the door.

"Hero Jiang, Hero Jiang."

Shouts came from outside the door.