Volume Two: Winds Rise in Anxi Prefecture Chapter 150: Scholars Disdain One Another

"O... One lifetime!"

The one-armed brute could not even bring himself to imagine it.

The world of cultivators was indeed something far beyond the imagination of mortal wretches like them.

Just a single spiritual herb was actually worth so much!

"What are you grinning about? This thing isn't being given to you anyway," the big black dog glared at the one-armed brute. "You're a prisoner in our company. Do you even know what a prisoner means?"

"You have no human rights, and even your life belongs to us. You still expect to get this spiritual herb?"

Clearly, the man had no sense of his own standing!

"I'll take custody of this spiritual herb for you," the big black dog said. "And remember, don't go asking me for it later!"

"Lord Dog, please go right ahead!"

The one-armed brute hurriedly said.

How could he ever dare to go against a demonic beast of the eighth rank of demonhood?

Especially one with extraordinary strength, far more formidable than ordinary demonic creatures.

No human rights meant no human rights; as long as he could stay alive, that was all that mattered.

"Lord Jiu, where are we heading next?" the big black dog asked.

"Let's go stay at a friend's place for a few days," Lu Jiuzhang pondered.

Guard Mo's estate was quite spacious; accommodating a few people wouldn't be a problem at all.

"Wait here for a moment, I'm going to return something."

Lu Jiuzhang walked back inside the gate tower.

The other party's token was still with him, as he hadn't had the chance to return it earlier.

Walking into the right side chamber, Lu Jiuzhang placed the token on the counter. "Please ask the Tower Master to come out for a moment, I am returning the token..."

Mid-sentence, Lu Jiuzhang changed his mind. "Never mind, just pass the token back to the Tower Master on my behalf. There's no need to meet again."

Lu Jiuzhang felt an extreme aversion toward that cold, palace-attired beauty.

It was better not to see her at all!

...

In Anxi Prefecture, in front of a secluded courtyard, Lu Jiuzhang paused.

*Knock, knock, knock...*

The one-armed brute stepped forward and knocked on the door.

With a creak, the door opened, and Guard Mo walked out.

Seeing Lu Jiuzhang, Guard Mo looked slightly surprised. "Brother Lu?"

"Brother Mo, I would like to borrow your fine dwelling to rest for a few days. Do you think that would be all right?" Lu Jiuzhang asked.

"Why wouldn't it be? It's just that my humble home is rather crude, and I hope Brother Lu won't take offense."

Guard Mo stepped aside, clearing a path.

Lu Jiuzhang led Bai Xiaosu, the big black dog, and the one-armed brute into Guard Mo's home.

"Today marks the end of my rest period, and I have a mission to transport a batch of goods to Beilu County, so I won't be home for a short while. But don't worry, Brother Lu, just treat this place like your own home and stay in peace," Guard Mo said.

"Everything you need is in the house; it's much more comfortable than staying at an inn."

Soon, Guard Mo had arranged the living quarters for Lu Jiuzhang.

At noon, he had to hurry off to the Qianji Tower to handle official business.

"Guard Mo, please help me inquire about someone," Lu Jiuzhang said. "Li Muyun, also known as Miss Muyun."

"Understood!"

Guard Mo nodded and then headed toward the Qianji Tower.

...

The Qianji Tower in Anxi Prefecture was far more magnificent than the one in Changshui County.

The main building soared a hundred zhang high, surrounded by the bustling core area of Anxi Prefecture, where merchants and guests flowed in an endless stream.

Inside the Qianji Tower, it was packed with customers.

The chief proprietor was not at the front desk; instead, various managers and attendants were busy serving the patrons.

Guard Mo entered the Qianji Tower through the back door and made his way to the main hall.

The guards of the Qianji Tower had gathered here, led by the grand proprietor of the Qianji Tower, along with Manager Zhao.

"Manager Zhao!"

Guard Mo walked up to Manager Zhao and whispered in his ear, "Lu Jiuzhang wants to commission us to find someone named Li Muyun in Anxi Prefecture."

"Li Muyun?" Manager Zhao muttered to himself. "You can head to Beilu County with peace of mind; leave this matter to me."

Finding someone within Anxi Prefecture was no difficult task for the Qianji Tower.

With that, Guard Mo returned to the formation.

Seeing that the personnel had mostly assembled, the grand proprietor of the Qianji Tower glanced at them and shouted, "Remember the regulations: do not stir up trouble on the road. If anyone blocks your path, prioritize escaping above all else. The goods are not important; return and report it. The Qianji Tower will send people to handle it!"

As the largest mercantile association in the Great Xia Dynasty, even a branch office proprietor like the one in Anxi Prefecture possessed this much confidence.

Who would dare to intercept goods belonging to the Qianji Tower?

After speaking, the grand proprietor looked at Manager Zhao. "Manager Zhao, get more practice in. Before long, you'll be the one issuing these orders!"

The grand proprietor smiled wryly.

With Manager Zhao transferred here, how could he not understand what it meant?

It was nothing more than letting Manager Zhao take over his position.

He didn't dare to dream of being transferred to Beilu County to serve as the proprietor there just to make room for Manager Zhao.

As a commandery-level territory, the proprietor of the Beilu County Qianji Tower had an even deeper background.

Most likely, he would be relieved of his current post. Promotion was out of the question, and he would probably be reassigned to an idle, sinecure position.

There was no helping it; since he saw the writing on the wall, he might as well use this opportunity to get on good terms with Manager Zhao.

After all, who told the other party to have such a profound background?

"The grand proprietor jests. Anxi Prefecture still needs you at the helm!" Manager Zhao cupped his fists and said.

"Let's not talk about that. Manager Zhao, you should familiarize yourself more with the operations. I'm heading home first."

Since he was going to be transferred away anyway, he had already grown apathetic.

Having said that, the grand proprietor left, leaving Manager Zhao behind to handle all affairs.

And the first order Manager Zhao issued today was to investigate Li Muyun.

Although the attendants were puzzled as to why, none of them dared to ask, and they all dispersed to carry out the assignment.

As for Lu Jiuzhang, Manager Zhao remained deeply curious about him.

The fact that the young man possessed the token of the Tower Master of the [Yingtian Restaurant] meant he truly could not be underestimated. Therefore, Manager Zhao treated the person Lu Jiuzhang wanted to investigate with utmost seriousness.

Of course, she had no idea that Lu Jiuzhang had already returned the token.

...

Inside the room, Lu Jiuzhang found himself with nothing to do.

Why hasn't Chen Xuanfeng arrived in Anxi Prefecture yet?

With no tasks recently and cooped up in the room all day, he had no idea what to do.

After thinking it over, Lu Jiuzhang decided it was best to make a trip to the Anxi Academy to see his teacher.

He still held a great deal of respect for Grand Scholars.

Two quarters of an hour later, Lu Jiuzhang stood before the gates of the Anxi Academy.

This time, no one stopped him, and Lu Jiuzhang walked inside smoothly.

"Is that Lu Jiuzhang, the closing-disciple of Master Xu?"

Along the way, people pointed and whispered at Lu Jiuzhang.

"Isn't it him? Just a bumpkin from the countryside, yet he was favored by Master Xu simply for uttering two famous quotes!"

"Changshui County is indeed a small place, and this fellow isn't all that impressive—isn't he just at the eighth rank of Confucianism? If I had been favored by Master Xu, let alone the eighth rank, I'd have a shot at stepping into the fifth rank of Confucianism in the future!"

"I heard he's also from the Slaying Demon Guard. Everyone in the Slaying Demon Guard is just a brute with a big head and thick neck, full of nothing but raw strength. Honestly, I look down on people from the Slaying Demon Guard the most!"

"..."

Along the way, numerous scholars murmured amongst themselves.

Indignation filled their hearts, as they believed that had it been them, they too could have captured Master Xu's favor.

With Master Xu's help, they would undoubtedly shine brightly in the future.

Lu Jiuzhang was nothing special after all!

Scholars had always belittled one another since ancient times; seeing someone else rise to fame, they all loved to step on them for a bit.