Volume Two: Winds Rise in Anxi Prefecture - Chapter 160: Impossible to Explain

Could it be that the young man before him used honeyed words to deceive Director Zhao?

The chief manager stared at Lu Jiuzhang. Judging from Director Zhao's implication, the person before him was a Demon Slayer.

A Demon Slayer was a member of the Demon Slaying Bureau!

There didn't seem to be any Demon Slayer surnamed Lu in Anxi Prefecture, which meant he must have come from another region.

He was either from Beilu Commandery or a Demon Slayer from one of the counties under Anxi Prefecture's jurisdiction.

A Demon Slayer from Beilu Commandery shouldn't be such a young expert, so the most likely possibility was that he belonged to a county-level Demon Slaying Bureau under their jurisdiction.

"Which county's Demon Slaying Bureau are you from?" the chief manager demanded.

"Lu Jiuzhang, Demon Slayer of the Changshui County Demon Slaying Bureau," Lu Jiuzhang replied in a deep voice.

The other party had guessed correctly for the most part, so there was no need to hide it.

Besides, since he was currently inside the Heavenly Mystery Tower, he had to clear this matter up; otherwise, he might not even be able to walk out of here today.

The influence of the Heavenly Mystery Tower had always been immense, and a county-level Demon Slaying Bureau probably wouldn't make them hold back.

"Outrageous! A mere county-level Demon Slaying Bureau Demon Slayer, and you dare to lay hands on someone from my Heavenly Mystery Tower!" the chief manager rebuked angrily. "Do you know Director Zhao's identity?"

"She is the eldest young miss of the Jingzhao Prefecture's Zhao family. Although not born of the primary wife, she is still one of the most noble figures of the younger generation. As a county-level Demon Slayer, how dare you act so recklessly? Have you grown tired of living?"

A member of the Jingzhao Prefecture's Zhao family?

This was the first time Lu Jiuzhang learned of Director Zhao's identity.

No wonder her authority was so great, allowing Lu Jiuzhang a thirty percent discount on purchasing treasures.

"Enough!" Director Zhao was so mortified she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground.

She had originally wanted to test Lu Jiuzhang's depth, but she hadn't expected her own background to be exposed first.

Not only that, but whereas previously there was nothing between her and Lu Jiuzhang, after the chief manager's remarks, it sounded as though something truly ambiguous was going on between them.

"Chief Manager, this is my personal business and has nothing to do with you!" Director Zhao emphasized.

"Why wouldn't it have to do with me? Director Zhao, if something happens to you, this old life of mine is finished as well," the chief manager said. "This old man is sixty-four this year, and I have no other wishes than to spend my remaining years in peace. I only hope Director Zhao will not cause me to die in this position of chief manager."

Put that way, it did seem to have some connection.

"I've already said there is nothing between us. Why won't you believe it?"

Director Zhao had no choice but to change the subject.

Yet in the chief manager's eyes, he had practically witnessed Director Zhao in the middle of undressing—how was he supposed to believe her?

Did he have to wait until they were sleeping in the same bed before believing it?

Though he thought this inwardly, he could not voice it aloud. The chief manager softened his tone slightly. "Of course I believe you. Director Zhao is naturally intelligent, but some people harbor malicious intentions, and I am merely worried that you have been deceived."

"Hmph!" Director Zhao stomped her foot in exasperation, displaying a girlish demeanor at that moment. "Aren't you still doubting me? Out, get out!"

Director Zhao was thoroughly angered.

"Very well, we will all go out! Director Zhao, think it over carefully."

The chief manager raised his hand, signaling the others to leave.

Simultaneously, the chief manager cast another glare at Lu Jiuzhang.

At a critical juncture like this, rather than following them out, what on earth was he waiting around here for?

Lu Jiuzhang had no choice but to follow the chief manager out of the room.

Yet the moment they stepped out, Lu Jiuzhang was surrounded by the chief manager and several other directors.

As members of the Heavenly Mystery Tower, the chief manager and these directors possessed cultivation bases of their own.

At the same time, several figures closed in around them, forming a complete encirclement.

Those figures were all martial artists, and their cultivation levels were far from low.

"There is no way I will let you leave easily today," the chief manager said. "Once I have persuaded Director Zhao, allowed her to clear her thoughts, and restored her ability to distinguish bad people, we will let her make the final decision."

"Take him away!"

At the chief manager's command, the group escorted Lu Jiuzhang toward the detention area.

Naturally, the Heavenly Mystery Tower did not possess a formal dungeon; this was a private confinement. Once uncovered, no matter how formidable one's background, it would be insufficient to withstand the new emperor's wrath.

Therefore, the place where Lu Jiuzhang was detained was an independent room.

More than a dozen martial artists of the eighth or even seventh rank kept watch here, making it no easy feat to break out.

"Cough, cough..."

Inside the room, a man looked at Lu Jiuzhang with gossipy curiosity. "Don't rush. Even if you're going to die, you'll still have to be sent to Jingzhao Prefecture. The journey there takes at least a month, so you still have a month to live."

Was this what they called not rushing?

With only a little over a month left to live, who could bear that?

"I'm quite curious, actually. How did you manage to deceive Director Zhao? What kind of experience do you have? You might as well impart it to us before you die. Rest assured, it won't be in vain—after you die, I'll find a way to burn a couple of incense sticks for you."

The man continued speaking.

"Director Zhao and I have no special relationship whatsoever. We are completely innocent."

Lu Jiuzhang's throat was practically hoarse from explaining, but the other party simply refused to listen!

"Rest assured, we won't compete with you for Director Zhao. Even if we were given ten times the courage, we wouldn't dare deceive her. We're just curious about your methods. Director Zhao is such a smart person, yet she was wrapped around your finger by you. If we learned your tricks to woo other girls, wouldn't it be as easy as taking candy from a baby?"

The man pressed on.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Director Zhao had already put her clothes back on.

Her heart was filled with profound guilt. If Lu Jiuzhang were to lose his life or suffer injuries because of this, Director Zhao would hate herself to the core.

Pushing open the door, she found the chief manager standing outside.

"Have you rested enough? Let's talk."

The chief manager looked at Director Zhao and said.

"Let's talk inside." Director Zhao took a deep breath, urging herself to remain calm and resolving to solve this matter peacefully if possible.

"I won't go in; let's talk right here at the doorway."

Glancing into the room, the chief manager was genuinely scared.

Should another incident occur and he proved unable to explain it, he wouldn't be able to escape a death sentence either.

"That Demon Slayer Lu's full name is Lu Jiuzhang, a Demon Slayer of the Changshui County Demon Slaying Bureau," Director Zhao said slowly. "Yet he is rather mysterious. According to the records I reviewed, he only began cultivating a mere few months ago. In such a short span of time, he has broken through to the eighth rank in both martial arts and Confucianism."

"Is that really true? Then there must be a profound secret behind this boy!" the chief manager said solemnly.

Achieving consecutive breakthroughs in such a short time could no longer be described merely as genius; that was an absolute monstrous anomaly.

"Not only that, but he has taken the Great Confucian Master Xu as his teacher."

"His future prospects are immeasurable. Master Xu is the Emperor's Preceptor. If this boy manages to reach the fifth rank in Confucianism in the future, he will be a match of equal social standing for you, Director Zhao."

The chief manager nodded.

A fifth-rank Confucian scholar coupled with being the personal student of the Emperor's Preceptor—such noble status ensured his future would be smooth sailing.

Although the Heavenly Mystery Tower possessed vast wealth and property, it ultimately belonged to a certain prince.

Furthermore, the Heavenly Mystery Tower was divided into twelve major clans, and the Zhao family was not among the very top tier.

Even within the Zhao family, there were several different branches, and Director Zhao belonged to only one of them rather than the primary lineage.

With such status, let alone Director Zhao, he was likely worthy even of the eldest young miss of the Zhao family's primary lineage.

After all, he was the student of the Emperor's Preceptor, and the Emperor's Preceptor was a confidant of the new emperor.

Having spoken these words, the chief manager felt it was entirely natural, but to Director Zhao's ears, it sounded entirely different.

Why was this matter being dragged up again?

What matching or not matching? Would this endless chatter never stop?