Cultivating in Different Professions

"Brother Mu, there’s trouble!"

Su Mu had expected the Xiaoxiang Rebirth Technique to cause trouble, but he hadn’t expected it to arrive so quickly.

Not even two days had passed since his heart-to-heart with Zhao Poni after turning in the Xiaoxiang Rebirth Technique. Just as he was preparing to leave the city and resume his mission guarding the outskirts of Daxing Mountain, Wang Guan came looking for him.

Wang Guan blurted out his warning the moment he arrived.

"What is it?"

Su Mu, however, was quite calm.

’With my current strength, what seems like a major issue to Wang Guan is nothing to me anymore.’

"The Jiangzuo Wenren Family submitted a memorial to the imperial court, accusing you of dueling and setting a trap to frame Wenren Jiangbo."

Wang Guan said, "The court has already issued a decree, ordering the Inspection Bureau to investigate this matter thoroughly!"

"I set a trap to frame Wenren Jiangbo?"

Su Mu laughed in frustration. "Wenren Jiangbo was the one who challenged me. He lost because his skills were inferior. This frame-up is just ridiculous."

He knew the Wenren Family wouldn’t just swallow their anger over the Xiaoxiang Rebirth Technique, and he had even considered that they might send experts to make trouble for him.

But he hadn’t expected the Wenren Family to resort to such a shallow framing tactic.

"Brother Mu, you don’t understand. The Wenren Family is saying that it’s impossible for a Rebirth Realm Martial Artist to defeat Wenren Jiangbo in a single move. They suspect you’re not human."

Wang Guan continued, "The duel with Wenren Jiangbo was just a pretext they came up with. What they really want is to falsely accuse you of not being human."

"Not human? Then what am I?"

Su Mu said, speechless.

"They’re saying you’re a demon that has taken human form!"

Wang Guan said, "We all know you’re not, Brother Mu, but the Inspection Bureau is investigating you now.

And you know, Brother Mu, this is what the Inspection Bureau does.

That Captain Xu from the Taiping Bureau is still locked up just for visiting a brothel.

Brother Mu, if you get taken away by the Inspection Bureau, who knows when they’ll let you out.

So, hurry and get out of the city before they arrive."

Wang Guan had come specifically to tip him off.

The Wenren Family’s frame-up might not be enough to truly harm him, but it was certainly a disgusting tactic.

Besides, once Su Mu fell into the hands of the Inspection Bureau, who knew what other tricks the Wenren Family would pull.

’Just as expected of a Civil Servant Family.’

A cold smile appeared on Su Mu’s face. These kinds of methods were truly vile.

If the Inspection Bureau really did ask him to return and assist with the investigation, it would be difficult for him to refuse.

If he actually resisted with force, he would be considered guilty even if he were innocent.

Putting that aside, even if the Inspection Bureau ultimately found nothing, Su Mu couldn’t stomach the thought of being locked up for several months.

"To slander a Taiping Captain of the Taiping Bureau as a great demon in human form... The nerve of them to even think of that."

Su Mu sneered.

"Brother Mu, you don’t need to pay them any mind."

Wang Guan said, "Just get out of the city. The Inspection Bureau doesn’t have the manpower to go looking for you right now. I know how these things work. Drag it out for a few months, and the whole thing will be dropped."

Not long after Wang Guan left, while Su Mu was still pondering how to handle the situation, someone sent by Zhao Poni suddenly came to summon him.

"There’s a mission, and right now, you’re the only one who can do it."

Zhao Poni said, getting straight to the point, "A Tier Three Demon has appeared on the outskirts of Daxing Mountain. It ate several Hunters a few days ago. I need you to make a trip. If you can eliminate it, do so. If not, find a way to force it back into the depths of Daxing Mountain."

"Now?"

Su Mu asked, looking at Zhao Poni.

"Leave immediately."

Zhao Poni nodded and said, "I don’t need to tell you how destructive a Tier Three Demon is. For every extra day it lingers on the outskirts of Daxing Mountain, there’s no telling how many more people will be killed."

"Alright."

Su Mu was silent for a moment before nodding slowly.

’Wang Guan just delivered the news, and now Zhao Poni is immediately sending me out of the city on a mission. How could there be such a coincidence?’

’A Tier Three Demon appearing on the outskirts of Daxing Mountain, its exact location unknown... finding it would require scouring the entire area.’

’Once I leave, the Inspection Bureau won’t be able to find me anytime soon.’

’This is the Wuling Taiping Bureau’s countermeasure.’

’As long as I’m out of the city on a mission, the Inspection Bureau can’t get their hands on me, and naturally, they won’t be able to make things difficult for me.’

...

"Everyone, with me! We’re going to bring Taiping Captain Su Mu back for questioning."

Wu Qiuyuan shouted.

The Inspectors all responded in affirmation, preparing to move out with Wu Qiuyuan.

Just then, an Inspector hurried over.

"Lord Wu, Xu Chongyuan confessed!"

The Inspector said excitedly, "He says he has important intelligence about the Taiping Bureau, but he’ll only talk if you go see him, Lord Wu."

"Important intelligence about the Taiping Bureau?"

Wu Qiuyuan hesitated for a moment. "Let’s go!"

’Su Mu is right there; he’s not going anywhere.’

’I’d better hear what Xu Chongyuan has to say first. If I can get evidence of the Taiping Bureau’s crimes, I can deal with it all at once.’

...

"Where’s Wu Qiuyuan? Tell him to hurry up. If he’s too slow, I might not feel like talking anymore."

In a courtyard within the Wuling Inspection Bureau, a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight slammed his hand on the table, a brazen look on his face as he shouted loudly.

"If no one comes soon, I’m walking out of here.

A few kittens like you can’t stop me, Xu Chongyuan."

"Xu Chongyuan!"

Just then, Wu Qiuyuan burst in with a group of Inspectors. "You’re finally ready to talk?"

"Talk? I’ll tell you everything."

Xu Chongyuan looked at Wu Qiuyuan and gave a sly chuckle. "I have a big secret about the Taiping Bureau," he said. "If it gets out, the Wuling Taiping Bureau will lose all face.

Lord Wu, don’t you think a secret like that is quite valuable?"

"Hmph. As long as you confess, I can guarantee that your crimes will be absolved. Not only that, but I can also apply for a reward for you."

Wu Qiuyuan snorted.

He had already kept Xu Chongyuan locked up here for two or three months, but Xu Chongyuan had been stubborn the whole time, refusing to say a word.