White-Robed Chief

The four stared at Chang Gui.

Chang Gui was all smiles looking back at Chu Li. “The commission of sweeping the streets isn’t that hard, right?”

Chu Li motioned a fist salute. “Yes.”

Chang Gui studied his every expression with his steely gaze and in the end, shook his head in disappointment. “Great, you should get some rest as you’ve just arrived. Don’t get sick and sleep in. You’ll start tomorrow. Come over after your breakfast to register your attendance. There’ll be someone to bring you around.”

“Yes.” With a smile, he asked, “Out of the mayor’s family, who is the one you cherish the most?”

This question was rather abrupt and peculiar. Chang Gui frowned as he stared at him.

Chu Li shook his head. “Then I’ll be finding my own residence?”

“You can stay anywhere you want to as long as you don’t delay your commission.” Chang Gui waved his arm in annoyance.

Chu Li gestured a fist salute. “Please excuse me.”

The four left the Town Defense Prefecture with hardened expressions.

The job to sweep the streets was a show to prevail over Chu Li from the first encounter.

It was an insult to have a Rank-One Scribe sweep the streets. This mayor may be jolly but he had nothing but animosity for Chu Li.

Suddenly, Lu Yurong burst into laughter. “Sweeping the streets isn’t a bad job. I want to follow you to watch tomorrow and then have everyone in the Fairy’s Capital learn a thing or two as well. It’ll help you build fame!”

Xiao Qi glanced at her with dissatisfaction.

Lu Yurong smiled. “Chu Li, why didn’t you reject this commission?’

“There’ll be a better job waiting for me if I were to reject,” Chu Li replied. “Transporting fecal matter.”

“That is worse!” Lu Yurong gasped in admiration.

Fa Yuan said, “So you’re giving in, Brother Chu?”

Chu Li fell deep in thought before flashing a smile. “He’s the boss,… so of course I’m not going to sweep the streets!”

“That’s not going to be good,” Fa Yuan responded. “With the power and position he’s holding, he is to be obeyed without defiance!”

The highest official in a Town Defense directly reported to the imperial court. Being sent to the Imperial Mausoleum, if Chu Li refused to obey the mayor, the Emperor would be furious and order a more severe punishment on him if a memo was presented to the throne.

Not only would he relinquish any chance of returning, but he would also be left in a worse situation.

He was now crippled of his martial arts and waiting for the Emperor to show mercy in allowing his return to the Fairy’s Capital where he could regain his martial arts. All it required was a word from the Emperor.

Chu Li smiled. “Everyone has a weakness.”

Fa Yuan gazed at him with puzzlement.

Xiao Qi said, “I’ll go purchase a house to settle down.”

Chu Li shook his head. “There’s no rush, let’s stay in an inn.”

They quickly found an inn in town and requested for a courtyard. Fa Yuan and Lu Yurong had no intention to leave.

Chu Li ordered a banquet and took a seat in the courtyard’s pavilion for a meal.

Lu Yurong took a few bites and two sips of wine. She smiled. “Oh well, I’ll plead on your behalf and hand King Jing’s letter to him.”

Chu Li shook his head. “It’s fine.”

Lu Yurong gave him the side glance. “What? Don’t want to owe a favor to King Jing?”

Chu Li answered, “He probably won’t budge for King Jing’s sake!”

Lu Yurong giggled as she shook her head. “You think too highly of him!”

Smiling, Chu Li shook his head without uttering a word.

—

Chang Gui sat in the main hall, pleasingly rubbed his bulging tummy.

The feeling of trampling over a prominent man was entrancing, leaving him excited and content.

He caressed his beard and sighed over the unsatisfied pleasure.

It was a shame this Chu Li knew his place, preventing him from going further.

He thought that a proud man like Chu Li would not be able to keep it together when receiving such a lowly commission. Being at a hot-blooded age, surely Chu Li would refuse to submit and question the job. He would then smile and ask if Chu Li would take the job.

The moment Chu Li displayed his reluctance, he would then announce the other commission, which was assistance in transporting human waste!

Then, Chu Li would not be able to say no. If he were to reject, he would submit a memo to the throne to have this prominent figure forced down without a chance to reverse his fortunes.

Tickled with excitement at that thought, he licked his lips as though there was a huge feast before him.

Soon afterwards, he shook his head and sighed. It was a pity this Chu Li knew his place and showed flexibility. This sneaky guy actually agreed to it and escaped such a fate!

Sensing something, he immediately lifted his head. Lu Yurong dressed in white with a white veil over her face stood gracefully in the main hall.

He was shocked at the high cultivation level of this woman!

However, no matter how high her cultivation level was, she would not dare lay a finger on him!

“King Jing has a letter for Mayor Chang.” She retrieved a letter from her sleeve and gently let go. A water-resistant letter glided over as though it was carried by a phantom hand as it moved seamlessly towards Chang Gui.

Without an expression, Chang Gui accepted and tore it open to read. He then gently placed it on his desk.

“What are your thoughts, Mayor Chang?” Lu Yurong asked.

Chang Gui grinned. “This Chu Li really has quite the influence. Concern letters from a few of the princes arrived before he did… I won’t lie, apart from King Jing’s letter, I also received letters from Prince Bao, Prince Kang and King Ping to give Chu Li extra attention.”

Lu Yurong frowned and came to a realization.

All the princes thought the same as King Jing but took faster action.

“I can’t go against the princes.” Chang Gui shook his head and sighed. “But! Rules are rules and nothing can be accomplished without rules. I am under the command of the imperial court and the Emperor to guard this town. I’ll uphold justice and handle matters by the rules without showing favoritism!”

“Switching to a less laborious commission isn’t playing favorites.” Lu Yurong frowned as she stared at him. Her clear eyes were cold and cheerless but rage was building within.

To her, Chang Gui was not an impartial subject but the kind that held onto opportunities to be noticed by the Emperor. He was an opportunist who was trying to get to the top by trampling on Chu Li.

Chang Gui solemnly replied, “Chu Li wants to switch jobs, so does everyone else. Everyone’s unhappy with their commission. How am I going to convince others if I make an exception?”

Out of those who were sent to the Imperial Mausoleum, there were some who stood a chance to change their fate. Particularly for imperial court officials without martial arts to return to the assembly after settling in the adjacent town. However, there were also others who would never have the same opportunity.

Chu Li was sent to the Imperial Mausoleum by the direct order of the Emperor for lying. Once the Emperor had passed the sentence, there was no turning back as words carried weight. There was no chance for Chu Li to change his fate.

A famous person with no possibility to reverse his fortune was his best stepping stone. Taking Chu Li to task could help him gain enough of a name for himself to leave the adjacent town. The Emperor would notice him and thus, he would gain a ticket back to the Fairy’s Capital.

The few princes may blame him for not giving them face but with the fame that came from being a righteous subject, they would not argue. He was not bothered if they held a grudge as long as he was able to return to the Fairy’s Capital and leave this remote area!

“Mayor Chang really had it all planned out but it’ll probably fall through!” Lu Yurong coldly blurted, “Chu Li isn’t someone you can mess with!”

“Even a dragon has to bow down here!” Chang Gui gave a faint smile.