Chapter 616 - 397: Divine Retribution

The grass and trees turned green and then yellow again. In another two or three months, the three-year period for the outer disciples would end.

Duan Rong and the others had excellent performance records.

The tasks assigned to them by the sect were mostly completed satisfactorily, without a single unsolved case. Naturally, this was partly due to Duan Rong’s efforts as the "firefighting captain."

However, Ximen Kankan and the others had gradually matured over the past two years, and Duan Rong’s intervention had become less frequent.

With their merit points, advancing to inner sect disciples should not be a problem.

The only one with some concerns was Shen Mizi. Although Shen Mizi completed her tasks very well, her family’s reputation was tainted.

The Shen Yanliu case back then was a major one, almost leading to the execution of the entire Shen Family. Had she not spent the three years in Changling Mountain, she might have been implicated as well.

A tainted background was a major taboo for the sect.

Though her task record was quite impressive, the tainted background could very well hinder her path to advancement.

Shen Mizi was aware of this, but all she could do was her best and leave the rest to fate.

In two or three months, they would enter Changling Mountain. At the thought of the harsh solitude there, Duan Rong couldn’t help but frown.

Thus, he planned to enjoy himself thoroughly in the remaining two or three months, grasping the final moments of worldly joys.

One day, a clerk from the government office hurriedly came to see him, saying there was an important matter at the office, and he needed to go immediately.

During the days he was at home, County Magistrate Guo Baixiang often came by to chat, drink tea, and play chess with him. But looking at the clerk’s expression now, it was clear there was something serious.

Duan Rong arrived at the county government office, only to find that someone from the Ministry of Communication was waiting for him there.

Duan Rong presented his sect cloud scroll, and the person handed him a confidential letter.

Upon opening the letter, he found it was stamped with the large seal of the sect’s Internal History Department, along with the private seal of Chairman Zhu He.

His eyebrows immediately furrowed deeply.

Seeing someone from the Ministry of Communication personally coming to the office to find him, he knew it couldn’t be a trivial matter.

Now, seeing the large seal of the sect’s Internal History Department and Chairman Zhu He’s private seal on the letter, his heart sank.

Most likely, trouble was coming his way.

If it wasn’t a troublesome matter, why would the Chairman of the Internal History Department personally send him a confidential letter?

As Duan Rong quickly read through the letter, it confirmed his suspicions.

Indeed, it was a hot potato!

And a very big, very hot potato!

It was about Minister of the Secretariat Zhu Shizhong dying a sudden death!

The Taiyi Sect controlled the entire Qingzhou!

Divine Cloud Prefecture was the capital!

Wang Maochun, the Mansion Master of Divine Cloud Prefecture, was nominally the highest ruler in the mortal world. But in fact, he was merely a puppet, placed there by various factions after their power struggles.

Under the Mansion Master, the Minister of the Secretariat held the most power, overseeing all the governmental documents of Qingzhou.

Beneath the Minister of the Secretariat were the Four Ministers.

The Four Ministers included the Director of the Imperial Secretariat, responsible for Qingzhou’s finances; the Adviser, responsible for oversight; the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, responsible for legal matters; and the Grand Protector, responsible for the Iron Cavalry.

The Mansion Master, along with the Minister of the Secretariat and the Four Ministers, formed the power center of Qingzhou.

Moreover, Minister Zhu Shizhong also had the surname Zhu, and Chairman Zhu He of the sect’s Internal History Department personally inquired about the matter, indicating that Zhu Shizhong was likely Zhu He’s kin in the mortal world.

Zhu He was indeed formidable. The Mansion Master was merely a puppet, yet he managed to have the highest civil position in his grasp, making it no surprise that he was a strong candidate for the next Sect Leader of Taiyi Sect.

Truly a person of considerable capability!

Perhaps because Duan Rong had solved a major case fresh out of Changling Mountain, and over the past two years, tackled numerous tough cases, earning himself a reputation as a detective in the southeastern regions of Qingzhou, the Chairman of the Internal History Department had him called upon to investigate the sudden death of Minister Zhu Shizhong in Divine Cloud Prefecture.

The death of the Minister of the Secretariat might involve not just the political scene of Divine Cloud Prefecture, but possibly the power struggles within the sect itself. He, as a mere outer disciple, could be utterly destroyed once entangled.

But how could he dare to disobey the order of the Chairman of the Internal History Department?

Alas, can’t they just let him pass these last two or three months in peace?

Duan Rong left the county government office, holding the confidential letter with a heavy heart.

Returning to the back yard of the Escort Agency, Xiao Yu immediately noticed something was wrong with his mood.

As soon as Duan Rong sat down, she brought him tea with a concerned look and asked what happened.

Duan Rong glanced at Xiao Yu and didn’t hide it from her, showing her the confidential letter directly.

Reading the letter, Xiao Yu was taken aback.

But she quickly calmed down, gazing at Duan Rong with bright eyes, asking, "Can you refuse this task?"

"With an order from the Chairman of the Internal History Department, how can I refuse?!"

Xiao Yu sighed and said, "Then I’ll go with you with Kankan and the others. Since we’re unfamiliar with Divine Cloud Prefecture, more people mean more support."

"Forget it," Duan Rong said, sipping his tea. "I think it’s more convenient for me to go alone. I can maneuver more freely. If something happens with you all around, I’ll have to look after you."

Xiao Yu’s heart stirred. Duan Rong’s words were indeed true, but she couldn’t feel at ease with him going alone.

Xiao Yu said, "Then let Shen Mizi go with you."

Shen Mizi had once said that she’d go through fire and water unflinchingly. Now, it was her time to be of use.