To be fair, Chen Nan was truly fortunate to have encountered the unlucky fellow Ma Jun during the assessment.
This guy had gone to great lengths to secure first place.
Although he did indeed become first.
However, Fengdu City discovered the leak of the exam questions.
Thus, the first place was annulled.
This, in turn, helped Chen Nan.
Similarly.
If Ma Jun hadn't taken first place.
Then his own results would have been invalidated.
If that had happened, it would have been a huge loss!
"Indeed, outstanding people are favored by heaven wherever they go!" Chen Nan grinned.
Looking at the Ma Sanyuan father and son.
Their faces turned green.
Let alone that they had cheated.
Even if they hadn't.
They wouldn't dare to defy the imperial will.
They could only choose to accept.
Likewise.
A sense of foreboding arose in their hearts.
The matter of the leaked exam questions had a serious impact.
Although this examination was not an imperial examination.
If the imperial court investigated, the Ma family's situation would become very passive.
"Chen Nan, you performed excellently in this assessment. This Yin Cha token is for you, and it is well-deserved!" Han Zongyuan waved his right hand, and a black Yin Cha token flew towards Chen Nan.
Chen Nan reached out and grasped the Yin Cha token.
Han Zongyuan said, "You only need to drip blood to recognize your master, and you can absorb the Yin Cha token into your body."
Chen Nan immediately bit his fingertip and dripped a drop of fresh blood.
The next second.
The originally black Yin Cha token suddenly erupted with a strong Yin energy.
Immediately, the words 'Chen Nan' appeared on it.
Then, a 'Five' appeared on the back.
"Holy crap... A Level Five Yin Cha?"
Wu Jiu saw the number on Chen Nan's Yin Cha token and was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.
The citizens of the entire city.
Even Duan Kun, Ma Sanyuan.
And even Han Zongyuan.
Everyone present, to be fair, widened their eyes in astonishment.
Their eyes were filled with shock.
They even thought they were hallucinating.
No one had expected.
That Chen Nan, immediately after obtaining the Yin Cha token, would become a Level Five Yin Cha.
Yes.
This had never happened in history.
Because anyone else would have to grow from a Level One Yin Cha.
Chen Nan was definitely an unprecedented existence.
He had now grown to an official of the same rank as Han Zongyuan.
After all, Han Zongyuan, the magistrate of Tongcheng County, was also merely a Level Five Yin Cha.
"Constable Chen once solved the case of the green-eyed zombie."
"He also risked his life to open the floodgates."
"And then borrowed the power of heaven to kill the water monster of Taixuan Lake."
"He even developed a miracle drug like penicillin."
"These are all earth-shattering achievements. It is only natural that he directly became a Level Five Yin Cha, isn't it?" An old man's voice broke the silence of the scene.
"Yes, with the contributions Constable Chen has made, becoming a Level Five Yin Cha is also well-deserved!"
Cheers and shouts came from the crowd.
It wasn't just because Chen Nan had become a Level Five Yin Cha.
The most important point.
They believed that heaven had eyes.
They believed that there was justice in this world.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have become a Level Five Yin Cha directly.
"Congratulations, Constable Chen, on becoming a Level Five Yin Cha."
Han Zongyuan let out a hearty laugh.
Fifth Brother is indeed amazing!
He didn't make a sound, but when he did, he was astonishing.
From an ordinary person, he transformed into a Level Five Yin Cha.
At this moment.
He seemed to understand Chen Nan's intention.
He wanted to infiltrate the enemy's ranks.
To dismantle the imperial forces from within.
Thinking of this.
He also understood the path he should take in the future.
He had to cooperate with him, assist him, and help him go further step by step!
"Alright, everyone, disperse!" Han Zongyuan said, and then he led Chen Nan and the constables back to the county yamen.
------
Some were happy, and some were sad.
Ma Jun was depressed about missing out on becoming a Yin Cha.
After returning home.
He looked at Duan Kun with resentment: "Lord Duan, if you hadn't helped me take first place before, would I have become a Yin Cha?"
*Slap!*
Duan Kun slapped him away and said angrily, "Are you implying that it's all my fault for helping you?"
"To help you win first place, I not only risked leaking the exam questions to you."
"I didn't hesitate to cheat for you in public."
"And you missed out on becoming a Yin Cha, and you blame me?"
A terrifying aura erupted from him.
Ma Jun trembled and quickly knelt on the ground to apologize.
"My lord, please calm your anger, please calm your anger!" Ma Sanyuan quickly interceded: "My son is young and doesn't understand etiquette, which is why he offended you, my lord. Please do not hold it against him."
Duan Kun's anger subsided slightly. He said, "Even if the Ma family didn't become Yin Cha this time, it's no big deal. The most important thing is to recruit some constables and get them to work for the Ma family."
The Ma family monopolized the shipping on the Guangling River.
This industry was certainly profitable.
But it could be even more profitable.
For example, by transporting some controlled contraband.
This would make the industry even more lucrative.
However.
The imperial court had strict controls over this.
It was precisely for this reason that they helped Ma Jun become a Yin Cha.
Even if it was just a small constable.
It could reduce many unnecessary troubles.
Now.
Ma Jun had missed out on the position of Yin Cha and had to find other ways.
------
County Yamen.
Han Zongyuan looked at Chen Nan with some awkwardness: "How about I, the magistrate, give up my position and let you take it?"
Chen Nan almost spat out blood.
Although the magistrate was also a Level Five Yin Cha.
He had no intention of replacing Han Zongyuan.
"Just kidding," Han Zongyuan smiled, then his expression became serious. "I know what you're thinking. You want to go to Guangling Prefecture because your maid is there."
"However, now is not the time."
"As far as I know, Guangling Prefecture doesn't lack people right now. Even if you go there, you won't be highly valued."
"You should know that Level Five Yin Cha and Level Six seem to be only one level apart."
"But this one level."
"Is a chasm that countless people can hardly cross in their lifetime."
Chen Nan did not deny it.
Because Yuan Zun had told him these things before.
"However, you do have hope to try."
Chen Nan humbly asked, "Please enlighten me, my lord!"
Han Zongyuan said, "Have you ever considered why the Ma family, with their status and background power, would go to such lengths to make Ma Jun a constable?"
Chen Nan was taken aback.
He had been busy preparing for the assessment before and hadn't thought about it at all. Now that he considered it.
This matter did indeed reveal many peculiarities.
Han Zongyuan continued, "Although the Ma family has secured the qualification for shipping on the Guangling River, there are still many restrictions. Only by breaking these restrictions can the Guangling River become a true treasure trove."
"The authority of a constable, though seemingly insignificant, can break through many of these restrictions."
Hearing this, Chen Nan immediately understood the key.
Han Zongyuan showed a meaningful smile: "The Ma family wants to cause trouble in Tongcheng. If you can grasp this point, how can you not achieve great merit?"
"If you become a Level Six Yin Cha, even if you go to Guangling Prefecture, won't the Song family treat you as an honored guest?"