Yanjing, crossing the ferry together.
Starting from noon, a chill lightly invaded Yanjing, with continuous drizzle, erosive and soul-stirring. Aside from one or two fishing enthusiasts clad in rain gear stubbornly persisting by the long embankment, only the fluttering willow trees stood by watching the river.
Often, during scorching rainy days, fishermen and fishing enthusiasts would unanimously gather at the most famous tavern of the crossing, 'Tingyun Hall', order a few snacks and enjoy a jug of 'Spring Daze'.
The wine isn't strong; even children wouldn't get drunk, but it's said the owner added silver flower essence while brewing. Upon recalling the past while drinking, one would feel hazy and drowsy like in spring, earning the claim that the wine doesn't intoxicate, but people drunken themselves.
However, the passing fishermen and enthusiasts, upon seeing several people dressed in blue standing at the entrance of Tingyun Hall, dared not linger and hurriedly left.
Behind the counter, Youyou watched familiar customers who dared not approach Tingyun Hall at all, and snorted with annoyance: "Absolutely detestable…"
Beside her, her father hurriedly patted her hand in fright, whispering, "Oh my dear daughter, keep such comments private, what if they hear you—"
"What's wrong if they hear? I didn't even say who's detestable."
"Ah, they've been rampaging in Yanjing for so long, how could they not know who you are calling detestable?"
"Dad, are you aware you are saying worse things than I am…"
Her father waved his hand as if chasing away mosquitoes: "Don't help here, go back to reading or training, just stay away from the front hall!"
"Alright alright, I won't say anything." Youyou pouted, hiding her figure behind the counter, secretly observing the blue-clad agents in the hall.
To be precise, she was sneaking glances at the bizarre figure sitting centrally in a grand armchair in the hall, whose toes couldn't touch the ground. With two ears as large as sunflower leaves, merely 95 cm tall, holding a fat orange cat seemingly of equal size, dressed in blue and purple clothes—this strange man.
Though called a dwarf, his skin was fair, his face even more delicate than children of the same height. Like it would burst with merely a blow, like water would ooze out with a pinch. If his ears were overlooked, he appeared as an indistinctly gendered human juvenile.
Though called a child, he's at least over twenty-five years old, and in the alley gossip, it's even claimed he already has a child whose height surpasses his.
One of the four inspectors of the Statistical Department in Yanjing, 'Raccoon Slave,' Chanchan.
Compared to the other three inspectors' notorious crimes, Chanchan's cruelty, ferocity, and lasciviousness, contrasted with his appearance, create an absurdity, making him the most talked-about figure among Yanjing's citizens as a representative of the Statistical Department.
"Meow~~~"
The orange cat stretched lazily, making a melodious sound like a hook. Since entering Tingyun Hall, Chanchan, who hadn't uttered a word, suddenly asked: "Where to now?"
His voice, filled with naivety, resembled the tone of a child yet to change. Youyou, who was sneaking peeks, increasingly felt amused, even involuntarily thinking 'he's so cute,' but soon swiftly reversed her thoughts—cute? Hell no, he might be twice my age, just an old monster pretending to be youthful!
"Ten more minutes to the dock." The blue-clad agent at the entrance respectfully replied, "People at the dock are ready to meet you."
"Alright." Chanchan pinched the fat flesh of the orange cat in his arms, turned his head to ask: "Don't say I'm being arbitrary; he's your person. Should we go to meet him or let him come to meet us?"
Only when Chanchan turned around to talk did Youyou suddenly notice there's actually a man in black sitting beside him. Not an inch of skin was exposed to the air; his massive hood and towering collar shrouded his entire visage, with only a pair of eyes revealed.
In the brightly lit hall, the attire of the man in black was so abrupt, yet before Chanchan spoke, Youyou hadn't even noticed him at all!
"Let him come meet us," the man in black Youyou said gently: "Though he achieved great deeds, without rank, he's but a mere commoner. Should Inspector Chanchan go personally to greet him, it might give rise to unrealistic expectations, counterproductive to future management. It's better to have him come himself for a bit of pressure, to ascertain his potential adaptability."
I'll pressure him with a hammer… Chanchan coldly chuckled in his heart. If our Statistical Department braved the rain to meet that group of Dongyang people at the dock, regardless of their willingness, Dongyang people would be marked with the 'Statistical Department' imprint. Without other unforeseen circumstances, they would inevitably have to work for the Statistical Department in the end.
Having been stained by the Statistical Department, one could only belong to the Statistical Department.
Conversely, if the Dongyang people came to meet the Statistical Department, as long as they closed the doors, no one would ever know about the secret meeting, thus Dongyang wouldn't have just one escape route.
Although Chanchan knew very well he couldn't conceal his intentions from the 'Fire Prison' operative, the tactful response of the 'Fire Prison' also indicated their Ritual Guard had no intention of letting go.
The Radiant Four Guards each possess a field, although all are spies for the Imperial Family, in the protracted passage of time, different powers gradually formed.
The Loyal Guard's moves are secretive and unknowable like shadows, the Righteous Guard thrives among varied streams amidst the army; the Ritual Guard hides in the city, the Wise Guard hides in the court.
Taking the opportunity of forming the Statistical Department, the Righteous, Ritual, and Wise Guards cooperated, successfully infiltrating Yanjing's Statistical Department completely. Though the Statistical Department has become the pocket possession of the Radiant Four Guards, more precisely, it has actually turned into the Righteous Guard's base, with the Ritual and Wise Guards having usage rights but not management rights.
It's like you and classmate jointly fund raising a cat, but the cat resides at your classmate's house, you only have the right to visit and stroke the cat, but what kind of cat food to give, when to neuter, and what clothes to wear are all decided by your classmate. Under your classmate's meticulous care, you realize the cat seems to almost transform into a beautiful girl…
Hence, undercurrents flow within the Radiant Four Guards, the Righteous Guard rapidly expands due to monopoly of benefits, while the Ritual and Wise Guards, prioritizing the larger picture, can only endure.
This return of the Dongyang operative can be said to shock the Radiant Four Guards for an entire year.
Raising upheaval!
Sneaking military funds!
Returning loaded!
This matter originally only concerned the Ritual Guard, but Shihuai Feng and his team needed the Morning and Evening ships to implement the rapid escape plan. The Ritual Guard couldn't obtain them, so they had to seek help from the Righteous Guard.
The Ritual Guard initially wanted to monopolize the deal, but they were willing to pay a high price to secure the two Morning and Evening ships. The Righteous Guard, using their brains, knew the benefits they could gain were at least a hundredfold of the ships, so naturally, they insisted on having a share.
Shihuai Feng was in urgent need, and the Ritual Guard had no choice but to painfully compromise, allowing the Righteous Guard to join in.
As the influential 'Cold Cicada' operative of the Righteous Guard, this collaboration was entirely handled by Han Cicada Chenchen.
However, compared to the imminent Silver Blood treasure, Han Cicada Chenchen was more concerned about the few Dongyang people of the Ritual Guard.
Understanding the weakness of the four guards in the Dongyang region and the strength of the Silver Blood Association locally, he found it intriguing how, under such circumstances, the Ritual Guard could seize the opportunity and overthrow the Silver Blood Association, taking away wealth accumulated over hundreds of years in Dongyang, returning in glory to Yanjing.
This ability was far more alluring than those gold and silver treasures.
Although 'transfer of position' rarely happened among the four guards, it was not entirely impossible. If Han Cicada Chenchen could truly imprint the 'Statistical Department' seal on the Dongyang people, even if the Ritual Guard was unwilling, they could only let them work in the Statistical Department.
'The Fire Prison did say something right, they should be suppressed a bit...' Han Cicada Chenchen thought.
First, frighten this group of outsiders, let them realize their isolation and helplessness in Yanjing, then display his overshadowing means and bring them under his command.
Unlike the arrogant Righteous Guard, the Ritual Guard still needed to conceal their identities to some extent.
No one wanted to live in darkness, uninhibited with the Righteous Guard or engaging in petty business with the Ritual Guard? For the smart ones, this was a choice that required no deliberation.
"Inspector, they are arriving soon." The Azure-robed agent reported again.
"Good."
Han Cicada Chenchen pushed the plump orange cat off his thigh onto the ground. The cat let out a disgruntled meow, glaring at its owner lazily, then curled up on the floor, flicking its tail. He jumped to the ground, avoiding the plump cat, and said, "All unrelated personnel must leave, guard outside, not even a fly is allowed to enter!"
"Yes!" The Azure-robed agents replied in unison, retreating from the Tingyun Hall.
Xu Father and Xu Yubie hurriedly followed to leave, but Xu Yubie looked at Han Cicada Chenchen's stature of ninety-five centimeters, wearing a Statistical Department blue-purple uniform resembling children's clothing, hands behind, standing proudly in the hall center, with a plump orange cat lying nearby. This peculiar scene made her face flush red, and the harder she tried to contain it, the more she couldn't help but let a slight giggle escape.
At that moment, the surrounding Azure-robed agents' faces stiffened, decisively distancing themselves from Xu Yubie and her father!
"Funny, is it?"
Han Cicada Chenchen calmly put on his hat, then casually pointed at Xu Yubie.
A gentle glow like a rainbow swept across the sky, and before Xu Yubie realized it, she saw ripples and scattered light illusions unfold before her eyes.
Then, the next moment, she was pulled backward, heavily crashing onto the damp green brick rain street. She looked up and saw two figures in rain gear entering Tingyun Hall, and then the Azure-robed agents shut the door.
Xu Yubie seemed oblivious to her father's frantic and reproachful care beside her, only staring blankly at the closed door of Tingyun Hall.
She only then realized what had just happened.
She had suddenly almost died.
And suddenly been saved.
"You child, how can you be so irresponsible..." Xu Father grumbled, scolding Xu Yubie. If it were any other time, Xu Yubie would retort, 'It's not my fault, why scold me.'
However, this time, Xu Yubie obediently nodded, "I was wrong; I won't dare next time."
She lowered her head to look at her grazed elbow, her pupils glowing with an unusual brightness, recalling the political inclinations subtly expressed by some classmates during the recent project activity organized by Teacher Wei. She couldn't help but whisper:
"It's really too funny..."
...
...
The door was closed tightly, isolating the wind and rain, leaving only four people and a plump orange cat in the vast Tingyun Hall.
"It's not post-initiation positioning but a preemptive divine gun. You knew my attack direction before I made a move and intercepted it with a divine gun in advance..." Han Cicada Chenchen said with mildness: "As an initial show of strength, you did alright."
"Not daring." The two visitors retreated with cupped fists simultaneously.
Han Cicada Chenchen walked towards them step by step, lifted his head to look up at them, and said:
"I am the Righteous Guard operative, also the security inspector of Yanjing Statistical Department, 'Cold Cicada' Han Cicada Chenchen. State your names."
Be careful, my show of strength is about to begin.