Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 113 - 86: If I Were a Demon of the Xuantian Sect, How Would You Deal with It, Old Chen?

Chapter 113: Chapter 86: If I Were a Demon of the Xuantian Sect, How Would You Deal with It, Old Chen?

After listening to Chen Shijie, Zhao Xing couldn’t help but feel some admiration.

Gui Niang and he had no official status, she was merely a close companion; Nanyang County’s security was not his responsibility either, and the Minister of Agriculture’s duty was merely to encourage farming, nothing more.

He could have disappeared without a trace, safely returning to the army to resume his role as the Military Minister of Agriculture Officer.

But he was willing to risk his life, set a trap to attract the Xuantian Sect to make a move against him.

For Gui Niang and the common people, it was a matter of loyalty and responsibility; exterminating bandits and killing enemies required courage and confidence!

Old Chen, truly a man!

After thinking for a while, Zhao Xing realized he needed to say something. Old Chen confiding in him meant a lot.

"Actually, my coming here also involves the Xuantian Sect."

"Oh?" Chen Shijie raised an eyebrow. "You mean..."

"Yes, since obtaining the Calendar of Evil, there have been three major disasters and several minor ones, all after Minor Heat, during the joint search by the county and the East Lake Army," Zhao Xing said slowly.

"Then why didn’t you say it earlier?"

"For the same reason as you," Zhao Xing said, "I am just a minor clerk. Issuing the Thousand-Mile Token and the Calendar of Evil was already a precaution. A minor Gathering Essence Third Rank clerk, how could they assign a ranked expert to protect me?"

The Calendar of Evil was not omnipotent, the information it displayed was very limited. It could only tell you which time and which direction might pose a problem; it emphasized ’might,’ not ’definitely.’

Just like the ordinary people’s calendar, today favored starting a business, building a house, but avoided felling trees, traveling, and funerals. How should it be done favorably? To what extent? How should it be avoided? Whom would it specifically involve? There were too many possibilities.

"I didn’t report it for a very simple reason."

"First, even if I reported it, it wouldn’t achieve anything. The authorities would still deploy their forces as usual. They wouldn’t go to great lengths for a minor clerk."

"Second, if the authorities took it seriously and wanted more intelligence, they would make me collaborate as bait. Although this would benefit the government, for me it would be extremely dangerous."

Zhao Xing spoke frankly and directly.

He feared being sacrificed.

Who could guarantee those in higher positions were all benign and had no such intentions?

But what if someone recklessly pursued credit and acted on their own? What would happen then?

Even if everyone executed their duties perfectly and were selfless, doing this itself was dangerous.

Based on Zhao Xing’s knowledge of the Xuantian Sect, he felt he shouldn’t have spoken out then to avoid trouble; it was better to remain vigilant and avoid dangers himself.

The Xuantian Sect was not some petty thief or mountain bandit; it was a sect with thousands of years of unbroken, menacing traditions.

"Then why are you speaking out now?" Chen Shijie asked with great interest. "Is it because you were inspired by my bravery?"

"Not at all," Zhao Xing said bluntly, without sparing any feelings. "After opening the mountain, I gained tremendous wealth, forty-two pieces of Spiritual Beauty. If the Xuantian Sect isn’t blind, they’ll definitely advance my capture order."

Zhao Xing’s reason was similar to Chen Shijie’s; he also guessed that he had become more significant on the Xuantian Sect’s list.

Moreover, he had family and friends he cared deeply about, like Zhao Ruide, Zhao Zheng, even Mrs. Cai, Ziyu, and Qian Dong. He didn’t want them involved because of him.

"Hitting them hard once and wiping out their stronghold in Gucheng is also what I want," Zhao Xing said. "Even though the Xuantian Sect is powerful, such a big fish is harder to lie low than the small fry."

"Destroying one stronghold would make it difficult for them to revive within ten to twenty years."

Chen Shijie nodded slightly. "You say you have little weight in the government. If you were me, what would you do?"

Zhao Xing said slowly, "It depends on how significant your weight truly is."

Chen Shijie thought for a moment. "Consider me as a proper seventh-rank official. Since you even know about the original Water Book of Bixia Yuanjun on Purple Cloud Island, you should understand the power of a seventh-rank official."

Zhao Xing brushed off his insight. "Don’t overestimate me, I just like reading miscellaneous books, old county chronicles, various county mansion reports, ancient sect legends. These aren’t hard to obtain."

Chen Shijie said, "Just chatting casually, we’re having a private conversation now. There’s no need to avoid anything, whether right or wrong, only you and I will know."

Zhao Xing pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, if you insist on me speaking, I’ll chat casually for a while. However, I’d like to see the latest county mansion report and the approximate strength of each army and department in Nanyang County. Also, any intelligence related to the Xuantian Sect you can provide, let me see it."

"After reading, we can conduct a sand table simulation. You have a sand table for Nanyang County here, right?"

Chen Shijie raised an eyebrow. He had only wanted a casual chat but hadn’t expected Zhao Xing to take it so seriously.

Seeing Zhao Xing’s demeanor, he also grew interested. "Yes, yes, yes. I come from a Military Minister of Agriculture background, follow me."

He led Zhao Xing through the training grounds and into the rear hall.

Chen Shijie indeed was a fierce figure, he had transformed the rear hall into a small Marching Hall.

The center featured a sand table model, a fourth-rank treasure capable of simulating numerous terrains and landscapes and was proportionally scaled down.

By placing a map at the base of the sand table, it could reproduce it accurately.

The sand table even had floating clouds, recording the Heavenly Time!

"And it’s of fourth-rank top-grade? Hmm, this map... is of the six counties upstream of the Canglan River? No, where did Xier County go? Why is it a wasteland?!"

Chen Shijie remarked in surprise, "You have a good eye, recognizing it in one glance... Now I truly believe you’ve read a lot."

"As for Xier County, in my simulation, it no longer exists, though in reality, it still does."