Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 135 - 134: Hu’s Great Wisdom

Chapter 135: Chapter 134: Hu’s Great Wisdom

Principal Officer Ximen selected a few more people, then explained the situation of his Black Steed Steps on Clouds and where it disappeared to aid in the search for Zhang San.

After arranging everything, Principal Officer Ximen returned to the room where records were stored to meet with Principal Officer Yue.

"It’s all set up. They are martial artists skilled in tracking, including a military chief named Fang Cunzai. Although he has just entered the Spiritual Platform Realm, his blade technique is skilled and he’s not weak. If he finds Zhang San, he can... bring him back."

Principal Officer Ximen hadn’t expected that merely seeking to develop connections and emulate the social relationships of other officers would actually lead to an incident.

At this moment, Principal Officer Yue, who had been reviewing records about Zhang San being the initial test subject of the Town Martial Office’s Soul Cleansing Plan, looked at Principal Officer Ximen with confusion.

"Speaking of which, this plan should be known to the Hidden Principal Officers, not something I’m authorized to know about, right?"

Principal Officer Ximen suddenly remembered that the plan was led by Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird, and he was only aware of it; he didn’t even have the authority to participate.

"This... indeed seems to be the case..."

Principal Officer Yue also looked like he was in pain.

He originally came here wanting to see his daughter, but not only had his daughter not come to see him these past few days, he also stumbled upon this dreadful mess.

"Forget it. It’s already like this anyway, and besides, Zhang San is currently the Pharaoh’s apprentice. How can one person have so many identities? It’s outrageous!"

Principal Officer Yue stood up, his mind, seasoned by nearly twenty years of navigating bureaucracy, couldn’t figure out how to handle this situation.

"It’s not certain whether Third Miss Gan knows about it, and I dare not ask. Here’s what I’ll do, I’ll go back and report directly to the Chief. After all, I was not supposed to know about this, it’d be better for me to speak up. If I can meet with Azure Dragon or Vermilion Bird, I’ll ask them."

After communicating with Principal Officer Ximen, Principal Officer Yue sighed painfully again.

Heavenly Punishment Sect’s Demon Cult Followers.

Town Martial Office’s martial artists.

Legalism’s leading disciple behind closed doors.

Initial test subject of the Soul Cleansing Plan.

Oh right, he had also recently been assigned a task, an undercover agent of the Town Martial Office within the Heavenly Punishment Sect!

Thinking of so many different identities associated with Zhang San, Principal Officer Yue felt pain on his behalf.

After riding the new Chi Dragon Horse, Zhang San found that it was significantly faster than the previous Black Steed Steps on Clouds.

After all, although the former steed was a fine horse, it was just that—a horse; it didn’t even count as a demon. While it was a precious steed, it only had the bloodline of a Chi Dragon in its veins.

But the black steed he was now straddling was transformed from a Chi Dragon, naturally making its speed extraordinarily fast.

Before the sun set, Zhang San arrived at the base of Mingzhi Mountain.

After going up the mountain, he coincidentally ran into a Tiger Demon returning to its cave at the peak after basking in the sun.

"Senior Tiger, long time no see. Did you miss me a lot?"

The Tiger Demon turned its head and, seeing that it was Zhang San, wondered what he was talking about, as it had not been long since they’d seen each other.

Indeed, compared to the great long-lived species like ours that could live hundreds of years, the human race, with their seventy years being a rare blessing, definitely has a different concept of time.

"I did miss you, but... wait, is there something wrong with that name of mine?"

Zhang San was taken aback. Your name has a problem? Oh, right, I was the one who named you. But what was the name I gave you?

Although Zhang San was panicking inside, his face remained serene.

"How could a name I gave you have a problem? If you don’t believe me, tell your name to Hei."

Zhang San said this as he glanced back at the Chi Dragon Horse behind him.

It was then that the Tiger Demon noticed the large black steed behind Zhang San and, upon closer inspection, realized it was not an ordinary horse but a Chi Dragon in horse form.

"My name is Hu. Hei, what do you think of my name?"

The Black Chi Dragon did not dare to say anything bad about the name his master had given to the Tiger Demon, especially when his own name was Hei. Couldn’t you tell the level of my master’s naming skills?

"The name of Senior Tiger is exceptionally good!"

Seeing his own kind also saying so, the Tiger Demon figured that the problem must be with Yu Daoning, who probably found the name unsatisfactory due to his lack of culture.

"I actually thought at first that you were food sent by Zhang San, but since you speak so well, I won’t eat you."

Hearing this, Hei trembled on all four hooves in fright.

What kind of friends does this master have, meeting for the first time and eating someone’s mount, indeed excessive!

Zhang San followed Hu and ascended the mountain, with Hei following behind, listening to the master chatting with the Tiger Demon.

"You came looking for me, do you have something to ask for? Considering the face of my well-behaved niece, speak your mind if you need anything."

Zhang San smiled and said, "I indeed have something, but it’s not about asking for your help, it’s to offer you mine."

Hu’s eyes lit up, he glanced back at Hei, and excitedly spit out two words: "Mother’s?"

Then, after a careful look, his eyes filled with disappointment.

Meanwhile, Hei in the back was so frightened he almost peed himself.

How come this Tiger Demon isn’t thinking about eating him, but rather really thinking about eating him?

"Tiger Brother, quit it, I’ve just obtained a secret manual called ’Tiger’s Life Spirit Gang,’ Refining Qi into Gang, which can make your Qi much stronger and increase your attack power."

The Tiger Demon continued walking uphill, showing no interest whatsoever, not even responding to Zhang San.

"This cultivation technique was taught to me by a master code-named White Tiger, and I guess after cultivating it, I might even carry a bit of the White Tiger’s aura, maybe even other changes."

"Zhang San, you are my own brother. Where is this secret manual? I will carry you up the mountain first, and we can chat slowly back at the cave."

After returning to the cave, the Tiger Demon immediately sent the Ghost down to Jingyang County to buy ink, brush, paper, inkstone, as well as food and fine wine.

At the same time, they were asked to invite Yu Daoning over for a drink.

Though Hei also wanted to taste what the Ghosts would bring back, considering that he himself might end up on the dining table, he could only look for grass outside the cave, not daring to rashly show his face in front of the Tiger Demon.

After three rounds of drinking, Zhang San had a thought and posed a question to Tiger Brother and Brother Yu.

"Tiger Brother, Brother Yu, it’s like this. I have a friend who is a Martial Artist from the Town Martial Office, but he recently discovered that he is actually from the Heavenly Punishment Sect. Now, it seems the people from the Town Martial Office are unaware of his past identity and want to send him to go undercover in the Heavenly Punishment Sect. What do you think my friend should do?"

Yu Daoning gave a bitter smile and said, "It feels like your friend going to the Heavenly Punishment Sect is dangerous. But staying in the Town Martial Office is equally dangerous."

"To be honest, I am indeed a bit timid, so I think, ordinary folks shouldn’t fight with the officials. However the Town Martial Office arranges it, your friend should just go along with it. Who can control their fate? It’s all in the hands of people above us. Moreover..."

Yu Daoning sighed, "I think, the Heavenly Punishment Sect cannot overcome the Town Martial Office, let alone oppose the Great Sui Dynasty. Your friend should just go with the flow."

Zhang San curled his lips, feeling that although Yu Daoning’s thoughts represent most people’s, deep down, he didn’t really like the idea of others controlling everything about him.

At this moment, however, the Tiger Demon shook his head.

"I think that’s not too good!"

Zhang San immediately raised his cup in respect.

After the Tiger Demon drank a bowl of wine, he began explaining in detail to Zhang San.

"I don’t understand you humans very well, but if I were you, I would take on this undercover job!"

Zhang San pouted and said, "Isn’t that the same as what Brother Yu said?"

But the Tiger Demon shook his head and clarified, "Everything in the world exists here, and all life is doing one thing - enduring."

"To preserve their own life; to continue their own bloodline. Everything in the world is no different."

"So you, if you want to survive, the best way is actually to become stronger. When you’re strong, other creatures won’t bully you, won’t dare to use you. Right?"

Zhang San kept nodding.

"So whatever they tell you to do, as long as it benefits you, just do it. If the Town Martial Office rewards you, then you are indeed a loyal and brave Martial Artist of the Town Martial Office! If the Heavenly Punishment Sect offers you benefits, what’s the harm in accepting?"

"After all, joining the Heavenly Punishment Sect is the order of the Town Martial Office. It’s normal for you to work for them, right?"

"Similarly, when you join the Heavenly Punishment Sect, they don’t know your identity within the Town Martial Office, so it’s also normal for you to work for the Town Martial Office, right?"

"If you don’t want to do it, deserting the Town Martial Office also carries risks, better to do it and then earn money from both sides! Then use the money to buy cultivation resources to improve yourself. By doing this, you feed on both ends, isn’t that perfect?"

Zhang San, smiling, waved his hand while sipping his drink, contentedly said, "Tiger Brother, don’t talk nonsense, it’s not me, it’s just a friend of mine."

The Tiger Demon knowingly nodded and raised his cup with Zhang San, "Right, right, a friend of yours."

"Hahahaha..."

A man and a tiger laughed heartily together, while Yu Daoning on the side took a long time to comprehend the meaning.

At that moment, only the moonlight shone at the entrance of the cave, and a land of silver white spread like a pathway, resembling the seemingly different but profoundly wise insights of the Tiger Demon.