Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 9 New Neighbors

Lin Xuan slept very soundly last night.

This was the most peaceful night's sleep he had had since he came into this world.

Having traveled through time to the present day, constantly teetering on the brink of life and death, he always keeps a tight rein on himself.

The breakthrough in his cultivation, coupled with the change in the black-robed man's attitude, finally allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief for the time being.

Arriving at Jingbian Division early, Lin Xuan waited at the gatehouse until nearly noon before finally reaching Wu Baihu's duty room.

Lin Xuan stood at the door, knocked, and said, "Lord Centurion, Lin Xuan has something to ask of me."

After a long while, Wu Baihu's leisurely voice finally came from inside the duty room: "Come in."

Lin Xuan entered the duty room. Wu Baihu was facing away from him, admiring a newly hung ink landscape painting on the wall, seemingly immersed in it, completely unaware of Lin Xuan's arrival.

Lin Xuan walked to the center of the room, stopped, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Commander Baihu."

Wu Baihu's gaze remained fixed on the painting on the wall. With his back to Lin Xuan, he asked calmly, "What is it?"

Lin Xuan spoke again: "I was fortunate enough to break through the first level of the Zhenyue Technique last night. I have come to request the second level of the technique from Lord Baihu."

"what?"

Wu Baihu turned around abruptly, his face filled with surprise, and blurted out, "You've broken through?"

Before Lin Xuan could answer, he strode up to Lin Xuan, placed his hand on Lin Xuan's shoulder, and quietly channeled his true energy into Lin Xuan's body.

Lin Xuan did not resist and allowed Wu Baihu to investigate.

A moment later, Wu Baihu withdrew his hand, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Lin Xuan's entire skeleton was filled with a powerful force, undoubtedly at the eighth rank.

He hadn't expected that Lin Xuan would actually be able to break through in such a short time.

Could it be that my deliberate suppression has become the driving force for his breakthrough?

After a moment's thought, he nodded slightly and said, "Now that you have broken through to the eighth rank, according to the rules, you should start practicing the second level of the Zhenyue Technique."

Wu Baihu walked to the table, took out a thin booklet from a hidden compartment in the drawer, and handed it over: "This is the second level of the Zhenyue Gong mental cultivation method. You can take it. Remember to return it after you've finished reading it... If the Zhenyue Gong gets out of your possession, you know the consequences."

Lin Xuan took the booklet, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your subordinate understands!"

Then he spoke again, "My lord, I shall take my leave now."

Throughout the entire process, he never mentioned the matter of being reinstated to his original position.

Lin Xuan couldn't be happier to continue working as his doorman, so that if the man in black robes asked, he could shift all the blame onto Wu Baihu.

However, just as Lin Xuan turned around, Wu Baihu's voice came from behind him.

"and many more."

Lin Xuan turned around and asked, "Is there anything else you need, sir?"

Wu Baihu glanced at him and said indifferently, "I once said that as long as you break through to the eighth rank, I will restore your position as a flag officer. Now that you have broken through, I will naturally not go back on my word."

He opened another drawer, took out a token, handed it to Lin Xuan, and said, "From today onwards, you are reinstated to your original position as a banner officer. Cultivate diligently and strive to be promoted to captain as soon as possible..."

Lin Xuan accepted the token, clasped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you, sir!"

Commander Wu waved his hand and said, "Go."

Watching Lin Xuan's departing figure, Wu Baihu frowned slightly and muttered to himself, "This is going to be difficult. I've already accepted the money..."

Lin Xuan's breakthrough disrupted some of his plans.

Not long after, a figure rushed into the duty room, anxiously asking, "Commander Wu, didn't you say that I would replace Lin Xuan? Why did you reinstate him?"

Wu Baihu glared at him and said irritably, "You still have the nerve to say that? We're both at the peak of the ninth rank. Lin Xuan broke through in less than ten days, while you're still stuck in the same place. I said I would reinstate him once he breaks through. Do you want me to be a person who goes back on his word?"

The man hesitated and said softly, "You promised me you'd make me a banner officer. If I don't, you have to return the five hundred taels of silver to me..."

Seeing his attitude infuriated Wu Baihu, who waved his hand and said, "Get out, get out! Within a month, I will definitely make sure you get that position. Stop making a fuss!"

After driving Huang Yue away, Wu Baihu stroked his short beard and fell into deep thought.

The Jingbian Division of Sizhou has ten banner officers.

Hong Tian is dead, which originally left a vacancy, but the commander had already given instructions that the person in charge of that position had been chosen.

The other positions were either filled by people he had "promoted" or people who had already defected to him.

After much thought, it seems that only Lin Xuan, Zhang Hu, and Chen Bao are the most suitable.

If they were forced out, two more positions would be available besides Huang Yue's. He narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "It seems we still need to put some more pressure on them..."

……

Zhang Hu and Chen Bao were naturally the happiest to learn that Lin Xuan had been reinstated.

After the meal, the two bought some food and drinks from the restaurant and brought them to Lin Xuan's house to celebrate.

Zhang Hu took a bite of the chicken leg, then gulped down some wine, and said with great surprise, "Brother Lin, congratulations on your breakthrough! I didn't expect that guy surnamed Wu would actually reinstate you!"

Chen Bao picked up a piece of food, his expression unsurprised: "Lin Xuan was originally a banner officer, and he was registered with the commander. It was understandable that Commander Wu temporarily relieved him of his post because of his insufficient strength. But Lin Xuan has already broken through, so there's no reason for him to be dismissed..."

Zhang Hu raised his glass and said with a smile, "Come on, Brother Lin, let's have a drink to celebrate your reinstatement!"

The three clinked glasses and drank their wine in one gulp.

Chen Bao spoke up at the opportune moment, saying, "However, don't be too happy yet. Wu Baihu has been making things difficult for us these past few days, just trying to get us to resign so he can sell the positions to others. This is his usual tactic..."

Zhang Hu was getting agitated. He gulped down a mouthful of wine and said, "Fine, I'll quit then. I really don't want to put up with this crap anymore. Chen Bao, Brother Lin, let's all go together. I've already thought it through. The three of us can open a security escort agency. It'll definitely make more money than we do now..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Bao seemed somewhat tempted and fell into thought.

Lin Xuan didn't need to consider this possibility at all.

Even if he wanted to, the man in black robes wouldn't agree.

"Is anyone here?"

Just as the three fell silent, a soft and melodious voice came from the doorway.

Zhang Hu and Chen Bao subconsciously looked up and were instantly stunned.

A woman was standing prettily at the door, peering into the courtyard.

She wore a simple cloth dress, yet it couldn't hide her graceful figure, fair skin, and spring-like eyes.

The woman carried a delicate bamboo basket on her wrist. Seeing people in the courtyard, she slowly walked in, revealing a charming smile, and said, "My name is A'Luo. I just moved here and live next door. I live alone, so I hope you gentlemen will take good care of me. These are some pastries I made myself; please have a taste..."

Her voice was soft, with a hint of shyness.

For a moment, Zhang Hu forgot that he was still angry. Pointing at the beauty, he excitedly said to Lin Xuan, "Brother Lin, it's her! She's the peerless beauty I told you about the other day!"

Lin Xuan looked up and glanced at it.

Zhang Hu really wasn't bragging.

With her ample breasts, perky buttocks, slender waist, and beautiful face, his new neighbor was undoubtedly a stunning beauty, surpassing even the top female stars in the entertainment industry.

A'Luo took a box of pastries from her bamboo basket, placed it on the stone table in the courtyard, and said, "My skills are not very good, please don't mind, gentlemen..."

Zhang Hu quickly stood up, rubbing his hands together, his face beaming with smiles: "Miss A Luo, you're too kind! My name is Zhang Hu, just call me Brother Hu!"

Chen Bao also gave a friendly smile: "My name is Chen Bao. If Miss A Luo encounters any trouble in the future, just come to me!"

Lin Xuan simply nodded politely and said, "Lin Xuan."

A Luo's eyes swept across the three men's faces, giving Lin Xuan a particularly long look before she gave a graceful bow: "Alright, Brother Zhang, Brother Chen, Brother Lin, I still have to visit other neighbors, so I won't bother you any longer..."

After the woman named A Luo left, Zhang Hu eagerly picked up a piece of pastry and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling between bites, "It's so delicious, Chen Bao, Lin Xuan, you should try some too..."

Chen Bao tasted a piece and praised, "This young lady's cooking skills are really good..."

At this moment, Zhang Hu raised an eyebrow at Lin Xuan and asked, "So, Brother Lin, do you have any thoughts?"

Lin Xuan asked in confusion, "What are you thinking?"

Zhang Hu said, "Of course it's about marriage! You're already eighteen and still unmarried. This Miss A Luo is so beautiful and lives alone, so she probably isn't married either. Wouldn't it be great if you two became a couple?"

Chen Bao was somewhat unconvinced and said, "I'm not married either, why don't you ask me what I think?"

"you?"

Zhang Hu glanced at him and said, "When Lin Xuan and Miss A Luo are a couple, they are a perfect match, a golden couple. But when you two are a couple, it's like a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung. Even God wouldn't approve!"

Chen Bao glanced at Lin Xuan, then silently lowered his head and drank.

Lin Xuan waved his hand and said, "I have no plans to get married right now."

The girl was indeed beautiful, but his life and fortune were still firmly in someone else's hands, so how could he have the mind to think about such things?

Even if he were to settle down and start a family in this world, it would only be when he had resolved all the crises around him and was able to live a peaceful and stable life...

(End of this chapter)