Genshin Impact: The Sage's Disciple Doesn't Want Fame

"Zaifeng, you must work hard from now on and not think about other miscellaneous things."

This is a phrase Yang Zaifeng often hears; his elders would say this to him whenever they saw him.

Looking back now, it was probably a warning rather than a professional instruction.

In short, the young Yang Zaifeng was completely unaware of this, but he took it as a request and from then on practiced interrogation techniques even more diligently.

So-called interrogation techniques involve using a domestic pig as a practice subject and subjecting it to various common or uncommon interrogation tools.

This kind of practice does nothing to improve his skills; Yang Zaifeng will soon face his real-world challenges.

He was nearly thirty years old that year. His grandfather had passed away a few years earlier, and Yang Zaifeng's father had also passed away that year. He became a new generation of interrogators under the recruitment of the General Affairs Department.

At the General Affairs Department, Yang Zaifeng saw the previous thirty-odd generations of interrogators, all of whom shared the surname Yang.

Starting today, Yang Zaifeng will be the thirty-eighth interrogator until his death, after which his son will succeed him.

At this moment, Yang Zaifeng seemed to understand the emotions in his elders' eyes, and he felt somewhat suffocated.

Before Yang Zaifeng could compose himself, the head of the criminal law department approached him and asked him to interrogate a scion of a prominent family suspected of embezzlement and several other serious crimes.

"Zaifeng, Lord Moheng of Tianquan Star is very concerned about this interrogation. After all, the criminal has committed heinous crimes, and it also concerns whether Lord Moheng can continue his term of office. Do you understand?"

"Understood, I will not let Lord Mo Heng down."

The interrogation room was located underground, very close to the top-tier dungeon, where Yang Zaifeng met his first real-world target.

"What's your name?"

"Chen Huaizhang".

How old are you?

Thirty years old.

Yang Zaifeng remained calm. He sat on a wooden chair, the creaking sound being the only other sound in the interrogation room. He did not use any interrogation tools.

"Chen Huaizhang, your family is suspected of several crimes including embezzlement, human trafficking, and bribery. You yourself were also involved, is that right or wrong?"

Under the guidance of his elders, Yang Zaifeng learned that the world is not just black and white. Sometimes, those important figures never care about right or wrong; politics is all about stance.

As for Yang Zaifeng, this insignificant man, all he could do was obey. He didn't care whether Chen Huaizhang was wronged or not; that was a matter for the judges and lawyers. He just needed a result.

Lord Mo Heng of Tianquan Star is in a dangerous situation recently. A famous businesswoman who rose from humble beginnings has her eye on his position and is currently using public opinion to force him to step down or initiate an election for a new Tianquan Star.

Rumor has it that the Chen family has a business relationship with that businesswoman. Of course, the Chen family has business relationships with all the famous businessmen and families, but unfortunately, their habit of betting on multiple things has backfired.

Lord Mo Heng is the eldest son of the Mo family and the youngest and shortest-serving of the current Seven Stars. He has only been in office on Tianquan Star for a few years.

Bringing down the Chen family would benefit Lord Mo Heng, as it would deprive the female merchant of an ally.

As a cruel official, all Yang Zaifeng could do was obey. Besides that, he could only hint at things to reduce the suffering of the noble family disciples in front of him.

"Listen, if you can help me send out a message, I'll do as you wish."

Chen Huaizhang seemed to have no intention of resisting; he simply sat quietly on the wooden chair, with heavy shackles around his wrists and feet.

"Chen Huaizhang, can I understand your attempt to collude with outsiders to storm the execution ground? I'm considering whether to record your words and find your accomplices."

"Do as you please. Find a woman named 'Baiwen' and tell her 'Mora is in the north, and Yu is in the south of the capital.' She will reward you handsomely. If you don't comply, once that lord ascends to the position of Tianquan Star, your Yang family will meet the same fate as my Chen family."

Yang Zaifeng was somewhat incredulous: "You have hysteria? Don't think this is Fontainebleau. Even if you have hysteria, we'll still have to continue the interrogation. If you don't want to suffer, just confess."

"Of course, I will admit to these crimes."

The entire interrogation was somewhat inexplicable. Chen Huaizhang eventually confessed to all his crimes and, while fully conscious, copied them down and pressed his red fingerprint on the document.

It is said that after the interrogation, Chen Huaizhang took the opportunity to cut off the thumb that had been pressed with his red handprint.

To be honest, after Yang Zaifeng walked out of the interrogation room, he was really worried. After all, the loss of power of Tianquan Star was inevitable. As a cruel official, it didn't matter who he served.

Later, Yang Zaifeng sent his servants to search all over Liyue Harbor, and finally found a woman named "Baiwen" under a large locust tree near the outskirts of the city.

Later, Lord Mo Heng of Tianquan Star... no, it should be the former Lord Mo Heng of Tianquan Star was impeached, and in addition, he was crushed in votes by the famous businessman Ning Guang during the election, and left the throne of Tianquan Star in disgrace.

The Chen family received no reward, while the Yang family only received a huge sum of Mora as a reward. Yang Zaifeng remained the same cruel official.

After Lady Ningguang took over, she began her major reforms. The Yang family was not affected at all, but Yang Zaifeng lost his job.

Although she was being overly rational, Lady Ningguang's personal morality was above average, and no one knew her secrets or dirt on her, so there was no problem with dismissing Yang Zaifeng.

By the way, let's give the interrogation room a new owner.

Chapter 87 Unconventional Childhood Sweethearts (4000 words total)

“Mr. Ji Ming, please believe me. Ms. Rosalyn and I have absolutely no intention of harming you. This is all Scaramucci’s personal will and has nothing to do with the Fools.”

In a secluded alley in Liyue Harbor, D'Artagnan tried to clear up the misunderstanding, but without evidence, and given Rosalind's inaction in Mondstadt, Ji Ming had no intention of believing him now.

Moreover, Mr. Ji Ming seems to harbor a grudge against the sixth executive officer and is probably preparing for revenge.

Indeed, being inexplicably hunted down by a complete stranger, if one doesn't feel the urge for revenge, then D'Artagnan might start to doubt whether Ji Ming is a suitable partner.

Of course, as an executor of the Fools, Tartaglia naturally prioritizes the interests of Her Majesty the Queen. Every executor is Her Majesty's capable assistant and is currently irreplaceable, so he will stop Ji Ming from seeking revenge.

At least don't mention this matter in front of him, just don't seek revenge in Liyue Harbor, since Liyue Harbor is under Tartaglia's jurisdiction.

“Dartaria, you need to promise me one thing. If you can promise me that, then I will resume my cooperation with the Fools.”

Despite his anger, Ji Ming did not lose his composure. He knew that with his current strength, he was definitely not capable of taking revenge himself.

D'Artagnan's implication was clear: the Fools had no enmity with the Nine Gates; it was merely a personal feud between Ji Ming and Scaramucci.

Since Dadalia took the initiative to show goodwill and expressed a willingness to repair the relationship between the two sides, Ji Ming also took the opportunity to give the Fools and the Old Nine Gates a way out and allow them to resume their cooperative relationship.

Seeing that there was room for negotiation, D'Artagnan readily agreed and immediately took full responsibility, saying, "The mistake was that I didn't notice it beforehand. If Mr. Ji Ming needs compensation or new terms, please feel free to explain."

If it were in the past, when D'Artagnan first approached Jim, he might have ripped the entire Fools' Clan bald, but things are different now.

Firstly, the Fools are a powerful force with many affiliated personnel in Liyue Harbor. Their sheer numbers alone could overwhelm the Nine Gates, and they also possess various hidden military forces.

Secondly, although the Fools were at fault, D'Artagnan had tried his best to clear them of any wrongdoing during the conversation, and that the fault lay with Scaramucci, not the Fools. Therefore, directly asking for benefits was somewhat untenable.

Thirdly, and most importantly, the Old Nine Gates can rely on the power of the Fools to carry out certain special political activities.

Fourth Brother Chen once said that before Tianquan Star Ningguang took office, she used every means possible against her predecessor, including but not limited to framing and shifting blame.

It's not just Tianquan Star that's affected; for any of the Seven Stars who started from scratch, whether in ancient or modern times, this kind of thing is always common during elections when the opponent is a scion of a powerful family and the target is unwilling to abdicate.

There was no other way; since it wasn't a legitimate abdication, some underhanded methods had to be employed.

In short, if Ningguang can use it, why can't Ji Ming use it?

Just kidding, gang members are capable of anything. Forget framing and shifting blame, they're just not very skilled at it. After all, the Nine Gates are all about wiping out entire families.

After much deliberation, Ji Ming finally settled on a condition that allowed for both offense and defense, ensuring that the Nine Gates would not become vassals or bridgeheads of foreign forces, while also guaranteeing that the Nine Gates and he himself would reap benefits far exceeding what they had initially received.

Two organizations, both with considerable renown in Liyue Harbor, reached a secret verbal agreement in a secluded alley.

What the two discussed remains unknown to outsiders.

………………

"So, Amin became a traitor?"

Inside the kitchen of Wanmintang, Xiangling propped her cheek on her hand, staring at Ji Ming who was showing off, and suddenly uttered a startling remark.

Ji Ming was shocked and covered the little cook's mouth with his hand, saying quickly, "No way, I'm a Liyue person who loves Liyue the most."

Xiangling pouted: "Then why are you still making deals with the Fools? Be careful you don't get caught by the Thousand Rocks Army."

"Haven't I been arrested enough times already?"

“Not a few times, not a few times. I’m always the one who bails you out, or I ask Hu Tao to bail you out. But you’ve been much more well-behaved lately.”

Ji Ming said calmly, "Because Xiangling is willing to support me, I have no reason to commit any crimes."

Xiangling tapped Ji Ming on the head with a ladle. The blush on Xiangling's cheeks was barely visible. She sighed slightly and said helplessly, "That's true, but you shouldn't have kept it from me. I had no idea you joined a gang. You won't keep getting into trouble, will you?"

Ji Ming said, "From now on, the Nine Gates will be a legitimate political organization. According to Feng Dan, we will be reorganized into a political party."

"Party affiliations... I don't understand, it seems so complicated."

Xiangling was a little troubled. She scratched the back of her head. For this little cook, apart from cooking and her family, everything else had to take a backseat.

Ji Ming is one of the family members, a relative who is not related by blood.

Is Amin planning to run for the Seven Stars? It sounds like a very difficult thing. Could you offer some assistance?

Xiangling pursed her lips, leaned forward to Ji Ming, poked his nose with her finger, and tentatively asked, "Ah Ming, I want to join the Nine Gates."

Ji Ming, who was drinking water, almost spat it out. After calming down, he reached out and poked back, sternly refusing: "No, the Nine Gates can only have nine people at the moment."

"What?"

"For no reason, I refuse to explain politics to a simple-minded cook. You should just be a good cook."

He raised the ladle and activated his Noble Phantasm against Ji Ming.

The effect was remarkable. Ji Ming raised his hands in surrender: "No, let me explain. The nine brothers of the Old Nine Gates are all rootless duckweed. If something happens to us in the future or we fail to compete with the Seven Stars, we can simply run away. That's called political asylum."

Xiangling is different. She has relatives and friends in Liyue Harbor, and her family has a Wanmin Hall waiting to be inherited. Instead of being a good cook, she wants to join the Nine Gates and get involved in politics. I really don't know what to say about her.

"Then why did you run for the Seven Stars? Wouldn't it be better to develop Wanmintang with me in the future?"

"Well, there's nothing wrong with developing Wanmintang, but the political arena can offer even more possibilities for the Old Nine Gates and me."