I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Over the next two months, the fifteen counties under the jurisdiction of Yuanyang Prefecture underwent an unprecedented "inspection".

Zheng Yifei's tour route was extremely regular. In each county town, the process was almost exactly the same: disembark from the flying boat, accept a welcoming banquet from the local chief constable and the head of the patrol office, refuse all reports on government affairs, refuse all invitations from brothels and entertainment venues, and head straight to the largest gambling den in the area.

In Pingyang County, he spent two days winning four million gold coins at three gambling dens;

In Qinghe County, because there was a large underground arena, he stayed an extra day and, relying on his keen eyesight and hearing, raked in eight million gold coins at the arena.

In Tieshan County, a place dominated by mining and known for its tough and unruly people, the gambling in the casinos is even more brutal.

Zheng Yifei directly gambled with several local mining tycoons on Pai Gow, winning ten million gold coins in one night. Before leaving, he even had the local chief constable escort him, and they beat the mining tycoons, who were blinded by their losses, to a pulp.

Fifteen counties, for a full two months.

Zheng Yifei did not look through a single case file, did not handle a single smuggling case, and did not inquire about the supervision of any murder case.

He took the phrase "occupying a position without performing its duties" to its extreme.

But wherever he went, he would generously share a portion of his winnings as a reward to the local chief constable and patrol officer.

The price ranges from as low as 20,000 to 30,000, and as high as 50,000 to 60,000.

For these low-level officials who risked their lives for their careers, a superior like Zheng Yifei, who didn't interfere, didn't steal credit, didn't cause trouble, and even spent lavishly on bribes, was practically a rare and benevolent official.

After traveling through fifteen counties, Zheng Yifei used money to pave the way, carving out his own network of connections in the lower echelons of Yuanyang Prefecture's officialdom.

All the chief constables and inspectors of the county towns were deeply grateful to him and declared that they would only recognize Lord Zheng from now on and would never bother him with trivial matters.

The one who profited the most from this process was none other than Xu Qian, the advisor who had always served Zheng Yifei.

Over the past two months, Xu Qian's emotional journey has been full of ups and downs.

At first, he watched Zheng Yifei dominate the gambling den and felt a little worried, fearing that his new boss would become addicted to gambling and ruin his future.

But as Zheng Yifei won more and more money, and left immediately after each win without ever being greedy, Xu Qian's worries turned into shock.

Later, when Zheng Yifei would invariably give him tens of thousands of gold notes every time he won money, Xu Qian became completely numb.

Two months, fifteen counties. Xu Qian alone received over two hundred thousand gold coins in bounty!

What does 200,000 gold coins mean?

As the clerk of the patrol office, his annual salary, plus all sorts of overt and covert bribes, would at most amount to 20,000 gold coins.

The rewards Zheng Yifei gave him in the past two months were equivalent to his income over ten years!

The cloud-piercing boat flew smoothly through the sea of ​​clouds, on its way back to Yuanyang Prefecture.

Inside the cabin, Zheng Yifei sat at a table, toying with a top-quality jade slip that he had just acquired at a high price from the black market.

Xu Qian carried in a pot of freshly brewed high-grade spiritual tea and carefully poured a cup for Zheng Yifei.

"Sir, please have some tea."

Xu Qian's attitude was now one of genuine respect and unwavering devotion, a stark contrast to when they first met two months ago.

"Please sit down."

Zheng Yifei pointed to the mat opposite him.

Xu Qian sat down as instructed, hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't suppress his curiosity, asking, "Sir, there's something I'd like to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

"explain."

"In the past two months, we've traveled to fifteen counties, and you haven't lost a single time in any of the major gambling dens. I've roughly calculated that you've won at least a hundred million in gold notes, haven't you?"

Xu Qian swallowed hard, his voice low: "This subordinate truly doesn't understand. What's the secret to your unparalleled winning streak? Could it be that you've cultivated some kind of eye technique that allows you to see through formations?"

Zheng Yifei picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at Xu Qian with a half-smile: "Master Xu, some things are better left unsaid. Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed."

Xu Qian's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head: "It was my fault for speaking out of turn."

Zheng Yifei put down his teacup, his tone becoming serious: "In the past two months, I've been to all the places I needed to go, and met all the people I needed to meet. I've also fed the appetites of those below me."

"Once we return to the prefectural city, I will be going into seclusion for a period of time to cultivate. During this time, all official duties, large and small, in the Patrol and Inspection Office will be handled entirely by you."

"Is the master going into seclusion?"

Xu Qian was taken aback.

"good."

Zheng Yifei nodded: "I just got my hands on a few decent cultivation manuals, and I need time to study them. As for matters in the government, it's the same old rule: for smuggling cases involving bigwigs, we'll turn a blind eye; for murder cases, we'll delay as long as possible."

If Tang Ning or those other deputy inspectors try anything, don't confront them directly. Let them do what they want, as long as it doesn't affect my position, understand?

"Understood!"

Xu Qian solemnly clasped his hands in greeting: "My lord, please rest assured and continue your seclusion. I will take care of all the trivial matters in the yamen perfectly and will not allow anyone to disturb your peaceful cultivation."

With a reward of 200,000 gold coins as a base, Xu Qian now completely regards himself as Zheng Yifei's servant, considering Zheng Yifei's interests in everything he does.

Two hours later, the Cloud Piercing Boat landed steadily on the training ground of the Yuanyang Prefecture Patrol Office.

Zheng Yifei did not linger at the yamen. He simply gave Tang Ning a few instructions, changed into civilian clothes, and left the patrol office.

Back in the courtyard house in Huai Shu Hutong, everything was in perfect order.

Su Wanqing kept the courtyard spotless, Zhao Ling led several apprentices and alchemists in refining pills day and night in the underground secret chamber, while Wang Changsheng studied new array diagrams in the courtyard.

Zheng Yifei had just sat down and taken a sip of water when Li Jianfeng and Night Owl rushed back from outside.

"Yifei, you've taken care of everything you asked me to do."

Li Jianfeng pulled out several bulging storage bags from his pocket and placed them on the table: "In the past two months, we have traveled to the black markets and auction houses of the three surrounding prefectures and acquired a total of 5,000 fifth-grade spiritual herbs. In addition, we have also exchanged them for 30,000 mid-grade spirit stones."

Zheng Yifei picked up a storage bag, probed it with his divine sense, and nodded in satisfaction at the mountain of spiritual herbs and mid-grade spirit stones radiating rich spiritual energy inside.

"Well done. Of these tens of thousands of mid-grade spirit stones, Changsheng should take five thousand to upgrade the courtyard's defensive array; the rest should be divided among everyone, so hurry up and absorb the energy for cultivation."

Zheng Yifei instructed, "Send all the spiritual herbs to Ling'er so she can practice freely and strive to become a sixth-level alchemist as soon as possible."

After settling things at home, Zheng Yifei didn't rest. He took a shower, changed into a clean long robe, and went straight to the magistrate's office.