Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

"Alright, then this matter will be entrusted to you. You have one month to complete the task."

"Your humble servant obeys."

After accepting the assignment, Gu Yannian moved into the dusty archives room.

What others see as a dangerous job is, in his eyes, an easy "connect-the-dots" game.

As a time traveler with modern historical knowledge, he knew all too well where Zhu Di's Achilles' heel lay.

"This book, a memorial submitted by Censor Qi Tai in the third year of the Jianwen reign, is entirely filled with accusations of the Prince of Yan's arrogance... Burn it."

"Keep this book, the Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commission's report on water conservancy... rewrite it, and erase the Jianwen reign title at the top, replacing it with the 30th year of Hongwu."

Gu Yannian sat in front of the mountain of files, his hands flying across the page.

His high mental attribute of 158 points endowed him with a photographic memory and keen information processing ability.

While others might spend half a day deliberating over words, he could instantly determine their auspiciousness or inauspiciousness with just a glance.

He was like a cold machine, ruthlessly stripping away the sensitive words of history.

He won't smuggle in any personal agenda.

They failed to sympathize with the plight of Jianwen's former officials, and they failed to preserve those outspoken remonstrances that might have "historical value" but would have been fatal in the current dynasty.

His only standard is safety.

Half a month later, when Gu Yannian presented the neatly organized and error-free dossier to Xie Jin.

Even this scholar, who prided himself on his learning, couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

Xie Jin checked several case files and found that the taboo words had been completely removed.

Useful government information is preserved intact, clearly categorized, and organized.

"Editor Gu, you did an excellent job."

Xie Jin put down the file, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"It seems that not all those in the Hanlin Academy are just empty shells."

"You flatter me, sir. I was just doing my duty and memorizing things by rote. I don't deserve your praise."

Gu Yannian remained calm and composed, showing no signs of being surprised by honor or disgrace.

Xie Jin looked at him and sighed inwardly.

He is reliable in handling affairs, but unfortunately too dull and lacking in ambition. He is only fit to be a clerk who handles paperwork and is not fit for a more refined position.

Gu Yannian naturally knew what Xie Jin was thinking, but this was exactly the effect he wanted.

Demonstrate your ability to handle tasks, prove your value, and prevent your superiors from easily firing you.

At the same time, it also shows extreme mediocrity and a lack of political ambition.

This ensures that no political party will see him as a threat or an object of courting.

The perfect middle way.

As I walked out of Xie Jin's duty room, it was already nearly dusk.

The setting sun, like blood, stained the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City with a poignant red glow.

Gu Yannian stretched, his bones making a slight cracking sound.

"Tomorrow at dawn, I should work on my agility. It rained recently, and the moss in the yard is very slippery. If I slip and fall, wouldn't that tarnish the reputation of an immortal?"

He chuckled softly, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and strolled leisurely toward his courtyard in the afterglow of the setting sun.

No matter how turbulent the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty may be, it cannot capsize his small, withered boat hiding in a safe harbor.

After winter sets in, Nanjing becomes damp and bitterly cold.

The cold wind, mixed with icy rain, felt like fine blades scraping painfully against one's face.

In this awful weather, even stray dogs on the street are huddled in corners and won't move.

After the curfew, the streets were completely deserted.

In Gu Yannian's courtyard, however, there was a warm and cozy atmosphere.

The doors and windows of the main room were completely covered by thick cotton curtains, and a charcoal brazier burning red-hot was placed in the center of the room.

A small iron pot was placed on top of the charcoal brazier.

The milky white mutton soup in the pot was bubbling and bubbling, emitting a rich aroma.

Gu Yannian, dressed in a loose blue cotton robe, sat cross-legged in front of the desk.

In his left hand, he held a plate of prepared chive blossom dipping sauce.

Holding a pair of long chopsticks in his right hand, he was intently watching the mutton rolls bubbling in the pot.

For an immortal being, if they cannot find some enjoyment in eating and drinking during their long lifespan, then this endless lifespan will become a terrible torment.

"The heat is just right."

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Gu Yannian's eyes.

With chopsticks, I scooped out the cooked mutton, rolled it in the dipping sauce, and put it in my mouth.

The tenderness of the mutton and the savory aroma of the chive blossoms explode on the tongue, creating a delightful sensation.

Just as he was about to pick up the second piece of mutton.

boom!

A muffled thud broke the tranquility of the courtyard.

Immediately following was a series of disordered and heavy footsteps, accompanied by heavy breathing, heading straight for the main room.

Gu Yannian paused slightly with his chopsticks, and frowned.

The moment the sound rang out, he had already pictured the scene outside in his mind.

A severely injured adult male, weighing approximately 160 pounds, climbed over the not-so-high wall of his house.

He stumbled upon landing because of uneven weight distribution on his left leg, and is now staggering toward the door.

Two streets away from the courtyard, dozens of rapid hoofbeats and the clanging of swords were rapidly approaching.

"trouble."

Gu Yannian sighed inwardly.

This mutton hotpot meal is going to be a nightmare.

boom!

The wooden door to the main room was suddenly kicked open, bringing with it a chilly wind and a strong stench of blood.

This caused the bubbling mutton soup to calm down slightly.

A man in black stumbled in, slammed the door shut behind him, and used his body to hold it in place.

He was soaking wet, and his black night clothes had several long tears, revealing his raw flesh.

Fresh blood was dripping from the hem of his clothes onto the clean blue brick floor that Gu Yannian had washed.

The man in black was panting heavily and turned his head warily.

His bloodshot eyes, like those of a wounded wolf, stared intently at Gu Yannian, who was sitting in front of the pot.

When he saw that Gu Yannian was just a weak scholar in a cotton robe, unarmed, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

"Don't make a sound!"

The man in black let out a hoarse growl and suddenly drew the already dulled blade from his waist.

Despite the pain, he pounced on Gu Yannian like a hungry tiger.

His idea was simple.

Capture this scholar as a hostage, or simply kill him and seize this secluded courtyard to evade capture.

The blade gleamed coldly in the dim candlelight, whistling through the air, aimed directly at Gu Yannian's neck.

In the eyes of the man in black, the terrified scholar didn't even have time to react.

However, in Gu Yannian's eyes, all of this was as slow as child's play.

His nerve reaction speed and muscle explosive power reached an unbelievable level.

To him, the seemingly swift attack by the man in black was like a three-year-old child holding a tree branch in slow motion.

Gu Yannian did not get up.

He simply tilted his head slightly.

The blunt blade grazed his hair and missed, not even managing to create a gust of wind.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Yannian casually flicked the chopsticks outward with his right hand.

The ordinary bamboo chopstick struck the black-clad man's wrist, specifically the tendon located three inches from the wrist where he held the knife, with perfect accuracy.

A soft "snap" sound.

He didn't use any earth-shattering internal force, just extreme speed and control of power.

The man in black felt a sharp, tingling sensation in his wrist, and his entire right arm instantly went numb.

His fingers involuntarily loosened, and the single-edged sword clattered to the ground.

The man in black's pupils shrank, his face filled with horror.

He didn't even see how the scholar in front of him made his move.

Before he could react, Gu Yannian's left hand had already casually reached out.

Gently press an acupoint on his chest.

A gentle yet overwhelming force penetrated his body, severing the flow of qi and blood in the man in black.

The man in black rolled his eyes, not even having time to utter a sound.

His massive body collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud, and he lost consciousness.

The whole process happened extremely quickly, in the blink of an eye.

Gu Yannian didn't even change his sitting posture.