Elderly Martial Saint: Sixty Times the Cultivation Speed ​​at the Start

News from White Fish City could not be stopped in the end; it was a place with developed trade routes and was the most well-informed.

The journey from Baiyu City to Suining Prefecture takes only a few days by fast horse, and the news was carried to the prefectural city by horses and carrier pigeons.

The caravan was the first to bring back the news. While unloading cargo at the dock, the captain of the boat, who traveled by water, casually mentioned to a familiar porter that he had received news of White Fish City from a carrier pigeon.

That evening, the porter drank half a bowl of turbid wine and embellished the story to the teahouse waiter. The waiter, upon hearing the news, naturally couldn't stop him from talking.

Most people in the prefectural city knew what had happened in White Fish City, but because no one had experienced it firsthand, few believed it and treated it as a joke.

On the morning of the third day, the first caravan from Baiyu City entered the south gate of Suining Prefecture.

The driver had only unloaded half of the goods when someone in the teahouse asked if the story of White Fish City circulating in the prefectural city was true.

The worker unloading the goods wiped the sweat from his neck and said, "You mean these things? I actually know about them. Most of what happened is true."

That Three Lakes Gang? They're long gone.

I heard their gang leader, Chen Tao, died in Bailongze, and even the vice leader and more than twenty skilled fighters didn't return.

"So they were the first to be wiped out."

Someone nearby pressed on, "I heard someone from the Sky Patrol Division also died?"

"Who died in the Sky Patrol Division?"

The waiter slammed the empty water bowl on the table and said rudely, "Where did you get this fake news? Let me tell you, I saw what happened that night with my own eyes."

"The newly arrived Director Yi swept through the Mo family, the Wei family, the Green Snake Gang, the Shallow Water Gang, and other major forces overnight. It is said that the Mo family's patriarch, Mo Qianhe, who was over seventy years old, had the strength of the third level of internal energy perfection, but he was still killed by the Director with a single stroke."

Upon hearing this, all the dozen or so people in the teahouse stopped what they were doing, looking at the waiter in disbelief. They knew that those at the Inner Qi Realm were important figures to them, and yet, they had all been wiped out overnight.

Naturally, some people didn't believe what the shopkeeper said. A martial artist with some connections to a small family in the city said disdainfully:

"What do you know? Do you even understand how powerful the Inner Qi Realm is?"

"One person? The Director of the Sky Patrol Bureau is already quite capable of dealing with a skilled opponent of the same level, yet he swept through various major forces single-handedly."

"You've really blown your own horn. My uncle-in-law is an Inner Qi Realm expert. I know that realm inside and out."

"Apart from the true heirs of the major powers within the prefecture, anyone else who can do these things is just bragging."

"The story of one man wiping out an entire family with a single knife has spread throughout the entire White Fish City."

"If you don't believe me, go ask them yourself." Seeing someone questioning him, the caravan member retorted defiantly.

By the afternoon, this version had become Yi Yang single-handedly destroying four large houses.

Once the boat passengers from the western waterway entered the city, they had more information. They said that Yi Yang had been besieged by the Nine Evil Sects, was wounded, returned to the city, and after recuperating for two days, went out with his sword.

First kill Mo Qianhe, then behead Wei Zhao and Ye Jin, and incidentally take down the Green Snake Gang.

On the fourth day, intelligence reports from messengers, caravans, and spies piled up on the desk.

On the fifth day, the matter in White Fish City could no longer be kept secret, and everyone in the prefectural city with even a little influence remembered one name.

Yiyang.

Sixty years old, with a strong bone structure.

Less than a year ago, he was still looking at case files in the old case archives in Yunlin County.

Now, he is holding the title of Inspector General of Youquan Division, and he went to Baiyu City alone, where he actually managed to wipe out several forces that had been entrenched for many years.

Moreover, he organized an operation by the Nine Evil Cults, which was truly astonishing.

Many people had a similar first reaction: this old man was hiding his true identity very well.

Behind Jinyang Temple, a monk delivers a transcribed intelligence report into his meditation room.

After reading through the documents, the old monk in the room didn't ask how many people had died in Baiyu City, but only asked, "Did Yan Wuyuan send him?"

"Yes."

"Was it also him who recommended Qi Shujian for a position in the manor?"

"I checked the records, and it's correct."

The old monk placed the paper beside the incense table.

"A lowly county official, who reached the third level of inner energy in just six months, was still able to write a letter on his behalf to request commendation."

The messenger monk bowed his head and asked, "Should we send someone to make contact?"

"Check first."

The old monk flicked his prayer beads and said unhurriedly, "Investigate all his experiences before he joined the Sky Patrol Bureau, including those forty years in Sanmu Village."

A moment later, a figure entered the meditation room and asked, "I remember that Jingyuan and Jingming went to Yunlin County to investigate the whereabouts of the Xuanyuan Blade, and then disappeared without a trace after they returned."

"The timing is right."

"This person probably possesses far more information than what is recorded in the Sky Patrol Bureau's files."

"you mean?"

"Don't move yet, the person connected to that knife hasn't come out of seclusion yet."

The response from the guest room at Cangwu Mountain was even more decisive.

After reading the intelligence report, the elder in charge tossed it onto the table and said:

"What does this have to do with us? White Fish City is not our territory to begin with."

What's the big deal about a few gang leaders dying? Why bother others?

The disciple standing nearby whispered a reminder, "Elder, this person is from the Youquan Division."

Upon hearing this, the elder in charge paused for a moment.

Youquan Division.

They are responsible for assassinations, infiltrations, and internal surveillance within the Sky Patrol Division.

People from that government office won't show up in front of you unless there's a reason.

By the time they appear before you, you've most likely already been added to their list.

"Go through all the accounts related to White Fish City this year."

The elder in charge changed his words and ordered, "Destroy all the unclean ones."

The Xuanjian Pavilion branch received the news even faster.

Two elders sat in a side hall; one was reviewing Yi Yang's resume, while the other stared at a map of the southern region of Bailongze.

"Yan Wuyuan went to Bailongze, and then came back to inquire about the whereabouts of our disciples. Yi Yang came first, and Yan Wuyuan followed; these two are cooperating too well."

"You mean, Yi Yang was someone she planted long ago?"

"Maybe even earlier."

The elder closed the resume.

"Qi Shujian sent the man into the prefectural city, but none of the four departments accepted him, except for Youquan Department."

The three-month assessment period had just ended when Yan Wuyuan assigned him the task of managing White Fish City. What a coincidence!

Neither of them said anything more.

What they cared about was never how much silver was in the Mo family's treasury.

They just wanted to find out who was behind Yi Yang.

Compared to the caution of the three major sects, the Liu family and the Wu family acted much faster.

That very night, the Liu family sent a steward to the Evening Glow Chamber of Commerce.

Li Yuzhao was checking accounts when he received the message.

She unfolded the book, read two lines, and raised her eyebrows.

The post was politely written, focusing entirely on the medicinal herb business, only mentioning at the end that it was said that Yi Gongfeng was currently on business in Baiyu City, and the Liu family was willing to open two special routes for the Evening Glow Chamber of Commerce.

A maidservant beside him asked in a low voice, "Master, is the Liu family here to discuss business?"

Li Yuzhao placed the post under the ledger, thought for a moment, and then said:

"Business only accounts for 30% of the content in this post."

"What about the remaining 70%?"

"They want to buy him a favor."

Li Yuzhao picked up his teacup and took a sip of the tea, which had already cooled down.

"In the past, when I asked the Liu family to open a freight route, their gatekeeper would leave me hanging for half a day."

Now two paths have been offered to us. If Yi makes this trip to White Fish City and creates a great reputation, we can also use that reputation to bolster our image.

The maid asked, "Do you accept orders for those two trade routes?"

"Accept it. Why not?"

Li Yuzhao retrieved a blank reply: "Turning away a path that's offered to you is called not knowing how to manage a household."

However, let me make it clear: Yi is only nominally affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce; he resides in White Fish City, and we cannot make decisions for him.

"Moreover, we will not take a single penny of the silver from those two trade routes; we will send it all to Lord Yi's residence."

As for the Wu family, they followed the official path.

A servant from the Wu family, who was acquainted with the Department of Punishment, entered the department with two boxes of medicine. After drinking two cups of tea and asking questions for half an hour, he finally obtained only a resume that could be publicly viewed.

Upon returning to the Wu family home, he handed the paper to the clan elder.

After reading it, the clan elder pressed his hands against his knees and remained motionless for a long time.

"That's all?"

"The officials in the Punishment Department refused to say anything more, but they are also investigating."

"But we've received news that Yan Wuyuan has already requested a candidate for Chief Inspector for Yi Yang?"

"The news hasn't been officially documented yet, but it's probably true."

After the elder closed his eyes and calculated for a moment, he said:

Prepare a gift, but don't give silver notes; that's too vulgar.

Go to the storehouse and select two precious medicinal herbs that are fifteen years old, then deliver them to his residence. After he returns to the capital, send him a formal invitation.

Offering a silent reminder: "Those two precious medicinal herbs are not cheap."

The clan elder opened his eyes.

"Even if someone takes up the position of acting chief inspector, the two precious medicinal herbs may not be able to enter his door."

"If we deliver now, we'll buy from familiar faces. If we wait too long, we won't even get a chance to queue up with the Wu family."

Three days ago, before anyone in the city had received the news, at the Xingshan Martial Arts School in the northeast corner of the city.

Xue Muci sat in his study, with an urgent report from Baiyu City spread out on the table.

He stared at one of the lines, having already read it for the fourth time.

"Deputy Master Ye Jin, the leader of the Nine Evil Sects, has been killed by Yi Yang, the director of the Sky Patrol Division."

Outside, disciples were practicing their boxing. Their feet slammed into the ground, and the force of their punches traveled through the courtyard wall and into the study.

After reading the entire letter, Xue Muci raised his hand and closed the window tightly.

Ye Jin was someone he personally promoted.

Seven years ago, Ye Jin was an instructor at the academy. She was thorough in her work, kind to people, and handled student recruitment, teaching, and business contact all very well.

Xue Muci promoted him all the way to deputy director, and even entrusted him with managing many private accounts.

Seven years.

Ye Jin stayed by his side for seven years.

Xue Muci did not find any problems.

But do the Sky Patrol officers care whether you've discovered it or not? They only care about the results.

Your deputy headmaster is the leader of a cult, and your martial arts school has been tied to the cult leader for seven years.

The accounts bear Ye Jin's signature, and the banquet features the two of you seated side by side. Of those "business friends" introduced by Ye Jin, how many are truly clean?

Xue Muci slammed the urgent report on the table, his fingers clenching into a fist, causing the paper to wrinkle, before angrily cursing:

"That bastard, he even dragged me down with him when he was dead."

He got up and walked to the bookshelf, moved two boxing manuals on the third shelf, and pressed down the wooden clasp on the back.

The hidden compartment popped open.

Inside was a cloth bag containing silver notes, three pills, and a travel permit without a name.

This was his way out.

I originally hoped I would never need it in my lifetime.

If you don't use it now, you won't have the chance to use it later.

Xue Muci did not inform his disciples, nor did he pack his clothes. He changed into a gray cloth jacket, tied the cloth bag around his waist, and sat in his study until midnight.

The side door opens and closes.

He evaded the night patrolling disciples, climbed over the back wall, and walked along the dark alley to the north corner gate of the city.

An old horse-drawn carriage was parked there.

The driver pulled his straw hat down low and asked, "Master Xue, where to?"

"Go east first. Change routes after you've traveled thirty li."

Where is your mount?

"No, I don't want it."

Xue Muci climbed into the carriage and lowered the curtain.

The exotic horse that I've raised for eight years is too eye-catching.

They're barely clinging to life, what's the point of all the pomp and circumstance?

The carriage left the city gate and its wheels traveled further and further along the eastern side road.

Three days later, the people from the Punishment Division arrived at Xingshan Martial Arts School.

The disciple pushed open the door to the abbot's study and saw only shards of a rough porcelain teacup on the floor.

The tea stains had dried, and the trunk, weapons, and personal seal remained in their original places.

But the most important person is gone.

On the same day, Pei Zongyue, the deputy head of the Judgment Hall, arrived at the unmarked courtyard deep in the city.

The walls here are not high, there is no one guarding the gate, and no one comes near within a radius of a hundred feet.

Inside the main hall, a man sat behind a desk.

He was the chief inspector of the Suining Prefecture's Observatory.

The strongest person in the entire Suining Prefecture.

The copper tube was opened, and Yan Wuyuan's three pages of letter paper were laid flat on the table.

The man read from the first line to the last, his finger moving down the page until it stopped at the section recommending Yi Yang for promotion to candidate chief inspector.

The wick flickered twice.

Pei Zongyue, the deputy hall master waiting beside him, straightened his back, sweat already seeping from his official robes.

He had followed this chief inspector for twenty years and rarely saw him linger on an official document for so long.

The man folded the letter, put it back on the table, and pushed the copper tube in front of Pei Zongyue.

Pei Zongyue caught the copper tube with both hands, held his breath, and waited for the chief inspector's instructions.

The chief inspector glanced at him and said:

"agree."

Pei Zongyue relaxed his shoulders slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "This subordinate will go and draft the document immediately."

He carried the copper tube out of the main hall, his steps quickening considerably from when he arrived.

After the gate closed, the chief inspector picked up the Yiyang file on the table and turned to the page about place of origin and age.

Sixty years old.

C1 root bone.

He looked at it for a moment, then put the file down beside him.

The documents for the candidate chief inspector will soon be sent to Whitefish City.