Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

"The tea that Magistrate Chen produces is roasted to perfection; ordinary people probably can't afford to enjoy it."

Li Ping gently blew on the floating leaves in the celadon cup and said with a smile.

"This is a spiritual sprout from the deep mountains, shrouded in mist. If Zizhi likes it, take two jars with you when you leave."

Chen Rang, dressed in a loose-fitting, wide-sleeved Taoist robe and holding a green gourd, looked just like a Taoist recluse.

"Then this junior will accept the offer without being impolite."

"Drinking tea is ultimately a trivial matter."

Chen Rang twirled the gourd in his hand.

"A few days ago, County Magistrate Hu left in a hurry, and some files in the office were lost. I wonder if you, Zizhi, have seen them?"

"Last night I only picked up a few scraps from the waste paper pile to use as table legs, I really don't know what you mean by 'files'."

Chen Rang leaned back in his chair, a gentle smile appearing on his well-maintained long face.

If Li Ping hadn't known that this old man had embezzled several years' worth of disaster relief wheat bran, he would almost have been fooled by his kind elder's appearance.

"Zizhi, the wind in this county government office always blows fiercely."

Chen Rang slowly said

"Some items, if kept in your possession, are likely to attract unwanted attention."

"If you hand it over, I guarantee you a peaceful life in Xiyun County, and you'll always get your share of the Spirit Sand Medicine Powder."

Li Ping sighed and gently placed the celadon cup on the table.

"I, as a junior, also wish to live a peaceful life."

He put his hands in his sleeves and leaned forward slightly.

"But yesterday, before my senior brother left, he held my hand and told me that the prefect hates those who are corrupt and collude with bandits the most."

"Now that he's back in Jiangning, he'll definitely be keeping a close eye on Xiyun County."

"If there's even the slightest disturbance, he'll personally come back with his sword to clear away any obstacles for me."

"I'm too timid to offend either side."

Chen Rang's eyes twitched almost imperceptibly.

My mentor Chen Boyong

Inspector Ren Jun

These two names are like two immovable boulders, firmly positioned in the center of the desk.

Chen Rang's hand, gripping the green gourd, trembled slightly. A wisp of extremely fine spiritual energy silently seeped from his fingertips into the wooden table, heading straight for Li Ping's wrist.

This is the cultivator's probing.

If an ordinary person were struck by this spiritual energy, they would instantly break out in a cold sweat and their legs would go weak.

Li Ping felt a chill on his wrist; the warm Qi flow within his body, generated by the "Small Heavenly Circuit Qi Guiding Technique," sensed the external force.

Operating autonomously, it was like a solid little vortex, completely dissipating that biting cold.

He didn't even blink; he just casually yawned.

Chen Rang's pupils flickered slightly, and his fingers, which were resting on the gourd, abruptly stopped.

Introducing Qi into the body

Just a few days ago, this kid was an ordinary mortal who couldn't even get close to the immortal sects.

In just a few short days, he has already crossed the threshold of becoming a cultivator.

Chen Rang was filled with doubt and unease.

It must be that Chen Boyong bestowed upon him some rare and precious treasure, or that Ren Jun used a secret method to open his meridians.

Now that Chen Boyong has invested in this kid, the game in Xiyun County can't be turned upside down using the same old methods.

If I were to harm this kid, and Chen Boyong were to personally come under the pretext of investigating the case, I fear I would lose my official position.

"Zizhi is indeed exceptionally gifted."

Chen Rang withdrew his hand, his smile deepening.

"Since the Inspector values ​​you so highly, I will naturally not mistreat my own people."

"However, if the Hu family's records remain in disarray, it will be difficult to collect the county's autumn taxes."

Li Ping, seeing that he had gotten away with it, took out a yellowed piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over.

"Last night, while sorting through old papers, I happened to find a document about the Bai family failing to pay taxes on thirty inferior horses two years ago."

"This is a trivial matter. I believe it should be filed in the county government's records and decided by Your Excellency personally."

Chen Rang took the paper, examined it for a few moments, and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

Chen Rang was well aware that the Bai family had been using the mule caravan business to buy and sell people in the mountains for the past few years.

Li Ping handed over this page, providing Chen Rang with a handle that he could use to pressure the Bai family at any time.

Knowing how to conduct oneself and when to advance or retreat

"Zizhi's actions are very much to my liking."

Chen Rang stood up and dusted off his sleeves.

"In that case, the clerk in charge of the administration office is getting old and his energy is waning."

"From now on, you will be in charge of managing the county government's documents, files, and registers."

"Chief Lin will assign you two clever bailiffs to do."

"Thank you for your guidance, sir." Li Ping stood up and performed a proper salutation as a subordinate official.

As soon as we left the back office, the sky was overcast.

A gust of cold wind blew, and Li Ping tugged at his collar, glancing back at the towering county government hall.

Red walls and black tiles

He smiled.

Although he was just a clerk, having the grain registers in hand would give refugees and runaways both inside and outside the city a legitimate reason to conceal their whereabouts.

In the back room, Chen Rang looked at the list of taxes levied on the Bai family's inferior horses on the desk, his expression somewhat cold.

Lin Bing silently slipped out from behind the screen.

"Sir, are we just going to let him take the ration books like this?"

"This guy has Chen Boyong behind him; he won't get away with anything by force."

Chen Rang threw the list into the brazier and watched it turn to ashes.

"Keep an eye on him"

"His sister-in-law lives in the city, and his older brother works at the blacksmith's shop; mistakes are bound to happen."

"If you discover that he is corresponding with Jiang Ning, report it to me immediately."

"Understood," Lin Bing said, bowing as he withdrew.

Carrying the magistrate's order, Li Ping strolled leisurely towards the alley, already planning to grab a bowl of wontons for lunch that afternoon.

Before I even reached my doorstep, I could hear the exclamations of my neighbors from a great distance.

The blacksmith's shop was surrounded by a large crowd, three layers deep. His elder brother, Li Dazheng, his face flushed, brandished a rusty wood-chopping axe and roared at several burly, sword-wielding men with fierce expressions.

Li Ping's expression changed slightly, and he quickly squeezed into the crowd.