Chapter 2

"WHAT? You killed Chen Yuci?"

In the Yingyang Guard's Luoyang Thousand-Man Garrison, a deafening roar echoed, the tone filled with shock.

Staring at the utterly shocked deputy commander, Wu Fan, with a blank expression, threw the severed head on the ground, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Chen Yuci colluded with the Maitreya Sect! I had no choice but to do it!"

The deputy commander, Zhao Xi, was forty-five years old, with a sallow complexion and a thin build, yet he had a large frame. Wearing the unique broad eagle uniform of the Yingyang Guard, he looked like a mummy in a shroud. At that moment, he stared dumbfounded at the severed head on the ground, then sized up the young man with blood still fresh on his face, unsure of what to say.

"If the commander doesn't believe me, the brothers in the hundred-man garrison can all vouch for me!" Wu Fan remained calm, as he had a natural talent for being a villain. He took out the white jade Buddha from his chest and presented it with both hands, saying, "Commander! This is the evidence! Please take a look."

Wu Fan had been in this time-space for a full month. Although he seemed extremely reclusive, it was actually due to his initial discomfort with the new environment. Now, he had adapted and had spent a month gathering a lot of useful information, such as the information about the deputy commander Zhao Xi.

The headquarters of the Yingyang Guard was in the imperial capital Chang'an, and the garrison in Luoyang was just one of its ten thousand-man garrisons. Even so, the total number of personnel was a staggering 2,300. The absolute commander was the Yingyang Commandant, Commander Wu Zhao. However, that commander was deeply engrossed in martial arts and was not keen on managing the affairs of the garrison. Thus, the Luoyang Thousand-Man Garrison was divided into three factions, and Zhao Xi was one of the three managers. He might not be the most influential, but he was the easiest to deal with because he had a significant flaw—greed.

Therefore, Wu Fan first sought him out, rather than the other two commanders.

The white jade Buddha presented by Wu Fan was of fine quality, smooth and bright, clearly a well-played and translucent object. Moreover, the Maitreya Buddha was exquisitely carved, seemingly the work of a master. In fact, regardless of the details, this was something a marquis had worn in his lifetime, and its value was certainly not small. Most importantly... the three pieces of paper wrapped around the white jade Buddha! No! They should be silver bills!

One thousand taels?

Staring at the number on the silver bill, Deputy Commander Zhao Xi's eyes instantly narrowed, his pupils gleaming with a captivating light, a sight that truly reminded Wu Fan of a libertine in a brothel, their expressions strikingly similar.

Without leaving a trace, Zhao Xi tucked the three one-thousand-tael silver bills into his sleeve and slowly examined the white jade Buddha, saying, "Wu Xiaqi... what do you mean by this?"

"Nothing else! Chen Yuci colluded with the Maitreya Sect, betraying the emperor's trust, and deserved to die. But... he left an opening, didn't he?" Wu Fan rubbed his hands with a smile, "Although I inherited my father's position in the emperor's personal guard, I dare not think too much. But, as a person, the most important thing is to have ideals... I wonder if I can make further progress?"

"You want to be a hundred-man commander?"

Zhao Xi gave Wu Fan a sidelong glance, his eyes flickering.

Wu Fan quickly shook his head, "I dare not! I am just a minor commander, and in the military, I am merely a squad leader. How can I dare to have such lofty ambitions as to become a hundred-man commander? I was thinking that with Chen Yuci gone, one of the two major commanders in our hundred-man garrison will surely step up, leaving a major commander position open!"

According to the distorted structure of the Yingyang Guard, the smallest official was a minor commander, who managed twenty people. Above the minor commander was a major commander, who managed a hundred people. Above the major commander was the hundred-man commander, who managed 230 people. Each hundred-man garrison had one hundred-man commander, two major commanders, and ten minor commanders. Wu Fan knew that he had joined the Yingyang Guard for too short a time, lacked the necessary seniority, and had no powerful backing, making it difficult for him to stand out. Therefore, he had to use money to pave the way, and the three thousand taels of silver bills were taken along with the white jade Buddha. Since they were ill-gotten gains, he did not feel bad about it.

"Oh! A major commander...," Zhao Xi smiled, continuing to examine the white jade Maitreya Buddha in the sunlight, praising it, "What exquisite craftsmanship! Truly a masterpiece..."

If Wu Fan still didn't understand, he would be a fool. He immediately said, "Reporting to Commander Zhao, this jade Buddha is something I found by chance. I heard it was something you accidentally lost, so I came to return it!"

【You really know how to handle things!】

Deputy Commander Zhao Xi was secretly satisfied, especially with the term "Commander Zhao," which made him feel elated. However, he asked nonchalantly, "Didn't you just say this was evidence of Chen Yuci's collusion with the Maitreya Sect?"

"Did I? You must have misremembered!" Wu Fan smiled, as if he had anticipated this, and took out a letter with a broken wax seal from his chest, saying, "I haven't presented the evidence to you yet!"

【Promising!】

Zhao Xi once again examined Wu Fan, seriously, and after a long time, he tucked the white jade Buddha into his belt and said slowly, "Chen Yuci, as a member of the emperor's personal guard, held the position of a hundred-man commander but did not think of serving the country loyally. Instead, he colluded with the Maitreya Sect, and he deserved to die!" Since he deserved to die, the person who killed him naturally deserved credit: "Fortunately, Minor Commander Wu Fan promptly recognized the situation, killed the traitor, and showed loyalty and bravery! He should be rewarded! Promoted to major commander!"

"Thank you, Commander, for your favor!" Wu Fan immediately put on a grateful and fawning expression, probing, "Commander, do you have time tonight? Perhaps I could treat you?"

"As a member of the emperor's personal guard, you don't think of serving the country loyally, but only of drinking?" Zhao Xi immediately put on a stern and righteous face, "Wu Xiaqi... no! Wu Major Commander! Your thinking... is problematic!"

【The feeling of an official in our dynasty!】

Wu Fan secretly criticized in his heart but said humbly, "I know my fault! I will go patrol the streets and check for any violations!"

"Wait!"

Seeing Wu Fan about to leave, Zhao Xi stopped him, then walked up to him, thought for a moment, and said seriously, "Wu Major Commander, you are young but loyal and hardworking, and your martial arts are not bad. Originally, I wanted to suggest to the commandant that you take the vacant position of a hundred-man commander. However, you lack the necessary achievements! Do you understand what I mean?"

Wu Fan quickly clasped his hands in a salute, "Thank you, Commander, for your guidance! I understand! I will not disappoint you!"

"Good! Good! Good! Go!" Zhao Xi waved his hand, turned around, and muttered, "I've heard that there are often bandits causing trouble outside the city of Luoyang recently..."

Wu Fan's expression flickered, and he turned to leave.

As Wu Fan's footsteps gradually faded away, Zhao Xi turned around, took out the white jade Maitreya Buddha from his belt, and continued to examine it in the sunlight. A strange expression appeared on his face, and he murmured, "Young man, you are still too young! Chen Yuci, that scoundrel, could hold the position of a hundred-man commander for nearly ten years here. Do you think he was that simple? He has someone backing him... But you are indeed ruthless and daring, killing your superior and stealing the loot... Tsk tsk! You are a sharp blade! If you can get through this, I will have to take action too!"

Leaving the garrison, Wu Fan did not go to patrol the streets as he had said. Instead, he headed straight to his home in the western part of the city, his brows furrowed, completely devoid of the previous smile. He had keenly sensed that something was not quite right.

"Trouble!"

No matter how much he thought, Wu Fan still couldn't figure it out and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

"Ding! System update complete, vulnerabilities fixed!"

"Ding! Host..."

...

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