I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 320 - 226: The Position of the New Commander!

Chapter 320: Chapter 226: The Position of the New Commander!

Linjiang Station.

Deputy Commander Zhou Yuan personally made a visit.

This time, however, he wasn’t dressed in his Deputy Commander’s uniform but in casual robes, without any weapon.

"Master Wu!"

Zhou Yuan entered the hall and offered a deep greeting.

"What is this about, Deputy Commander?"

Lin Yan descended the steps, returning the gesture with a frown, "Why such a grand gesture?"

"Thanks to that bag of Essence Boosting Pills, I’ve taken down six officials from the City Guard Mansion and three incense burners from Liu Zun Temple."

Zhou Yuan slowly said, "Within the Observatory, those who were using power for personal gain, I personally investigated and executed four."

He looked at Lin Yan and spoke out, "Next spring, the Commander plans to retire, and he wants me to come forward to vie for the position of Supreme Commander, but my merits are insufficient..."

Lin Yan then understood his intentions.

In recent times, the Commander had usually taken matters into his own hands, aiming to pull down numerous formidable opponents before his death to pave the way for his successors.

Zhou Yuan, the Deputy Commander, was the candidate for the next Commander.

But his achievements were insufficient, so after the old ancestor of the Liu Family died, many matters within the Observatory were handed over to Zhou Yuan.

Yet the accumulated merits were still insufficient.

Until the matter handed over by Lin Yan.

"The City Guard Mansion manages all affairs of High Willow City."

"What those above dread the most is the Observatory colluding with the local City Guard Mansion."

"This time, by taking down the City Guard Mansion and Liu Zun Temple, these people who abused their power for personal gain, I’ve not only gained merits but also displayed my stance to the headquarters of the Observatory in Prefecture City."

Zhou Yuan once again offered his respects, his expression quite serious.

Lin Yan helped him up, laughing, "Deputy Commander, with your outstanding capabilities and popularity, if you wish to investigate, cases involving the City Guard Mansion and Liu Zun Temple are certainly not few."

"But not this quickly!"

Zhou Yuan spoke out, "If not for your bag of Essence Boosting Pills, which led me to them by following the clues, uncovering such cases would not be possible in a day or two! But today, the merits for the promotion to Commander must be compiled and sent to Qifeng Prefecture!"

He looked at Lin Yan, his voice solemn, "You killed the old ancestor of the Liu Family, your cultivation is much higher than mine! In fact, you too could have contested for this position of Commander..."

"The Deputy Commander flatters me, not long ago, I was still a small banner officer, my rapid promotions have already been nearly unthinkable!"

Lin Yan simply said so, laughing, "Not to mention my lack of seniority, just look at the Deputy Commander, even with years of accumulated merits, it’s barely enough, let alone my little achievement?"

He never had much interest in the position of Commander to begin with.

A Commander, by definition, must be stationed within the inner city, centrally coordinating, planning the grand schemes, and mobilizing troops, which requires greater cunning and strategy.

But for Lin Yan, the biggest drawback of a position with high authority is the rare opportunities to personally combat enemies.

The current Commander, if not sensing his end was near, wouldn’t have entered the fray to battle the enemy personally multiple times.

Another important point was also crucial.

In the eyes of certain major figures, he, Wu Chang, had already become the new master of the Blessed Land, holding great authority.

This Blessed Land’s proximity to High Willow City, if changes were to arise in the future, made it easy to proclaim oneself king and defy the jurisdiction of Qifeng Prefecture!

Given this, how could they possibly hand over the position of Supreme Commander of the Observatory of High Willow City to him?

"Regardless, you are qualified to contest for the position."

Zhou Yuan, the Deputy Commander, made a gesture of respect, "Consider it a favor I owe you."

Lin Yan glanced at him, then suddenly laughed, "It’s quite amusing, usually, if one wants to form a bond with another, one bestows favors to create ties for future interactions. Yet, you, Deputy Commander, start by owing me a favor, making me feel closer to you..."

"You rascal, there’s no need to verbalize what has been realized!"

Han Commander couldn’t help but poke his head out from atop the wall and chide, "Not an ounce of cunning."

Lin Yan laughed heartily, looking at Deputy Commander Zhou Yuan before him.

"The Commander once said that after his departure, there were only two people he had in mind for his successor."

"The first is you, Deputy Commander Zhou, and the second is Han Commander."

"Only the two of you can plan for the Human Clan like he has."

"The high ranks of the inner city Observatory, in others’ hearts, are more or less driven by selfish desires and easily manipulated."

"He trusts you, and so do I."

Lin Yan spoke slowly, "I still remember the first time I stormed into the inner city; you stood in front of me, ready to bear the brunt of the turmoil I caused! From that moment on, I held you in high esteem!"

He looked towards the inner city and said, "I hear that the other two Deputy Commanders, as well as those from Qifeng Prefecture City, all have their eyes on this position! I don’t know them, so if I have to choose, I’d feel more at ease with you securing this seat..."

"I will surely not disappoint!"

Zhou Yuan, the Deputy Commander, bowed deeply, "If one day I too become corrupt, unable to uphold justice, and fail to act as our current Commander, your blade can fall upon my head."

"Of course!"

Lin Yan replied with a calm demeanor, nodding in agreement.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan gave a respectful bow and took his leave.

He left Linjiang Station.

The Deputy Commander’s chief steward was also waiting outside.

"How did it go?" asked the chief steward with a smile.

"He agreed," replied Deputy Commander Zhou.

"As the commander expected, Wu Chang is not a man who yearns for power and position; he prefers to kill enemies with his own hands rather than sit and command in the inner city," the chief steward said slowly, seeming not at all surprised. "Since he has allowed you to take this seat, he is also willing to obey your orders as the commander. Once the appointment is official, you’ll be firmly in place!"

"It’s a pity," sighed Deputy Commander Zhou. "I would rather he be the one to firmly secure this position."

"He cannot hold this position," the chief steward shook his head. "A shallow pond cannot breed a dragon; so he will inevitably leave High Willow City."

"So, he can’t help me for long," Deputy Commander Zhou said, with a heavy tone. "If he were the commander himself, then with him here, this generation in High Willow City could indeed rest easy and be at peace!"

"Not to mention his insufficient experience and merits; even if he had enough, the commander wouldn’t wish for him to stay forever in High Willow City! The commander’s position carries both high status and heavy responsibility. To a person like Wu Chang, it becomes a shackle..."

The chief steward gently stroked his beard and said, "If Wu Chang’s talents were only slightly inferior to Li Shen Sect, the commander would fight to his last breath to establish him as the successor! If his talents were equal to Li Shen Sect, the commander would find a way to send him to Qifeng Prefecture. But his talents surpass Li Shen Sect... In the future, not even a Holy Land could contain him!"

With a touch of regret, the chief steward added, "It’s a pity that the commander will not live to see it, nor will I witness the day when this young man overturns the universe and purifies the world within."

"Understood, as long as he remains as Wu Chang is today, unchanged at heart, I, Zhou, will surely do everything in my power to help him rise!"

With that, Zhou Yuan moved forward.

"Wait!" the chief steward called out. "There is another matter from the commander; you need to stay in Linjiang Square."

"What is it?" Zhou Yuan paused, stopping in his tracks.

"Something that will deepen your bond with Wu Chang," the chief steward said with a smile.

"Oh?" Zhou Yuan showed a look of surprise.

"Move your troops in secret to Green Mountain Square, then you will understand," the chief steward explained.

"Why?" Zhou Yuan exclaimed in shock.

"I do not know the reason, but these are the commander’s orders!" the chief steward replied.

Waving his hand, he continued, "The matter has been entrusted to you. I am leaving the city to deliver the merit scrolls to Qifeng Prefecture."

——

Within Linjiang Station.

Han Commander, the General Flag Envoy, climbed over the wall and entered with a sly smile.

"Young man, you have become quite important."

"What makes you say that?" Lin Yan couldn’t help asking.

"Do you honestly think Zhou Yuan came to thank you?" Han Commander scoffed.

"Is it not so?" Lin Yan replied with a smile.

"He’s very likely to be the next Supreme Commander of High Willow City. His visit today was to pay his respects to you!"

Han Commander declared, "What good are a bag of Essence Boosting Pills? It was the commander’s idea to give them to Zhou Yuan, simply to make him owe you a favor... With that favor owed, a bond is formed!"

Looking outside, he said, "The bond between the commander and us is one thing! But the bond with his successor is quite another! The commander hopes that we get closer to Zhou Yuan."

"We weren’t exactly far off to begin with. Shared aspirations can pave the way to friendship."

Lin Yan said, "Deputy Commander Zhou is indeed a good man. During the Dayin River incident, he considered my position multiple times. I have no objections to him being the commander."

Han Commander let out a breath, "It’s just that with the position confirmed now, it seems the commander’s time is drawing near. I wonder if Mr. Lu can assist him once more?"

"Mr. Lu has done all he could; his help has been given. Your words..."

Hearing this, Lin Yan’s heart skipped a beat, and he said gravely, "Is Mr. Lu going to try Refining God?"

Then Lin Yan hurriedly started to leave.

But Han Commander spoke up.

"Mr. Lu has already begun his retreat. Disturbing him now could ruin his lifetime’s work."

"Why didn’t you inform me earlier?" Lin Yan said in a low voice.

"Had we told you earlier, would Mr. Lu still be in retreat today?" Han Commander asked. "You would surely have tried to stop him!"

"We’ve already found the direction for the ’new path’..." Lin Yan clenched his fist tight and spoke resolutely, "Why couldn’t Mr. Lu wait?"

"Mr. Lu is getting old, and as for the new path, when it can be perfected is also uncertain," Han Commander replied shaking his head.

"More importantly, without Refining God, no one else can clear the fog on the path ahead for you."

"How many years would it take for a group at the Qi Refining Realm to explore the unclear new path ahead without him entering the Refining God Realm?"

"He must ascend to Refining God first, to look back with a higher perspective at the Qi Refining Realm and help you identify any pitfalls."

"By taking this dead-end journey first, he can tell you which paths will lead to dead ends, assisting you in choosing another path!"

"Only after reaching the Refining God Realm will he be eligible to obtain the ’Creation’ Secret Technique!"

"Moreover, he was not born into the martial paths; his cultivation journey ends at the Refining God Realm."

With that, Han Commander said slowly, "Mr. Lu has started his seclusion; let’s say no more. Go and protect him! Inside Qifeng Prefecture, there will be many who do not wish for him to enter the Refining God Realm."

"..."

Lin Yan took a deep breath, realizing that the situation could not be altered.

He instructed Little White Ape to help Chief Clerk Yang ensure that Linjiang Station was well-looked-after.

Then, donning the Night-illuminating Treasure Saber and carrying a bow and arrows, Lin Yan made his way to Mr. Lu’s courtyard.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.