Cao Xuan

The narrow and cramped Qing brick house swayed with lamplight. Cao Xuan, the thousand households, sat facing south at a worn-out square table. He held a tea cup made from a bamboo tube, obviously a roughly crafted item with leftover burrs, while the tea was brewed with mugwort leaves. Despite this, Cao Xuan's expression was content, as if he were holding the finest tea. Sipping his tea, he spoke, "I must thank you for the incident with the Bloodwind Bandits and the siege of the library today. If the situation had persisted, both the Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy and our Brocade Guard would have lost face."

"You're too kind with your words, Lord Thousand House," Chuxi Sheng replied with a light smile, his words revealing nothing. "The Bloodwind Bandits are nothing more than a minor nuisance for you, Lord Thousand House. A mere gesture of your hand would suffice to suppress them. Besides, the one who truly killed the sorcerer was someone else. I merely assisted, and I am not worthy of such gratitude from you, Lord."

Cao Xuan obviously disagreed. He had heard this argument from Chuxi Sheng earlier in the day. But when his subordinates searched inside and outside the library, they found no woman named Land as mentioned by Chuxi Sheng. The only reason for Chuxi Sheng's words was either fear of retaliation from the Bloodwind Bandits or another reason.

"You seem quite resentful," he said with a smile as he took out a pill bottle, a heavy ingot of silver, a shining golden vest, and two bronze waistplates from his sleeve, placing them in front of Chuxi Sheng. "I am not one to go back on my word. The circumstances were just not suitable earlier. This is the reward I promised you. Your hereditary documents, letters of appointment, and official position will be delivered to you in two days."

Chuxi Sheng raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a hint of interest. The pill bottle was identical to the one he had obtained earlier, most likely containing five Pei Yuan Pills. The shining golden vest was obviously a high-quality inner armor woven from fine silk and copper wire, clearly not an ordinary item. The key items were the two bronze waistplates.

Chuxi Sheng picked up the waistplates and examined them carefully. They were slightly heavy, indicating their quality. Carved on them was the totem of a divine beast, and below it was the inscription "Xiu Shui Brocade Guard, Junior Flag Officer Chuxi Sheng." The other one had the same title but with the name changed to "Chuyunyun."

After looking at them, Chuxi Sheng's expression slightly changed. Instead of showing joy, he looked at Cao Xuan with a hint of caution. "Lord Thousand House, I only wanted a hereditary junior flag officer position, not an official appointment."

Since the founding of the Danning Dynasty, it had been a tradition to grant hereditary military positions in the Brocade Guard to privileged children. After eight hundred years, there were numerous hereditary junior flag officers in the Brocade Guard, most of whom did not serve but only received a salary. Later, due to the excessive number of hereditary positions, the court could not afford to pay, and even the salary was not provided. Chuxi Sheng wanted this hereditary junior flag officer position to solve his and Chu yunyun's identity issues. As long as they put on this official skin, everything they did in the future would be convenient. He had never thought of becoming an actual officer in the Brocade Guard and being sent on missions by them. As the saying goes, "One should expect to give something in return for a favor," it was evident that this Cao person was asking for something in return.

Without looking at Chuxi Sheng's expression, Cao Xuan leisurely blew on the mugwort floating in his tea cup. "The reason I changed it to an actual junior flag officer position is because there is something I want to ask Young Brother Chu for help with. Have you heard of King Bawu Qin Mugong and the Rebel God Flag?" Chuxi Sheng had already made up his mind to reject whatever favor the other party wanted, no matter what it was.

The dimly lit narrow brick house seemed cramped. Cao Xuan, the Thousand Households, sat south-facing at a worn-out square table, holding a tea cup made of bamboo. The cup was roughly made, with residual burrs still visible, and the tea was brewed from mugwort leaves. Despite the rudimentary appearance, Cao Xuan seemed content, as if he were savoring the finest tea. Sipping his tea, he spoke, "I must thank you for today's incident with the Bloodwind Bandits and the siege of the library. If the situation had persisted, both the Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy and our Brocade Guard would have lost face."

"You're too kind with your words, Lord Thousand House," Chuxi Sheng replied with a light smile, his words revealing nothing. "The Bloodwind Bandits are nothing more than a minor nuisance for you, Lord Thousand House. A mere gesture of your hand would suffice to suppress them. Besides, the one who truly killed the sorcerer was someone else. I merely assisted, and I am not worthy of such gratitude from you, Lord."

Cao Xuan obviously disagreed. He had heard this argument from Chuxi Sheng earlier in the day. But when his subordinates searched inside and outside the library, they found no woman named Land as mentioned by Chuxi Sheng. The only reason for Chuxi Sheng's words was either fear of retaliation from the Bloodwind Bandits or another reason.

"You seem quite resentful," he said with a smile as he took out a pill bottle, a heavy ingot of silver, a shining golden vest, and two bronze waistplates from his sleeve, placing them in front of Chuxi Sheng. "I am not one to go back on my word. The circumstances were just not suitable earlier. This is the reward I promised you. Your hereditary documents, letters of appointment, and official position will be delivered to you in two days."

Chuxi Sheng raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a hint of interest. The pill bottle was identical to the one he had obtained earlier, most likely containing five Pei Yuan Pills. The shining golden vest was obviously a high-quality inner armor woven from fine silk and copper wire, clearly not an ordinary item. The key items were the two bronze waistplates.

Chuxi Sheng picked up the waistplates and examined them carefully. They were slightly heavy, indicating their quality. Carved on them was the totem of a divine beast, and below it was the inscription "Xiu Shui Brocade Guard, Junior Flag Officer Chuxi Sheng." The other one had the same title but with the name changed to "Chuyunyun."

After looking at them, Chuxi Sheng's expression slightly changed. Instead of showing joy, he looked at Cao Xuan with a hint of caution. "Lord Thousand House, I only wanted a hereditary junior flag officer position, not an official appointment."

Since the founding of the Danning Dynasty, it had been a tradition to grant hereditary military positions in the Brocade Guard to privileged children. After eight hundred years, there were numerous hereditary junior flag officers in the Brocade Guard, most of whom did not serve but only received a salary. Later, due to the excessive number of hereditary positions, the court could not afford to pay, and even the salary was not provided. Chuxi Sheng wanted this hereditary junior flag officer position to solve his and Chu yunyun's identity issues. As long as they put on this official skin, everything they did in the future would be convenient. He had never thought of becoming an actual officer in the Brocade Guard and being sent on missions by them. As the saying goes, "One should expect to give something in return for a favor," it was evident that this Cao person was asking for something in return.

Without looking at Chuxi Sheng's expression, Cao Xuan leisurely blew on the mugwort floating in his tea cup. "The reason I changed it to an actual junior flag officer position is because there is something I want to ask Young Brother Chu for help with. Have you heard of King Bawu Qin Mugong and the Rebel God Flag?" Chuxi Sheng had already made up his mind to reject whatever favor the other party wanted, no matter what it was.

"Oops, my mistake,"

Cao Xuan said with a seemingly embarrassed smile, setting down the scissors. "Well, it's understandable for Young Brother to have concerns. I'll give you five days. If you're willing, you can buy three dried tangerine peel buns from the bun shop northeast of the martial arts academy. "

He then patted the golden vest and waistplates on the table. "These items will stay here. Whether you agree or not, they are still the rewards I promised you."