The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 400: Chapter 392: Though Thousands Stand Against Me, I Go Forth (Part 2)

He didn’t want to suffer the miserable fate of being chased out of Binzhou.

Throughout history, it seems few reformers ever meet a good end.

...

「The next day.」

The Prefect of Binzhou, Tang Baichuan, received a secret letter sent from Xiangzhou.

As expected, it was a secret letter personally written by He Jiedu Envoy. The contents were simple: he was to obey Bai Yuan’s every command.

When Tang Baichuan received the letter, the last flicker of hope in his heart was extinguished.

He knew all too well that the time had come to pick a side.

Bai Yuan was already famous in Xuan Yang for his ruthless methods, and now he wielded the Imperial Sword. In truth, Tang Baichuan had no other choice.

He could only curse his bad luck.

Tang Baichuan let out a long sigh.

’A promotion is out of the question. If I can just live out the rest of my life in peace, that would be a good enough ending for me.’

He summoned a trusted subordinate. "Cease all business dealings connected to the Celestial Profound Sect."

The subordinate’s face paled in shock.

For decades, Tang Baichuan had maintained a close relationship with the Celestial Profound Sect. The dealings involved well over a million silver taels, not to mention pills and Divine Weapons. If all of that were to stop, the losses would be unbearable.

"My lord, this matter..."

The subordinate was about to speak but was silenced by a fierce glare from Tang Baichuan.

"Just do as you’re told! Enough talk!"

Scolded by his master, the man dared not say another word.

Tang Baichuan sighed again. How could he not know that this would send the fortune he had spent decades accumulating down the drain? But that was still better than ending up as another soul claimed by Bai Yuan’s sword.

It was as the saying goes: to gain, one must first be willing to lose.

He had to give up his current profits to save his life.

It wasn’t a difficult choice to make.

...

「Jiuyang Association」

Chairman Ouyang Xiong was walking behind an imposing figure, his back bent in a sycophantic bow.

The Jiuyang Association was one of the top sects in Binzhou, possessing a deep and rich heritage.

Even in the Northern Territory as a whole, it was considered a formidable power.

But the Jiuyang Association had only been founded five hundred years ago. Its rapid growth could be traced back to its Founding Ancestor, who was taken in as an adopted son by the Sect Leader of the Celestial Profound Sect five centuries prior.

With the backing of the Celestial Profound Sect—the number one sect in the Northern Territory—the Jiuyang Association was able to gain a firm foothold in Binzhou, a city teeming with experts, and grow into the power it was today.

In fact, such situations were not at all uncommon.

The Celestial Profound Sect was known as the number one sect of the Northern Territory not just because of its own formidable strength, but because of the influence it had exerted over the Northern Border Martial World for thousands of years.

With the exception of a few places like Ling Province which the Celestial Profound Sect disdained, the sect’s influence could be seen in the Jianghu of several other provinces.

The Celestial Profound Sect’s control over the Northern Territory was far greater than one might imagine.

"With Sect Leader Xia here, that little whelp won’t be able to stir up any trouble."

Chairman Ouyang Xiong of the Jiuyang Association laid on the flattery.

He had panicked when he first heard that Bai Yuan had come to Binzhou.

But right on their heels, members of the Celestial Profound Sect had also appeared in Binzhou—and they had sent a ruthless figure like Xia Han.

In addition to Vice Sect Leader Xia Han, the Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian branches of the Celestial Profound Sect had also dispatched their own experts. The lineup was undeniably powerful, which served as a great reassurance to Ouyang Xiong.

Otherwise, the Jiuyang Association alone would have found it difficult to resist the Court’s offensive.

Xia Han merely shot Ouyang Xiong an indifferent glance.

’Brother Ouyang might be a sect leader revered by all in Binzhou, but in my eyes, he’s nothing more than a dog kept by the Celestial Profound Sect.’

"Gather the leaders of every sect in Binzhou."

Hearing Xia Han’s command, Ouyang Xiong’s heart filled with even more joy. "This humble one will see to it at once!"

He immediately departed, leading a group of men himself.

Monk Fa Ding watched Ouyang Xiong’s departing figure with a worried expression. "Sect Leader Xia, Linghu Sect Master specifically warned us not to clash directly with that Bai Yuan."

The corner of Xia Han’s mouth curved upward. "Since when do I require your commentary on how I conduct my affairs?"

...

「Binzhou, Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.」

Tang Baichuan stared at the empty main hall, his expression grim.

As per Bai Yuan’s instructions, he had sent invitations to all of Binzhou’s most prominent factions for a meeting at the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office today.

Yet it was already dusk, and not a single soul had appeared.

He felt that he had lost face in front of Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan, however, seemed to have anticipated this outcome. He calmly toyed with one of Tang Baichuan’s antique teacups.

Seeing that it was now impossible for anyone to show up, Tang Baichuan had no choice but to brace himself and ask Bai Yuan, "Lord Bai, what should we do now?"

Bai Yuan gently set the teacup down. ’Even though I’m his superior, I can’t just go around damaging a subordinate’s private property, can I?’

"Since they won’t come to us, we’ll go to them."

With that, he abruptly stood up and strode out the door.

Tang Baichuan was startled by this.

He hadn’t expected Bai Yuan to be so decisive. He shot a look at the subordinate by his side, then broke into a trot to follow.

...

「On the streets of Binzhou City.」

A formidable troop of a hundred men moved swiftly.

The common folk looked on in terror, for the men were all wearing official uniforms and belonged to the Patrol Office.

A procession of this size meant something major was about to happen.

The wise kept their distance, while the foolishly curious followed from afar.

Finally, the Binzhou Officials stopped before a magnificent courtyard.

The people of Binzhou who had followed to watch the commotion naturally recognized the place—it was the headquarters of the renowned Jiuyang Association!

When Tang Baichuan saw Bai Yuan heading straight for the Jiuyang Association, he couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.

Everyone knew the Jiuyang Association was practically a vassal sect of the Celestial Profound Sect. Ninety percent of his own dealings with the Celestial Profound Sect had gone through them.

"Who goes there?!"

A disciple of the Jiuyang Association shouted, his voice lacking conviction as he took in the large formation.

Tang Baichuan had no choice but to give a pointed look to the Patrol Office constable beside him.

The constable strode forward and delivered two hard slaps to the Jiuyang Association disciple’s face.

"Open your damn eyes! You dare obstruct the Government Office on official business?!"

The two heavy slaps left the disciple’s head spinning, and he promptly fainted.

Bai Yuan watched the gatekeeper disciple with amusement.

’He’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.’

He could tell at a glance that the disciple was only pretending to be unconscious, but it was indeed a clever way to stay alive.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he led the contingent of Officials into the Jiuyang Association.

They had just reached the front courtyard when a shrewd-looking, middle-aged man came to greet them.

"Lord Tang, you didn’t even send word that you were coming to my Jiuyang Association. And this is?"

He acted with a familiar air toward Tang Baichuan.

They were indeed on familiar terms; they had engaged in all the typical male pastimes together thirty years ago.

Tang Baichuan’s expression immediately turned stern. "This is the Right Chief Imperial Censor, Lord Bai."

A playful smile touched Bai Yuan’s lips.

’I’ve pretty much guessed what’s going on from their behavior,’ Bai Yuan thought. ’Tang Baichuan is the Prefect of Binzhou, so it’s normal for him to have close ties with the major sects under his jurisdiction. He might even be entangled with the Celestial Profound Sect.’

’But none of that matters.’

’As long as Tang Baichuan picks the right side now, that’s all that counts.’

Bai Yuan got straight to the point. "Chairman Ouyang, this official acts under the order of His Majesty. I am here to register the Jiuyang Association’s members and assets for the Court’s records. I trust you will cooperate."

The smile on Ouyang Xiong’s face did not waver.

He had long expected Bai Yuan to do this.

Long before Tang Baichuan had even sent out the invitations, he had already followed Xia Xiong’s instructions and gathered all the Sect Leaders of Binzhou’s major powers. That was why not a single one of them had gone to the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office today.

He just hadn’t expected this Lord Imperial Censor to act so quickly.

"Lord Bai, it’s not that the Jiuyang Association is unwilling to cooperate. It’s just that our association has over ten thousand members, and due to some past administrative neglect, it will take some time to compile an accurate register."

Bai Yuan’s eyes narrowed.

This was clearly a stalling tactic. If he wasn’t mistaken, he would get the same story from all the other factions.

"No matter. I’ve brought men from the Patrol Office specifically for this purpose. They’re experts at this sort of thing."

The smile on Ouyang Xiong’s face turned cold. "Lord Bai, these are the internal affairs of my association. They cannot be shared with outsiders."

"Cannot be shared?"

Bai Yuan stared coldly at Ouyang Xiong.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense, thick with the possibility of violence.

Brother Ouyang suddenly burst out laughing. "I have long heard that Lord Bai is known as the Northern Arrogant Dragon. As it happens, my association has a master swordsman. Perhaps you’d be willing to exchange a few pointers?"

Before the words had even left his mouth,

a burly man, a full eight feet tall, strode out from the main hall of the Jiuyang Association. His powerful aura was so overwhelming it nearly suffocated everyone present.

Bai Yuan’s thumb hooked onto the hilt of Blood Fiend.

Clear Mind!

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