The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 423: Chapter 404: A Prosperous Official Career

"Lord Bai."

Tang Baichuan trotted into the hall with a broad smile, his delight plain to see.

Bai Yuan glanced at Tang Baichuan. "Lord Tang, do you have news?"

"Lord Bai, your foresight is truly godlike. This subordinate has indeed identified the culprit."

Tang Baichuan came before Bai Yuan. "Lord Bai, this man is a notorious Sand-Burier from Ximo, a role similar to a Ghostwriter. His name is Jiu Moshi."

"A Sand-Burier?"

Bai Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

His channels for gathering information were countless times better than before, so he had a general understanding of the situation in Ximo. These Sand-Buriers were a notorious presence there, even more reviled by the world than the Sword Chasers of Xuan Yang.

Those men would not only act for money, but their methods were also exceptionally cruel, and they often took pleasure in killing.

’So it was a hired assassination?’

He already had a good idea who the Gold Paying Person was.

There weren’t many even in Xuan Yang who could afford to hire an expert like Jiu Moshi. In the Northern Territory, the most likely candidate was, of course, the Celestial Profound Sect.

’It seems my Master’s trip to the Celestial Profound Sect wasn’t as calm and uneventful as it appeared on the surface.’

’Otherwise, it wouldn’t have made Linghu Yang so restless that he’d resort to hiring an assassin to kill me.’

"Lord Bai, what should we do next?"

Tang Baichuan asked cautiously.

This matter involved a Mingxin Grandmaster. Even if he was a Grandmaster from Ximo, it wasn’t a decision he could make lightly.

Bai Yuan said, "Hand it over to the Ministry of Justice. Let them handle it as they see fit."

"Yes."

Hearing this, Tang Baichuan inwardly sighed in relief.

Getting rid of the hot potato that was Jiu Moshi would relieve him of so much pressure.

...

「Ten days later.」

Men from the Ministry of Justice rushed from the Capital City to Binzhou. Considering the inconvenience of travel by horse and carriage in this era, this was an astonishingly high level of efficiency.

"Lord Bai."

A dignified, middle-aged man politely bowed to Bai Yuan.

"Vice Minister Zhou."

Bai Yuan was not arrogant and returned the bow.

This time, the Ministry of Justice had sent a Vice Minister specifically to escort Jiu Moshi’s body, a clear sign of the matter’s importance.

Vice Minister Zhou said, "Lord Bai, may I inspect the body first to confirm its identity?"

"Of course."

Led by Tang Baichuan, Bai Yuan and the group from the Ministry of Justice arrived at an ice cellar in the Patrol Office of the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office, a place used specifically for storing corpses.

No matter how high one’s martial arts skill was in life, death made everyone equal. Preservation for ten thousand years was just a legend; a corpse would still rot and stink. That was why the Patrol Office had found a place similar to a morgue.

Jiu Moshi’s body lay in the most conspicuous spot in the center of the ice cellar.

Vice Minister Zhou and the Ministry of Justice’s forensic doctor inspected it carefully for a while before finally standing up.

Vice Minister Zhou looked at Bai Yuan, his face a mask of disbelief.

He had confirmed that the body was indeed that of the Ximo Sand-Burier, Jiu Moshi.

Jiu Moshi not only ran rampant in Ximo, but he had also snuck into Xuan Yang on multiple occasions to kill Jianghu experts and even Court officials. He had long been a regular on the Ministry of Justice’s wanted lists.

Therefore, Vice Minister Zhou was very well-informed about Jiu Moshi.

’That was a Mingxin Grandmaster!’

Vice Minister Zhou couldn’t help but marvel.

The first time he’d seen Bai Yuan at a court assembly, the man had held a Third-Grade Official Title, same as himself. Bai Yuan was only promoted to second-grade upon leaving the capital, due to his achievements and the Emperor’s needs.

’But how long has it been since then?’

’He can already kill a Mingxin Grandmaster!!’

’As soon as I return to the Capital City and report this, given how favored Bai Yuan is by the Emperor, a promotion to official second-grade is a sure thing.’

’Jeez.’

’He’s probably the youngest second-grade official in all of Xuan Yang.’

’At an age when others are still vying to become a Vice Minister, Bai Yuan is already on track to become a Minister. Talk about infuriating.’

Vice Minister Zhou calmed himself and took a deep breath. "Lord Bai, this man is indeed Jiu Moshi."

Bai Yuan replied, "Good. From here on, it’s most appropriate for the Ministry of Justice to handle things."

"As it should be."

Vice Minister Zhou was delighted. As long as he delivered Jiu Moshi’s body back to the Capital City, this would count as an effortless, major accomplishment for him.

"Lord Bai, rest assured. I will be sure to report this matter faithfully to His Majesty."

"Then I must thank you for your trouble, Vice Minister Zhou."

The party from the Ministry of Justice did not linger in Binzhou. That very day, they used a specially made ice cart to escort Jiu Moshi’s body out of the city.

Bai Yuan had offended many people from the Ministry of Justice in the past, but this Vice Minister Zhou was not among them.

However, he wasn’t worried that the Ministry of Justice would try to tamper with the matter.

He already held the post of Right Chief Imperial Censor and, in the eyes of outsiders, had become the Emperor’s confidant. Naturally, he had his own private channels for sending messages to the Emperor.

That channel was Eunuch Chang of the Ritual Department.

With that Chief Eunuch on his side, he would hear of any disturbance, no matter how slight.

This was exactly why people said you should never provoke the palace eunuchs.

...

「Capital City. Imperial Palace. Taihe Hall.」

A hearty laugh echoed through the great hall. In Taihe Hall, such a sound could naturally only come from the Emperor, Li Chengyuan.

"Good, good!"

The Emperor, Li Chengyuan, repeated the word "good."

The Ministry of Justice had already brought Jiu Moshi’s body into the great hall.

He, of course, had heard the name of this expert from Ximo. He had even personally ordered his capture, but the man had always managed to escape. Once he returned to Ximo, even the Court was helpless.

Although the individual Ximo countries were weak, if Xuan Yang dared to launch a full-scale invasion, their combined strength was not to be underestimated.

At this moment, the old Minister of Justice stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this villain snuck into our nation with the intent to harm a court official. Although he was killed by Imperial Censor Bai’s superior strength, his crime is unforgivable. I ask for Your Majesty’s permission to uncover the true culprit. If Ximo Country is behind this, I fear it may shake the very foundations of our nation."

Li Chengyuan waved his hand grandly. "Granted!"

Some of the more experienced and shrewd ministers already sensed that something was amiss.

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