The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 425: Chapter 404: Root System

"L-Lord Bai."

Zeng Shun, the Prefect of Lingzhou, looked at Bai Yuan with fear.

In the Capital City, Bai Yuan was a figure from whom all officials recoiled. Naturally, Zeng Shun didn’t dare provoke him either.

Furthermore, it was obvious Bai Yuan had come to Lingzhou specifically for the Celestial Profound Sect. Dealing with the Celestial Profound Sect was tantamount to dealing with him.

Bai Yuan looked at the Prefect of Lingzhou.

"Lord Zeng, I must trouble you to compile a list of all the sects in Lingzhou. The more detailed, the better."

"Yes!"

Zeng Shun didn’t dare defy Bai Yuan’s request in the slightest.

Bai Yuan was now a high official of the second rank, the Right Chief Imperial Censor who held the power to investigate local officials. Crushing someone like him would be effortless.

Even though he understood that Bai Yuan was here to deal with the Celestial Profound Sect and, in theory, shouldn’t make things difficult for the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office, as the Prefect of Lingzhou, his own slate was far from clean.

Zeng Shun respectfully exited the room.

He walked a long way away, until he was certain Bai Yuan could no longer see his face. Only then did his expression turn grim.

There had always been a saying in Lingzhou: the Prefect is ironclad, while the General flows like water.

This Prefect Zeng had served as the Prefect of Lingzhou for sixty straight years—a rare occurrence in Xuan Yang.

No one would believe it if you said he had no connection to the Celestial Profound Sect.

And that was indeed the case. Given his relationship with the Celestial Profound Sect, if something were to happen to the sect, he would likely lose his position as Prefect.

An Official asked cautiously, "My lord, are we... really going to give it to him?"

Zeng Shun snorted coldly. "Put away those petty thoughts of yours. Just do as he said, and make sure there are absolutely no mistakes."

"Yes!"

The Official’s expression turned serious.

He had served by Zeng Shun’s side for over a decade and knew very well whether his Lord Governor was truly angry.

Seeing that his subordinate was quick-witted enough, Zeng Shun relaxed slightly.

’Who was Bai Yuan?’

’He was the kind of man who would kill a Vice Minister without a second thought. With Bai Yuan’s current, immense authority, killing a minor Prefect like him would be just as simple. The Imperial Censors of the Imperial Inspection Office were all his subordinates—who would be foolish enough to seek justice for him?’

Besides, Emperor Li Chengyuan was now dead set on cleaning up the Jianghu and would be even less likely to investigate.

To put it bluntly, if he died, he would have died for nothing.

Therefore, he had to serve this master well.

Of course, he couldn’t just stand by and watch Bai Yuan take down the Celestial Profound Sect. He had to do something.

Zeng Shun’s expression was grim and uncertain.

...

"Quite thorough."

Bai Yuan looked at the list, which was hundreds of pages long, and nodded in satisfaction.

The information on all the sects and gangs was very complete, and the section on the Celestial Profound Sect alone took up more than half of it.

In truth, because of the Celestial Profound Sect’s presence, there weren’t many Jianghu factions in Lingzhou to begin with. Their strength was mediocre at best. Even if there were one or two stronger ones, they were merely puppets propped up by the Celestial Profound Sect.

"Lord Bai, if there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to command your humble servant."

Zeng Shun wore a subservient smile, afraid that Lord Bai might have the slightest dissatisfaction.

Bai Yuan looked at Zeng Shun with a faint, unreadable smile. "Lord Zeng, since you’re so willing, why don’t you start by compiling a list of all the Celestial Profound Sect disciples known to the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office?"

Zeng Shun’s expression didn’t change in the slightest, but his heart skipped a beat. He forced a smile. "Lord Bai jests. The Celestial Profound Sect is powerful, and the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office is weak. We know very little. However, since it is a request from a superior, I will naturally do my utmost."

His words were completely watertight.

First, he positioned himself as the weaker party, then he stated that he would do his best.

This way, he could eventually hand Bai Yuan a list of little value, and it would still count as completing the task. No one could find fault with him.

’Bai Yuan is an Imperial Censor, not the Emperor.’

’He certainly couldn’t just execute a high-ranking provincial official for mere incompetence.’

Moreover, this was indeed the reality. It wasn’t just Lingzhou; Jiangzhou was actually the same.

Once a behemoth like the Celestial Profound Sect appeared within a prefecture, it was nearly impossible for the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office to assert its authority.

This was a common ailment in Xuan Yang.

If he were to kill Zeng Shun for this reason, then he would probably have to execute more than half of the Prefects in Xuan Yang as well.

This was also why Li Chengyuan wanted to clean up the Jianghu. It was time to change this situation where the common people only knew of the sects, not the Court.

Bai Yuan said, "No matter. I’ll have to trouble you, then."

Seeing the notoriously fearsome Lord Bai act so mildly left Zeng Shun feeling uncertain. He could only say, "This humble servant will take his leave."

Then he hurriedly left the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

Zeng Shun first returned to his own residence and did not step out again.

...

「Elsewhere.」

Celestial Profound Sect, secret chamber.

Sect Leader Linghu Yang stood in the secret chamber with his hands clasped behind his back. Before him was none other than the Prefect of Lingzhou, Zeng Shun.

That’s right. There was a secret passage in Zeng Shun’s home that led directly to the Celestial Profound Sect.

This was enough to show how close the relationship between the two sides was.

Zeng Shun recounted every single word Bai Yuan had said at the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office to Linghu Yang in painstaking detail.

"Well done."

Linghu Yang nodded in satisfaction.

Besides his public identity, this Prefect Zeng was actually an impoverished scholar whom Linghu Yang had sponsored in his early years.

In fact, besides the Celestial Profound Sect, many major sects did the same.

This allowed them to flawlessly plant spies within the Court.

A large part of the reason for the loud opposition within the Court to cleaning up the Jianghu came from officials of such a background, as their futures were inextricably linked to the sects.

Of course, this wasn’t entirely the fault of these officials.

Ultimately, the policy of joint governance between Xuan Yang and the sects, established by the Grand Ancestor Emperor from the very beginning, had already sealed today’s fate.

"We will have to trouble you further in the days to come, Lord Zeng."

Zeng Shun smiled obsequiously. "Of course, of course."

Linghu Yang waved his hand. "Lord Zeng, it is not wise to stay too long. Please return for now."

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