After half a day, Xiu Jiming finally returned, followed by several horse-drawn carriages.
That Official Shen also shamelessly took one for himself, causing Xiu Jiming’s expression to turn incredibly gloomy as he immediately stepped forward to drive him away.
“You’re wealthier than I am, yet you still want to cheat me out of my money?”
Xiu Jiming said with an unfriendly look.
Official Shen said cheerfully, “Don’t be like that. Do you have the heart to watch me walk to the Office of Ritual Inspection?”
The two sides bickered for a long time, but since Shen Zaixin’s skin was as thick as a city wall, he eventually managed to make off with one carriage.
On the way back to the Office of Ritual Inspection, nothing special happened.
However, when they reached the entrance of the office, Lin Ling saw a massive crowd of people pointing and whispering, though she couldn’t tell what they were doing.
As Lin Ling stepped off the carriage, she immediately drew everyone’s attention.
The auras of numerous cultivators descended upon her in an instant, causing Lin Ling to unconsciously freeze in place.
[Crap! What are they trying to do? Do I owe you guys money?]
Xiu Jiming stepped off the carriage behind her.
Seeing Lin Ling’s embarrassed state, he smiled knowingly and reached out to rub her head as he walked in front of her, blocking everyone’s gaze.
Lin Ling felt her whole body relax and gave Xiu Jiming a grateful look.
Then, to Lin Ling’s shock, countless cultivators dropped to one knee.
“Greetings, Demon-Slaying Inspector!”
[Ah? So they were looking for you? Excuse me, I’m leaving!]
Lin Ling tucked in her neck, wanting to slip away.
Unexpectedly, a eunuch squeezed out from the crowd, accompanied by many guards who were blocking the path to keep passersby from getting close.
The old eunuch shook his sleeves and pulled out a golden imperial decree.
With his unique voice, he projected it across the entire scene.
“By the Grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees.”
Upon hearing this, every cultivator present dropped to one knee to listen to the order, while the commoners knelt completely.
Lin Ling had no choice but to crouch in the shadows.
“I have inherited the Great Enterprise and rule over the ten thousand directions. Foul darkness has been breeding in the western borders, and strange demons have suddenly emerged in the lands of Yun and Shuo, disturbing the common people and shaking the frontier. My heart is deeply troubled.”
“Former Demon-Slaying Inspector Xiu Jiming possesses great talent. Regarding the past events in Yuzhou, his situation is pitiable, and I shall not hold it against him.”
“He is hereby reinstated to his original post and granted the rank of Pacification Commissioner of the Yunzhou Office of Ritual Inspection, acting on my behalf to maintain peace throughout the entire territory of Yunzhou. All subordinate officials and garrisons are to follow your command and act at your discretion.”
“The Yuzhou Fox Clan has been loyal and diligent for generations. After their catastrophe, my heart is filled with sorrow. Now, their descendant Lin Ling is commendable for her intelligence. She is specially granted the rank of Sixth-Rank Ritual Supervisor and permitted to lead the affairs of the Yuzhou Fox Clan. She shall be registered as an advisor in the Office of the Pacification Commissioner as a sign of my sympathy.”
“The two of you shall work together with one heart to suppress this demonic atmosphere. In urgent matters, act according to the circumstances without the need for a formal petition. I only care for results. Respect this.”
After the decree was read, the eunuch slowly stepped forward and leaned into Xiu Jiming’s ear to whisper privately, “His Majesty has another verbal message: ‘I know you hold Yuzhou in your heart, but for now, you must stabilize Yunzhou. Your old units have been recalled, and the orphan of the fox clan is also entrusted to you. I hope you make good use of them. Do not fail my expectations.'”
Lin Ling’s fox ears twitched.
Her heart was a bit anxious.
She was just a little bandit; how had she become a sixth-rank official in just a few days?
“This subject accepts the decree.”
Lin Ling swallowed hard and took the imperial decree that belonged to her.
At this time, Xiu Jiming narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced up at where Shen Zaixin was located.
After a brief moment of reflection, he raised his hand and accepted the decree.
After delivering the decree, the guards led the eunuch away, leaving behind about a dozen people still kneeling on one knee, waiting for orders.
Lin Ling rubbed her aching waist.
Looking at these dozen or so people, she felt it probably had nothing to do with her anymore.
She turned around to pack her things, intending to take two scrolls and head back to the Fox Immortal Temple to ask Lin Ke about cultivation.
She was still at the threshold of the Spirit Awakening Realm and had been unable to find a way to break through.
She took two steps before she felt her collar being grabbed.
She was hoisted up and brought to Xiu Jiming’s side.
Xiu Jiming held down Lin Ling, who was trying to sneak away, and said softly, “My colleagues, I, Xiu, am here to apologize to you all. During these past ten-plus years, I was trapped by my inner demons and failed to carry the weight of your hopes.”
Lin Ling had no choice but to hide behind him and listen to him drone on.
[Ahem. I don’t have social anxiety, definitely not!]
She was simply recalling the fear she felt when her mountain fortress was wiped out after seeing so many cultivators.
“Big Brother Xiu, there’s no need to say more. We always believed you would come back to lead us to settle the score.”
A youth at the front smiled slightly.
The others didn’t speak but looked at Xiu Jiming seriously.
Xiu Jiming went silent, unsure of what expression to make.
At this moment, Lin Ling tried to sneak away again, so Xiu Jiming used her as a way to change the subject.
He grabbed her and said, “You all heard the imperial decree. Lin… ”
Xiu Jiming was silent for a small moment, thinking of a name, before saying seriously again, “While Ling’er’s cultivation is low, she is the orphan of the Yuzhou Fox Clan. Now, she is even a Sixth-Rank Ritual Supervisor appointed by imperial decree. She will be the second-in-command of our Yunzhou Office of Ritual Inspection in the future.”
“By your command!”
everyone shouted.
Lin Ling, meanwhile, was still stuck on the name ‘Ling’er’ and couldn’t react.
[Ah? What did he just call me?]
It wasn’t until everyone dispersed that she glared at Xiu Jiming with a dark face and turned to leave.
Xiu Jiming said with a smile, “Ling’er, wait a moment. There are some things I need to explain to you.”
Lin Ling stood there impatiently, refusing to look at him.
“The name is just for convenience,” Xiu Jiming said apologetically.
“These are my old subordinates. If we seem like friends, they will treat you more sincerely.”
Lin Ling froze for a moment, then nodded.
[Alright, Old Xiu. It turns out you’re on my side! Then I forgive you, but can you change the name?]
Lin Ling sighed. She didn’t have a pen or paper right now, so she couldn’t complain to Xiu Jiming. However, since he put it that way, she would let him call her that a few times for now.
Seeing her proud expression that said ‘Fine, fine, I’ll take pity on you and listen,’ Xiu Jiming couldn’t help but smile knowingly.
How should he put it?
She was still too easy to trick. He felt like he could trick her into bearing eight children… cough, cough, cough.
No, no, how could he think like that?
That was too evil.
Xiu Jiming coughed twice and, with his hands behind his back, followed Lin Ling into the Office of Ritual Inspection to help her get some materials.
Lin Ling walked inside and saw that only the three women, including Bai Yunyun, were there.
She looked at Xiu Jiming with confusion.
As if they shared a telepathic connection, Xiu Jiming knew what she wanted to say with a single glance and explained, “They all have their own bases of operation in Yunzhou. This time they only came to see me. When we go to the provincial capital to take office, they will join us. Here in Yueshan County, it’s still just us.”
“Leaving… later?”
Lin Ling said slowly.
“No. Since the demons were first found in Yueshan County, we will stay here for now. We’ll leave after Yueshan County is cleaned up.”
Xiu Jiming smiled and subconsciously reached out to rub Lin Ling’s head.
Lin Ling shook her ears in dissatisfaction and said, “Going back… with books.”
Xiu Jiming looked at his hand, then watched Lin Ling hop away, a strange feeling stirring in his heart.