Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 154 - 152 Investigation

Chu Zhiyuan arrived at a restaurant beside the inn, Ping’an Restaurant.

This restaurant certainly couldn’t compare to the ones in Yujing City.

Ping’an Restaurant had only two floors; Chu Zhiyuan walked through the bustling first floor to the rather deserted second floor.

On the second floor, there were only five tables of guests, all merchants coming and going, marked by the look of weary travelers, discussing their experiences from different regions.

Most of them possessed impressive cultivation, the highest having reached the Innate Third Layer, while the majority were in the Postnatal Realm approaching Innate.

After Chu Zhiyuan sat down, Zou Fang called over a waiter to wipe the uneven table once more.

First, they ordered two pots of the best wine, two plates of snacks, and then a few signature dishes.

Chu Zhiyuan and Zou Fang sat at one table.

Guo Chi and the other three sat at another.

Chu Zhiyuan held a wine cup, thoughtfully gazing at the inn opposite.

The middle-aged man in front of the inn had an average appearance, having changed out of armor and into a brocade robe, looking no different from the travelers hurrying by.

With Super Sensing Illumination, this middle-aged man was at the Grandmaster First Layer Realm, not standing out in the crowd.

It was obvious that others didn’t know his cultivation.

Otherwise, no matter how average-looking a Grandmaster might be, people around him would not treat him ordinary, always showing some respect and inadvertent reverence.

This is people’s instinctive attitude towards power.

Chu Zhiyuan speculated about his identity.

He must be a trusted subordinate of Li Haoyuan, a guard perhaps, or a strategist?

His cultivation suggests he is a guard, but his behavior is more like that of a strategist.

A strategist who keeps his abilities hidden.

To have Grandmaster-level cultivation yet remain inconspicuous as an ordinary strategist, is he harboring a great scheme, or is there a hidden compulsion?

Chu Zhiyuan discovered that outside of Yujing City, the world became more complicated.

It seemed like everyone he encountered had their own secrets.

Unlike in Yujing, where the entire Prince Mansion was laid bare before his Insight, leaving no secrets.

Chu Zhiyuan continued to ponder.

This middle-aged man came to find him, was he going to reveal that secret?

Could he already know his identity?

He muttered quietly, "Let Liang Guanjie come over."

"Yes." Zou Fang nodded gently.

He quietly left, not displaying his Grandmaster cultivation.

Liang Guanjie, hidden among the surroundings, soon appeared before Chu Zhiyuan, solemnly clasping his fists in salute.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, signaling him to sit and talk.

Liang Guanjie sat directly across from Chu Zhiyuan without standing on ceremony.

Chu Zhiyuan didn’t notice anything unusual about the surrounding merchants, yet he still performed a Sound Transmission into Secret: "What’s the identity of that middle-aged man?"

Liang Guanjie leaned out to glance at the man outside the inn across the street, then awkwardly shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Find out quickly."

"Yes." Liang Guanjie responded promptly, lowering his voice, "A brother of mine knows some people here, he’ll soon find out."

"Are there any abnormalities around the government office?"

"No experts lingering."

"Figure out Li Huchen’s background, it’d be best to find out about all twenty-three of them."

"... Yes." Liang Guanjie grinned wryly, accepting the task.

Twenty-three people weren’t a small workload, as he only had four subordinates and would need to fight hard to figure them all out.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but become anxious, standing up to salute.

Chu Zhiyuan used Sound Transmission into Secret: "Be careful, this isn’t Yujing, don’t fall into a trap."

"Yes." Liang Guanjie nodded solemnly.

He strode out briskly.

This elicited curiosity from the people at a few tables, but they only glanced over before continuing their conversations.

As they chatted, those people occasionally cast glances over.

With their attire and demeanor so out of place here, Chu Zhiyuan and his group were clearly outsiders, and their extraordinary presence marked them as people of wealth.

People traveling away from home tend to avoid such individuals to prevent trouble.

Chu Zhiyuan continued staring at the middle-aged man.

As the signature dishes arrived, Zou Fang took a few bites first.

Chu Zhiyuan didn’t rush to eat.

With Super Sense, he knew there was nothing wrong with the dishes, but he didn’t take away Zou Fang’s duty.

Zou Fang nodded slightly, putting down the chopsticks.

Chu Zhiyuan picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

The dishes were less refined compared to those in the Yujing restaurants, with heavy flavors. After a few bites, Chu Zhiyuan set down his chopsticks.

He was more sensitive than most people, especially to taste.

Zou Fang whispered, "Princely Heir, why not change a few dishes?"

"Never mind." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Let’s just make do."

He sipped a cup of wine to numb his taste buds, continued eating, and ordered two more plates of snacks to fill his stomach.

Even as a Grandmaster, he still needed to eat.

As night fell, the middle-aged man in front of the inn finally left, somewhat dejected.

He clearly knew he was being avoided and understood that Chu Zhiyuan wouldn’t meet him.

——

Chu Zhiyuan sat on the bed in a room at the inn.

The bed had a faint fragrance, having been treated with special incense.

This room was only available to third-grade and above officials.

Officials coming and going could only stay in the inn, not in the government office or elsewhere; it was the rule.

Chu Zhiyuan didn’t want to make exceptions to break the norm.

He absorbed the last piece of Dragon Fat Fragrance completely, his meridians growing increasingly resilient, ready to break through at any time.

But he hadn’t planned on breaking through.

A critical moment interrupted by someone could result in misstep leading to madness.

There was no need to rush.

"Princely Heir, Liang Guanjie is back."

"Let him in."

Liang Guanjie quickly appeared, entered the room, and reached the bed saluting with a fist.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Zou Fang, bring Old Liang a chair."

Zou Fang brought over a chair and placed it in front of the bed.

Liang Guanjie chuckled twice, sat in the chair, and immediately became serious: "Princely Heir, I’ve found out these people’s identities."

"Who are they?"

"They were originally under General Li’s command, including military and civil officials."

"All the officers under his command?"

"Yes."

"Heh," Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "this General Zhen Yuan is no simple figure."

To win the hearts of all his officers is no trivial feat.

This indicates the Court’s weak control over the border army and shows that General Li was capable, adept at managing loyalty.

Liang Guanjie said, "The one most loyal to him is Li Huchen, the Deputy General of Fuyuan Town."

"So he’s General Li’s right-hand man? With such status and power, he shouldn’t be a reckless straightforward type, right?"

"Outwardly coarse but inwardly meticulous, courageous and wise, very popular." Liang Guanjie said, "This Deputy General Li is also adept at managing soldiers."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

A rough person could get along well in the military, being straightforward and not scheming against others.

People in the military hate scheming and prefer straightforwardness.

If someone could be both rough and meticulous, they’d have limitless prospects in the military, clearly like Li Huchen.

"What about the others? Especially the one from today."

"He’s the scribe Zhou Cheng’en under General Li’s command... He has no renown, very low presence, and usually doesn’t show off."

"Where does he come from?"

"He’s one of the elders by General Li’s side, always tagging along, seemingly a distant relative of General Li, taken in before General Li rose to prominence."

"Hmm..." Chu Zhiyuan mused, "A mysterious origin."

Liang Guanjie grimaced slightly, wryly smiling, "Princely Heir, indeed couldn’t find it out."

Most people rarely noticed this scribe, a question met with three empty answers, he too couldn’t just know everything.