"It’s a bit simple, but please, have a seat."
With a flicker of his thought, Lin Shu reached out to the Essence Blood, controlling the indignant Immortal Descendant cub and making her burrow back under the covers.
What Yu Sheng had said contained very important information.
But this County Captain Gu had first looked up at the sky, then happened to stop right in front of the Array. She had seen through it but chosen not to say anything. Clearly, she was here specifically for Chang Yi and had no intention of meddling in other people’s business.
’In that case, there’s no need to let the little one in the room get involved.’
"It might be a bit run-down, but it’s quiet. It’s quite nice."
Gu Nanzhi followed Lin Shu to the low table and sat down frankly. "I won’t beat around the bush. Thanks to you, Chang Yi managed to solve several cold cases in the city in one fell swoop. The Government Office plans to promote him to Chief Constable. You could say his future is looking bright."
"I’m here on behalf of his family to express their gratitude."
She noticed the young man glance at her empty hands and couldn’t help but chuckle.
"I’m with the Government Office. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to visit a Fierce Wolf while carrying gifts. Besides, when it comes to wealth, I’m certainly not as well-off as you."
"But gratitude can’t be expressed with words alone. I sent someone to warn Xia Mingtang for you. As long as you don’t offend him again, he won’t come looking for trouble."
Hearing this, Lin Shu finally withdrew his gaze, sat down slowly, and said politely, "Thank you."
The name Xia Mingtang appeared repeatedly in the ledger. He was the very Celestial Tiger that Liu Zhen had been so desperate to curry favor with.
Although he had long been prepared to be targeted by this tiger, his own strength was still insufficient. It was always a good thing to have someone help buy him some time.
Gu Nanzhi continued, "The matter of Liu Zhen’s death ends here. The Government Office has officially assigned the investigation to Chang Yi, but they won’t look into it privately. After all, they have their reputation to uphold."
Hearing her mention their "reputation," Lin Shu didn’t respond, but a fleeting, unusual look flickered in his eyes.
"..." Gu Nanzhi paused, as if she had guessed the young man’s thoughts.
The city was in such chaos, yet the Government Office had to rely on a Fierce Wolf for evidence.
After getting the ledger, their first thought wasn’t how to root out the corruption among the constables, but to simply suppress the whole matter.
Anyone would find that hard to understand.
But she didn’t explain directly, instead changing the subject. "Enough about that kid. Let’s talk about you now."
"Me?"
Lin Shu looked up, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
He had just been thinking how crisp and efficient this County Captain was, clarifying everything in just a few sentences. He never expected the main point was yet to come.
Gu Nanzhi smiled calmly. "Don’t misunderstand. This is just a personal thought of mine; it has nothing to do with the Government Office. If you think it makes sense, then hear me out. If you don’t, you don’t have to take it to heart."
"Go on," Lin Shu said with a slight nod, his attitude respectful.
’Whether it was in terms of strength or her understanding of this place, this County Captain is far superior to me. What she has to say will surely have some merit.’
"That’s about enough." Gu Nanzhi’s expression suddenly turned serious, her voice grave. "I know you came from the South Suburbs. You’ve lived a hard life for a long time and want to climb higher. But for now, you should lie low for a bit."
She picked up the worn-out teapot from the low table and poured a cup of water for the young man before her.
"Black Water City has been sealed for a full ten years."
"Everyone is just drifting along in a daze, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. Whether they live or die rests on the whim of another."
Gu Nanzhi gently pushed the cup in front of Lin Shu and finally began to explain herself.
"I won’t say much to make excuses for the Government Office. You just need to know that without the Court’s authority as a deterrent, and with the fear in everyone’s hearts, Black Water City is now a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Anyone who dares to touch it carelessly..."
"...will not only get themselves hurt, but will also destroy this fragile balance."
"There’s no need to look for a future in a place like this. You already have territory and a reputation, enough to live a comfortable life. All that’s left is to preserve your own life and wait for the outcome in peace."
In just a few short sentences, she had pointed out a path for Lin Shu.
He pondered for a moment before asking, "So, you can only wait, too?"
"What else can I do? I already tried to force my way out ten years ago. The injuries I sustained have yet to heal."
Gu Nanzhi gave a seemingly relieved smile, but it sent a chill through Lin Shu’s heart.
’A disciple from an Immortal Sect, with meticulous powers of observation and a sharp mind. Her Cultivation is most likely at the Foundation Establishment Stage...’
’...yet even she can only wait for death?’
"Actually, there’s no need to be so nervous." Gu Nanzhi slowly stood up, a trace of exhaustion on her delicate face. "The people in White Tiger Hall are all Loose Cultivators. They don’t understand the inner workings of things, which is why they’re in such a panic, constantly trying to come up with ways to break through, hoping to increase their chances of survival."
"The fact that they use human lives for Alchemy isn’t exactly a secret. But if you stop them, dashing their last hope, and you don’t have the power to wipe them all out in one go, the pent-up emotions of this group of madmen will only be unleashed on the city’s common people in an even more terrifying way."
’It’s probably that whole... "If I can’t live, then everyone can die with me" mentality.’
"In reality, if that Immortal Descendant truly wanted to take the lives of everyone in this city, they wouldn’t need to go to such lengths. They probably just want to collect something. If we can hold out until the day the city opens, it’s hard to say what kind of life will await us, but over ninety percent of the people will definitely survive."
"It’s just a pity for the tens of thousands of old, weak, sick, and disabled in the South Suburbs. They probably won’t make it to that day."
Gu Nanzhi turned away, hiding the faint anger on her face.
’Before an Immortal Family, mortals are too weak. It’s already difficult enough to eke out a meager existence; how could they dare to dream of a perfect outcome?’
’I don’t have the power to change things, nor does my brother-in-law who works at the Government Office. As for the young man before me, it would be an achievement if he could even protect himself.’
’If your status isn’t high enough and your strength isn’t great enough, then all you can do is endure!’
"Oh, one more thing."
She stopped and said with a helpless tone, "Chang Yi’s parents have already suffered the pain of losing a child once, which is why they’ve coddled their only remaining son into his current, peculiar state."
"Although I sometimes think that a child has to grow up eventually."
"But I’m not his parent, after all, so it’s not my place to interfere too much. I can only pass on a message from my sister."
"That boy is too simple and doesn’t have much ability. For things like this where he’s just riding on your coattails, I hope you won’t consider him in the future. He doesn’t have the capacity to handle it."
Lin Shu didn’t say much, simply rising to see the County Captain to the courtyard gate.
’So that little Blackhead is the family’s only surviving son. From the way his family is acting, they have no intention of letting him pursue a deep career path in the Government Office. They just want to raise him as an obedient boy, to live a safe and peaceful life.’
’Just as Gu Nanzhi said, this is someone else’s child. The thanks have been given, and the favor has been returned.’
’As an outsider, I naturally have no right to comment.’
"Take care," he said with a slight nod.
Although he didn’t agree with some of the County Captain’s views, he couldn’t deny that she truly meant well.
"I have one more thing." Gu Nanzhi suddenly remembered something and looked back, raising an eyebrow. "In the future, could you not look at me like I’m some corrupt official? I just came to visit a relative back then and had the bad luck of being trapped here. My brother-in-law then conscripted me."
"The Government Office is tight on money. I haven’t eaten a single grain of Imperial Grain, nor do I have any relevant experience. It’s already a feat that I’ve helped them maintain the situation as it is."
Leaving this complaint behind, Gu Nanzhi strode out of the alley on her long legs.
"Whew."
Lin Shu let out a long breath and returned to his room in silence, sitting down by the bed.
The porcelain doll suddenly shot out from the covers, latched onto his neck, and gnashed her little white teeth. "Why do you look like you’ve lost your soul!"
’Is it because that big-chested woman left?’
"Quiet."
Lin Shu was in no mood to mess around with this little chick right now. He simply picked her up and planted her head-first onto the bed.
From the moment he’d opened his eyes in the South Suburbs until now, he finally had a moment to relax and carefully consider his future.
Lin Shu had already heard about Black Water City being sealed from Yu Sheng once before.
But compared to the Immortal Descendant cub’s nonchalant tone...
...Gu Nanzhi, as a Cultivator, offered a different perspective.
The sense of powerlessness in her voice gave Lin Shu a new way of seeing things.
’In terms of temperament, status, and strength, she surpasses me in every way. When it comes to Immortal Sect connections, she is already a disciple, while my own is just a budding possibility.’
’The Coin of Good and Evil is certainly profound, but to turn it into tangible Cultivation, don’t I still have to earn it bit by bit?’
’If even a woman like her is hopelessly trapped in Black Water City, what gives me the confidence that I can definitely get out?’
’Everyone says the city will open sooner or later.’
’But from what Gu Nanzhi implied, even if the city does open, the people inside might not be able to return to their former lives. They would most likely be enslaved and kept like livestock.’
’Even if I did manage to get out, who knows if I wouldn’t just be trapped by another Immortal Descendant for no reason? "To forge iron, one must be strong." I have no intention of pinning all my hopes on this silly little chick.’
’The most useful things are definitely Cultivation and Realm, followed by status and position.’
"The tens of thousands of old and weak in the South Suburbs..."
’Those people can’t last until the city opens, but can people without hearts last that long?’
’I still have to be proactive.’
Lin Shu closed his eyes. ’If I could find a way to break the seal on Black Water City and earn those ten thousand Merit Coins...’
’...only then would I probably have the power to protect myself in a place like this.’
’Sigh, daydreaming in the middle of the day.’
’I don’t even have a clue how to get out yet.’
’But Gu Nanzhi seems to know more. Once I have enough strength, I could try to ask her for information.’
Lin Shu released the cub in his hands, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and turned to look at her.
"What is a World Traveler Disciple?"

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