Chapter 520 - 256: Where is Chen Cheng?

Chapter 520: Chapter 256: Where is Chen Cheng?

In Linji City, Xia Lingfeng’s power was no less than that of City Lord Jiang Botao.

However, most people in Linji City only knew City Lord Jiang Botao by name, overlooking the Director of the Demon Suppression Department.

On one hand, this was because the Demon Suppression Department was primarily responsible for suppressing and slaying demons; for the most part, they worked quietly and rarely appeared before the public.

On the other hand, Xia Lingfeng himself was a low-key person who disliked being in the spotlight. He lived a secluded life, and his movements were secretive.

After getting to know Xia Lingfeng, Chen Cheng learned that the Director of the Demon Suppression Department had a fiery temperament, was unyieldingly principled, and his authority far surpassed that of City Lord Jiang Botao.

With him keeping them in check, the Jiang Family, despite controlling the vast majority of factions within the Linji City Government Office, had always remained disciplined and dared not act too arrogantly.

’Logically, a man as strong-willed and upright as Xia Lingfeng should fear nothing and no one.’

The Inspection Department was responsible for overseeing all regions, and its authority was far greater than that of other Government Offices.

When a Director of the Inspection Department visited a Prefecture City, they could represent the Great Dao Sect and command all other Government Offices.

The Demon Suppression Department, the City Lord’s Mansion, and the Protectorate Army were all required to obey the commands of the Inspection Department’s Director.

Therefore, the rank of an Inspection Department Director was higher than that of a City Lord or a Director of the Demon Suppression Department.

However, that applied to a Director. A mere Vice Director of the Inspection Department could not command the Director of the Demon Suppression Department or the City Lord.

Moreover, Chen Cheng had heard a rumor that as part of the new official appointments for the Linji Inspection Department, Xia Lingfeng, the Director of the Demon Suppression Department, would also hold the concurrent post of a Vice Director.

’In other words, the incoming Vice Director of the Inspection Department would be Xia Lingfeng’s equal.’

’There was no reason for Xia Lingfeng to react this way.’

’Besides, this was the first he’d ever heard of this new Vice Director, Lord Xiao. He had never met her and had absolutely no connection to her.’

’So how could he possibly be in for a hard time?’

"Lord Xia, is it possible that I’ve somehow offended this Lord Xiao in the past?" Chen Cheng asked, confused.

"It wasn’t you, it was your master, Zheng Hun," Xia Lingfeng said with another sigh. "Never mind. We’ll talk on the way."

The two of them arrived at the front square of the Demon Suppression Department, where a group of officials had already assembled.

A short while later, the other two Vice Directors of the Demon Suppression Department, Xue Huai’an and Xing Jingsong, also hurried over.

Xia Lingfeng gave a few brief instructions and boarded his carriage.

According to the rules of the Great Yu Government Office, subordinates were not permitted to ride in carriages when welcoming their superiors.

Thus, in going to welcome Vice Director Xiao Nianci of the Inspection Department, only Xia Lingfeng, who was her equal in rank, could ride in a carriage. Everyone else had to walk alongside.

Naturally, Chen Cheng could only follow behind the carriage on foot. But after boarding, Xia Lingfeng suddenly lifted the curtain and called out, "Ah Cheng, ride with me. I have something to tell you."

"Yes, sir," Chen Cheng replied, then boarded the carriage as well.

The group exited the main gate of the Demon Suppression Department and proceeded along the main street toward the north city gate.

On the way, Xia Lingfeng gave Chen Cheng a series of earnest instructions. He was to be respectful when he met Vice Director Xiao Nianci of the Inspection Department and give her no cause to find fault with his etiquette.

Furthermore, if Xiao Nianci were to ask about his master, Mr. Zheng, Chen Cheng was to be vague and change the subject.

And finally, if Xiao Nianci deliberately made things difficult for him, Xia Lingfeng would step in to help him out.

His tone strongly implied that Xiao Nianci was like a venomous snake or a ferocious beast, someone not to be approached lightly.

When Chen Cheng asked for the reason, Xia Lingfeng didn’t explain fully. He only said that Xiao Nianci came from a prominent family, was arrogant and domineering, and was extremely difficult to deal with. Few people in the Great Dao Sect dared to provoke her.

As for the feud with his master, Mr. Zheng, that was a matter of tangled grievances between their seniors.

As a junior, it was better for Chen Cheng to remain ignorant of those old affairs.

Xia Lingfeng’s tireless instructions were clearly born from a deep-seated protectiveness. Chen Cheng listened to every word and resolved not to provoke this Lord Xiao unless absolutely necessary.

’Besides,’ he thought, ’at the end of the day, I’m Mr. Zheng’s Closed-door Disciple. No matter how arrogant and domineering Xiao Nianci might be, isn’t my master, Mr. Zheng, there to back me up?’

’With Lord Xia protecting me as well, what’s there to be afraid of!’

Once he finished with his instructions, Xia Lingfeng reverted to his usual self and grumbled a bit to Chen Cheng.

It was all, of course, about his dissatisfaction with Xiao Nianci.

Xiao Nianci was only a Vice Director of the Inspection Department, but she put on airs of absurd proportions. She hadn’t even arrived in Linji City yet, but she had sent messengers ahead long ago to announce her coming.

Xia Lingfeng’s original intention had been to not go out of the city to welcome her.

However, it was said that City Lord Jiang Botao was being extremely cautious. He had informed all the Government Offices long in advance and was leading all the city’s officials to the Ten-mile Pavilion outside the city to greet her.

If Xia Lingfeng didn’t go along to welcome her, he would likely anger Xiao Nianci, needlessly stirring up trouble and creating unnecessary complications.

When they arrived at the Ten-mile Pavilion outside the city, all the officials of Linji, high and low, were already waiting in neat formation on the official road.

These were all high-ranking officials, such as Directors and Vice Directors of the various Government Offices. Even the lowest-ranking among them held the title of Official.

There were several hundred people in all, a sprawling, spectacular sight.

In addition to these officials, the Protectorate Army was also present, personally led by Qin Qiyuan, the Qin Family Patriarch and Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Many of his subordinate officers were there as well, including Vice Marshals, Thousand Commanders, and numerous Hundred Households.

Behind the officers stood two thousand elite soldiers clad in Armor, each with a grim expression, radiating a palpable killing intent!

Such a high-profile welcome was the first of its kind in Linji City in decades!

Compared to the City Lord’s Mansion and the Protectorate Army, the Demon Suppression Department had far fewer officials present. Including their soldiers, their party numbered a mere fifty or sixty people.

Even two or three of the Chief-Level Purple-clothed Guards had not come.

Of course, this wasn’t Xia Lingfeng deliberately being perfunctory. It was mainly because the Demon Suppression Department was a loosely organized body; its Purple-clothed Guards were either out slaying demons or cultivating the Martial Dao in seclusion.