novelapdf Chapter 107 I Won't Steal Your Goddess
Chapter 107 I Won't Steal Your Goddess
Chapter 107 I Won't Steal Your Goddess (First Update, 6600 words)
No one expected that a deadly trap set for Jiang Mu would end in such an absurd and dramatic way.
Inside the office where the official in charge of signing documents resided.
Ran Qingshan habitually poured Jiang Mu a cup of hot tea himself.
The aroma of tea filled the room.
"Today's events were actually a misunderstanding. It wasn't directed at you alone; most people in the company still trust you."
With a gentle smile, Ran Qingshan comforted him, "It's just that Hall Master Wen is a bit impatient and eager to make a name for himself, so he inevitably lost his composure. Don't take it to heart."
Trust me my ass.
If it weren't for my cleverness in preparing a backup plan, I'd probably be eating cornbread in prison right now.
Jiang Mu inwardly grumbled, but on the surface he put on a righteous and slightly helpless expression: "Your Excellency is too kind. Misunderstandings and frictions between colleagues are quite common. Hall Master Wen was only thinking of the department. Although he was a bit rash and not very bright, his intentions were good."
Although I have suffered some injustice, what does this personal honor or disgrace matter compared to the greater cause of slaying demons and eliminating evil?
I believe that after this incident, Master Wen will reflect on his actions and will be more prudent and thorough in the future.
That brat, he's insulting people indirectly.
Ran Qingshan's lips twitched, he coughed dryly, and didn't respond.
At this moment, Tian Wenjing pushed open the door and walked in.
He remained calm, walked to an empty chair, sat down, picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup, and drank it by himself.
"Ten no Shing Si".
Jiang Mu merely cupped his hands slightly, without even shifting his position, his tone indifferent and distant.
Tian Wenjing didn't seem to care about his attitude and cut straight to the point: "We'll be departing for Yancheng in two days to exterminate the demons. I'll be leading the team. Will the entire Eighth Hall be going, or will only you be going?"
Jiang Mu really wanted to roll her eyes.
There were only three of us in our eighth division, and now that we're all gone, who's going to look after the government office?
Who is in charge of this area?
He thought for a moment and turned to Ran Qingshan: "Manager, the Eighth Hall has only been established for a short time and is short of manpower."
"How about you send someone over to help guard the government office? I'd like to bring the Zhang brothers along; it'll look bad if we don't have any subordinates to order us around, and we don't want people to look down on us."
At the end, he glanced at Tian Wenjing, his words carrying a hidden meaning.
Ran Qingshan concealed his smile and nodded in agreement: "Very well. Do you have a suitable candidate for the post in charge of the yamen? If not, I will find one for you."
Jiang Mu said, "It's Wang Ershang from the third hall. His cultivation has reached the fourth realm, he's quite capable, reliable, and responsible."
"Okay, whatever you say."
Ran Qingshan readily agreed.
He naturally wouldn't refuse Jiang Mu's request over such a small matter.
Seeing that the business was over, Jiang Mu didn't want to stay a moment longer, especially not to stare at the old man Tian Wenjing. So he stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "If there are no other instructions, this humble servant will take his leave."
"etc!"
Ran Qingshan stopped him, "There's something else I need to tell you."
He glanced at Tian Wenjing, who was sipping tea with his head down, and looked somewhat uneasy. He carefully said, "This time, in addition to the assistance from our Huzhou City, the Demon Slaying Division of the neighboring Yunzhou City will also send elite troops to Yancheng to exorcise the demon."
At that time, you will most likely join forces and act together. And the person leading the group in Yunzhou City is their commander.
Ran Qingshan paused here.
He picked up his teacup and slowly blew on the floating leaves.
Jiang Mu waited a moment, but nothing came of it. He asked in confusion, "What happened to the magistrate of Yunzhou City?"
"It was a woman."
Ran Qingshan put down his teacup and added a sentence.
"What's wrong with the woman? Is there a problem?"
Jiang Mu found it even stranger. Although there was a gender imbalance in the Demon Slayer Division, it wasn't too unusual for a female leader to be in charge.
"She's very beautiful, and she's also very gentle," Ran Qingshan added.
"Oh, and then?"
Jiang Mu was increasingly confused. What exactly was this old man trying to say?
She's a few years younger than me and has never married for some special reasons, but she has a mature demeanor and looks a bit like a widow.
Ran Qingshan carefully chose his words, "So what?!"
Jiang Mu was completely confused and almost slammed her hand on the table. "My lady, what exactly are you trying to say? Can't you just say it? She's just a gentle and beautiful mature female manager, what's so special about her?"
Ran Qingshan remained silent, only looking at him with a strange expression, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Tian Wenjing couldn't bear to watch any longer.
He went straight to the point: "The head of Yunzhou City is surnamed Shui and named Miaozheng. His father was named Shui Changfeng, who was the previous head of the Demon Slaying Division in the capital. He died in the line of duty seventeen years ago."
Back when Shui Miaozheng was still in the capital, she was exceptionally talented and beautiful, with countless admirers, including many princes, nobles, and brilliant young men—including the very person before you, Manager Ran.
He glanced at Ran Qingshan, whose expression was slightly embarrassed, and continued, "Later, because her father was murdered, this woman was heartbroken and vowed never to marry. She traveled to the capital and eventually came to Yunzhou, where she became the governor. But even now, there are still quite a few people who admire her."
"I see," Jiang Mu said, suddenly realizing.
He remembered something.
One of the key reasons why the Mist Demons were able to easily breach Huzhou City was the failure of the city's protective formation.
The formation's failure was supposedly due to Ran Qingshan, that sycophant, who secretly lent some of the key formation resources to the Water Master of Yunzhou City for an emergency.
Thinking of this, Jiang Mu looked at Ran Qingshan and tentatively asked, "Lord Ran, do you have any gift or message that you would like me to pass on to Chief Water?"
Ran Qingshan shook his head, his gaze refocusing on Jiang Mu's face: "I am reminding you."
"what?"
Jiang Mu was completely confused. "What are you reminding me of?"
Ran Qingshan fell silent again, only staring at him with a deep, unsettling gaze, which made Jiang Mu feel uneasy.
The two of them just stared at each other, wide-eyed.
Gradually, Jiang Mu finally realized what was going on.
His face slowly darkened, and finally he exploded: "Lord Ran, what kind of person do you take me, Jiang Mu, for?"
I'm not that kind of person!
He was utterly speechless.
After all that, it turns out that this boss was beating around the bush because he was afraid that his "criminal" subordinate would steal away the goddess he had been secretly in love with for many years.
Do you think I, Young Master Jiang, am a walking hormone generator?
Falling in love with every girl you see?
Ran Qingshan said quietly, "Although you, Young Master Jiang, have reformed yourself, your past reputation is undeniable. Judging from the specific circumstances, you do indeed have a particular fondness for mature and charming women like this."
Jiang Mu was speechless, unable to refute.
After all, the dark history left behind by the original owner was simply too dazzling.
Helpless, he raised three fingers and swore to the heavens: "I, Jiang Mu, swear to the heavens that during this trip to Yancheng, I will not have any improper thoughts about Master Shui Miaozheng!"
I wouldn't even glance at it!
If I break this vow, may I—may my spiritual practice never progress again!
To gain his boss's trust, he even resorted to a solemn oath.
"Alright, go ahead."
Ran Qingshan waved his hand, seemingly realizing he was making a mountain out of a molehill, but the worry in his heart had not completely dissipated.
Upon learning that Shui Miaozheng was leading the team from Yunzhou City, his feelings were quite complicated.
On the one hand, they were worried about her safety, as Yancheng was not a peaceful place after all.
On the other hand, he couldn't help but worry about his incredibly charming but "bad-record" subordinate—
After all, the pure and beautiful goddess of yesteryear, after being tempered by time and hardship, has only grown more gentle, mature, and intellectual, making her even more captivating.
In addition, she has a gentle nature and takes good care of younger generations.
And that innate "widow" aura—it's absolutely irresistible to these hot-blooded young men.
"This humble servant takes his leave."
Jiang Mu, with a dark expression, bowed and left the room.
Being treated so defensively and looked down upon by his own boss made him very unhappy, as if he had been labeled a lecherous glutton.
What kind of water is this? What a wonderful thing!
Get out of my way, all of you!
Just as he stepped out of the door, Tian Wenjing's calm voice came from behind him: "The one who delivered that Nayin Stone to Wenhe was the woman you taught a lesson on the street yesterday."
Jiang Mu paused and looked at Tian Wenjing.
Tian Wenjing briefly recounted what had happened.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu narrowed her eyes, a cold killing intent flashing in them.
You found it?
He never believed in such coincidences.
That woman named Ruyan is either lying, or she's being used as a pawn.
"understood."
Jiang Mu replied curtly and walked away.
Watching Jiang Mu disappear outside the door, Ran Qingshan shook his head and chuckled, "That kid, he's still angry."
Tian Wenjing said calmly, "Young people should have some temper. This also shows that he really feels wronged and unjustly accused."
"Later, make a note of it in his merit book, and allocate more resources to the Eighth Division as well."
Upon hearing this, Ran Qingshan's expression became somewhat strange.
Old Man Tian, who is known for his strictness, rigidity, and meticulousness, actually had a time when he took the initiative to give benefits and was generous.
It seems that Jiang Mu's performance today has indeed impressed him.
He tentatively asked, "Elder Tian, for this trip to Yancheng, should we—replace Hall Master Wen? I'm worried they might clash again on the way—"
"With me here, nothing can go wrong."
Tian Wenjing waved his hand to interrupt, "We can arrange them separately at the time. Besides, the personnel list was finalized by the headquarters. If we change it without authorization, it will only displease the higher-ups."
The commander-in-chief probably arranged for Wenhe to go with him this time because he wanted to give him more experience and more opportunities.
After all, Wenhe's foundation was originally quite good.
Ran Qingshan nodded helplessly: "It seems that's the only way."
He picked up the pile of Na Yin stones on the table, randomly selected a few to listen to, and sighed, "These evil spirits and heretics are becoming more and more unpredictable. Na Yin stones have their own characteristics; they can only record a person's true voice. If someone deliberately tries to imitate a voice, the natural array patterns inside the stone will recognize and filter it."
I have no idea what kind of evil magic they used to forge them so realistically. It's fortunate they released so many this time; if there had only been one or two, it would have been difficult to distinguish the real from the fake, and that would have been much more troublesome.
Tian Wenjing said, "It is difficult to disguise one's voice to deceive the Nayin Stone, but it is not impossible. Some profound supernatural powers can do it."
What I don't understand is why the Red Umbrella Church would release so much false evidence at once.
Doesn't this blatantly tell us that all these Na Yin stones are unreliable? Isn't that just adding unnecessary details and alerting the enemy?
Ran Qingshan seemed to be thinking: "Does Elder Tian mean—someone is deliberately muddying the waters?"
Tian Wenjing remained noncommittal, simply stating, "When I handle cases, I always rely solely on evidence and never make unfounded guesses."
Ran Qingshan gave an awkward smile, then sighed: "To be honest, Mr. Tian, I haven't completely ruled out my suspicions about that kid."
But reason tells me that anyone in the Demon Slayer Division could be a traitor, but he is the least likely.
Hopefully, my intuition is wrong.
Tian Wenjing suddenly remembered something and found it strange: "By the way, last night, Inspector Ling was so protective of Jiang Mu, almost risking to fight me. But today, with such a commotion in the department, she hasn't shown up at all? That's quite odd."
Could it be that even she has begun to doubt that boy, and is therefore heartbroken and disappointed, unwilling to come?
Ran Qingshan's expression became somewhat unnatural.
He coughed twice, his fist pressed to his mouth, and said in a slightly embarrassed low voice, "Well—I'm afraid that if she finds out, she might get angry and come at me with her sword, making things uncontrollable."
So I sent a trusted confidant ahead of time, ostensibly to report on an urgent mission, to keep her temporarily at the post station. As for what happened at the office today, I—I deliberately had someone keep it from her, so she wouldn't know.”
Tian Wenjing was stunned.
He then abruptly stood up and said, "I suddenly remembered that I have some urgent official business to attend to, so I will have to take my leave now. Manager Ran, good luck to you."
After saying that, he left without lingering any longer.
Not long after Tian Wenjing stepped out of the courtyard, he heard a rapid gust of wind coming from afar.
Immediately afterwards, a loud crash came from the signing room.
It appears that the table was split in two.
Then came a woman's voice, brimming with boundless rage: "Ran Qingshan! Have you lost your mind?! How dare you doubt even Xiao Jiang?! And deliberately keep it from this inspector?!"
Little Jiang?
That's such a friendly way of addressing them.
Tian Wenjing kept walking, letting out a sigh inwardly.
This guy—he's really popular with women.
the other side.
Ruyan, who had been secretly gathering information from the shadows, was completely stunned when she learned that Jiang Mu was actually alright.
Back home, she was filled with unease and fear.
The more I think about it, the more I regret my rashness.
Why did I become so obsessed with personally delivering the Na Yin Stone back then?
Now that Jiang Mu is alright, isn't it very dangerous for me, the whistleblower?
But then I thought, I was just finding something and turning it in, so it shouldn't be a big deal.
The Demon Slayer Division can't just punish someone for finding something and turning it in, can it?
Ruyan was filled with anxiety and couldn't calm down.
After much deliberation, she decided to leave Huzhou City and return to her hometown in the countryside to lay low for a while.
So she began frantically packing her bags.
However, just as she was tidying up and feeling uneasy, she suddenly felt the light in the room dim.
She turned around immediately.
Then I saw a tall, imposing figure standing at the doorway inside the house.
Backlit, the face was somewhat blurry—
Ruyan gasped in fright, staggered backward, and fell hard onto the edge of the bed, her heart pounding.
However, when she saw, through the light streaming in from the window, that the person she had invited was Zhang Daxiao, most of her fear immediately dissipated.
As long as it's not that devil Jiang Mu coming to our door, that's fine.
Zhang Daxiao won't do anything to her.
"That Na Yin Stone—was it you who delivered it to the Demon Slayer Division?"
Zhang Daxiao asked in a deep voice, his gaze fixed on the woman like a sharp blade.
"I—I really was found."
Ruyan lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
Zhang Daxiao walked step by step towards her.
His tall stature cast a shadow that completely enveloped the petite Ruyan, making him appear like a giant beast, exuding a strong sense of oppression.
"Who gave it to you?!"
Zhang Daxiao's voice suddenly rose, filled with suppressed anger, and his right hand instinctively gripped the hilt of the knife at his waist.
"I really did find him, Big Xiao, you have to believe me!"
Ruyan raised her head, her face pale, and hurriedly tried to explain.
However, when her gaze fell on Zhang Daxiao's hand, which was gripping the hilt of his knife tightly and with veins slightly showing, she was stunned and stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Looking at the man before her, the one she had grown up with, the one who had always doted on her and whose eyes were only for her, her voice trembled: "You—you—you want to kill me?"
Zhang Daxiao remained silent.
But that undisguised murderous intent said it all.
Ruyan's mind went blank.
This man once loved her so much that he would do anything for her.
Now, just because she did something detrimental to his boss, he actually—had murderous intentions towards her?
Seeing the other party slowly draw their sword, Ruyan finally broke down.
She tried to escape, but found that her path was blocked.
In despair, a thought flashed through her mind. She rushed over and hugged the man's waist, crying out, "Da Xiao! Brother Da Xiao! I'll marry you, I promise I'll marry you!"
I'll have your child, and I promise to love you well from now on, and only you. Big Xiao, you've always liked me, haven't you? I know! Actually—
Actually, I've always liked you too, but I was too foolish before and didn't know how to cherish you—let's leave here, go somewhere where no one knows us, and live a good life—"
She tried to use her past feelings and her imagined future to fight for a way out for herself.
Tears soaked the front of Zhang Daxiao's clothes.
My body trembled slightly with fear.
Zhang Daxiao let her hug him, neither pushing her away nor responding.
After a long while, he slowly spoke: "There's something I want to ask you."
Upon hearing this, Ru Yan's teary eyes shone with hope: "What is it? Big Brother Xiao, just ask, I'll tell you everything!"
Zhang Daxiao looked down into her eyes: "When we were little, Xiao Kui, you, and Ying'er, the four of us always played together."
Back then, Ying'er's family was poor, her clothes were tattered, and she was thin and small. You always looked down on her, calling her "ugly girl" behind her back, and even led the other children to ridicule her.
Ruyan's expression changed slightly. She wanted to explain, but she was intimidated by Zhang Daxiao's gaze and couldn't speak.
Zhang Daxiao continued, "Later, Ying'er's father got lucky and made some money in his small business. He bought Ying'er new clothes and clean hair ties. She also gradually grew up. Although she wasn't very pretty, she looked quite delicate."
Back then—it seemed like you weren't too keen on playing with us.
He paused, his voice low, and continued, "In the spring when she was eleven, Ying'er went out alone and accidentally fell into the river and drowned."
We were all very sad at the time. Xiao Kui cried the most, and you also shed tears. I even comforted you.
But later, Xiao Kui secretly told me that he saw a bracelet on your wrist that looked a lot like the one Ying'er wore when she was alive.
I didn't pay much attention at the time, just thinking that Xiao Kui must have misread it. I even asked you, and you said no, that Xiao Kui was seeing things. So I didn't think about it any further.
Xiao Kui liked Ying'er, and he kept this to himself.
Knowing that I liked you, he didn't want to ruin our relationship, so he didn't voice his suspicions. He would just occasionally mention it to me, but I didn't take it seriously.
Ruyan's face was as pale as paper, and she subconsciously took two steps back.
Zhang Daxiao took a step forward, his towering figure casting a shadow that almost completely engulfed Ruyan.
He slowly asked, "Now, I'll ask you one more time: where were you when Ying'er fell into the water?"
"I—I—"
Ruyan wanted to explain, but looking into the man's sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through her soul, she opened her mouth but couldn't utter a single lie.
Seeing her expression, Zhang Daxiao closed his eyes in pain.
People tend to unconsciously put on a thick filter when they have truly liked someone, automatically ignoring the bad details.
They would find all sorts of excuses for her, idealizing her in their minds to the point of near perfection.
But once that filter is shattered and the feelings cool down, looking back, you'll be shocked to realize the truth.
It turns out that the "goddess" I once revered was nothing more than an ordinary, flawed person.
What's more, this woman actually wants to harm his benefactor, his boss!
For the two brothers, Jiang Mu's kindness was as heavy as a mountain. Without the hall master, the younger brother could never have broken through so smoothly, and neither could he.
Anyone who attempts to harm the sect leader deserves to die!
Even the woman in front of him, whom he had been infatuated with for over a decade.
"Whoosh!"
Zhang Daxiao flicked his wrist, and the long sword at his waist was drawn.
The gleaming blade flashed a blinding light in the dimly lit room, slicing down towards the cigarette butt with a whooshing sound!
This strike was swift, precise, and ruthless, without the slightest hesitation.
however.
When the blade was only three inches from the woman's head, it suddenly stopped.
One hand firmly grasped his wrist.
Zhang Daxiao turned his head in astonishment, looking at the man who had suddenly appeared, his lips trembling: "Master, it's me..."
"Great Demon," Jiang Mu released his grip, a faint smile on his face, his tone calm, "We are officials appointed by the imperial court, demon slayers of the Demon Slayer Division. We must act according to the rules. How can we arbitrarily resort to private punishment to kill people? Unless the other party is a demon or evil spirit, then that's a different story."
He gently patted Zhang Daxiao's tense arm, signaling him to put down the knife: "You go out first and stand guard outside the door. I want to have a private chat with your childhood sweetheart."
"Yes."
Zhang Daxiao hesitated for a moment, then sheathed his sword, cupped his hands, and turned to walk out of the house.
Inside the room, only Jiang Mu and Ru Yan remained.
Looking at the demonic man before her, perhaps because of her brush with death, Ruyan calmed down somewhat and said with a bitter laugh, "I'm going to die today, aren't I?"
"die?"
Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow. "Why would you think that? Do I look like a villain who indiscriminately kills innocent people?"
Ruyan bit her lip and did not answer.
Jiang Mu said to himself, "I believe you picked up that Na Yin Stone, but there's something I haven't been able to figure out."
"Since you found that thing and know it can threaten me, why don't you just come to me with it and exchange it for something?"
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Ru Yan's face as she forced a bitter smile. "I—I wouldn't dare. If I were to use it to threaten you, you would definitely kill me without hesitation to silence me."
Jiang Mu laughed: "Hehe, so you do have some brains after all, and you know how to weigh the pros and cons."
Seeing that Jiang Mu remained silent and sat there quietly, Ru Yan felt uneasy and asked, "You're not going to kill me?"
"I'm waiting for someone," Jiang Mu said calmly.
"Waiting for someone?"
"right."
Ru Yan was taken aback: "Waiting for whom?"
Jiang Mu said calmly, "Wait for the person who took advantage of you like a fool. If you're lucky, you might find them. If you're unlucky, it doesn't matter if they don't come; I'll find them sooner or later."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a strange change occurred.
Suddenly, a strange red umbrella mark appeared on the back of Ruyan's neck.
Immediately afterwards, the woman's body stiffened, her eyes glowed with an eerie red light, and a phantom red umbrella appeared above her head.
In an instant, his demeanor also changed drastically.
From her previous weakness and fear, she became languid and charming, exuding a sinister aura.
"As expected, Hall Master Jiang did not disappoint me."
A playful smile played on the woman's lips. She crossed her right leg over her left, crossed her legs, and supported herself on the bed with one hand, striking a very seductive pose.
She smiled and stared at Jiang Mu, her voice becoming deep and alluring: "She's much smarter than I expected. Let's get to know each other again, my name is Nan Zhi."
"Indeed—your future master."
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