Chapter 147: Chapter
Translator: 549690339
In the Administration Hall, Lu Yuan finally met this friend, the prefect Cui he had heard so much about.
His hair was half-grey, his face graceful, indicating that he must have been a handsome man in his youth. His demeanor was upright but also carried the aura of a scholar. With an affable and refined air about him, he didn’t act arrogant like most government officials.
“Mr. Sun, I have been waiting for a long time, finally you’ve arrived.”
Upon hearing the voice, Cui Changqing put down the brush in his hand and looked up, immediately seeing the young man he held in high regard. A smile crept onto his face.
“I apologise for my late arrival, please forgive me, Lord Prefect.” Sun Siwen admired Lord Cui immensely.
Upon seeing the man, Lu Yuan clearly noticed his friend’s breathing became rapid, his heartbeat quickened, revealing an obvious fan’s reaction.
This reaction from his friend was quite surprising to Lu Yuan.
“No harm done, Official procedures indeed take some time.”
Cui Changqing waved his hand, reassuring his anxious fan. Then he turned to look at Lu Yuan, staring at him for a moment before saying with a surprised but hearty smile: “So this must be Mr. Lu. Everyone in the mansion says that Mr. Lu is superb in martial arts. Two years ago, you personally led the team with great courage, eliminated the bandits in Wugang County and quelled the local Miao People’s rebellion. In Shaoyang, no one surpasses you in bravery.
“I have heard so much about you.”
“It is indeed an honor to meet you today. As expected, your martial arts skills are extraordinary. True heroes of the world.”
Unlike the casual and friendly conversation he had with Sun Siwen, Lord Prefect was obviously more respectful when talking to Lu Yuan.
Seeing his attitude, Sun Siwen who was standing nearby appeared visibly surprised.
He didn’t expect his friend to have such a high status in the Prefect’s heart.
“It’s just a brute force. It’s not worth the Prefect’s praise.” Lu Yuan didn’t feel excited about being treated with importance. He responded calmly to Cui Changqing’s praise.
And he had reasons.
Now, he was firmly situated at the top tier, his position was comparable to those of high-ranking prefects. What was there to be delighted about when faced with praise from a prefect from a remote and poor mansion?
Moreover, his desire for promotion wasn’t much.
Mainly because if the Commander continues to rise, he would either become a county commander or a general of the Forbidden Army under the direct control of the court.
The county commander of Dongting county was an Inborn Grandmaster. Lu Yuan admits that even if he practiced for another twenty years, he might not be able to reach the Inborn realm, so naturally he dared not think about usurping the position of that Grandmaster.
As for becoming a general of the court, that would mean being subjected to more restrictions, and freedom would be even less than what he enjoys now.
Seeing Lu Yuan’s neither humble nor arrogant demeanor, Cui Changqing didn’t get angry. He knew that Jianghu martial artists have always been like this.
Competent people always have special privileges.
So, he continues to smile and say: “Jianghu’s top second-class master, this can not be described by just a bit of brute strength. Especially Mr. Lu is still so young, it’s a matter of time when you will be among the top class.
A top class martial artist, that is the leader of all martial artists in a prefecture, a respected person in Jianghu.
Even for me, I would have to treat you as equals, dare not act big.”
As an official from the court, Cui Changqing’s information channel and horizon were far more extensive and broad than local officials.
So some secrets that are rarely heard in local places, he knew very well.
For example, the war has been going on between the court and Liang and Jinghai countries for three years, it’s not only the frontal confrontation on the battlefield, but also the ongoing private duel with the martial artists of the two countries.
Over the past three years, many of the court’s martial artists have been killed on the battlefield.
Even some court martial artists were so frightened by the horrific casualties that they fled in secret.
At the same time, with the great rebellion in Xichuan county and local unrest in various parts of Da Yue territory, it has consumed a lot of energy from the court’s masters, resulting in a lot of casualties.
With multiple layers of casualties, the power of the martial artists in the court has weakened significantly.
The deterrent power of Jianghu martial artists has also declined sharply.
At present, many local Jianghu martial artists, and even Jianghu sects, are becoming restless and showing signs of rebellion.
Under such circumstances, the court’s emphasis on the top Jianghu martial artists has risen sharply.
Originally, a Jianghu second-class martial artist’s position in local areas was just the same as that of a county magistrate. But now, with the loss of the court’s top martial artists, in official circles, the position of a second-class master is substantially higher than that of a county magistrate.
Similarly, the position of a first-class master naturally surpasses that of a prefect.
Therefore, Cui Changqing is not wrong.
If Lu Yuan is indeed a top-class master, then he needs to treat him with respect.
Well…
It seems that this Lord Prefect has inadvertently spoken some truths. However, Lu Yuan just continued to smile in response. He wasn’t about to reveal his identity.
As a traverser, a being who seeks longevity, always maintaining a few hidden cards to be able to take out at crucial times, that is the clever way.
In comparison, trivial fame is not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning.
After enthusiastically chatting with Lu Yuan for a few moments and receiving limited responses, Prefect Cui realized that the highly skilled martial artist Mr. Lu, seems to be a man who doesn’t like to talk much.
So, he tactfully didn’t bother any further.
Instead, he turned to Sun Siwen and began to chat about poetry, his experience in governance, and the current situation in the world.
Compared to Lu Yuan’s cool demeanor, this little fan was utterly excited when his idol was conversing with him..