Why do I have so many masters?

Chapter 134 Rising Reputation (1/2)

Treading Moon's expression was somewhat grave.

As one of the Ministry of Punishment's famous detectives, he naturally understood the significance of this anomaly. The soft white paper in his hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. Thoughts flashed through his mind, and in an instant, he came up with several possibilities and determined the best course of action.

He lifted his gaze to Wuxin, who nodded slightly in return.

The next day, at chen hour.

A secret order was issued from within the Ministry of Punishment.

The upper echelons of those eleven sects had been tense for several days, but when they found no unusual movements from the Imperial Court, their worries eased slightly. They thought the court paid no heed to this minor anomaly and their activities gradually returned to normal, failing to notice the addition of several inconspicuous figures within the cities their sects were located.

Men and women, old and young, these individuals varied in age and temperament, and, through various coincidences, became entangled with the disciples of the sects.

Blending in with the populace like droplets in a river, they caused not the slightest ripple.

............

Fufeng County City?Wind Character Tower.

Wang Anfeng held a military text in his hand, reading silently.

"The art of the Military Family is as unpredictable as the shadow, hidden left and right, striking suddenly and violently as thunder."

"To calculate the intent of the heedless with a mindful strategy, to know oneself and the enemy, leaves no fight unconquered."

He himself had little interest in military strategy, but by the explicit order of Master Ying, he was required to read through various kinds of books, rejecting none.

Compared to the texts of the Confucian Sect and the Taoist Sect, Master Ying had a particular preference for the canons of the Military Family, which were focused on overcoming the enemy and attacking their spirit. However, today, after only a few lines, a black-clothed Legalist Sect disciple entered from outside, glanced around, and upon spotting Wang Anfeng sitting cross-legged with a placid demeanor, his eyes brightened and he quickly walked over.

When he was five steps away from Anfeng, he stopped, straightened his clothing, and then respectfully bowed, calling out in a low voice:

"Keeper of the Archives..."

After several calls, Wang Anfeng finally snapped out of the contents of the book.

His position as the Keeper of the Archives was in fact an idle one, his duties only to sweep the steps at night. Usually, those coming and going from the Wind Character Tower did not seek him out specifically. And if someone did look for him, they would be aware of his name and not call him by his title. Furthermore, immersed in his reading, he had not immediately noticed.

Putting away the book and looking up somewhat blankly, he saw an unfamiliar face, square and authoritative, with distinct features. Wang Anfeng was somewhat puzzling but stood up and returned the greeting, asking:

"May I know what insights this fellow disciple has to share?"

The Legalist Sect disciple took a half step back, raised his hand in another salute before speaking:

"I dare not accept such respect from the Keeper of the Archives."

"My name is Peng Haoguang, I am here by the order of our eldest brother. He has been working on a case at the Ministry of Punishment recently and is unable to split himself in two. He requires some legal texts for the case, and we must trouble the Keeper of the Archives for assistance."

His voice paused slightly before he added explanatory:

"Ah, I am speaking of Elder Brother Yan Ling."

Wang Anfeng suddenly understood, remembering the stern-faced 'Do You Know' brother from the day of the sect extermination case. That day, after learning from the Gambler Su that it was Yan Ling's first case, he encountered such a tricky case. Since then, several days had passed without seeing him, presumably because he was busy with the case at the Ministry of Punishment. Anfeng felt a touch of emotion but nodded slightly and said:

"Hmm... you must mean the case records of the sect extermination incident. I will search for them, please wait a moment."

The Legalist Sect disciple hurriedly waved his hand and said:

"Sorry to trouble the Keeper of the Archives, it's just that we have a heavy study load recently and the assessments are approaching. Master only sits at the entrance drinking tea every day, and we simply cannot leave the Academy. Therefore, I must trouble the Keeper of the Archives to deliver them to the Ministry of Punishment... my sincerest apologies."

After finishing, he bowed again deeply, his demeanor exceedingly respectful. Although Wang Anfeng didn't understand, he still raised his hand to support the other's arm.

Having just broken through to the Eighth Rank a few days ago, Anfeng hadn't fully mastered his strength, and immediately, the Legalist Sect disciple felt an immense force at his palm, as deep and unfathomable as the ocean. With his cultivation nearing the Ninth Grade, he found himself utterly powerless to resist, his face transitioning from shock to even greater respect.

Wang Anfeng noticed the other's change in expression, somewhat confused but not particularly concerned. He withdrew his hand, shaking his head and smiling:

"No need for such courtesy..."

"As the Keeper of the Archives, it is my duty to handle these matters, and besides, I am quite familiar with Elder Brother Yan Ling. If I can be of assistance, it is my inescapable responsibility."

The Legalist Sect disciple thanked him repeatedly before finally turning to leave.

Heading toward the Academy, his steps light, he had walked only a dozen paces before a hand patted his shoulder. He turned around instinctively, saw a familiar student, smiled in greeting, and walked with him for a while. Ultimately, the student couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked with a chuckle:

"I haven't seen you for several days, and your mood seems to have improved greatly. What's the reason?"

Peng Haoguang's stride faltered, confused:

"Changed?"

The student spread his hands, chuckling:

"Indeed, in days past you were profoundly versed in the teachings of the Legalist school, upright and unyielding, often exhibiting no favoritism. Yet, towards that Wang Anfeng, you actually… Ha, in the number of years I have known you, I have never seen you show such respect towards a peer. Have you not changed your nature?"

"Even if he is a master ranked on the Constellation Ranking List, why display such deference?"

Peng Haoguang, hearing the criticism in the latter's words, did not get angry. Instead, he shook his head and said,

"If he were just an ordinary martial artist, why would he be worth such regard from me?"

"But if he sought justice for the wrongful deaths of over a hundred people in Fufeng, if he secured justice for the lives of more than three hundred, then even if I respected him tenfold, even if I revered him a hundredfold, it would still be hard to fully express the feelings in my heart."

The student was shocked and said,

"Isn't that Yi Nanping..."

Peng Haoguang shook his head and said,

"The murderer is naturally Yi Nanping. But if not for the librarian's fortitude, standing his ground alone against a Fourth Rank Martial Artist without retreating a step, reversing the situation on that day, Xia Changqing would have already escaped, and how could Yi Nanping have killed him?"

"Moreover, to make Xia Changqing's crimes clear as day, to obtain some measure of justice for those who were wrongfully killed so that the criminal could not escape justice, how could that be inferior to Yi Nanping's actions?"

"We, the disciples of the Legalist school, all owe him a debt. Should the day come when he calls upon us, even though my cultivation may be insignificant, I would not shirk from my duties."

His voice grew louder, filled with righteous passion. Clearly, his words came from the heart. The familiar student, momentarily unconvinced, felt it was only because of his high cultivation that he enjoyed such a reputation.

Then he thought of how the librarian was still able to speak his mind in the face of a Fourth Rank Martial Artist, dramatically changing the course of events. He himself certainly could not achieve that and couldn't help but sigh, feeling utterly defeated without a fight, a sense of powerlessness rising in his heart.

Wang Anfeng was unaware of the happenings outside as he followed the labels, retrieving records. Among them, one about a case seventeen years old was already being perused by someone else. He was so engrossed that he had to stop; on his way out, perhaps due to the clumsiness of the Shaolin Vigorous Step Technique, the wooden steps made a slight noise, causing the Law School girl engrossed in her book to tremble slightly.

She looked up and saw Wang Anfeng before her, his face showing a hint of apology, his expression somewhat unusual. Then she seemed to recall something, held up the scroll in her hand with a smile, and said,

"Librarian, would you like to read this book?"

Wang Anfeng was momentarily startled, first nodding his head, then explaining,

"If the lady wishes to read it then…"

Before he could finish, the girl had already placed the scroll in his hands. The girl, who had been engrossed just moments ago, stepped back, smiled and said,

"I've just finished it…"

"I'll give it to you."

Wang Anfeng held the scroll, watching the departing girl, a hint of confusion in his heart.

Why, of late,

did the Academy students seem particularly easy to talk to?

He shook his head, no longer dwelling on it. First, he went to Mr. Ren to record the scrolls he held, then put them in a wooden box and turned to leave the Wind Character Tower.

When leaving the Academy, just as the Legalist student had said, at the Academy's main gate sat an elderly man with a clear complexion, pouring tea and drinking leisurely, meticulous in his movements. He seemed approachable at first glance, but his expressions were enough to keep those Legalist students from moving rashly.

As Wang Anfeng prepared to leave the Academy, the old man suddenly opened his eyes and nodded slightly in his direction.

The youth was startled, looked back, and realized that with the assessments approaching, he was the only one leaving at this time.

He then understood that the highly esteemed elder, who had the entire Academy's Legalist students too scared to leave the main gate or step beyond the second, who only studied hard within the classrooms, was actually greeting him. After some thought, he placed the box containing the scrolls to the side, returned the courtesy with a salute, and then turned and walked away.

On his way, Wang Anfeng scratched his head, his mind wandering aimlessly.

It wasn't just the students.

It seemed that everyone at the Academy was easy to talk to today…

Had they encountered some good fortune?

The young man carried a pile of scrolls, full of curiosity, yet he cast aside the baffling matter once more, feeling rather pleased. He thought to himself,

"It seems the Master is not as fearsome as the rumors say."

Meanwhile, not far behind him, the very approachable Legalist Master opened his eyes wide, lifted his foot, and sent a surge of thick Vigorous Qi flying out, causing two students who had disguised their appearance and were trying to sneak out to tumble over each other. He then sneered, pulled a black ruler as wide as a palm from under the tea table, and lightly slapped it in his palm.

With a slightly upturned corner of the mouth, he approached the two students who were huddled together, trembling. In their eyes, his face seemed even more terrifying than a malevolent ghost.

The two students fled in disgrace. The Academy Master returned to his seat, watching their figures disappear, and then thought back to the well-behaved librarian he saw earlier, a hint of displeasure in his eyes. He scoffed and said,

"Heh… utterly worthless."

"It seems that their regular studies are too light; they have too much idle time."

PS: The first update