Chapter 25: You Want to Take Me Down? What a Coincidence—I Want to Take You Down Too

Shang Lu was the last person to pass the cultivation assessment.

Before Shang Lu, a few regular officers had also defeated the bone-refining soldiers and earned the reward of spiritual liquid. Their performances were remarkable, and their prizes stirred envy among the crowd. Yet, compared to Shang Lu, they paled in significance—not only because he demonstrated the pinnacle of bone-refining cultivation, but also because, just a few months prior, he had been a half-dead cripple, with damaged organs and barely clinging to life.

At the time, everyone believed that although Shang Lu had survived, his life was ruined. But in just a few months, not only had he restored his cultivation, he had even broken through to the bone-refining peak.

It was as though a young cow soared on a kite—an achievement beyond imagination!

The drama of his story surpassed even the legendary tales spun by storytellers in the teahouses and taverns. It was certain that, for many days to come, Shang Lu’s story would be the hottest topic in the Luoshui County office.

Now, as Shang Lu received his reward of spiritual fat, many gathered around to congratulate him. Some, relying on their seniority, began to inquire about the reason for his sudden surge in cultivation, urging him not to keep secrets and to share his experience for everyone’s mutual benefit.

To those who came to congratulate him, Shang Lu greeted them with a smile and courteous manners. As for those old-timers, he did not indulge them, but smiled and asked, “Shouldn’t you also share your money for everyone to spend? Hand over your house for everyone to live in?”

These men were immediately agitated.

“Why should we?”

“You said it—aren’t we all colleagues and brothers? No need to keep things private.”

Others had long been displeased with these fellows, and seeing Shang Lu retort, they joined in, urging them to hand over their houses and silver, and some even joking that their wives still possessed charm…

The old-timers were left embarrassed and pale, wanting to lash out, but remembering Shang Lu’s bone-refining peak cultivation, they reconsidered. Muttering a few unclear words, they squeezed out of the crowd and kept their distance.

At this moment, Chief Niu strode over to congratulate Shang Lu. He leaned in close, lowering his voice: “You sly fox, you hid so well! Old Ma and I didn’t notice a thing.”

After saying this, he sighed, “Back when you were in the coffin, Old Ma was eager to have his brother-in-law take your position. I was the one who spoke to the magistrate, asking him to wait. Luckily so, or Luoshui County would have missed out on a talent.”

Chief Niu raised his hand, patting Shang Lu’s shoulder, and smiled invitingly: “In a few days, I’ll host a banquet at Fragrant Pavilion to celebrate you. You must come—don’t decline!”

“I’ll gladly attend, Chief, since you honor me!” Shang Lu replied, hands clasped in respect.

He understood that Chief Niu was seeking to recruit him. Who wouldn’t want a capable subordinate, especially one at odds with another chief? But Chief Niu didn’t know that Shang Lu had no intention of remaining a subordinate—his ambition was to rise higher.

Meanwhile, in the shelter, the young witch official, assisted by the three-eyed mask, finished reviewing the merit ledger and uncovered several issues.

The registrar, unable to sit still, stood by the witch official, wiping sweat from his brow. The problems with the ledger were not only errors but involved falsification. Though the clerks handled the records, they wouldn't have dared act without the registrar’s instructions.

At that moment, he was thinking not how to explain, but who should be sacrificed to take the blame.

The magistrate, observing the registrar’s nervousness, felt immense satisfaction. If the witch official weren’t present, he would have laughed aloud.

He had been transferred to Luoshui County after the registrar had seized control; all departments obeyed the registrar. Though he was the nominal chief, he could not intervene and could only profit and idle away his days.

Now, with the powerful registrar faltering, his joy was boundless.

The young witch official closed the merit ledger, ended his divine communion, removed the three-eyed mask, and returned to his true appearance. Throughout the process, he ignored the registrar completely.

Then, the two witch officials, combining the merit ledger and cultivation assessment, announced the final performance ratings.

First came the ratings for the chiefs. Most received average or below-average marks—not outstanding, but enough to escape punishment. Only Chief Ma received the lowest rating.

Not only did he rank last, he was severely reprimanded by the witch official. Shamed before so many, including his own subordinates, Chief Ma felt utterly humiliated. Yet he dared not show his emotions, for fear of offending the witch official.

After berating Chief Ma, the witch official announced the ratings for the regular officers.

Shang Lu, for his courage in battling formidable foes, disregard for sacrifice (though he ultimately survived), and breakthrough to bone-refining peak, earned a top rating.

Aside from the spiritual fat already received, he would get a reward of silver. But as was customary, the sum would pass through every level of the bureaucracy, and by the time it reached Shang Lu, little would remain.

Yet the silver was unimportant—the top rating itself mattered most.

It would greatly aid Shang Lu’s future advancement.

Seeing Shang Lu reap all the benefits, Sun Ying grew even more resentful. He had become obsessed, convinced that everything should have been his, and that Shang Lu had stolen what was rightfully his.

He failed to consider that Shang Lu was the rightful officer, and it was Sun Ying’s own ambition that led him to covet the position. Moreover, even if he had become an officer and participated in today’s assessment, his abilities would only have earned him a passing grade.

To win a reward? Pure fantasy!

Chief Ma’s face showed no hatred, but inwardly, alarm bells rang.

In just a few months, Shang Lu had gone from losing all cultivation to reaching the bone-refining peak…

Such a formidable person could not be allowed to remain!

The sweltering weather only heightened Chief Ma’s unease, as he felt Shang Lu already threatened his position. Though Shang Lu’s cultivation was only at the bone-refining peak, he was in a period of rapid growth; at any moment, he might break through the meridians and enter the pulse-connecting realm.

As for himself, he was on the decline.

If Shang Lu advanced, meeting the requirements for a chief, he might well replace him!

Chief Ma absolutely would not allow such a thing.

The oppressive heat intensified his murderous resolve—he swore to find an opportunity, before Shang Lu broke through to the pulse-connecting realm, to eliminate him and remove any future threat.

“Before I deal with Shang Lu, I must uncover the reason behind his restoration and sudden surge in power,” Chief Ma thought.

If he could master this secret, he could reverse his own decline. If he could, like Shang Lu, experience a sudden growth in cultivation, then rising from a clerk to an official would no longer be mere fantasy.

With this thought, his heart burned anew.

Just then, Shang Lu looked his way again.

Both men, though intent on killing each other, wore expressions of gratitude and satisfaction before the crowd.

Anyone who has ever killed a rival in the workplace knows: the greater your intent to eliminate the other, the more you must conceal your hostility before acting, lest your foe become wary, and others grow suspicious.