In a certain street in Dongcheng District, there is a restaurant with a good business, and the owner is a middle-aged man who is a little bloated and very sleek.

It is said that this boss has good hands and eyes, has some connections in the government and can speak some words, and is not stingy with money and has good dealings with gangs.

Therefore, the restaurant is quite stable, and it can even be said that the business is good.

It's just that the restaurant owner, who has always had a warm smile but great skill, is now standing in a secret room with his head bowed, trembling as if walking on thin ice, waiting for a young man to flip through the files.

On the desk in front of him, there were several similar volumes of files, but they had obviously been torn open and flipped through the seals, and each volume had a name: Gu Shuleng.

It's just that his backup file is surprisingly large, with seven volumes, and most ordinary people only record one or two volumes at most, which is already 'exhaustive', and will be destroyed after verification.

The young man occasionally asked questions about some vague parts of the file, and the middle-aged boss carefully considered the answers one by one, which was quite a kind of gentleman and minister.

"According to the secret records, the young man in the pharmacy entered Shangyuan City with the displaced people of Nandu in the early spring of the third year of Yuanxiang, so why did he not record his provenance. The young man asked, frowning, pointing somewhere.

The middle-aged boss who was originally a spy of the Supervision Department replied with some trepidation: "Lord Hui, at that time, the young man in the pharmacy was just an ordinary person without any cultivation, and he did not have any background, and when he entered the city, he only prepared a volume according to the usual practice.

Later, when he came to prominence, it was two years later, and at that time, according to the rules of the Supervision Department, the accurate origin of the displaced people was traced, and it was only traced back to the fact that some of the displaced people came from the fighting north of Guanhe Pass, and as for when and where the young man named Gu Shuleng joined the displaced people, it was impossible to trace. ”

The young man, who seemed to be only in his early twenties, was a little displeased, and seemed to be very dissatisfied with the content of the middle-aged man's answer, but because the middle-aged man's approach was indeed very thoughtful and did not neglect his duties, he didn't say more, picked up a secret letter again, and asked:

"It is recorded in this volume that Yanxin, the second prince of the State Pastoral Mansion, was rescued by Gu Shuleng on the way to move the displaced people into Shangyuan City, so why didn't he find out in detail what happened, don't you think that Gu Shuleng was only eight years old at the time, how did he 'save' Yanxin who had already cultivated in the Three Realms?"

The middle-aged boss's body trembled, and he hurriedly explained: "Since Yanxin was born in the Imperial Court's important ministers' Prefecture Pastoral Mansion and the first-class sect Imperial Sword Sect, according to the privilege given by the imperial court to the first-class sect that is qualified to 'open a sect', the hands of the Supervision Department cannot have more information, and the records recorded in the secret file can only go so far, please punish the adults." ”

"Reprimand?"

The young man smiled, then pointed to another file and joked: "According to this file, that medicine shop boy has gone out of the city twice, and each time he brought back a person, that is, Liu Shanshan, who is now among the four core members of Gu Caotang, and the Pingyang Dynasty. Then why haven't you found out the original origin and identity of these two?"

The middle-aged boss panicked even more, and was about to explain, but was interrupted by the young man, picked up a volume of files again, and continued: "This record is that the correspondence between Gu Shuleng and the three Five Realms and a Six Realms Great Cultivator only records the correspondence, but there is no content of the letters. ”

Seeing that the fat boss lowered his head, he couldn't see his expression at all, his round body was a little funny, and the young man threw the case file casually like a sundry, and smiled: "What a supervision department's secret file." ”

After speaking, he stood up with the desk, stretched, and continued: "So, do you know that Gu Shuleng has secretly cultivated the 'agent' over the years, well, it is called 'agent', do you know what they have been looking for." I'm guessing you're going to say, 'My lord, that agent is looking for a random direction, and never reveals the main purpose, so it's hard to pinpoint it,' you say. ”

Seeing that the middle-aged man only bowed his head, his body trembled slightly, and he seemed to be very afraid.

The young man suddenly said very annoyingly: "Don't pretend, I'm here to provoke, and you're just pretending to be a grandson here, wouldn't it be better for everyone to be open and honest with each other." ”

The middle-aged boss raised his somewhat round head, looked dazed, and said resignedly: "My lord, what are you talking about, the lower officials are panicking." ”

The young man sneered, revealing a mouthful of white Sensen teeth, and he sneered: "Liu Sentao, in the eleventh year of Dafeng Qingli, he took over the post of secret official in the eastern district of Shangyuan City, and now it has been more than seventeen years since the eighth year of Yuanxiang." Although on the surface, it is the 'Song Bai faction' that stands at the bottom of the many factions within the Supervision Department, but in fact, it was already the most belligerent and the most wide-eyed 'Jiang faction' long before taking over. It's just that out of secret considerations, he can't get support on the surface, so he can only give in and forbear. I'm right, Lord Liu. ”

In fact, after the death of Jiang Yue, the generalissimo of the Dafeng Dynasty who had the merit of founding the country, the imperial court had begun to stop the pace of conquest and deliberately shrink the defensive line in order to recuperate and digest the huge cake of the Central Plains.

At that time, there were many frictions between some warlike factions and defenders in the imperial court, but one time it caused a very huge turmoil, involving every faction and every position in the court.

Later, at the juncture of fierce friction at that time, it was because the news of that person's bizarre and violent death reached Kyoto, which completely detonated this conflict, and the waves set off almost disintegrated the entire dynasty.

Because that man is, to some extent, more than His Majesty the Emperor.

It can even be said that without that man, there would be no today's Dafeng Dynasty.

He and His Majesty the current Emperor were both the founders of the Dafeng Dynasty, and he was the only person who personally formulated and perfected the dynasty's political system, and he was also the first director of the Supervision Department at that time.

Although this unprecedented turmoil subsided, both the dynasty and the whole dynasty began to lose heart, far less stable than when the man was there.

And most of the many people in power in the 'Jiang system' within the Supervision Department today are veterans of the 'Yue Shuai' who used to be subordinates, and their status is still transcendent, occupying most of the authority of the entire Supervision Department, making it difficult for the rest of the factions to stand out.

The middle-aged boss, whose full name is Liu Sentao, slowly put away his blank eyes, straightened his waist, shook his sleeves, regained his previous calmness, and said with a smile: "I said that the new flag master, it seems that you are also a cheerful person." The ugly words of the subordinates are all said in the front, although you and I are of different factions, but we both serve in the Supervision Department, and now we are even more subordinate, and I hope that the Lord in charge of the flag can focus on the overall situation. ”

According to the rules of the Supervision Department, in the two courts, among the ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches, each "heavenly stem" has a "head". The land of a state is governed by a "head" and several "captains", and each city is a "banner" on the surface, and there must be a "shadow banner" in secret.

Liu Sentao knew that the young man in front of him was the shadow, after the predecessor 'Zhangqi' was killed by Yanxin, he used his family relationship to take over the supervision department of a city by the 'Shadow Zhangqi'.

The young Zhangqi let out a sneer unabashedly, "As a moth of the Supervision Department like you, you are also worthy of talking to me about the overall situation, what is it?" ”

When Liu Sentao heard this, his fat eyes narrowed a slit, and he no longer acted coyly, his eyes showed a hideous fierce light, and he said: "What a moth, Lao Tzu has been diligent for more than ten years, without slacking off, and sent away batch after batch of bosses, but he can't survive you clan children." Why, why can you, the children of the clan with empty stomachs, be casually transferred to the top of Lao Tzu's head, just like stepping on a spring tour.

"It's just by relying on the strength of your family that you have been able to be transferred to serve here for three years as the 'Shadow Banner', in terms of qualifications, how can Lao Tzu be regarded as the first batch of pioneering merits of the Supervision Department, both merit and hard work. In terms of seniority, you are a yellow-mouthed child who relies on clan relations, how are you qualified to take over the position of holding the flag before Lao Tzu, and you are also worthy?"

The middle-aged man seemed to have been vented for a long time with a stomach full of complaints, and although his face was red, his expression was extremely relaxed.

He seemed to be fearless anymore, and he glanced at the young man in front of him, his face full of disdain.

The young Zhangqi's eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression did not change much, the corners of his mouth suddenly curled, and he said meaningfully: "I see, no wonder your previous boss died in your hands." ”

Liu Sentao's pupils shrank, his smile retracted, and he said in a deep voice: "Young man, there are some jokes that can't be made, Master Ma died at the hands of words and letters that have broken through the Five Realms, and it has been verified by the arbitration of the three Supervision Divisions. ”

The young man snorted and sighed: "What a good one, but there is really no evidence, even the few secret letters between you and the young man in the medicine shop have not been intercepted, and Lord Liu is also a good means." ”

"Lord Xiao Yuanxiao, my subordinates didn't understand what you said, but I'm not afraid to tell my lord, since I have already torn my face with your lord to this point, I am not afraid of your suppression. With the relationship between his subordinates and his more than ten years of conscientious achievements, it is enough for his subordinates to find a secluded place to enjoy their old age, what can you do to me?" Liu Sentao showed a sarcastic look on his face, and he was not afraid of danger.

However, to his disappointment, he didn't see the young man's outburst, and then after some suppression, he could justifiably propose a transfer to the top of the faction under the pretext of 'the children of the clan have no way', which could not only win sympathy, but also make some compensation.

The young Zhangqi named Xiao Yuan seemed to have heard an extremely funny joke, and he finally couldn't hold back the joke and said: "Enjoy your old age?" I almost believed it, if you are willing to retire, then how can you vent the unwillingness you have accumulated for more than ten years. But don't worry, I won't hold you accountable for these frivolous grudges. ”

After speaking, he grinned playfully, and then revealed some secrets: "Before coming to work, I only knew that you had a very private correspondence with the young man in the pharmacy, and I noticed that the young man in the pharmacy knew the style and rules of the supervision department very well, and used the hand of Yan Xin to kill the predecessor 'Zhangqi'. And the most I can guess is that you leaked some dispensable information.

"But after looking through the secret files about him, and your complaints, I guessed the roughly. It's not that these files can't be investigated deeply, but they were all erased by you, if my guess is right, most of the people who investigated those files died in those assassinations on Yulin Street, right?

"I'm just curious about what kind of means that young man in the pharmacy used, or what benefits he promised you, to be able to buy you, the 'secret official' of the Supervision Department. You must know that the position of the 'secret official' of the Supervision Department is comparable to the real power of the imperial court. ”

Liu Sentao listened for a long time, squinted his small eyes, his face was full of sarcasm, and he put his hands on his sleeves without saying a word, as if to say, 'What is the use of your words, no matter how you bite'.

The young Zhangqi smiled dumbly, and he explained with a smile: "When did I say that I would find evidence to punish you?"

Then in Liu Sentao's confusion, he immediately said coldly: "I just let you die from the beginning." ”

The next moment, in Liu Sentao's angry sight, the figure of the young flag crossed a distance of several zhang in an instant, and the two fingers that were close together were already in front of him.

It's just that because the young Zhangqi is too big and warned, the middle-aged boss has been wary, and his own cultivation is not weak, so he finally reacted in a millimeter.

I saw that his sleeves suddenly shattered, and his palms closed in front of his eyebrows in a thousand shots, restraining the two fingers that were surging with true anger.

In an instant, the two true qi collided, and the secret room remembered a burst of thunder, and a wave of air slapped against the surrounding walls, and the thick walls of the secret room could not withstand this wave of air, and cracked out dense and thick 'spider webs'.

The young man who held the flag was blocked, and suddenly let out a "huh", and then suddenly said: "It turns out that you have secretly entered the four realms." ”

After speaking, his fingers twitched suddenly, and with a flick of his fingers, he shook back the middle-aged boss who was struggling to resist and had no strength to speak.

The fat boss, who had taken a few steps back, slammed his foot on the ground, and the remaining strength poured down, and the ground rippled and cracked.

After forcibly stopping his figure, he pointed at the young palm flag with his bloody fingers under the blow, and angrily reprimanded: "Huangkou Xiao'er, you are simply lawless, you dare to openly attempt to kill the imperial court officials, even if it is a clan with monstrous power, it will not be able to protect you." ”

He didn't expect that the cultivation of this new flag master was so amazing, he thought that he was in the same realm, and even if he was defeated, he would not be too embarrassed. But unexpectedly, with just one move, the gap was far away, and the true qi in the body was almost shaken and scattered.

Only then did he remember that the former flag master didn't seem to be killing the four realms with five realms at all.

The young Zhangqi didn't pay attention to it at all, he rubbed his fingers lightly, and said, "It really caught me off guard, it stands to reason that the position of the secret official is at most a monk of the Three Realms, and it will not be possible to be a Four Realms." It's no wonder that you are so bold and want to compete for the position of flag leader, which is also why you want to get rid of your former boss so that you can successfully ascend to the position. ”

Then the conversation changed, "It's a pity that your position restricts you from getting more secret things, I don't know that although the Shadow Banner is all four realms, the 'Shadow Banner 'can also be the five realms." ”

As soon as the words fell, the middle-aged boss, who was about to retreat quietly, only felt that the sword aura behind him was strong, and there was a faint sword that locked on him.

Just as he was about to desperately dodge, but it was too late, a small flying sword passed through his throat from the cervical vertebrae, and the true qi in his body was also scattered by the sword qi attached to the flying sword.

Xiao Yuan, the young banner leader, put away the small flying sword that was not stained with blood, and with a cynical attitude, he playfully smiled at the dying man: "Don't worry, I won't let you die on the charge of 'colluding with outsiders to murder your boss', but let others know that you died because 'the gentleman is unhappy to see you', and let others know that you died aggrieved." ”

Liu Sentao struggled desperately, blood gushed in his throat, and his fat and wide palms couldn't cover it. His blood-red eyes were as big as copper bells, and he glared angrily at this gentleman from the clan, his face full of unwillingness and grief.

He wanted to reach out and grab the gentleman, but he was kicked away lightly, and suddenly a large puddle of blurred flesh exploded on the wall.

Xiao Yuan sneered: "What the hell, since you don't have the ability to be honestly your shrinking turtle, why bother to say cruel words in front of my son to find death, I don't want to keep people like you alive." ”

As for the charge of killing his subordinates, there was not the slightest concern.

He has no interest in telling the dead that many things in this world do not depend on intrigue and relationships behind him, but on his own great strength.

The private fights strictly forbidden by the imperial court are just empty words in the eyes of many strong people, and they only bind those weak people with low strength.

He opened the door of the secret room and walked out, and said to the people who had been waiting outside the door for a long time, "Throw it out and feed the wild dogs." ”

Then he asked: "Is there any follow-up to the agreement between the young man in the pharmacy and his predecessor who is in charge of the flag?" ”

The person outside the door was originally the adjutant of the 'secret official' Liu Sentao, but no one thought that he was the secret stake that had already been planted by the new banner.

I only heard the adjutant bow down and report: "My lord, there is." After noon, the young man from the pharmacy had personally come to the contact point to deliver the message, and he would act as promised. ”

"Personally?" The young man looked up at the sky, estimated that the time was not yet up, and then asked, "What about the others." ”

The adjutant hurriedly replied: "It's the same as usual, today I'm going to see the old man at the end of No. 79 Street." ”

Because the young man in the medicine shop usually walked very regularly, he rarely stepped out of the Gu Caotang, and even went out of the city only the two times recorded in the archives.

The young man was stunned for a moment, and wondered: "Is it the seriously ill homeless person recorded in the archives?"

The adjutant should claim to be.

Xiao Yuan, who had resumed the cold temperament that he should have as the head of the flag, said nothing after a sigh, and he didn't seem to be curious.

He seemed to remember something he had forgotten to ask Liu Sentao before, so he asked the adjutant instead: "According to the archives, that young man has never made a move, and he is also an ordinary person who has never cultivated. So who has really confirmed that he hasn't cultivated, or can't cultivate?"

The adjutant was stunned, not knowing how to answer, and did not understand what the new flag commander meant. Because all monks know that they can recognize at a glance whether they have cultivation or not. Even if you remove all traces of your inner qi and true qi, or if you simply abolish the sea of dantian qi, you can't hide whether your physical body has been tempered or not.

This is because the first step in cultivation is to 'generate internal qi and quench the body'.

The young man snorted, not caring about the adjutant's stunned expression, and muttered in a low voice: "You are really good at calculation, it is really interesting." ”

Then he instructed: "Give me a rearrangement of the file of the drugstore boy, and I want all the actions of the drugstore boy and all his subordinates in the city in the past time." ”

The adjutant should step down.

The young man snorted and muttered to himself, not knowing who to listen to.

There is no shortage of smart strategists in the imperial court, and there is no shortage of talented people in the rivers and lakes, but there is no shortage of good talents who can survive.