Chapter 157 - 105: A Mole? Jiang Mu’s Desperate Counterattack

Chapter 157: Chapter 105: A Mole? Jiang Mu’s Desperate Counterattack

The Demon-slaying Bureau. The Deputy Director’s study.

Tian Wenjing sat in his chair, head lowered as he reviewed a scroll summarizing the various halls’ recent missions. His expression was grim.

Wen He, the Hall Master of the Third Hall, sat opposite him, looking apprehensive.

"Wen He."

Tian Wenjing finally set down the scroll. "In the monthly assessments for the halls, your Third Hall... is becoming more and more unacceptable.

You’re on the verge of being ranked down with that boy, Xu Fu.

At this rate, I’m afraid Xu Fu might even surpass you next month." ℴ

A flash of shame crossed Wen He’s face, quickly replaced by a sense of grievance and resentment.

"Elder Tian, ever since the Mist Demon invasion, the Bureau’s affairs have been chaotic and full of unexpected turns. Besides... there’s always someone stealing our credit and snatching our opportunities. Director Ran is biased, and I... I want to do better, but I’m powerless!"

"This ’someone’ you’re talking about... is Jiang Mu, isn’t it."

Tian Wenjing looked up.

Wen He gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Yes! I know Master Jiang is the Bureau’s rising star, their prized possession, but I have to say it. With Director Ran favoring him so openly, the men below are bound to have grievances. They feel it’s unjust!"

"Favoritism..."

Tian Wenjing smiled and stood up.

When Wen He saw this, he instinctively moved to stand as well, but Tian Wenjing stopped him with a wave of his hand. Wen He had no choice but to sit back down, his spine growing even straighter.

Tian Wenjing paced over to Wen He’s side, reached out a calloused hand, and patted him firmly on the shoulder. His tone was complex.

"I have a major flaw, Wen He. I’m prone to jumping to conclusions, always assuming that what I see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears must be the truth. That’s how it was with that boy, Jiang Mu."

"To this day, I still believe a leopard can’t change its spots, that his playboy nature is ingrained. I have my issues with him; I just don’t like the look of him. But—"

Tian Wenjing’s tone shifted.

"—that doesn’t stop me from admitting that the boy is truly formidable. He might even be the future hope of our Demon-slaying Bureau in Hu State, and perhaps of Hu State itself."

"Elder Tian, I—"

"Don’t be so quick. Let me finish."

Tian Wenjing interrupted him, pacing slowly in the study with his hands behind his back.

"I’ve heard all about the conflicts between you and Jiang Mu, in great detail, from Director Ran and others.

Honestly, if I were in Jiang Mu’s position, I might have acted even more ruthlessly, gone even further than he did!"

Wen He’s face went pale.

"For one, your Third Hall’s handling of certain matters was indeed inept. You could even call it incompetent."

Tian Wenjing didn’t mince words.

"And for another... never mind distant examples. Let’s just talk about the case of Madam Liu, Junior General Chang’s concubine. I greatly admire him for how he handled that.

If I had been there, and you, Wen He, had still tried to smooth things over with that timid, hesitant approach, I would have slapped you across the face right then and there!"

Wen He’s face flushed crimson, his fists clenching tightly within his sleeves.

Seeing his reaction, Tian Wenjing sighed. His tone softened, but his words carried a greater weight.

"Wen He, I remember when I valued you the most, even more than that boy, Yan Fenghuo.

Back then, you were daring and tenacious. You had the fearless spirit of a young bull that doesn’t know to fear the tiger. Just like... just like Jiang Mu is today."

He walked to the window, gazing at the hazy gray sky outside. His voice carried a tone of wistful remembrance.

"But I don’t know when it started... you changed. You became overly cautious, content to just get by. You lost that fire."

"But I don’t blame you. To each their own. Everyone seeks different things in life."

"More than half the people who join the Demon-slaying Bureau are here for the cultivation resources provided by the Court—resources far superior to what the martial sects can offer—and for the status that comes with being an official.

Of those who remain, some are just looking for a stable living, others are chasing wealth and glory... Tell me, how many are truly here with the single-minded purpose of slaying demons, just to give the people back a clear blue sky?"

Wen He opened his mouth, but made no sound.

Tian Wenjing continued:

"He goes to the countryside to collect taxes and, in a fit of indignation, kills the thugs who were oppressing the people. He discovers Madam Liu of the General’s Mansion practicing profane arts, harming so many innocent children, and, unable to stomach it, slaughters her right in front of all of you.

He goes to Black Wind Valley to exterminate demons, runs into the main remnant force of the Tiger Vanguard, and even Yan Fenghuo—the ’Desperate Yama’—doesn’t dare to engage. Only he does...

As I see it, at the very least, that boy Jiang Mu is sincere in his desire to slay demons."

Tian Wenjing turned around and looked at Wen He.

"I may be a poor judge of character, prone to misreading people, but my heart isn’t blind!

To have someone like him in the Hu State Demon-slaying Bureau is a blessing for the Bureau, and a blessing for our Great Qing!

Do you... understand?"

Wen He shuddered, his eyes filled with resentment and helplessness.

Of course, he understood the subtext of his old superior’s words.

The message boiled down to a single, unspoken command: ’Don’t expect me to stand up for you. From now on, no one in the Hu State Demon-slaying Bureau is to get in Jiang Mu’s way!’

Wen He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, only a forcibly suppressed gloom remained in their depths.

He rose to his feet and gave Tian Wenjing a stiff, cupped-fist salute.

"I... understand."

He had heard that Jiang Mu had clashed with Tian Wenjing and had rushed over, full of excitement. He’d hoped to leverage his old status as one of Elder Tian’s favorite subordinates to fan the flames and sow a little discord.

He had never imagined this would be the outcome.

He refused to accept it!

’Why? Why should a playboy who once did nothing but chase women now get to walk all over him, intimidating him to the point he didn’t even dare breathe too loudly?’

But what could he do, no matter how much he resented it?

Ran Qingshan, Tian Wenjing, Ling Ye... all these powerful figures were on Jiang Mu’s side.