Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 261: Chapter 154: Outstanding Individual Zhang Fan! Li Yishan’s Stepmother

The next day, Taoyuan Square.

Zhang Fan had just arrived at the office when Bai Buran called him into the office. On the desk lay a thick stack of documents.

”I give up, I really do. Just what kind of thing were you reincarnated as?”

Bai Buran rubbed his temples, one hand pressing down on that hefty stack, his eyes bloodshot.

Normally, a Daoist like him, with his level of cultivation, could go three whole days and nights without sleep and still be bursting with energy, but after just one night, he looked this haggard—it was obvious he’d spent an awful lot of mental effort.

Last night, Bai Buran’s phone nearly exploded. Just calls from the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance alone tallied up to four or five—naturally, all wanting to know about the relationship between Night is not bright and Match-3 Puzzle.

Even though Bai Buran went out of his way to clarify that the two were only connected through business dealings, he was still invited to the Daoist Alliance for some ”tea.”

By midnight, calls from Zhenwu Mountain hadn’t let up either. After all, Match-3 Puzzle belonged to Zhenwu Mountain’s assets, and now, with this catastrophe having Night is not bright’s Zhang Fan involved, they obviously wanted some answers.

”What I don’t get is, why were you even there when the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance was arresting people?”

Bai Buran covered his face with his hand, feeling as though his brain was shaking apart inside his skull.

Ever since Zhang Fan joined Night is not bright, Bai Buran, as the boss, has been summoned by the relevant departments for ”tea and talks” more times than he can count. Now he’s even started to wonder if something went wrong with his own ancestral tombs, making his luck run out.

”If I say I went out for a midnight stroll, zoned out, and wandered over there—is that a reasonable explanation?”

”One more step and you’d have strolled yourself right out of Yujing City!”

Bai Buran shot him a sidelong glance and, with a wave, tossed that bulky stack of files in front of Zhang Fan.

”You’ve really made a splash this time. Zhenwu Mountain is sending representatives to Shangjing City to attend a Daoist Alliance Headquarters briefing.”

”Huh? Do I have to go?” Zhang Fan paused, clearly not expecting things to go this far.

But on second thought, it made sense—after all, this concerned the [Three Corpses Primordial Pill]. That thing was the backup primordial spirit left behind by Three Corpses Daoist. It might not have any consciousness on its own, but once it combines with a human’s primordial spirit, it could very well revive and mutate.

Zhang Fan’s thoughts spun rapidly—he knew he’d have to go to Shangjing City sooner or later, but not right now, and especially not like this...

Because the thing was, he had a whole pile of secrets on him, and the last thing he needed was scrutiny. If they dug up anything...

Zhang Fan’s business—when not weighed, isn’t even four taels; but throw it on a scale, and it’s easily a thousand pounds.

Just his family background—his parents alone could cause a national stir, let alone all his own skeletons in the closet.

”You don’t have to go for now.” Bai Buran gave Zhang Fan a glance full of hidden meaning.

Zhenwu Mountain was keeping Zhang Fan well-protected.

Bai Buran had gotten word via special channels—they’d already communicated with Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance, intentionally downplaying Zhang Fan’s involvement, focusing only on Match-3 Puzzle and Meng Qingtong.

As for why Zhenwu Mountain was protecting Zhang Fan so much, Bai Buran couldn’t say—maybe it was because he’d fused with the Zhenwu Jade Scroll, or maybe there were other reasons.

”That’s a relief.”

Zhang Fan let out a breath; he’d acted out of heroism, but if this landed him with a trip to Shangjing City, that would be a disaster for nothing.

”By the way, if you’ve got nothing to do this morning, go to the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance.”

Bai Buran fixed Zhang Fan with a look, pulling him back to reality with a single sentence.

”Is there something else?” Zhang Fan’s expression tightened.

These days he’s trying to keep a low profile, avoiding being seen, especially at Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance; if he can steer clear, he will.

”Meng Qingtong’s made such a mess; the director can’t hold out any longer.” Bai Buran said blandly.

”Zhenwu Mountain wants you to take over as acting director for now.”

Hearing that, Zhang Fan froze for a split-second, then his eyes lit up.

He’d heard Liu Xingyu say before—the Match-3 Puzzle Funeral Home paid thirty-plus million in taxes every year. Where else could you make that kind of money just from burning dead people? If he got to be director...

”Wait a minute...” Zhang Fan’s brow furrowed, quickly catching the catch.

”Match-3 Puzzle’s gotten into such trouble—can it even keep running?”

Last night, the Match-3 Puzzle Funeral Home was sealed up by Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance. Judging by the looks of things, it won’t be reopening anytime soon.

”Of course it can’t. They’re shut down for rectification. But the staff are still there—you’re in charge of them now.” Bai Buran said, matter-of-fact.

”As if anything good ever lands on me.” Zhang Fan squinted, speechless for a moment.

The Match-3 Puzzle staff—that’s just...

”Those Liu brothers?” Zhang Fan’s look turned odd.

Liu Xingyu and Liu Xingtui—he remembered them well. That day at Match-3 Puzzle, they were the first to move against Meng Qingtong. Sure, they claimed justice and helped out the Daoist Alliance, but most of it was just to save their own asses.

Just that level of quick thinking counted as talent.

And besides, both brothers had solid cultivation, specializing in Daoist Fire Technique; Liu Xingyu’s [Crimson Palace Li Fire] and Liu Xingtui’s [One-inch Ding Fire] were both considered genuine Zhenwu Mountain traditions.

”They were supposed to spend two years out in the world for training, sharpen their minds — then get full support when they went back.”

Bai Buran pointed at the files in Zhang Fan’s hands. Opening them up, the first thing you saw was the dossiers on Liu Xingyu and Liu Xingtui.

”But now, with all this mess, they won’t be going back to Zhenwu Mountain for a while.”