Supreme Emperor of Mist

"Look at them." some locals were puzzled by the sight that happened right before them. It was their first time seeing how obedient is the older generation of blacksmiths working together in a smithy under the management of the County's Magistrate.

And to some of them, this was a surprise.

"The older generations were all under one room. What are they trying to do there?" some of them asked in their mind. But since nobody actually makes their way forward to deliver the question, it remained a mystery.

Qin Lan's entourage then departed from Heishi Town the next day in the afternoon. To the people from the Hall of Treasures, Qin Lan's departure was a piece of good news to them as they're back to power after the Marquis had left.

Just as Da Yuan ordered, the first and second-floor elders reached out to the younger people as they're openly hiring miners and workers to help with the business. The Magistrate Court was getting busy hiring more workers capable of reading, mathematics, and management to extend their reach into the Obsidian Volcanic Vein's production.

Excited by the high wages offered by the Hall of Treasures, the numbers of people that quit their current job and moved to work under the hall were not low at all. Some even invited their family members from smaller villages and settlements outside the town to come and work here.

In a flash, close to two-thirds of the population living in Heishi Town were now under the Hall of Treasure's wages a week later.

From the outside, Heshi Town seems to be prospering. But only the older generation knew that the town is in the middle of getting itself ruined.

Even the merchants find it unprofitable to continue to trade what they usually did with the town and move on. Some adapted to the changes, but not all merchants were as flexible as it seems. With fewer people asking for raw materials from the merchants, the number of visiting carriages started to get less.

To them, making a trip directly to the village after Heishi Town became more profitable.

It was just a route slightly further from the Heishi Town, but that also means they're getting much closer to the City of Ye.

The Hall Master Da Yuan obviously failed to notice the effect of that short traveling distance.

"This Village Chief will make sure he followed the Marquis's instruction and do as he was told." said the Village Chief. It seems that the closer to the City of Ye, the better the villages are.

By tomorrow afternoon, Qin Lan will arrive at the City of Ye. Unnoticed by him, it was already close to half a month from when he made his trip over to this Shuiyue County.

Few memorable things happened along his way, but the one between him and Yan Yi Lian was the most significant in his mind. Up to this day, he still wondered if Zhou Mei already received his gift.

'Would she be happy after looking at what I gave her? I wondered will she look at the painting every day before she went to sleep.' Qin Lan thought. He was daydreaming on his last stretch of the journey before arriving in the City of Ye.

...

...

"Father! I've come back!" Da Kui came straight into the Hall of Treasures and looked for his father once he was released on probation. It was evident that he was thinner than before due to the week-long torture inside the prison.

"Useless son. When will you learn to not create more trouble for me?" Da Yuan said as he throws a plate of confectioneries at his only son.

It was evident that the plate was not to hurt him but to fed that skinny bastard son of his. Or else, he won't have the kitchen prepare this plate of food to be placed on top of his document table.

"Father, Kui-Er know his mistake. I'll make sure to work hard and not give trouble to dear father anymore." Da Kui answered. But it was evident that there's not a hint of remorse from his expression.

"You and trouble are words that cannot be separated. Speak, what idea you got in that head of yours this time?" Da Yuan sets the brush aside and stares at his son. Knowing that an apple hardly fell too far from the tree, what he knows is usually what Da Yuan guessed.

"I've heard that the Marquis put be on probation because of the trouble I've caused in the brothel. Since that's the case, I just need to stop visiting the brothel here. Did he not assigned me to become a coach master to supervise the transfer of goods between the border?"

"Kui-Er will just move to the border town and enjoyed the companionship of the women over there instead. Like this, not only I'll have a change of flavor, but also a newer environment with more choice to play with." it seems he was still the same even after imprisoned for a week.

"I don't care what you have in your mind, but only play after you finish with your work. Don't you dare to make a mess out of this again, especially not in this one-year grace period... If you managed to ruin this opportunity, don't blame me if I send you back to your mother in the royal capital." Da Yuan said.

"Father, what can go wrong? As long I make sure that the delivery is done on time, I will have all the time I want to play around until it's time to come back." Da Kui said.

"I don't care what you do, as long you make sure what you have to do is done before you went to fool around. Cause me less trouble this time." Da Yuan said as he threw a token into Da Kui's hand.

"Go and arrange them. The hall will get busy, so if you want any carriages or whatsoever, get them done from the local smithy. I'm sure the elders will have too much time in hand to the point they got nothing to do." Da Yuan said.

"Kui-Er understood!" Da Kui turned around and left to do what his father instructed.

...

...

"Greetings, Milord. The City of Ye welcomed the Chi-Lan Marquis to our humble City of Ye!" the county's chief official greets Qin Lan as his entourage stepped through the city gate.

There are even a few kids with the costume of Crimson Mist Soldier, as the news about how awesome they are was spread from one village to another.

Please rise, everyone." Qin Lan replied to his people's greeting by applying some of the Foundation Qi in his reply. It even shocked the people living here, especially those with the cultivation of a Bone Layer expert.

"This concentration of Foundation Qi... What secret did he have?" they were struck by the purity level Qin Lan's Foundation Qi.

This display of power made those with evil intention reevaluates their thought.

"This subordinate surnamed Xuan. I've been serving this county as its Chief Official for over ten years now. If the young lord has anything, please feel free to ask. As long this subordinate is capable of answering them, I gladly bring them up to your attention." the City Official said.

"Good. Show me the way to the Magistrate Building." Qin Lan said.

By the time he was escorted to the meeting hall, Qin Lan casually waves his hand to forcefully close the door behind him. The sound took the Chief Official by surprise as he turned to Qin Lan with his hands still cupped together.

"Xuan Wenjie... Xuan Wenjie..." Qin Lan called his name twice while shaking his head with a look full of disappointment. From his expression, it seems something is bothering him.

"Marquis?" unknown what he had done wrong, the Chief Official remained quiet at where he stands.

"It seems that you got yourself quite well-fed from smuggling. Tell me, what kind of punishment should I give you to appease the dissatisfaction of the locals living in this city?" Qin Lan stares intensely at the Chief Official with his Foundation Qi permeating out from all over him.

"Mi - Milord! This official... This official is blind to challenge Milord's authority! Please allows me to repent by serving the people honestly from now on. If I dare to repeat what I was doing even once, I'll put my neck on top of the guillotine's rest voluntarily!"

The Chief Official immediately kneeled beside Qin Lan and confessed what he did so far. It has not gone across his mind that Qin Lan would know what he had done throughout this period while there's no noble handling this county.

"Greed was never a good thing. The only good thing behind this is how you're putting it. Do you know why you're still alive right now?" looking at the Chief Official with both knees on the ground, Qin Lan smiled and slowly made his way to the hall master's seat.

"Xuan Wenjia dare not to randomly guess Milord's intention." the Chief Official choose his word carefully from becoming unfavorable to Qin Lan.

"It's because this Marquis in need of someone to do all these dirty deeds on my behalf. Tell me, Xuan Wenjie. To what extend is greed becomes good?" Qin Lan asked another question.

"Subordinate has no idea... May the Marquis enlighten this foolish official?" Xuan Wenjie continued.

"It was when your pocket and mine are getting heavier than everyone else. Do you understand my word, Xuan Wenjie?" Qin Lan smiled as he answered his own question.

"This subordinate still doesn't understand." Xuan Wenjie said.

"Get your smuggler's subordinates here tonight and tell them there's a new lord for them to serve. Those that follow me will enjoy riches together with me. Those that don't can't blame me even if they regretted it later."

"As for you... I'll wait to see how good is your performance." Qin Lan chuckled.