Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Golden Dragon Scroll?

Only then did Wang Zhenling realize what was happening, but he showed no sign of it and asked, “What use does this Golden Dragon Tablet serve?”

The Five-Section Envoy smiled, “It has no real use. Just find an opportunity to bury the Golden Dragon Tablet in Mount Wuji. Once you do that, our deal is settled. As for your entry into the Hongdu Academy, leave that to us of the Chengtiandao.”

Wang Zhenling sneered, “You’re a shadowy schemer, unwilling even to reveal the purpose of this treasure, yet you dare try to deceive me?”

Such an attitude left the Five-Section Envoy thoroughly puzzled. “Could it be that Wang Zhenling truly isn’t a disciple of Juntian Monastery? Is he really not the one whose spirit, True Cloud Master, seized a body at the moment of his death?”

Indeed, the main reason for the envoy’s caution was his suspicion that Wang Zhenling was, in fact, True Cloud Master of Juntian Monastery, possessing another’s body.

Yet, Wang Zhenling’s soul seemed stable, not at all like a possessed one.

After a brief hesitation, doubt began to cloud the envoy’s mind. He decided to reveal a hint more, saying with a smile, “Don’t worry, the Golden Dragon Tablet is for your sponsor’s benefit. We’re helping him!”

Wang Zhenling did not believe a single word.

Did the envoy truly think Wang Zhenling didn’t know what the Golden Dragon Tablet was for?

Unfortunately, Wang Zhenling dared not reveal his own understanding.

More importantly, he did not dare to turn hostile with the envoy on the spot.

Thus, he pretended to accept the envoy’s words with feigned agreement, “Very well, I’ll hold you to your word!”

The Five-Section Envoy wavered further. It seemed Wang Zhenling truly didn’t know the tablet’s true purpose.

Which meant he was likely not True Cloud Master in disguise.

“Rest assured,” the envoy declared solemnly, “if you accomplish this, we will ensure your admission to the Hongdu Academy.”

“A man’s word—”

“—cannot be recalled, even by four galloping horses!”

They struck palms in oath.

The Five-Section Envoy, satisfied at last, departed, his figure flickering through the night.

Three miles away, when he appeared again, a seemingly ordinary tree suddenly shimmered and transformed into a human figure, striding alongside the envoy.

“No one followed…” the figure muttered. “Are we truly going to let that fellow profit and enter the Hongdu Academy?”

Beneath the moonlight, this new figure was identical to the Five-Section Envoy.

Meanwhile, the envoy’s own appearance began to shift, quickly becoming someone else entirely. From his hair, he drew a hairpin that seemed crafted from vine, simple and charming.

Then, with a flick in the wind, the vine hairpin transformed into a seven-section staff.

It turned out that the so-called Five-Section Envoy who had just spoken with Wang Zhenling was not the real envoy, but a high-ranking member of Chengtiandao wielding the Seven-Section Staff!

The Seven-Section Staff Envoy said coolly, “So long as this Wang Zhenling can be used by our sect, what is a mere Hongdu Academy to us?

“Our ranks are filled with experts, yet few can infiltrate the government with their own abilities and wield real power! Besides, it’s not easy even for the Son of Heaven to recruit capable talent.”

The Five-Section Envoy was disgruntled, but had to admit the Seven-Section Envoy’s words made sense.

“Also, the matter of the Golden Dragon Tablet is crucial—it concerns the grand design of our sect and must not fail. You must keep close watch over this…

“Hmph, it’s fortunate that the City God of Danling is so greedy, hiding the Golden Dragon Tablet for himself. Otherwise, if this treasure had been handed over to the authorities, it would have been a considerable nuisance.”

“But is Wang Zhenling truly reliable?”

“He’s a clever man. Once he witnesses the might of Chengtiandao, I believe he’ll work with us obediently…”

The two walked and talked, soon disappearing into the distance.

Almost simultaneously, Wang Zhenling awoke once more from the dream. The carriage jolted on, continuing its journey.

“So, it was a dream within a dream…”

Wang Zhenling mused, but then his gaze sharpened upon seeing a letter at his side.

It stated that, in due time, the Golden Dragon Tablet would be delivered to Wang Zhenling, urging him not to go back on his word.

“So it wasn’t an ordinary dream…

“What exactly are these Chengtiandao people plotting?”

Wang Zhenling sneered inwardly, not believing a single word that the envoy had uttered.

“Still, that envoy tried to trick me just now—could he suspect I am a transmigrator?

“Surely not. I crossed over as a soul, and according to the records of Juntian Monastery, transmigrators always arrive corporeally in this world.”

What Wang Zhenling didn’t know was that Chengtiandao did not suspect him of being a transmigrator per se, but rather suspected that True Cloud Master’s spirit had escaped death and possessed Wang Zhenling’s body.

It was only natural—Wang Zhenling’s sudden rise occurred immediately after True Cloud Master’s demise, an event that would inevitably attract attention from those with insight.

Thankfully, the suspicion was not deep. After the Seven-Section Envoy of Chengtiandao personally examined Wang Zhenling, his doubts were mostly dispelled.

“And could it be that my superior, Chen Bushi, truly set his sights on Mount Wuji this time? Quite a grand scheme! But how did Chengtiandao catch wind of it as well?

“They’re giving me the Golden Dragon Tablet, clearly with ill intent!

“Do they really take me for a fool?”

In the Great Cheng Dynasty, the patronage system was paramount—much like the mentor-student relationships of the Ming and Qing civil service exams in a previous life—a community of shared interests. If a protégé betrayed his patron, he would become a pariah in the eyes of the world.

If Wang Zhenling were to betray Chen Bushi, his reputation would be utterly ruined; he could forget about making a life in this world.

He sneered—these cultists of Chengtiandao would have to be dealt with, sooner or later.

Now, the night was so dark that one could not see a hand before one’s face. The carriage, lit by torches, had slowed its pace.

It was the darkest hour before dawn; in another hour or so, the sky would begin to brighten.

What a long night this had been!

The next day, news spread quickly, exaggerated far beyond the truth.

It was said that in Lili, a place within Guanju Township, wild ghosts had overrun the area at night, destroying the village altar and killing the tutelary spirit; dozens of villagers perished.

The news shook all of Danling and its surroundings.

The magistrate, furious, sent an urgent message summoning Wang Zhenling back from Dacheng Township, subjecting him to a furious reprimand.

Such a heinous event could not be separated from the responsibility of Chen Bushi, who was in charge of the county’s security.

For a time, the entire county of Danling was on edge—even neighboring counties increased their night patrols.

Unable to vent his anger on Chen Bushi, the magistrate could only summon County Constable Wang Zhenling back and berate him mercilessly.