As the old saying goes, while one story blossoms here, another unfolds elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Nan Zhi watched as the boat docked at the pier. Yet, though the petty officials from the Transport Office ran back and forth repeatedly, not a single word was uttered about letting them off.
“Heavens above! Those people came aboard and didn't say a single thing except to make us wait!
“They must have seen that someone died on board and decided to put on airs, holding out for a bribe—”
The boat owner was anxious to deliver his cargo, sweat constantly dripping down his forehead. He quickly leaned in and whispered into Nan Zhi's ear:
“Milady, Milady, you can’t leave this old man stranded! My boat is loaded with fresh fish. If my crew can’t get it ashore soon, it’s going to rot, and I won’t get a single coin for it!
“You’re an official—could you speak to that officer over there and ask him to let us dock and disembark first?
“Afterwards, whether it’s a red envelope or bribe money, I won’t short you by a single copper!”
“I’m sorry, I seem to have dragged you into this. Don’t panic just yet, old master. I’ll go ask and see what the proper procedure is.”
Nan Zhi knew the boat owner was likely grasping at straws, pleading with a low-ranking officer from out of town like her. Even so, she didn't shirk responsibility and went looking for the leading transport official.
Ever since boarding the vessel, that transport official had ordered people to set up a table and chairs, quietly sipping tea he had brewed for himself.
He acted completely oblivious to the surrounding commotion, fully immersed in tasting his tea.
“My good... little officer.”
The transport official appeared to be over forty with quite ordinary features.
Yet he was extremely smooth and slick in his conduct. Seeing Nan Zhi approach, he put down his teacup and offered a polite smile:
“I am Mo Buwei, Transport Commissioner of the Water Transport Yamen under the Transport Office, overseeing all water transport matters at the Bian River docks. May I ask who you are?”
Nan Zhi didn't bother with pleasantries, cutting straight to the point:
“Lord Mo, I am a fourth-class arrest officer under the Demon Suppression Monastery of the Northwest Circuit, entering the capital on official business.
“The evil Taoist who was kidnapping people has already been executed on the spot by me. Everyone else on board is an innocent citizen. Why have you not let us disembark?”
Hearing that Nan Zhi was merely a fourth-class demon suppressor, Mo Buwei's face couldn't help but betray a hint of disdain.
“Well, now... This official oversees all matters big and small at this dock. I heard from the people on board that an evil sorcerer was at work, using dark arts to turn humans into sheep and harm the common folk.
“Even though the culprit has been brought to justice, there is no guarantee there aren't other accomplices on board. It is much safer to verify everyone's identity before allowing you all ashore.”
Holding his teacup, Mo Buwei peered toward the dock, laughing merrily as he said:
“However, there is no need to worry. I have already sent word to both the Demon Suppression Division and Kaifeng Prefecture. They should arrive shortly.
“This official is merely doing his duty to give the citizens of Bianjing peace of mind. I am sure Arrest Officer Nan can understand my difficult position.”
Having said this, he fully expected the demon suppressor before him to raise objections, but to his surprise, she merely nodded upon hearing his explanation and turned to leave.
So easy to talk to?
Mo Buwei was somewhat flabbergasted, holding his teacup suspended in midair, neither putting it down nor taking another drink.
The demon suppressors he had encountered in the past, regardless of rank, so long as they possessed a modicum of skill, always carried themselves with arrogant noses held high in the air.
Who could have guessed that this one actually listened to reason?
How truly rare.
It’s just a pity she’s so hideous.
...
Having learned the reason and realized the other party wasn't intentionally causing trouble—and had even reported it to the authorities—Nan Zhi refrained from asking further questions.
She turned around and pulled out a Blood Supplementing Pill from her backpack, dissolving it into a pot of boiling water to distribute among the victims.
Those twenty people had been victimized by Ma San's dark arts, going without a drop of water for days and eating nothing but bitter leaves and fodder. Naturally, their vitality was severely depleted.
Coupled with the days spent tossed about on the boat, several children had fallen ill. It was entirely thanks to Nan Zhi dissolving Blood Supplementing Pills in water that their lives were saved.
One child was particularly pitiable; Ma San's abuse had left him with an oversized head and a tiny body, looking just like a withered bean sprout.
Taking pity on him, Nan Zhi pulled out a piece of stinky tofu from her backpack to coax him. But as soon as she reached out her hand, a slender, fair hand suddenly darted in from the side—
“Mmm... Lady Yin’s fried tofu! Even after a hundred or a thousand years, it actually still tastes like this! How truly bizarre.”
The hand's owner pinched a piece of stinky tofu, popped it into her mouth, and swept her beautiful eyes up and down Nan Zhi:
“So you’re that fourth-class demon suppressor from the Northwest Circuit? Hmm, with that pitch-black mug of yours... are you really sure your surname isn't Bao?”
Nan Zhi was startled at first, only then getting a clear look at the person before her:
It was an extraordinarily beautiful young maiden, dressed in purple robes with a red cloak, casually squatting on the boat’s railing. With every movement, the purple-gold bells at her waist jingled pleasantly.
But none of that mattered.
The girl actually recognized [Yin Niangzi Brand Stinky Tofu]!
Nan Zhi had never shared the names of her game items with anyone. How could this unknown maiden before her possibly know it?
“I am Nan Zhi, a fourth-class arrest officer under the Demon Suppression Monastery of the Northwest Circuit, hailing from Dingyuan.
“Who might you be, miss? Judging by your attire, could you also be a comrade from the Demon Suppression Division?”
Alarm bells rang wildly in Nan Zhi’s heart. She immediately took a step back, her right hand hidden behind her back as she formed a hand seal and recited an incantation under her breath, ready to strike at the slightest sign of trouble:
“However, I don’t understand what you’re talking about. This is just ordinary fried tofu. If you like it, feel free to eat it.”
The game system was her trump card; under no circumstances could a second person find out.
Possessing a treasure makes one a target—Nan Zhi had known this truth long ago.
“Your surname is Nan?”
The purple-robed girl blinked, her eyes filled with utter disbelief and confusion:
“How could your surname be Nan? Look at your face! Even Lord Bao himself couldn't produce a second child who looks so much like him!”
Nan Zhi: “...”
What life-and-death crisis? What potential threat? All of it was thoroughly derailed by the young maiden's bizarre banter.
“I was born taking after my father. Hearing you say this, I suppose my father and Lord Bao must share a slight resemblance in appearance.”
Nan Zhi didn't let her guard down, instead explaining patiently:
“However, I am merely a nobody and would never dare claim a connection to Lord Bao. Please watch your words, miss.”
“Is your surname really not Bao?”
Holding the bowl of stinky tofu, the purple-robed girl's astonished expression continuously shifted. Finally, her gaze settled on Nan Zhi's face, and in an instant, her eyes became immovably firm:
“I don’t believe it.”
Nan Zhi: “...”
...
Everyone in the capital had seen Bao Zheng's true countenance.
His appearance was utterly unique, unmatched under heaven. Even the Emperor himself had once joked that Minister Bao must never father a daughter; otherwise, if the daughter resembled her father, she would surely be teased for the rest of her life.
Xu Zi had once seriously pondered what a daughter of Lord Bao would actually look like.
Who could have known she would see a living specimen today?
The maiden before her was tall and broad, unlike ordinary women who were thin and frail. Her shoulders and waist were packed with lean muscle, supple and vigorous as a tiger.
Her pitch-black face immediately drew attention, with only her eyes retaining a touch of delicate refinement and a faint warmth.
Most of all, her whole body radiated an aura of awe-inspiring righteousness—a sheer force of presence that shone straight from her heart to her brow!
She’s the spitting image of Lord Bao’s biological daughter!!
“Your surname isn't Bao?”
“My surname is Nan. Nan Zhi.”
“You never changed your surname? Are you truly from Dingyuan? Did your mother really never go to Luzhou? She never remarried?”
“...My father and mother are deeply in love. Please do not talk nonsense.”
“I get it! You must be adopted! Just like Master Sanzang back in the day! Your family suffered a sudden catastrophe, and Lady Bao painfully set her newborn baby adrift on the river, only for a kind family to adopt you!”
“My parents were married for years before having me. Besides, my family runs a butcher business with no mortal enemies whatsoever.
“Where would any disaster or abandonment come from? Your theory is complete nonsense... And why does that story sound so familiar?”
“I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it! Go look for yourself—Lord Bao couldn't father anyone who looks more like him than you do! Your surname definitely isn't Nan!”
“Is it possible that men still can’t give birth to children...”
After this exchange repeated a dozen times, Nan Zhi finally lost her patience.
She desperately wanted to know where this young girl had learned about [Yin Niangzi Brand Stinky Tofu], while also wanting to reach Kaifeng Prefecture as soon as possible.
But before she could interrupt the purple-robed maiden, two groups of people hurriedly arrived at the dock from front and back.
One group consisted of young demon suppressors, men and women alike, all clad in uniform demon suppressor robes.
The other group wore black official uniforms, led by a tall, handsome man in a bright red official robe who walked with vigorous, agile strides.
With a light tap of his toes, he leapt onto the deck like a swallow diving into the forest, his movement so effortless one couldn't help but praise his spectacular martial arts!
The moment the man landed, his gaze involuntarily fell upon Nan Zhi's face. For a moment, his handsome features were filled with intense astonishment.
His expression as he stared at her was so utterly focused that even a blind person could perceive the confusion and amazement in his heart.
Throwing caution to the wind, Nan Zhi declared in a loud, careless voice:
“I am Nan Zhi, hailing from Dingyuan, my family runs a butcher shop, I do not know Lord Bao, none of my ancestors have ever been to Luzhou, my mother did not remarry, I was born taking after my father, thank you.”
The man froze in place.
From both on and off the boat, the muffled sounds of suppressed laughter rippled through the crowd.
Rate on N.U.
