Chapter 215: Chapter 184: Promotion and Pay Raise

Ever since he understood the reason behind Sang Mulan’s voluntary resignation, Cui Cheng found it hard to sleep at night and had no peace during the day. He felt he’d let a great servant become disheartened and that the Evil Suppression Bureau had lost a great general.

If Sang Mulan couldn’t be brought back, he felt he had no face left to stay in the position of Day Travel Captain.

In the past two days, Cui Cheng, whenever he had free time, would come to the West City Gate to wait, since Sang Mulan left through the West City Gate and would surely return through it.

He wanted to see Sang Mulan at the first moment and explain clearly that although he, Cui Cheng, was a coarse man with rigid principles, he respected the loyal and righteous, regardless of gender, whether young or old.

After waiting all morning, Cui Cheng repeatedly checked the entry registration book at the guard post, but seeing no trace of Sang Mulan’s name, he irritably tossed the book back to the guard and paced back and forth at the gate.

“Captain Cui, which important figure is coming to Wangshan City that makes you wait here for two days?” the guard curiously asked.

Cui Cheng, unwilling to lose face and not wanting to ruin the reputation Sang Mulan had painstakingly preserved for him, roared, “Mind your own business!”

A bullock cart approached, and Cui Cheng glanced casually before stepping aside. Suddenly, he noticed a woman in black at a distance, carrying a backpack and walking slowly. His eyes lit up, and he stepped forward to get a clearer look, totally unaware he had just passed by Sang Que.

At the city gate, Sang Que jumped off the bullock cart, handed over the wooden plaque given when leaving the city last time, and registered her name.

Sang Mulan’s name was now well-known in Wangshan City, and as soon as the guard saw her, he greeted her warmly.

Sang Que’s eyes sharpened as she leaned in and whispered, “Don’t make a fuss!”

The guard, being clever enough to think she was on a secret mission for the Evil Suppression Bureau—something a guard like him would never dare disrupt—immediately nodded and quietly registered her, allowing Sang Que to enter the city.

“Thank you!”

As Sang Que and the bullock cart moved away, the guard was still grinning foolishly over her warm thanks. In all his years as a guard, no one had ever thanked him.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Cui Cheng got closer, staring intently at the woman in black, causing her to frown and move away.

Realizing she wasn’t Sang Mulan, Cui Cheng felt a wave of disappointment, continued pacing at the city gate, and eventually sat down to rest and drink some water at the registration post.

While gulping down water, he suddenly noticed the large characters “Sang Mulan” on the registration book, making him spit out the water.

“When did she enter the city?”

“Just now,” the guard replied.

Cui Cheng shot up, eyes blazing, “You’ve ruined my big plan!”

Dropping the registration book, he dashed into the city without stopping for a moment.

By then,

Sang Que had already returned smoothly to her own small courtyard, ready to pay for the bullock cart but unable to find her money bag. She couldn’t recall if she left it at home or lost it in the forest.

The side effect of losing money was terrible; she barely had any money in the Deceit Dynasty, unlike in the modern times when her mother could support her. Once it’s gone, it’s truly gone.

She still had to donate next month’s salary to the Longevity Buddha in gratitude.

Sang Que gritted her teeth, wanting to curse!

Tomorrow she’d secretly sell the glutinous rice and obsidian raw stones she brought at the black market for cash.

The old man driving the bullock cart kept staring at Sang Que, afraid she’d default on the payment.

“Wait here, I’ll get the money,”

Sang Que went back into the courtyard to find the thousand coins she had put away earlier. Just as expected, she couldn’t find it; she didn’t know if it was taken by Xia Chan or if a thief had entered her home.

However, she found a large chest in the house, opened it, and saw neatly arranged gold ingots inside, appearing to be the one thousand gold.

Was it because the one thousand gold didn’t belong to her, so it wasn’t lost?

This Captain Cui, tough on the outside but soft on the inside, all stubbornness and pride, seeing all this gold, Sang Que’s resentment towards Cui Cheng lessened slightly.

Squeak—

There was a commotion outside, and Sang Que closed the chest and stepped out, seeing Cui Cheng hastily dismounting from his horse, wide-eyed like an ox and filled with anger.

Sang Que quickly recalled if she’d offended Cui Cheng in any way, making him pursue her so relentlessly to scold her?

The old man on the bullock cart was still beside, and before Cui Cheng could speak, Sang Que preempted him, “Captain Cui, whatever it is, we can discuss it later. Could you lend me twenty cents first?”

Cui Cheng was stunned, swallowed the words he was about to say, and actually counted twenty cents from his money bag and gave it to Sang Que.

Sang Que noticed his money bag was nearly empty, not even a complete silver ingot. Was a Day Travel Captain really this poor?

After paying the fare and retrieving her large wooden chest, she moved her things into the courtyard. Cui Cheng stood at the entrance; since she hadn’t invited him in, he wouldn’t enter uninvited.

He may be rough, but he’s still polite.

“Where… where have you been these past two days?” Cui Cheng asked stiffly.

Sang Que casually answered, “I went to buy some things. I’m no longer part of the Evil Suppression Bureau; does Captain Cui need to know my whereabouts?”

Cui Cheng’s old face flushed as he thought of how Sang Que resigned to save his reputation both internally and externally, trying his best to appear amiable, “I won’t hold the past against you; take back your Token.”

Sang Que walked to the courtyard gate and saw the Token Cui Cheng was handing back. An idea suddenly struck her.

“Captain Cui, don’t you think this is too childish?”

“Then what do you want, for me to kneel and beg you?”

Sang Que scratched her nose, “There’s no need for that. It’s just that because of the Gambling Ghost incident, I’m being eroded by the Nine Netherworld and find it hard to suppress my inner Evil Spirits. I think I better not return to the Evil Suppression Bureau, lest I lose control one day and harm others.”

Cui Cheng was inwardly shaken, was Sang Mulan really so righteous? Was she ready to bear the backlash of Evil Spirits alone for the sake of others’ safety?

Could it be that she hid away for two days to bear the backlash alone?

How could their Evil Suppression Bureau let such a loyal servant become disheartened? Such behavior is worse than pigs or dogs!

Cui Cheng furrowed his brow in thought. To suppress Evil Spirits requires a large amount of incense to light the Heart Lamp, which is a reliable method. Sang Mulan must not have a strong enough Heart Lamp to hold.

Over the past two days, to dampen rumors about the Gambling Ghost within the city, He Buning had already used the Oiran from Snow Moon Building being a man news to cover up the Gambling Ghost matter. Now, everyone was discussing how the patrons of Snow Moon Building felt, having already forgotten about the Gambling Ghost.

In a few days, any incense derived from the rumors for Sang Mulan would be completely gone, leaving her with no means to suppress her Evil Spirits.

No, the Evil Suppression Bureau can’t afford to lose such a loyal servant. If it’s just incense, that’s easy to handle!

Cui Cheng looked deeply at Sang Que, retracted her Copper Travel Token, “You’re the primary contributor in the Gambling Ghost incident; this achievement is beyond doubt and can’t be erased by anyone. Report as usual tomorrow, and by then, I’ll return your Token to you!”

Finishing his words, Cui Cheng mounted his horse ready to consult with He Buning; he wanted He Buning to promote Sang Que exceptionally, directly raising her to Silver Traveler.

Sang Que is a Yin Walker, adapting to the situation isn’t entirely out of the question!

After Cui Cheng left, Sang Que went back inside, securing the things she brought.

Even though she didn’t know what happened, why did Cui Cheng’s gaze towards her now carry a hint of respect and guilt?

Forget it; she’s just an employee. She won’t guess her boss’s thoughts. Regardless of whether the boss wants it or not, she expressed her desire for a promotion and raise, and she will dutifully go to work tomorrow.

Without next month’s salary, the Longevity Buddha might just smack her dead.

After securing the large wooden chest, neither Xia Chan nor Xuan Yu had returned. Sang Que went out to look for them and found Kou Yushan patrolling the street. After asking, she learned that He Buning had been accompanying Xia Chan for fun these past few days, and He Buning had returned the day she left Wangshan City.

Sang Que felt a pang in her heart; had she already been exposed?

Thinking things over, Sang Que’s gambling nature kicked in. She bet that He Buning hadn’t discovered this, explaining herself would seem contrived since the Witch Lady’s influence is at play. He certainly couldn’t uncover her true identity.

With this gambler’s mindset, Sang Que returned to her small courtyard, only to meet He Buning who personally brought Xia Chan and Xuan Yu back at the courtyard door.

Xia Chan appeared entirely renewed, with a silk cotton outfit, hair adorned with a golden hairpin, and a jade pendant hanging from her waist. Even Xuan Yu in her arms was wearing a golden necklace, exuding a noble aura.

Standing alongside He Buning, they truly looked a bit like siblings.

“Sister~”

Xia Chan was delighted to see Sang Que, discarding Xuan Yu to run over to her, immediately taking off the golden hairpin and jade pendant to forcefully push them into Sang Que’s hands.

“Valuable, sister, use them for money, buy something good to eat!”

He Buning’s smile froze as he watched this scene, inwardly sighing in resignation.

Sang Que felt a little awkward, urging Xia Chan to keep the items herself, and turned directly to He Buning, “Captain He, do you know how to resolve a curse? I seem to be under a curse.”

Upon hearing this, He Buning’s pupils quivered slightly as he seriously reevaluated Sang Que.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep