Chương 12: Joining the Royal Faction

After the initial excitement faded, Yang Fan began to see the hidden danger. If this game truly offered such high freedom, then this set of Qi Clan equipment was a hot potato. Accepting it would effectively confirm that he was the one who killed the Black Snake stronghold lord. If the Qi Clan came looking for answers, his level 6 body would be torn to pieces. This would not do. He could not let short-term gains blind him. He had to think about his long-term development.

He needed to set the record straight with the magistrate. Yang Fan made up his mind. He took the magistrate's hand and said with utmost sincerity, "Magistrate, the death of the Black Snake stronghold lord has nothing to do with me. He had internal injuries from fighting the Mianzhu tribe and died of his own wounds. I did not lay a finger on him. I was just an innocent bystander." But the magistrate simply stroked his beard and chuckled, shaking his head.

He patted Yang Fan's hand lightly and said with a teasing tone, "Hundred Commander, there is no need for such modesty. Even if you did not strike the killing blow, that bandit lord was surely cowed by your imposing presence and awe-inspiring majesty! Such intangible pressure is far more impressive than any blade." Yang Fan was speechless. He had truly witnessed the absurdity of bureaucratic rhetoric. A man could be scared to death, intimidated to death. The magistrate's skill at spinning tales was unmatched.

Before he could argue further, the magistrate's expression turned serious.

"Besides, whether or not you struck the blow, your role in pacifying the border and uncovering the conspiracy is undeniable. As soon as the stronghold fell, I sent word to the prefect. He was overjoyed to hear that the Western Province's greatest threat had been eliminated, and he granted you the rank of Hundred Commander without delay. The appointment is official and cannot be reversed. So accept your reward with peace of mind." Yang Fan's heart sank. The magistrate had moved too quickly.

He was stuck with the credit for the kill. But then another thought struck him. How could a county magistrate fail to recognize Qi Clan standard equipment? And why had he not claimed the credit for himself? After a moment's thought, Yang Fan understood. The magistrate must have known all along that the stronghold lord was from the Qi Clan. By giving me the credit, he had solved the bandit problem without provoking the Qi Clan directly. A county magistrate was no fool. Yang Fan decided to confront him directly.

He was not about to be made a scapegoat.

"Magistrate, you must have known the stronghold lord was from the Qi Clan. Passing the blame to me is not exactly fair. I will go to the prefect and explain the truth."

"Hundred Commander, wait! Hear me out!" The magistrate stepped forward quickly and grabbed his arm, his expression turning serious.

"You are right. That bandit lord was indeed a member of the Qi Clan, one of the Western Province's most powerful families. And he is not the only one. Half of the staff in this very county office are Qi Clan informants. The Qi Clan is one of the nine great noble houses of the empire. They have ruled the Western Province for centuries, their influence permeating every county, every office, every market. They are deeply entrenched and nearly impossible to uproot." Yang Fan's heart sank further.

He had left the starting village and immediately stumbled into a power struggle between the imperial clan and one of the empire's most powerful families. The magistrate paused, his gaze drifting to the distant sky. His voice carried the quiet authority of the imperial house.

"But remember this: the Qi Clan are still subjects of the empire, not its masters. The Western Province has always been imperial territory. You have been granted the rank of Hundred Commander by the imperial court. You are a legitimate officer. No matter how powerful the Qi Clan may be, they would never dare to openly kill an imperial official and challenge the throne directly." Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Yang Fan understood.

The magistrate was no ordinary official. He was a loyalist planted by the imperial family in this border county. The fall of the Black Snake stronghold was not just a bandit suppression; it was a covert operation against Qi Clan influence. The magistrate continued.

"In recent years, the Qi Clan's ambitions have grown unchecked. They have been eliminating loyal officials, installing their own people, and monopolizing resources, all in an effort to seize full control of the Western Province. But the empire has stood for millennia. We will not stand by while a vassal family carves out its own kingdom. As an imperial officer and a citizen of the realm, it is your duty to stand with the throne and help stabilize the Western Province." A system notification appeared.

[The magistrate of Baishi County has issued a faction quest: Join the Imperial Royal Faction.] [Accept?] Yang Fan weighed the options quickly. The empire looked peaceful on the surface, but beneath it, rival factions clashed constantly. And it was precisely this chaos that generated high-level quests for players. As for joining the imperial faction, there was no need to hesitate.

Leaving the starting village and immediately gaining access to the most powerful faction in the realm was an opportunity no one would refuse. Yang Fan accepted without a second thought.

"Excellent! A true loyalist!" The magistrate beamed with satisfaction, his eyes gleaming with approval.

"A dragon rises from the sea, a phoenix soars on the wind! In the years to come, the empire will face its darkest, most chaotic era. But from chaos come heroes. Seize the moment, and you will become a legend of the nine provinces!" Listening to the magistrate's grand promises, Yang Fan shook his head inwardly. This man was a master of rhetoric, skilled at deflecting blame, wielding influence, and making grand promises. It was no wonder he had kept his position for so long.

Yang Fan resolved not to be swayed by empty words. His investigation quest alone had already entangled him with the Qi Clan. If he took on more dangerous missions for the imperial faction, he would likely end up dead before he knew it. He had already gained a full Bronze set, the rank of Hundred Commander, and the backing of the imperial clan. Most players were still struggling to become mere soldiers, while he had leaped far ahead. His top priority now was simple: level up. At level 6, his stats were far too low.

He needed to reach level 10 to equip his new gear and truly unlock his potential. With that plan in mind, he cut off the magistrate's rambling and asked about the epic quest, specifically whether he knew anyone named Ying Yao. The magistrate shook his head and launched into another long speech, clearly about to assign another quest. Yang Fan was not about to take it. He made a quick excuse and slipped out of the county office. Once outside, he decided to find a good grinding spot. But then he paused.

He could not stay near Baishi County. The Qi Clan had been outmaneuvered this time, and they would not take it lying down. The easiest target for their retaliation would be him. They might not strike openly, but they could easily send assassins. And there were still loyalists from the stronghold who might be lurking nearby, waiting for revenge.

Although the magistrate is a member of the imperial family, the heavens are high, and the emperor is far away, so he does not dare to offend the Qi too much; the magistrate was cunning enough not to eliminate them all. For all he knew, they were already lying in wait outside the county walls. He could not afford to be careless. He could not treat this like just another game. His best option was to head south, to the Southern Province, where the War Goose Guild was active.

As an affiliated member, he could call on them for help if things got dangerous. A grin spread across his face.

"Perfect. You can chase me all the way to the Southern Province if you dare."