Chapter 171: Mobei Six Doors

After leaving Chun Shen Valley, the two of them followed Qi Miaoxuan's map and headed towards the area named Changling County.

The siblings traveled light and were both skilled martial artists. They made very fast progress on the journey, reaching their destination in just five days.

Changling County is located on the border of Qingzhou, adjacent to Jinlan Prefecture in Yunzhou and Liu County in Hongzhou, making it a tri-state border region. However, instead of benefiting from its crossroads location to become a commercial hub, it is exceptionally desolate.

Its geographical location is poor; it suffers from severe water scarcity and perennial droughts, leading to widespread desertification. Constant sandstorms make it exceedingly bleak. This section of the territory is also known as Mobei (Desert North).

The wanted criminal Feilong, whom Gu Mo killed to obtain the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, was an evil master who had terrorized the Mobei region for many years.

Barren mountains, like an interlocking chain of jagged teeth, tightly held the ancient city at the mercy of the northwestern winds. Whenever the northerly wind swept through with grit, the city would be plunged into a hazy, yellowish gloom.

"Brother, we're here!"

At noon that day, Gu Chutong shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice immediately swallowed by the howling sandstorm. A gauze band covered her mouth and nose. She pointed ahead to a dilapidated city, vaguely visible through the sandstorm.

As soon as she spoke, the siblings pressed their legs against their horses' flanks. Their steeds neighed, lifted all four hooves, and galloped towards the city, kicking up clouds of yellow sand behind them.

As they galloped to the city gates, they saw a line of Six Fan Doors constables standing rigidly, their figures unwavering in the sandstorm. The leader was none other than Zhuo Qingfeng.

With sword-like brows and piercing eyes, he had a stern expression. His Six Fan Doors uniform flapped loudly in the wind. Seeing Gu Mo and his sister appear, he immediately dismounted and hurried out to greet them.

As soon as Gu Mo dismounted, Zhuo Qingfeng rushed over and gave him a big bear hug, exclaiming excitedly, "Brother Gu, you're finally here! I've been waiting for you with bated breath!"

Gu Mo replied, "My apologies, Brother Zhuo, for making you wait. My sister and I aren't familiar with Qingzhou, so we took many detours along the way. Otherwise, we would have arrived yesterday."

Zhuo Qingfeng hooked his arm around Gu Mo's shoulder and said, "Heh heh, it's fine as long as you're here. Come on, come on, I've prepared a welcoming feast for you in the city. My future now depends on you, old brother."

"Brother Zhuo," Gu Chutong asked, "What exactly is going on? Your letter wasn't very clear; it only said you needed help catching some wanted criminals. What kind of criminals are they that they're causing you such difficulty and even affecting your future?"

Zhuo Qingfeng explained, "Sister Chutong, it's not about a single wanted criminal, but a whole group. I need to leverage your brother's reputation as the 'Number One Mercenary in the World' to help me ascend to prominence."

Gu Mo asked, surprised, "When did I become the 'Number One Mercenary in the World'?"

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled, "Is there a problem with that title? You are the Great Hero of Yunzhou, one of the Ten Great Masters of the Qian Kingdom, and a recognized Grandmaster of this era. And your identity is that of a mercenary. Among all the mercenaries in the world today, who can surpass you? If you're not the Number One Mercenary, then who is?"

Gu Mo was speechless.

Gu Chutong murmured, "Brother, what Brother Zhuo said actually makes a lot of sense. While there are grandmasters who are mercenaries, there aren't any among the top ten masters of any country who are mercenaries!"

Gu Mo waved his hand. "Let's not talk about that. Tell me about your situation!"

Zhuo Qingfeng said, "Do you remember I told you before that I came to Qingzhou with a mission?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I know. Your master arranged for you to come here to gain experience and secure your promotion to Commander when you return."

Zhuo Qingfeng sighed slightly. "Actually, it's not exactly about 'gaining experience,' but rather a significant opportunity. My mission this time is extremely challenging, but the rewards are also very high. If I succeed, it won't just be a quick promotion to Commander; it will be a huge accomplishment that will greatly assist my future advancements, possibly even getting my name noted directly by the Governor-General's Office in the capital."

Gu Mo didn't fully understand the workings of the official bureaucracy, but he could tell that this mission was crucial for Zhuo Qingfeng, likely a pivotal point in his career that could determine whether he soared to great heights and secured a bright future.

"Mobei!"

Standing with his hands behind his back, Zhuo Qingfeng's fingertips lightly traced the hilt-wrap of the long sword at his waist. He spoke solemnly, "Mobei is located at the jagged intersection of Hong, Qing, and Yun states. Its shape resembles a tripod, yet it is naturally divided by the Yinshan mountain range and Juyan Lake, forming a unique triangular buffer zone. The hidden dangers were sown when Emperor Shizu abolished the Mobei Prefecture administration in the early years of his reign, dividing its territory among the three states. Seven counties and thirty-eight towns are scattered across the Gobi Desert like chess pieces, and the authorities of all three states have merely paid lip service to their duties with a 'loose rein' policy."

The sandstorm swept over the battlements, leaving mottled streaks on Zhuo Qingfeng's dark cape. "You see how this Gobi Desert alternates with saline-alkali land, and oases are scattered like stars, with settlements often hundreds of miles apart. Local powerful families keep private armies, and bandit strongholds are dotted everywhere. What's worse, in recent years, a branch of a Western Regions evil cult has even taken root here. The former Hongzhou governor once said, 'Mobei is difficult to govern, not because there's no will, but because there's truly no capability.' That statement is quite apt."

The group led their horses into the city, startling several sand owls on the city walls. Zhuo Qingfeng's eyes reflected the desolate streets, and his voice suddenly turned chilling. "The most terrifying are those evil cultists and unorthodox practitioners who, taking advantage of this lawless void, have turned Mobei into their playground. Village massacres and clan exterminations occur frequently. Not to mention the common people, even officials in Mobei live in constant fear. In Changling County alone, two county magistrates have been assassinated in the past twenty years."

Gu Mo caught on to the implication. "So, your mission this time is to establish a Six Fan Doors presence in Mobei?"

"Not establish," Zhuo Qingfeng clarified, "but to integrate the Six Fan Doors. In reality, Six Fan Doors branches have always existed in the counties of Mobei, but due to the unique nature of the region, they've been Six Fan Doors in name only. They could neither suppress the evil cults and unorthodox practitioners of Mobei, nor were they free from the influence of local powerful families, nor were they given importance by the Six Fan Doors headquarters. Hence, it's always been a chaotic mess."

Gu Mo said gravely, "Then your mission will likely be difficult to complete. This is a historical issue that has persisted for over three hundred years in the Qian Kingdom. It's impossible that no one has thought about solving it, but the fact that it remains unresolved indicates that it's extremely difficult to handle."

Zhuo Qingfeng responded, "Of course it's difficult to handle. Local powerful families and martial arts sects all have official backing, so direct military action is not an option, and we wouldn't be able to win anyway. You should know that many local strongholds are legally permitted by the imperial court to maintain private armies. Clashing head-on with these people is impossible unless I'm sent a large army.

"Of course, that's not the hardest part. The most difficult issue is the blurred boundaries between the three states, which can easily lead to cross-border complications and halt investigations. You're aware of the government's restrictions on handling cases across borders."

Gu Mo certainly knew. Not to mention across states, even during the previous cat demon case, Zhuo Qingfeng stirred up significant trouble by arranging a cross-county investigation to help him, which ultimately required Zhuo Qingfeng's master to resolve.

For that matter, Zhuo Qingfeng was even beaten like a dog by his master.

"So what will you do?" Gu Chutong asked, puzzled. "Brother Zhuo, didn't you say your master sent you here to gain experience? This sounds more like he's given you a hot potato!"

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled, "That's why I said this isn't purely about 'gaining experience,' but an opportunity. If I succeed, it won't just be a simple promotion to Commander; it will genuinely be a smooth ascent to great heights.

"Furthermore, if the task truly had no difficulty and was effortless, just as you understand 'gaining experience,' then its value wouldn't be significant. It would simply be my master pulling strings for me. But my master doesn't have only me; there are others who are stronger than me, others who are smarter than me. Why would he go to such great lengths for me? I need to demonstrate some ability, don't I?"

Gu Chutong thought for a moment. "That's true; rotten mud can't be plastered onto a wall, and if it can be, it's not rotten mud. But surely your master must have given you some assistance, right? This is a problem that hasn't been solved in centuries!"

Zhuo Qingfeng laughed. "It's not as exaggerated as centuries; it's more like a problem from the last two or three decades. Mobei wasn't this chaotic before. In the past twenty to thirty years, frequent warfare has depleted the national treasury, and local governments have found themselves increasingly stretched thin, which is why Mobei has become more and more turbulent.

"However, for my current assignment in Mobei, my master helped me solve the biggest challenge: cross-border case handling. My master proposed a method where the boundaries remain unchanged, but the Mobei Six Fan Doors would operate independently.

"Simply put, Mobei's existing local governments — counties and prefectures — remain unchanged. Only the Six Fan Doors will become independent, no longer under the jurisdiction of local county and prefecture authorities. The Six Fan Doors headquarters from the three states will directly dispatch elites to take over the Six Fan Doors' authority and establish a Six Fan Doors prefectural-level yamen in Mobei. This yamen will be directly accountable to the three-state Six Fan Doors headquarters and possess significant autonomy.

"My master almost used up all his favors for this. That's why I've been traveling between Qingzhou and Hongzhou these past few months—to facilitate this matter. After all, my master's influence alone wouldn't be enough; I also needed to gain recognition from the high-ranking officials of the Six Fan Doors in both Qingzhou and Hongzhou."

Gu Mo smiled slightly. "It seems you've succeeded."

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded. "Yes, it's done. I am now the Inspector of the Mobei Six Fan Doors. Qingzhou Six Fan Doors and Hongzhou Six Fan Doors have each assigned two individuals: one as a Commander and one as a Deputy Commander. The Six Fan Doors from the three states arranged for elites to form this branch."

Gu Mo asked, "So, why did you call me here?"

Zhuo Qingfeng explained, "For the Mobei Six Fan Doors to establish order in Mobei, there are three main challenges. First, the local powerful families and martial arts sects. Second, the vast geographical area makes administration difficult. Third, there are too many evil masters who are running rampant and arrogant.

"We have our own ways of handling the first two problems. However, the third challenge would tie up too much of our manpower. If we don't suppress the arrogance of those evil cultists and unorthodox practitioners, our Six Fan Doors won't be able to establish authority. But if we focus solely on suppressing them, we will face a severe shortage of personnel. Therefore, we must be swift, precise, and ruthless; we must build the reputation of the Six Fan Doors and curb the audacity of the evil elements in the shortest possible time.

"That's why I invited you here—I want to ask for your help in fighting. Our Six Fan Doors will fully pursue the most notorious evil masters in Mobei. However, once we make a move, we must succeed in apprehending them. Otherwise, we'll become a laughingstock before our reputation is even established. I asked you to come here to be the Six Fan Doors' ultimate backup."

Gu Mo slowly said, "So, your request for my help means that your Six Fan Doors will fully assist me in apprehending wanted criminals, providing all kinds of information, including manpower, material resources, and financial support?"

"Yes."

"This is a favor I absolutely must help with!"