NOVPUBFor him, naturally, the best case would be not to leave the Chen State at all.
If not for the difficulty in declining, he wouldn’t even have wanted to come to the Chen State.
Song Dongyang’s arrangements, however, were just to his liking.
Yet after Song Dongyang finished making arrangements, despite Tang Ji’s repeated dissuasions, he still rapidly flew eastward with seven Enforcers after carefully reviewing the intelligence and maps of the four nations.
Moments later, they disappeared from everyone’s sight.
Tang Ji’s expression became slightly grave:
"Master Song is too hasty. The several from the Diwu Hall are not skilled in magical combat. It would have been better to send a message to the Sect to request assistance from Tianyuan Hall... This is troublesome." 𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑝𝘶𝘣.𝑐𝘰𝘮
Wang Ba heard this and, although he also thought the same, it was not his place to agree.
But then he thought of Song Dongyang’s arrangements and promptly said:
"Martial Uncle Tang, about the accounts of the Ghost Market..."
"Accounts? Oh!"
Tang Ji came back to his senses, then stiffened slightly, belatedly turning his head to look at Wang Ba with a look of shock:
"You are... the Right Enforcer?!"
"No, that’s not right, aren’t you the same as them..."
Tang Ji subconsciously looked towards Lou Yi and the others beside him.
That’s right. They’re all Golden Core; they should all be Deacons, shouldn’t they? How could you be the Right Enforcer?
Tang Ji was utterly astonished.
Enforcer Li, with a smile on his face, said:
"Guardian Tang, you are unaware. Although the Right Enforcer is a Golden Core, he has made significant contributions to the Diwu Hall. The Ministers of each department, too, are very cooperative with the Right Enforcer. Hence, he was elected to serve concurrently as Vice Minister of two departments, as well as the position of the Right Enforcer for the Diwu Hall."
"However, the Right Enforcer has always been low-key, and since you, Guardian Tang, have been far away in the Chen State, it’s likely you haven’t heard about this."
Suddenly understanding, Tang Ji couldn’t help but look at Wang Ba, his gaze filled with complexity for a moment.
He had long noticed Wang Ba’s extraordinary talent.
It was he who strongly recommended him, which led Yao Wudi to take him as a disciple and finally sent Wang Ba to the Wanxiang Sect.
Yet, when he heard that Wang Ba had already risen to the position of Diwu Hall’s Right Enforcer, Tang Ji was still somewhat dazed.
How long had it been since he sent Wang Ba to the Sect?
A hundred years?
No, upon counting, it was probably only about forty or fifty years.
In such a short amount of time, while the Fragrance Plaque he meticulously crafted was still unfinished, this once unremarkable Foundation Establishment junior cultivator, Wang Ba, had already grown to such an extent...
Suddenly, a wave of emotion about the new generation surpassing the old surged in Tang Ji’s heart.
Then, looking at Wang Ba, half-jokingly and half-emotionally, he said:
"Right Enforcer... My apologies for the oversight."
"Martial Uncle, you flatter me too much. Don’t mind what Enforcer Li said; in front of you, I’m still that Wang Ba who set up a stall in the Ghost Market."
Wang Ba said with a casual laugh.
That single sentence brought Tang Ji back to the moment of their first meeting many years ago; they couldn’t help but share a knowing smile.
The slight estrangement from not having seen each other for decades vanished in an instant.
Tang Ji waved his hand and said:
"Let’s go, I’ll take you to check the accounts first. Later, when we’re done, you’ll have to tell me all about what you’ve been up to in the Sect over the years."
Wang Ba immediately responded with a smile.
Enforcer Li took the initiative to follow behind Wang Ba.
The group returned once again to the second level of the Ghost Market.
Wang Ba also saw the brocade-clad elderly man still serving as the Manager of the Ghost Market, Shang Li.
Yet decades had passed.
Shang Li appeared even more aged, and upon Wang Ba sweeping over with his Spiritual Sense, he found that the other was still at Perfect Foundation Establishment.
Seeing Wang Ba, especially since even a Nascent Soul Cultivator like Li Yingfu was following behind him, clearly treating Wang Ba with respect, Shang Li was immediately stunned.
"Go, hurry up and bring the accounts for your Martial Uncle Wang to examine," Tang Ji urged.
Shang Li looked bewildered, then called out to someone inside a side hall.
Soon, a cultivator with white hair came with the accounts.
However, the moment Wang Ba saw that cultivator, he too was stunned.
"Wen Yong?"
