"I am endlessly grateful for your generosity, Governor Sun. However, if Envoy Nie had not possessed a keen eye for talent and promoted me beyond the usual process, I fear I would still be languishing in Changshan County, never having achieved what I have today.

Envoy Nie did me the great kindness of recognizing my worth. I am a man who puts faith and righteousness first, who believes in repaying kindness. Therefore... I must regretfully decline your generous offer, Governor Sun. I ask for your forgiveness."

His immediate refusal made Sun Yuzhi’s brow furrow, and a flash of displeasure crossed her face:

"Chen Sheng, you need to think this through. Refusing my offer means you’ll miss your chance at this Blood Spirit Jade Marrow. This item is not only precious, it is exceedingly rare. If you pass up this opportunity, finding another suitable one will be no easy task.

Is it really worth giving up a tangible opportunity for some vague notion of gratitude?"

At this, she leaned forward slightly, the imposing swell of her chest adding to the pressure, and said in a low voice:

"Chen Sheng, you wouldn’t want to... be unable to ever obtain this Blood Spirit Jade Marrow, would you?"

As the delicate scent wafted over to him, Chen Sheng’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

’Those words, that tone... It all seems so... familiar.’

He seemed to recall saying something similar to Madam Yang.

He just never imagined he’d hear such words from Sun Siniang.

But his expression remained firm, and he declared in a loud, clear voice:

"Even if you rescind your offer because of this, Governor, I will have no regrets."

With that, Chen Sheng bowed deeply.

"If that is all, I will take my leave."

"Wait!"

Seeing Chen Sheng’s unwavering resolve as he turned to leave, Sun Yuzhi immediately called out to stop him.

At that moment, she was filled with a mix of emotions. There was the frustration and anger of failing to persuade him, but there was also a deeper appreciation and respect for his character.

According to her intelligence, Chen Sheng was indeed a man of great loyalty and integrity. Even his former superior, Wu Kuang, now the County Captain of Changshan, was full of praise for his character.

"Do you have further instructions, Governor?" Chen Sheng stopped, his eyes cast downward.

"You truly don’t want this Blood Spirit Jade Marrow?" Sun Yuzhi stared at him intently, asking word by word.

"The Blood Spirit Jade Marrow is vital to my cultivation, but it is not enough to make me betray my core principles." Chen Sheng’s expression was grave, his tone final.

Sun Yuzhi fell silent, merely gazing at Chen Sheng. Her sharp eyes seemed to want to pierce right through to his soul. After a long moment, she gave a soft snort, a sound that was part resignation, part relief.

"Fine. Since I promised you a chance before the battle, and I am not one to go back on my word."

With that said, she paced back behind her desk and picked up the jade box holding the Blood Spirit Jade Marrow. Her tone returned to its previous chill:

"Thirty li south of Ning’an Prefecture City, there is a place called Shuimuyue Nunnery. Within it is a nun by the name of Jing’an, with whom I have an old grudge. Back then, due to the intervention of an old acquaintance, and the fact that she crippled her own cultivation to enter the Buddhist Sect, I made an agreement not to take her life with my own hands.

The agreement stipulated that if I wished to settle this grudge in the future, I could dispatch a subordinate of mine, using a Buddhist Cultivation Technique, to challenge her chosen successor. If the person I send is victorious, she must willingly return with me to the Jingwu Bureau to face justice and confess her crimes."

As she said this, she gently pushed the jade box across the desk toward him, her gaze fixed on Chen Sheng.

"Your Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique is already quite advanced, making you arguably the strongest person in Ning’an below the rank of Earth Fiend. You will go to Shuimuyue Nunnery and bring Nun Jing’an back to the Jingwu Bureau.

Do that, and this Blood Spirit Jade Marrow is yours."

Chen Sheng’s eyes hardened. He immediately bowed and responded in a solemn voice:

"This subordinate obeys!"

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