The setting of 《Kyushu》 borrows from history. To make it easier for players to understand, the Six Ministers (Tai Zai, Tai Zong, Tai Shi, Tai Zhu, Tai Shi, Tai Bu) are set as the Emperor’s subordinates, and the Five Officials (Si Tu, Si Ma, Si Kong, Si Shi, Si Kou) are set as the feudal lords’ subordinates, their functions equivalent to the six ministries.

The Si Kou in Xishi City is a high-ranking official in the Wu Kingdom who is in charge of punishment.

It seems this is a follow-up to the petty thief who stole the wine.

Pharmacist Linglong crossed the beautiful corridor, bypassed the small pond of lotus flowers, and waited under the eaves for an announcement.

【Butler】: Sir, Pharmacist Linglong requests an audience.

【Si Kou】: Let her in.

The female doctor in coarse cloth clothes walked into the room and bowed as instructed by the game: 【Greetings, Sir Si Kou】

【Si Kou】: Do you know why this official seeks you?

【Please choose your reply】:

1. I don’t know, please enlighten me, sir.
2. I have some guesses; it’s probably related to the incident a few days ago.
3. If you don’t know why you’re looking for me, how would I know?
4. Hah, you dog official, what good could you possibly have?

Ying Long: …

What else could she choose? Only option 2 fits her persona.

【Si Kou】: Indeed. A few days ago, you sent a petty thief to the government office. After interrogation, he admitted that the secret recipe was fabricated. He was envious of Chun Niang’s winery’s business and fabricated such lies. You weren’t deceived by him, you are very clever.

【Your reply is】:

Mouth: [I don’t dare to take credit][It’s nothing][I’ve always been this smart][I don’t believe you]

Heart: [He’s absolutely right][As expected of me][There must be something fishy about this][This is bad, it’s best to stay out of it]

Choose one answer for the mouth and one for the heart.

Ying Long chose: I don’t dare to take credit, there must be something fishy about this.

The Si Kou seemed very satisfied and started making some polite but somewhat meaningless remarks. After a brief exchange of formalities, he said: 【Young lady, you are talented. Would you be willing to serve under me?】

【Your reply is】:

Mouth: [I don’t want to be burdened by official duties. I’d rather be a carefree hermit][I don’t dare to accept, let me go back and think about it][A scholar dies for his confidant. Since Sir Si Kou has commanded me, I will obey without hesitation.]

Heart: [Stay out of trouble, lest you implicate the sect][Delay it, find out the situation first][Knowing there’s a tiger in the mountain, I’ll still head towards it. I want to see what kind of conspiracy is involved.]

Ying Long originally planned to choose to delay it, but on second thought, this answer was too conservative and didn’t seem clever enough.

So she agreed without hesitation and went straight for it.

【Si Kou】: Excellent! This official likes smart people! Rest assured, I will not mistreat you. The Wu-Yue war is about to begin, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to make merit. Let me arrange a good position for you.

【Your reply is】:

1. Kneel down, “Thank you, sir.”
2. Bow, “Thank you, sir.”
3. Reach into your sleeve, “Thank you for your concern, sir.”

Ying Long clicked her tongue.

When she did the main storyline before, although there were various choices, basically, choosing the righteous path was correct. Even if she randomly clicked, the rewards seemed to be the same, only the NPC’s favorability differed.

But look at this newly triggered adventure plot; it’s completely different.

She chose option 3.

A window popped up, asking her to pay an item.

Ying Long looked at her empty inventory; she didn’t even have a silver coin, only boar tusks and the like.

Except for the pearl.

After a moment of contemplation, she gave the rare pearl she obtained.

【Si Kou】: (Shocked) There is such a thing in the world? You… are excellent.

[Si Kou favorability +100]

[You completed the hidden side quest·Offering Treasure]

【Si Kou】: This official will not mistreat you. Wait for further instructions.

【Pharmacist Linglong】: Yes, my lord.

The conversation ended, and the female doctor was sent out of the mansion.

Ying Long was wondering whether to go back and continue farming monsters when an email arrived.

【Private Message】Si Kou: From now on, you must serve the king and the Wu Kingdom well.

Attachment: [Portrait][Land Deed]

【System】Ambition to conquer the world, to be a marquis! Congratulations to Pharmacist Linglong for obtaining the [Rank 7] Gong Da Fu title, enjoying 5 hectares of land, and unlocking the guild function.

【Region】War Correspondent: Grass?

【Region】Pantheon Recruitment: ???

【Region】Gongzi Wushuang: OMG OMG How did she do that? I just started doing military merit quests, and I just got to Gong Shi.

【Region】World’s Most Handsome Man: She’s hacking. Report her.

Ying Long also had question marks above her head.

She was very familiar with Kyushu’s rank system, which was based on the Qin Dynasty’s military merit system: level 1 Gong Shi, level 2 Shang Zhao, level 3 Zan Niao, level 4 Bu Geng, level 5 Da Fu, level 6 Guan Da Fu, level 7 Gong Da Fu… up to level 20 Che Hou. Marquises receive fiefdoms and can start a faction alliance, the main force in later guild battles.

To obtain military ranks, players need to complete various faction quests, accumulating merit slowly. Only at level 7 Gong Da Fu can they obtain a fiefdom and the right to establish a guild.

This is a very well-restored aspect of 《Kyushu》, but it has also drawn criticism, considering the conditions too high. However, joining a guild only requires level 1 Gong Shi; level 7 is only for the guild leader—after all, commoners raising armies doesn’t fit the feudal system; commoners can only serve.

She never expected that bribery could lead to such a quick rise to the top.

Corruption! Corruption!

Ying Long opened her character information. As expected, her identity level had become “Shu Shi,” belonging to the Shi class.

So fast. Although disciples of the Hundred Schools were originally reserve members of the Shi class, they usually need to complete some main storylines and gain chivalry reputation to be promoted. She should have been directly promoted after obtaining the title.

Now she can learn 【Qi Shield】.

Fearing that she might miss the opportunity, Ying Long consumed reputation to learn the manual before collecting her portrait and land deed. The former is an ID card, used once, and the latter is a one-time consumable item required to create a guild.

Private messages flooded in.

【Private Message】Wan Ren Di: You can create a guild? How did you do it?

【Private Message】Pharmacist Linglong: A lucky encounter, cannot be replicated.

【Private Message】Wan Ren Di: I believe you. Name your price.

【Private Message】Pharmacist Linglong: [Land Deed], untradeable, only I can create and transfer.

【Private Message】Wan Ren Di: How much do you want?

Ying Long didn’t reply to him, sending the same item information to Tie Ma Qiu Feng.

He had already asked several times. After reading it, he said: 【It can’t be traded, right? Then can you create it and transfer it?】

Ying Long had already arrived at the royal city and found Si Shi, the official historically responsible for confirming noble ranks and arranging the seating of court officials. In the game, he’s the NPC for creating guilds.

She checked the specific requirements for creating a guild: 【Transfer is possible in three days】

【Private Message】Tie Ma Qiu Feng: Name your price.

【Private Message】Pharmacist Linglong: You guys bid.

She didn’t pay much attention to Tie Ma Qiu Feng, replying to several other guilds’ inquiries in the same way, asking them to bid.

The first guild in the game doesn’t mean much to ordinary players, but it’s a good selling point for guilds planning to make a name for themselves in 《Kyushu》. Especially since it’s unlikely anyone will reach rank 7 military rank in the short term, it can attract a large number of ordinary players who want to join a guild.

Ying Long initially estimated it could sell for four figures; five figures were unlikely. Everyone was still uncertain about the future of Kyushu, and the bosses were planning to wait and see.

Pantheon, because of Wan Ren Di’s scandal, was likely to bid the highest.

This proved to be true.

【Private Message】Wan Ren Di: 1500

Simultaneously.

【Private Message】Tie Ma Qiu Feng: 1000 for guild transfer, if you don’t leave the guild within a month, another 1000.

【Private Message】Tie Ma Qiu Feng: [Raises fork] 2000 RMB, deal?

【Private Message】Pharmacist Linglong: ??

【Private Message】Tie Ma Qiu Feng: I told my friends from 《Dao Jian》, they’re also bored there and want to change games, so we’ll definitely continue fighting Pantheon. We can’t let them get the upper hand. You’re the only one who can create a guild now, and casual players will definitely come and take a look.

【Private Message】Pharmacist Linglong: You like telling the truth.

【Private Message】Tie Ma Qiu Feng: Anyone with a brain can figure that out. How much is Little Wan offering?

【Private Message】Pharmacist Linglong: A little higher than yours.

She glanced at her email.

Wan Ren Di raised the price: 【2000, final offer】

【Private Message】Tie Ma Qiu Feng: 3000 all-inclusive, and I’ll assign Bei Ya to you as a blue potion supplier. He just learned Chang Qing Jing.

【Private Message】Pharmacist Linglong: …

Ying Long looked at the other guilds; many offered 500 or 800, Yan Yu Ge offered 1000, and that was the highest.

After all, anyone can create a guild, it’s just a matter of time. Maybe a hardcore player could do it in three days.

She replied to Tie Ma Qiu Feng: 【Okay ^_^】