When faced with a notoriously corrupt figure, if he were just an incompetent official, it might be easy to dismiss him. But unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—Heshen's level of talent matched his greed. Otherwise, how could he have risen so high in the imperial court, second only to the emperor himself? Letting such a figure slip away would undoubtedly be a huge loss of talent. Yet recruiting him might be akin to swallowing a ticking time bomb.
A single rat can spoil a whole pot of porridge.
Bringing the stink of corruption into Xuanhuang City would be a disaster. No one could predict what kind of tricks Heshen might pull if he gained actual power. Entrusting him with the city's finances would be like tossing a rat into a granary.
Just imagining that made Yi Tianxing's eyelids twitch violently. Recruiting such a notorious figure brought immense pressure. This was a double-edged sword—used well, it could be an enormous asset; used poorly, it could bring ruin to everyone involved.
Even Yi Tianxing found himself standing outside the shop, torn between advance and retreat.
"Has my lord perhaps heard of Heshen before?" asked Jia Xu, noticing Yi Tianxing's conflicted expression and making a guess.
"Heh… Let's go in. Let's meet this shopkeeper Heshen first," Yi Tianxing said with a smile, avoiding the question. Since they were already here, there was no reason to leave immediately. At the very least, they ought to see for themselves what this legendary corrupt figure was like.
As soon as they stepped into the shop, a short, chubby man with eyes like mung beans looked up and immediately beamed at the sight of Jia Xu.
"Oh! Isn't this Mister Jia? What brings you here today? And this is... the City Lord himself! What an honor to have the great Lord Yi grace my humble shop. Please, please—come in, both of you!"
The man was clearly Heshen. He recognized Yi Tianxing on sight—clearly familiar with his appearance. His enthusiasm only increased when he realized the city lord was visiting in person.
"Shopkeeper He, I apologize for the sudden visit," Yi Tianxing said with a nod, a glint of surprise flashing through his eyes.
The man before him was astonishingly familiar—he looked exactly like an actor who had once famously portrayed Heshen in Yi's previous life. The only difference was that this Heshen looked much younger, and there was a gleam of cunning in his eyes—undeniably the look of a shrewd man.
Heshen promptly hung a sign on the door: Temporarily Closed.
Returning inside, he led the two to a private booth, where he poured hot water and prepared a pot of tea, then offered each a cup.
"This is Pu'er tea, aged and rare. I bought it from an elderly gentleman for a hefty price—cost me quite a few Eternal Coins. But I love this stuff. This batch has been aged at least two or three hundred years, by my estimation. It's rare. Pu'er is good for the body—the older it is, the richer its aroma. One drinks not just tea, but the passage of time."
Heshen chuckled as he spoke, his demeanor calm and composed. Even facing the city lord, he was polite but not obsequious.
"Heshen… Lord He," Yi Tianxing said with a faint smile as he picked up the cup. "I never thought I'd meet you in person. This world really is full of surprises. Are you settling well here in Xuanhuang City?"
The aroma of the tea was strong. Taking a sip, bitterness bloomed on his tongue, followed by a mellow sweetness, and finally faded into a neutral, watery aftertaste.
Pu'er—aged, bitter, sweet, and finally bland.A tea of life.
Even without being a tea connoisseur, Yi Tianxing was impressed.
"A Pu'er tea aged for centuries... this is truly top-tier," said Jia Xu, smiling. "In my time, even ordinary tea was rare—something like this would've been unimaginable. Shopkeeper He, you really do have hidden treasures."
"It's said that in history, you were a colossal corrupt official. Rich beyond belief. What plans do you have now?" Yi Tianxing asked calmly.
"I won't deny that I was greedy," Heshen admitted easily. "Whenever I saw those silver ingots and gold bars, I told myself not to give in, not to take them. That it would end badly. But then the next time I saw them, I couldn't help myself. Call me greedy, fine—but don't say I bled the people dry. I never once demanded money directly from the common folk. What I took was from other officials' bribes. If I hadn't taken it, someone else would've. Better in my hands than in a fool's. At least while I was in office, the Ministry of Revenue never lacked for funds."
He spoke with a detached air, as though talking about someone else entirely. But he wasn't wrong—during his time, the empire's finances were solid. He truly had talent and knew where to draw the line. That's why even the emperor found him hard to replace.
"The higher-ups set the tone for the lower ranks," Yi Tianxing said. "Your greed became a signal for other officials—they saw they could get what they wanted through you, and the price was money. You may not have extorted the people yourself, but your actions drove others to do so. The suffering of the people, the spread of corruption, can't be separated from your influence. In officialdom, greed is the root of all evil."
"True," Heshen sighed. "How many truly see through the word greed?"
No matter how much wealth one amassed, in the end, it all turned to dust. What was the point?
Yi Tianxing smiled. "It seems you've gained some enlightenment here."
"This is the Eternal Continent," Heshen replied. "The old nations, dynasties, and ethnicities no longer mean anything. Being here means starting anew. All I want now is to run this little shop, make enough to support my cultivation, and live peacefully. I've come to see that money, so long as it's enough, is enough."
A former corrupt official claiming to be reformed—if anyone else had said it, it would've been laughable. But now, no one could laugh.
In the Eternal Continent, everyone had been reborn. The past no longer mattered. Here, one could choose a new path.
Jia Xu remained silent throughout the conversation, but it was clear from their words that Yi Tianxing knew a lot about Heshen—and Heshen, for his part, wasn't surprised to be recognized. Jia Xu was shocked: this chubby man really was the legendary corrupt official. And yet, he was no ordinary man.
"Indeed, those with real talent often have remarkable pasts," Jia Xu thought to himself.
Yi Tianxing finally spoke: "Would Shopkeeper He be willing to serve in Xuanhuang City? If you are, I assure you your position and title will match your talents."
Despite the risks, Yi Tianxing extended the offer. A person like Heshen was a double-edged sword—but this world offered everyone a new start. If he could accept someone like Cao Zhengchun, the infamous eunuch, why not Heshen?
"As long as they have ability, I'll use them," Yi Tianxing thought. "As long as they don't revert to old ways, nothing else matters."
But Heshen declined with a chuckle. "No need. I prefer the freedom of running my little shop. The intrigue and backstabbing of officialdom—I've seen too much of it. If you put me in charge of your Treasure Hall, I imagine I'd be the first person you'd worry about. Besides, Palace Master Xue Jin is doing an excellent job. I couldn't just take his position."
His words made it clear—he was politely refusing.
After lingering a while longer, Yi Tianxing and Jia Xu left the shop and strolled down the street.
"You really dared to consider using a corrupt official like that?" Jia Xu asked with a chuckle. "If he brings corruption with him, the damage won't be small."
"A man that greedy must have extraordinary talent," Yi Tianxing said calmly. "To be so powerful that even the emperor didn't dare kill him—there's only one man like that under heaven. If he's willing to follow me, I'll accept him. This is a new world, and everyone gets a fresh start. Life is about choices—and now, we all stand on a brand-new starting line. Why not give him a chance?"
He never imagined such a notorious figure would be hiding within the city. Clearly, Xuanhuang City still housed countless hidden experts—exiles with remarkable abilities.
"Judging from his words," Jia Xu said, "I don't believe he's completely ruled out the idea of serving. What he wants is status. Heshen has a deep obsession with officialdom. His words left a door open—he's still observing, still waiting."
Throughout the entire meeting, Jia Xu had remained quiet but observant, analyzing every expression and gesture. His conclusion was simple: Heshen's heart had not yet completely left the arena of power.