Black Mountain City, situated in the harsh Northern Territory, is known for its fierce customs. Plus, with 'mountains high and the emperor far,' the city is indeed a mix of good and bad.
The officials, with their official bodies, tasked with capturing demons, manage to maintain a stern order in the Inner City, preventing anyone from defying it, reaching the limits of their abilities.
As for the "Three Rings" districts surrounding the Inner City, the farther they spread out, the more chaotic the rules become.
The closest 'First Ring' to the Inner City is mostly inhabited by wealthy merchants with backgrounds, junior clerks, or relatives who have intricate connections with the Inner City's Martial Arts Hall.
This area is closest to the Inner City, and even the cobblestones on the ground appear to be new and smooth.
But as one extends outward, starting from the 'Second Ring,' the farther out, the more rundown the places become.
Ji Xia's house is located in the 'Second Ring,' Cyan Stone Lane.
More than half a year ago, if it weren't for sending his third brother, Ji Han, to the Inner City at the Cangying Martial Arts Hall for martial arts training, the family would have had some property.
Unfortunately, by today, the savings accumulated over many years were mostly spent on the Martial Arts Hall, with a small part gambled for future prospects, now impoverished.
If not for the 'Reincarnation Celestial Book'...
He might not even have a chance to turn his life around.
The world is harsh, with tigers, leopards, and wolves wanting to devour him, leaving no bones or blood.
However...
He unexpectedly found a way to survive in such desperate situations!
Then, afterward,
someone will have sleepless nights.
...
Black Mountain City, Government Office.
This is the core of the 'First Ring,' and beyond it lies the 'Inner City' district, teeming with the entire city's noble clans and those practicing martial arts, the extraordinary martial artists.
In tall buildings, the constable check-in point of the government office, on the right side of a small room.
Jiang Zhou, dressed in blue clothes, with a waist sword, neatly combed hair, a humble face, and eyes bright and piercing, looked at himself in the mirror and gently exhaled.
"From today onward,"
"I will no longer need to risk my life in those deep forests for those two taels of silver as a lowly hunter."
Recalling the 'big brother' whom he had suddenly slashed with his knife, cutting into the cliff's slope, and who still couldn't believe it when turning back, his eyes showed a trace of guilt.
"Brother Ji, I'm sorry."
"Even though your skills were excellent, and you handled all the materials and ambush, I was just assisting in catching the White-Browed Monkey, but..."
"There was only one chance."
"People must put themselves first, or heaven and earth will condemn them!"
"If you hadn't returned, it would have been better if you had gone somewhere far away, at least leaving behind some incense... I could have looked after Ji Han a bit on your behalf."
"But when you came back, not only would you die, your brother heard about the rumors, and if he achieves something in martial arts, my brother, I will be sleepless too."
With Jiang Zhou's mumbling coming to an end,
soon, this glimpse of guilt disappeared.
When he put on the constable hat properly and wiped away the crocodile tears from his pupils,
his face quickly returned to the calm, amiable look, smiling at everyone, seemingly harmless.
Then he quickly pushed open the door of the small room, heading along the corridor to meet his superior—Squad Leader Liu.
A squad leader, who can manage around ten constables, the entire Black Mountain City's Outer Ring District government office, has merely a handful of such figures, each with 'Martial Gate Foundation Establishment,' having made some progress.
Inner City's security is handled by the 'Demon Hunting Department' and the Military Department.
In Outer Ring Districts like these, dealing with ordinary gang fights, the squad leader and constables almost have no match.
Calling it 'covering the sky with one hand' might sound exaggerated, but it's not exaggerated at all!
When Jiang Zhou pushed open the door to Liu Squad Leader's room, his face slightly lowered.
"Here?"
Inside, sitting upright and sipping tea, Liu Tieyi heard the commotion, glanced casually, nodded slightly:
"Skin bright, bones resilient, each movement has a good sense of distance."
"Seems being a 'constable,' with everyone's fight in the 'medicinal bath,' you've absorbed well, your aptitude is not top-notch, but you can be regarded as above average."
"At this pace, in three months, you'll achieve Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, earning the title of 'martial artist.'"
Jiang Zhou grew more respectful:
"Without the master's cultivation, Jiang Zhou would be nowhere today."
Hearing the flattery, Liu Tieyi chuckled lightly:
"Assisting the Inner City 'Demon Hunting Department' officials in capturing demons, missing a few people, I just gave someone below a chance."
"You catching it is your skill."
"The White-Browed Monkey exchanged for a 'constable' position, ten years' family wealth, exchanged for a 'medicinal bath,' anywhere it's that price, whether I cultivate or not has no relation."
"Jiang Zhou, last night I heard some rumors saying you are of bad character, the hearsay, do not spread it too much."
"With your skills, your future should not be limited to this."
Thud, thud, thud.
Liu Tieyi tapped the table with bent fingers.
Just this action nearly scared Jiang Zhou into a cold sweat.
Ji Xia entered the city yesterday afternoon, near sunset, the truth about the mountain affair had just begun to spread, and already there was a sound of it here.
If it gets spread widely...
How outrageous would this be?
He could gain this 'constable' position not only due to catching the White-Browed Monkey but also because of Jiang Family's ten years of accumulated wealth, all offered to Liu Squad Leader, thus obtaining this position!
Otherwise, how could it have been so simple?
Lack of constables, the White-Browed Monkey from the mountain, decades of family wealth.
All three must be present!
Jiang Zhou gambled everything to get this position; how can he let it be overturned by some rumors?
Luckily, he had prepared in advance.
Thinking of this, Jiang Zhou was confident:
"Rest assured, Master."
"It's just some rumors, without 'witnesses,' no matter how they spread, it's nothing but a baseless speculation."
Liu Tieyi looked at Jiang Zhou in front of him, raised his head, and smiled:
"So, that's good."
"It seems you have understood the principles, so now I'm relieved."
"It's getting late, let's head to the government office for check-in, wear your blue clothes, and go to the 'Cyan Stone Lane,' where you lived for over ten years, to take office quickly."
"Also show some neighbors what it means to return home in glory."
These few understated words made Jiang Zhou's face flush, feeling incredibly excited, with fists clenched, immediately responded with 'um.'
He waited so long, wasn't it for today?!
"Dong dong dong!!!"
At this time, suddenly an urgent bell sound echoed outside, causing Liu Tieyi to instinctively frown.
"In the absence of incident, why ring the bell?"
But he quickly forgot about it, turning to engage in conversation with this newly recruited subordinate whom he was quite satisfied with.
However...
"Bang bang!"
Shortly after.
A knock on the door interrupted their discussion.
Liu Tieyi gestured, indicated to the comer that they could enter and speak.
And when the constable dressed in the same blue attire as Jiang Zhou outside entered the hall, they hesitated for a moment before speaking to Liu Tieyi:
"Squad Leader Liu, outside the government office, someone wants to ascend to 'constable' by punching the bell, even alerting the Department Head..."
"Now, they command the two of you to go over."
"The person seeking promotion by punching the bell happens to be from Cyan Stone Lane."
At this point, the constable gave Jiang Zhou an odd look:
"Seems to be called..."
"Ji Xia."
These simple two words.
Made Jiang Zhou's expression freeze completely.
"Impossible!"