Face to Face

Looking at this vast Silver Wall, even the most experienced person would be shocked for a while.

This included Zhen Changzhi's son, Zhen Xiaohao, who had never known about this. Before, he only knew that he was a useless second-generation official and had even complained that his father didn't know how to be flexible. Other officials, whose ranks were lower than his father's, allowed their children to live in extravagance and debauchery, yet he had to live frugally and attend the same academy as commoners.

He never expected that his father was much more ruthless than those officials.

It's just...

Why didn't you say so earlier?

Good news: He discovered he was a rich second-generation.

Bad news: He wouldn't be for long.

Needless to say, this hidden silver would definitely be transported back to the National Treasury, and his family wouldn't get a single cent. If only his deceased father hadn't hidden it so deeply, he could have lived like a young master for a few more years. Now, after suffering poverty with his father for so many years, in the blink of an eye, his father was dead, and he would have to bear a huge stain, making it impossible to develop in the imperial court in the future...

As these thoughts flooded his mind, Zhen Xiaohao looked at his father's corpse lying behind the Silver Wall, and a trace of resentment unconsciously surfaced in his eyes, replacing the original grief.

Didn't spend a single tael of silver for so many years.

Hide, hide, hide.

What are you hiding, my grandma?

Of course, no one cared about his feelings.

Beside the Silver Wall, there was also a Jet-Black Box, its surface covered with complex array patterns. It looked like a consecrated magical artifact, not easily opened.

Ling Yuanbao picked up the box and tried the bronze key. As expected, it opened the lock on the box.

Clack.

The box opened, and inside there was only a yellowed book. She picked it up and flipped through it. From the writing, it seemed to be a Ledger. She didn't look further but locked the box again and held it in her hand.

"This is important evidence, I'll take it back to the Ministry of Justice for investigation," she said to Hu Tiehan, then looked at Liang Yue, "Thank you, the discovery today is very important."

"It's also to clear our own suspicions," Liang Yue said, "I hope the Ministry of Justice can solve the case soon and restore our brothers' innocence."

"We will do our best," Ling Yuanbao nodded heavily.

Looking at Liang Yue, her eyes held not only approval but also gratitude.

The amount of stolen silver seized was so vast that it was probably more than what the Ministry of Justice had confiscated in the past year, not to mention the Ledger that clearly held secrets. Even without solving the case, such a feat was enough to make her proud.

And all of this was thanks to the Subordinate Guard in front of her.

After a brief thought, she said another sentence to Liang Yue: "Do you want to come work for our Ministry of Justice? With your intelligence and talent, I can guarantee you'll become an Official Constable within a year, and it shouldn't be difficult to be promoted to Captain in the future."

"Ah?"

Ling Yuanbao's words stunned everyone from the Imperial Capital Guard and the Ministry of Justice present.

The relationships between the various government offices in the imperial court varied, and poaching was actually not uncommon.

When they saw talented individuals in other government offices, they would use various means to win them over for their own use, and the methods of winning them over were diverse.

Either openly or secretly, either directly or implicitly, perhaps with high positions and generous salaries, or perhaps with fine wine and beautiful women.

But absolutely no one was like Ling Yuanbao...

Sister, are you digging right in front of him?

Liang Yue looked at Old Hu, who instantly turned purple beside him, and couldn't help but feel a bit absurd. Who talks about changing jobs in front of their superior? How is this different from committing adultery in front of one's husband?

Of course, at this moment, Old Hu couldn't say anything.

"Ahem." Liang Yue cleared his throat and quickly replied, "Thank you, Captain Ling, for your kind offer. However, I haven't been completely cleared of suspicion yet, so it's not appropriate for me to join the Ministry of Justice. Besides, I have familiar brothers and a respected superior in the Imperial Capital Guard, so it's quite comfortable. I won't consider other places for now."

"What a pity. A talent like you is truly wasted serving as a Subordinate Guard here," Ling Yuanbao sighed, seemingly unaware that anything was amiss.

"You don't need to worry about that, Captain Ling," Hu Tiehan pulled Liang Yue over, defending his territory as he said, "It's already a sure thing that Little Liang will be promoted to Official Guard."

Ling Yuanbao was feeling a bit disappointed when a head suddenly popped out from the side.

Chen Ju had a fawning smile on his face: "Captain Ling, I'm willing to go to the Ministry of Justice. As long as I can be under your command, let alone being a Constable, I'll even be a Spirit Hound."

"Get lost." Ling Yuanbao didn't even blink.

"Okay."

The Ministry of Justice's people pulled their carriages back, and the Imperial Capital Guard's people also retreated to their station. As the two teams parted ways, Ling Yuanbao still shouted to Liang Yue: "I will conclude the case as soon as possible. If you want a better future then, you can come to the Ministry of Justice to find me anytime. I am very sincere."

It was clear that she truly recognized Liang Yue's ability.

However, Liang Yue could only give an awkward smile and reply with a "Okay."

Sister.

I feel your sincerity.

But your emotional intelligence, I really can't say.

Hu Tiehan said nothing about this, just kept a straight face and led the team away quickly. On one hand, the Ministry of Justice's status indeed outweighed the Imperial Capital Guard's, and if the two sides had a conflict, he would ultimately be the one to suffer. On the other hand, although Ling Yuanbao looked like a slightly naive young girl, her combat power was truly astonishing.

The battle-hardened Hu Tiehan didn't even need to exchange blows. Just from the kick she gave the wall, he could judge that this girl could probably take on everyone in his entire station in a one-on-one fight without a problem.

Most likely without injury.

So even though her act of poaching in front of him completely disregarded him, he could only silently repeat "Don't be angry" a few times in his heart and return to the Fukang Ward station dejectedly.

Fortunately, Liang Yue didn't agree to the little girl, which saved Hu Tiehan a little bit of face.

After returning to the station, he immediately called out, "Little Liang, come here for a moment."

Liang Yue walked in and asked, "Brother Hu, what's wrong?"

Only at this moment did Hu Tiehan smile, "You did very well just now. Although our Imperial Capital Guard doesn't have as much power as the Ministry of Justice, it's stable. You have a low background and shallow roots. If you rashly go to the Ministry of Justice and make a mistake, you won't even know how you died. If your skills are sufficient in the future, you won't need others to poach you; I will suggest you find another place."

"I understand, Brother Hu," Liang Yue replied.

He had naturally considered what Hu Tiehan said, but the most direct consideration was that after this meritorious service, he would soon be officially transferred in the Imperial Capital Guard. If he jumped to the Ministry of Justice now, he would have to wait for an opportunity to be transferred to an official Constable position, which would be equivalent to moving down.

Who changes jobs like that?

"Here." Hu Tiehan took out two booklets from the drawer under the desk and threw them onto the table.

Liang Yue looked over. They appeared to be two martial arts manuals, one thicker and one thinner.

"Capturing the Nine Yang spies this time is a great achievement. It shouldn't be a problem for you and Pang Chun to become Official Guards. The spots will be approved in about a month. You just need to pass a martial arts assessment to be promoted," Hu Tiehan said. "This assessment is usually just a formality; anyone with peak Qi Blood Realm cultivation can basically pass. But to be safe, I'll give you two manuals. Take them back and practice. These are techniques I've practiced myself, consider them my personal reward to you."

"Manuals?" Liang Yue was delighted. "Can we start cultivating now?"

It was said that the Qi Blood Realm only allowed for training the form, not the spirit. Practicing too many techniques was useless; practicing one set of punches was enough, like the Imperial Capital Guard's Tiger Might Fist.

Practicing too many martial skills at this stage would be a distraction and a waste of energy.

"Logically, you need to reach the Contemplation Realm to comprehend the essence of martial arts techniques, but you have both reached the peak of the Qi Blood Realm, and your Divine Palaces are gradually opening. Starting to comprehend now is actually helpful for breaking through. First learn the form, then comprehend the spirit," Hu Tiehan said.

"Thank you, Brother Hu!" Liang Yue thanked him with a smile.

Hu Tiehan then introduced, "This thick one is my family's inherited 'Hu Family Blade Technique'. It has eighteen stances. You can practice it yourself, but you must never pass it on."

Speaking of this family technique, his face was full of pride.

Liang Yue had heard from people at the station before that the Hu family ancestors had produced a Grandmaster of the blade technique, who was almost unrivaled in the northern lands. This blade technique must be very valuable.

"The thin one is a relatively common defensive technique, 'Iron Cotton Armor'. I bought it for eighty taels of silver at a shop back then," Hu Tiehan continued. "My Hu Family Blade Technique requires extreme comprehension. It's a bit too complex for Da Chun's brain. Let him practice a simple defensive technique. Taking more hits will also help him pass."

"Is the Hu Family Blade Technique... difficult to cultivate?" Liang Yue asked.

"Naturally. Otherwise, how could my family not have produced a second Grandmaster since the ancestors passed it down?" Hu Tiehan said. "My 'Hu Family Blade Technique' has extremely strict requirements for comprehension!"

"This blade technique has eighteen stances. I can only comprehend up to the twelfth stance so far. Past family ancestors at most practiced up to the seventeenth stance. You don't even need to look at the visualization for the final eighteenth stance, lest you lose confidence and hinder your martial path. You only need to comprehend seven or eight stances, which will be enough for you to dominate in the second realm in the future."

Thanks to "Sixteen Months" for the Alliance Leader reward, thank you, thank you! Thank you very much!