Divine Constable Bureau

Anyang Martial Arts School.

"Junior Brother Shi Yi, when we go over this time, follow the arrangements of the people from the yamen. Just help search for the Buddhist treasure. If you encounter danger, there's no need to rush forward and fight. Safety comes first in all things."

As Zhao Cheng led Shi Yi away from the rear courtyard of Anyang Martial Arts School, he reminded Shi Yi of this.

Normally, this mission carried no danger. He was bringing Shi Yi along so that Shi Yi could gain some experience with martial arts school missions.

Lu Feng had the same intention, which was why he had arranged for the two of them to go together.

With Zhao Cheng leading him, they would basically encounter no danger.

"Senior Brother Zhao, I understand."

Shi Yi nodded solemnly.

He had not expected to receive a mission to search for a Buddhist treasure, much less be allowed to participate in it.

These days, Shi Yi had either been cultivating at the martial arts school or studying at Lou Xuanming's place. Every day was full and fulfilling, and he had not concerned himself with anything else.

He had heard Zhao Cheng mention the flooding around the Dan River, but it did not seem too serious. Zhao Cheng had only brought it up in passing, and Shi Yi had not asked further.

This fit perfectly with his identity as an orphan in the Central Great World. Now that his household registration had been transferred to Anyuan Town, it was recorded that way as well, saving him quite a bit of trouble.

Zhao Cheng led Shi Yi out of Anyang Martial Arts School. After winding through several streets, they arrived at the town yamen, the central area of Anyuan Town.

When Shi Yi had disguised himself as a blind beggar, he had passed through this area once. The people here all possessed fairly strong blood essence. The only person he had seen whose blood essence was stronger than his master Lu Feng's had also been here.

He remembered that those people had called that man Constable Xu.

Shi Yi had specifically investigated and learned that the man's name was Xu Tianlei.

Now that the two of them had come here, Shi Yi's heart stirred.

Zhao Cheng led Shi Yi into the yamen. The gatekeepers did not stop them, clearly recognizing Zhao Cheng. Or rather, this was not Zhao Cheng's first visit.

After entering, Zhao Cheng brought him before a man seated in the courtyard.

"Uncle Xu, this mission will be handled by Junior Brother Shi Yi and me on behalf of Anyang Martial Arts School."

Zhao Cheng took the initiative to greet him, his tone intimate.

"Mhm. Just follow along properly this time."

"When carrying out the mission later, address me by my official title!"

Xu Tianlei nodded slightly, then deliberately added that last remark.

Clearly, he intended to show impartiality, since this time there were people present beyond those from the Anyuan Town yamen.

"Understood, Constable Xu."

Zhao Cheng replied upon hearing this.

Then he pulled Shi Yi aside to wait.

Not everyone had arrived yet. Aside from the yamen personnel, the four martial arts schools, three gangs, and local gentry lineages of Anyuan Town all had to send people to carry out the mission.

They were cooperating with a mission from above, so everyone had to contribute. It would also better demonstrate the Town Magistrate's capabilities.

Shi Yi observed the people within the yamen. Those who had arrived so far did not possess particularly strong blood essence. Most were Martial Disciples of the Blood Essence Realm and Martial Scholars of the Flesh and Blood Realm.

The only warrior at the Muscle-Refining Stage was Xu Tianlei.

As for Ning Xueyan of the Divine Constable Bureau, whom Shi Yi had previously seen at the Dan River, she was not here. In fact, whether there were even any people from the Divine Constable Bureau here was still a question.

If Ning Xueyan had been here, Shi Yi would have spotted her soaring, formidable blood essence from far away. That reassured him somewhat.

Although he had cleaned up the traces thoroughly, even storing the Bodhi seed on Blue Star and carefully cleaning himself after every contact, there was no guarantee that the Divine Constable Bureau possessed no other methods.

Fortunately, they seemed to be merely assisting with the search this time. Whether people from the Divine Constable Bureau would come at all was uncertain, which put Shi Yi more at ease.

"Since everyone has arrived, I'll explain the mission arranged by the Divine Constable Bureau!"

Before long, everyone had gathered. Xu Tianlei rose directly to his feet and began speaking.

His voice rang out like a great bell, full and resonant.

The blood essence within him surged, and a powerful aura erupted.

Everyone present felt the pressure brought by Xu Tianlei's formidable presence.

This pressure was somewhat stronger than the pressure Lu Feng had released when teaching Shi Yi martial arts, though not by much.

Xu Tianlei's accumulation should have been somewhat greater than Lu Feng's, but not overwhelmingly so.

"Our mission this time is to cooperate with the Divine Constable Bureau in searching the vicinity of Anyuan Town for the lost Buddhist treasure."

"When the people from the Divine Constable Bureau arrive later, follow their orders. If anyone disobeys, then don't blame me for showing no courtesy."

"Do you all understand what I mean?"

Xu Tianlei swept his gaze across the crowd, then asked slowly.

This mission was not difficult, but it concerned the Divine Constable Bureau, and the town took it very seriously.

If something went wrong, not only he, but even the Town Magistrate would be held accountable.

After all, the Divine Constable Bureau was part of the Supervisory Court, and the Supervisory Court itself was charged with overseeing all officials.

At a time like this, if you dared make trouble for the Divine Constable Bureau, it might investigate you to the bitter end afterward.

Many things people did weighed less than four taels when not placed on the scales, but once weighed, even a thousand jin could not hold them down.

That was why Xu Tianlei had used his aura to establish his authority.

"Understood!"

Everyone hurriedly replied.

Their attitudes became far more proper.

Seeing this, Xu Tianlei nodded.

Ordinarily, a mission to find something would not require him at all. But because it involved the Divine Constable Bureau, he had no choice but to personally step forward.

He knew more information. This mission appeared to have them join the search.

In reality, the Divine Constable Bureau had special investigative methods. They were only going along to assist and run errands.

In the Town Magistrate's words, the Buddhist treasure had been lost near the Dan River. Due to the flooding some time ago, it was basically impossible for it to have ended up around Anyuan Town.

It was far more likely to have fallen somewhere downstream of the Dan River.

Not far away, Zhao Cheng understood why Xu Tianlei had told him to use his official title.

It was because this mission did not involve only people from the Anyuan Town yamen conducting an investigation; people from the Divine Constable Bureau would also be coming.

The fact that he had received this mission might also have something to do with his father.

As the lüxu of Anyuan Town, his father would naturally pave the way for him. Showing his face before the Divine Constable Bureau was quite a good opportunity.

Zhao Cheng guessed all this, but outwardly remained calm. Some things only needed to be understood in one's heart.

"Junior Brother Shi Yi, be more serious later. Let's perform well."

Zhao Cheng quietly reminded Shi Yi.

"Mhm."

Shi Yi nodded in reply.

The arrival of people from the Divine Constable Bureau made Shi Yi more vigilant. If the situation became too terrible, he would have to consider fleeing!

Of course, that was the worst-case scenario. Things had not reached that point yet.

The group had not waited long in the yamen before Shi Yi saw several powerful blood essences approaching. Soon, four people walked in from outside.

Every one of them possessed formidable blood essence.

The person walking at the very front possessed blood essence somewhat stronger than Xu Tianlei's.

Based on that person's blood essence, Shi Yi estimated that he was also a warrior at the Muscle-Refining Stage, merely somewhat stronger than Xu Tianlei. He likely had not yet reached the Bone-Refining Stage of a martial master.

Because from the blood essence of the others he had seen, once a major realm was broken through, blood essence increased enormously. They were basically not on the same level.

Although that person's blood essence was stronger than Xu Tianlei's, it was still within the same level and had not undergone a qualitative transformation.