Zhou Huaian's Appreciation

Under the night curtain.

Torches blazed one after another, encircling Chen's Apothecary's courtyard.

Zhou Huaian, a Patrol Commander of the Cautious Punishment Division, entered the courtyard with a treasured saber at his waist. Several Night Patrolmen holding torches swiftly followed beside him, and everyone turned their eyes toward the corpses strewn across the yard.

As Night Patrolmen of the Cautious Punishment Division, they had seen much and witnessed scenes even more gruesome. Faced with the sight in the courtyard, they all remained calm and composed. Zhou Huaian circled the yard several times, examining the many corpses, and a glimmer flashed through his eyes.

"Did you kill them all?"

Zhou Huaian turned his gaze toward Wu Ming, who stood not far away with his spear in hand, a trace of appreciation appearing in his eyes.

On the way here, he had already learned the general circumstances from the report. At first, he had found it somewhat hard to believe, but now that he had arrived at the scene and seen that nine of the ten dead bandits had been killed by a single spear strike through a vital spot, he finally believed it.

This band of thieves had set their sights on Chen's Apothecary and attempted a nighttime raid and robbery, only to be left with ten dead and two escaped. It was all thanks to the courage and martial prowess of the spear-wielding youth before him, who had brought the advantages of spearplay into full play.

Zhou Huaian knew that even the elite Night Patrolmen of the Cautious Punishment Division might not have been able to accomplish what Wu Ming had in his position. At the very least, Sun Wang, Ma Liu, and the others would most likely have died amid the chaotic battle.

"Yes."

Wu Ming responded respectfully to Zhou Huaian.

"Mm, very good."

Seeing Wu Ming's attitude, Zhou Huaian's eyes held an additional trace of approval. He nodded and said, "Bandits raided at night, and you took up your spear to kill the enemy. Though you killed ten men in succession, it was for the sake of holding your ground and defending yourself. This official rules that your killings this time do not violate the law."

The Cautious Punishment Division held the authority to rule on all homicide cases. In an age where martial arts flourished, this was in fact immense power, for martial artists inevitably competed in courage and fought fiercely, while blades and swords had no eyes; casualties were commonplace. As for whether someone was actually guilty, that had to be determined by the Cautious Punishment Division according to the circumstances.

In Wu Ming's case, killing bandits who had attacked at night in self-defense naturally bore no guilt whatsoever. Moreover, since the bandits he had killed were all on the Cautious Punishment Division's wanted list, not only was he innocent, but his merits also had to be rewarded.

"I heard two men escaped. What were their distinguishing features, and what martial skills did they possess?"

Zhou Huaian returned to the matter at hand and questioned Wu Ming, Hu Yong, and the others.

Hu Yong knew the situation best. He stepped forward, saluted, and respectfully recounted every detail.

After hearing him out,

Zhou Huaian immediately nodded slightly and said, "Knowing this is more or less enough. Once we return and investigate, we should be able to confirm the identities of those two. All of you have rendered meritorious service this time."

Hu Yong shook his head. "We dare not claim credit. We were only defending ourselves. If anyone deserves merit, then had it not been for Brother Wu Ming's godlike spearplay tonight, I fear the corpses lying on the ground now would have been ours."

"Mm."

Zhou Huaian nodded, then turned to look at Wu Ming.

He recalled a piece of "guidance" he had heard from his superior when he came here. After pondering briefly, he vaguely understood the other man's meaning. Thus, he nodded slightly at Wu Ming and said, "Your name is Wu Ming?"

"Yes."

Wu Ming answered.

"Which hall of the Seven Martial Alliance do you belong to?"

"In reply to my lord, this one is dull of talent and serves only in the Outer Hall."

"Oh."

Zhou Huaian nodded.

Only the Outer Hall? Then this would be easy to handle.

He smiled at Wu Ming and said, "With your talent for spearplay, the Seven Martial Alliance's Outer Hall is no place for you. My Cautious Punishment Division has always welcomed capable people from all quarters and never asks after one's origins. Would you be willing to serve under the Cautious Punishment Division?"

Recently, Demons had been running rampant with increasing severity. The Demon Suppression Bureau had repeatedly transferred personnel from the Cautious Punishment Division, leaving the division short-handed. Someone like Wu Ming, who possessed a certain degree of talent and could truly be called "good at fighting," indeed counted as useful talent.

After all, there were many martial men in the world, and not everyone possessed enough talent to cross the threshold of Third Blood Forging. The overwhelming majority were trapped at First Blood Forging and Second Blood Forging. Under such circumstances, those outstanding individuals who were exceptionally capable in battle were also useful talent to the Cautious Punishment Division, since the division's duties involved maintaining order in the city and dealing with all manner of bandits and desperate outlaws.

The moment those words were spoken.

Hu Yong and the others immediately turned their eyes toward Wu Ming, all revealing expressions of surprise and envy.

When the Cautious Punishment Division said it welcomed capable people from all quarters and never asked after one's origins, that was actually a lie. To enter the Cautious Punishment Division, one either had to possess extraordinary talent and pass its assessment, with at least Mid-Mid Grade aptitude. Such people would directly receive the division's full cultivation and might one day become Seventh-rank Patrol Commanders.

Aside from that, the Cautious Punishment Division also had subordinate clerks and personnel, but they generally possessed internal connections within the division and were not openly recruited from outside. For Wu Ming to receive an olive branch extended by the Cautious Punishment Division tonight was exceedingly rare.

After all,

Once one entered the Cautious Punishment Division, even if one was not among the most valued "geniuses," one would directly gain an official court position. Their power, influence, and status would be worlds apart from before; even figures from the Seven Martial Alliance's Inner Hall would not dare treat them lightly.

Hearing Zhou Huaian extend the Cautious Punishment Division's invitation, Wu Ming was also startled. He truly had not expected it, but for him, entering the Cautious Punishment Division meant joining the court's orthodox forces. There were only benefits and no drawbacks.

Within Jingye City, the Seven Martial Alliance was certainly powerful, while the Black Fiend Sect and Profound Jade Sect were also deeply entrenched, controlling all kinds of businesses and commanding numerous gangs. But if one asked who truly ruled Jingye City, there were only the court's orthodox Two Divisions!

No matter how large the businesses of the Seven Martial Alliance or the two sects became, they still had to obediently hand over every kind of tax beneath the deterrence of the Two Divisions. Though these forces secretly contended openly and covertly with the Two Divisions, that struggle remained limited to the shadows. At least on the surface, no faction dared directly offend the majesty of the Two Divisions.

"As a citizen of Jingye, being able to serve the Cautious Punishment Division, eradicate bandits, and uphold law and discipline has always been a person's deepest wish."

Wu Ming returned Zhou Huaian's salute.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huaian immediately burst into laughter. "Good. Then take a few days to recover. Three days from now, come to the Cautious Punishment Division to register your name. There will be an assessment process then, but for you, it should pose no problem."

The so-called assessment process was basically to verify whether one's background and origins were clean and clear, as well as to assess one's personal abilities. There was no need to mention martial strength; as for intelligence, based on his observations and judgment of Wu Ming, he was certainly no fool either.

Watching this scene.

Zhao Hu and Feng Yong, who followed beside Zhou Huaian, also experienced a slight change in how they looked at Wu Ming.

They had come to this courtyard half a month ago. That time, it had been at the hour of deepest yin, and they had come for an evil entity. This time, they had come for bandits. Their two visits had been much the same, both arriving too late. The only difference was that Wu Ming had previously been nothing more than an ordinary guard in this courtyard, someone neither of them had even spared a second glance. Now, however, he had displayed astonishing spearplay, killed ten bandits in one night, and even caught Zhou Huaian's attention, prompting him to bring Wu Ming under the Cautious Punishment Division's command.

However.

Neither of them paid it much mind.

They had both entered the Cautious Punishment Division on the strength of their aptitude and were expected to reach Third Blood Forging in the future. By comparison, Wu Ming could not even enter the Seven Martial Alliance's Inner Hall. Even if he possessed some courage and strength, once he entered the Cautious Punishment Division, he could only slowly accumulate seniority after completing Second Blood Forging. His future potential was far beyond comparison with theirs.

Moreover, even if they themselves reached Third Blood Forging and were promoted to Patrol Commanders, upon encountering a young junior like Wu Ming—skilled with the spear, fierce in his attacks, and decisive in killing—they would likewise think of bringing him under their command and putting him to use.