Recruitment Notice

The next morning, sunlight streamed down on the city gates of Lishan County, where a prominent notice was posted nearby.

The notice drew people's attention, and they gathered around, curious to read its contents:

"The Wei Dao Si intends to establish a branch in Lishan County and is currently short-handed!"

"This notice is hereby posted to recruit talented individuals from the martial arts world!"

"Whether you are a martial arts master with exceptional skills or an individual with unique abilities, you are welcome to come to the Wei Dao Si yamen for an interview!"

"Upon hiring, you will receive a monthly salary of one hundred taels of silver, with accommodation provided but meals not included!"

As soon as the news spread, the entire Lishan County city erupted in excitement.

The common folk surged forward, surrounding the notice and engaging in lively discussions and speculations.

Some excitedly declared it a rare opportunity to showcase their skills;

Others were filled with curiosity about the work at the Wei Dao Si, eager to learn more details; still others worried if they possessed sufficient abilities to apply.

For a time, various voices and opinions filled the streets and alleys.

"A monthly salary of one hundred taels is enough for my entire family to live on for five years..."

"No way... I absolutely have to try my luck at the Wei Dao Si...!"

"Yeah... I've never even seen a hundred taels of silver in my life!"

It's worth noting that in Lishan County, a farming family's annual expenses were only twenty taels.

Upon hearing this, someone in the crowd immediately retorted, "They're recruiting talented individuals... Your farming skills aren't good enough, don't go embarrass yourself!"

"I heard the Wei Dao Si specializes in hunting down demons and monsters. This money isn't easy to earn!"

Despite these reservations, within just an hour, the entrance to the Wei Dao Si was thronged with people, shoulder to shoulder, so crowded that the gate was almost pushed open.

Although most were just there to join the excitement, there were also some local or passing experts who came to interview.

After multiple rounds of selection by the Snake Guard and Qiu San, only two men and one woman remained, standing out like cranes among chickens before Xia Qi'an.

The most striking among them was a burly man named Zhang Biao.

He was thirty-one years old and a herb gatherer.

It was said that in his youth, he had consumed rare heavenly treasures, which reshaped his aptitude, allowing him to enter the path of martial arts. He had a cultivation base at the Mid Bone Forging Realm.

Furthermore, Zhang Biao frequented the deep mountains and old forests, possessing rich experience in gathering heavenly treasures and dealing with wild beasts and monsters.

The other, a young man dressed in dark clothing similar to Qiu San, was named Li Sanjiang, Qiu San's disciple.

He was fifteen years old, the same age as Xia Qi'an, and also possessed a cultivation base at the Mid Blood Refining Realm.

Blade Catchers always operated in pairs, a master and his disciple.

Now that Qiu San had joined the Wei Dao Si, he naturally wanted to bring his disciple along.

However, Qiu San was an honest and sincere person, so he let Li Sanjiang participate in the interview alone.

Li Sanjiang, despite his young age, had good martial arts aptitude. His "Gale Blade Technique" was a true inheritance from Qiu San, and he had passed the Snake Guard's screening through his own strength.

Only later did Xia Qi'an learn that he was Qiu San's disciple.

The last person was a beautiful woman with a gentle demeanor who called herself Du Ruo. She was like an orchid in a secluded valley, fresh and refined.

However, Xia Qi'an knew that this was the name of a medicinal herb, not her real name.

Despite this, Du Ruo's medical skills were exquisite, and she was proficient in pharmacology.

Moreover, she also possessed a cultivation base at the Early Bone Forging Realm, truly hiding her strength.

Considering that Qiu San and the others would inevitably get injured while on missions in the future, they needed a physician.

Xia Qi'an decided to keep her for the time being and make a final decision after the Snake Guard investigated her background.

Afterward, Qiu San led Zhang Biao and the other two to collect their uniforms and waist tokens.

The uniforms and waist tokens were made in the style of the Wei Dao Si.

Although slightly different from the official uniforms of the Wei Dao Si, they were still presentable.

This provided the three with a unified and respectable appearance.

Li Sanjiang held the black official uniform, gently stroking it as if it were a rare treasure, his face full of adoration.

Qiu San and Zhang Biao felt the same way as Li Sanjiang; they also greatly favored the new official uniforms.

Their expressions were similar to Li Sanjiang's, just not as overtly displayed.

In contrast, Du Ruo's expression was calm, with no significant reaction.

At this moment, a Snake Guard had already delivered Du Ruo's intelligence to Xia Qi'an.

After reading the letter in his hand, Xia Qi'an kept Du Ruo behind for a private conversation.

"The daughter of the Divine Needle Sect Master, how did she end up in this small Lishan County?" Xia Qi'an asked directly.

Du Ruo did not seem surprised by his question.

After all, as someone from a sect, she had already experienced the prowess of the Wei Dao Si's Snake Guard.

Du Ruo let out a soft sigh. "There's no Divine Needle Sect in the martial world anymore... I just want to find a place to settle down!"

"I wonder if... you could take me in, sir?"

Xia Qi'an listened, pondered for a moment, and then said in a deep voice, "I happen to be in need of a physician here!"

"If you are truly sincere about serving the Wei Dao Si... you can stay!"

"I guarantee... that even Medicine King Valley wouldn't dare to trouble you again!"

Hearing this, Du Ruo felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders and immediately declared, "This humble one... is willing to serve you, sir!"

Xia Qi'an nodded slightly. "Go find the Snake Guard for some clothes!"

Du Ruo looked at Xia Qi'an gratefully at his words and left with A'she.

As for the guarantee Xia Qi'an had just given Du Ruo, it wasn't just an empty boast.

Although Medicine King Valley was considered a second-rate sect in the entire You Province martial world, it was still a considerable force.

However, if anyone from Medicine King Valley dared to cause trouble for the Wei Dao Si, Snake Guards would show up within half a day.

If Medicine King Valley remained unyielding and refused to back down, then the Grand Commander of the Hound Guard would pay them a visit.

If that still didn't resolve the issue, and it escalated to the point where warriors like the Tiger Guard had to intervene, then it would no longer be a mere martial world dispute.

It would be a matter of sect annihilation.

The Tiger Guard of the Wei Dao Si could only be comprised of martial artists at the Creation Realm.

As for how many Tiger Guards were in the You Province Wei Dao Si, Xia Qi'an wasn't sure, but he estimated there should be no less than ten.

And this was only the You Province Wei Dao Si.

The world was divided into twelve provinces, all under the jurisdiction of the Wei Dao Si.

Each province was commanded by a Kirin Guard, and the number of Tiger Guards under them was unknown.

Not to mention the countless other warriors of various realms under their command.

From this, one could see just how vast the Wei Dao Si was as a power.

Ordinary martial sects were far from comparable.

Their ability to suppress chaos was by no means just talk.

The next morning.

Xia Qi'an, along with Master and disciple Qiu San, Zhang Biao, and Du Ruo, set out early to survey the areas between Lishan County and Linjiang County.

Although he only had two counties under his jurisdiction, there were vast, sparsely populated regions within both.

Some places had yet to be trodden by human feet.

Therefore, the actual area under his command was quite extensive, making governance no easy task.

It was just that survival in this world was difficult, and the population was mostly concentrated in a few specific areas. Familiarizing himself with the local customs and geography in advance was also preparation for future actions.

The group of five, all mounted on fine horses and clad in matching black official uniforms, rode forth together, looking quite imposing.

Li Sanjiang, with the youthful spirit he possessed, wore a proud expression throughout the journey, his head held high, looking rather pleased with himself.

This joint expedition was a deliberate arrangement by Xia Qi'an.

Not only would it allow the four to get to know each other better, but it would also strengthen their bonds.

As expected, the four quickly bonded with Xia Qi'an.

Naturally, they were no longer as reserved as they had been when they first met him.

They got along harmoniously, conversing freely and enjoying each other's company.

Along the way, Xia Qi'an introduced the organizational structure and various rules of the Wei Dao Si to the four.

And Qiu San, having been a Blade Catcher for over a decade and having experienced many strange events, had a wealth of bizarre and exciting stories to tell.

Throughout the journey, Qiu San seemed to have opened a floodgate, recounting all sorts of peculiar encounters non-stop, like a storyteller, captivating his audience.

Not only Zhang Biao and Du Ruo, but even Xia Qi'an found himself immersed, marveling at the tales.

Just as the five were about to arrive within the borders of Linjiang County.

"Rumble..."

With a sudden burst of thunder, the sky instantly turned gloomy.

"Splash... splash..."

Suddenly, a torrential downpour began without warning.

Large raindrops hammered the ground, quickly turning the dusty official road into a muddy mess.

In the distance, trees in the mountain forests swayed violently under the wind and rain, their leaves scattering.

The sudden storm caught the group off guard.

The road ahead was soon shrouded in a misty rain, creating a mysterious and oppressive atmosphere.

Seeing this, Qiu San quickly reminded them, "My lord! ...I remember there's an inn a few miles ahead. We can take shelter there!"

Having traveled between the various counties of Jinling for many years, Qiu San knew the roads like the back of his hand.

Even the official road Xia Qi'an and his four companions were on was as familiar to him as counting his own fingers.

"Then let's go..."

Xia Qi'an squeezed his thighs against the horse's belly, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Seeing this, Qiu San and the other three whipped their horses and followed closely.

Previously, they wouldn't have been qualified to enter an official inn. They had never even seen what the inns of Great Li looked like.

But their status was different now.

After being registered by the Snake Guard, they had an official record within the Wei Dao Si.

From now on, they could freely enter and exit even official inns.

Qiu San thought of his current situation, possessing a status and position far beyond that of ordinary wandering martial artists.

A surge of pride welled up in his heart.