Gao Liu City, Outer City, southern district, a branch of the Heavenly Supervision Department, Southern Star Tower.
Commander Han placed the inkstone that had just been delivered beside the desk.
He reached for the brush, dipped it in ink, and began writing on the paper.
Every stroke was upright and fierce, the characters clear and sharply defined.
"Come in!"
Footsteps sounded outside. Before the visitor could speak, he said, "Close the door."
Without even looking up, he continued writing and said calmly, "Duke Lu has gone back. He has a good impression of you. From now on, you can pay him a visit during the festivals."
"Although he isn't a martial artist, he served as the temple keeper at Wutong Temple in Phoenix Perch Prefecture City for fifty years. His knowledge is broad and his experience rich. His understanding of the world far exceeds that of anyone in Gao Liu City."
As his voice fell, Commander Han gradually stopped writing and said indifferently, "As long as you're willing, starting today, he can become the third person in Gao Liu City to know your real name."
Lin Yan had joined the Heavenly Supervision Department under the alias Impermanence.
In Gao Liu City, only two people knew his true identity.
Those words were Commander Han's way of telling Lin Yan that Duke Lu was someone he could trust completely.
After speaking, Commander Han set down the brush, then finally raised his head to look ahead. His eyes immediately brightened. "As expected, clothes make the man."
The youth before him wore the Golden Silk Black Robe, which fit him perfectly and made his figure seem even taller and straighter.
His expression was solemn, and his eyes clear and bright.
A saber hung at his left waist, adding three parts of solemn, murderous intent.
A Small Crossbow hung at his right waist.
At first glance, he seemed full of youthful vigor, like the rising sun.
"Every branch of the Heavenly Supervision Department has its own stores and collections of texts."
Commander Han slowly continued, "Earlier, you tempered your skin, flesh, sinews, and bones, completing the first great threshold of Martial Arts."
"Normally speaking, you are a martial artist of the second great threshold as of today."
"But I know that your talent is actually excellent. You have already become a martial artist with an internally strengthened body."
At this, Commander Han's expression remained calm, and he chuckled softly.
Though he did not say it outright, he seemed to be saying:
With your Breath Concealment Art, you still want to show off in front of me?
I saw through your true condition at a glance!
"..."
For a moment, Lin Yan did not know how to respond.
Thus, in Commander Han's eyes, his silence amounted to an acknowledgment.
He picked up the paper from the desk and blew gently across it, letting the ink gradually dry. Then he said, "Actually, given your current position and Merit Points, you can claim a Martial Arts technique at the internally strengthened level from the Heavenly Supervision Department."
"But in less than two years, you crossed 'Blood Refining' and 'Marrow Washing' to reach internal strengthening. If word got out, it would be too shocking."
Commander Han said, "Not everyone has the magnanimity to tolerate others. The hearts of men are vicious. Being too outstanding will inevitably make others jealous and bring you trouble for no reason."
"So, from today onward, outwardly, you will still be a martial artist of the second great threshold."
"But I can't delay your cultivation of internally strengthened Martial Arts. So... I prepared an internally strengthened breathing technique for you in advance."
As his voice fell, he flicked his hand, sweeping the pages covered in writing before Lin Yan.
Lin Yan reached out and took them, giving them a glance.
Five Elements Inner Breath Art.
He had already obtained this technique through other means half a year ago.
At the time, relying on the Devour Baleful Intent ability, he had perfected his heart and kidneys even without a cultivation technique.
Now, he had already surpassed the internally strengthened realm.
This technique was useless to him at present.
What he needed now was a technique for the Essence Refining Realm.
He raised his head, hesitating over what to say, but suddenly paused.
There had long been a saying in the Outer Southern Department: Banner Commanders were uninterested in women, and it was suspected that they cultivated the Golden Body Child Technique. Breaking their chastity would damage their cultivation.
"You needn't be overwhelmed with gratitude, nor kneel and thank me."
At that moment, Commander Han waved his hand and said, "Do your work properly from now on. Consider that your repayment."
Afterward, Commander Han opened a thick book and said indifferently, "This is yesterday's register of people entering and leaving the city gates."
"Using my authority as an inspector, I obtained this register from the commander of the southern gate's city defenses."
"This page has your elder brother Lin Lei's name on it."
With a ripping sound!
Commander Han casually tore off the page and handed it over.
Lin Yan took the page and, sure enough, saw Second Brother's name on yesterday afternoon's list of people leaving the city.
But beneath Second Brother's name was another name: "Chen Yuannü."
The two had left the city together.
"So that girl really wasn't a ghost servant, but a dead person with a physical body. The soldiers guarding the city didn't notice anything unusual either."
Lin Yan's heart trembled slightly. "But how is such a dead person any different from an evil spirit? Why could she travel in broad daylight? And... she infiltrated the city without fearing the deterrence of the Temple of Lord Liu?"
"Chen Yuannü's identity is somewhat special. I'll take over personally and investigate as thoroughly as I can."
Commander Han paused, then said, "There's something strange about this matter. Be careful."
Lin Yan thought for a moment and said, "Is it possible that she actually came for me? She went to my residence, but didn't find me, so she took Second Brother away and then lured me out of the city."
Commander Han frowned. The scar on his face grew even more ferocious and twisted as he slowly said, "Logically speaking, only we know Impermanence's true identity. It hasn't been leaked outside..."
Lin Yan fell silent for a moment, his thoughts turning rapidly.
After a while, he spoke again, his tone heavy.
"What if she came for Lin Yan?"
"Hm?"
Commander Han's expression tightened. In a low voice, he said, "Lin Yan is merely a poor youth from the lowest rungs of a back-alley family. He's only barely become a butcher at the slaughterhouse in Lin Jiang Ward. Could it be that, under this identity, you offended someone?"
Lin Yan thought carefully, then shook his head. "I've always treated others kindly. I have no enemies."
At his words, Commander Han's expression grew even more complicated. He could not help coughing once before saying, "I'll personally investigate this again. In any case... be careful in the coming days."
"However, Duke Lu will be staying in Lin Jiang Ward for the time being. As long as he's there, he'll be a living protective talisman!"
"You can spend more time befriending the old man. Also, next time, meet him as Lin Yan. It will seem somewhat more sincere."
"As for Second Brother leaving the city..."
Commander Han opened the register and tore off all the pages listing people entering and leaving the city yesterday, including the page from early this morning, shredding them into pieces.
The matter involved the Banner Bearer of the Heavenly Supervision Department's Lin Jiang Ward leaving the city in the middle of the night and returning alive. Those with ulterior motives would certainly investigate the reason.
If they merely erased Lin Lei's name from the register, it would be tantamount to telling the investigators directly that Lin Lei was connected to Impermanence.
So it was better to destroy every clue.
A considerable number of people passed through Gao Liu City every day.
For example, by noon today, three merchant caravans from Phoenix Perch Prefecture City had already entered the city, nearly a hundred people in total.
"Destroying these pages will make it difficult even for the Heavenly Supervision Department to explain things to the Prefectural Governor's Mansion."
Lin Yan frowned. "Besides, that Zhou Kui holds a grudge against you and has the backing of Phoenix Perch Prefecture City."
"Just say Duke Lu tore them off."
"Then there's no problem."
"There's something else."
Commander Han was silent for a moment before saying, "You're the Banner Bearer of Lin Jiang Ward. Your monthly salary has been raised to twelve taels, along with three medicinal baths and one Essence Boosting Pill."
"Additionally, you have twelve people under your command. Each receives a monthly salary of four taels of silver and one medicinal bath, all provided by the Outer Southern Department."
"But you must select all twelve people. You are not allowed to draw pay for nonexistent personnel."
At this, Lin Yan rubbed his brow.
As far as he knew, the position of Banner Bearer of Lin Jiang Ward was currently vacant, and the Banner Bearer of Qing Shan Ward in the Outer Second Ward was temporarily managing it.
From this, it appeared that the twelve Minor Banners currently in Lin Jiang Ward were all Liang Hu's men.
Commander Han was telling him to select twelve new people. The unspoken meaning was obvious.
Replace the people Liang Hu had left behind to avoid being controlled by subordinates.
Clearly, Liang Hu was not one of Commander Han's trusted men.
And if Lin Yan wanted to completely take control of the Banner Bearer's authority in Lin Jiang Ward, he would still have to seize it from Liang Hu.
"So this is the first trial of becoming a Banner Bearer?"
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