The Scale I've Laid Out-Would You Say It's Grand?

Back home.

The two brothers were both silent.

Lin Lei gave him a deep look, wanting to speak but holding back.

That fellow named Zhou An was a notable figure among the Zhou clansmen of Lin Jiang Ward.

He claimed to belong to the Liu family of the Inner City. Here in the Outer City, that made him a big shot whom ordinary folk in the ward would never dare offend.

He served the Liu family, was glib and eloquent, and cloaked himself in righteousness. He had nearly talked himself into becoming impossible to refute.

Yet the moment he saw A'Yan, he did not even offer a single excuse. He first slapped himself hard across the face twice.

Then he kowtowed to Uncle Zhou and paid compensation. At a single word from A'Yan, he fled in utter disarray, dragging his people away with him.

"A'Yan..."

For a moment, Lin Lei actually felt somewhat dazed.

He had always thought he had taken good enough care of A'Yan.

But now it seemed that after the two brothers began living separately, he had come to know far less about A'Yan.

As an elder brother, he had not done well enough.

"Second Brother, you showed real guts—facing six or seven people alone and arguing your case on principle. When we were learning to read back then, that old teacher said something... Right, 'the spirit of a scholar, the hot blood of the human heart!'"

A smile appeared on Lin Yan's face as he said this.

"At first, I just felt that Uncle Zhou treated me well, and Xiao Li often took care of the two children in our family."

Lin Lei sighed. "But after I entered the house, I somehow felt furious... He guarded the city, which meant he guarded all of us. After he died, people still made such a mess of his family's life. I couldn't stand by and watch, so I acted on impulse."

Lin Yan smiled. "But a brother like that is wonderful. He's more than worthy of being an example."

"Don't change the subject!"

Lin Lei suddenly came to his senses and continued, "What's going on?"

Lin Yan thought for a moment before saying, "The new Banner Bearer of the Heavenly Supervision Department in Lin Jiang Ward took a liking to me and wants to appoint me as a Junior Banner."

In the past, he had still needed to conceal this identity.

But after meeting Duke Lu, Lin Yan's identity as a Junior Banner of the Lin Jiang Department was about to be established.

At this point, there was no need to keep hiding it.

"Junior Banner? You'll have to carry a blade too, handling arrests and even defending the city?"

Lin Lei's expression changed slightly. He hurriedly said, "That kind of job may look glorious, but you could lose your life any day!"

He grabbed Lin Yan and shook his head repeatedly. "Look at Zhou Ji's family. Back then, even I, your Second Brother, thought he was impressive and envied him terribly. But look at what happened today..."

"Brother, put your mind at ease. This time, a great person returned from Phoenix Perch Prefecture City. I'm responsible for delivering messages from the Lin Jiang Department to this old gentleman. He's the Duke Lu Zhou An mentioned just now."

Lin Yan smiled. "I'm a man who works with a pen. I have our eldest brother's foresight to thank for that—he had all of us brothers learn to read and write."

He paused, then lowered his voice. "Besides, even if I truly had to wield a blade, someone has to defend the city in this world, don't they? If no one in the city dares to die, then when demons and evils attack, everyone will die anyway... I remember those were our eldest brother's words when he enlisted, weren't they?"

"But... Eldest Brother already served defending the city. Our family doesn't need to enlist again."

Lin Lei said this, then finally let out a sigh and fell silent. "From the way you faced Zhou An today, Second Brother knows that this is already decided. Even if I tried to persuade you, I couldn't stop you."

He hesitated, then said, "That Banner Bearer?"

He had clearly thought of the night before, when someone had rescued him while he faced the fiend.

He had assumed it was simply good fortune, but thinking about it now, he more or less understood.

"It was because of me that the Banner Bearer left the city to save you."

Lin Yan spread his hands. "Having me run errands for the Lin Jiang Department can repay such a life-saving favor. The two of us have struck it rich."

"Even if someone owes a debt of gratitude, I should be the one to repay it."

Lin Lei said this as he looked at Lin Yan, his gaze earnest and solemn.

The atmosphere fell silent.

After a long while, he finally exhaled and said, "Forget it. You've grown up. Now you're more sensible than your Second Brother."

--

At dusk, before the Lin Jiang Department.

Lin Yan, who had resumed his identity as Banner Bearer, stood upright and solemn, his face expressionless.

His mood was rather heavy today.

Yesterday, many others had done their utmost to defend the city alongside him.

Quite a few of them had died. Zhou Ji was merely one of them.

They had died defending the city, while those sheltered inside it wanted to strip their families bare and leave them with nothing.

Today, Lin Yan had only seen the Zhou family. But looking across the entire city, how many other families had suffered the same fate as Zhou Ji's?

"Fifth Master?"

Clerk Yang heard the commotion and came out to receive him, beginning to report what had been done today.

All the clerks and record keepers under him had already been sent out to inspect the various departments' conduct.

But these scholars were physically helpless. In the eyes of ordinary people, they were far less valued than martial artists.

Without martial strength, being pushed aside was practically unavoidable.

Then Lin Yan saw that his expression had turned somewhat strange, as though he wanted to speak but hesitated.

"If you have something to say, say it plainly."

"Three people assisted us today, so things went fairly smoothly. All the events of that day have been recorded. They'll be sent back tonight, and I'll personally organize them."

"Three people assisted us?"

Lin Yan raised his brows slightly, his heart already clear.

Last night, he had carried his blade back into the city, killing demons and evils all along the way.

He had also seen the several Junior Banners under Liang Hu. At the time, he had even predicted that they would certainly report to Liang Hu and accuse him of abandoning his post without authorization.

That would completely expose his Essence Refining Realm cultivation.

He had been prepared to kill them then. But afterward, those three killed another man and chased after him, seemingly intending to help him slay the Bear Demon.

Then Duke Lu appeared as well, so Lin Yan set his mind at ease and left the three of them for Duke Lu to handle.

Duke Lu had not mentioned those three today, which showed that they no longer posed any threat.

"Watch how they conduct themselves today. Record everything, and report it to me tomorrow."

Lin Yan said this with a calm expression.

Clerk Yang understood at once. The Banner Bearer's words amounted to giving those three a chance—the qualification to return to the Lin Jiang Department.

"Also, there's something else. Write a letter for me and submit it to the Outer South Prefecture Yamen."

"The soldiers who died defending the city last night left behind relatives who received no protection and were bullied."

"This was the Outer South Prefecture Yamen's failure to act. The Heavenly Supervision Department was ordered to oversee such matters, and it is our duty. If this happens again, we will report it directly to the Inner City."

"Those Great Masters are occupying their positions without doing their jobs, and some have even colluded with the villains. If they refuse to repent, there will be enough heads to cut off for a whole batch."

Lin Yan spoke in an even tone, slowly and calmly, but a chill faintly showed in his eyes.

Clerk Yang could not help staring when he heard this. In a low voice, he said, "Fifth Master, you've only just arrived, and you're already threatening the Outer Southern Prefecture Office. If you offend them, I'm afraid..."

Lin Yan raised a hand and said slowly, "I know. As far as all the various duties handled by the Lin Jiang Department are concerned, this may seem insignificant."

He looked at Clerk Yang and said calmly, "To the masters who hold power in the Outer Southern Prefecture Office, they are busy with important affairs, high above everyone else, and unable to see these minor matters at the bottom."

"But to those soldiers who defended the city and their families, this is a catastrophe that brings the sky crashing down!"

"If those Great Masters have no room in their eyes for such minor matters, then our Lin Jiang Department should stab these minor matters right before them."

"If they still refuse to act, we'll stab them into the Inner City and report them to Phoenix Perch Prefecture City."

"As long as it affects those Great Masters, even the smallest matters of the past will become matters as grave as heaven itself."

"And as for offending them?"

Lin Yan patted the blade at his waist. "The Heavenly Supervision Department is responsible for overseeing Gao Liu City. This officer's duty is to supervise them in doing their jobs. It is merely my duty..."

Clerk Yang said quietly, "You've only just arrived and haven't completely taken over the affairs of the Lin Jiang Department. Today's situation is still a complete mess, and we have a long road ahead. We have to consider the bigger picture..."

"The bigger picture?"

Lin Yan drew his blade and gently caressed its edge. His voice was indifferent. "This is the scale I've laid out. Would you say it's grand?"