Everyone's eyes turned toward the doorway.
A man in a black robe came striding in, a long saber at his waist.
He was tall and straight-backed, with a resolute gaze and an expressionless face that made him seem utterly cold.
Without sparing the others a glance, he walked straight up to Commander Han and bowed.
"Your subordinate Impermanence pays his respects to Commander Han."
"Good."
Commander Han nodded slightly and was just about to speak when Zhou Kui's astonished voice rang out.
"How did you come back alive?"
Lin Yan's expression remained unchanged, as though he had not heard him.
The atmosphere froze for a moment.
Zhou Kui stepped half a pace forward, scrutinized him carefully, and said, "Leaving the city at night, given the dire circumstances last night—even someone who had entered the Martial Path and reached the transcendent Essence Refining Realm would have been more likely to die than survive."
"You're only at the second stage of Martial Arts. How could you possibly have come back alive?"
Before his voice had even faded, he thrust out a hand.
Lin Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, and his right hand abruptly pressed against his saber hilt.
But in an instant, a cool breeze brushed past his face.
Commander Han was already standing beside him.
Commander Han lightly caught Zhou Kui's reaching hand.
"That's called ability!"
Commander Han's expression remained placid as he said, "Which rule says that a Banner Bearer must explain all his abilities to his superiors?"
"Besides, he belongs to my South City Sector. He isn't under the jurisdiction of your Southwest Sector."
"Even if the rules and laws stipulate it, I should be the one questioning him!"
In that instant, bloodlight suddenly surged across the scar on Commander Han's face.
At such close range, Zhou Kui saw it clearly. A chill crept into his heart, and he retreated half a step.
"He left the city under cover of night and moved suspiciously. He isn't suitable to serve as a Banner Bearer of the Heavenly Supervision Department."
"I was the one who sent him out of the city!" Commander Han said indifferently.
"His return today is suspicious as well. I suspect he's an evil entity in disguise," Zhou Kui said again.
"In broad daylight, an evil entity entered the city? Are you insulting the Sky Gazing Tower of the Temple of Lord Liu with those words?"
"..."
Zhou Kui remained silent for a long while before finally saying in a low voice, "I'm not going to argue semantics with you. In any case, I must have Lin Jiang Ward!"
Lin Yan's expression remained unchanged. He had long since understood the entanglement behind this matter.
From the very beginning, whether he was alive or dead, whether he had broken the rules, or whether there was truly something strange about him—it had all been irrelevant.
What mattered was the position of Banner Bearer of Lin Jiang Ward!
"As long as you agree, I'll speak to my adoptive father."
Zhou Kui said in a deep voice, "I'm confident I can make the old man stop targeting you!"
"..."
Commander Han did not reply. He merely looked toward Lin Yan and smiled. "What do you think?"
Lin Yan's expression was cold. He reached out with his left hand, picked up the inkstone on the table, and held it out.
"I came back alive. He should swallow the inkstone."
"Reasonable." Commander Han nodded with a smile.
"That's your answer?" Zhou Kui's face grew even darker.
"Since you're so loose-tongued and petty, you probably can't swallow such a large inkstone. I'll allow you to chew it!"
Lin Yan tossed the inkstone over in a cold voice. "Of course, I'd also be happy to gut you and stuff it straight inside!"
Zhou Kui instinctively reached out and caught the inkstone. The corner of his eye twitched, and fury surged uncontrollably in his heart.
He was merely a junior—young, with a low position—and yet he dared humiliate him like this!
How could he tolerate it?
Zhou Kui's hand went straight to his saber hilt.
Commander Han's hand likewise settled on the saber hilt at his waist.
Lin Yan's right hand had never left his saber hilt from the very beginning, and his gaze lingered around Zhou Kui's neck.
If I cut him down, the Killing Intent I gain should rival that old tiger's from last night!
Just as the atmosphere congealed and the tension was about to erupt—
an aged voice came from outside the door.
"A bet is a bet. There's nothing wrong with that."
Everyone turned their heads.
Two people stood outside the door.
The old man in front had gray-white hair and beard, murky eyes, and a cane in his hand. His legs seemed to be inconvenient.
The middle-aged man beside him was burly and honest-looking. He supported the old man as they entered.
When the old man's features became clear, most of the people present changed expression and hurriedly bowed.
"Greetings, Duke Lu!"
"Rise."
The old man known as Duke Lu leaned on his cane and slowly walked inside. "Zhou Kui..."
Crack!
A crisp sound rang out.
Zhou Kui opened his mouth and bit off a corner of the inkstone, chewing it to pieces and swallowing it.
His face was so gloomy it seemed water might drip from it, yet he lowered his head slightly, not daring to show the old man the slightest dissatisfaction.
"Good teeth, and a good stomach too. It seems your Martial Arts cultivation has improved recently."
Duke Lu nodded, then said, "For the sake of your adoptive father, Li Shenzong, you needn't eat the rest of the inkstone here. Take it home for a midnight snack."
"Many thanks for the reward, Duke Lu!"
Zhou Kui put away the chipped inkstone, bowed, and retreated.
At that moment, however, Commander Han's voice rang out.
"The inkstone cost two taels of silver. Remember to pay me back."
"..."
Zhou Kui remained expressionless as he took out a silver ingot, threw it onto the ground, and swept away with a flick of his sleeve.
After Zhou Kui left with his men, the atmosphere in the room fell somewhat silent.
Lin Yan could not help studying the old man, recalling the rumors from not long ago.
Lu Yue was from Gao Liu City. In his youth, he had traveled to Phoenix Perch Prefecture City. After an opportunity came his way, he became one of the twelve ritual officiants at Wutong Temple.
At the age of seventy, he had returned home to retire.
This old man held an extremely high status. It was said that when he returned half a year ago, the Six Great Clans of the Inner City, along with the Prefectural Governor's Mansion, had gathered at the eastern gate to welcome him respectfully.
"Many thanks to Duke Lu for resolving the crisis." Commander Han bowed.
"Resolving the crisis?"
Duke Lu suddenly laughed and said mildly, "With your temper, if this old man hadn't come, you would probably have drawn your saber and hacked him down."
"When I was young and hot-blooded in Phoenix Perch Prefecture City, I made a fool of myself before Duke Lu."
Commander Han let out a self-mocking laugh and said, "The current Han Zheng has kept his saber sheathed for three years. It hasn't left its scabbard or tasted blood, and has long since lost its edge."
As he spoke, he shifted the subject and pointed toward Lin Yan. "This is the Banner Bearer of Lin Jiang Ward whom I recommended!"
"You're Impermanence?"
The old man known as Duke Lu slowly turned his head and seemed to look him over.
Lin Yan bowed. "Greetings, Duke Lu."
Duke Lu gently stroked his beard and said in a distant voice, "I heard of your reputation long ago. Your killing nature is a little too strong. Several people have submitted petitions demanding that you be punished for wanton slaughter!"
Commander Han chuckled lightly. "Rumors from the outside world are inevitably exaggerated. He isn't bloodthirsty by nature, either. Of the criminals he's captured, he only killed a small portion."
Duke Lu's expression remained unchanged, as though he had not heard him. He quietly watched Lin Yan.
"The most vicious criminals deserve to die." Lin Yan fell silent for a moment before speaking calmly, his tone cold.
"That flower thief from last night did not deserve death. According to the law, he should have been sentenced to three to eight years of hard labor," Duke Lu said mildly.
"He destroyed people's chastity and was responsible for five deaths," Lin Yan said calmly. "Duke Lu, do you think such a man deserved to die?"
"He did."
Duke Lu stroked his beard and smiled. "No wonder Commander Han values you so highly. Your temperament truly resembles his when he was young."
He looked at Lin Yan and said, "Your appointment as Banner Bearer of Lin Jiang Ward had originally reached its final step."
"But because of your excessive bloodshed, Director Gao of the main Inner City tower of the Heavenly Supervision Department was quite displeased."
"He proposed removing you from the position of Banner Bearer and demoting you to an executioner in the Inner City prison."
Duke Lu spoke thus.
Commander Han added, "In plain terms, a headsman."
"..."
Lin Yan's eyes brightened, and joy surged in his heart.
But Duke Lu then waved his hand.
"It's a grueling job that drains the spirit, ruins the body, shortens one's life, and depletes one's fortune."
"Commander Han asked this old man to go to the Inner City and personally meet the highest commander of your Heavenly Supervision Department. I persuaded him to appoint you as Banner Bearer of Lin Jiang Ward after all."
"There's no need to thank me. It's merely that it's rare to see someone who hates evil as bitterly as an enemy and remains upright."
"..."
Lin Yan's gaze grew complicated.
This old man has completely ruined my plans!
He felt helpless inside, yet he also knew the old man had meant well.
Besides, the matter had already been settled. There was no point saying more.
"Xu Qing, take him to the storehouse and have him collect the Lin Jiang Banner."
At that moment, Commander Han beckoned and called over the young man beside him.
Before you continue