After Lin Yan left with the young man.
The middle-aged man who had come with Duke Lu and remained silent all this time silently walked out as well and closed the door.
Duke Lu gently stroked his beard and suddenly asked, "Why did he leave the city last night?"
"His elder brother left the city and failed to return during the night, so he risked his life to go rescue him."
"He is indeed loyal and righteous."
Hearing this, the admiration in Duke Lu's eyes deepened. He continued lightly, "But the situation outside Gao Liu City last night was so dire, and the monsters and evil spirits so vicious, that such a thing hadn't happened once in ten years. For him to return alive, he must be carrying some great secret."
Commander Han's expression did not change. He said softly, "People in this world who have no secrets usually end up dead."
Duke Lu nodded slightly. "That is true. You and I both have our own secrets as well."
Commander Han said solemnly, "Therefore, as long as his heart remains upright and he preserves this current passion in his blood, whatever great secret he hides will not matter."
"When I was young, the secrets I carried were probably even greater than his!"
"It's just a pity that back then, I had no backer behind me and ended up in this state."
Commander Han's words carried a hint of self-mockery.
Duke Lu pondered before asking, "So you want to become the man behind him?"
Commander Han gave a laugh without denying it.
"This kid's temperament is extremely similar to mine when I was young, but he is even more unruly. His killing instinct is stronger than mine was back then!"
Commander Han sighed. "I'm afraid I won't be able to protect him for much longer."
"A year ago, he had only achieved perfection in Skin, Flesh, Tendons, Bones and reached the peak of the first Martial Arts threshold." Duke Lu's voice was distant. "Normally speaking, he still had a long road ahead of him. With your abilities, you could have protected him for a long time."
"It won't be long. His talent is too high, and his abilities too strong."
Commander Han said with emotion, "I taught him the Breath Concealment Art... He thought he had hidden it well, but I saw through it at a glance. He is stronger than he appears on the surface."
"Could it be... that he has gone beyond that?" Duke Lu was startled, a trace of astonishment appearing on his face.
"In just one short year, he not only completed Blood Refinement, but also completed Marrow Cleansing and entered Internal Fortification!" Commander Han said with emotion.
"In one year, he broke through the second Martial Arts threshold, advanced to the third, and tempered his five organs and six viscera?" Duke Lu's eyes were filled with shock.
"Indeed! How could his true cultivation possibly escape my notice when he was right in front of me?"
Commander Han clasped his hands behind his back, his voice carrying a trace of appreciation. "With his aptitude, he will reach the peak of Internal Fortification in five years at most!"
"By my estimate, within ten years, a powerhouse of the Essence Refining Realm may be born in Gao Liu City!"
"In ten years, he will certainly have a place in the Inner City!"
"In twenty years, perhaps the Six Great Clans of the Inner City will gain another member!"
"In the future, his reputation will certainly not stop at Gao Liu City. Even throughout Qifeng Prefecture, he will become a dazzling rising star!"
Commander Han turned his head and said seriously, "He is even more outstanding than Li Shenzong was back then!"
"The prerequisite is that he can live until then."
Duke Lu suddenly spoke, his tone indifferent. "Judging from his current condition, he will certainly die young within half a year."
Commander Han's expression changed drastically.
"What does Duke Lu mean?"
"He broke the rules last night and has already brought down a great disaster."
"The Lone Boat Eerie Mist?"
"Not only that!"
"..." Commander Han's expression tightened slightly. Though Duke Lu was not a martial artist, he had served the Phoenix Tree Mother Goddess for many years. His perception of the auras of strange beings in this world was incomparably sharp.
"He carries at least six kinds of lingering strange auras." Duke Lu's tone was complicated. "He must have encountered the Lone Boat Eerie Mist, but for some reason, he survived! Yet apart from the Lone Boat Eerie Mist, there was something even more terrifying..."
"What did Duke Lu see?"
"I faintly saw the phantom of someone dressed in red."
"Even more vicious than the Lone Boat Eerie Mist?"
"Far more vicious!"
Duke Lu paused before continuing, "Also, early this morning, a sparrow landed in my courtyard and brought news from Sophora Venerate."
Sophora Venerate was a locust tree outside Gao Liu City. After growing old and becoming a spirit, it had developed intelligence and occasionally protected woodcutters who lost their way.
It received incense offerings from woodcutters, hunters, and other commoners and was hailed as a mountain guardian deity.
It was one of the very few monsters willing to communicate with humanity.
"It said that the people of Gao Liu City do not follow the rules."
"When people traveled the roads at night, they not only showed no respect but even drew their blades against it, their Killing Intent ferocious enough to damage its cultivation."
"They even forced it to accept their incense offerings. More importantly... those Three Incense Sticks were leftovers that other evil spirits had already eaten."
Duke Lu's expression remained calm as he slowly said, "Do you know how great an insult this is to Sophora Venerate?"
"..."
Commander Han thought for a moment before nodding. "It would be like me coming to see you, Old Man, asking you to do me a favor and inviting you to a meal, only to pull out a bowl of leftovers that someone else had eaten the night before."
He thought for a moment and continued, "But when you refuse to eat, I grab you by the head and shove it straight into the bowl, forcing you to swallow the leftovers that even a dog wouldn't eat. Then I still make you agree to do me the favor."
Afterward, he nodded thoughtfully. "That really was a bit lacking in decency... Hm? Duke Lu, why has your face suddenly turned so awful? Have you been unaccustomed to the climate since moving to the Outer City?"
"Why didn't Li Shenzong cut you down back then?"
Duke Lu said expressionlessly, "There is nothing wrong with you except that you were born with a mouth."
The old man gave a snort and flicked his sleeve slightly, but still returned to the matter at hand.
"Sophora Venerate is extremely angry. Unless Gao Liu City gives it two sacrificial animals, it absolutely will not let the matter rest."
"However, Sophora Venerate's envoy also said that if the person from last night apologizes, one sacrifice will do... If that truly isn't possible, it can also be put on the tab."
"Sophora Venerate's temperament is relatively gentle. It will be fine as long as we coax it a little."
Duke Lu's tone grew solemn. "But this boy provoked too many evil beings last night, and he also broke the rules. I'm afraid the darkness will no longer have room for him in the future!"
The daytime belonged to the Human World, while the night belonged to the underworld.
Even the highest commander of the Heaven Supervision Department in Phoenix Perch Prefecture City had to follow the rules when traveling the roads at night.
These were the rules that generations of humanity, struggling to survive in the darkness, had painstakingly groped their way toward!
Once the rules were broken, they were often accompanied by an Ominous Omen.
"A man regarded with hostility by the darkness, an ominous man, cannot become the Night Illuminator you have in mind."
Duke Lu said in a deep voice, "Besides, his reputation has grown considerable lately and he has attracted too much attention. He is not suited to become a Night Illuminator in the first place."
"The Heaven Supervision Department does not fall under Gao Liu City's jurisdiction."
"We take orders from Phoenix Perch Prefecture City and are responsible for overseeing the various departments of Gao Liu City."
"At the same time, we also assist the Prefectural Governor's Mansion with cases."
"For the past year or so, you have been assisting the Night Patrol Envoy in handling cases under the identity of a member of the Heaven Supervision Department."
"And Lin Jiang Ward carries even greater responsibility, because it is the outermost of the twelve wards in the southern district of the Outer City, lying directly beside the city wall."
"Although Willow Venerable's fame is at its height and no monsters or evil spirits dare invade, accidents are unavoidable. Soldiers guarding the city often disappear, victims of evil spirits."
"Sometimes, when the situation changes, the Heaven Supervision Department must assist the city's defensive forces."
Xu Qing spoke as he handed over the flag in his hand.
It was a small flag with a black field and silver edging. A willow branch was embroidered on the reverse, while the words Lin Jiang appeared on the front.
Lin Yan reached out to take it and suddenly asked, "Since Lin Jiang Ward has greater responsibilities, why did Zhou Kui insist on taking this position for his adopted son?"
"It concerns decisions made in the Inner City. I have no authority to know."
Xu Qing's expression was calm as he said, "However, based on the information I have handled over the past three months, every outermost ward in the eight regions of the Outer City has received tremendous attention."
He glanced at Lin Yan before continuing, "Zhou Kui is the Banner Commander of the Outer Southwest Division. Two months ago, he sent the Banner Bearer of the outermost ward away on assignment... His biological son has now taken over the position."
"He came to our Outer South Division today precisely to seize the outermost ward of the Southern District for his adopted son... Lin Jiang Ward!"
Although Xu Qing had not said it outright, the meaning was already very clear.
The outermost wards near the city wall must have recently become tied to enormous interests.
And Commander Han had handed this position to him.
It was an immense sign of trust and esteem.
"I understand."
Lin Yan nodded slightly and looked at the set of clothes laid out on the table.
The official uniform of the Heaven Supervision Department's Banner Bearer.
A black robe threaded with gold, like the light of dawn shining upon it.
"This was transported here from Phoenix Perch Prefecture City. It is made of Three-Patterned Golden Silkworm Silk, supple and resilient, warm in winter and cool in summer. After being made into clothing, it was offered at Wutong Temple for a month and received a blessing."
"This heart-protecting mirror is made of Hundred-Refined Fine Steel, with Exorcism Runes carved upon it."
"This Small Crossbow was given to you by Commander Han. It comes with twelve bolts, has formidable power, and is easy to carry."
"As for the saber..."
Xu Qing's voice was distant. "On the first day you became a member of the Outer Southern Department, the saber you received... was already of Banner Bearer rank!"
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