The next day, Zhou Qiming went to work at the Weapon Forging Workshop as usual. After becoming a second-rank smith, he enjoyed an independent forging room and could leave his own mark on the weapons he forged.
After these past few days of cultivation, that drop of King's Blood was finally completely refined under the force of Hua Jin. Its effects were in no way inferior to those of using Dragon Demon Blood to change his tendons, and he no longer needed to worry about the Sky Shaker Bandits' movements.
Zhou Qiming's Muscle Tendon Changing progress had increased greatly, advancing toward the strength of tiger tendons, while the bottle of Young Dragon Blood he had seized from the Jinsha Gang had finally been used up.
Resources as precious as Tendon Transformation Pills and Dragon Blood were all priceless treasures that money could not buy. Even Sha Heihu had only received a few bottles after being rewarded by the Hantian Army.
"I have to go claim a Blade Catcher mission. The Yamen treasury won't be lacking Dragon Blood."
Zhou Qiming asked Steward Mo for half a day off and went to the Inner City Yamen to meet County Lieutenant Li Shou.
The guards of the Inner and Outer Cities were extremely strict. Without an Inner City residence permit, no one could stay there overnight. Zhou Qiming was able to pass through unhindered only because he had the invitation prepared by Zhang Song, and he soon arrived at the County Lieutenant's office.
Li Shou was the second-in-command beneath the County Governor, in charge of the daily defense affairs of Luoshan County's City Guard Department and the Luoshan Army.
In Li Shou's courtyard, Zhou Qiming wore a Blade Catcher's mask and a black official robe as he met County Lieutenant Li.
Blade Catchers made their living by walking the edge of the knife for reward money. It was work that could not see the light of day, and all of them feared retaliation. Li Shou did not bother investigating Zhou Qiming's identity. As long as he got the job done, that was enough.
"Greetings, Lord Li."
"I've heard Zhang Zhuodao praise you to the skies. I'll first register you as a Bronze Blade Catcher. Complete your first mission, and then we'll see what you're capable of."
Li Shou revealed a formulaic smile and had a guard hand Zhou Qiming a waist token and a registration ledger.
Zhou Qiming quickly expressed his thanks and registered under the alias Zhou Tailai. That way, he also would not bring trouble to the Weapon Forging Workshop during his missions.
"This is your first mission. Your target is the Jade Thief, Tian Liang. Recently, he has defiled the daughters of several noble families in the Inner City and has already begun operating in the Outer City. Even the City Guard Department and the constables have been unable to deal with him. I'll leave him to you."
Li Shou took a sip of tea as he introduced the mission in detail. He was also looking forward to seeing what Zhou Tailai was capable of.
Zhou Qiming glanced at the portrait, memorizing Tian Liang's features, then confirmed the man's record and strength. He seemed to be at the Great Accomplishment of Tendon Transformation level and had recently fled to Luoshan County from elsewhere. He was still within Zhou Qiming's ability to handle, so he readily accepted the mission.
"Can the thousand taels of reward be exchanged for something else?" Zhou Qiming asked tentatively as he held the scroll and dossier.
Tian Liang's romantic crimes were no small matter. How could the reward posted by several Inner City families possibly be only a thousand taels? Li Shou had certainly skimmed off quite a bit, so Zhou Qiming naturally had to fight for his own interests.
"That can be arranged. What do you want?" Li Shou frowned. The other party was already trying to negotiate terms on their first cooperation, which irritated him somewhat.
However, all the other capable Blade Catchers were currently away handling missions, while Zhang Song did not dare deal with Tian Liang. He could only place his hopes in Zhou Tailai.
"Dragon Blood, or a Tiger Tendon Pill."
"Fine. We still have Dragon Blood in storage. Afterward, I can spare you one jar." Li Shou agreed readily as well.
Yet his heart was pounding with misgivings. The other party needed even Tiger Tendon Pills in large quantities. Could it be that he was still at the Bone Forging bottleneck and had not yet begun Muscle Tendon Changing?
But since the other party dared to accept the mission, he clearly had confidence in his own strength. Perhaps this Dragon Blood was being obtained for a friend or a junior.
After receiving the mission, Zhou Qiming left the Inner City.
According to the County Lieutenant's informants and intelligence, the Jade Thief was extremely brazen. He had shown up in the Outer City over the past two days, but no one had dared move against him.
In the middle of the afternoon, people were at their most tired and their guards at their weakest. After all, who would carry out an assassination in broad daylight? Zhou Qiming, naturally, refused to take the usual path and insisted on exploiting this psychological blind spot.
Qingping Inn was bustling with traffic.
The waiter brought food and hot water to a guest room, then turned to leave. Enviously, he remarked, "The women this guest brings back are different every night. What a blessed life."
In the corner, Zhou Qiming watched the figure emerge. The man was thin, pale-faced, and beardless—strikingly identical to the portrait.
Having confirmed his target, he was just about to erupt into action as an assassin.
Suddenly, he saw a white-robed young master leap down from the wall. His movements were superb, and his Body tempering realm was not weak either.
The white-robed young master waved a feather fan and entered the room with Tian Liang while chatting and laughing, then shut the door.
"Forget it. I'll spare that dog's life for now."
Zhou Qiming shook his head. With an unfamiliar expert suddenly intruding, he did not want to alert the enemy. Dealing with Tian Liang alone already required his full concentration.
"That young master is a little formidable. I mustn't let him notice me. I'll go get something to eat first." He quietly retreated, intending to have a bite in the main hall. Tian Liang could not escape for the moment.
Inside the room, the two men were sweating profusely together. In the end, the young master grew somewhat tired of the woman on the bed and stopped. Only then did the two of them begin their lewd conversation.
"Young Master Hao has made the human rankings. As expected of a dragon among men, vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger, utterly extraordinary." Tian Liang smiled as he offered his praise.
At that moment, Bai Hao was as saintly and wise as a Buddha. He merely instructed coldly, "Remember, you absolutely must not fail this time. And after you succeed, you must not touch this woman without permission. Wait until I've had my fill before doing anything else."
"Of course, of course. Who doesn't know that Ren Xue is Young Master Hao's forbidden possession? It's laughable that those two toads, father and daughter, dream of eating swan meat and still want to climb into the young master's good graces." Tian Liang held Ren Xue's portrait and gave a wicked chuckle.
Tian Liang licked his lips. He had never imagined that the Four Young Masters, so dashing on the surface, could be even more vicious and shameless behind the scenes. Ren Xue was wholeheartedly devoted to Bai Hao, but how could she know the wolfish ambition hidden in his heart?
Bai Hao simply wanted to take her first time, then use it to gain leverage over Hero's Tower. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too.
"If you want someone to blame, blame Ren Xue for not knowing her place. This young master has already entered a marriage alliance with a noble daughter of a Noble Family in the commandery city. How could I possibly continue and make her my principal wife? But Ren Xue's looks are still quite good. Naturally, I have to enjoy myself."
Bai Hao finished putting on his clothes, a cold smile appearing on his face. Beside him, the Inner City woman they had abducted had long since been scared out of her wits. Bai Hao killed her with a single palm strike.
At least on the surface, he was one of Luoshan City's Four Young Masters. No one could be allowed to learn about his secret use of the Jade Thief.
"Don't let this matter grow too large. No matter what, she is also the Section Chief of the Outer City City Guard Department. County Lieutenant Li has even sent a Blade Catcher after you, so finish this matter quickly."
Bai Hao gave him several more reminders before finally pushing open the door and leaving.
"Rest assured, Young Master Hao. I'll arrange everything for that woman properly." Tian Liang cupped his hands. It was only the City Guard Department of the Outer City—hardly enough to make him fail.
After the room finally fell quiet, Zhou Qiming stepped out from the corner, his heart trembling slightly.
He had returned to lie in ambush because he was worried Tian Liang would escape. He had never expected to overhear such a shocking secret.
Tian Liang had not fled to the County Town at all. Clearly, Bai Hao was a beast in human skin who had invited a wolf into his home, deliberately bringing him in to deal with Ren Xue.
However, none of that had anything to do with Zhou Qiming. He was merely here to complete a Blade Catcher mission. It was impossible for him to provoke trouble with the Bai Family over some woman.
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