It had only been two or three hours since Zhou Tailai had left, yet he had already slain a Martial Artist at the Great Accomplishment of Tendon Transformation level like Tian Liang!
Even the best-performing Gold-Rank Blade Catchers under Li Shou probably could do no better.
And now that he took a closer look, Zhou Tailai's features seemed extremely youthful. He looked to be only a little over twenty. Combined with such monstrous strength, could he be a Human Ranking Expert even more terrifying than Bai Hao?
"Gasp, this person Zhang Song introduced isn't simple. We were all wrong. How could he be at the Tendon Transformation Early Stage? He must be a hidden Viscera Refining Martial Artist."
The more Li Shou thought about it, the more alarmed he became, repeatedly sucking in cold breaths. They had struck gold this time. With a powerhouse like Zhou Tailai under him, Luoshan County's public security record would be turned upside down.
"Very good. Your rewards have all been prepared in the treasury. Take the registration book and go claim them. Also, from this moment onward, I am promoting you to Silver-Rank Blade Catcher. Your annual salary will be three hundred taels, and you will only need to take on one mission each year."
Li Shou wrote out a letter and record, stamped it with a red seal, and handed it to Zhou Qiming. The more he looked at him, the more satisfied he became, his face wreathed in smiles.
He had also considered directly promoting Zhou Tailai to Gold-Rank Blade Catcher, but that would not conform to the rules. Only one rank could be raised at a time, or the other Blade Catchers would resist.
Still, Zhou Qiming was already quite satisfied. As long as his pills and martial arts resources continued to be distributed as usual, that was enough.
As for those three hundred taels a year, they were not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth, so Zhou Qiming did not take them to heart. There was no helping it—the County Magistrate had to pay most of that money from his personal treasury, and it was merely a token gesture to pacify people's hearts.
Soon, Zhou Qiming went to the storeroom and collected the rewards that belonged to him.
A thousand taels in banknotes, a jar of fresh Dragon Blood, and a bottle of Tiger Tendon Pills.
With this Dragon Blood and the Tendon Transformation Pills replenishing him, his Tendon Transformation progress would accelerate as well. He would first transform toward the Tiger Tendon level, followed by Dragon Tendons and even Dragon Tendons.
When he returned home, he sorted out all of today's gains. His assets now amounted to more than eight thousand taels in banknotes. Adding in a barely sufficient supply of Tendon Transformation resources, he was almost worth ten thousand taels already.
And that did not even include the Ren Family's payment or the reward from Chasing Wind Tower. He had struck it rich in one go.
Zhou Qiming had just been preparing to sit in meditation and practice the Evergreen Skill when Zhang Song arrived to offer his congratulations.
"Congratulations, Brother Zhou. You captured the criminal on your very first outing. Your strength is truly humbling."
Zhang Song brought some fine wine. He drank several cups with Zhou Qiming and ate the dishes he had packed along the way to accompany the wine.
When he had first heard about the mission assigned by the County Magistrate, he had been somewhat worried about Zhou Qiming. After all, the other man was his disciple Cheng Yan's friend. If he failed and died, it would be difficult to explain himself to the Cheng Family.
Tian Liang's methods and strength were no joke. Zhang Song had not been confident of victory himself, which was why he had not accepted the mission.
Yet Zhou Qiming had handled it with ease. This friend of the Cheng Family was clearly no simple character—could he be a Human Ranking Expert comparable to Bai Hao?
Just one day ago, the other man had been a Bronze Blade Catcher of a lower level. Now, they stood as equals and partners.
Moreover, everyone knew that Zhou Qiming had already won Li Shou's favor and investment. Sooner or later, he would rise another step and perhaps even secure an official position with rank.
"Brother Zhang, you're too kind. Without your recommendation, I would still only be chopping wood and working the forge for a living." Zhou Qiming humbly cupped his hands.
"Good. If we ever undertake a mission together in the future, I hope you'll look after me a little, Brother Zhou." Zhang Song drained a large gulp of wine, hoping to build a friendship.
"That is only proper. We are colleagues, after all. It is only right that we help each other." Zhou Qiming nodded in agreement.
"You must be careful of Bai Hao. The County Magistrate has someone from the Bai Family by his side."
After finishing his wine, Zhang Song left with a smile. Before parting, he also reminded Zhou Qiming of a few things.
Although he did not know what connection Tian Liang had with Bai Hao, Zhang Song did know that the Bai Family had already been secretly investigating news of Zhou Tailai. They seemed intent on harming him, so Zhang Song had come to deliver the warning at the first opportunity.
"Bai Hao and the Bai Family? I only want to cultivate in peace and earn some reward money. They had better not lose their minds and provoke me."
Zhou Qiming tilted his head back to look at the moon overhead and crushed the wine cup in his hand.
He had only just arrived in the County Town, right when he should have been developing and increasing his strength, yet he had already provoked enemies like the Hantian Army and the Bai Family one after another. Did he truly have to stop killing with killing?
Zhou Qiming calmed his emotions and circulated the Greater Celestial Circuit of the Evergreen Skill. As long as he broke through the limit of his inner power as soon as possible, no one throughout Luoshan County would be able to threaten him.
Streams of qi accompanied by shimmering starlight flowed in and out of the youth's mouth and nose, circulating like a force with tangible form and substance. Clearly, his Qi Sensation in the Evergreen Skill had increased substantially again, and he was not far from achieving a minor mastery.
The feeling of receiving feedback and gains simply from practicing was too satisfying. Zhou Qiming sank into cultivating his inner power.
Meanwhile, within the Bai Family residence, Bai Hao was furious beyond measure. He kicked apart several exquisite flower beds in the courtyard.
"Useless! Truly useless! Tian Liang actually failed, leaving me with nothing after all that effort."
Bai Hao had naturally received the news that Tian Liang had been captured and brought to justice by the Blade Catchers at the first opportunity. This also meant that the duck already in Ren Xue's mouth had flown away.
Bai Buyi stroked his long beard and paced with his hands behind his back, puzzled.
"Strange. Ordinarily, all the Gold-Rank Blade Catchers had gone out to carry out missions and had no time to spare. Who under Li Shou has such ability? Could it be a newly arrived Blade Catcher?"
Bai Hao had chosen to act precisely because the Blade Catchers' forces were stretched thin. He had confidently handed the plan over to Tian Liang to execute, never expecting an accident.
"Hmph. Whoever dares ruin my Bai Family's good deed—if I catch him, I will chop him into pieces and bury him in the soil to fertilize the flowers." Bai Hao's veins bulged as hatred flashed in his eyes.
Bai Buyi patted his son's shoulder and comforted him.
"Do not be discouraged. You are already a Human Ranking Heavenly Prodigy and have received the attention and investment of a Noble Family from the commandery city. You already stand worlds apart from the others. How could you allow yourself to be trapped by love?"
"Father is right. I let it go long ago. It is just that I never got to taste the fruit, which is a little regrettable." Bai Hao was still unwilling to accept it. If he could not have something, no one else should even dream of touching it!
"Then coax her again and make another attempt. Ren Xue has little experience in the ways of the world and may not have become suspicious of you. Much of the blame can be pushed onto the dead Tian Liang or that Blade Catcher." Bai Buyi offered his guidance, looking utterly composed.
Bai Hao suddenly understood, as if a barrier had been cleared from his mind. The ginger was still spicier when it was old. Ren Xue was both foolish and simple, making her extremely easy to deceive. If he coaxed her with a few honeyed words and added a sincere gift, perhaps he could pin all the blame on Tian Liang and clear himself.
Since he had successfully tricked Ren Xue into going to the inn, there was still some affection between them. He might yet get to eat that duck after all!
Would Ren Xue believe a lecherous criminal like Tian Liang, or him, one of the Four Young Masters of Luoshan County? There was only one way to find out, and the odds of success seemed quite high.
Bai Hao's parched, ravenous thoughts stirred to life again. He first hurried to the County Magistrate's residence to investigate the matter personally.
"Young Master Bai, you are usually busy cultivating and improving your Human Ranking position. What brings you here today?" Li Shou received this rare guest. The Bai Family never came without a reason.
"Ren Xue is my betrothed. She nearly fell into the hands of a criminal. If Lord Li had not arranged everything so properly, she might already have lost her chastity. Naturally, I must thank my benefactor in person. May I ask which Blade Catcher deserves the credit?"
Bai Hao got straight to the point, biting down especially hard on the words "thank you." His expression was so grave that no one could see through his thoughts.
Li Shou pondered for a moment before speaking. "He is..."
Seeing the expectant yet resentful gleam in Bai Hao's eyes, Li Shou changed his wording and said in a deep voice, "He is a Gold-Rank Blade Catcher who returned ahead of schedule. What? Does this official need to explain his affairs clearly to your Bai Family? Is the Bai Family planning to meddle in the affairs of the imperial court?"
"I would not dare." Bai Hao hurriedly lowered his head. His expression grew as cold as still water, and he flicked his sleeve before turning and leaving.
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