Temporary Constable

Zhang Tianyang truly deserved to be one of Li Jingzhong's first batch of disciples. He really understood Li Jingzhong quite well.

Li Jingzhong was not actually indecisive; he merely sought stability.

Back in the day, Li Jingzhong had roamed the martial world as well. Knowing that he was unsuited to the bloodshed and killing of the jianghu, he had come to Black Stone County to establish a Martial Arts Academy.

He was, in fact, an expert at the late Xiantian stage. In terms of strength, he was no weaker than Gao Kaiyuan, Pang Heihu, and the others.

Had he chosen to establish a gang, he would certainly have lived far more comfortably than he did now. Black Stone County would not have merely had three gangs, but four.

He had chosen to open a Martial Arts Academy because he sought stability wholeheartedly and no longer wished to involve himself in jianghu disputes.

However, if his disciples went to serve as constables while he himself did not need to show his face, Li Jingzhong probably would not be too resistant.

After agreeing to Zhang Tianyang's request, Han Zheng returned to the Martial Arts Academy first and told Li Jingzhong everything that had happened outside.

After hearing him out, Li Jingzhong sighed. "Troubled times indeed. Black Stone County is such a small county town, yet it had remained peaceful for so many years. Who would have thought that it would now be swept into the conflict between the imperial court and the Incense Cult? "Then do not go out if you do not have to. At a time like this, leaving the county town is actually even more dangerous. Just cultivate obediently within the Martial Arts Academy."

Han Zheng nodded.

At that moment, a servant from the Martial Arts Academy came in to report that Zhang Tianyang had arrived.

Li Jingzhong unconsciously frowned.

Although Zhang Tianyang had once been his disciple, Li Jingzhong did not wish to have too much contact with him.

The aura around him was far too dangerous. Heaven knew what he had experienced over the years to transform from a farm boy with dreadful talent into an expert at Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm Perfected.

Yet since Zhang Tianyang had come to his door, Li Jingzhong could not refuse to see him.

He had someone invite Zhang Tianyang in, then ordered tea to be served.

"I've come to trouble you again, Teacher. I bought some braised pork elbows on the way here for you to try. "Right now, the roads into Jingzhou Prefecture have been sealed. Quite a few restaurants and stalls on the streets have shut down, so these are not easy to buy anymore."

Li Jingzhong gave a slightly stiff smile. "Constable Zhang, you are too courteous. I have already said that there is no need to call me Teacher. "Last time, Constable Zhang, you forced back the leaders of the three gangs all by yourself, making your name resound throughout Black Stone County. Your cultivation is far stronger than this old man's. "On the path of martial arts, the accomplished come first. I would not dare to rely on my age and put on airs."

"That is not right."

Zhang Tianyang shook his head. "Teacher, you were the one who enlightened me on the martial path. Without your teachings back then, how could there be the Zhang Tianyang of today? "I came today because I have a matter for which I wish to ask your help, Teacher, so I will not beat around the bush. "You know what sort of people the County Yamen's constables are—a bunch of brainless vermin who only know how to eat, drink, whore, gamble, and extort the common people. "I dealt with all of them a few days ago, so the County Yamen is severely short of people now. "Moreover, the Incense Cult's threat is right before us. I intend to place the County Yamen under lockdown and investigate whether there are Incense Cult spies within Black Stone County. That requires a great deal of manpower. "Among Black Stone County's forces, the Song Family and the Shen Family certainly will not help me, and I cannot trust those gang members either. "Thus, the only people I could think of were my junior brothers from the Martial Arts Academy. "As long as they are willing to step forward and help me hold the line for this period, each of them will receive fifty taels a month."

Li Jingzhong was instantly stunned. He had not expected that Zhang Tianyang had come to him for this.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Jingzhong found himself somewhat torn.

Zhang Tianyang had not come to ask him for help, but to ask his disciples for help.

Yet if all his disciples went to the County Yamen, would that not be tantamount to him taking Zhang Tianyang's side as well?

Whether he should involve himself in these matters was the true reason for Li Jingzhong's hesitation.

"Teacher, there is no need to decide right now. I will come again tomorrow. You have one day to consider it. I shall not disturb you further."

With that, Zhang Tianyang glanced at Han Zheng, then turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

After Zhang Tianyang departed, Li Jingzhong sank into a dilemma.

If he agreed to Zhang Tianyang's request, he would be dragged into an unclear and inexplicable conflict.

But if he refused Zhang Tianyang, he did not wish to offend this student of his, who seemed somewhat dangerous.

"Teacher, are you torn over whether to agree to Constable Zhang's request?"

Li Jingzhong sighed. "Yes. Whether I agree or refuse, it is difficult for me."

Han Zheng smiled. "There is actually nothing difficult about it. What Constable Zhang wants is not for you to act, Teacher, but for us disciples to act. "You can simply hand over the choice and openly ask the disciples of the Martial Arts Academy who wishes to go. "You need not stop those who want to become constables and earn silver, nor need you force those who do not wish to go. In any case, this matter does not have much to do with you."

After a pause, Han Zheng added, "Recently, grain prices in Black Stone County have soared. Most disciples from poor backgrounds are struggling even to eat their fill. "Martial artists already have large appetites, and these disciples have no means of earning money. Some of them are already having a very hard time. "Last time, this disciple earned one hundred and fifty taels escorting Shenghe Hall's caravan, so I am still fairly well-off. Otherwise, I would have needed to find a job that could at least keep me fed."

Li Jingzhong sighed. "It is my fault as well. I forgot what circumstances most of my disciples are in. Go call them all here and tell them about this matter."

As the master of Zhenwei Martial Arts School, Li Jingzhong's income was truly not low.

A disciple paid three hundred taels of silver for one year of instruction.

Zhenwei Martial Arts School had at least a hundred disciples every year, meaning Li Jingzhong earned at least thirty thousand taels annually. In years with over two hundred disciples, that would be sixty thousand taels.

Aside from buying weapons, maintaining the Martial Arts Academy's training grounds, hiring servants for miscellaneous work, and providing the disciples with one meal a day, there were no major expenses.

Out of thirty thousand taels, Li Jingzhong could keep at least fifteen thousand taels every year, more than enough to live an exceedingly comfortable life in Black Stone County.

Thus, Li Jingzhong had genuinely forgotten that many of his disciples could barely afford to fill their stomachs.

After gathering the many disciples, Li Jingzhong explained to them the matter of becoming temporary constables at the County Yamen.

The disciples present immediately broke into discussion, their eyes shining.

They could earn fifty taels of silver for serving as temporary constables for a single month? Was there really such a good deal?

Even ordinarily, becoming a County Yamen constable was a position one had to spend silver to obtain.

Although the monthly pay was not much, having the identity of a constable was quite useful for extorting small merchants and street vendors.

Yet now there was an enormous sum of fifty taels on offer. Only fools would refuse!

For these martial artists of commoner birth, fifty taels of silver could absolutely be called an enormous sum.

Thus, after the final count, a full ninety percent were willing to go.

Those who chose not to go came from wealthy families and truly did not think much of fifty taels of silver.

Li Jingzhong had not expected this outcome either.

He had been agonizing over it here, while the disciples of the Martial Arts Academy were practically delirious with joy.

"Since you have made your decisions, when Chief Constable Zhang comes tomorrow, you will follow his orders."

After saying that, Li Jingzhong looked toward Han Zheng. "Are you going as well?"

Han Zheng smiled. "Fifty taels is no small sum. This disciple is short on money too."

The following day, Zhang Tianyang came to the Martial Arts Academy again. Han Zheng secretly gave him a gesture indicating that it was settled.

Zhang Tianyang's heart immediately settled, and he strode toward Li Jingzhong with a hearty laugh. "How has Teacher considered the matter?"

Li Jingzhong said, "They are merely my students, and I have no way to command them. "I explained the matter to them yesterday. Whether they go or not is their own choice. "Those standing here now are the disciples who have decided to serve as temporary constables at the County Yamen. "Constable Zhang, they are all respectable young people with little experience in the world. Apart from a handful such as Han Zheng, most have never taken part in a life-and-death battle. I hope you can look after them somewhat."

Zhang Tianyang nodded. "Rest assured, Teacher. I am not sending them outside to fight the Incense Cult to the death. They only need to investigate Incense Cult spies within the county town. "Should they discover anything, they need not fight the enemy to the death. They only need to send a signal and notify me."

"Very well. Then I leave them to you, Constable Zhang."

Zhang Tianyang brought the group back to the County Yamen. He gave each of them a red scarf to tie around an arm, as well as what appeared to be a firework signal flare.

"By seniority, all of you are my junior brothers. I also cultivated martial arts at Zhenwei Martial Arts School in the past, so we are all one of our own."

Only Han Zheng knew Zhang Tianyang's identity. The others truly had not known that Zhang Tianyang was also Li Jingzhong's disciple, and they all found it rather novel.

"Since we are one of our own, I will not waste words with everyone. I brought you here to serve as temporary constables in order to find the Incense Cult spies within Black Stone County. "The Incense Cult has now swallowed Huainan Dao whole and is eyeing Shannan Dao like a tiger watching its prey. "Our Black Stone County stands directly in the line of fire. Once the county town is breached by the Incense Cult, it will no longer merely be a matter of soaring grain prices—everyone will be unable to eat! "The County Yamen's constables are all useless trash squatting in their positions and consuming their salaries. They cannot defend Black Stone County, which is why I sought you out. "All of you were born and raised in Black Stone County and know it like the backs of your hands. I only require you to search for every suspicious outsider. "Do not care who stands behind them. The moment you find something amiss, send a signal immediately. If anything happens, I will bear the responsibility! "The County Yamen does not have enough constable uniforms, so anyone wearing a red scarf counts as a temporary County Yamen constable. I will issue a notice to all forces in the county town: everyone must cooperate with inspections. "Now, freely form groups of five and patrol the county town day and night. Remember: the instant you find anything unusual, send a signal at once!"

The group began forming teams in twos and threes. Li Sancheng naturally came to join Han Zheng's group.

Zhao Jinming and Wang Bao, who had once escorted Shenghe Hall's caravan alongside Han Zheng, also came over.

They had witnessed Han Zheng's might and knew that following him was the safest and most reliable choice.

At that moment, Chen Zhao also walked over. After hesitating briefly, he said to Han Zheng, "Brother Han, may I join your group?"

Han Zheng smiled. "Of course."

Among the Martial Arts Academy's disciples, Chen Zhao was actually the most honest and steadfast.

He had no background, no resources, and no special advantage. He simply relied on his own diligent cultivation.

He had joined Han Zheng's group only because Li Jingzhong had once told him to learn more from Han Zheng.

Both were disciples of commoner birth. Chen Zhao could not learn from Song Tianqing or Lin Qing; he could only learn from Han Zheng.

Chen Zhao possessed a simple and resolute nature. He felt no envy or similar emotions over this. He genuinely wanted to learn something from Han Zheng.