Great Zhou Dynasty, Heyuan Commandery.
Inside the county government prison, in a dark and freezing cell.
"Yang Cheng, all I did was play a servant to death. How dare you, over such a trivial matter, disregard the bond between your uncle and your colleagues, show the Li Family not the slightest consideration, and insist on throwing me in prison?"
Outside the cell, the handsome young Shen Zhui, about seventeen or eighteen years old, heard this and chuckled. "Yang Cheng, even if your uncle, Yang Wu, were here, he still couldn't shield you.
"Not to mention that your father is merely a minor steward of the Li Family. You can't represent the Li Family at all. Even if a disciple of the Li Family broke the law, I, Shen Zhui, would still dare arrest him!"
"Fine, fine, you've got guts!" Yang Cheng snarled. "Since I lost to you and couldn't get away, I'll accept my fate! Someone will bail me out before long anyway. But I'll report everything you said to the Li Family exactly as it happened! Just you wait!"
"Hmph! Enough nonsense. Stay in there and behave!"
"Congratulations, host. You have apprehended a Sixth Stage Houtian Martial Artist suspect. The suspect's Sin Value is 160. Reward: 160 Merit Points."
After leaving the county government prison, Shen Zhui checked the notification from the Punish Evil System and immediately shook his head.
"This Punish Evil System grants Merit Points based on the realm of each suspect I apprehend, the difficulty of the arrest, and the depth of their sins."
"Although Yang Cheng committed the crime of torturing a servant to death, he was only a Sixth Stage Houtian Martial Artist, so the Merit Points are a little low."
"Looks like I need to arrest stronger criminals. If I can request an Execution Order, the Merit Points will be much higher." Shen Zhui thought to himself.
Shen Zhui was not from this world.
Seven years ago, he had transmigrated into the body of a ten-year-old orphan in a small commandery city under the Zhou Dynasty, in a world resembling Ancient Huaxia. He had nearly starved to death, but fortunately, an old man took him in and saved his life.
Three years ago, by a twist of fate, he entered the Martial Arts Department of the Heyuan Commandery county government and became an Eighth-Rank Constable. At the same time, he activated the Punish Evil System.
In just three years, he had advanced from a rookie who had only just stepped onto the path of martial arts to a Seventh Stage Houtian Martial Artist!
Thinking back on it all, Shen Zhui was filled with emotion.
This world had Immortals, Demons, and Monsters, as well as Ghosts, Monsters, and Villains!
It also had martial artists and True Persons with astonishing abilities, capable of riding clouds and mist, splitting mountains, and severing rivers!
The Great Zhou Dynasty ruled over the four seas and eight wastelands, occupying the center of the continent. Its territory was vast and seemingly endless!
Such an immense realm was governed by True Persons and martial artists!
Because both "martial arts" and the "Dao" could lead to divinity!
Martial artists and True Persons were the two most revered types of people in this world!
"Still, with this Punish Evil System, as long as I can enter the Xiantian Martial Artist realm, I won't need to envy those Daoist True Persons who soar high and travel far."
Although martial artists were not as rare as True Persons who cultivated Daoist arts, and were even more difficult to train, once they reached a certain realm, their combat strength was no weaker than that of Daoist True Persons.
"I must enter the Xiantian Martial Artist realm as soon as possible. Only after reaching the Xiantian Martial Artist realm will I count as someone of importance in Heyuan County."
Shen Zhui faintly sensed a crisis. In this world of the survival of the fittest, people dying was perfectly normal.
Especially in his line of work. Though he carried out the government's orders, he still offended many people without realizing it.
Without strength, there was no status. Take Yang Cheng, for example. After brutally killing a servant, he had been sentenced to less than a year.
If Shen Zhui had not arrested him so quickly, once Yang Cheng had smoothed things over and greased the right palms, he might not even have had to spend a day in prison.
"Let's see how many Merit Points I have now. The system's judgment actually takes effect immediately; there's no need to wait for Yang Cheng to go through interrogation and detention."
With a thought, a translucent scene appeared before Shen Zhui's eyes.
Shen Zhui: Seventh Stage Houtian Martial Artist Cultivation Method: "Bloodburn" (Third Layer) Martial Skill: "Nine Layers of Iron Ruler" (Major Accomplishment Realm) Movement Technique: "Flowing Cloud Steps" (Minor Accomplishment) Merit Points: 3100 Exchange List: Enlightenment Time (100 Merit Points per second) Awakening Time (1,000 Merit Points per second)
"3,100 Merit Points. As expected, they've increased! But there's no rush. I'll turn in the warrant at the Law Enforcement Hall first."
Heyuan County government office, Law Enforcement Hall.
The ancient and imposing main hall of the county government was bustling with constables coming and going. The moment Shen Zhui entered the Law Enforcement Hall, he drew the attention of those nearby.
"Look, it's Shen Zhui!"
"Shen Zhui completed another Arrest Order. Truly impressive!"
"How long has it been? The three-day deadline hasn't even arrived. Shen Zhui is far too fast!"
"And the criminal was a Sixth Stage Houtian Martial Artist, only one step away from the late stage. Incredible!"
"The Arrest Orders issued from above are much harder than Execution Orders. Sixth Stage Houtian Martial Artists are all ruthless characters. I could barely manage to kill one, but capturing one alive? That's far too difficult!"
"Heh, don't let Shen Zhui's youth fool you. He's a genius of our Martial Arts Department, ranked among the best even in the Three Divisions and Six Offices. Of course he's impressive."
"Brother Shen, thanks for the effort."
"Shen Zhui, you're back."
"..."
The Law Enforcement Hall was filled with discussion, and quite a few people took the initiative to greet Shen Zhui.
Shen Zhui nodded in response to each of them, but did not stop walking. He went straight to the inner hall of the Law Enforcement Hall.
"Steward Liu, Shen Zhui of the Martial Arts Department reporting. I have completed the task. The suspect in the Li Village servant-murder case has been brought in."
"Hm? It's Shen Zhui." An elderly man with graying whiskers raised his head from behind his desk.
"My lord, this is the Arrest Order." Shen Zhui took a diamond-shaped token shimmering with azure light from his robes.
The County Governor's orders were divided into Execution Orders and Arrest Orders.
Once an order was issued, an Execution Order required the criminal to be killed on the spot after being found. An Arrest Order, on the other hand, required the criminal to be brought back.
Once the order was completed, the azure glow indicating mission completion would appear on this Daoist Magic Token, forged with special patterns.
"Good, Shen Zhui. You truly live up to being a talent valued by the County Governor. Government business is keeping me busy, so I won't exchange pleasantries. You may go." Steward Liu smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
"Yes, my lord."
Shen Zhui had just left the Law Enforcement Hall when a shout came from behind him.
"Shen Zhui, stop! Do you know whom you just arrested?"
Shen Zhui turned around and saw three or four constables from the Martial Arts Department approaching. At their head was a burly man with a face full of fierce flesh. His name was Yang Wu. He was an Eighth-Rank Constable and the uncle of the criminal Shen Zhui had just arrested, Yang Cheng.
"Captain Yang, the man I arrested was a criminal named Yang Cheng from Li Village. He killed a servant and abandoned the corpse. He got what he deserved."
"Good! Good! It seems you know the criminal's information inside and out. Constable Shen, you're truly something!" The burly Yang Wu stepped forward and glared coldly at Shen Zhui, his aura pressing down like a mountain.
Shen Zhui lifted his head and met his gaze without the slightest fear, his expression calm.
"Constable Shen, with how devoted you are to your duty, you must be sure to watch your own safety when handling cases in the future! If you lose your life, remember: you may have a life to earn money, but not a life to spend it!" Yang Wu warned him in an icy tone.
Shen Zhui replied coldly, "There's no need to trouble yourself over this, Captain Yang. Let me offer a reminder in return: sometimes, if you embrace the wrong thigh, you may die even faster than you would while investigating a case!"
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