An order from the yamen?
Shen Bai found it a little strange.
Normally, when Zhou Qing came to see him, the two of them mostly chatted about everyday domestic matters.
In Ascending Cloud County, Shen Bai had only Zhou Qing as a friend, and Zhou Qing was the same.
But now, Zhou Qing had rarely shown such a grave expression. Shen Bai felt this was no simple matter.
Talking outside did indeed make it easy for others to eavesdrop. After thinking it over, Shen Bai led Zhou Qing into the pawnshop and casually shut the door behind them.
Shen Bai poured a cup of tea and handed it to Zhou Qing.
After taking it, Zhou Qing drained it in one gulp.
Before Shen Bai could speak, Zhou Qing opened his mouth first.
"Old Shen, you must remember this. If anyone comes to pawn some strange and unusual item with you during this period, keep them here, then immediately have Zhang Chaofeng report it to the yamen."
Shen Bai took a sip of tea. "What exactly is going on? Why are you making it all so mysterious?"
As the pawnshop manager, Shen Bai knew the trade well enough.
They often received strange and unusual things.
Zhou Qing looked around, wearing a secretive expression. "The Heavenly Oversight Bureau has issued an order. Every shop in Ascending Cloud County must stay alert. If any strange object appears, report it immediately. Anything that seems odd counts, and the yamen will offer a generous reward."
Hearing this, Shen Bai suddenly understood.
At any other time, Shen Bai would not have been able to guess it. But after the incident with the locust tree, especially after what Wuhua had told him, he knew the reason.
"This may be related to the Bizarre Item lost by the Heavenly Oversight Bureau," Shen Bai thought.
Weren't strange and unusual objects precisely Bizarre Items?
The Heavenly Oversight Bureau probably feared causing unrest, so they had put it in particularly vague terms.
Shen Bai nodded. "Don't worry. If I come across one, I'll inform the yamen immediately."
That was the matter at hand, and Shen Bai would naturally cooperate with all his strength.
He needed Bizarre Items, but he did not need trouble, so Shen Bai would weigh the pros and cons.
Zhou Qing nodded. "Good, then. There are still matters at the yamen. Old Zhou will be leaving first."
Official business had been hectic lately, and the Ascending Cloud County yamen had also become unusually busy.
Shen Bai asked, "Old Zhou, the people from the Heavenly Oversight Bureau are about to arrive. What are you planning to do?"
At those words, Zhou Qing's body abruptly froze.
After a long while, Zhou Qing gave a bitter laugh. "I'm not going this year."
Shen Bai was slightly surprised. "Joining the Heavenly Oversight Bureau has always been your dream. Why don't you want to go anymore?"
Every year, the Heavenly Oversight Bureau recruited personnel from yamen across the land, selecting them through various examinations.
Shen Bai understood Zhou Qing. Zhou Qing's dream was to enter the Heavenly Oversight Bureau.
Yet he was suddenly saying he would not go, which left Shen Bai deeply puzzled.
Over the past few years, Zhou Qing had taken the examinations almost every year. He had come closest last year, when he had been only a hair's breadth away from entering the Heavenly Oversight Bureau.
Zhou Qing sighed. "I'm still only at the Daoist Canon Realm. The examinations get harder every year, so there's no need to waste the time."
Shen Bai frowned. "Old Zhou, there's no need for lies between us."
Zhou Qing gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "I'm giving up a spot. This year, the county magistrate's nephew entered the county yamen, and the county magistrate wants us to give up our places."
"His nephew had been studying in another county, hoping to pass the imperial examinations and earn a degree, but he failed every time. So he came to Ascending Cloud County to use the county magistrate's name to clear away some obstacles."
"I... will take the examination next year."
Upon hearing this, Shen Bai finally understood what had happened.
"Do you need my help?"
Zhou Qing was slightly stunned, then shook his head. "Old Shen, don't do anything reckless. You're just an ordinary person. You don't know how difficult things are in this line of work. It's fine. At worst, I'll wait another year."
In Zhou Qing's eyes, Shen Bai had always been an ordinary person.
He and Shen Bai were good brothers, and he had never wanted Shen Bai involved in this circle, so he rarely mentioned it.
After all, if an ordinary person got involved, it would only become a bad thing.
This was Zhou Qing's protection of Shen Bai. Even now, Zhou Qing was still considering Shen Bai's safety.
"Old Shen, I have to go. I'm really busy."
Having said that, Zhou Qing truly did have matters to attend to. It was inconvenient for him to remain any longer, so he turned and left the pawnshop.
Shen Bai watched Zhou Qing's retreating back, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"It seems Ascending Cloud County isn't very peaceful. I'll see what happens once the people from the Heavenly Oversight Bureau arrive."
"Improving my strength is what matters first."
"But... Old Zhou's matter isn't completely without a solution. I'll see how things develop."
Shen Bai was equally unhappy about Zhou Qing being forced by the county magistrate to give up his spot.
Others treated him as they did, and he treated them in kind.
Zhou Qing regarded him as a brother, and naturally, he did the same.
However, there was still some time before the Heavenly Oversight Bureau's next examination. Shen Bai would stay put for now and see what happened when the time came.
With that thought, Shen Bai sat inside the pawnshop and began the day's business.
Time gradually passed amid a regular routine.
For Shen Bai, this period had been calm and uneventful, without a single ripple.
There were no strange entities, no enemies, no one coming to find him, and none of those trivial, chicken-feather-and-garlic-skin nuisances.
Shen Bai had ample time. Every day, he devoted himself to grinding Blood Sword Dance, falling into a state of obsession.
He did business by day and grinded Blood Sword Dance at night. Apart from eating and running the shop, Shen Bai poured nearly all his attention into Blood Sword Dance.
During this time, Zhang Chaofeng had someone deliver a message saying that a mountain collapse had blocked his route home, and he would need to wait a while longer before returning.
It was already the rainy season, and the pawnshop had not had much business lately, so Shen Bai agreed.
This regular life made Shen Bai increasingly intoxicated.
He suddenly felt that if the Cheat System did not require Killing Intent and appraisal, he could even find some hidden nook or cranny, grind until he was invincible beneath heaven, and only then emerge.
It was worth mentioning that after Wuhua returned to Xuanxin Temple, he sent Shen Bai a letter.
Xuanxin Temple knew Wuhua's background, so they had asked Wuhua exactly who had helped him.
When Wuhua wrote to seek Shen Bai's opinion, Shen Bai thought it over and agreed.
He needed connections.
The Cheat System required Killing Intent and Bizarre Items. Shen Bai could not remain in Ascending Cloud County forever, so Maple Forest Province was a very good choice.
Xuanxin Temple was a renowned righteous sect. Shen Bai felt it would be good to establish ties with them.
Later, Wuhua wrote again, saying that if Shen Bai went to Maple Forest Province, Xuanxin Temple would welcome him with a feast.
Shen Bai was not in a hurry in the short term. For now, he still had proficiency to grind.
And so, Shen Bai passed this period in ease.
And through this frenzied grinding, Shen Bai had gained the corresponding rewards.
"Finally... Level Four."
Shen Bai looked at the smoke before him and let out a sigh of relief.
Before him, the words formed from smoke were gradually becoming solid.
Blood Sword Dance had reached Level Four!
The attributes of Blood Sword Dance gradually emerged.
When Shen Bai saw that line of text, his eyes lit up.
"These attributes are rather interesting."
Before you continue