Guang'an

After knocking his head thirty times in quick succession, the black-robed youth straightened up and glared at Xu Yi. "I've finished kowtowing. You've killed the one you wanted to kill and vented your anger. I can leave now, right?"

Beneath another man's roof, one had no choice but to bow his head. But the black-robed youth's fury had already blazed a million feet high. He had made up his mind: the moment he returned to Baima County, he would gather his men and storm back here, grinding this brat's bones to dust. No, before torturing him to death, he would make the brat watch as he played this old man and child to death.

Xu Yi sneered. "Leave? Where to? You think I was just venting my anger? What a joke! I serve the government. Every word I speak and every action I take follows the Great Yue Royal Court Edict as my guiding principle. You gathered a mob and injured people, then tried to kill an official. Those kowtows just now were compensation for Uncle Mu's injuries. You've paid for your living crime, but you can't escape your death sentence. You really are ignorant of the law—or perhaps you simply don't have the Great Yue Royal Court Edict in your heart at all."

"I *%￥￥..."

The black-robed youth was so enraged his vision swam. So after all that, this bastard had never intended to let him go! Hadn't he just kowtowed for nothing?!

That was the last thought he ever had. Green light flashed again, and his fine head soared into the sky. For the first time, the black-robed youth's eyes saw his own back.

His head hit the ground, eyes bulging with rage. He could never have imagined that coming to the tiny Furong Town to throw his weight around would cost him his precious life.

After killing the black-robed youth, Xu Yi helped Uncle Mu to his feet and strode away. Wherever he passed, the sea of people parted like a wave.

At that moment, the Furong Town constables and the Great Yue Royal Court Edict had never weighed so heavily in the hearts of Furong Town's residents.

Gu Jianming found Xu Yi at a clinic less than half an hour after he had slaughtered the black-robed youth.

Uncle Mu's wounds had been treated, and after drinking a dose of tonic, he had recovered astonishingly well. The terrifying wounds covering his body had already begun to scab over.

Qiu Wa, on the other hand, had spent a little while in Uncle Mu's room before saying she was tired. She skipped dinner and went back to her room, where she fell fast asleep.

Gu Jianming dragged Xu Yi into the clinic's back courtyard and immediately launched into a tirade. "Brother, you kept me in the dark and made me suffer for it! I'd only gone home for a nap, and you'd already stirred up this colossal disaster. What am I supposed to do...?"

Gu Jianming's face was flushed, and his words came out in a panic. Clearly, what Xu Yi had done had shaken him badly.

Xu Yi said, "Why worry, Chief Gu? When evildoers oppress the innocent, a constable should naturally protect the peace. I've followed the Great Yue Royal Court Edict in everything I've done. What have I done wrong?"

Gu Jianming was speechless. By the time he arrived, he had already gotten the full story of the carnage at the docks.

He had also heard what Xu Yi said. At first, he couldn't understand why Xu Yi kept bringing up the Great Yue Royal Court Edict while killing people. In Furong Town, the Great Yue Royal Court Edict was only used to deal with commoners. Since when could it restrain the local strongmen?

Now, hearing Xu Yi say it again, he suddenly understood what Xu Yi was up to.

Xu Yi had executed an evildoer in front of thousands of people today, invoking the Great Yue Royal Court's law. The story was bound to spread throughout Guang'an.

In these circumstances, anyone who dared lay a hand on Xu Yi would be slapping the Great Yue Royal Court in the face.

No matter how rotten the local government was, it would have to investigate a case that touched on the Royal Court's dignity.

Clearly, Xu Yi had brazenly dragged the Great Yue Royal Court in behind him.

"You little fox, you're sharp as a tack!"

Gu Jianming stamped his foot. "But don't forget, you're no longer on your own, with no one else to worry about. They may not dare touch you, but what about the old man and the child? Can you watch them around the clock?"

Xu Yi was taken aback. Then, as the thought clicked into place, he smiled. "Since you've already thought of that, Chief Gu, you must have some advice for me. Please, don't hold back!"

"You really are a slippery one!"

Gu Jianming burst out laughing, but said nothing more.

Xu Yi was no longer the Xu Yi he had once been. With two lifetimes behind him, he understood the ways of the world all too well. Smiling, he said, "Brother Gu, we hit it off the first time we met. You looked out for me, and that's how I got into government service. I'll always remember that kindness. Whatever you have to say, just say it."

Gu Jianming clapped his hands. "Good! Brother Yi, you're straightforward. If I kept beating around the bush, I'd be acting like a petty man. Here's the thing: with your talent, your rise through the ranks is only a matter of time. This little pond that is Furong Town's Constabulary Office can't contain a dragon like you. I ask for nothing more than this: when you make it big, don't forget Furong Town's Constabulary Office. Specifically, I want your promise that no matter how far you go in the future, you'll serve as a lifelong honorary adviser to our Constabulary Office. Don't worry, this position won't take up any of your time, nor will it tie you down. We'll just borrow your prestigious name and bask in your reflected glory!"

Xu Yi said, "What's so difficult about that? I'm honored by your high regard, Brother Gu. I couldn't ask for more."

"Haha! That's settled, then!"

Gu Jianming laughed without end.

Just from the stories he'd heard, he had already guessed that Xu Yi was probably the Body Tempering Peak powerhouse. To have reached Body Tempering Peak at such a young age meant that breaking into the Qi Sea Realm was all but certain. By then, Xu Yi would stand alongside the sages commemorated in the Martial Arts Hall. What glory that would bring to Furong Town's Constabulary Office!

Gu Jianming suppressed his excitement and explained Xu Yi's predicament. "The trouble you've run into today isn't hard to resolve. Go sixty li south, and the danger will disappear."

"Go to Guang'an City?"

Sixty li south lay Guang'an City.

Gu Jianming nodded. "Guang'an City is the heart of Guang'an Prefecture. Its gates are strictly guarded, and fighting is forbidden within the city. It's also forbidden for martial artists to harm commoners. The Great Yue Royal Court's harsh laws are enforced to the fullest there. Once you're inside Guang'an City, even if the Black Dragon Hall had heaven-shaking power, they wouldn't dare lay a hand on the old man and the child. You may, however, run into more trouble yourself."

"What do you mean?"

Hearing that Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa would be safe, Xu Yi immediately felt relieved. As for any other trouble, he truly wasn't afraid of it.

Gu Jianming said, "Fighting may be forbidden in Guang'an City, but there are many martial artists there, and clashes erupt constantly. Even the Great Yue Royal Court can't stamp them out completely, no matter how powerful it is. Better to divert than block. So the Guang'an Prefecture Governor designated a special area where people can settle their disputes. One side of a conflict need only pay a certain fee, and the Prefecture Governor will force the two sides to duel. If the other side refuses to fight, they'll be forcibly driven out of the city."

"You've made a deep enemy of the Black Dragon Hall today. Even once you enter Guang'an City, they'll probably keep hounding you. You'll need to be careful. Still, there's no need to worry too much. I've already made arrangements. This time, when you go to Guang'an City, you can use my official status on behalf of Furong Town. We have an office there. I've already transferred its former manager, Old Qin, elsewhere, so once you arrive in Guang'an, you can go straight to the office and take over his position. With that official identity, even the Black Dragon Hall will have to think twice before acting recklessly."