Inspector (Seeking Collection!)

Wu Ming was new to this place and naturally prone to saying the wrong thing, so it was better to remain silent.

Although the elder seemed to have something to ask of him, possibly a side quest, he had the great threat of annihilation hanging over his head. He didn't linger, asked for directions, and headed towards the county town.

"This small town is full of dark energy, making my scalp tingle. It's not a good place..."

After walking several miles towards the sun, the mist gradually thinned, and Wu Ming finally let out a long sigh of relief.

At this point, he saw continuous fields stretching out, crisscrossed by paths, with the sounds of chickens and dogs. Wisps of cooking smoke rose from a few thatched cottages not far away. Things were looking up.

After walking another dozen miles, he saw a square city wall several miles in circumference. The walls were covered in dark green moss, the main gate was wide open, and pedestrians bustled through, their faces gaunt, giving the impression of decay.

"Ten coins to enter the city!"

The gate guards, their faces cold, noticed Wu Ming, who stood tall and elegant in fine silk robes, unlike a commoner. Their eyes flickered slightly.

Wu Ming had nothing on him. Although the Main God Hall offered exchanges for such things, merits were precious, and he hadn't paid much attention to them.

However, this presented a small problem.

A slight miscalculation. I should have worn a scholar's robe and found a sheath for my peach wood sword. Then I could have pretended to be a Talented Scholar and enjoyed special privileges...

Wu Ming made a mental note of this. He didn't enter the city but went to the notice board nearby.

On one side of the city gate, notices were plastered layer upon layer, their edges yellowed and dry. Most were wanted posters, images of fugitives, or official decrees.

In the center was a bright yellow proclamation that read:

"...Hereby, within Black Platform County, in Black Water Town, monsters run rampant, and wild spirits grow. I, as the protector of the realm and responsible for its defense... However, the paths of Yin and Yang are separate. We hereby summon capable individuals and chivalrous heroes from the populace to relieve the suffering of the people... Regardless of origin or birthplace, anyone who achieves success will be granted one hundred taels of silver and one hundred mu of fertile land..."

Below was an unfamiliar reign title, followed by the month and date, and a square, bright red official seal.

"One hundred mu of fertile land? That's almost another thousand taels of silver. Quite generous... But... Black Water Town?"

Wu Ming suddenly thought of the place he had just come from and chuckled to himself: "I didn't expect to end up back where I started after all that..."

Without another word, he stepped forward and nimbly took down the proclamation, holding it in his hand.

"Huh?"

"Someone's taken the notice?"

In an instant, a crowd gathered around him, observing him with curious, shocked, and even subtly gloating eyes.

"Hmm? Judging by this... the people who took the notice before me have likely met a grim fate!"

Wu Ming's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged, his demeanor composed.

Two constables immediately approached. After looking at the notice, they understood. Seeing the crowd, they knew this young man was different from the previous ones who had tried to scam free food and drink. They said, "Young sir, have you made up your mind? If the County Magistrate blames you, no one can save you!"

"Naturally!"

Wu Ming replied with a smile and entered the city with the two constables. The entrance fee was naturally waived.

Black Platform County was somewhat more prosperous than the outside world. The pedestrians showed little sign of hunger or cold, and the streets were quite clean. Rice shops, salt shops, tea houses, pawnshops, taverns, inns, cloth shops, jewelry stores, brothels... lined the streets, along with peddlers carrying various goods, hawking them as they walked through the alleys.

They arrived at the county yamen without incident. Entering through a side door, Wu Ming was led to a side room to wait.

At this point, a minor official said, "Our Inspector Wu will be here soon. You'd best be careful!"

The County Magistrate, as the head of the county, a Marquis of a Hundred Li, was not someone one could simply meet. The Inspector was in charge of the county's security, similar to a modern-day police chief. Their rank varied across dynasties, from Ninth Rank to proper Ninth Rank, but they held official status, unlike mere clerks.

"I understand. Thank you for informing me!"

Wu Ming cupped his hands in a salute, only to receive a roll of the eyes.

"Hmph!"

The minor official, not receiving the expected red envelope or tip, snorted coldly and retreated listlessly. Wu Ming immediately knew he had offended a minor official, and if he were to be pestered later, it would cause much trouble.

However, he was not from this place but a traveler from beyond the heavens, and he was penniless, so he didn't care.

This Inspector Wu was clearly a busy man. Wu Ming waited for more than half an hour before finally meeting him.

Of course, there was no tea or snacks during this time, which was the consequence of offending the minor official.

"Student Wu Ming greets Inspector Wu!"

Seeing an official enter, Wu Ming, who was seven feet tall and looked under forty, with dark skin, bright eyes, and sharp features, exuding an aura of legal authority, naturally knew it was Wu Hong, the Inspector of Black Platform County. He bowed deeply.

He naturally couldn't say his name was "Nameless" now. Besides, if he had used "Nameless" as his name before, other Reincarnators would only assume it was an alias.

This was a case of making the false seem true, and the true becoming false.

"You call yourself Wu Ming? What qualifications do you have to accept this proclamation? Hmm? Have you studied?"

Seeing Wu Ming merely bow and not kneel, Wu Hong's eyes twitched. Hearing Wu Ming refer to himself as "student," he couldn't help but ask.

He was in charge of the county's security. Any ruffian, commoner, or even a notorious bandit would tremble before him. He could deal with them as he pleased. Ordinary folk would kneel directly before him, or it would be considered disrespectful.

Seeing Wu Ming's polite and composed demeanor, he secretly thought highly of him.

Of course, this was also related to Wu Ming pretending to be a scholar.

Throughout the dynasties, as long as it was an agricultural empire, scholars always received preferential treatment.

"I have studied since childhood, but I regret I hold no official title. I merely recognize a few words..."

Although Wu Ming had some knowledge, who knew what the Four Books and Five Classics were in this era? If he claimed to be a Child Scholar or a Talented Scholar, he would be exposed during an examination. It was better to say he only recognized a few words.

After reading the posted notice outside the town, Wu Ming knew the script was largely the same as Great Zhou's, posing no real difficulty.

"If that's the case, it's quite commendable..."

Wu Hong nodded slightly, his expression softening.

Although Wu Ming wasn't even a Child Scholar, he came from a scholarly family and was a prospective scholar, so he deserved some leniency. This wasn't a formal occasion, and Wu Hong wasn't a seventh-rank County Magistrate, so he let it slide. "A posted notice is not a trivial matter. Once accepted, it cannot be refused. Have you considered it carefully?"

"Please rest assured, sir! I've practiced breathing and meditation techniques since childhood. My father also knew an old Daoist priest who gave me some talismans. I'm confident I can handle minor spirits..."

Seeing Wu Hong still hesitant, Wu Ming continued, "This trip was because I was tired of studying. I thought that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I came out to broaden my horizons, and this time I came over Black Mountain..."

He added the last sentence on a whim, thinking of the frightened faces of the Black Water Town residents when they saw him emerge from Black Mountain.

"Black Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Hong's expression changed. He studied Wu Ming for a long time before chuckling, "The world is unstable now. Your ability to travel suggests you have special skills. In that case, I'll put your name down..."

"Thank you, sir!"

Wu Ming bowed deeply. At this moment, the quest in his sea of consciousness suddenly changed:

[Successfully arrived at Black Platform County and accepted the notice, Side Quest--Arrival (Complete)!]

[Second Side Quest Activated: Investigate!]

[Quest Objective: Having accepted the notice from the magistrate, you must uncover the truth behind the Black Water Town disaster within seven days. Success will unlock the Main Quest! Failure will result in the deduction of one thousand Merit Points. Insufficient Merit Points will result in annihilation!]

Black Water Town?

Wu Ming sighed inwardly, then frowned. Is it really related to that town? But why go through the trouble of coming to the county town first?

Wu Hong asked again, "Well, you are a talented young man. The elders of our Black Water Town entrust this to you. The County Magistrate has ordered that there must be a result within seven days... Do you have any other requests?"

Servants brought tea, and the conversation drew to a close.

"This... to deal with spirits and monsters, I, as a student, will still need some materials to set up an altar, offerings..."

Wu Ming feigned difficulty.

However, he was indeed penniless at the moment, completely broke.

"I will naturally mention this to the Public Account. Take ten taels of silver when you leave!"

Wu Hong frowned and picked up his teacup.

Wu Ming knew this was a polite dismissal and immediately rose to thank him and take his leave.

Leaving the yamen, Wu Ming felt the five taels of silver in his pocket and let out a cold laugh.

The ledger showed ten taels, but the Household Department and officials at all levels would take their cut, reducing it by half. This was the norm, and no one could complain.

And Wu Hong, while saying ten taels, might have actually processed twenty or thirty taels on the books. This didn't need further elaboration.

At least he was given decent quality silver, pure white and fine, shimmering with a silvery light. It wasn't a huge sum, but it was enough for a family of three to live frugally for a year.

After I accepted the notice, I wonder if Tu Yanghao and the others' quests have changed, failed, or if they can accept new ones...

Wu Ming wandered aimlessly through the county town, unconcerned about the "tails" following him from the yamen.

The government wasn't foolish; they wouldn't just let him take the money and leave. They would naturally follow and track him.

It was fine for now, but if the seven-day limit passed, or if he showed any intention of escaping, his fate would be... hehe...

"However... the situation in Black Water Town seems much deeper than I thought..."

Wu Ming didn't leave the town to provoke his two followers. Instead, his steps were steady, but his brow was furrowed. "That Wu Hong! His muscles and bones are strong, his martial arts are at least equivalent to the fourth level of the Body Refinement Realm in Great Zhou, a master of Internal Strengthening... And he's an Inspector. Below him, there are squad leaders and garrison soldiers, up to a hundred... Even with some ghost slots, he still has twenty or thirty men he can command. Moreover, they have Official Status, which can greatly offset the power of spells... Even if he's not enough, he can still borrow the County Lieutenant and the county's Garrison Soldiers. Three to five hundred are definitely available..."

"With such great power, they still can't handle a strange event in a small town?"

Wu Ming's brow furrowed.