The next day.
A sliver of pale dawn had just appeared on the horizon.
The courtyard gate creaked open, and a tall figure strode out.
He wore the Demon Suppression Division's distinctive dark uniform, his long hair tied high and his belt fastened neatly. A Demon Suppression Blade hung at his waist.
He rested his left hand lightly on the hilt and planted his right hand on his hip, standing tall with his chest thrust out.
What a fearsome sight.
He had to admit, after changing into this outfit, Chen Bin felt his whole outlook subtly shift.
He gently shut the gate behind him, then strode toward the Demon Suppression Division offices.
The Demon Suppression Division's attendance rules were strict. They didn't care whether you had personal matters to attend to or were sick.
If you didn't show up, you were unquestionably absent from work—and your wages would be docked.
The Demon Suppression Division offices were far from the County Office, but only about two li from the Chen residence.
Even on foot, Chen Bin wouldn't take long to get there.
Chen Bin glanced up at the sky and thought, There's plenty of time.
After weighing his purse in his hand, he decided his first priority was to fill his stomach.
Wanbao County was a major county, with a dense population in its County Town and more than three thousand households.
Breakfast stalls lined the streets, vendors' cries rising and falling one after another.
Chen Bin found a breakfast stall by the street outside the alley where he lived.
The stall owner was a rough-looking fellow, with half his head of white hair tied up in a messy knot. He wore an apron cleaner than his clothes, and his back was slightly hunched. At a glance, he seemed an honest, decent man.
He greeted every customer with a deferential smile, calling each one "Sir, Sir."
When the stall owner saw Chen Bin approaching in his Demon Suppression Division uniform, his deference reached new heights.
Chen Bin was about to queue when the stall owner hurriedly dropped what he was doing, set the customers ahead of him aside for the moment, and came rushing over with a broad smile. He personally led Chen Bin to a separate table and respectfully invited him to sit.
Chen Bin didn't stand on ceremony. "Bring me two fried dough sticks, five meat buns, a bowl of porridge, and a plate of side dishes.
"That'll do for now. I'll order more if I'm still hungry."
"Right away, sir. Please, have a seat." The stall owner smiled obsequiously, abandoned his other customers, and hurried off to prepare the food.
To Chen Bin's surprise, the other customers didn't seem to mind at all. Not a trace of displeasure showed on their faces.
Chen Bin polished off the first round in no time, but still felt unsatisfied. He ordered another portion and dug in again.
After all, martial artists had enormous appetites and burned through a lot of energy. Naturally, they had to eat more.
Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Bin caught sight of the stall owner. The man's deferential smile had vanished the moment he turned around, replaced by a pained expression.
Chen Bin glanced down at his uniform and immediately understood. The stall owner must have been wary of him because of what he was wearing.
After finishing his meal, Chen Bin didn't linger. He got up and strode away without a care.
Not one of the people around him dared to complain, let alone step forward to stop him.
They were already used to this.
Only after Chen Bin had disappeared into the distance did the stall owner cautiously come over to clear away the tableware he had left behind.
As he tidied up, the stall owner wore a pained expression.
Just look at all these bowls and plates. There was enough here for five or six people.
He got up before dawn and worked until dark, relying on this tiny business just to scrape by.
If seven or eight customers like this showed up in a single day, he wouldn't just be working for nothing—he'd be losing money.
What rotten luck.
That constable had no manners at all. After eating, he'd even left his bowl upside down on a plate.
As the stall owner grumbled timidly to himself, he reached out and turned over the bowl lying upside down on the plate.
At that very moment, clatter! Several dozen Copper Coins rolled out from beneath it.
The stall owner froze, his eyes widening like brass bells in utter disbelief.
He hurriedly looked up, hoping to find Chen Bin, but Chen Bin had already vanished without a trace.
The stall owner looked down at the Copper Coins scattered across the table, then quickly bent over to pick them up one by one. He counted them carefully: forty in all.
This gentleman had not only paid, he'd even given him two extra.
The stall owner had been running his stall for decades, and this was the first time a constable had ever paid him.
In this world, people were helpless like that.
After being oppressed for so long, even reclaiming something that was rightfully theirs—after going through untold hardship to do so—felt like meeting a Great Lord of the Azure Sky.
They couldn't help but drop to their knees and kowtow.
Chen Bin didn't know the going prices. He had simply estimated based on the rule of thumb that a bowl of porridge and a bun each cost two coins.
Looking at all the bowls and plates on the table, he figured he'd eaten enough to owe at least forty Copper Coins.
Chen Bin walked on and soon reached the Demon Suppression Division offices.
The whole complex was a deep, solemn black. Only the three characters "Town Demon Division" on the signboard above the gate stood out in bright red, radiating authority.
Chen Bin strode up the nine steps in front of the gate before entering the offices.
"Chen Bin? I've been looking for you!"
A figure hurried out from inside and came straight toward Chen Bin, reaching to grab him.
Clearly, the man had been waiting for him at the entrance.
Chen Bin reacted quickly, slipping nimbly to the side.
From his clothes, the man was no more than a white runner, while Chen Bin was a full-fledged constable.
The other man had no right to throw an arm around him, let alone grab him.
Chen Bin took a closer look at the newcomer and asked, "Wang Jin, what is it?"
"Come with me. Captain Tian's looking for you!" Wang Jin said, then turned and headed off.
Tian Jie?
Chen Bin's heart tightened. He knew that what was bound to come couldn't be dodged forever. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately followed.
Captain Tian had six full-fledged constables and dozens of white runners under him.
So Tian Jie had an office of his own.
It was in the courtyard belonging to the Small Banner he served under.
Normally, everyone gathered in the courtyard of their respective Small Banner and waited for their superior to assign them tasks.
Of course, not everyone gathered there at the same time.
Those out on official business, those working the night shift who hadn't returned yet, and those guarding the various corners of the Demon Suppression Division offices weren't in the courtyard.
When Chen Bin arrived, Tian Jie was standing by the edge of the Training Ground's sparring platform, furiously berating the other constables and white runners.
Chen Bin knew that Tian Jie's brother-in-law had just died, so he was in a foul temper.
As soon as Chen Bin stepped into the courtyard, his gaze instinctively swept over the map in his mind.
In an instant, he saw that the map had changed.
Dozens of red dots had appeared on it.
Chen Bin looked up at the people in front of him. A Red Name hovered above each of their heads.
[Tian Jie: Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist (Jade Marrow), Merit +10] [Luo Xin: Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist (Jade Marrow), Merit +10] [Zhang Yin: Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist (Blood Exchange), Merit +9]
Red Names filled the entire courtyard.
But the one who drew Chen Bin's attention most was someone else.
[Kang Ronghao: Qi Gathering Realm Martial Artist (Lower Abdomen), Merit +16]
Kang Ronghao was Chen Bin's superior's superior, and held the rank of Small Banner.
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