An Ironclad Yamen, Officials That Come and Go

Little Shi carefully crawled out of the hole, his face still etched with fear.

Zhong Lin reached out, grabbed him beneath the arms, and pulled Little Shi out in one go, patting the dirt from his body.

"It's all right now. The thief is dead."

The purpose of digging a hole in the bedroom was precisely this: to give Little Shi a place to hide if thieves ever came calling. It was for his safety, and also to prevent anyone from taking him hostage to threaten Zhong Lin.

After all, he was the younger brother of this body.

"Second Brother, I want to learn martial arts too. I want to fight bad guys with you."

Little Shi looked up at Zhong Lin, his face brimming with determination.

A smile appeared on Zhong Lin's face. He reached out and ruffled his hair. "All right. Second Brother will teach you martial arts."

"Mm."

Early the next morning, after taking Little Shi to Teacher Liu, Zhong Lin turned and went to the yamen for roll call.

Compared with yesterday, the atmosphere in the yamen truly felt different today. Those "colleagues" still greeted Zhong Lin and appeared warm enough, but there was a faint estrangement in their eyes.

Zhong Lin sighed inwardly and said nothing, heading toward the Chief Constable's office.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in."

Pushing open the door, Zhong Lin found Chief Constable Xue Zheng seated in a Grand Preceptor's Chair. One hand held a book, while the other held a cup of clear tea. Zhong Lin's arrival did not make him put down the book.

"Greetings, Chief Constable."

Xue Zheng glanced up at Zhong Lin. "I know about what happened last night. You did nothing wrong. Breaking into a home to steal and harming a fellow colleague are both capital offenses. Dying by your hand was only natural. Though you are not a constable, you are still a member of the yamen."

"Zhong Lin understands. Thank you, Chief Constable." Zhong Lin cupped his hands.

"How long have you practiced martial arts?"

Zhong Lin's heart stirred. He knew Xue Zheng had learned that he had entered the ranks.

"Reporting to Chief Constable, twenty-one days."

Zhong Lin had no intention of concealing it. In truth, he had planned to report it the day after entering the ranks, but Xue Zheng had happened to be away, delaying the matter.

Zhong Lin intended to establish himself as a martial arts genius. Only then could he carry more weight in the eyes of the Chief Constable and the county lieutenant.

Zhong Lin had not forgotten that there might still be a seventh-rank martial arts expert lurking in the shadows. Though he did not know whether that expert would truly target him, he could not afford to let down his guard!

At present, the only person Zhong Lin knew who could protect him was Chief Constable Xue Zheng.

Xue Zheng narrowed his eyes and gave Zhong Lin a long, deep look. "Entering the ranks in twenty-one days... it seems your aptitude for martial arts is indeed quite good."

"You flatter me, Chief Constable."

"All right, you may leave."

Hey! This wasn't how the script was supposed to go!

Shouldn't he be praising me properly next, then offering some guidance?

Though his heart was filled with countless doubts, Zhong Lin answered and slowly withdrew from the room.

The Chief Constable slowly set down his book and chuckled. "A fine seedling for martial arts, though he has a few too many little schemes."

After leaving the Chief Constable's office, Zhong Lin turned toward the room occupied by Old Zhou's Strong Squad.

The entire County Yamen had Three Squads and Six Bureaus. The Six Bureaus corresponded to the clerks and managed the County Town's land, household registration, finances, imperial examinations, and judicial affairs. Put simply, they handled all matters concerning the people's livelihood in the County Town.

The Three Squads were the divisions for yamen runners and constables: the Swift Squad, Strong Squad, and Usher Squad.

The Swift Squad was responsible for investigation and apprehending criminals. The Strong Squad guarded warehouses and prisoners. As for the Usher Squad, it was responsible for standing court watch and carrying out punishments.

The Three Squads each had their own duties and kept one another in check. All three were under Chief Constable Xue Zheng's management.

Old Zhou had once belonged to the Swift Squad, but when he grew older, he transferred to the Strong Squad, where he was responsible for guarding the warehouses and jail prisoners.

"Don't blame them either. After all, they worked with Chi Yan for many years. Some of them even watched him grow up. Besides, Chi Yan's father also retired from the County Yamen."

Old Zhou poured Zhong Lin a cup of clear tea and explained the reasons behind it.

Zhong Lin nodded. There was a saying among the common folk: "The yamen is forged of iron, while officials flow like water." This yamen did not merely refer to the institution itself, but also to everyone besides the county magistrate—the county lieutenant, chief clerk, constables, and clerks.

After all, no one knew when the county magistrate might be promoted or fall from grace, but constables and clerks could pass their positions from father to son, from son to grandson. They had long since woven themselves into a vast net throughout the County Town.

Chi Yan was one knot in that net.

Zhong Lin had cut through one knot with a single slash. How could the entire net not tremble?

Zhong Lin nodded. "I understand. But I was only protecting myself. It was either him or me."

"Everyone understands that reasoning, but sometimes human feelings and reason stand at odds with one another. You see plenty of such things in the yamen. Forget it, let's not talk about that. I know what you came to ask me about, but that place is a mixed bag of fish and dragons. Are you sure you want to go?"

"Quit keeping me in suspense and tell me already! When I have some free time in a few days, I'll take you to Warm Fragrance Brothel again."

"You really do understand me, kid. Ten li west of our Black Mountain County, there's a mountain hollow. You can enter it at the start of every month during the hour of the pig, and it remains open for seven days. But I still have to remind you: you must be careful."

When he spoke those final words, Old Zhou's expression was extremely grave. He clearly did not recommend that Zhong Lin go.

"Thanks."

Zhong Lin drained the clear tea in his cup and turned to leave the room.

It was already the twenty-seventh day of the month. There were still three days left. No rush.

Zhong Lin made another trip to the Martial Pavilion and selected two secret manuals.

There was no need to worry about his main cultivation technique. The Iron Mountain Skill could be cultivated all the way to the Bone Forging Realm. In the Martial Pavilion, Zhong Lin chose two secret manuals: one movement technique and one saber technique.

The movement technique was called Willow Catkins, taking its meaning from willow catkins drifting and swaying in the wind.

The saber technique was called the Wind Breaking Saber Technique, a style that balanced strength and speed. It was said that when practiced to the extreme, the saber flashed like lightning; before an enemy could react, his head had already changed homes.

For others, the two secret manuals would require years of practice. But for Zhong Lin, all he needed was to learn them well enough to condense them onto the System Panel.

Add points through the system, and they would directly reach max level.

Though he would still need to train in order to fully adapt to them, with a view from the heights, he would be far, far faster than ordinary people.

Three days flashed by. Other than morning roll call each day, Zhong Lin spent all his time at home practicing martial arts or tinkering with various foods.

The first day of the tenth month.

Evening, during the hour of the dog.

Zhong Lin wore gray clothes, his face covered by a black cloth. A bow and arrows hung at his waist, while a bulging cowhide bag rested on his left hip. He raced through the mountain forest, arriving at the place Old Zhou had indicated after less than half an hour.

From afar, the mountain hollow was thick with dense woods, with scattered firelight faintly visible within.

This was a Black Market, a place that specialized in selling things that could not see the light of day, and likewise a place where fish and dragons mingled.

Without lingering, Zhong Lin quickly entered.