The Social Standing of Cultivators

The Social Standing of Cultivators

The person walking toward Lu Li was a middle-aged constable with graying temples.

His face was slick with deceit. He didn't take the cripple seriously at all and immediately pulled out a pair of shackles to arrest him.

But the very next second, he froze!

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the cripple raised a hand, and a shotgun flew into his grasp! A starlike brilliance began to shine in his eyes!

"He's a Cultivator!"

"At least at the Meditative Entry level!"

As police officers in another world, they knew exactly what that meant.

The scene fell silent in an instant. The constables exchanged furtive glances, and one by one, as if by tacit agreement, they stopped in their tracks and slowly backed away.

The middle-aged constable who had been walking toward Lu Li hurriedly stuffed the shackles back into his belt. An awkward, ingratiating look spread across his face.

The other constables also glanced at Lu Li, their eyes full of caution and apprehension!

In that moment, Lu Li could clearly feel that these people weren't wary of his gun—they were wary of him!

The scene before him was a bit like catching the boss while doing a roll call inspection.

Lu Li couldn't help thinking, Cultivators seem to have pretty high social standing?

He spent every day cultivating at home, so he wasn't entirely sure.

But that was precisely why the constables had been caught so off guard. They cursed inwardly:

[Damn, what's a Cultivator doing here?!]

[A dignified Cultivator living in a dirt courtyard like this? Is he sick in the head?!]

It had all happened so suddenly that everyone looked toward their leader, Qin Chuan, to see what he would do.

Qin Chuan's expression had turned especially grim. He stared at Lu Li for a long time, confirming that he was a Cultivator at the Meditative Entry level—and so young!

Qin Chuan took a deep breath and feigned calm as he said,

"I never expected to meet a Cultivator here. A pleasure! I ask that you not interfere in the internal affairs of our Constabulary."

Lu Li replied coldly, "Xiao Cha and I are close friends. What happens to her concerns me."

"Standing against the authorities is most unwise!"

Qin Chuan's expression darkened. He reached toward the holster at his waist, where a Borchardt C93 pistol rested.

The light in Lu Li's eyes grew more intense. The situation was on the verge of erupting!

Seeing this, the constables cursed Qin Chuan in their hearts:

[This is your personal grudge. Why drag the rest of us down with you?!]

[If we get into a fight today, we'll die for nothing! The Cultivator only needs to sign a confession and enter some noble's service, and he'll be just fine!]

The constables looked from one to another. After a brief exchange of glances, they instantly reached an agreement and hurriedly crowded between the two men, shouting as they pulled them apart:

"We're all colleagues. There's no need to make things so ugly."

"Captain Qin, we watched Xiao Cha grow up too. Let's just let it go."

"There are plenty of old-timers in the Constabulary. It won't look good for anyone if this gets ugly."

Everyone piled on with soothing words, giving Qin Chuan a way out as they ushered him toward the exit.

In truth, Qin Chuan simply liked throwing his weight around. He wasn't eager to risk his life, so he let himself be half-persuaded and went along with them.

Before leaving, he still managed a few words for appearances' sake: "The Great Jin code prohibits firearms. You'd be wise to keep your gun put away!"

A few of the constables didn't want to offend anyone, so they also tried to smooth things over with Xiao Cha:

"Our superiors gave us a deadline to solve the case. We had no choice, so don't hold it against us, Xiao Cha~"

"Don't call her Xiao Cha. From now on, you should call her Captain Luo!"

"Ah, right, right, right. Please don't take offense at our behavior~"

These law-enforcement officers showed not the slightest sign of upright righteousness. After a few worldly words to smooth things over, they bowed and scraped their way out.

The farce had come to an end, but an awkward look lingered on Xiao Cha's face.

These grasping, servile colleagues who bullied the weak and feared the strong made her feel deeply ashamed.

Especially since she herself—and her most respected father—were both constables.

But Lu Li had seen it all before. A corrupt and incompetent government deserved no better than this sort.

At that moment, Wan Qing had finished comforting Tong Shao and came out of the main room. She said, full of admiration, "Thanks to Young Master Lu, those people were scared off."

Lu Li sighed. "So my status as a Cultivator at the Meditative Entry level is pretty intimidating?"

Wan Qing explained, "The path of Spirit Refinement places great importance on talent, so Cultivators are scarce. Those as young as you are even rarer, Young Master."

Xiao Cha added, "There's fighting everywhere right now, and the army badly needs Cultivators to man the artillery. If you enlisted, you'd immediately be appointed Battalion Commander, Subordinate Seventh Rank."

Lu Li understood at once. His Bullet Time ability was perfect for firearms—and it would make artillery fire more accurate, too!

He asked again, "Xiao Cha, what rank are you?"

Xiao Cha blushed. "I don't have a rank yet... Once I reach Organ Refining and get promoted to Captain, I'll be Ninth Rank."

Only Ninth Rank. Lu Li grinned, feeling just the tiniest bit smug~

Xiao Cha grew even more annoyed, puffing up in frustration. She wanted to tell Lu Li all about the prowess of the Six Divine Constables and Divine Judgment with Iron Pen.

But when she thought of more than a dozen constables being scared off by Lu Li alone, her enthusiasm faded, and she didn't feel like saying a word.

When she was little, she had thought constables were the most noble and upright people in the world.

She had resolved to grow up as upright and incorruptible as her father, and to make protecting the innocent and punishing the wicked her duty.

But what about now?

"Helping human traffickers abduct children... When did constables become like this?"

Xiao Cha felt thoroughly miserable, her bright red lips pushed into a deep pout.

At that moment, Lu Li said with a smile,

"I remember someone's dream was to become a great hero 'with a heart set on safeguarding the realm, and a sword raised against injustice'~"

Xiao Cha shot him a glare and said sweetly, "You don't have to remind me. Of course I remember!"

In an instant, the young woman was back to her spirited self.

The setting sun was red as blood. A few crows perched in a tree, cawing raucously.

Xiao Cha drew in a deep breath—she kept inhaling for a full half minute... Then, the next second, a muffled rumble rolled through her nose and mouth!

This was the power of all five organs working together, setting her entire chest cavity resonating. It was how a tiger roared!

Wan Qing, anticipating it, had already covered her ears. Lu Li's thoughts moved, and his eardrums automatically closed.

He had barely finished when a long, thunderous roar burst out!

The sound waves shook dust from the roof tiles, sent countless leaves fluttering from the parasol tree, and frightened the crows into shrieking as they fled.

"I've reached Organ Refining!"

The roar subsided, and Xiao Cha could barely contain her excitement! Her face flushed crimson with joy!

Then she added a reminder:

"Breaking through to Organ Refining isn't just about the body. It has a great deal to do with the mind, too. Remember that!"

"Got it~ Master Luo~" Wan Qing replied, beaming with delight.

Lu Li also clasped his hands and said, "Congratulations, Master Luo!"

Those at the Organ Refining level were respectfully addressed as Martial Masters. The two were teasing her affectionately.

By contrast, another group of people wasn't nearly so happy.

Qin Chuan and his group hadn't gone far.

Xiao Cha's roar rivaled a tiger's, and it could be heard clearly for several miles around.

The neighbors asked one another whose daughter had reached Organ Refining, and soon guessed it was Xiao Cha.

Qin Chuan's expression grew even worse, turning black as the bottom of a pot!

The others were whispering among themselves as well:

"Xiao Cha has a Cultivator friend, and she's reached Organ Refining herself. Her future is limitless!"

"Chief Constable Chen has always thought highly of her, too. Now there'll be another faction in the Constabulary."

As they were whispering, the middle-aged constable who had tried to arrest Lu Li glanced around and found an excuse to leave ahead of the others.

He pretended to take a couple of steps in the direction of his home, then immediately sprinted toward the medical clinic.

When it came to pledging allegiance, the sooner the better.