Brother Mu, Want to Join Our Prefecture City Constabulary?

Brother Mu, Want to Join Our Prefecture City Constabulary? Noon, outside Qinghe Prefecture City.

The blazing sun hung high overhead, and the sky stretched clear for thousands of miles.

Mu Yang tightened the reins and gazed at the magnificent prefecture city before him.

Unlike Qingxi County's crude walls, which stood barely three zhang high,

Qinghe Prefecture's walls rose a full ten zhang, built entirely from massive blocks of bluish-black granite. Molten iron had been poured between the seams, and they stood upon the earth, towering and solemn.

The city gates were astonishingly broad. Even four-horse carriages could easily pass through side by side.

Even the guards standing on either side of the gate were Entry Rank martial artists with abundant Blood Qi, each at least at the fifth or sixth level of the Skin and Flesh Realm.

Their leader, dressed in black iron light armor with a silver-white saber at his waist, had reached the Second-Rank Tendon-Bone Realm.

If such strength were placed in Qingxi County's Constable Office, he would have ranked among its top three experts.

Yet here, he was merely a small captain commanding ten men to guard the gates.

Mu Yang and Xue She dismounted, led their horses by the reins, and followed the crowd into Qinghe Prefecture City.

The moment they entered through the gates, the rich, bustling scent of everyday city life rushed over them.

Shops lined both sides of the broad bluestone streets, wine banners fluttered in the air, and even street performers were putting on tricks and illusions. It was exceedingly lively.

"This is the prefecture city. Lots of people, lots of bustle, lots of opportunities—but also plenty of danger," Xue She said with a sigh.

Around half an hour later, the two arrived before the Prefecture Office.

The Prefecture Office was far grander in scale than Qingxi County's County Office. Its vermilion gates stood wide open, and two stone lions taller than a man stood before them, imposing and majestic.

The two guards at the entrance were, astonishingly, Second-Rank Tendon-Bone Realm martial artists.

"Brother Xue, long time no see!"

Perhaps Xue She had come to the Prefecture City Yamen many times before, because even the gate guards knew him.

After exchanging a simple greeting, Xue She led Mu Yang into the yamen with practiced ease. They passed through the front courtyard's main hall and arrived at the rear courtyard's Constable Office.

The Prefecture Office's Constable Office covered an enormous area, divided into a Martial Arts Arena in the front courtyard and offices and living quarters in the rear.

At that moment, several dozen constables were training in the Martial Arts Arena. Blades flashed and weapons cast their shadows as shouts shook the heavens.

Mu Yang swept his gaze over them. Nearly all were Entry Rank martial artists.

The few exceptions were still brimming with vigor, their weapons whistling fiercely through the air. They were likely not far from Entry Rank themselves.

"The minimum requirement for prefecture city constables is the Second-Rank Tendon-Bone Realm. Those in the First-Rank Skin and Flesh Realm can only serve as reserves. When missions come up, they can merely follow along and lend a hand," Xue She said quietly.

Mu Yang nodded.

In Qingxi County, anyone with a bit of strength could become a constable. After reaching Entry Rank and muddling along for ten-odd years, one might even have a chance to become a squad leader.

But in Qinghe Prefecture, Second Rank was required to become an official constable. To become a squad leader, Third Rank strength was the bare minimum.

Some of the higher-ranked squad leaders had even firmly reached the Fourth-Stage Condensing Qi Realm.

As for the Chief Constable, there was even less need to mention him.

With Fifth-Stage Channel-Opening Realm cultivation, he stood among the tiny handful at the very tip of the pyramid in the entire prefecture city.

"Old Xue, you're back so soon?"

Just then, a hearty voice rang out.

The two turned and saw a middle-aged man in a blue martial outfit striding toward them. His face was resolute.

He was tall and powerfully built, with broad shoulders and a thick back. His knuckles were large, and his palms were covered in calluses. One glance showed that he was a man who had wielded weapons for many years.

"Senior Brother Dai!"

A smile appeared on Xue She's face. He hurried forward and gave the man a heavy embrace.

Dai Wang, squad leader of the Seventh Squad and Xue She's fellow senior brother. The two had joined the yamen together in their youth and had even been assigned to the same constable squad.

They had gone through life and death together for more than ten years.

If Xue She had not gone to Qingxi County after getting married, he would likely have been a squad leader in Qinghe Prefecture by now as well.

"Senior Brother, let me tell you—this is Mu Yang, the genius I mentioned to you before!"

Xue She introduced Mu Yang to Dai Wang.

"Not bad. Broad shoulders, long arms, thick Blood Qi—one look and I can tell he's excellent material!" Dai Wang praised with a smile.

"Since Old Xue brought you here, I'll take the liberty of asking you to call me Brother Dai."

"Right, you just arrived, didn't you? Have you eaten lunch? It's just time to eat. How about we have a drink together?" Dai Wang warmly invited them, pulling Xue She by the arm.

Seeing this, Xue She did not refuse and led Mu Yang out of the yamen with him.

Inside a private room at a restaurant.

Dai Wang ordered a table full of food and wine, and the three ate and chatted.

Of course, most of the conversation was between Dai Wang and Xue She. Mu Yang merely ate quietly after the other two had taken their portions first.

Partway through, Xue She mentioned that he intended to have Mu Yang stay temporarily at the Constabulary.

"Ah, what's the big deal? My courtyard's huge. You two can stay however you like," Dai Wang said, his face slightly flushed.

As one of the Prefecture City Constable Office's squad leaders—and one of the rare squad leaders at the Fourth-Stage Condensing Qi Realm—he had a sizable standalone courtyard in the rear grounds of the Constable Office.

Let alone Xue She and Mu Yang, even two more people would fit with room to spare.

"Then we'll have to trouble you, Senior Brother!"

Xue She raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Mu Yang spoke up. "Brother Dai, I have something I'd like to ask you."

"Go ahead," Dai Wang said indistinctly as he bit into a chicken leg.

"I was wondering whether the Prefecture Office has Qi Condensation Realm martial arts available for exchange. If it does, what would I need to do to exchange for them?" Mu Yang asked.

This was what concerned him most at present.

He had come to the prefecture city not only to join the Demon Slayer Bureau, making it easier to track down and kill monsters, but also to find Qi Condensation Realm martial arts and break through to Fourth Rank.

Hearing this, Dai Wang wiped his mouth and said, "There are quite a few Qi Condensation Realm martial arts in the Prefecture Office Armory, but the exchange requirements are rather harsh."

Dai Wang raised a hand and held up three fingers. "First, you must join the Prefecture Office Constabulary and officially become a prefecture city constable. Second, you must cultivate diligently until you reach the Third-Stage Blood-Marrow Realm and take up the position of squad leader. Lastly, you must complete enough missions and save up sufficient Merit Points before you can exchange for one."

"I see."

Mu Yang nodded to show that he understood.

After hearing Dai Wang's explanation, Mu Yang gave up on the idea of exchanging for martial arts through the County Office.

In the Great Jing Dynasty, the Demon Slayer Bureau and the Prefecture Office were two entirely separate official systems. If he joined the Prefecture Office, he would have no way to join the Demon Slayer Bureau.

As for Mu Yang's identity as a county-town constable?

That did not count as entering the system at all.

"There's no need to rush over Qi Condensation Realm martial arts. With your talent of reaching the Tendon-Bone Realm at twenty, applying to join the Demon Slayer Bureau as a reserve won't be difficult."

"Once you steadily cultivate to Blood-Marrow Realm Perfection, the Demon Slayer Bureau will generally grant you the subsequent martial arts," Dai Wang explained.

"Senior Brother, what are you talking about? What do you mean, steadily cultivate? Mu Yang entered the Blood-Marrow Realm long ago. He's killed nearly a palmful of Third-Rank monsters already," Xue She complained, his face red.

"???"

Dai Wang froze.

What Third Rank? When you left last week, hadn't you said Mu Yang was in the Second-Rank Tendon-Bone Realm?

He looked at Mu Yang's excessively young face and asked uncertainly, "You've already cultivated to the Blood-Marrow Realm?"

Mu Yang nodded. "That is correct."

"Hiss—"

Dai Wang sucked in a sharp breath and smacked Xue She on the back of the head. "No, why didn't you tell me something this huge earlier?!"

"Tell you what?"

Xue She was taken aback.

"A twenty-year-old Blood-Marrow Realm martial artist who came out of a county town, and you fucking sent him to the Demon Slayer Bureau!"

"If you'd told me earlier, I could have applied directly to the Chief Constable and had Brother Mu join our Prefecture City Constabulary. Wouldn't that be better and safer than the Demon Slayer Bureau?" Dai Wang said helplessly.

Such outstanding martial talent, and not even born into a great lineage—yet Xue She wanted to send him to a place like the Demon Slayer Bureau, where monsters were everywhere and danger lurked at every turn?

"So, Brother Mu, do you want to join our Prefecture City Yamen? Just say the word, and I'll go find the Chief Constable right now to specially approve a Qi Condensation Realm martial art for you!" Dai Wang looked at Mu Yang, his voice brimming with anticipation.