Leeks That Grew Another Sprout

"Autumn Hunt?"

A trio walked along the path toward the Drill Ground, Chen Zhuo asking Xiao Liu as they went.

Yan Ming glanced at Chen Zhuo but said nothing, continuing to walk on his own, making it impossible for anyone to tell that he and Chen Zhuo were fellow disciples.

Xiao Liu smiled and said, "The Autumn Hunt is a major event for the yamen, and indeed the entire Baiyun County."

"Oh?"

Chen Zhuo was somewhat surprised.

In his memories, there seemed to be no mention of such a thing.

"Master Chen has been at the yamen for a short time, so it's normal not to know."

Xiao Liu chuckled and continued to explain, "Every year at the beginning of autumn, the yamen organizes all the sects and noble families in the county to go to Dangyun Mountain to hunt demonic beasts for a period of ten days."

"Because of this, it is also called the Ten-Day Demon Sweep."

"It is said that this is a rule set by the Great Yong Founding Emperor, and every province, prefecture, and county must carry it out."

"If there were no Autumn Hunt, who knows how rampant the demonic beasts on Dangyun Mountain would become? I fear that apart from the county yamen, not a single one of those country bumpkins would survive."

Chen Zhuo frowned imperceptibly.

Great Yong was plagued by demons; it was indeed necessary to clear them out in turns to prevent the collapse of the people's livelihood and stop the commoners from becoming blood-food for the beasts.

"Before the Founding Emperor stabilized the world, demonic beasts were rampant, and it was common for entire cities to be devoured by them."

Yan Ming spoke with a cold sneer, "Yet, how could our human race serve as fodder for these beasts?"

Having said this, Yan Ming suddenly stopped and waved his hand at Xiao Liu, "You go ahead first."

Xiao Liu's eyes darted, and he immediately understood what was meant, quickening his pace to head forward.

Watching Xiao Liu walk away, Yan Ming lowered his voice and said, "You have only read the first two pages of the Inheritance Manual. Do not look at the rest for now, lest you become distracted; you must prioritize honing your martial path."

"It is just a small suggestion; whether you listen or not is up to you."

Chen Zhuo nodded thoughtfully.

Suddenly, his heart stirred as he recalled what Yan Ming had said last night about the Blade-Catcher.

Catching demons, refining demons, eating demons.

He had a mind to take a look at the manual, but people were arriving at the Drill Ground one after another, and it was inconvenient for him to take it out.

Fine, I'll look at it later.

"Brother Chen."

As soon as Chen Zhuo arrived at the Drill Ground, Fatty Sun walked over.

"Master Yan is here as well."

Fatty Sun seemed to know something, as his attitude toward Yan Ming was far more respectful than that of the others.

Yan Ming nodded slightly in response.

Chen Zhuo's gaze swept over the two of them with a hint of suspicion, his fingers unconsciously resting on the hem of his garment.

Fatty Sun's warning from that night still echoed in his ears.

Chen Zhuo couldn't help but think:

Could it be that Fatty Sun knows Master Yan's background?

By this time, the yamen runners and White-Uniform Runners had all arrived at the Drill Ground, greeting those they were familiar with.

Chen Zhuo scanned the area and was surprised to find that none of the people he shared a dormitory with were present.

However, he had only a passing acquaintance with them, so he didn't take it to heart.

"Quiet."

Registrar Wang's voice was not loud, yet it caused the entire Drill Ground to fall into sudden silence.

With the appearance of Magistrate Liu and the other two officials, the morning assembly officially began.

It was not much different from the morning meetings of his past life, proceeding step-by-step according to established protocol.

Chen Zhuo didn't listen very carefully, instead focusing his attention on the front row.

The yamen had strict rules; even though this was his first time attending a morning assembly, he knew that one's position was determined by one's status.

Aside from the three officials seated high on the platform, the others stood in order: the squad leaders, followed by the yamen runners, and then the White-Uniform Runners.

Yet, Huang Yuan'er was standing in the first row, right next to Yao Xiong.

Wasn't the Black-Uniform Squad leader Old Zhao?

"Did Huang Yuan'er get a promotion?"

Chen Zhuo couldn't help but ask Fatty Sun beside him.

"I heard the news early this morning. They say Old Zhao is getting on in years and voluntarily stepped down to let a better man take his place. From now on, you'll have to call him Squad Leader Huang."

Sun Fei pursed his lips. "Old Zhao is only in his forties; how can that be called 'advanced in years'? That's enough to fool a ghost. It was nothing more than a transaction."

A transaction...

Chen Zhuo's gaze darkened as he chewed over those two words.

Old Zhao was diligent, kind to others, and had served Magistrate Liu faithfully for all these years.

Even without a powerful background, was he to be dismissed just like that, following a simple exchange of interests?

"A light word from above can lift you high, but it can also drop you just as hard."

Chen Zhuo sighed inwardly.

Even though Huang Sanyou had been arrested, it hadn't affected Huang Yuan'er in the slightest.

This was the power of the Huang family of the Long River Gang.

Chen Zhuo snapped back to reality, only to realize that at some point, Yao Xiong had stepped onto the high platform.

"The demonic beasts in Dangyun Mountain have grown another crop."

His booming voice was like a boulder hitting water, rippling through everyone's ears.

Yao Xiong paused, his tiger-like eyes sweeping across the crowd below before he continued: "The autumn hunt is twenty days away. This year, the demonic beasts in Dangyun Mountain are more numerous and far more dangerous than in previous years. This time, not only the official runners but all White-Uniform Runners must participate."

"The promotion assessment for the White-Uniform Runners will be held during the autumn hunt. Rankings will be determined by the number of demonic beasts killed. The number of spots for promotion..."

"Two."

Boom.

This news exploded in the hearts of the White-Uniform Runners like a thunderclap.

For most people here, Dangyun Mountain, with its many demonic beasts, was a forbidden zone of death that no one dared to tread upon lightly.

In past autumn hunts, the official runners had suffered deaths and injuries; even if the White-Uniform Runners hadn't seen it themselves, they had heard the tales.

It was so perilous that if they went, it would be no different than serving themselves up as a side dish for the beasts.

"For this autumn hunt, those who return alive will receive a reward of ten taels of silver for official runners and five taels for White-Uniform Runners. If one sacrifices their life, there will be a twenty-tael pension, and their family may nominate one person to fill the vacancy."

"The two winners of the White-Uniform Runner promotion assessment will receive a reward of fifty taels of silver, a cultivation technique, and fifty Blood Vitality Pills."

Just as the White-Uniform Runners were filled with anxiety, Yao Xiong's voice suddenly rang out again.

Once these words were spoken, the expressions of the White-Uniform Runners shifted instantly.

Five taels of silver was a massive fortune for White-Uniform Runners who didn't receive a single cent in monthly wages.

And if they died, there was a pension.

Under heavy rewards, there would surely be brave men.

The fear and worry in the hearts of the White-Uniform Runners were almost ninety percent dispelled.

"If I'm lucky enough to get into the top two, wouldn't I have over a hundred taels of silver in rewards? Not to mention a cultivation technique."

Faced with such a huge sum, everyone began to harbor wishful thinking.

Chen Zhuo, however, frowned.

There were only two promotion spots.

He glanced at the calm and composed Fatty Sun beside him, knowing full well that, in reality, there was only one spot.

Chen Zhuo lowered his gaze, suddenly sensing something strange.

He looked up and found a handsome young man staring intensely at him.

Chen Zhuo met his gaze and felt the other's sense of superiority, suddenly realizing he had been wrong.

Perhaps there wasn't even a single promotion spot.

The matter had likely been decided long ago, and this was nothing more than a formality.

"Zhou Sheng."

Chen Zhuo took a deep look at Zhou Sheng before looking away. After a moment of thought, he realized something else felt off.

Was the yamen paying too much attention to the promotion of White-Uniform Runners?

Between the dangerous location and the heavy rewards, he had never heard of the official runner promotion assessment being held in Dangyun Mountain before.

"Something I don't know must have happened."

Chen Zhuo pondered for a moment, his vigilance growing.

The demonic beasts on Dangyun Mountain were the leeks, but if he wasn't careful, he would become someone else's stepping stone.

Just as he finished his contemplation, Huang Yuan'er suddenly stepped onto the platform.

"One last thing, regarding a murder case from last night."

The moment he heard the words "murder case," Chen Zhuo immediately perked up.

But when he looked up at Huang Yuan'er, ears pricked to listen, he found that the man said nothing at all. Instead, he fixed his gaze directly on Chen Zhuo and parted his thin lips.

"Take him!"

With that light command, seven or eight official runners immediately swarmed toward him.