Olive Branch

Blood dripped from the cloth sack, and a thick stench of blood spread through the air.

Seeing the cloth sack in Shen Ye's left hand, everyone's hearts tightened.

The demonic cultist should be inside that sack.

"Sir, is it over?" Fang Xing stepped forward and asked.

Shen Ye nodded. His gaze swept over the area, and when he saw the corpses in the courtyard, a flicker of something strange passed through the depths of his eyes before he looked back at Fang Xing.

"Has everything been cleared up?"

Fang Xing cupped his hands. "Reporting to you, sir, it has mostly been dealt with."

Shen Ye gave a slight nod. "Well done. I'll leave the rest to you. Clean it up properly."

"Yes!"

Fang Xing nodded, then immediately gave the order to wrap things up.

Shen Ye and Baili Yanran left.

Fang Xing and the others moved quickly. They searched the entire stronghold and found a number of things.

There was some gold and silver, but most of it was grain, clothing, and the like.

The donkey carts they had prepared came in handy, carrying away all the grain, clothing, and other goods.

In about an hour, Fang Xing's group had finished the operation.

They found some fire oil in the stronghold and buried all the bandit corpses on the spot. With a single blaze, Black Wolf Stronghold was swallowed by fire, its roaring flames reducing the entire mountain stronghold to ashes.

Once the cleanup was complete, Fang Xing and his group left the stronghold.

The setting sun was like blood. By the time they returned to the county town, night had nearly fallen.

The grain and clothing were escorted to the County Yamen warehouse. Fang Xing went to the inner hall to see the county magistrate and reported the situation.

Exterminating bandits was a political achievement.

Whether for the county magistrate or for Fang Xing himself, it was a merit to their names.

After reporting the matter, Fang Xing had barely left the County Yamen when he ran into Baili Yanran and Shen Ye.

"Sir." Seeing the two of them, Fang Xing stepped forward and cupped his hands.

Shen Ye glanced at him, a faint smile appearing on his face. "The matter is over. Want to find a place for some drinks?"

Hmm?

Fang Xing froze at those words.

Shen Ye wanted to drink with him?

Fang Xing was startled inwardly, but he quickly recovered and said with a smile, "Sir, I know of a restaurant with excellent dishes. If you two do not mind, this subordinate would like to treat you both to a meal."

Hearing this, Shen Ye burst into laughter. "Haha, good. Then we'll make this host bleed properly."

"You jest, sir. It is this subordinate's honor. Sirs, this way!"

Fang Xing said with a smile, then led the way toward the distance.

Before long, the three of them arrived before a restaurant in East City.

Drunken Immortal Tower!

It was the most luxurious restaurant in East City.

It was also the highest-class restaurant in the entire county town.

One meal here could cost an ordinary person several years of expenses.

But to Fang Xing, it was nothing.

After all, ever since he had become Chief Constable, he had received no small amount of tribute.

The wealth he had accumulated far surpassed that of ordinary people.

A single meal meant nothing to him.

More importantly, Shen Ye had brought it up himself. Since it could bring them closer, Fang Xing naturally did not mind.

The Heavenly Supervision Bureau's status was a golden signboard in the Great Jing Dynasty.

Others could only dream of inviting them, yet never get the chance.

"Sirs, please." Fang Xing gestured with his hand. Shen Ye looked at the restaurant before him and nodded, then entered with Baili Yanran, with Fang Xing close behind.

After calling over a waiter, the three of them went to a private room on the top floor.

From the private room, they could see the street outside.

As the most prosperous area of Qingshan County, East City had the best surroundings.

It was far superior to the other districts.

After entering the private room, Fang Xing ordered several house specialties and handed the menu to the two of them. Shen Ye and Baili Yanran each ordered a dish, and Fang Xing then ordered some wine.

Before long, the dishes and wine were brought to the table.

Holding the wine pot, Fang Xing rose and filled several cups. Raising his cup with both hands, he said, "Lord Shen, thank you for your recommendation. Should you ever have need of this subordinate, this subordinate will certainly do his utmost."

Shen Ye also raised his cup and smiled faintly. "I merely made a suggestion. Being able to sit in that position still depended on your own ability. From what I can see now, you have done quite well."

"Thank you for thinking highly of me, sir. This subordinate will strive to do even better in the future." Fang Xing drained his cup in one gulp.

Shen Ye also drank a cup, and Fang Xing immediately refilled it.

"Sit. Relax a little; there is no need for so much ceremony," Shen Ye said.

Fang Xing sat down. Looking at the two of them, he said with a smile, "Sirs, please try the dishes here. If you like them, you can come often in the future."

The two gave slight nods and began eating.

The atmosphere in the private room was harmonious as they ate and chatted.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes,

Shen Ye put down his chopsticks and looked at Fang Xing. "What do you think of being a Yamen Runner?"

Hearing Shen Ye's question, Fang Xing was slightly taken aback, but immediately replied, "It is not bad. We are all serving the court, and this subordinate will do his own duty well."

Shen Ye shook his head. "That is not what I mean. I mean, if there were somewhere else you could go, would you be willing?"

Hmm?

Fang Xing's movements paused at those words.

Go somewhere else?

Could it be... Shen Ye wanted to recommend him to the Heavenly Supervision Bureau?!

A thought flashed rapidly through Fang Xing's mind. Thinking of this, he looked at Shen Ye. "Sir, do you mean the Heavenly Supervision Bureau?"

Shen Ye looked at him, took a sip of wine, and nodded lightly. "Mm."

Hearing that answer, Fang Xing fell silent.

The Heavenly Supervision Bureau was the Great Jing Dynasty's highest-level authority, and also a place where masters gathered.

Though he did not know much about its inner workings, he knew a little in general.

This department was extraordinarily powerful!

It was responsible for the safety of the Great Jing Dynasty.

Strictly speaking, the work of Yamen Runners and the Heavenly Supervision Bureau was not all that different.

It was only that Yamen Runners were responsible for one small corner of the land, while the Heavenly Supervision Bureau covered a far broader range.

And the situations they faced were different as well. Yamen Runners handled public security and patrols, dealing with local thugs, underworld forces, and the like.

The Heavenly Supervision Bureau, however, dealt with evil cults and demons.

Those were the true festering tumors that threatened the Great Jing Dynasty.

Local thugs and underworld forces were merely superficial sores.

Compared with the harm caused by evil cults and demons, they were not worth mentioning at all.

Evil cults and demons were the calamities that shook the very foundations of the Great Jing Dynasty.

In the chaos of these times, evil cults and demons accounted for a huge part of the cause.

He had only heard of demons, but he had encountered evil cults before.

For him, the Heavenly Supervision Bureau was not a bad place to go.

After all, his advancement was different from others'.

Aside from the Enhancement Points accumulated day by day, there was another way to improve quickly: slaughter. It could allow him to rapidly gain Enhancement Points.

Killing a martial artist could swiftly earn him Enhancement Points.

But... he had no such intention for the moment.

After all, the enemies faced by the Heavenly Supervision Bureau were martial arts masters, evil cults, and demons.

With his current cultivation and strength, he would definitely not be enough.

At the peak of Dark Force, he was merely an expert within a single county, nowhere near the top tier.

Looking across an entire prefecture, he likely could not even rank among the middle tier.

Without sufficient strength, going there would be no different from delivering his head on a platter.

Beyond one mountain lay another higher mountain!

His strength had not even touched the top tier of Qingshan County, much less the level of a prefectural capital.

He still possessed that much self-awareness.

Seeing Fang Xing remain silent, Shen Lang took a sip of wine and broke the silence.

"Don't overthink it. I'm only asking for now. To join the Heavenly Supervision Bureau, your strength is still somewhat lacking. Even if you went, it would be less comfortable than being Chief Constable in Qingshan County. I can give you an opportunity. If you can step into Transformation Force within two years, I can recommend you to the Heavenly Supervision Bureau then."

"Do you have the confidence to give it a try?"

Transformation Force within two years...

Hearing those words, Fang Xing smiled slightly. "Thank you for your favor, sir. This subordinate is willing to give it a try."

Two years...

At his current pace, that was more than enough.

He accepted this olive branch!