Planning Continues

Serving the court?

The bitterness in Zhou Baishan's heart vanished in an instant, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Serve my ass.

But seeing Zhao Hong's resolute expression, Zhou Baishan slapped his forehead.

This kid had come for the Judge's Office.

Thinking of the experiences Zhao Hong had described.

Hundreds of miles alone.

The Evil Skin Cult, bandits, deception and disguises, and more.

Yet he had faced it all calmly. With that temperament, he really was suited for the Judge's Office.

"Go roughly a hundred li north, then thirty li west, and you'll find the Judge's Office."

"North?"

Zhao Hong froze slightly, and his expression darkened.

Damn it.

Those three bastard dogs had lied to me even as they died.

If I'd kept going west, who knew where I would have ended up?

But...

Zhao Hong hesitated. "Can I come with you?"

After their brief contact, this man seemed like a good person.

"Come with me? Do you know what I'm about to do?" Zhou Baishan sneered.

"Lure out the Evil Skin Cult demon, capture him, and earn a great merit."

He had heard all of that clearly earlier.

"I'm at the peak of Blood Fiend, yet even I can't guarantee absolute safety."

"Now that I'm the only one left, I still need to keep hunting to nourish the Evil Skin."

"Though those bandits said that demon wasn't an Embryonic Mysteries martial artist when he contacted them before, he's at least at the peak of Blood Fiend. His methods are formidable enough that even I could lose my life."

"Since you dare to do this, sir, you must have made preparations. I believe you'll succeed."

"I still think it's better to follow you, sir."

Zhao Hong did not waver in the slightest.

Leaving aside how dangerous it would be to make his way there alone, even if he reached the Judge's Office and successfully joined, being assigned to someone bad-tempered would hardly be a good thing.

Especially since one thing Zhou Baishan had said earlier had given him a vague suspicion.

Things within the Judge's Office were probably far from peaceful.

Zhou Baishan raised a hand to his forehead, completely speechless.

This kid was like a stubborn plaster—he couldn't shake him off.

Although Zhao Hong's combat strength was impressive, comparable to Blood Fiend.

Even as a peak Blood Fiend martial artist, he could not ensure everything would go smoothly. Bringing Zhao Hong along would be nothing but a burden.

But his temperament, performance, and combat strength truly tempted him.

With a little training, he would become a fine prospect.

And his potential far surpassed Zhou Baishan's own. That much was plain to see.

"Sir, why not call some other experts from the Judge's Office?" Zhao Hong suddenly asked in confusion.

Zhou Baishan's gaze turned cold as he mocked, "Want to hear why?"

"Yes."

Zhou Baishan turned and headed toward the ancient grounds, his voice drifting back.

"The vast Azure Cloud Mountains have a trade route around their outskirts that requires guards. Nearly three hundred li further in lies a stretch shaped like a beast's claw at the front and beast's fangs at the rear, hence its name. This region alone has already cost us many men, and now the Evil Skin Cult has appeared."

"Further inside is an area spanning over a hundred li, coiled like a giant python. It is called the Stone Python Coil. At its heart lies the Azure Abyss, where countless great demons dwell."

"For some unknown reason, the higher-ups suddenly established the Judge's Office here to purge and suppress everything within the Azure Cloud Mountains. We lack manpower, so people have been transferred here from all over. It's a mixed bag."

"Most of them are children of aristocratic families and powerful nobles."

Zhou Baishan suddenly turned and glanced at Zhao Hong, his voice quiet and cold. "They sit back and reap the rewards, retreat at the first sign of danger, and fight over credit."

"Several of my brothers died because of them."

"A minor Silver Bell Guard with no background like me—if I dared call for help, the credit would immediately fall into the hands of those aristocratic brats."

"This... don't the higher-ups do anything?"

Zhao Hong's expression grew grave.

As a young man of the new era who had received nine years of compulsory education, higher education, and a beating from society, how could he fail to understand how alarming the situation hinted at by those few words was?

"Do anything?"

Zhou Baishan shook his head slightly. "At least for now, we still need the children of aristocratic families and powerful nobles to contribute. Even if the higher-ups can intervene, how much can they really do?"

"Do you still want to join the Judge's Office now?"

"Yes."

"..."

Zhou Baishan was speechless and did not try to persuade him further.

He had said all that needed to be said.

After taking some time to digest it all, Zhao Hong had already made up his mind.

Complicated?

Then he would find a way to adapt.

If the Judge's Office was like this, would things really be any better outside?

All crows were black under heaven.

Afterward, Zhou Baishan gradually gave him a detailed understanding of the Judge's Office.

There were Bronze Bell Guards, Silver Bell Guards, and Gold Bell Guards. The strength of Gold Bell Guards had reached the astonishing Embryonic Mysteries realm.

Zhao Yang had not been wrong.

Even at the height of his strength, Zhao Hong would not have stood out in the Judge's Office.

Above them were Inspectors, Seal-Wielding Inspectors, and others of terrifying strength.

Within the organization, there was no absolute chain of command. When there were no missions, everyone enjoyed considerable autonomy.

Take Zhou Baishan, for example. He had made up an excuse, disguised himself, and come out on his own to earn merit.

To advance in rank, one needed both strength and merit.

Inside, everything depended on one's fists. Strength commanded respect.

Those aristocratic children might be arrogant, but they did not dare act too recklessly. Even without a background, if one displayed impressive strength and potential, one could still carve out a path.

Of course, one should not think that seeking their protection guaranteed safety. More often than not, it only made one cannon fodder.

And what Zhao Hong had been looking forward to—the Judge's Office did not disappoint him in that regard.

According to Zhou Baishan, the cultivation resources within the Judge's Office were astonishing.

Even aristocratic clans and sects with centuries of history could not compare.

They had everything one could need, and some items could not be bought anywhere outside.

Ordinary items could be purchased with silver, while rare and precious ones required merit.

That was why, no matter how dangerous the Judge's Office was, countless martial artists flocked to it.

Resources and cultivation methods—as long as one had sufficient strength and earned merit, one could obtain them. There was no need to toil like an ox or horse for others just to trade for them, as in the outside world.

"After killing those bandits, if I can capture that Evil Skin Cult demon as well, it will be a great merit. With that, I can exchange for a treasure to break through to Embryonic Mysteries and advance to Gold Bell Guard."

Zhou Baishan looked at the Jade Hide and sighed.

No wonder.

"Brother Zhou, I'm truly sorry."

Come to think of it, his unexpected appearance had caused this entire chain of events.

Zhou Baishan waved a hand slightly. "This Evil Skin still needs to be nourished. I've already delayed for so long—I won't give up easily."

"Once the Evil Skin reaches the Embryonic Mysteries level, that demon will follow its senses here. Seeing me alone may raise suspicions, but it would still be within reason."

After all, the bandit leader had originally intended to sacrifice all his brothers in the end.

Zhao Hong immediately realized that his strength was far too lacking. He could not help Zhou Baishan at all.

Unless he could reach the peak of Inner Strength in a short time, perhaps he could rely on the divine strength of Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bones to exchange a few blows with a peak Blood Fiend martial artist.

"Brother Zhou, that Evil Skin Cult demon has probably fused with an Evil Skin too. If it's an Embryonic Mysteries Evil Skin, once he reveals it, he'll possess Embryonic Mysteries strength..."

The thought alone made Zhao Hong's entire body tense.

The increase in combat strength after the wolf-hide man transformed into a wolf remained vivid in his mind.

Even if it had not reached the Embryonic Mysteries level, unleashing the Evil Skin's power would definitely make him comparable to one.

A trace of solemnity flashed through Zhou Baishan's eyes. "I have naturally made preparations, but whether they will work can only be known in the end."

"I'll do my best and risk my life in battle."

After delaying for so long, if he returned without any merit, people would certainly make things difficult for him.

Until the very last moment, he would never give up.

Otherwise, who knew how long it would take before he could break through to Embryonic Mysteries and advance to Gold Bell Guard?

Under the current circumstances, even if he had the chance to earn great merit, it would be snatched away by others. He might even lose his life.

"Brother Zhou, don't worry. When the time comes, I'll definitely hide far away and won't drag you down."

Zhao Hong said gravely. That was all he could do.