I Have a Friend

As his cultivation reached the late stage of inner force, ordinary Bloodforce Pills used at the bloodforce level had become almost ineffective.

After swallowing ten, the qi, blood, and inner force within him stirred only slightly.

Fortunately, the Ten-Refined Bloodforce Qi Pill did not disappoint.

Together with two precious ginseng roots.

Zhao Hong successfully broke through to inner force completion.

Two days had already passed.

"Prepare to depart."

Seeing Zhao Hong's breakthrough, Zhou Baishan abruptly rose to his feet.

Zhao Hong looked up and froze slightly. "Brother Zhou, you..."

Zhou Baishan still looked utterly disheveled. He had not even changed out of his bloodstained clothes, which were ragged and torn. Only his superficial wounds had healed, while his aura remained extremely weak.

Though his injuries were serious, they should not have warranted this, right?

"I've been gone for over a month. I need a suitable excuse."

"This haul also needs to be reported directly to my superiors, and it can't be exposed. So if I return covered in injuries and carrying the bells taken from several colleagues, no one will think too much of it."

That was Zhou Baishan's reasoning.

As for the news spreading after he made his report, by then he would have accumulated enough merit to exchange for a precious medicine that would help him advance to the Profound Embryo realm.

Once he broke through into the Profound Embryo realm, he could become a Golden Bell Guard.

The trouble would naturally disappear.

"Also, after we return, I'll introduce you to a friend of mine. He's also a Silver Bell Guard. For now, follow him."

"I have several scions of noble families under me, and the missions are rather dangerous."

"Once my cultivation breaks through and I become a Golden Bell Guard, I'll find a chance to bring you over to work under me."

Zhao Hong nodded slightly. "Thank you, Brother Zhou."

He had only just arrived. Though his combat strength was formidable, he was truly nothing remarkable in a place like the Judge's Office.

It was better to keep a low profile whenever possible.

If he caught the eye of those noble family scions, there would be recruitment attempts, threats, and demands that he work himself to the bone. None of that would be good.

Zhou Baishan's arrangements were made with his interests in mind.

"Let's go."

The two set off.

They chatted from time to time along the way.

Zhao Hong asked, and Zhou Baishan explained.

The Clawfang Mountain region was merely one guard station of the Judge's Office. Its strongest members were only several Golden Bell Guards.

Of course, if trouble arose, inspectors would arrive quickly.

The true Judge's Office was located in a vast area at the edge of the Stone Python Coil region, from where it could extend its reach both within and beyond the territory.

Half a day later.

A stretch of level ground came into view. At its center stood a relatively crude cluster of wooden buildings.

At a glance, there were around several dozen houses, and a large banner had been planted at one side.

A judge's brush was embroidered upon the black flag, its tip dripping blood.

As they drew closer, Zhao Hong felt a sharp, oppressive might wash over him from the banner.

The banner alone could intimidate ordinary demons and savage beasts, keeping them from approaching.

This was clearly a temporary garrison.

"We'll handle your procedures for joining the office here first. It'll take one day at best, two at worst. After that, I'll take you to the other side to find that fellow."

"Alright."

Zhao Hong naturally followed Zhou Baishan's lead.

They entered.

Several men with murderous expressions were heading out. The moment they saw Zhou Baishan, all of them were startled.

"Old Zhou, you're still alive?"

"You vanished for more than a month. I thought you were dead."

"What happened to you?"

Seeing Zhou Baishan in such a wretched state, their expressions changed slightly.

Zhou Baishan gave a bitter smile. "I found the culprit who killed Old Zhang. I pursued him all the way, then ran into demons. I hid and fled everywhere, and nearly didn't make it back."

"But fortunately, I recovered all the bells belonging to Old Zhang and the others."

As he spoke, he took out three bells and shook them. No sound emerged.

The Judge's Office bells only made a sound when activated with power.

"Old Zhang... sigh."

Their expressions all turned solemn.

Naturally, they knew the Old Zhang Zhou Baishan spoke of. They had all been colleagues, and he had been extremely close to Zhou Baishan.

So that was why he had disappeared for so long.

The three bells lay before their eyes, and none of them harbored any suspicion.

A colleague had died in battle, and Zhou Baishan had risked his life to pursue the killer all the way. That alone inspired respect.

"What are you heading out for?"

"Don't mention it. We haven't had peace for more than a few days, and those remnants who escaped before have suddenly appeared all over the place. They've all fused with Evil Skin. We just received word and are going to provide support."

"You should rest up first."

One man patted Zhou Baishan on the shoulder, then suddenly said, "You were avenging Old Zhang, but you disappeared for so long without leaving any word. I'm afraid there'll be trouble. Be careful."

Zhou Baishan nodded slightly and watched them leave before leading Zhao Hong deeper inside.

Creak!

A young man walked out of one of the rooms, dressed in brocade robes with a silver bell hanging from his waist.

"Zhou Baishan."

"You're actually still alive."

"Are you disappointed that I'm alive?" Zhou Baishan sneered coldly.

The young man curled his lips in mockery. "I am. If you'd died, that would've settled everything and spared everyone some trouble. But you came back alive after abandoning your post for over a month. No matter how good your excuse is, you can't escape responsibility."

"Oh, and don't forget to visit the Mind-Questioning Mirror. Make sure you haven't brought anything unclean back with you."

After saying that, the young man's gaze fell on Zhao Hong, and he immediately frowned. "And who is this? You've been with the Inspection Bureau for years. Don't tell me you don't know the Judge's Office rules. How can you bring just anyone in here?"

Zhao Hong frowned slightly.

This guy was awfully arrogant.

He guessed that this was one of the noble family scions Zhou Baishan had mentioned.

"If there's a problem, I'll bear it myself. You don't need to worry about it."

Expressionless, Zhou Baishan waved at Zhao Hong and walked off directly.

The young man's face darkened, and a chill flashed through his eyes.

"Fool who knows neither heaven nor earth."

"That fellow is Yang Feng, a member of the Yang Family in the prefectural city."

"Very formidable?"

"A noble family with a legacy of several centuries. Their influence is considerable. This time, dozens of their people joined the Judge's Office, including Golden Bell Guards and inspectors."

Zhao Hong's heart tightened.

No wonder he was so arrogant.

"Brother Zhou, those men from earlier warned you to be careful about being held accountable. Could it be that the Golden Bell Guards above..." He recalled the reminder from the earlier Silver Bell Guard.

Zhou Baishan grinned. "Naturally, there'll be trouble, but there's more than one Golden Bell Guard. There are usually five Golden Bell Guards stationed here, and three of them are from noble families."

"That Yang Feng is so arrogant because he has one of the Yang Family's Golden Bell Guards backing him. But there are still two Golden Bell Guards who aren't from noble families."

"If an inspector happens to come by for an inspection, that would be even better."

"I'm not stupid enough to go report to that Yang Family Golden Bell Guard."

Zhao Hong was immediately relieved. He had worried for nothing.

Zhou Baishan had previously been in the Inspection Bureau before being transferred into the Judge's Office. He was no greenhorn.

They then turned into a simple little courtyard.

"Oh, Old Zhou."

"You're still alive."

There was only one person inside. Upon seeing Zhou Baishan, he asked almost exactly the same question as the previous two groups.

"I'm tough as nails. I have to stay alive and well enough to see you buried."

"Hmph, as if I need you for that."

"What are you doing here?"

"A newcomer."

Zhou Baishan pointed at Zhao Hong.

"Give him your credentials."

Zhao Hong quickly handed over the proof of origin he had prepared earlier.

"Stone Valley County, Clear Creek Village. That's quite far away."

"Even if we send a cloud sparrow, we probably won't receive a reply from the Stone Valley County Inspection Bureau until tomorrow. Still, since Old Zhou brought you here, I'll register you first."

"Name, age, cultivation."

"Zhao Hong, sixteen, inner force completion."

There was no need to hide his cultivation.

Anyone strong enough could see through it at a glance, and it could not be concealed once he fought.

His true combat strength, however, was his trump card.

"Oh? Inner force completion at sixteen. Not bad."

The young man raised his eyebrows in surprise, then said, "Hit me with your strongest punch."

The minimum standard for a Copper Bell Guard was the late stage of inner force.

It was not enough just to claim you had reached it.

Zhao Hong sized up the martial artist before him. A silver bell also hung from the man's waist.

But in Zhao Hong's perception, this man was far inferior to Zhou Baishan.

If he threw his strongest punch, Zhou Baishan really would have to arrange this guy's funeral first.