Twenty-Three This Year

Bang!

Zhao Hong's punch used less than twenty percent of his strength.

It was just enough to match the level of an ordinary person at the peak of inner force.

The other man nodded slightly.

"Not bad."

After completing the registration, he let out a whistle.

Then, under Zhao Hong's startled gaze, a gray-and-white bird flew in from outside and obediently landed in his palm.

"This is a skylark raised within the Judge's Office. It is quite clever and very fast."

"Once it reaches the Inspection Bureau in Stone Valley County, the people there will investigate Clear Creek Village. If there are no issues, they will have the skylark bring back a message. At that point, you will be a true Copper Bell Guard."

As he spoke, he wrote something on a sheet of paper, rolled it into a tube, and tied it to the skylark's leg.

Zhao Hong noticed that the skylark's back bore the same Judge's Brush emblem as the banners outside.

It evidently represented the identity of the Judge's Office.

Whoosh!

The skylark shot into the sky.

"All right."

"Do me another favor and send a message to Liu Zheng."

As Zhou Baishan spoke, he directly picked up a brush and paper from the table and began writing.

"You've already written it. How could I refuse?" The other man spread his hands.

Zhao Hong could even hear a hint of indulgence in his tone.

Liu Zheng?

Could he be the friend Zhou Baishan had mentioned?

A moment later.

Another skylark soared into the sky.

Zhou Baishan then waved his hand and led Zhao Hong out of the courtyard into a room at its edge.

"This is where I stay."

"But after I go make my report, I won't be back anytime soon. Rest here for now."

"Old Liu is the friend I told you about. Unless something unexpected happens, he should return by tomorrow at the latest after receiving the message, just in time for the skylark from Stone Valley County to return."

"You aren't a real Copper Bell Guard yet, so stay in the room and don't wander around."

"Oh, right. There are two booklets by the bed containing the rules, rewards, and punishments of the Inspection Bureau and the Judge's Office. You can read them in advance."

"Thank you, Brother Zhou."

Zhao Hong nodded slightly.

Zhou Baishan turned and left.

He had to make his report.

Quite a few people had seen him return, especially Yang Feng. There could be no delay.

After Zhou Baishan left, Zhao Hong shut the door and picked up the two booklets to study them carefully.

He needed to commit the rules, rewards, and punishments to memory.

After reading them, Zhao Hong nodded slightly.

The rules were strict.

The rewards and punishments were severe.

That was understandable. Neither the Inspection Bureau nor the Judge's Office was an ordinary place.

Without stringent rules and disciplinary measures, everything would descend into chaos.

No wonder Zhou Baishan had said that although there were many children of great clans, they still did not dare go too far.

If they truly incurred public outrage, even the children of great clans would be unable to bear the wrath from above.

"Everything can wait until tomorrow."

Zhao Hong had no concerns about his identity.

For three generations, the Zhao family had been utterly clean.

The next day.

A sudden knock sounded at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Liu Zheng. Old Zhou hasn't returned yet?"

Liu Zheng?

Zhao Hong quickly got up and opened the door.

Outside stood a man slightly shorter than Zhou Baishan.

"Lord Liu, Brother Zhou left yesterday and has not returned yet."

Liu Zheng looked thoughtful.

Zhou Baishan had not explained much in his letter.

"Did that guy pull off something big?" Liu Zheng asked curiously.

Zhao Hong gave a bitter smile. "Lord Liu, I met Brother Zhou on the road. I don't know the details."

Although Liu Zheng was Zhou Baishan's friend.

Since Zhou Baishan had not said anything, Zhao Hong naturally could not speak out of turn.

"Forget it."

Liu Zheng shook his head slightly and did not ask further.

He sized Zhao Hong up, then suddenly reached out to grab him.

Zhao Hong's expression did not change as he darted backward like lightning.

Smack!

His shoulder sank.

He had failed to dodge.

He mobilized his force and shook his shoulder.

The large hand resting on it did not budge in the slightest.

A bitter smile appeared on Zhao Hong's face.

Yet his heart remained utterly calm.

Naturally, he had not used his full strength. Otherwise, even if he was no match for Liu Zheng, he would not have been completely unable to resist.

"Really sixteen?"

"Yes."

A gleam flashed through Liu Zheng's eyes. He nodded in satisfaction. "Old Zhou finally did something decent. Peak inner force at sixteen—not bad."

"Come with me."

Zhao Hong followed Liu Zheng back to the small courtyard where he had registered yesterday.

The Silver Bell Guard inside raised his brows slightly when he saw Liu Zheng. "Why isn't Old Zhou here?"

"Who knows what that guy went off to do."

"I'm afraid the trouble isn't small."

The martial artist responsible for registration did not tease them as he had yesterday. Instead, he said solemnly, "He disappeared for over a month. No matter his reason, it won't end well for him."

"As long as he doesn't die, it's fine."

Liu Zheng did not care in the slightest.

Zhao Hong's mouth twitched. He now fully believed that Liu Zheng was Zhou Baishan's friend.

Only a friend could mock him like that.

"The Stone Valley County Inspection Bureau has already sent back word. There are no problems."

"Congratulations. You have become a Copper Bell Guard of the Judge's Office."

"This is your bell, along with the accompanying items."

A pile of items was placed on the table. In the center sat a bronze-colored bell, with a token beside it.

Several booklets lay beneath the bell.

Zhao Hong picked them up and found that two were extremely familiar—they were the rules, rewards, and punishments he had read in Zhou Baishan's room yesterday.

Besides those, there was a martial art called the Demon-Subduing Saber Art, a method for refining the bell, as well as silver and a jade bottle.

"A Copper Bell Guard receives a monthly stipend of fifty taels and three Dark Ginseng Strengthening Pills."

The treatment was indeed generous.

Money and pills were secondary.

What truly mattered was the status of being part of the Judge's Office.

It brought far too many conveniences. Even as the lowest-ranking Copper Bell Guard, the benefits he could receive far exceeded these things.

"Liu Zheng will explain the rest to you later."

"Thank you, sir."

Zhao Hong put away the items and bowed respectfully.

"Let's go."

As they walked, Liu Zheng explained things to him.

He was more detailed than Zhou Baishan had been, covering merits, assignments, and more.

He was quite satisfied with Zhao Hong's strength and talent. Since Zhao Hong was following him, he naturally intended to cultivate him properly.

"Old Zhou said that if you don't run into him, return directly."

Zhao Hong understood.

Zhou Baishan had brought back so many things and so much information this time. He was likely unable to get away anytime soon.

"Brother Liu, I still have some silver on me. I want to buy some supplies for cultivation first," Zhao Hong quickly said.

According to Liu Zheng, the merchant caravans they were responsible for guarding and protecting passed through on a seven-day cycle.

They would not be returning anytime soon.

Silver that was not spent was worthless.

The three Dark Ginseng Strengthening Pills from his monthly stipend were useless to him.

"All right. I'll wait outside. The place to exchange for and purchase resources is next to the courtyard we were just in. Go yourself."

Having received permission, Zhao Hong quickly headed inside.

As soon as he reached the courtyard entrance, someone walked out from within.

At a glance, Zhao Hong's expression changed slightly.

Yang Feng.

"Who allowed you to wander around in there? Where is Zhou Baishan?" Yang Feng stared at Zhao Hong, utterly discourteous.

Zhao Hong's expression remained unchanged. "I don't know where Lord Zhou went either."

"I came here to buy pills."

"Lord Yang, I have already become a Copper Bell Guard. Here is my token."

Hmm?

Yang Feng was slightly stunned. A Copper Bell Guard?

That meant this kid had late-stage inner force cultivation.

His eyes flickered, and he abruptly stepped closer. In a low voice, he said, "So that's why Zhou Baishan brought someone back."

"How old are you?"

How old was he?

Zhao Hong's heart stirred, but he answered honestly, "Lord Yang, I am twenty-three this year."