Head Constable Xie's Lesson, the Four Classes Under Heaven

Inside the room, the constables were not drinking tea. They were chatting about other matters.

Every face was filled with joy and excitement.

Zhou An sensed that something was off and quietly leaned closer.

Before long, the constables' conversation reached Zhou An's ears.

"Is this true? Head Constable Xie is going to teach us martial arts?"

"Of course it's true. I arrived early, so Head Constable Xie told me to let you all know. Heh, you don't know this, but the County Magistrate has already finished writing his article, only for something like this to happen again recently."

"Though this is the Demon Suppression Division's business, when the imperial court comes to assess things, public security will also be involved. With the selection coming up, the County Magistrate has to make some sort of move."

"If he trains us up, it'll earn him quite a few extra points."

"That's good for us too. We can learn more."

From everyone's conversation, Zhou An figured out the whole story.

So the County Magistrate had finally realized that public security was also part of the assessment. He now wanted to mend the pen after the sheep were lost, having Head Constable Xie impart his knowledge to improve the constables' combat strength.

Zhou An's expression turned somewhat strange.

Most constables in An Ding County knew a few rudimentary martial skills. They could handle ordinary matters without any problem, but that was all they were—rudimentary.

That included Zhou An and Yu Hang. In the past, they too had only known a few basic martial skills.

Head Constable Xie was the sole exception. In his younger days, he had even wiped out a band of river pirates single-handedly. His strength was formidable indeed.

But in Great Chu, sectarian divides were extremely pronounced.

Everyone guarded what they had learned as tightly as death itself. Even sect powers cherished their brooms as if they were treasures, teaching their own disciples in different tiers.

Someone like Head Constable Xie, with no family to support and no burdens to bear, should have been even less likely to pass on what he had learned.

After all, this was the tool he used to put food on the table. Wouldn't passing it on affect his own livelihood?

It was not as if there had never been cases of teaching an apprentice only for the master to starve. Everyone understood this without needing to say it aloud.

Now that he had heard this news, Zhou An felt that the County Magistrate must have said something to Head Constable Xie—more likely, promised him something—to make him agree.

According to what everyone had just discussed, after lunch, they would all go to Head Constable Xie's place to study.

Zhou An did not mind. Though he had proficiency, learning a little was still better than learning nothing. It would also be excellent to gain some understanding of Great Chu's affairs.

After all, in this identity, he truly knew nothing at all.

With that thought, Zhou An joined in the idle chatter.

After a while, Yu Hang arrived as well. Upon hearing the news, however, he showed little interest, since he was still thinking of becoming one of the Scholars.

Time passed amid conversation. At noon, after everyone had eaten lunch, they saw Head Constable Xie arrive with a long saber at his waist.

"Come to the courtyard with me." As usual, Head Constable Xie spoke very little.

Knowing they had something new to learn, no one dawdled. They soon arrived in the courtyard.

Once there, Head Constable Xie stood in the center while the others lined up in rows.

Head Constable Xie wore a solemn expression. He paced back and forth for a moment, then said gravely, "My fellow colleagues, today I have been ordered to impart what I know to all of you. For the next month, you will come here every noon to study. I will not hold anything back. How much you can learn will depend on your own ability."

The group exchanged glances and nodded one after another.

Only then did Head Constable Xie continue. "What I am about to say is not meant to belittle any of you. You have all remained in An Ding County and have never gone elsewhere, so you do not know what the martial world is like today. I will give you a simple explanation now."

"This includes the various paths and trades, as well as their different levels."

Zhou An, standing among the crowd, brightened.

His Golden Finger did not generate proficiency in anything else. It only let him grind away at life skills, but the qualitative changes it produced were already enough for him.

Therefore, he was not particularly interested in the knowledge Head Constable Xie would impart. But once it involved foundational information, Zhou An's interest was piqued.

Head Constable Xie was right. These young constables had never left An Ding County, and their knowledge was limited.

So it was very necessary to explain things first before beginning the lesson.

Maintaining his low and unhurried tone, Head Constable Xie said, "The martial world today is divided into four major classes: martial artists, Qi Refiners, Scholars, and the Miscellaneous Sect."

"Martial artists prevail through martial arts. They train through the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer, and all kinds of martial arts bloom in a riot of color."

"Qi Refiners cultivate a breath of qi within their hearts and wield countless spells, dazzling the eye. The Surveillance Division today is composed of Qi Refiners."

The Surveillance Division had been established by the Xingwu Emperor. Independent of all other institutions, it was specifically responsible for supervising the civil and military officials. Its authority was immense, even greater than that of the Demon Suppression Division.

The Surveillance Division was entirely made up of Qi Refiners. With their varied abilities and mastery of all manner of spells, they had many practical methods for monitoring officials.

For example... lie detection.

To them, it was merely a minor spell.

Head Constable Xie paused before continuing, "Scholars are like the County Magistrate. They begin late and possess little combat ability in the early stages, but once they take shape, their written words can wound people when they fall, and overturning mountains and seas is no difficult matter."

When Scholars were mentioned, the constables showed little reaction. Yu Hang alone had eyes that shone, listening with rapt fascination.

Zhou An listened intently as well, silently committing everything to memory.

These were all broad categories. Only the last one, the Miscellaneous Sect, had not yet been explained by Head Constable Xie.

But since they were all standing here, he would surely get to it. Zhou An waited patiently.

When it came to the Miscellaneous Sect, Head Constable Xie fell silent. He lowered his head in thought, seemingly organizing his words.

He was suffering inside. If the County Magistrate had not given him something he could not refuse, he would never have agreed to teach here.

It was not merely because teaching an apprentice could starve the master. More importantly, he had never done this sort of thing before.

Just speaking those few lines earlier had already wracked his brains.

Only after quite some time did he finally arrange his words.

Head Constable Xie wore an expression like he was badly constipated. "The so-called Miscellaneous Sect means there are many things, all mixed together. They cannot be categorized because each is different."

"For example, the Gu Poison Sect in the south, the Spirit Invocation Sect in the southwest, and all sorts of others. Things like corpse retrievers, corpse bearers, and things beyond your imagination are all classified under the Miscellaneous Sect."

"But do not underestimate them. The scar on my face was inflicted by someone from the Miscellaneous Sect."

"When I wiped out those river pirates, there was someone in the corpse retrieval trade who nearly took my life."

Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air. It was their first time hearing something so novel.

Miscellaneous, yet special.

Zhou An silently remembered this faction and continued listening.

Head Constable Xie had said roughly enough and shifted the subject.

"I am a martial artist, so naturally I will teach you martial artists' methods. First, let us begin with the mysterious expert from recently."

Zhou An: ?

Why are you talking about me?