Inspector

Amid waves of astonishment.

Shen Xiuhan slowly withdrew his stance, lightly dusted the wood chips from his sleeve, and cupped his hands.

"I have made a fool of myself."

"Made a fool of yourself?!"

The first to recover was the Luo Family's fair, plump steward. He sprang to his feet.

"If skills like yours count as making a fool of yourself, then ninety percent of Longcloud County's martial artists ought to be ashamed enough to jump into Cloudwater Lake!"

"I'll cut the nonsense. Our Luo Family's Benevolent Heart Hall on South Street is currently lacking a guest retainer who can hold the fort!"

"As long as Brother Shen agrees, you'll receive four taels a month, ten jin of meat, and three servings of qi-and-blood medicinal cuisine free of charge! On top of that, you'll receive one Blood-Nourishing Pill every month!"

He spoke swiftly and urgently, as though afraid someone would beat him to it, then added.

"If Brother Shen agrees, I can promise that you won't need to do any odd jobs. You need only take up the title of guest retainer!"

That string of words made the face of the disciple surnamed Zhang, who had just been recruited, turn green.

The difference in treatment was simply too great!

Not only was the monthly pay three taels higher and the meat allowance ten jin greater, even the medicinal soup had been replaced with medicinal cuisine!

One had to know that a serving of medicinal cuisine brewed primarily from Treasure Fish and Treasure Beast meat, supplemented with precious herbs, contained such immense qi and blood that its effects were worth at least two or three bowls of medicinal soup!

And that was not all—they were even giving him a Blood-Nourishing Pill for free!

That was one of Benevolent Heart Hall's most sought-after top-grade pills!

Its medicinal power was mild and rich, greatly beneficial to Bright Force martial artists. A single pill was worth four taels and eight mace!

This was not recruiting a guest retainer at all. They were practically worshipping a living Buddha!

The surrounding outer-court disciples' eyes turned red as they listened, their breathing heavy as oxen.

Yet before they could recover from that staggering price, the stewards from the Han and Ji Families could no longer sit still.

"Brother Shen!"

The Han Family steward's voice rang like a great bell as he immediately followed up.

"Our Han Family's Fine-Iron Armory is currently lacking a martial instructor for the guards who can hold the fort!"

"Five taels of silver each month, ten jin of meat, two servings of nourishing medicinal cuisine, and one Bright Force grand pill secretly refined by our Han Family—the Blood-Coagulation Pill!"

"And that is not all!"

The Han Family steward fixed Shen Xiuhan with a burning gaze and directly raised the stakes.

"I hear that Brother Shen is still living in the outer city? As long as you agree, our Han Family will set aside a quiet little courtyard in the inner city and lend it to your family free of charge!"

The entire outer court instantly erupted!

The generous terms left the disciples' scalps tingling, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground.

"They're giving him a courtyard outright?"

"These terms are far too favorable toward Senior Brother Shen, aren't they?"

"A small courtyard in the inner city would cost at least a dozen taels of silver even in the cheapest area, right?"

"I'm green with envy!"

"Agree already! What are you still hesitating for?!"

Shen Xiuhan's heart gave a leap as well.

The Han Family's sincerity could not be called lacking.

Their basic silver, medicine, and food provisions were not much different from the Luo Family's.

Yet that inner-city courtyard had struck precisely at his needs, and he could not help but be tempted.

But just then, the Ji Family steward suddenly rose to his feet and laughed heartily.

"Brother Shen, when it comes to foundation, each of our families may have its own strengths. But when it comes to treatment, my Ji Family has never feared anyone!"

Standing with his hands behind his back, the Ji Family steward drew everyone's attention the moment he opened his mouth.

"Our family is willing to offer Brother Shen two positions. Choose whichever you wish."

"The first is to become an assistant steward for our Ji Family's Farfortune Fleet."

"Six taels a month, plus twelve jin of meat—not fish and shellfish used to make up the numbers, but fine meat. You will also receive three servings of medicinal cuisine and one Bright Force grand pill, the Jadeblood Pill!"

"The second..."

The Ji Family steward smiled and continued.

"The second is to serve as the island inspector on Cloud Ripple Island in Cloudwater Lake!"

"Our Ji Family fleet travels year-round between the various prefectures of Cangzhou for trade. To guard against water bandits and vicious criminals intercepting merchant ships, we have stationed permanent inspectors and patrol guards at Cloud Ripple Island, a chokepoint waterway."

"Inspectors must be Bright Force martial artists. The monthly pay is eight taels, with six rest days. The pills, meat, and medicinal cuisine are identical to those of an assistant steward."

"And for the convenience of patrolling the waters, you will also be assigned a covered boat for your use."

At these words, the entire outer court first fell silent, then burst into buzzing discussion.

"Heavens, eight taels a month!"

"My father works in the constabulary, and he doesn't earn that much in an entire year!"

"And there's medicinal cuisine too! I heard the Ji Family's beast garden raises second-rank Treasure Beasts, Azure Awl Chickens. The meat in that medicinal cuisine is all Treasure Beast meat!"

"The most important thing is the Jadeblood Pill. Its effects are far beyond those of ordinary pills!"

"Exactly. The Han Family's Blood-Coagulation Pill and the Luo Family's Blood-Nourishing Pill are both refined from first-rank Treasure Fish, but the Ji Family's Jadeblood Pill is genuinely refined from second-rank Treasure Beasts. It is immensely useful even to Hidden Force martial artists!"

"Why can't such a good opportunity fall into my lap?"

"..."

The buzzing discussions rose and fell as countless gazes swept over Shen Xiuhan.

Some were envious.

Some were jealous.

Some were unwilling...

But Shen Xiuhan had no time to care about any of that.

Because his mind was now filled with information about Cloud Ripple Island.

He had previously learned its approximate location from Shen Sanhuai.

The distance...

Shen Xiuhan's gaze shifted slightly as he turned to look southwest.

A pale golden point of light was radiating a brilliant halo several dozen li away.

That was right!

Cloud Ripple Island was extremely close to where the Sea-Fishing Tower's true disciple was located.

Sailing there from Cloud Ripple Island might not even take two quarters of an hour...

What was there left to weigh?

The Ji Family, then!

Leaving aside the fact that the Ji Family had offered the most generous terms, he had to make the trip for the Sea-Fishing Tower inheritance alone!

The fact that Cloudwater Lake held water bandits, and that man-eating aquatic monsters lurked in its depths, was no secret.

If he rowed over alone, the risk would be far too great.

But if he put on the identity of the Ji Family's "island inspector," he could patrol openly and use the opportunity to approach that inheritance.

It was more than ten times safer than going alone.

Shen Xiuhan drew a deep breath and was just about to speak.

"Brother Shen, you are young. You do not know how deep the waters of the martial world run."

Beside him, the Luo Family steward suddenly gave a cold laugh, his tone strange and mocking.

"I, Luo, kindly advise you: if you truly go to Cloud Ripple Island, I fear you will go and never return!"

Before anyone could react, he deliberately raised his voice, a sneer hanging at the corner of his lips.

"Among Longcloud County's younger generation, there were originally five great geniuses known side by side. But do you know why only four remain now?"

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere throughout the courtyard abruptly froze!

Under the covered corridor, the Ji Family steward who had been stroking his beard with a smile underwent a drastic change of expression.

"Luo Zhan! You old dog, how dare you!"

The Luo Family steward called Luo Zhan was utterly unafraid. Instead, he threw back his head and laughed wildly.

"What is there to fear?"

"I insist on saying it today!"

"That fifth genius was sent to Cloud Ripple Island by the Ji Family, only to be captured alive by Blood Ascetic of Sunken Sword Dock and have his head chopped off in public!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"