May Every Hurdle That Troubles You Be Overcome

After steadying his breath, Guan Zhou asked, "Jiang Jiang, did Sky Patrol provide the portraits?"

The man beside Jiang Jiang stepped forward, pulled a stack of papers from his robes, and said, "The portraits are here."

Guan Zhou took the papers and carefully flipped through the portraits one by one.

After a long while, he handed them to Jiang Jiang. "Sky Patrol gave us leads, which means they want us to apprehend the murderer ourselves. I'm leaving this matter to you and Chen Hao."

Jiang Jiang took the portraits, looking thoroughly unwilling. "That kind of scum is dead, so he's dead. Do we really need to hunt down the killer?"

Guan Zhou glared at Jiang Jiang, just about to speak.

"Our County Guard represents the imperial family's honor, oversees the Martial Artists of a region, and protects the common people of the Yan Kingdom from being bullied." Jiang Jiang paused, then continued, "Do you want me to keep reciting it?"

Guan Zhou said helplessly, "I can't control what others do. If a County Guard commits crimes and oppresses the people, they can report it. If the accusations prove true, I will deal with it myself."

Holding the portraits, Jiang Jiang turned and waved a hand. "Deal with it yourself? Then before I return from hunting the killer, I hope you'll clear out all the vermin in Hua'an County's County Guard, Commander."

Chen Hao watched Jiang Jiang leave, then said to Guan Zhou, "Commander, I used to rather like what you said—that our County Guard represents the imperial family's honor. But now, for some reason, hearing it makes me sick."

The words had barely left his mouth.

"Bleurgh—bleurgh!"

Chen Hao wiped his mouth and hurried after Jiang Jiang, who had already gone some distance.

Only Guan Zhou and Fang Shan remained in the courtyard, along with a viscous, sour-smelling pile of filth that made one want to vomit.

Guan Zhou glanced at the filth, then turned to Fang Shan, who stood to one side, and snapped, "Want something to eat to settle your stomach too? Get back and collect your lashes."

Watching Fang Shan flee as if running for his life, Guan Zhou rubbed his brow and muttered, "Not one of those four little brats gives me any peace of mind."

Hua'an County, County Guard camp, Reserve County Guard grounds.

Jiang Jiang and Chen Hao stood atop the training platform, with several baskets of portrait sheets at their feet.

Jiang Jiang addressed the Martial Artists below. "Every county in the Yan Kingdom has three hundred and sixty County Guards, and the Reserve County Guard likewise has three hundred and sixty. If one position opens up, one person fills it. Now, your chance has come. Two of you, come up and distribute these portraits."

A quarter of an hour later.

Jiang Jiang looked at the excited crowd below.

Her willow brows rose as she said, "I'm sending you to bring people in, not to kill them. Understand?"

"Captain Jiang, what if they refuse to come back and resist?"

"Yeah, yeah! Can we cripple them and bring them back?"

"Inviting people over? Never done that job before."

Listening to the clamor below, Chen Hao roared, "Silence!"

In an instant, all three hundred and sixty Reserve County Guards fell silent.

Jiang Jiang looked over the crowd and said slowly, "If they refuse to cooperate, imperial authority grants you permission to execute them on the spot. Do I need to say more?"

The crowd below immediately became boisterous again.

Chen Hao sternly reprimanded them, "Remember, your lives are your own. If you want to keep the reward for yourselves, make sure you can stomach it. And remember: the five people who did not take the official road—if you find any trace of them, immediately fire a Heavenly Fire signal. You'll be credited with one Ninth Grade merit."

At those words, the crowd below grew even more restless.

After all, some of them were only one merit away from shedding the word "Reserve."

After that, they only needed to challenge a County Guard of their choice. The winner took the position, while the loser became a reserve and had to start from scratch.

Looking at the agitated crowd.

Jiang Jiang said, "Move out!"

Before long, only Jiang Jiang and Chen Hao remained in the entire grounds.

Jiang Jiang looked at the five portraits in her hands and asked, "Which of these five do you think is the most likely?"

Chen Hao did not hesitate. "The young one."

Jiang Jiang pulled out the portrait of the young man.

The person in the portrait was Zhou Ming.

The upper half of the paper depicted him leading a horse as he entered the city, dressed in rags and filthy from head to toe.

The lower half showed him drinking at the Joyful Arrival Inn.

Looking at the portrait, Jiang Jiang asked, "Your reason?"

"Young, easily angered by injustice, prone to rage, prone to acting on impulse." After a slight pause, Chen Hao continued, "And he has a sense of justice."

Jiang Jiang rolled her eyes. "Are you describing yourself?"

Chen Hao merely smiled without answering.

Looking at the direction Zhou Ming had taken out of the city, Jiang Jiang smiled. "Then let's see whether your judgment is accurate."

The moment the two left the Reserve County Guard grounds, they saw Fang Yang walking past them, rubbing his big belly.

"Among Hua'an County's three hundred and sixty County Guards, aside from the commander, only you two are somewhat interesting. But if you approach this like a game, be careful you don't get yourselves killed."

Jiang Jiang frowned slightly. "Dead fatso, what do you mean?"

Fang Yang did not look back. Rubbing his round belly, he headed toward the County Guard camp.

Chen Hao's smile vanished, and his expression turned solemn. "Fang Yang is right. Our mindset really is a problem. Li Zhao may be useless, but Sun San'er is an Eighth Rank."

Jiang Jiang said disdainfully, "Oh? An Eighth Rank with Silver Skin and Iron Bone? Even if I suppress myself to Ninth Grade Jade Skin, I could smash him with one hand."

Hearing that, Chen Hao shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "Fine, you're strong. But we still need to take this operation seriously."

Before long, the two rode to the city gates.

Seeing the flatbreads displayed at a stall, Jiang Jiang took six copper coins from her waist and smiled. "Sister Wang, three flatbreads, please."

"Coming right up. Girl, take the flatbreads to your Sister Jiang Jiang."

The woman called Sister-in-law Wang handed the wrapped flatbreads to the little girl beside her.

Holding the flatbreads, the little girl walked over to Jiang Jiang. With her head lowered, she held them up high.

Jiang Jiang bent down to take them, placing the copper coins in the girl's hand as she rubbed her soft hair. "You've grown up and become distant. You don't even call me Sister anymore."

The little girl turned and ran back to the flatbread stall, hiding herself away.

Hearing that, Sister-in-law Wang paused while spreading the dough, then looked up with a smile. "That's true. Children get a little shy as they grow older."

Jiang Jiang smiled. "It's fine. I'll come by more often and spend time with her."

Sister-in-law Wang spread out the meat-filled dough in her hands and said calmly, "Mm. Come whenever you have time."

As he listened to their conversation, Chen Hao sat on horseback and looked at Sister-in-law Wang, an indescribable glint rising in his eyes.

Jiang Jiang tucked the flatbreads into her robes and said, "Sister Wang, I'll be going now. I have important business to attend to. When I come back, I'll play with the little girl."

With that, Jiang Jiang mounted her horse and rode out of the city.

Chen Hao withdrew his gaze from Sister-in-law Wang and quickly chased after Jiang Jiang.

Watching the two leave, Sister-in-law Wang let out a breath, then pulled up the little girl who had been crouching beneath the stall.

Sister-in-law Wang wiped the tears from the girl's face and whispered, "Girl, there are good people and bad people. County Guards are people too, so naturally there are bad ones among them. But your Sister Jiang Jiang isn't a bad person, understand?"

The little girl's body trembled slightly. "Mother, I know, but I'm just scared."

Sister-in-law Wang hugged the girl and patted her back, choking up as she said, "It's all right. It's over now. Don't be afraid, girl."

Liu Xiaoling, who had been sitting beside the flatbread stall drinking plain congee, only dared lift her head after the sound of hoofbeats had faded into the distance.

When she looked up, she saw the mother and daughter embracing and crying.

She immediately cursed, "Cry, cry, cry. All you know how to do is cry. What use is crying? Starting tomorrow, train in martial arts with me."

Hearing the voice behind her, Sister-in-law Wang wiped her face and hurriedly pulled the little girl over to the graceful figure.

"Girl, kneel down and kowtow."

Liu Xiaoling caught the little girl before she could kneel. "From now on, Hanzhi is my daughter too. Girl, call me Mother."

Hanzhi looked at her own mother.

After seeing her mother nod.

Hanzhi turned to Liu Xiaoling and called clearly, "Mother."

Liu Xiaoling's eyes reddened. "Good child."

Sister-in-law Wang looked at Liu Xiaoling.

She knew that this woman before her, younger than herself, was also someone fated to suffer.

Otherwise, what young woman would take in a daughter? Wouldn't word getting out ruin her reputation?

Liu Xiaoling picked up Hanzhi and looked at Sister-in-law Wang, whose face was streaked with tears. Her voice grew slightly hoarse. "Sister, it's all in the past now."

Sister-in-law Wang wiped away the tears from her eyes and turned toward the city gates.

"I hope our benefactor is safe and well."

Liu Xiaoling recalled Zhou Ming's face and murmured, "May every hurdle that troubles you be overcome."