Position of Constable!

Dawn broke.

Yang Xiao spat out a breath of stale air, walked out to the courtyard to wash up, and changed into a clean set of robes.

After a moment's thought, he hung his Spring Embroidery Saber at his waist and headed out toward the County Yamen.

Today was the day he would officially be promoted to constable, so he needed to mind his appearance somewhat.

After a night of cultivation, he had already firmly consolidated his foundation at the Ninth Layer of Body Forging.

Even so, he was still some distance away from perfection, and figures that eating another two Body Tempering Pills would just about do it.

By then, he would be able to make a single thrusting charge into the Qi Gathering Realm.

Several yamen runners were already waiting outside the main gates of the County Yamen.

Upon seeing Yang Xiao, they nodded and greeted him one after another, their eyes filled with awe as they had consciously changed their forms of address.

"Constable Yang has arrived!"

"Morning, Constable Yang!"

Yang Xiao nodded slightly and walked into the County Yamen.

Zhang Hu was standing by the entrance waiting. Seeing Yang Xiao, a smile appeared on his face. "You're here? Follow me, the magistrate wants to see you."

Yang Xiao paused and stepped inside.

In the main hall, the magistrate sat properly behind the desk, earnestly annotating several booklets laid out before him.

He was around forty or fifty years of age, with a lean face and a pair of piercing, bright eyes.

Yang Xiao stepped forward and bowed in salute.

"This subordinate Yang Xiao pays respects to Your Honor the Magistrate."

Magistrate Zhang Yue raised his head, his gaze falling upon the Spring Embroidery Saber at Yang Xiao's waist as a trace of reminiscence flashed across his eyes.

"Yang Xiao, I've heard all about your performance these past few days."

Magistrate Zhang Yue stood up, walked down from the desk, and came before Yang Xiao.

"Back then, when I had you follow your father's trade to become a yamen runner, many people did not think highly of you."

Magistrate Zhang Yue looked up and down at Yang Xiao's appearance, as if comparing him to a certain figure in his memory.

"Now it seems I didn't misjudge my man, and you are even more exceptional than your father."

He nodded in satisfaction, turned, and retrieved a token he had prepared long ago from the desk, handing it to Yang Xiao.

"This is the Constable Token. From today onward, you are the Fourth Constable of the Xiangyun County Yamen."

Yang Xiao accepted the token, seeing that the character "Constable" was carved upon the front, while his name was engraved on the back.

"Thank you, Your Honor the Magistrate."

The magistrate nodded, signaling that he could take his leave.

Yang Xiao turned and stepped out of the main hall, where Zhang Hu was waiting outside.

"Congratulations, you should be called Constable Yang now."

Zhang Hu patted Yang Xiao's shoulder with a smile on his face.

"From today onward, apart from myself, Li Tie, and Wang Dagui, you hold the highest rank in the yamen."

Yang Xiao smiled. "Many thanks for looking out for me, Constable Zhang."

"Don't thank me, I've seen your performance with my own eyes, and this is what you deserve."

Zhang Hu waved his hand. He paused, his expression turning serious.

"However, there is one matter I need to brief you on. Wang Dagui's severe injuries have yet to heal, and he still requires a period of recuperation."

"Over at Wang Village, although the dog demons have already been exterminated by you, someone still needs to patrol the place to prevent any other demons from emerging. Therefore, I intend to send you to station yourself at Wang Village for a period of time."

Yang Xiao was noncommittal. "No problem."

"I have arranged four yamen runners for you. They will follow your orders and assist you in patrolling Wang Village."

"Good."

Zhang Hu looked at Yang Xiao, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. "There is one more thing I need to coordinate with you on."

He lowered his voice, his expression grave.

"Those dog demons actually have a ringleader."

Yang Xiao furrowed his brow. "A ringleader?"

"That Ninth Layer of Body Forging dog demon you slew was extraordinary, indeed, but the true boss among the Wang Village dog demons is an old dog in the Qi Gathering Realm that is about to reach the end of its natural lifespan."

"According to prior intelligence, that old dog has lived for over a hundred years, and its life is about to run out."

"If it dies, that pack of dog demons would lose their master and thus run amok everywhere."

"But if it is still alive..."

Zhang Hu looked at Yang Xiao, his eyes filled with worry.

"That pack of dog demons may have received certain orders to slaughter the village, and the commotion at Wang Village will inevitably draw the attention of that old dog!"

"A Qi Gathering Realm demon far exceeds a Body Forging Realm one in strength. Even if Li Tie and I joined forces, we might not necessarily be able to deal with it."

Yang Xiao fell silent for a moment.

A Qi Gathering Realm demon... The opponent might possess some sinister methods.

Although he was already at the Ninth Layer of Body Forging, he still dared not be careless in the face of a Qi Gathering Realm demon that had lived for hundreds of years.

"Constable Zhang, where is that old dog?"

"Unknown." Zhang Hu shook his head. "I haven't crossed paths with that old dog for many years. In short, you must be careful."

He patted Yang Xiao's shoulder. "When patrolling Wang Village, pay close attention to the situation."

"If you discover any anomalies, return and report immediately. Do not push yourself blindly."

Yang Xiao's gaze turned solemn as he felt a couple of layers of pressure. "I understand."

"I hope that old dog is already dead." Zhang Hu sighed. "Otherwise... Xiangyun County is going to face a massive disaster."

He reined in his thoughts and looked at Yang Xiao. "All right, go meet those four yamen runners first, and then prepare to set off."

Yang Xiao nodded and turned away.

Just as he returned to the entrance of the duty room, a lean-built middle-aged man blocked his path.

His constable uniform had been washed to a faded white, there was a faint smell of blood about him, and a lingering old scar crossed his brow bone. His eye sockets were slightly sunken, as if he hadn't rested properly in a very long time.

Li Tie stood by the door pillar, sizing up Yang Xiao, the corners of his mouth twitching upward into a slight smile.

"Constable Yang, congratulations."

"Constable Li."

Yang Xiao nodded slightly, silently sizing up this Second Constable whom he was meeting for the first time.

Whether it was his imagination or not, the other party seemed to harbor a trace of hostility.

Li Tie's gaze fell upon the Spring Embroidery Saber at Yang Xiao's waist, and he smiled.

"I heard you've been quite glorious these past few days, slaying demons left and right and even becoming a constable. I can hardly recognize you anymore."

He paused, a sharp glint flashing across his eyes. "How about... let me see what your true strength is actually like?"

The moment his voice fell, Li Tie suddenly struck!

His right hand shot out, transforming into an eagle claw that drove straight for Yang Xiao's shoulder with extreme speed!

Yang Xiao's eyes congealed, his figure shifting slightly as his Astonishing Swan Steps unfolded, instantly dodging three feet away.

Bang—

Li Tie's palm struck the spot where Yang Xiao had just been standing, and a muffled sound echoed through the air.

"Good movement technique."

A trace of surprise flashed in Li Tie's eyes before he struck again.

This time, he grabbed directly toward Yang Xiao's waist, his target precisely that Spring Embroidery Saber!

He wanted to snatch his saber?

Yang Xiao's gaze turned cold as his right hand flipped, and the Spring Embroidery Saber flashed out of its scabbard.

A blade flash flickered, and a cold gleam swept across.

Swish—

Li Tie's palm was forced back by the edge of the blade, leaving him no choice but to withdraw it.

Yang Xiao sheathed his saber and said indifferently, "Was Constable Li testing me just now?"

Li Tie fell silent.

He had originally wanted to test Yang Xiao's strength to see if he truly possessed the qualifications to be a constable.

Yet he never expected... that Yang Xiao was already at the Ninth Layer of Body Forging!

He absolutely did not believe that someone could cultivate at such a fast speed; it could only be said that this brat had concealed himself deeply enough beforehand!