Caught in the martial world

"Twin Snakes Seize the Pearl!"

The instant Lu Mian slid clear, both his arms shot out like lightning, each striking a man's temple.

Their vision went black, and they collapsed unconscious on the spot.

The other men from the Agriculture Office had only just missed their attacks.

The Wild Ox Fist was highly destructive, but it sacrificed some flexibility.

Whoosh!

Lu Mian was already behind them. As they turned, he unleashed a flurry of palm strikes!

Bam, bam, bam, boom!!!

Each strike carried tremendous force, sending four men flying straight off the platform.

"Bull Horns!"

One man roared as he turned, snapping his right elbow up toward Lu Mian's chin.

If that blow landed cleanly, it would shatter Lu Mian's entire jaw.

"Subduing the Waves, Calming the Sea."

Lu Mian opened his right hand and slammed it down, colliding squarely with the man's elbow!

There was a sharp crack.

Lu Mian broke his entire arm outright. The man lost his balance and crashed onto the platform, howling in pain.

Whoosh!

Just then, a powerful punch came hurtling in from the left.

Lu Mian merely tilted his head aside. As he dodged, his left leg lashed out like a great snake rearing up.

Another figure went flying off the platform.

Now, only the dark-skinned burly man remained from the Agriculture Office.

He stared at Lu Mian, his legs trembling, not daring to attack.

Clearly, Lu Mian had frightened him out of his wits.

How could this corpse collector be such a monster?!

"Do you still want to fight?"

Lu Mian asked calmly.

"I..." The dark-skinned man hesitated.

Whoosh!

Lu Mian darted in front of him and drove a palm into his chest.

Splurt!

The dark-skinned man spat blood and flew backward.

"Quit dithering."

Lu Mian shook his head.

He was the only person left on the vast fifth platform.

Mo Dashan and Pang Hai looked astonished at the sight.

"This kid's Tortoise-Snake Fist is pretty impressive."

Mo Dashan stroked the beard on his chin.

"Hmm... he made me eat my words, too."

"Heh."

Pang Hai chuckled.

The winners on the other platforms emerged one after another.

Aside from Lu Mian, the two people Pang Hai had paid particular attention to earlier also won on the ninth and tenth platforms.

"Congratulations. Each of you will receive ten Qi-Nourishing Pills."

"Your rewards will be distributed when you formally register with the Guard Hall."

"For now, we'll record your names and issue your Demon-Sealing Jade Tokens. Then you can go back and pack your things. Report here tomorrow morning."

Pang Hai smiled.

Most of the ten final winners could no longer contain their joy at these words and cheered.

Lu Mian also smiled faintly.

Joining the Guard Hall was a good thing, after all.

Before long,

members of the Guard Hall came over to record the names and details of everyone who had passed the assessment.

Lu Mian also received a specially made jade token, fiery red all over. Wearing it could ward off evil and misfortune.

Once this was done, the Guard Hall's gates opened again.

Everyone headed back one after another.

Some were happy, while others were miserable.

Those who had failed wore expressions of regret, their heads hanging.

Those who had passed were beaming with excitement.

Only Lu Mian acted as though nothing had happened. He hurried along and soon reached the outer city's gate.

The official stationed at the gate saw Lu Mian and said flatly, "Hurry up and take back your token."

"No need."

"Consider it a gift."

Lu Mian shook his head.

"You corpse collector, you don't know the first thing about the ru-"

The official was about to scold Lu Mian, but suddenly fell silent.

He had seen Lu Mian take out a crimson jade token.

Naturally, he recognized it as the Demon-Suppressing Order Token unique to the Guard Hall.

Seeing his embarrassment, Lu Mian smiled faintly, turned, and left.

"Even a corpse collector can pass the assessment..."

"How strange."

The official scratched his head as he watched Lu Mian leave, still unable to believe it.

Lu Mian returned to his stone house in the Refugee District and began packing.

Half an hour later,

"Lu Mian, are you there?"

Chen Xiuzhu's voice came from outside.

"Captain, come in."

"The door isn't locked."

Besides packing, Lu Mian had been waiting for Chen Xiuzhu to come.

Creak~

Chen Xiuzhu pushed the door open and entered.

"Lu Mian."

"Congratulations on joining the Guard Hall, and as one of the top ten, no less."

Chen Xiuzhu's pale face was full of smiles, without its usual coldness and numbness.

To him, Lu Mian's entry into the Guard Hall meant another step toward revenge.

"Captain Chen, you're certainly well informed."

"I haven't even told you, and you already know."

Lu Mian smiled.

"You really made a name for yourself in this assessment."

"After all, you were the only corpse collector to participate, and you even made the top ten."

"It would've been hard not to hear about it."

Chen Xiuzhu chuckled.

"I have to report to the Guard Hall tomorrow."

"If anything comes up, you'll have to send someone into the outer city with a message for me."

"Or wait until I'm patrolling the Shed Quarantine Zone."

Lu Mian's expression grew serious.

"All right."

"You should be careful, too."

"The Dust-Returning Courtyard may be dangerous, but its people and affairs are relatively straightforward."

"The Guard Hall is different. All sorts of old and new powers are deeply entrenched there, forming cliques and factions. It's very complicated."

Chen Xiuzhu cautioned him.

The Guard Hall was the most important organization among the Middle Three Halls.

"As a newcomer, I'll naturally keep my head down and train."

"I'm not interested in their internal factional struggles."

Lu Mian shook his head.

"Once you're caught in the martial world, you don't always have a choice."

"But I believe you're capable of handling whatever comes your way."

Chen Xiuzhu smiled.

"Cough, cough..."

Suddenly, Chen Xiuzhu broke into a violent fit of coughing.

"Captain, are you sick?"

Lu Mian asked in surprise.

Chen Xiuzhu had at least mastered the basics of the Tortoise-Snake Fist. He should not have fallen ill so easily.

"I may have picked up a trace of sickness energy when I encountered that Sickness-Death Wraith last time. Even though I drank the talisman water, it still left a lingering illness."

"It's nothing serious. I'm already taking medicine."

Chen Xiuzhu waved it off.

"All right."

"Take good care of yourself."

Lu Mian nodded slightly.

In this world, Chen Xiuzhu was the only person left he could really talk to.

"I haven't taken my revenge yet. I'm not ready to die."

Chen Xiuzhu said gravely.

"Hmm..."

"Captain, there's another favor I'd like to ask."

"Please keep an eye out for a few people."

Lu Mian gave him the names of his close family members and described their appearances.

The original owner of his body had become separated from his family on the road long ago.

He had no idea whether they were dead or alive.

If they were still alive and happened to have fled to Thousand Chimes Commandery City as he had, they would probably be staying in the Shed District or the Refugee District.

That was why he wanted Chen Xiuzhu to keep an eye out for them.

The chances were slim, but perhaps a miracle really would happen.

"No problem."

"I'll keep an eye out for you."

"Just don't get your hopes up too high..."

Chen Xiuzhu agreed without hesitation.

With wraiths running rampant and demons preying on people, becoming separated from one's family on the road was commonplace.

Yet very few ever reunited.

"All I can do is hope they're safe."

Lu Mian said slowly.

"I'll be off, then."

Chen Xiuzhu rose and left.

Lu Mian went back to packing.