"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is handling a case! All bystanders, get the hell out!"
Inside the brothel, the sultry music cut off abruptly, and singing girls with their clothes half-fastened scattered in panic.
Fathead Fish pinned an old man with handsome sideburns to a table with one hand.
"I'm an assistant county magistrate of junior eighth rank from Taoyuan Commandery in Youzhou! You've arrested the wrong man..."
The old man struggled desperately, crying out that he had been wronged.
Smack!
"If we've come to arrest you, we have the evidence!" Fathead Fish raised his hand and dealt him a heavy slap, snarling:
"You took bribes and twisted the law, sending five innocent people under your jurisdiction to prison on false charges. Did you think coming to the Capital to pull strings would let you escape punishment?"
With his hands behind his back, Jia Huan turned to leave.
"Take him to the Imperial Prison!"
The graceful singing girls watched the young man's retreating figure, their eyes filled with both fear and dreamy fascination. So young, yet so commanding-how wonderful it would be to receive his fierce attentions.
After the old assistant county magistrate was taken to the Imperial Prison, his portrait appeared on the panel in Jia Huan's mind.
[Sin level-middle ninth grade] [Participation-60%] [Reward-Life-Taking Chain Kicks, proficiency-masterful] [Experience Points-425/1000]
Arresting this lawless cur of an official had only earned him twenty-two experience points. As for the kicking technique he had received, Jia Huan could barely be bothered with it anymore.
Since his promotion to General Banner, he could handle cases involving court officials as well as arrest ordinary criminals, though most were small fry below the seventh rank.
Back at Section Geng of the Celestial Pivot Office, Jia Huan ground some ink and took up his brush, carefully recording the moves and diagrams of three martial arts: Xingyi Fist, Iron Sand Palm, and Life-Taking Chain Kicks.
These three arts no longer met his needs. Better to give them to the six brothers under his command, winning their loyalty while improving everyone's fighting strength.
"Come here," Jia Huan called loudly.
The men stopped what they were doing and gathered around. At the sight of the obscure formulas and intricate diagrams on the paper, surprise immediately filled their eyes.
"Are these martial arts?" Fathead Fish's throat tightened, his face brimming with excitement.
Drunkard, Skinny Monkey, and the others were no less stunned, each staring openmouthed with anticipation written across his face.
Jia Huan swept his gaze over them and said sternly:
"Remember, none of this is to be leaked. Otherwise, don't blame me for turning on you. Train hard, all of you."
"Yes, sir!" The six could barely contain their excitement. Scholar, the most emotional among them, already had reddened eyes as he held the Xuan Paper, unwilling to let go.
What tremendous trust it took to give them such a Mystic Martial Art! From this day onward, they must never let their boss down!
Footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Everyone immediately hid the Xuan Paper.
General Banner Qian walked in with his large belly thrust out, his first words being:
"Congratulations, General Banner Jia!"
Jia Huan smiled and said:
"Please sit, General Banner Qian. What happy occasion is this? How come I haven't heard?"
General Banner Qian handed him a gilded Command Token and a sheet of red paper, saying with undisguised envy:
"The Capital's Misty Rain Tower just sent these over."
"Misty Rain Tower?" Scholar exclaimed. "Has the boss made it onto the Martial World Dragon-Tiger Ranking?"
Young talents who entered the Dragon-Tiger Ranking always received a Command Token from the Misty Rain Tower. The mysterious organization enjoyed great prestige in the Jianghu Martial World, with branches throughout the realm.
"Indeed," General Banner Qian said with a nod.
Jia Huan accepted the Command Token. On its back were two large characters written with the soaring flourish of dragons and phoenixes-his name.
A few lines were written on the red paper-
"Jia Huan, aged seventeen, alias Little Butcher. Possesses exceptional talent for martial arts and mastery of various disciplines, with particularly outstanding movement techniques... ranked one hundred and ninety-ninth on the Martial World Dragon-Tiger Ranking!"
"Little Butcher? What have I done to deserve that?" Jia Huan laughed despite himself. Killing a few bald asses hardly merited the name "Butcher of Men"—it practically insulted the term. Throughout history, those called butchers had buried hundreds of thousands alive at a stroke.
From now on, the nickname Little Butcher would follow him wherever he went in the Jianghu. Wouldn't that make him a laughingstock?
General Banner Qian thought nothing of it and chuckled:
"I heard it's because General Banner Jia kills without a flicker of expression, as calmly as cutting grass or plucking flowers. That's how you earned the name Little Butcher."
"Just take Jianghu nicknames as a joke. Among the top names on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking, there's even a treasonous fellow called 'Nine Cauldrons Supreme,' and arrogant ones called 'Killer God of Antiquity' and 'World-Burier.' Which of them isn't swaggering around? It's a nickname-the more imposing, the better."
After offering a couple more flattering remarks, he excused himself on the pretext of other business.
"Second from last." Though Jia Huan cared little for empty fame, occupying a seat at the bottom still left him somewhat uncomfortable.
"Boss, the Dragon-Tiger Ranking only has two hundred spots, but it covers young martial artists from across the entire realm. Most of them are between twenty-three and twenty-eight. You're only seventeen, boss. That's already an incredible achievement!"
Skinny Monkey explained from beside him.
"Exactly," Fathead Fish and the others agreed.
"Who cares?" Jia Huan tossed the Command Token into a drawer. This bullshit Dragon-Tiger Ranking had better not interfere with me catching criminals.
Not long after General Banner Qian left, the one-eyed General Banner Zhao also came to congratulate him. Even Hundred-Household Commander Wang dropped by to offer a few words of praise.
Most members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard practiced martial arts, so they placed great importance on the Martial World Dragon-Tiger Ranking. After all, it listed the realm's finest young martial artists. Having General Banner Jia's name among them was a blessing for the Celestial Pivot Office as well.
After finishing work, Jia Huan passed the Fragrant Food Pavilion on his way home and bought several packets of pastries, then picked out two boxes of rouge along the way.
When he returned to the courtyard, the floor from the threshold to the main room was spotless. Qingwen was busy with a broom, beads of sweat as large as beans dotting her fair face. She muttered something under her breath, occasionally fanning herself.
"Master, you're back."
Caiyun came pattering out of the inner room.
"Here, some pastries. Qingwen, come have some too," Jia Huan called.
Qingwen stood motionless with her broom, but once she caught their fragrance, she abandoned her reserve. After washing her hands, she hurried over too.
"The Capital's most expensive pastries-white jade-frosted walnut crisps and jujube-paste cakes. Fragrant and crisp, soft and chewy."
Jia Huan tried a small bite. They really did taste good.
"They're delicious!" Caiyun gave half of hers to Qingwen.
Qingwen lowered her head and chewed slowly, licking a few crumbs from the corner of her mouth. "They're all right."
"One box each." Jia Huan tossed over the two boxes as well.
As soon as Caiyun opened hers, fragrance spread through the room. Her beautiful eyes widened. "Flower-dew rouge? The one that costs ten taels a box?"
Having lived in the Rongguo Mansion, she had heard of it even if she had never used it.
"Twelve taels. Prices in the Capital have been soaring lately," Jia Huan said as he went into the inner room.
"Thank you, Master!" Overjoyed, Caiyun hurried after him.
Qingwen's gaze grew dazed. A pastry in her left hand and the box clutched in her right, she realized this rouge alone cost an entire year of her wages.
She, too, took small, quick steps into the inner room and saw Caiyun helping Jia Huan out of his Flying Fish Uniform. Having accepted his gifts, Qingwen could hardly refuse to help. She set down the rouge box and silently bent into a half crouch to remove his boots, her posture outlining her full curves.
Looking at her delicate, exquisite face, Jia Huan could not resist reaching out to pinch it gently.
"If you're going to get handsy, then send me away!" Qingwen sprang to her feet, retreated half a step, and glared straight at Jia Huan.
"All right." Jia Huan smiled, making no attempt to scold her.
Qingwen stared at him for a long while before resuming her task. As though venting her temper, she tugged off Jia Huan's silk socks with force, pinched her dainty nose, and murmured:
"That stink could kill someone."
Before you continue