The Embroidered Uniform Guard stood north of the Imperial City, comprising thirty-six halls with overhanging gabled roofs.
A grayish-red wall with pointed ridges encircled the halls. From outside, only shadowy black banners could dimly be seen, lending the place an air of mystery without diminishing its imposing grandeur.
Hundred-Household Officer Ge led Jia Huan through a winding route to a narrow, quiet office.
Three people were inside.
"Jia Huan comes from the Rongguo Duke's Residence. He is upright and resolute, with excellent character. Young as he is, his heart burns with devotion to his country. Given time, he will surely root out traitors and protect the weak, upholding the might of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"
"He Liang, you happen to have a vacancy under your command. What do you think of him?"
Hundred-Household Officer Ge looked at a scar-faced man with a mild expression.
Each Small Banner commanded three Strongmen, and Small Banner He was one man short.
He Liang twitched the corners of his mouth. This was a consultation in name, but an order in truth.
He dared not disobey. "One look tells me he is bold and brave, fit to shoulder great responsibilities!"
"He is yours to train." Hundred-Household Officer Ge nodded, then took Jia Huan away to complete the paperwork.
Half an hour later, Jia Huan returned to the office holding his Identification Plaque.
Dressed in a Flying Fish Uniform, with an Embroidered Spring Saber at his waist and Skyward Boots on his feet, he was now a bona fide hound of the imperial court.
"Sir He." Jia Huan cupped his fists.
He Liang was neither warm nor cold toward him. He had always disliked spoiled sons of noble families.
"We have an assignment. Do as you please."
With that, he strode out of the office, his other two subordinates following close behind.
"I am one of your men too, Sir He!" Jia Huan immediately followed.
He had joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard not to swagger around flaunting his power, but to arrest criminals and grow stronger. He could not let an opportunity slip past.
In the Capital, four riders raced through the rain, splashing muddy water across the ground.
When they reached Bright Moon Ward, He Liang bellowed at both sides of the street:
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is on official business! Bystanders, clear the way! Obstruct us and die!"
The commoners scattered like startled birds and beasts. The riders picked up speed along the cleared street, then sharply reined in outside a small teahouse.
The attendant looked alarmed and edged cautiously toward the back room.
"Trying to run? I've had my eye on you for three days!" He Liang leaped off his horse and caught up in a few swift strides.
Thump!
He cornered the attendant against the wall and kicked him viciously more than a dozen times, leaving him howling on the floor.
He Liang drew his Embroidered Spring Saber and laid it across the attendant's neck, his voice chilling:
"Speak! Are you the rapist who has been defiling respectable women?"
"I've been falsely accused, sir!" the attendant protested.
He Liang flew into a rage.
He pressed down on the hilt, and blood immediately seeped out.
"I am! I am!" Hurt and terrified of dying, the attendant hurriedly confessed.
"How many have you violated?"
"Seven... seven."
He Liang sheathed his saber, then planted another kick on the attendant's forehead with his mud-caked sole.
"Take him away! Lock him in the Imperial Prison!"
Jia Huan, who had been watching from behind, rushed forward to increase his contribution. He grabbed a stool and brought it down with a series of crashes, while the rapist curled up with his hands over his head.
"You beast, lust has given you the gall to defy heaven!"
Before Jia Huan had beaten him to his satisfaction, his two colleagues stopped him.
This youngster certainly had a fiery temper.
The Embroidery Guard Prison was none other than the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Imperial Prison, notorious throughout the court and beyond.
After delivering the rapist, Jia Huan had not yet left the Imperial Prison when dizziness washed over him. A panel appeared in his mind, complete with a portrait of the rapist.
[Prisoner's sin rank-middle ninth grade] [Contribution-5%] [Reward-Xingyi Fist; fist technique proficiency-consummate mastery] [Experience Points-4/10]
Sin ranks resembled official ranks at court: ninth grade was the lowest and first grade the highest. Above those stood king grade and the supreme level of wickedness filled to overflowing. Each grade was further divided into upper, middle, and lower.
Logically, my contribution should be 25%. This is far too low...
Of course, Jia Huan knew his own limitations. He had contributed nothing throughout the arrest of the rapist, taking no part in the earlier investigation, search for clues, or surveillance. He had merely slipped in for the final kick.
Xingyi Fist can strengthen the body and packs considerable power. It includes twelve animal forms, such as dragon, tiger, bear, monkey, and horse, and I've mastered them all in an instant.
Jia Huan quietly clenched his fists. His strength had probably increased more than tenfold!
But Experience Points were the most important thing. Once they filled up, he could improve his internal strength.
"I'm asking you a question!" He Liang raised his voice.
Jia Huan came back to his senses. "Sir He, your subordinate did not hear you clearly."
He Liang repeated himself:
"Go back to the office first. We still have a murderer to arrest. He's dangerous, so don't come along and hold us back. Life in the Embroidered Uniform Guard isn't as glorious as outsiders claim. We have to do every kind of dirty, exhausting work!"
Hearing this, Jia Huan answered with iron resolve:
"To serve the State and Altars, drive out evil, and eliminate harm is a duty I cannot shirk. Wearing this uniform, how could I retreat when trouble comes?"
He Liang frowned. The boy really was reckless and single-minded.
"If anything happens to you, don't blame me for not warning you!"
"Your subordinate understands!" Jia Huan cupped his fists.
A dark alley in Peace Proclamation Ward.
Lewd sounds drifted from a small wooden courtyard house.
This was a low-end whorehouse.
Women without the looks to enter a brothel could only rent courtyard houses and sell themselves there, at prices ordinary people could afford.
He Liang lowered his voice:
"The murderer is hard at work. Listen carefully. You two block the back door. Jia Huan, come in with me and stay close."
"Yes!"
He Liang took the lead, with Jia Huan matching him step for step. Even their faint footfalls were drowned out by the prostitute's shrieks.
The door stood half ajar. Holding his saber across his chest, He Liang gently pushed it open with the hilt.
Clang!
A thread had been strung across the doorway, connected to a wind chime that gave a clear ring.
"Who's there?" came a wary voice from inside.
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is on official business! Surrender at once!"
With their presence exposed, He Liang charged straight in.
Crash!
His saber strike missed. The murderer moved nimbly, jumping off the bed and making straight for the door.
"Watch out!" He Liang shouted urgently, hurrying after him. He could not let anything happen to this noble family's spoiled son.
Before Jia Huan entered the inner room, he saw the murderer barreling toward him. With the man almost upon him, he clenched his five fingers into a fist and drove a savage punch forward.
Thump!
As though a rock had struck him in the chest, the murderer toppled rigidly to the floor, his face pale and his breathing faltering.
"You actually know martial arts?" He Liang asked in surprise. "No wonder you're so bold!"
"Just the bare basics." Jia Huan flexed his wrist. Xingyi Fist was remarkably powerful.
The other two arrived at the noise and saw that several of the murderer's ribs had broken. From that moment, neither looked at Jia Huan with contempt again.
Neither of them could necessarily have withstood that punch.
He Liang walked over to the bedside, checked the murderer's sleeves, and fished out a pouch containing twenty-odd taels of silver.
After dividing it equally among the four of them, he pointed at the disheveled prostitute:
"You deliberately harbored a criminal. Do you admit your crime?!"
The prostitute was so frightened she nearly cried. "I've been falsely accused, sir! I didn't know he was a criminal."
He Liang's face darkened:
"If I say you harbored a criminal, then you harbored a criminal. You lot go back to the Imperial Prison. I'm going to teach her a harsh lesson!"
Jia Huan was speechless. Sir He truly was so hungry he would eat anything.
"Confess truthfully!" one subordinate warned her, then added, "We'll leave first."
Jia Huan did not linger either. He wanted to hurry the murderer into the Imperial Prison and see what rewards he would receive this time.
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