In the end, Jiang Beiran was forced to listen to the Youth Leader finish his story. The heart of it was nothing more than selling misery: he too had once dreamed of becoming a great hero, but in the end, reality had ground down all his edges. He began running about for a living, and before he knew it... he had become what he was now.
But Jiang Beiran felt nothing after hearing it. The Youth Leader's tale of woe was not even as moving as the contestants' sob stories he had heard on talent shows before transmigrating. There was simply no tearjerker in it.
Yet just as Jiang Beiran was bored enough to yawn, a muffled sob suddenly came from beside him.
Turning his head, he saw that Fang Qiuyue was already weeping bitter tears, crying even more miserably than those children.
[Option One: Hand your handkerchief to Fang Qiuyue. Completion Reward: Falling Star Demon Dissection (Earth Grade Middle Rank)] [Option Two: Comfort Fang Qiuyue softly. Completion Reward: Hundred Strings Imperial Curse (Mysterious Grade High Rank)] [Option Three: "Only fools and idiots would believe a story like that. Which one are you?" Completion Reward: Random Basic Skill Points +1]
Decisively choosing the third option, which suited his heart best, Jiang Beiran flicked Fang Qiuyue's Straw Hat and said, "Only fools and idiots would believe a story like that. Which one are you?"
[Option task completed. Reward: Calligraphy +1]
"I..." Fang Qiuyue wiped away her tears, thought for a while, then replied, "What's the difference between those two choices?"
"There is. Idiot sounds a little nicer."
"You! Hmph!" Fang Qiuyue turned her head away, and the sorrow that had just welled up in her instantly vanished by more than half.
At this moment, the Youth Leader shouted indignantly, "I wasn't lying! I really had no choice but to take this path. If I were given another chance, I would definitely be a good man."
"Mm. Save those words for them." Jiang Beiran pointed behind him as he spoke.
Following Jiang Beiran's gesture and turning around, the Youth Leader saw a group of Constables running swiftly toward them.
"Before I go, let me offer you a word of advice. Shura Chamber isn't someone you can afford to provoke."
"Oh." Jiang Beiran nodded at him.
"Hahaha, I truly can't see through you. Yet strangely enough, I don't dislike you all that much. Returning Heart Sect's Wang Lao Wu, we'll meet again!"
The moment the Youth Leader finished speaking, several dozen Constables had already arrived before him.
"Head Constable Lin, these are the Thieves." Liu Zijin pointed at the group of bound Thieves on the ground.
The young man in white cloth robes first clasped his hands toward Liu Zijin. Then he turned, took out the bronze waist token representing his identity as a Constable, and displayed it to everyone. Finally, he pulled out an arrest warrant, shook it before the Youth Leader, and said, "See this clearly? We are acting under orders to apprehend you. Take them all away!"
"Yes!"
With the procedure complete, the Constables stepped forward, each grabbing one person and dragging all the Thieves to their feet.
After counting the children present once more, Head Constable Lin clasped his hands toward Liu Zijin again. "The Returning Heart Sect truly lives up to its reputation. We have been hunting these Thieves for a long time, but had received no word of them. Now they have finally been brought to justice, and it is all thanks to Miss Liu."
"Head Constable Lin, you praise us too highly. The person you should thank for this is..." Liu Zijin turned around after speaking, only to find that her Senior Brother had vanished.
Seeing the bewilderment in Liu Zijin's eyes, Fang Qiuyue also realized something was wrong.
Hm? Where did my huge Senior Brother go? He was clearly standing right here a moment ago.
Realizing that her Senior Brother probably did not wish to show himself, Liu Zijin changed her wording. "My Junior Sisters. They are the main contributors to capturing these Thieves."
"Hahaha, everyone deserves thanks, everyone does. But we must hurry back and report in now. If we are late, the Scholar-Official will say we neglected our duties again."
After answering, "All right," the five junior sisters followed Head Constable Lin as he escorted the Thieves toward Zebei Town.
Everything that followed proceeded as naturally as water flowing downhill: they arrived at the yamen, finished recording their statements, and collected the reward silver. Liu Zijin and the others had added another tile to the Returning Heart Sect's reputation in this region.
Once all the Thieves had been thrown into the prison cells, Head Constable Lin jogged over to Liu Zijin and said, "This time, you have rid Gather Wealth Village of a great scourge and lightened our burden as well. To show our gratitude, we have prepared a table at Green Peak Inn for the heroines of the Returning Heart Sect. We hope you will honor us with your presence."
Just as Liu Zijin was about to agree, Fang Qiuyue stepped forward and clasped her hands. "My apologies, Head Constable Lin. The sect set a time limit when we left, and only half a day remains. So we will not partake of this wine. If fate allows, we shall meet again someday."
With that, she directly pulled Liu Zijin away from the yamen entrance.
Before he even had the chance to stop them, Head Constable Lin could only watch helplessly as the five female cultivators of the Returning Heart Sect vanished from before him in an instant.
"Huh!? Why did they just leave?" A Constable behind Head Constable Lin came forward and said.
"Yeah, they left way too fast. I didn't even get to see their full faces."
"Exactly. What a pity. Though they covered half their faces, just those eyes... tsk, tsk. I'd wager a month's drinking money that even Qin Wanwan from Heaven Rain Pavilion isn't as dazzling as they are."
"Yeah, those figures, one better than the next... truly..."
"Enough!" Head Constable Lin shouted. "Every last one of you is acting like street thugs. Is it any wonder you scared them off? Go run laps in the back courtyard, all of you!"
"Yes..." The Constables immediately answered.
After the Constables lined up and returned to the yamen, Head Constable Lin finally let out a regretful sigh. The moment he had first seen Liu Zijin yesterday, he had been struck as though by lightning, and from half her face alone, he had determined that she was absolutely the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life.
Later, while handling the case, he had tried his best to display his finest spirit and leave her with a good impression. But alas... just as he was preparing to make his move, she had run away.
"Alas..." Sighing again, Head Constable Lin walked back into the yamen as well, wishing only that he might see Miss Liu once more in his dreams.
By now, Liu Zijin had been dragged by Fang Qiuyue through two streets. Full of confusion, she asked, "Qiu Yao, why are you in such a hurry? I still wanted to ask Head Constable Lin and the others how they usually handle cases, so we would know how to deal with such matters in the future."
"Sister Zi Jin, don't blame me. Senior Brother told me to do this."
"Jiang Shixiong?" Liu Zijin asked in confusion. "Has he returned?"
"I've been behind you all this time." Jiang Beiran's voice suddenly rang out, startling Liu Zijin.
"Let me teach you one more thing. Other than the case itself, do not get too entangled with Constables. They are not much better than those Thieves."
"Huh?" Liu Zijin was stunned upon hearing this. In her mind, Constables were noble figures who punished the strong, aided the weak, and protected the common people. How could they be the same as Thieves?
Looking at the five little faces filled with astonishment, Jiang Beiran continued, "You will understand gradually in the future. In any case, just listen to me."
"Yes..." The five junior sisters nodded together. Though they still did not understand how Constables could be like thieves, they chose to trust their senior brother.
After leaving the town, Jiang Beiran unfolded the map and took a look. "We won't stay at an inn today. We'll make camp outside. This will also be a form of training for you."
"Yes." The five junior sisters had no objections.
Before you continue