Why do I have so many masters?

The two young martial artists, both in their growth spurt, had managed to devour an entire cartload of sheep offal.

Upon parting, Wang Anfeng found his impression of this decadent young master somewhat improved.

And starting from that day, as dusk neared each evening, he would leave the Wind Character Tower of the Academy and join the ranks of the patrolling martial artists.

With a sword on his back, accompanied by Wu Xiong, Yang Jingming, and others, he patrolled the nearby streets. Under the intense investigation of the infuriated Ministry of Punishment, the clandestine base of Danfeng Valley had been discovered. Yet, they hadn't startled the snake in the grass, and like hunters closing their net, they narrowed the patrol area slowly and calmly.

The latter seemed to have realized their current predicament and struggled unwillingly.

In just a few short days, numerous incidents had occurred in Fufeng City, but the patrolling martial artists quickly suppressed them, preventing any significant disturbances. The lives of the citizens gradually returned to stability, and the slaughter that had happened days ago slowly became a story discussed in hushed tones.

Eastern district.

A martial artist from Danfeng Valley was discovered in a brothel.

After a confrontation with the patrolling martial artists, he was bested, coughed up blood, and fled.

At the hour of Chen.

His tracks were searched, and he was killed on the spot.

August 27th.

Martial law in Fufeng's eastern city.

The Patrol Officers within the city were on alert, their swords drawn from their scabbards, creating an atmosphere of solemn kill-ready vigilance.

At the third quarter of the hour of Shen.

The sky was clear, and autumn reigned everywhere.

A man in grey clothes held a broken sword.

He stepped forward deliberately, entering Fufeng.

.....................

"Arrest Officer Wu, what has happened?"

Wang Anfeng looked at Wu Xiong, whose expression had subtly shifted.

After having received a message from a carrier pigeon, Wu Xiong appeared to be rather distressed. Having walked more than a dozen steps, Wang Anfeng, seeing his increasingly troubled face, couldn't help but ask. Wu Xiong exhaled a breath of stale air upon hearing the question and, looking at Wang Anfeng without offering an explanation, managed a strained smile and said,

"Nothing much, just some trivial matters with the brothers back at the yamen, haha…"

"However, trivial as they may be, they cannot be ignored."

"Young Master Wang, you can go back to the Academy now that the patrol duty is over, we're going to swap with the others."

Wang Anfeng looked at Wu Xiong and slowly nodded his head.

Though he was not yet fifteen years old, he'd had his fair share of experiences. From the subtle changes in the man's expression, he could still detect the hidden shock and fear in the latter's heart. Clearly, he had learned some bad news and, not wishing to involve Wang Anfeng, had made this choice.

That's where the constables parted ways with Wang Anfeng.

Having walked quite a distance and looking back no longer able to see the young man's figure, Yang Jingming spoke up to inquire. It was then that Wu Xiong, with a somber expression, began speaking in a low voice as he walked briskly,

"Xia Changqing has entered the city."

With just that sentence, the faces of those around him changed drastically.

Danfeng Valley, as a major sect of the Evil Faction, although lacking an Upper Third Rank top expert, had more than one Middle Third Rank martial artist. The Valley Master's inner strength was extremely pure and had reached the peak of the Fourth Rank, and with a Shattered Divine Weapon in hand, he could stand against a Third Rank Grandmaster.

Beneath the Valley Master were the four protectors, all Middle Third Rank experts.

Xia Changqing was the second protector, kind in speech but ruthless in action. With his unpredictable nature and meticulous mind, even among the Evil Sect, there were few equals.

Now, when they were about to apprehend the trouble-causing martial artists from Danfeng Valley, this third-ranked figure from Danfeng Valley appeared openly in Fufeng City. From any standpoint, this filled the atmosphere with an oppressive sense of a storm brewing.

A Grandmaster that didn't reveal themselves in Jianghu was already a pinnacle figure; should one go mad in a County City, they could be likened to a calamity as destructive as floods or droughts.

Great Qin's Fufeng had a Grandmaster in residence, and if an ordinary martial artist came here, they would naturally behave themselves.

But the memories of the assassins from a few days ago, who were crazy as if seeking death, had cast a shadow over his confidence. Should Xia Changqing lose his mind, Yu Wenze, the Great General, would certainly kill him, leaving him with no place to be buried, but it was unclear how many people would die at his hands.

Wu Xiong suppressed the unease in his heart, stopped in his tracks, and with a cupped fist salute towards Yang Jingming, he said in a grave voice,

"Brother Yang, thank you for your help during this time."

"The matter that remains is dangerous, and you need not be involved anymore."

Yang Jingming was taken aback upon hearing this and instinctively asked,

"What about you?"

Wu Xiong, gripping his spear with a slightly heavy expression, replied,

"Duty calls."

The three Patrol Officers continued in the direction ordered.

Yang Jingming stood there, wanting to follow, but his feet were unable to move an inch.

.....................…

On the main road of Fufeng County City, there appeared a middle-aged man dressed in grey.

His feet were shod in straw sandals, and in his hand, he held a long sword with a broken blade, walking at an unhurried pace.

His features were extremely handsome, with an innate elegant scholar's temperament. His eyes, gentle as jade, drew the gaze of passersby. It was one thing to look upon a beauty under the light, but in the dusk, as the world bathed in reddish-gold light, such an elegant and handsome man seemed all the more captivating.

Inevitably, young girls became mesmerized by the sight, but he did not take offense. He simply nodded with a smile, earning the favor of those around him.

At that moment, a piercing sound suddenly interrupted the serene atmosphere.

A constable in vermilion clothes drew his long sword from its sheath.

As dusk fell, the setting sun cast a golden glow, bathing the blade in a blood-red light. His eyes fixed on the middle-aged scholar before him, his heart was extremely tense, filled with vigilance.

Danfeng Valley, Xia Changqing.

The middle-aged man nodded and smiled at him, seemingly oblivious to the hostility and caution of the other party.

He continued to walk forward at an unhurried pace.

The constable fell silent for a moment, the frantic pounding in his chest subsiding back to calmness after mere moments of struggle. His hand gripped the Great Qin saber tightly as he followed behind the man.

The order he had received was to investigate and guard the Danfeng Valley stronghold. As a Ninth Grade Martial Artist, in a major case like this, he was supposed to play only a minor role on the sidelines, not overstep his bounds.

But how could he let this man walk alone among the common people?

The constable narrowed his eyes and whispered to himself:

"Patrol Officer's Penal Code, Article One, in the face of special circumstances related to the safety of the populace."

"Everyone below the Chief Arrestor may take the necessary actions."

"Without being held as a crime."

The middle-aged scholar continued to stroll leisurely, enjoying the autumn breeze, while behind him, more than fifty constables and vigilantes had silently appeared. Without a word exchanged between them, they instinctively kept the civilians separated from the scholar.

Under the blood-like setting sun, constables dressed in vermilion and holding sabers surrounded the middle-aged scholar in a tight circle.

Yet the scholar seemed not to notice anything unusual, his demeanor still friendly and affable.

The civilians gradually sensed something amiss and kept their distance from this odd group, only stopping behind to watch this procession move forward. Some of the more astute ones realized this was not right and ran to inform the authorities.

The scholar stopped outside the estimated stronghold of Danfeng Valley.

The constables halted in unison, instinctively gripping their swords, and a sudden, grave tension filled the air.

Wu Xiong, with his weapon in hand, looked at the amiable middle-aged man, his guard raised to the highest level.

His right hand grasped the spear, sweat seeping into his palm, making it slippery.

Before coming here, he had never imagined he would confront this Middle Third Rank expert directly.

He had thought that although duty called, he would prioritize his own safety in times of danger. After all, it was just a job. He was loyal to his duties, but he had never been prepared to die for someone else.

But what he hadn't considered was that upon truly seeing this middle-aged man, his instinctual response was to push the civilians aside and draw his weapon, like a mantis blocking a chariot, standing in front of two angry passersby looking at him.

Nor had he anticipated that he would follow the man all the way here.

Fear still resided in his heart, yet he had no intention to leave, no thought of running away.

At this moment, his uniform felt like it weighed a thousand catties, pressing him down, unwilling to retreat, unyielding, indignant at the idea.

If he retreated, who would step forward?

Duty called.

Wu Xiong's fingers slowly tightened around his weapon, just like his colleagues, an invisible Qi Mechanism seemingly tethering them together, creating an atmosphere as stern and weighted as the Great Qin's iron army.

Xia Changqing looked at the martial artists surrounding him, his expression still serene, with a slight smile. He twirled the long knife in his hand, which was unusually slender and sheathless, casually held so that the blade could touch the ground. With each step, the tip of the knife gently tapped the bluestone street, making a steady sound, as he walked at ease through the thicket of swords, exuding a leisurely air.

Despite the multitude of warriors here, not one dared to make a move. The tapping sound of the blade against the bluestone was like King Yan's drum in the dead of night, sending chills down the spine and making hearts tremor.

Had it not been for duty, it's likely none would have the courage to stand here.

With a creaking sound that made everyone shiver, they were pulled from the eerie atmosphere; the scholar pushed open the wooden gate, revealing the tranquil interior of the courtyard, filled with red maple trees and falling leaves. It was a scene of poetic elegance. With a gentle laugh, he held his knife at an angle and stepped forward.

The red leaves fell.
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Beneath the scene of peaceful tranquility, a palpable murderous intent lurked, causing a shiver to run through everyone's spine.

.....................

Inside the Ministry of Punishment in Fufeng County City.

Zhu Jian'an placed his seal on a piece of correspondence and dispatched it by carrier pigeon. It was the last one, signifying the mobilization of the Ministry of Punishment, with all the higher-ranking experts of legalistic philosophy patrolling around Fufeng County instructed to rush back upon receipt.

He then picked up his saber and strode out.

The Chief Arrestor was not present, and as the Deputy Chief Arrestor, he needed to manage and dispatch forces, which is why he hadn't been present at the scene immediately.

Moreover, Xia Changqing had suddenly appeared outside Fufeng County City without any warning—by the time he received the news, the man had already entered the city, leaving no time to intervene. And because there were so many pedestrians around, he could not take action.

Suppressed rage and murderous intent inside him were growing even more fierce over time.

At the General's Mansion.

Yu Wenze held a powerful bow, slowly drawing it, aiming at a specific location without an arrow nocked, yet wrapped in an invisible, sharp Qi Force.

Without exaggeration, within this city, his bow's power was second to none, comparable to the so-called legitimate heirs of the Taoist Sect with their Flying Sword techniques.

Taking the head of an enemy from dozens of li away would be simple.

A cold, sharp look gleamed in his slender eyes.

Ultimately, the fingers pulling the bowstring gently released the tension.

The sharp Qi Force dissipated.

Once again, Yu Wenze, the veteran of countless battlefields, felt the constraints as a Pillar of the State of Great Qin. It was the highest honor, as well as a shackle imposed by the people of the world.

To move one part would be to affect the whole.

No longer could he act as he wished, for although his martial arts were profound, he was ultimately not free.

PS: The first update for today is here. Yes, I promised extra updates today, so two more to come. Typing up a storm.