Chapter 1215: Public Security is Lacking
Before long, the entire yamen knew that two constables had landed their positions through backdoor connections.
The whole yamen buzzed with speculation about their identities.
“The county magistrate is from the Dao-Seeking Sect. He is known for being impartial and giving no special treatment. If he’s letting people in through the back door, their connections must be solid.”
“Are you saying they could be from the Dao-Seeking Sect?”
“Impossible. The Dao-Seeking Sect is full of prodigies. How could they come here to suffer as constables?”
To the common folk, constables appeared formidable and fearsome, but once someone became a constable, they would realize that the job meant working day and night shifts, being called in even on rest days, and having no time off during major cases. Moreover, it required a certain level of combat skills to avoid getting stabbed by criminals.
The registrar declared with conviction, “In my opinion, these two are most likely from the Barbarian Tribe.”
“The Barbarian Tribe?”
“Exactly. Think about it. Our Quyi County is in the Wilderness Province, and so is the Barbarian Tribe. These two are probably His Excellency’s relatives.”
“But their surname isn’t ‘Man.’”
“They’re distant relatives, Barbarian tribesmen with different surnames.”
“Makes sense.”
This view quickly gained acceptance throughout the yamen. Since the two had come in through the back door, the usual rules didn’t apply to them. As long as they didn’t go too far, everyone would close one eye and look the other way.
~~~
The Wilderness Province was rich in ores. Cultivators refined them locally, and over time, the region became a gathering place for blacksmiths. Quyi County alone had over a hundred forges of various sizes.
The Wang Family Forge was the most unremarkable one of them all. Their main customers were neighbors needing shovels, hoes, kitchen knives, and pots repaired.
Old Wang, who missed a front tooth, was skilled in his craft. He always repaired things flawlessly.
But that was all.
The forge was run by just Old Wang and Little Wang, who depended on each other. As Old Wang aged, Little Wang took over the work, fixing pots for the neighbors.
“Grandpa, it’s time to eat,” Little Wang called out.
Normally, Old Wang would come out from his room with a smile, but today, no matter how many times Little Wang called out, Old Wang didn’t emerge.
Worried about his grandfather, Little Wang went inside, only to find Old Wang clutching a red cloth and staring blankly into space.
“Child, come here. Your grandpa has something to tell you.” Old Wang’s voice was hoarse, his eyes now dim and dull.
“Grandpa, what’s wrong?”
“Actually, there’s something I’ve never told you. Your grandpa is not an ordinary person but a cultivator. My true identity is the successor of the reclusive Divine Craftsman Wang Family.
“I violated our ancestral teachings and forged an evil sword. It has no grade, but it thirsts for blood and slaughter. The more people it kills and the more blood it drinks, the higher its grade becomes.”
Old Wang lifted the red cloth, revealing a sinister blood sword. A crimson gem was embedded in its hilt, gleaming like the eye of a devil god.
“The moment this sword was born, the Hundred Swords Alliance set their sights on it and wanted to snatch it. I knew that if this bloodthirsty sword fell into their hands, it would plunge all living beings into abject misery.
“To escape their pursuit, I fled all the way here.
“I wanted to destroy this evil sword, but I outdid myself when forging it, and it was also too hard for me to break.
“As refining devil swords was forbidden in Great Xia, I dared not report it to the authorities. I could only conceal my identity and settle here. Later, I found you and took you in.
“Alas, after all these years of hiding, they’ve ultimately tracked me down.”
Old Wang produced a token. “This is the Hundred Swords Kill Order. I received it today. The Hundred Swords Alliance loves to toy with their prey. If I’m not mistaken, they’ll make their move tonight.
“Every member of the Hundred Swords Alliance wields a divine sword. Wherever their swords point, they are unstoppable.”
He shoved a cloth bundle into Little Wang’s hands. “Your grandfather is useless. I can’t protect you. I’ll fight the Hundred Swords Alliance to death later. Seize an opportunity during the chaos to run!
“The tempering method I taught you is actually the Ninety-Nine Stage Tempering Method, passed down through the Divine Craftsman Wang Family. From now on, you are the sole successor of the Divine Craftsman Wang Family!”
“Grandpa!” Little Wang clung to Old Wang and wailed.
Little Wang wasn’t a child, but he was still a child in Old Wang’s heart. Old Wang’s eyes reddened as well.
~~~
“It’s really quiet at night,” Constable Lu Yang and Constable Meng Jingzhou remarked as they patrolled the streets.
It was past midnight. The streets were deserted, with only the two of them.
Lu Yang casually started a conversation, asking, “By the way, have you figured out what Dao Fruit you want to condense?”
Meng Jingzhou shook his head, swinging his saber back and forth. “I still haven’t figured it out. With Senior Nine-Layers Immortal around, I can’t condense something like a Supreme Yang Dao Fruit. What about you?”
“I haven’t decided either.”
As they chatted, two pitch-black figures emerged from the darkness, blending perfectly with the night. Each carried a bulging bundle wrapped in black cloth.
“Halt! Identify yourselves. Why are you wandering the streets at night?!”
Lu Yang demanded, “Show your identification or some proof of identity!”
The two mysterious figures’ shoulders shook as they let out eerie laughs. “The ignorant are truly fearless. Count yourselves unlucky for running into us.”
“Our swords are our identity!”
They pulled out what they were carrying on their backs—two bizarrely shaped swords.
In an instant, they appeared behind the two little constables and sheathed their blades cleanly.
“I struck eight times,” one figure announced.
“I struck nine times,” the other figure claimed.
They exchanged a glance and smirked before continuing toward the Wang Family Forge.
“Don’t rush off. Come back.” Lu Yang grabbed both figures by their collars.
The two mysterious figures stared at Lu Yang in disbelief. Didn’t we already slice this person into pieces?
They tried to draw their swords, but to their horror, only their hilts remained.
Meng Jingzhou looked helplessly at the pile of metal shards at his feet. What lousy swords. They shattered the moment I touched them.
These two are seriously incompetent. They didn’t even realize their swords were reduced to hilts, still swinging away like madmen.
“Speak. What are you two doing?”
~~~
At the Wang Family Forge, grandfather and grandson embraced and wept for quite a while.
Old Wang grew uneasy. Something’s not right. The Hundred Swords Alliance should have arrived by now.
Knock, knock, knock.
A series of knocks came at the door.
Old Wang’s heart tightened. They’re here!
“Is anyone home? We’re constables from the yamen. We’re here to ask a few questions.”
They’re even pretending to be constables to trick us into opening the door? Does the Hundred Swords Alliance take me for a fool?!
Old Wang ran his palm across the sword. It drank his blood, becoming even more malevolent.
Little Wang stealthily cracked the door open. Old Wang lunged, swinging the sword with all his might at the two figures outside the door.
“Run, child! I’m not going down without a fight!”
Lu Yang extended his index and middle fingers, gently catching the evil sword, careful not to shatter it.
Meng Jingzhou clicked his tongue. “Public security is lacking here, too. It’s our first night as constables, yet we’ve already been attacked by two different groups?”