"Useless trash!"
A teacup smashed against Xing Zhao Fu's head, shattering with a CRACK.
Scalding hot tea flowed down Xing Zhao Fu's cheeks.
His already dark-red face instantly turned an even deeper shade of red.
Fortunately, Xing Zhao Fu had successfully tempered his skin. An ordinary person's head would have been split open and bleeding.
But Xing Zhao Fu just wiped the tea from his face. Aside from his skin turning red, he was surprisingly unharmed.
"If you hadn't killed the third-in-command of the Black Dragon Stronghold, I'd skin you alive right now!"
The South City Sima, Hu Yuxing, poked Xing Zhao Fu in the head and shouted furiously.
"I told you to annihilate the Black Dragon Stronghold, and you're just here making excuses! If you don't want to be a Chief Constable anymore, there are plenty of others who do!"
"Sima, it's not that I'm making excuses."
Xing Zhao Fu said with a bitter smile, "The truth is, our South City Bureau has suffered heavy losses among our constables and men. I need some time to recruit replacements.
Otherwise, even if I led my men out of the city now, we would only return empty-handed."
"Are these losses my responsibility?"
Hu Yuxing said, his face dark.
"It is all my responsibility."
Xing Zhao Fu said hurriedly, "Once I have annihilated the Black Dragon Stronghold, the Sima can beat me or punish me as he sees fit. I will accept it all.
But for now, please give me two more months—no, a month and a half. I guarantee I will bring the heads of the Black Dragon Stronghold's first and second-in-command before you, Sima!"
Xing Zhao Fu swore an oath.
"Listen to me, Xing Zhao Fu! This business with the Black Dragon Stronghold concerns my future, my nephew's future, and more importantly, your life!"
Hu Yuxing said with a grim face, "I'll give you one last month and a half. If you still can't destroy the Black Dragon Stronghold, you'll see how I deal with you!"
"I will do my utmost!"
Xing Zhao Fu said quickly, his back already drenched in a cold sweat.
The Sima came from the Hu Family of the Inner City. The Hu Family's power in Wuling City was immense. For them, killing a Chief Constable like him would be as easy as crushing an ant.
"Sima!"
Just then, a middle-aged man dressed as a Master strode in quickly. "Good news!"
"What good news?"
Hu Yuxing had vented his anger and calmed down now, so he asked.
"A constable has captured Pink Wolf Du Qian, ranked two hundred and ninety-ninth on the Most Wanted list!"
The Master said with an excited expression, "Another great achievement can be added to the Young Master's record of merits!"
"Oh?"
A look of delight appeared on Hu Yuxing's face.
Hu Yuxing's nephew was about to participate in a selection process held by the higher-ups. This selection considered not only one's Cultivation and strength, but also their achievements.
This matter concerned the future of the Hu Family, so they were currently doing everything in their power to help him earn merits.
The three leaders of the Black Dragon Stronghold were all notorious criminals on the Most Wanted list. If they could be killed, Hu Yuxing's nephew would have enough merits, and Hu Yuxing himself would also be rewarded by his family.
Although the three leaders of the Black Dragon Stronghold were enough, capturing one more notorious criminal would naturally make things more certain.
"Who was it?"
Before Hu Yuxing could ask, Xing Zhao Fu couldn't help but speak up.
'Damn it, which idiot doesn't know to report capturing Du Qian to me first?'
'Reporting past one's direct superior is a huge taboo in officialdom!'
'How dare he bypass me and report directly to the Sima? This is outrageous!'
"Get out of the way."
Hu Yuxing kicked Xing Zhao Fu, sending him stumbling. "What's this got to do with you? Get out there and recruit people! Hurry up and level the Black Dragon Stronghold!"
Xing Zhao Fu walked out with his head lowered, his expression gloomy.
As he reached the doorway, he heard the Master say to Hu Yuxing.
"Sima, it's a junior constable named Su Mu. He's from a Hunter background and only joined the South City Bureau yesterday."
'Su Mu?'
Xing Zhao Fu's expression instantly became even uglier.
'It's that kid!'
'He actually managed to capture Pink Wolf Du Qian?'
'Damn it!'
Xing Zhao Fu's heart sank, and he quickened his pace, walking outside.
At that moment, Hu Yuxing's voice sounded from behind him, "Bring that Su Mu in. I want to personally verify that it's Pink Wolf Du Qian. If it's real, I, the Sima, will not treat him unfairly!"
"He's waiting right outside."
The Master replied with a smile.
Knowing it was too late to stop it, Xing Zhao Fu rushed to the courtyard entrance, even using a lightness Cultivation Technique.
Outside the courtyard gate stood a handsome youth, tall and straight, with a longbow on his back and a long saber at his waist. At his feet lay a corpse.
"It really is you!"
Xing Zhao Fu's face was grim. Seeing the Master approaching, he lowered his voice and said quickly, "Kid, be smart about this. Think carefully about what you should and shouldn't say!"
"Chief Xing, what are you saying? Do you want me to say you killed Du Qian?"
Su Mu raised his voice, a look of astonishment on his face.
"You—"
Xing Zhao Fu flew into a rage. With a CLANG, his long saber was drawn a foot from its sheath.
"Chief Xing, what do you think you're doing?"
By now, the Master had arrived. His face darkened as he barked, "How dare you act so presumptuously outside the Sima Mansion?"
"Master, you jest. How would I dare?"
Xing Zhao Fu sheathed his saber and said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "My subordinate doesn't know the rules. I was just giving him a few words of instruction, lest he offend the Sima."
"Chief Xing, although the constables are under your command, at the end of the day, you all belong to the Sima."
The Master said leisurely, "When the Sima wishes to summon someone, does he need to report to you?"
"I wouldn't dare."
Xing Zhao Fu said.
The Master called out to Su Mu, "Xiaosu, bring Du Qian's body and come with me. The Sima wants to see you."
He was all smiles and even patted Su Mu's shoulder. "Do a good job. If you win the Sima's favor, who knows, one day I might have to start calling you Chief Su."
Xing Zhao Fu's face was grim, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
'A Master with no official rank dares to insult me like this! Just you wait until I get my chance!'
'And Su Mu... you're all dead!'
Hearing Xing Zhao Fu's furious growls behind him and the Master's smug laughter in his ear, Su Mu put on a timely expression of being overwhelmed by the favor.
'Yang Jin's information was reliable after all. This Master doesn't get along with Xing Zhao Fu. As long as you give him an opportunity, he'll definitely try to make trouble for him.'
"I'll have to ask for the Master's continued guidance."
Su Mu discreetly slipped something into the Master's hand.
The Master weighed it in his hand, then just as discreetly tucked the silver into his robes, his smile growing even wider. "A sensible young man. You have a boundless future."
"I pray your words come true."
Su Mu said.
As they spoke, the two had already entered the main hall.
This was also the first time Su Mu had seen South City's number one figure.
Following the Master's instruction, he cupped his fist in his hand in a salute.
"South City Bureau constable Su Mu, pays his respects to Lord Sima!"
"So you're the one who killed Pink Wolf Du Qian?"
Hu Yuxing sized up Su Mu, his expression unreadable.
"It was all thanks to the Sima's excellent leadership."
Su Mu said.
'Xing Zhao Fu wanted to kill him to steal his achievement, so Su Mu naturally didn't need to be polite to him.'
'But this Hu Yuxing was the South City Sima; there was no need for him to antagonize everyone he met.'
"You're a sharp one."
Hu Yuxing nodded slightly. "Remember, from now on, no matter who asks, you have never seen Pink Wolf Du Qian. Understand?"
"Understood."
Su Mu replied.
"Very good. I won't treat you unfairly."
Hu Yuxing said, "Master, fetch one hundred taels of silver for him."
With that said, he looked at Su Mu again. "Do your job well. If you achieve more merits, it's not impossible for me to promote you to Chief Constable of the South City Bureau."
"Thank you, Sima!"
Su Mu said with a cupped-fist salute.
'If he took such platitudes seriously, he would lose.'
'Still, this Hu Yuxing is more principled than Xing Zhao Fu. Although both of them are stealing his achievement, at least Hu Yuxing gave him one hundred taels of silver. Xing Zhao Fu, on the other hand, wanted to kill him to silence him.'
"Sima, it seems Chief Xing has a bit of a problem with me..."
Su Mu said, taking the opportunity.
"He dares to have a problem? The useless trash!"
Hu Yuxing snorted coldly. "I grant you permission to bypass him and report directly to me. If he dares to target you, you come find me. We'll see if I don't skin him alive!
This South City belongs to the Hu family, not the Xings!"
......
Liu Hongyu sat on the steps, staring blankly at the holes dotting the ground. She was utterly bewildered. 'Who on earth made all these holes?'