Martial Saint through Reading

Cultivating the Blood Evil Technique requires swallowing organs, and the Blood Evil Qi produced from one’s Qi and Blood Power can cause problems in a person’s temperament.

"With Old Fang’s accomplishments this time and the cultivation technique he contributed, as long as he’s willing, the position of Chiliarch—even..." Ling Hao said.

"Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander isn’t too likely," Ji Yong interrupted, "Isn’t that position only for those in the Refining Organ Realm?"

But as soon as he finished, he saw Ling Hao glaring at him angrily.

"Old Fang, you have great strength; you should return to the Tiger Armor Army..." Ling Hao voiced his intentions.

As for rewarding merit, the achievements this time are truly enormous.

Killing the Blood Evil Sect Young Master, uncovering all the sect members hiding within Baiyuan County’s Criminal Defense Bureau, including the all-powerful Prison Chief Luo Lin.

A thousand acres of good land, ten thousand tales of gold, and even appointing a Senior Seventh Grade or higher official would not be an issue.

But these are external things. Ling Hao believes that a man like Fang Xiao ought to be, like a true man, riding to war to protect the nation!

Return to the Tiger Armor Army?

This matter should ultimately be decided by Housekeeper Fang himself.

"Thank you, Chiliarch, for the reminder. I’ll consider it."

Chu Ming quickly flipped through the Blood Evil Technique for the Strong Bone Realm, and a flood of fragmented information surfaced in his mind before merging into his Cultivation Technique Lake.

The lake water surged; the Mountain and Sea Tiger and Python Fierce Blood Refining Scripture - Strong Bone was being optimized through deduction.

The method for forging the neck bones became even more refined...

He focused his gaze on the panel.

[Military Skill (Minor Success): Strategic Planning]

[Progress: 23/100]

The progress had increased by ’22’ points.

From this, it was certain that the fastest way to advance [Military Skill] was not just by reading military texts, but by actual application.

Chu Ming looked at Ling Hao and Ji Yong; firelight flickered in his eyes.

Maybe, when the time is right, he could join the Tiger Armor Army?

He stifled that thought and turned to the new hint on his panel.

[Blood Evil Burning Body]

[Progress: 1/100]

He browsed the newly acquired martial skill from the Blood Evil Technique.

It was clear enough; this [Blood Evil Burning Body] was that method used earlier by the Blood Evil Sect strongman to burn his Qi and Blood during combat.

He just glanced at it—not planning to practice it yet.

According to the Blood Evil Technique’s description, this method of burning Qi and Blood carries great drawbacks.

For however much Qi and Blood Power is burned, it’s truly lost.

Simply put, after burning Qi and Blood, your strength would rapidly plummet, it would be difficult to recover in a short time, and would cause irreversible damage to your body’s foundation.

Chu Ming pondered that with [Blood Evil Burning Body] as a foundation for deduction and optimization, maybe he could develop a more advanced martial skill.

"Generals, I’ve fully recovered."

Although Qi Huanrong wasn’t as strong as Chu Ming thought, he did expend all his Qi Blood during the battle, leaving him exhausted and in need of recovery.

"Good."

The rest was straightforward. The Criminal Defense Bureau cleaned up the battlefield and, that same night, arrested all the Blood Evil Sect members lurking within the bureau.

At the same time, two letters detailing Baiyuan County’s extermination of the Blood Evil Sect were split up and dispatched by fast horse, rushing overnight to Xirong County.

One went to the Tiger Armor Army, the other to the Xirong County Government.

The Blood Evil Sect was eliminated, but the mess left behind was no small matter.

Criminal Defense Bureau’s Senior Seventh-Grade Prison Chief, and City Defense Department’s Junior Seventh-Grade Defense Chief Zheng Dongjin, were all sect members.

With both of them dead, the Criminal Defense Bureau was headless, and Baiyuan County’s defenses fell into chaos.

Additionally, the bureau suddenly lost about four or five hundred constables; many cases within the county, and even outside, couldn’t proceed.

No one knew how, but word about the bureau’s state got out. Martial World sects and gangster groups began causing trouble the very next day.

Fortunately, by that afternoon, five hundred Tiger Armor Army soldiers arrived in Baiyuan County ahead of schedule, helping the bureau suppress all the unrest, returning things to normal.

But the damage suffered in just one day was irreversible; the ordinary people who lost their lives could not return.

County Magistrate Fu Chang and County Magistrate Liu Sitong were decent officials, drawing silver from the county government as consolation payments to calm the public’s anger.

That very night, three carriages entered Baiyuan County. One seemed to be loaded with something heavy, the wheels creaking and leaving deep tracks on the road outside town.

The constables in charge of city defenses, upon seeing the three carriages, greeted them with utmost respect, performing only a cursory inspection before opening the gates. The carriages passed through and headed straight for the county government.

...

County Government Office.

"Brother Qiu, what brings you here?"

County Magistrate Fu Chang was frowning over his work when he saw someone stride in. Instantly surprised and delighted, he rose to greet him.

"What, I can’t come to Baiyuan County?" Qiu Li joked.

"Of course you can," Fu Chang’s eyes flickered as he asked, "Brother Qiu—are you here because of the extermination of the Blood Evil Sect?"

"The Blood Evil Sect is wiped out?" Qiu Li’s eyebrows raised. "That’s not why I came."

"True, the letters were just sent off late last night. Even if you rode a Wind-Riding Steed, there’s no way you’d have arrived so soon," Fu Chang chuckled. "So then Brother Qiu, you’re here for...?"

Qiu Li laughed as well, "Just business—passing by Baiyuan County, so I thought I’d visit an old friend."

So, he isn’t willing to say?

Fu Chang’s expression remained neutral.

This ’Brother Qiu’ held an office two ranks higher than himself—a Standard Sixth Rank Captain in the West Prosperity County Imperial Examination Hall.

West Prosperity County Captain’s main duties are public security, city defense, and related affairs—pretty much the same as someone like Shao Pengshu, the Criminal Captain.

They’d worked together for many years and were well acquainted.

But after years in officialdom, Fu Chang could tell at a glance—Qiu Li’s visit to Baiyuan County had an ulterior motive...

"Haha, Brother Qiu, tonight we’ll drink until we drop!"

Fu Chang grandly waved his hand, ordering preparations for a banquet.

...

After three rounds of drinks, both Fu Chang and Qiu Li were a bit tipsy.

"Brother Fu, you’ve truly accomplished something. Exterminating the Blood Evil Sect in Baiyuan—such credit, you’ll be promoted several times over," Qiu Li said, raising his cup.

"Brother Qiu, you flatter me. Wiping out the Blood Evil Sect had little to do with a county magistrate like me; the credit mostly goes to the Criminal Defense Bureau and the Tiger Armor Army."

"Even so, you commanded admirably." Qiu Li continued to flatter him.

Fu Chang responded calmly.

After a few more large cups, Qiu Li couldn’t help himself any longer and asked with feigned nonchalance, "I heard—the Blood Evil Sect’s main lair was at that East City merchant, the Chu Family?"

"Brother Qiu, you even know about the big merchants in my Baiyuan County?"

"Haha, the Blood Evil Sect caused disaster; I have a duty. Otherwise, I’d have personally brought men to help you wipe out the Chu Family,"

Qiu Li pretended to be drunk: "Magistrate Fu, since the Chu Family was involved with the Blood Evil Sect, you must punish them severely—arrest everyone from top to bottom!"

So he’s aiming at the Chu Family?

Fu Chang sensed the intent: "They’re all arrested, not a single one let off. Rest assured, Brother Qiu."

"Well done!" Qiu Li raised the wine pot in a toast, his expression turning odd. "But Brother Fu, I heard Madam Chu is the second daughter of the wealthy Wan Family in Xirong County..."

Fu Chang buried his head in his wine, pretending not to hear. He did know of this situation.

"That Wan Family may be merchants, but their connections are intricate, with ties to many high officials and nobles. Brother Fu, Madam Chu is just a woman. To be frank, I’m here by order of the Inspector General..."

Inspector General!

Fu Chang’s heart skipped a beat; that was a Senior Fifth Grade big official, an extremely influential person in the West Prosperity County Imperial Examination Hall.

Qiu Li saw Fu Chang fall silent and smiled, "I would never put you in a difficult spot. The Wan Family sent over a whole carriage of gold and jewels—I’ve brought it all for you, Brother Fu."

"Swapping out an insignificant woman shouldn’t be hard for you, right?" Qiu Li put down his cup, a confident smile on his face.