Cultivating in Different Professions

「Several days later.」

Su Mu, Chen Er, and the other constables began their journey home.

Zheng Tu reluctantly saw them off from the encampment. The moment he returned, he immediately began writing a letter to claim credit for their achievements.

The City Defense Army’s detachment at the seventh supply point, assisting the Taiping Bureau, eliminated two groups of fierce bandits in Daxing Mountain, taking several dozen heads...

On the way there, they had been escorting several large carts of supplies, making the journey exceptionally difficult.

On the way back, the carts were empty, and the roads grew smoother the closer they got to their destination. They made it back to the outskirts of South City in almost half the time it had taken them to get there.

The faces of the constables were all lit with joy.

The trip had been arduous, but their rewards were plentiful.

The supplies had been successfully delivered to the supply point; the mission was completed to Perfection.

Besides, all those heads on the carts represented merit and silver rewards.

Most importantly, although nearly everyone had sustained some injuries while fighting the bandits, not a single constable had died.

The reason for this, naturally, was that Su Mu had always been at the very front, leading the charge during the fighting.

All the constables felt it: working under Constable Xiao Su was simply exhilarating!

As Su Mu’s party passed through the Outer City gate and entered South City, none of them, lost in their joy, noticed a figure watching them from a distance. The figure then turned and sprinted wildly toward the South City Bureau.

"Everyone has worked hard this time. Once we get back, you’ll all have three days of leave,"

Su Mu said as they walked, after entering the city.

"Constable Xiao Su is mighty!"

All the constables let out a cheer, shouting loudly.

Their shouts caused nearby pedestrians to turn and look.

When they saw it was Su Mu, the pedestrians started greeting him one after another.

"Constable Xiao Su, long time no see."

"Constable Xiao Su, you’re finally back."

"..."

When Su Mu was in the city, he patrolled the streets almost daily. The people of South City saw him nearly every day.

They had never seen such a diligent constable.

Which of the past constables would have endured the wind and sun to patrol the streets and solve the people’s problems?

The people of South City knew Constable Xiao Su was good-natured. As long as you didn’t break the law, he wouldn’t give ordinary folk a hard time.

That was why they dared to greet Su Mu.

Su Mu smiled and responded to each of them.

The constables were once again filled with admiration. ’This is the hearts of the people.’ In all the years of the South City Bureau, only Constable Xiao Su had earned such support from the citizens. As for the previous constables, the common folk were considered polite if they didn’t curse them behind their backs. Who would ever praise them so sincerely?

An old woman selling eggs even tried to give Constable Xiao Su a few.

Give, not throw.

Continuing on their way back to the South City Government Office, Su Mu politely refused countless offers of goodwill from the citizens.

At the Government Office entrance, the main gates were wide open.

Zheng Wang and the other squad leaders were unexpectedly lined up on both sides of the gate, looking neat and solemn.

Su Mu was a little surprised. ’Could it be that in the days I was gone, Zheng Wang and the others had a change of heart?’

Zheng Wang stood at the very front, blinking emphatically at Su Mu.

Su Mu’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

’Why are you signaling me? We’re not that close.’

Just as Su Mu was about to ask Zheng Wang point-blank what was wrong with him and who they were welcoming in formation at the gate...

Suddenly, a loud shout echoed from the main hall.

"You there! Hurry over and receive your punishment!"

Zheng Wang and the others let out a booming shout in unison.

Su Mu looked at Zheng Wang and his men, then toward the hall, feeling a sense of surreal disorientation.

’This scene feels a bit like those courtroom dramas from my past life, with the County Magistrate holding trial. If Zheng Wang and the others had shouted "Mighty—", it would be a perfect match.’

’The question is, who is that guy in the main hall wearing the Sima’s official robes?’

’Where’s Wang Guan?’

"Su Mu, do you know your crime?!"

A man who looked to be around twenty sat in the main hall. His cheekbones were high, his gaze was sharp, and he barked the question in a deep voice.

"I do not."

Su Mu shook his head and said.

He couldn’t help but turn his head to look at the constables on either side of him.

’The Sima of the South City Bureau has been replaced? How could something so major happen without anyone telling me in advance?’

’I thought I was pretty well-liked at the South City Bureau.’

Su Mu shot a meaningful glance at Zheng Wang and the others.

Zheng Wang and his men all lowered their heads in shame.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to warn Su Mu in advance; they simply didn’t dare. This new Sima was not someone they could afford to offend.

"Su Mu, the South City Bureau sent you to transport supplies. How many days were you gone?"

Just then, the new Sima in the hall asked coldly.

"Counting from the day of departure until today, exactly one month."

Su Mu answered calmly.

"Very good."

The new Sima said coldly, "From the South City Bureau to the seventh supply point, ten days is more than enough, even if the journey is difficult. I’ll grant you twenty days for a round trip. So why were you ten days late in returning?

Do you have any idea what kind of crime a ten-day delay is?!"

Su Mu raised his head and looked directly at the new Sima.

The new Sima’s face looked somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, he bore a slight resemblance to the Sima before last, Hu Yuxing.

’So that’s how it is.’

Realization dawned on Su Mu.

’He’s from the Hu Family. No wonder.’

Escorting supplies did indeed have a deadline for arrival, but there was never a requirement for when the escorts themselves had to return.

The journey was not easy. Returning ten days late, or even a few days later than that, was a common occurrence.

This wasn’t a crime at all.

As long as the supplies were delivered on time, returning a few days late—which included a few days of rest after returning—was something everyone turned a blind eye to. Even when Hu Yuxing himself was Sima, he wouldn’t have used this to make things difficult for the constables under him.

’This person... he’s come with ill intentions.’