Cultivating in Different Professions

"The sect sent me over this time to give me a chance to learn from you, My Lord," Shi Ji said, his face wreathed in smiles.

"I’ll be in your care from now on."

Shi Ji had experience in the Jianghu, so he understood etiquette better than the other true disciples of the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect. He immediately changed his form of address, calling him "Lord."

"Of course."

Dai Jin smiled gleefully. "Junior Brother, with you here, I’m like a tiger with wings. These mere Wuling City natives are ripe for the slaughter."

"Lord Dai, what’s this Fireproof Shield you’re all talking about? Can you let me get a look at it?"

Just then, a voice suddenly piped up.

Besides Dai Jin, the other disciples of the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect, and the Songstresses, there was one other person in the room.

The newly appointed Inspector, Wang Guan.

Second Young Master Wang was wearing the official uniform of the Inspection Bureau, but it couldn’t hide his roguish, unrestrained air.

He was slouched over, the front of his robes covered in wine stains, and he was already half-drunk.

"And this is?"

Shi Ji asked, sizing up Wang Guan.

"This is another one of our colleagues. He’s the Second Young Master of the Wang Family of Wuling City, and his name is Wang Guan."

Dai Jin explained with a smile, "Brother Wang Guan is quite the character. He’s been a great help to us. Junior Brother Shi, you should get to know him better."

"So it’s Lord Wang. I’ve heard much about you."

Shi Ji said, cupping his fists.

Wang Guan chuckled. "Lord Shi, you’ve heard of me? What is it you admire so much?"

Shi Ji was speechless. It was just a casual pleasantry; why was this guy taking it so seriously?

’You’re obviously just some rich wastrel. What’s there for me to admire?’

"Lord Wang, your bearing is extraordinary..."

Shi Ji managed an awkward smile and squeezed out a few compliments.

"Boss Dai, how about letting me see that Fireproof Shield?"

Wang Guan said to Dai Jin with a smug grin.

"I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll let you all get a look."

Dai Jin said.

"Junior Brother Shi, bring out the Fireproof Shield. Let the brothers have a look."

Dai Jin said with a wave of his hand.

Shi Ji nodded and left his seat. A moment later, he returned, holding a palm-sized bronze bell.

"This is the Fireproof Shield?"

Wang Guan said disdainfully, "This little trinket? I have countless of these at home. Lord Shi, you’re not trying to pull a fast one on us, are you?"

"There’s something you don’t know, Lord Wang."

Shi Ji said with a smile, "This Fireproof Shield is, without a doubt, a Profound Weapon."

"If you don’t believe me, try throwing that fire at me."

He pointed at a candle in the room.

Second Young Master Wang never knew the meaning of politeness. He picked up a candle as thick as his arm and hurled it.

BUZZ!

The bronze bell in Shi Ji’s hand suddenly emitted a bright light that enveloped his entire body.

When the candle flame touched the light, it was instantly extinguished.

"Lord Wang, while holding this Fireproof Shield, I can walk through fire unburnt. No flame in this world can harm me."

Shi Ji continued with a smile, "The arrows fired by the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow are not especially powerful on their own, but the five-colored flames they carry can incinerate anything."

"With this Fireproof Shield in hand, the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow is no longer a threat."

"That’s right."

Dai Jin laughed heartily. "That Su Mu is just a minor Martial Artist in the Blood Transformation Realm. The only reason he can act so arrogantly is because he relies on the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow, isn’t it?"

"Once the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow is useless, killing him will be as easy as crushing an ant."

"Lord Dai, we don’t need to go to such trouble to deal with Su Mu. I just need to find a chance to steal the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow," Shi Ji said with a confident smile.

"Where’s the fun in that?"

Dai Jin sneered. "I want Su Mu to die in utter despair! Imagine it: he’ll be holding the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow, yet he won’t be able to harm me in the slightest. Can you imagine his despair?"

In the candlelight, Dai Jin’s face looked sinister.

Being scared into wetting his pants by the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow was the greatest humiliation of his life.

Only by killing Su Mu could he wash away this shame.

He was determined to make Su Mu die in the depths of despair.

"Now this is a real treasure."

Wang Guan staggered drunkenly over to Shi Ji and reached out to touch the Fireproof Shield. "I bet this is worth tens of thousands of silver, right?"

Shi Ji glanced at Dai Jin, who gave a slight nod. So, Shi Ji didn’t pull away, allowing Wang Guan to touch the Fireproof Shield.

"Lord Wang, tens of thousands of silver can’t even buy the most common Profound Weapon, let alone one like the Fireproof Shield."

Shi Ji said with a smile, though he was inwardly scornful. ’As expected of a rich brat from the countryside. So clueless. He thinks tens of thousands of silver is a lot of money.’

’Tens of thousands of silver wouldn’t even buy you the right to touch a Profound Weapon.’

"Lord Wang, if it were anyone else, just touching a Profound Weapon like this would cost tens of thousands of silver."

Shi Ji said smugly.

"Hehe, then I got a great deal, didn’t I?"

Wang Guan groped the Fireproof Shield a few more times, practically feeling it up from top to bottom.

Seeing Wang Guan’s clownish antics, Dai Jin and the others burst into laughter.

"Lord Dai, I’ll hand this Fireproof Shield over to you. I suppose my mission is complete."

After Wang Guan had his fill of touching it, Shi Ji went to Dai Jin and handed him the Fireproof Shield.

Dai Jin took it, casually placed it on the table in front of him, and said, "Now that the Fireproof Shield has arrived, it’s time to make the country bumpkins of Wuling City tremble at the arrival of our Inspection Bureau."

"We’ll start with Su Mu. I will make sure he dies!"

"What is your plan, Lord Dai? Even with the Fireproof Shield, Su Mu is still a Taiping Captain. It seems... inappropriate to just go and kill him."

Shi Ji said cautiously.

"Of course we can’t let him die so easily. I’m going to make an example of him."

Dai Jin said confidently, "Junior Brother, you brought the imperial decree, so the Inspection Bureau can officially open for business. Once we’re open, I’ll use the Bureau’s authority to summon the Taiping Captain to assist in the investigation of Junior Brother Feng’s death."

"Then, I’ll have Su Mu lead us to the place where Junior Brother Feng died. And there, I will kill him."

"After killing him, I’ll announce that he colluded with demons to murder Junior Brother Feng."

"A dignified Taiping Captain, colluding with demons! You can see how rotten the Wuling Taiping Bureau has become. Then, our Inspection Bureau will have just cause to launch a full investigation into the Wuling Taiping Bureau!"

"Brilliant, Lord Dai!"

Shi Ji gave a thumbs-up. ’Framing, false accusations, using it all as a pretext... Senior Brother Dai’s heart is blacker than any fugitive’s on the wanted list.’

’But I like it. Only this kind of person can climb higher, and I can rise with him,’ Shi Ji thought to himself.

THUD.

Wang Guan, having drunk too much, suddenly fell onto the carpet and began to snore loudly.

"See? No stamina. These country folk can’t even hold their liquor."

Dai Jin laughed. "Carry him out. Let’s keep drinking."

A few attendants quickly carried Wang Guan away.

What Dai Jin didn’t know was that once back in his room, Wang Guan quietly sat up, not a trace of drunkenness on his face.

’Me? Can’t hold my liquor? Please. I’ve been practically soaking in wine vats since I was three! Drinking alcohol is like drinking water to me!’

Wang Guan curled his lip and mumbled under his breath, "Heh, ’Shi Ji the Great Thief’? I wonder how your thieving skills compare to mine."

"I’ve been matching wits with my old man my whole life. Stealing things... hehe!"

His, Wang Guan’s, Martial Dao Cultivation was indeed lacking, but when it came to unorthodox methods, he, Wang Guan, had never feared anyone.

When he was eleven, he swapped out his old man’s Official Seal. It took his father a full six months to realize the seal he’d been using was a fake.

At twelve, he managed to steal the undergarments of the Xie Family’s eldest daughter.

When he was locked in prison by Xie Zuowen, he was the one who led the Xiang Family in their escape.

"Trying to use a Fireproof Shield against my Brother Mu? Not on my watch."

Wang Guan’s eyes narrowed, a look of excitement flashing across his face. "Let me show you a little switcheroo. It’s time to broaden your horizons."

He put his hands on his hips and let out a silent, triumphant laugh in the darkness.

...

Su Mu slowly opened his eyes.

The Thunder Shocking Saber was still sheathed, but with a casual wave of his hand, a burst of flame suddenly erupted in the darkness.

WHOOSH.

The table in the room split in two, its edges charred black as if seared by fire.

"The Li Fire Realm. I’ve broken through."

Su Mu’s eyes shone as brightly as two stars.