After speaking, he dared not look again at the expressions of his mother and wife, grabbed his weapon, packed his belongings, and quickly headed out the door.
It was already dawn. Zhou Ying and Wang Yuxiu, with only Earth-digging Realm cultivation, dared not step outside. Reluctantly, they watched Xiang Liang’s departing figure and couldn’t help but call out loudly again.
"Son, be careful out there!"
"Husband, Yuxiu awaits your return."
......
"You’ve gained 5 manes in just over two months, impressive!"
Xiang Liang closed the door, and upon hearing the voice behind him, quickly turned around in surprise and delight: "Uncle Bai? I thought the voice sounded familiar, and it really is you going to Hongn with !"
Standing at the door was none other than Bai Shanning, the Silver Order Prison Warden who had escorted Mu Longhe back from Hongn City with him last September.
Speaking of Bai Shanning, one cannot omit ntioning another person, Bai Shanqiu.
The year before last, the mission to infiltrate Lower River Village, led by Xu Ning, consisted of five people, including Xiang Liang and Bai Shanqiu. Later, the Lord ordered all six to withdraw from Lower River Village, but Xu Ning was unwilling to leave just like that. In the end, he and Bai Shanqiu volunteered to stay in Lower River Village and continue their surveillance.
Looking back now, Xiang Liang is naturally full of gratitude. If he hadn’t chosen to take such a risk, how could he have mingled with the Dajue Temple army, establishing so many achievents, and subsequently receiving noble titles and rewards of imnse Contribution Value, which likely would have had nothing to do with him?
These accomplishnts were secondary; the key was that, thanks to the rits at Dajue Temple, he successfully caught the attention of the Minister and even the Lord, which for him, was the most effective and aningful outco.
Xiang Liang understood clearly that being appointed as Hongn’s Vice Chief of Punishnt, including getting into the Martial Arts Pavilion for two months of continuous cultivation, was because Xia Chuan rembered him. If he were still the insignificant figure he used to be in Wuyuan, these opportunities would definitely not have co his way.
Of course, Xiang Liang was not the only one who benefited; Bai Shanqiu, who similarly chose to take the risk and continue his surveillance, also reaped rewards.
The two of them infiltrated the Dajue Temple army, and over similar periods, accomplished similar tasks, many of which were done in collaboration. Hence, their achievents were naturally equal.
Like Xiang Liang, Bai Shanqiu was granted the title of Ninth-Rank Xuanling Marquis last year. The camp’s reward for them included this title, Contribution Value, and an opportunity for them to serve in the Prison Departnt.
To get a position in the Eight Departnts, Xiang Liang agreed without hesitation;
Bai Shanqiu, however, was different. He was nearly seventy years old, and at that age, having finally received a title, he had little desire to struggle further and no longer wished to fight and kill outside. Upon learning that the reward could be transferred, he directly gave this opportunity to his cousin—
This was Bai Shanning, standing before Xiang Liang now.
Bai Shanning was forty-eight years old, in his pri, with a Peak Cold Resistance Cultivation. Though he only had Lower War Bod qualifications, he possessed the strength of 17 manes, indicating his fighting spirit far surpassed that of his cousin Bai Shanqiu.
Subsequent developnts unfolded as expected. Xiang Liang joined the Prison Departnt and was promoted to Silver Order Level Prison Warden in just half a year, which was already considered fast, but Bai Shanning’s speed was even faster.
Because of his connection to Bai Shanqiu, Xiang Liang and Bai Shanning, despite being more than twenty years apart in age, had a very good relationship. Plus, last year, they jointly carried out the task of escorting Mu Longhe, becoming extrely familiar with each other.
"I also received a notification from Director Li late last night, saying Hongn City is now severely understaffed, so two Vice Chiefs of Punishnt are to be added, looks like it’s the two of us!"
Xiang Liang was stunned upon hearing this; he thought he was the only Vice Chief of Punishnt for Hongn, not expecting Bai Shanning to be one too, aning Hongn City was breaking convention by appointing two Vice Chiefs of Punishnt.
But recalling the thick blue dossier from last night, he imdiately understood.
"Setting up two Vice Chiefs of Punishnt indicates trendous pressure on Hongn City’s security!"
"Two?"
The two were already walking towards the city gate, and upon hearing Xiang Liang’s exclamation, Bai Shanning raised his eyebrows and continued with a smile: "It seems you haven’t paid much attention to Hongn City’s matters lately. Over there, three Vice Chief of Punishnts are already in place, with us making it a total of five."
Five!
Xiang Liang was montarily taken aback, then exclaid in shock: "Last night in the main hall of the Prison Departnt, I reviewed the dossiers up to now; Hongn City has accumulated a total of 239 unresolved cases. The Chief of Punishnt is Lord Zhao Bao, with three Silver Order Prison Wardens under him, and certainly three Vice Chiefs of Punishnt, making six Silver Order Prison Wardens in total. Even after calculating, there should be at least ninety Iron Order Level Prison Wardens below, yet how can so many unresolved cases pile up?"
The Chief of Punishnt, responsible for the security and justice within the station, ideally should be filled by professional talents cultivated by the Prison Departnt, that is, the Prison Wardens.
The problem is that the strength of these Wardens hasn’t aligned yet.
In Great Xia’s fundantal martial ethos, strength remains supre. Great Xia’s appointnt to each position naturally follows this rule strictly. Blending professional capability with personal strength is ideal, of course.
But if forced to make a choice between the two, strength must be chosen!
A person who excels at investigation and case solving, yet lacks strength, might struggle to command respect—that’s secondary—but failing to subdue criminals, or being killed by them, would disgrace Great Xia’s reputation.
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