Chapter 1, Wuyuan

The official on the left shook his head and turned to say, "Lord Tang, your qualifications seem to be lacking"

As the two approached the entrance of the courtyard, a young man came forward to greet them

Tang Fengbin has served in the Procuratorate for thirty years. During these thirty years, he has personally ruined many lives; although it is difficult to say he feels at peace, he has always considered himself a person of reason. Just now, a single word from him determined the life and death of Jiang Yicao, who was foolishly sitting in the Tianxiang Building. In his view, it was merely that this young man encountered misfortune due to bad luck.

Who is it that I admire? In addition to feeling somewhat disheartened, I wonder, apart from the big boss, who else is worthy of my admiration?

Therefore, when Jiang Yicao emerged from one of these dog holes, the vegetable vendors rushing to the morning market were not surprised; they merely regarded him as a scholar who was preparing to waste a day.

The landscape of the capital of Middle-earth is a blend of mountains and waters, presenting quite a beautiful scene. From time to time, literati and scholars visit various places to enjoy themselves, often leaving behind a few ink stains for free. However, in the eyes of the old residents of the capital, there are actually four sights that one should not visit, but must absolutely be aware of. If one cannot comprehend these four sights, how can they claim to have lived in the capital? The four sights that everyone talks about with great enthusiasm are: the unchanging spit on the stone pillar at the end of Zhuque Avenue; the old man in Wenwu Alley who is always sunbathing with his eyes closed; the soul-stirring bell sound from Lanruo Temple in the southern suburbs; and lastly, the neatly arranged dog holes under the long wall of the National History Museum, whose age cannot be verified.

However, regardless of the ministers of the six ministries or the governors of various regions, they still had to bow their heads in front of this minor official of the fifth rank, temporarily setting aside their usual lofty demeanor.

The boy in black remained silent, not uttering a word

Lord Tang did not open his eyes, and slowly said: "This line has always... always emphasized talent; experience is of little use. Back then, the old man in the mountains... no... now he is called the old man in the mountains... at that time, he was still a youth... how old was he when he first opened the mountain?" As he spoke, seemingly unintentionally, his murky gaze lingered on the black-clad youth several times. This old man seemed to have some ailment in his chest and lungs, lacking in breath; he always needed to pause for a breath or two to finish a sentence, and his voice was as thin as a needle, making it difficult for the listeners to bear. Seemingly unintentionally, his murky gaze lingered on the black-clad youth several times. This old man seemed to have some ailment in his chest and lungs, lacking in breath; he always needed to pause for a breath or two to finish a sentence, and his voice was as thin as a needle, making it difficult for the listeners to bear.

The Grand Minister Tang frowned and waved his hand at what he was saying.

Thus, Yi Zhongxin, who rarely admires others and is not afraid of anyone, calculated: "Aside from the big boss, the royal family, the people of Wangjiang, the people of Dongdu, the people of Gaotang, and of course that mad Third Young Master from Hongshi... who am I really afraid of?" He counted on his fingers and discovered that the world is indeed vast, and there are quite a few people he is afraid of, as it seems that one hand is not enough to count them all

The boy in black extended a finger

Tang Fengbin waved his hand and said wearily, "If it is indeed the person from that mountain, do not expect to stay with him. Go out and immediately summon the one named Fu Yan, and tell him I have something to ask him"

Today, at Tianxiang Tower, Jiang Yicao

As the leader of Xicheng, Fuyan is naturally a character who has been through blood and fire. He has always been unwilling to confront his rival, consistently associating with those officials, which leaves him with nowhere to vent his pent-up aggression. He has always felt that it is better to avoid the government as much as possible. However, unexpectedly, on this day alone, he finds himself visiting the courtyard that secretly holds the power of life and death in the Central Kingdom twice.

***

But when he saw the old man before him, he realized that he had always both respected and feared this senior brother and superior. Even though he often spoke behind his back about how good he was at pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, he frequently scolded himself for not making progress in front of the younger generation, just as he had done a moment ago.

May I ask if you are the esteemed Mr. Fu, the owner of Xicheng Gold Exchange

Are you called Fu Yan?

Mo Ji paused for a moment and suddenly said, "You walk with me."

Yi Zhongxin chuckled softly, stepping forward and gently pressing down on the bluestone floor of the side hall.

Upon hearing the words, he could not help but feel a surge of anger. Just as he was about to erupt, a sudden gust of wind swept by, cooling his neck and abruptly reminding him of the various rumors surrounding the inspection office. He found himself frozen in place, unable to speak for a long while. When he finally regained his senses, he noticed that the young man in black who had been with him had already entered the mansion with the newcomers, and the main gate had closed tightly behind them. He had always been a domineering presence on the streets, and had never endured such humiliation, yet he dared not express his anger. Instead, he spat a thick phlegm onto the steps. This spit, infused with his fury, landed with a resounding 'thud' on the ground. He had always been a domineering presence on the streets, and had never endured such humiliation, yet he dared not express his anger. Instead, he spat a thick phlegm onto the steps. This spit, infused with his fury, landed with a resounding 'thud' on the ground.

***

The stubborn temperament that Fu Yan was born with made him somewhat displeased upon hearing this, and he raised his voice to say: "Sir, do not be misled by his young age; he is the most formidable fighter in our West City area."

Yi Zhongxin listened to the rogue's indifferent response, feeling a surge of anger, and said sternly: "The court has entrusted you with a task; what an honor this is! How can you be so careless as to bring someone along casually!"

Such a beautiful and pleasant time, how can it be a time for murder

Fu Yan stood outside the courtyard with the young man, unable to believe that the tranquil little courtyard before them was the very location of the Inspectorate, which had instilled fear in the hearts of those ministers and renowned generals.

The people in the hall seemed to turn a deaf ear, while the official on the left hurriedly agreed and then asked, "Do you have any successful cases from the past? Please share two for us to hear.

Although my heart is burdened with countless concerns, I do not show even a fraction of it on my face, and I respond in a low voice: "Recently, I have been consumed by various official documents and trivial matters, making it difficult for me to find peace of mind, which has naturally diminished my chess skills. I hope that you, my esteemed father, can understand my situation."

"What could possibly happen to me? Is there really someone who wants to kill me?" Before Mo Ji could finish speaking, Jiang Yicao smiled and forcefully pushed him onto the carriage, completely disregarding the hint of anxiety that lingered in his eyes beneath his calm expression

The two exchanged a smile and were about to take a step when a black horse-drawn carriage rushed over from the street. Before the carriage had come to a complete stop, an old steward jumped down and urgently shouted: "Young Master, the Master is feeling a bit unwell today, please hurry back with me!"

"Don't say 'send me on my way', okay? It sounds like you and the spring breeze are robbers on the road." Jiang Yicao laughed again: "Why are you so nervous? The common people in the capital say that the Inspection Court is run by your family. Is there really anyone who wouldn't give face to you, the young master?"

***

"It has always been this way," Jiang Yicao laughed heartily and said, "One should drink joyfully and to the fullest, laughing heartily towards the sky without restraint. Life is short, and time is limited; when one can laugh, one should laugh heartily. If in the future, when one is old, one wishes to laugh but is often preoccupied with whether one still has their front teeth, would that not be a source of pain?"

After a long period of daze, it seemed to greatly exhaust the energy of the two. After a while, Mo Ji lazily asked, "What were you doing last night? I even brought two jars of wine to find you, wanting to bid you farewell." Jiang Yicao, perhaps having not rested well the previous night, could only respond wearily, "Where could I go? Everyone knows I am timid and can only dare to stay by the side of the skilled Mo Gongzi all day."

It is truly hard work for Boss Fu. This young man, please follow me. Boss Fu has many important matters to attend to, so we will take our leave for now. However, the young man did not give Fu Yan a chance to speak. The formalities were observed without a hitch, yet the implication was that the leader of Xicheng should retreat at this point

The young man in black did not respond, turning to leave the hall

The official did not expect that the final target of the reprimand would be himself. Moreover, having always been favored by this Lord Tang, he could not help but show a displeased expression on his face, arguing: "This person has not said a word, clearly showing signs of fear. How could he have done such a thing? Furthermore, in this line of work, he has always been unknown..."

Oh, that young man is a servant of a friend of mine. I heard he used to work in this line of business. Last night, someone urged the master quite insistently, so I brought him here.

Dear Father, playing chess in the early morning with such high spirits, it seems you must be feeling quite well

In the profession of a killer, becoming famous can actually lead to negative consequences

Lord Tang's expression changed, and he coughed, saying: "Truly... ... lacking in progress... ... !"

Lord Tang coughed several times, startling the magistrate who quickly stood up and gently patted him on the back. Lord Tang fixed his gaze on the young man in black before him, as if speaking to him, yet also as if explaining to himself about this useless junior disciple.

Lord Tang opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on the hall, as if the shadow of that young man still lingered there. He murmured, "Without speaking, dressed in black, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, he does bear some resemblance to the person from the legends."

Inside the Northern City Procuratorate

Next to the Confucian Temple in the northern city of the capital, there is a large courtyard. The courtyard is interspersed with some phoenix trees, while bamboo branches extend from within the walls. At this moment, the time is still early, and the sunlight gradually spills over from the east, casting shadows of bamboo and phoenix trees, making the courtyard appear even more serene and exquisite

"Those in their line of work are much calmer..." Reflecting on the composed demeanor of the young man in black from his profession, Fu Yan couldn't help but sigh. He then noticed the green phlegm he had spat on the steps, which stood out conspicuously against the white stone floor, and regretted his earlier recklessness. Seeing that no one was around, he hurriedly wiped it away with his foot, then strolled home, mentally drafting a boastful account of his return.

Only the old man remained alone in the garden, asking himself: "Is there really such a thing as a close friend in this world? If there is... where in the capital's four scenic spots can I find that old man Xiao basking in the sun on Wenwu Alley?"

"That is indeed correct." He responded while stealing glances at the two old men in the armchair with the corner of his eye

"Who called me a person from the Inspection Court?" he thought to himself with a sense of self-satisfaction

With eyes closed, after a while, a few words slipped from the corner of the mouth

He extended his hand and swept the pieces on the board into disarray, with a "crack" sound, the dead dragon, the dizzying real estate, and the vital points all vanished without a trace

Upon hearing his superior's anger, the official on the left was about to scold the young man a few times when he suddenly heard Lord Tang panting, "How can someone in this profession... bring past matters... to the forefront...? Junior brother... I have brought you into this field... for over ten years now... you are truly not making any progress!"

How long have you been in this line of work

Was that person you brought this morning? What is his background?

As Tang Datang opened his eyes, a flash of fierce light suddenly appeared.

Fu Yan Fang Ne Ne said: "He and my friend came to the West City last year, hey..." With a grin, he continued, "That guy... this year, Du Lao Si and I got into a scuffle at the Shi Xing Shao Bing old shop, and those two were sitting in the shop munching on shaobing. All the shaobing from the pot flew up, and we were in the heat of the fight, who cared about that... Suddenly..." At this moment, his eyebrows seemed ready to fly off his face, "Suddenly, a flash of sword light, so fast that we couldn't see clearly. When everyone came to their senses, we saw Xiao Chou standing in the middle of the two groups, with thirteen shaobing hanging from his sword..." All the shaobing from the pot flew up, and we were in the heat of the fight, who cared about that... Suddenly..." At this moment, his eyebrows seemed ready to fly off his face, "Suddenly, a flash of sword light, so fast that we couldn't see clearly. When everyone came to their senses, we saw Xiao Chou standing in the middle of the two groups, with thirteen shaobing hanging from his sword..."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yan became excited, his eyebrows dancing with joy as he said: "Xiao Chou wields a sword, a fine blue steel sword, made of triple-fold steel, with a half-open blade..."

The residence of Lord Mo Yan, a first-class noble of the current dynasty who holds the supreme authority of the Inspection Department, is located on the South City Street where the stone lions are situated.

He thought he had handled the situation well, and turned to look at his senior brother. Unexpectedly, Tang Datangguan snorted, his expression turning cold, and he said icily: "No one is allowed to touch that young man in black! I had no idea that the Xicheng Fuyan would bring such a calamity here... Can we ask him to go home?" A sense of mockery arose, "With our shabby courtyard, do we have the ability to invite him away?"

Tang Fengbin closed his eyes in contemplation, completely unaware of where his spirit had wandered off to

Mo Ji looked at the old man in front of him, a trace of barely perceptible annoyance flashing in his eyes, and thought to himself: "Even if I win this game of chess, I fear you will win as well"

Mo Ji slowly turned around, a layer of frost had unknowingly settled on her face, yet she still calmly replied: "I am accompanying a friend, Xiang Bo, you may leave first, I will return shortly." The old servant was momentarily at a loss, unsure of how to respond, and remained standing in place, showing no intention of leaving. Mo Ji paid him no mind, pondering to herself: "What could they possibly be thinking, finding excuses like this?"

He hummed a little tune softly: "Regret not having committed such a great deed by the banks of Gaotang... Regret not having recognized the noble young master... Regret not having a lowly life that burdens my young master on his path to success..." He thought to himself: "Jiang Yicao, although I do not know your appearance, I must send you to the west, but who can blame you for being entangled in some unclear relationship with the master’s family? In this world, anyone with even a slight connection to the master is likely to meet a bad end... Only that young man in black..." Upon thinking of this, he felt a tightening in his chest, coughed twice with effort, but could not bring forth any explanation or reason, only spitting twice into the brass spittoon. In this world, anyone with even a slight connection to the master is likely to meet a bad end... Only that young man in black..." Upon thinking of this, he felt a tightening in his chest, coughed twice with effort, but could not bring forth any explanation or reason, only spitting twice into the brass spittoon.

The subordinate was ordered to follow the young man in black. After he left the residence, he did not walk along Zhuque Road, but instead took Tongwei Alley. However, just as he reached the fork at Erdao Alley, the subordinate lost track of him due to his incompetence. The expression of shame on his face grew more pronounced. When he saw the imposing official, who instilled fear in others, merely wave his hand, he felt somewhat reassured and continued, "Then I waited at the fortune-telling stall in front of Tianxiang Tower, but by the time it was nearly noon, I still had not seen the assassin's figure. After that, I saw the eldest son enter Tianxiang Tower with a girl who looked about fifteen or sixteen, and then he began drinking with Jiang Yicao. I thought that since the young master was already there, the matter was likely to be compromised, so I hurried back to report to the two lords."

As the sun rose higher in the sky, the Tianxiang Building behind the two men creaked, and a young servant removed the legendary heavy door, said to weigh two hundred pounds. Stepping outside, he deftly shook the cloth in his hand and energetically called out: "Tianxiang Building, the door is open..." He then turned around and gestured to the two gentlemen, who were still dazed on the steps, saying: "Gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Please come upstairs and allow us to serve you." His voice was crisp and pleasant, not at all noisy, and it was undeniably pleasing to the ear. He gestured again to the two gentlemen, who remained lost in thought on the steps, and repeated: "Gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Please come upstairs and allow us to serve you." His voice was crisp and pleasant, not at all noisy, and it was undeniably pleasing to the ear.

Is your courage truly small? If you are indeed so timid, how is it that you constantly deal with those rat-like scoundrels in Xicheng? I have advised you for quite some time, yet you refuse to listen. " Mo Ji said with an expression of indifference, "I actually wish you were a bit more timid, so you wouldn't have caused such a big incident in the south a few years ago, and now be in a situation where you need to borrow troops to escape.

Looking back at the moss-covered old walls of the National History Museum, and then at the small dog hole that could barely fit one person, Jiang Yicao furrowed his brow, steadied himself, brushed off the dust from his robe, put on a smile, walked through the side alley, and merged into the eternal morning aroma of fresh vegetables and fish in the capital of Zhongtu.

At this moment, it is early spring, the time when peach blossoms bloom, marking the season of flourishing life. However, within the inspection office of the capital in the Central Plains, an old man could be heard saying to another beside him: "Junior brother, it is time for us to withdraw"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I heard the usually silent Tang Datang official softly ask: "So it's called Xiao Chou, what kind of skills does he use?"

Once the matter is settled, let Old Zhu from the Ministry of Justice tidy up the scene, ensuring he handles it thoroughly so that we do not have to clean up after him again. Without waiting for a response, Yi Zhongxin thought for a moment and added: By the way, please ask Captain He from the City Patrol to keep an eye on this wooden man; it would be best if he returned home as well

As he watched the horse-drawn carriage gradually recede into the distance towards the southern city, Jiang Yicao bent slightly, raising his head to see the sunlight spreading across the sky, the air pure and untainted. In the distance, at an unknown household around the street corner, a few branches of blossoming peach flowers reached out. Turning his gaze back to the road in the eastern city, he observed the faces of the pedestrians, all appearing content, while the shouts of the vendors mingled with the rising steam from the porridge shop.

Yet he still argued stubbornly, saying: "Xiao Chou is not someone who uses fists and feet..."

Who exactly is that young man in black? Yi Zhongxin noticed that the senior brother's face was filled with urgency, which left him quite astonished

Jiang Yicao was taken aback and said, "Where does this reasoning come from?"

At this moment, the scene in the supervisory court is quite different.

In the side hall, two grand armchairs were placed side by side, with a brass spittoon resting between them. Two officials were leaning against the grand armchairs, looking at the young man in black before them with no expression whatsoever

How capable are you? You common folk truly lack insight.

Turning around and sitting down, facing the cluttered room and then looking at the mountain of documents piled on the desk, this elderly official, who had never known fear, and who had wasted thirty years of his life in the Inspection Department of the Central Kingdom, suddenly felt a trace of weariness. He absentmindedly wiped his tea-stained hands on his clothes, completely disregarding the tea leaves that were carelessly smeared on the blue garment he had purchased for thirty taels of silver from the Yi family shop.

In the capital of Middle-earth, having been established for several hundred years, it is naturally a place where elegance converges. Coupled with the court's deliberate management over the past several decades, it has gathered the strength of the entire realm to serve this city, resulting in an ever-expanding scale. Aside from the inner city where the imperial palace is located, the western part of the city is primarily a recreational area, and being close to the Tan River, it has thus become a place of romance and leisure. Meanwhile, the bustling area hidden between the residences, known as Erdao Alley, leads to the eastern part of the city, which is a paradise for food lovers, where various aromas have long become a daily delight for the pedestrians of the East City. To the west of this area lies a large expanse of residences inhabited by commoners, making both the eastern and western parts of the capital lively and vibrant. Only the Zhuque Avenue, which connects the northern and southern cities, appears somewhat tranquil, as it is the site of political affairs or the residences of high officials and nobles.

Before the words were finished, a sudden sound was heard, as if something had shattered

Mo Ji looked at him with annoyance, suddenly leaned in closer, and said in a lowered voice: "We will leave tonight, exit through the east gate from Old Wei. Here is the travel pass from the Ministry of War and a letter of recommendation." As she spoke, she stuffed a paper bag into Jiang Yicao's arms, "I will accompany you for the day, and then I will see you off on your journey..."

Mo Ji displayed a perplexed expression, touched Jiang Yicao's forehead, and said: "It is indeed good to drink wine with joy and to the last drop. But you haven't had any wine, so how can you speak of the existential matters that those old wooden fellows discuss?"

Yi Zhongxin serves as the second official of the Supervisory Court. All matters that the Supervisory Court needs to address, as well as the individuals it must deal with, have traditionally been handled by him and his senior colleague, Tang Datang. Naturally, there are countless individuals under their command who are genuinely engaged in these tasks. He has always disliked the feeling of being aloof; not only does he dislike being in a superior position himself, but more importantly, he also dislikes others being in such a position. It is precisely for this reason that he feels he is well-suited for the work of the Supervisory Court. He has always disliked the feeling of being aloof; not only does he dislike being in a superior position himself, but more importantly, he also dislikes others being in such a position. It is precisely for this reason that he feels he is well-suited for the work of the Supervisory Court.

The symbols pile up into smiling faces, just waiting to say a few words

"A person who has wasted twenty years in idleness cannot harm autumn; in the face of this spring scenery, it is surely permissible to lament spring, right?" Jiang Yicao suddenly changed the subject and said sternly, "I will be gone for three years; you must hold on and not entertain any thoughts about my sister... She is only fifteen this year... After I return to the capital, I will think of a way for you."

Mo Ji did not know how to continue the conversation, so he turned and curiously stared at his mouth full of white teeth, asking: "Why do you always show your full set of teeth when you laugh? Knowing that your whiteness is not easy to maintain, is it really necessary to do so?"

"Do not speak of reason," Mo Ji lowered his voice to a whisper, "It is just that if you are not by my side today, I fear..."

The sun has reached its zenith, and although the courtyard of the Inspection Institute is shaded by trees all around, it still cannot conceal the slight warmth of early spring that slowly seeps out from between the bamboo

The old man coughed lightly and said gently, "Foolish child, your heart is too chaotic; how can you achieve victory on this ground?"

He is merely a magistrate of the Inspection Court, a fifth-rank official, which truly cannot be considered as being in a position of great authority

He, however, added with lingering interest: "A pot of pancakes contains fifteen pieces; the two of them, master and servant, each hold one to nibble on, leaving exactly thirteen, all strung on the sword."

While lost in thought, Fang realized the meaning of these words, but then heard the young man say: "This must be the accounting expert that our two esteemed officials have been eagerly wanting to meet?" As he spoke, he smiled and gestured towards the young man in black.

In fact, this is not a flaw; others often say that the sons of wealthy families do not sit in the hall of the common people. However, when it comes to Jiang Yicao, although he has only a few copper coins to his name, he has always been close to influential figures while remaining distant from danger. In the eyes of certain individuals, he is akin to a Chinese toon tree that forever hides in the shade.

What nonsense are you talking about

"After all, the young have walked the path, and they understand this principle," Fu Yan quickly replied. When he saw the frail old man slowly placing the cracked teapot on the table, with steam still rising from the scalding hot tea, he was momentarily stunned and quickly added, "If there is anything inappropriate, may heaven strike me down!"

A person hurriedly stepped into the side hall and cupped his hands, saying: "My lord ... ... "

Fuyan was taken aback when he saw the emaciated magistrate wave his hand and say, "Alright, let's leave it at that." He then stood up and bowed slightly to himself. Fuyan couldn't help but feel flattered and was at a loss for what to do.

Tang Datang nodded slightly and clasped his hands, saying: "You have worked hard, no need to see you off." He watched Fu Yan slowly exit the courtyard, a cold smile forming in his heart as he thought: "This old master of the West City certainly has a high level of skill in disguise."

Some people in Xicheng are not really bad individuals, especially those young ones; they are just trying to make a living. However, the issues caused by the Inspection Department in the south are truly concerning, and I appreciate your efforts. The officials of the Supervisory Court are quite remarkable; they can even pick out a sesame seed from three years ago concerning a small person like me... Jiang Yicao smiled, revealing a full set of white teeth. The officials of the Supervisory Court are quite remarkable; they can even pick out a sesame seed from three years ago concerning a small person like me... Jiang Yicao smiled, revealing a full set of white teeth

In the back garden, the shade of the trees is spread all around, interspersed with flowers and grass, creating an exceptionally tranquil atmosphere. A winding pebble path meanders through the grass, leading directly to a small pavilion beside the pond. Inside the pavilion, an elderly man and a young boy are engaged in a game of chess. The sunlight slants in, casting a faint halo over the black and white pieces on the stone surface.

The supervisory court does not engage with the common people, but only with officials, and the interactions are often of a negative nature. For instance, when a certain minister is found to possess items that do not rightfully belong to him, or when a general is accused of egregious misconduct, the supervisory court begins to engage with them. Moreover, generally from that point onward, the individuals involved can no longer expect to continue their dealings with others.

"Distant from danger yet close to the great man," in this saying, the so-called great man refers to the son of the Grand Scholar and concurrently the Chief Inspector of the Censorate, Mo Yan, known as Mo Daren. He is none other than the handsome young man sitting on the steps of Tianxiang Tower, lost in thought alongside Jiang Yicao.

Tang Fengbin coughed impatiently

Upon looking down at the ground, he saw that a piece of blue brick had already cracked with several small fissures. He could not help but feel a great shock in his heart, muttering under his breath in a rather unrefined manner: "This old fellow, appearing so bloated and feeble, how could he possess such great strength..."

Jiang Yicao advised, "Since this is the case, you may go ahead first, and I will wait here."

Without mentioning any of that, I just want to know who that... that master is.

The matter has not been resolved, esteemed gentlemen

Fuyan was taken aback, thinking to himself that among his brothers, although there were a few who secretly transformed gold, those were all stolen gold and silver, so how could it be related to the gold shop?

Jiang Yicao is not a celebrity. At least before the day he left Beijing, no one among the nobility and gentry of the capital knew his name. However, in a certain sense, he was quite well-known; for instance, in the Inspection Department and the City Patrol Department where he once worked, some old soldiers, long after Jiang Yicao's name had become famous, still remembered a young man in the office who was very afraid of death, though they did not realize that he was just like them.

The old man raised his eyes, staring at Mo Ji in front of him. A hint of anger briefly appeared in his gaze, but it quickly turned to confusion, ultimately transforming into endless pity and an undeniable sense of regret. Mo Ji, however, smiled as he looked at his respected father, his eyes clear and devoid of any mixed emotions, only reflecting a deep-seated stubbornness. The old man waved his somewhat emaciated hand, then tucked it into his sleeve. Mo Ji's expression showed no joy or anger; he merely clasped his hands together, and with a movement of his body, a gentle breeze swept through the garden, and he leaped directly over the courtyard wall.

Fu Yan smiled and said, "What a ridiculous character, I don't know where that kid got his luck from, last year his family sent such an impressive little servant. That kid is called Jiang Yicao, we all call him A Cao, and he has been just hanging around the City Patrol Office for a year, living off his meals and waiting to die"

The person who just entered the room now has the opportunity to interject a remark in front of the two elderly individuals

Today, Master Fu has assisted our institution with a matter, and in the future, there will surely be some reciprocation in the marketplace. However, regarding today's events, I kindly ask that we keep this matter here and refrain from discussing it elsewhere

The term "wooden man" refers to the jargon used within the supervisory court, specifically indicating an individual responsible for concluding the life of the opposing party when it is inconvenient for the court to intervene directly

Mo Ji rarely refrained from rebutting him; instead, he sighed and said, "I always feel that something is strange today, yet I cannot pinpoint what is strange..."

He steadied himself, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and thought to himself that he was merely a petty thug lurking in the corners of Xicheng, unable to escape his underworld identity. His dealings with the authorities had always been limited to the patrol office or the criminal department. Although the inspection office was rumored to be terrifying, it had little to do with him; even if they wanted to involve him, he was not of sufficient importance. With this thought, the anxiety that had hung over him all night eased somewhat. He waved his hand at the young man in black behind him, calling for him to follow.