Chapter 30: Refusal (Please keep reading, add to favorites, and vote with monthly tickets and recommendation votes)

Su Mu did not reject the idea of taking sides.

In this world—not to mention this chaotic era, but even in the world of his previous life—forming cliques and engaging in nepotism was a common occurrence everywhere.

However, not rejecting taking sides did not mean he wouldn't reject being a dog.

If he were to take a side, he would choose a team with shared ideals, or at least one that treated him with sufficient respect.

Clearly, He Yuxing did not view him as an entity worthy of equal treatment.

He had simply tossed him a piece of meat and shouted, "Hey, come and eat."

If Su Mu had wagged his tail and accepted, he would have been nothing more than a dog for the He family from then on.

For an ordinary constable, having the chance to serve as a dog for the He family was indeed an opportunity.

By agreeing, he would not only gain a beautiful wife but also be promoted to a squad leader immediately.

Furthermore, with the He family as his backer, there would even be hope of eventually becoming a head constable.

It was equivalent to a wide, smooth road being laid out before him.

He Yuxing could not imagine any reason for Su Mu to refuse.

A constable of peasant origin would, under normal circumstances, likely never even make it to squad leader in his lifetime, let alone head constable.

He stood with his hands behind his back, looking down on Su Mu from a position of superiority, waiting for Su Mu to kneel and express his gratitude.

"Many thanks for the Sima's kindness."

Su Mu bowed slightly and cupped his hands in a respectful salute.

A smile appeared on He Yuxing's face. As expected, no one could resist the temptation of power.

However, in the next moment, the smile froze on his face.

"But without established achievements, how can one start a family?"

Su Mu continued, "Your subordinate is neither accomplished in letters nor martial arts, and has no achievements to speak of. I am currently in no position to start a family."

"Are you rejecting me?"

He Yuxing asked, his face filled with disbelief.

"Your subordinate has dedicated his life to the martial path and has no desire to marry," Su Mu said solemnly. "Therefore, I can only fail to accept the Sima's kindness."

He Yuxing's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in them as he stared fixedly at Su Mu.

Su Mu sighed inwardly. *If you had said you'd marry your daughter to me, I might have considered it. But a maidservant—it's not that I look down on people, but you're clearly making it obvious that you want me to work like an ox or a horse for you. I'm not an idiot; there's no way I'd agree.*

He also knew that by rejecting the olive branch He Yuxing had extended, he had certainly offended him. At worst, He Yuxing might smash a cup as a signal, and five hundred axemen would rush in from outside to hack him to death on the spot...

Su Mu heightened his vigilance. If He Yuxing truly made a sudden move, he might have to stage a "commoner's rage" and spill blood in a desperate struggle.

Escape was impossible, but at such close range, there was a slight hope he could drag He Yuxing down with him.

Just as these thoughts flashed through Su Mu's mind, He Yuxing finally spoke.

"To each their own ambitions. Since that is the case, this Sima will not force you. You may leave," He Yuxing said in a cold tone.

Su Mu left He Yuxing's office with a heavy heart, only letting out a long sigh of relief once he returned to the constables' quarters.

*Am I overestimating myself? A mere constable... a dignified Sima of the South City probably truly doesn't take me seriously. Recruiting me was likely just a whim; even after being rejected, he probably didn't think much of it,* Su Mu thought to himself. *While I can forget about being highly valued, he probably won't bother wasting the effort to target me.*

Though he was reluctant to admit it, Su Mu knew that he was currently just an ordinary constable. If it hadn't been for the coincidence of killing several criminals on the wanted list, Sima He Yuxing probably wouldn't even know who he was.

As Su Mu was thinking, the acting head constable, Zhao Ji, walked in.

"Little Su, what business did the Sima have summoning you?" Zhao Ji asked, feigning casualness.

Ever since Su Mu had gone to see the Sima, Zhao Ji had been secretly watching the situation. As soon as Su Mu returned, he immediately pretended to be patrolling the quarters and walked over.

"The Sima said he has a maidservant in his manor around my age and wants to bestow her upon me as a wife," Su Mu said casually.

The smile on Zhao Ji's face stiffened for a split second, but he quickly recovered, maintaining his cheerful demeanor.

"Brother Su, from the first moment I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary man," Zhao Ji said, patting Su Mu on the shoulder. "I have been observing you these past few days. I believe that with your ability, even becoming a squad leader would be more than enough!"

A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Su Mu's face. *Out of the frying pan and into the fire? He Yuxing is unprincipled, but does Zhao Ji have an eye for talent?*

"Thank you for the promotion, Head Constable!" Su Mu cupped his hands. He certainly wouldn't refuse the chance to be a squad leader; after all, the higher the rank, the more points he would earn daily.

"Hey! Don't call me Head Constable, call me Big Brother!" Zhao Ji said, intentionally pulling a stern face as if pretending to be angry.

"Brother... Zhao?" Su Mu hesitated and said weakly.

"That's more like it!" Zhao Ji said with a chuckle. "We're on the same side, no need to be so formal. You're just lucky, little brother. By marrying a maid from the He manor, you'll become one of the Sima's own people in the future. Your prospects are limitless. Perhaps in three or five years, you'll even become my superior."

"Brother Zhao overpraises me," Su Mu replied.

"I've visited the Sima's manor a few times myself. I wonder which lady the Sima bestowed upon you? Perhaps I've even met your future wife," Zhao Ji said.

"I don't know," Su Mu shrugged and spread his hands. "I rejected the Sima's kindness, so I didn't ask about such things."

"You—" Zhao Ji blinked. "You rejected the Sima?"

"Yes. I am still young and my martial arts are not yet accomplished. I have no thoughts of starting a family right now," Su Mu said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Brother Zhao, I recall that squad leaders have their own jurisdictions. Where is mine?" Su Mu asked.

"What 'Brother'!" Zhao Ji snapped, snorting coldly. "Use official titles when working!"

"Young people need to be down-to-earth. Don't always think about taking shortcuts. You've only been a constable for a few days and you're already thinking about being a squad leader? Do you even have the ability? Be a good constable first and stop being so ambitious! If you don't want to be a constable, then get lost and go be a runner!"

After a burst of scolding, Zhao Ji turned and walked away, flicking his sleeves.

"Please calm your anger, Head Constable! Safe travels, Head Constable!" Su Mu called out loudly, not taking Zhao Ji's words to heart at all.

Once Zhao Ji's figure disappeared, the smile on Su Mu's face gradually faded. He couldn't help but sigh.

*The trees want to be still, but the wind will not stop.*

He just wanted to do his job properly; why was it so difficult?

"It must be that my strength is not yet sufficient," Su Mu muttered to himself. "If I were already a Body Tempering realm martial artist, what could He Yuxing or Zhao Ji do to me? If this place doesn't want me, there are plenty of other places."

A Body Tempering martial artist could do much more; even if he didn't serve as a constable, there would be plenty of ways to earn a living.

"Anyway, Zhao Ji can't just dismiss my post arbitrarily. I'll focus on my duties for now, accumulate enough points, and master the Wave-Subduing Saber Technique first." Su Mu set a small goal for himself.

"Brother Zhang San, is it your turn for night patrol tonight? Do you have matters at home that require me to cover for you?"

Just as he was thinking, he saw a constable walking in and immediately spoke up.

The constable, Zhang San, looked delighted and nodded like a pecking chicken. "You'll really cover for me? Thank you so much!"