Chapter 57: Two Identities (Please follow, favorite, monthly tickets, and recommendation votes)

Report it to the Taiping Bureau?

Should I tell you that I am currently an intern at the Taiping Bureau?

A murmur rose in Su Mu's heart. He had only just become an intern at the Taiping Bureau, and he was immediately running into demon disturbances?

Was this good luck, or bad?

"Headman Zheng, are you certain the case in Wulimiao Village is related to demons?" Su Mu asked, looking at Zheng Wang.

"Who can be certain? It's not like we saw it with our own eyes." Zheng Wang shook his head and said, "But as constables, we can sense something. Haven't you noticed that none of the other headmen are willing to take this case? That man named Zhao wouldn't go himself; he's just taking advantage of your inexperience to dump the case on you."

Solving a homicide was a great achievement for a constable. If it were an easy case, everyone would be fighting to take it; who would shirk the responsibility?

"Little Su, let me give you a suggestion. Do this: head out of the city for a stroll, put on an act, and when you come back, just say you couldn't find the killer. At most, you'll get a scolding from the Sima and have two months' salary docked. That's still better than losing your life," Zheng Wang advised.

"Thank you, Headman Zheng. I understand," Su Mu said, cupping his hands in respect.

After bidding farewell to Zheng Wang, Su Mu did not leave the city immediately. Instead, he returned to his seat and opened the case file in front of him.

While he appeared to be browsing the file, his attention was actually focused on the system panel before his eyes.

【Name: Su Mu】 【Identity: Constable Headman / Taiping Bureau White-Clad (9th Grade)】 【Points: 0】 【Cultivation Methods: Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method (Consummate), Black Jade Skin Tempering Method (Entry-level)】 【Martial Arts: Fubo Saber Technique (Consummate), Archery (Entry-level)】

Looking at the contents of the panel, Su Mu fell into deep thought.

In the identity column, besides his original role as a Constable Headman, there was now an additional identity as a Taiping Bureau White-Clad.

"The 9th Grade is the rank, while Headman and White-Clad are the actual positions. Does the system panel also use a parallel system for rank and position?"

He had originally thought that identities were mutually exclusive, but it seemed that while there could only be one rank, there could be multiple actual positions.

"With two identities, I can collect two salaries. I wonder if I can earn two sets of points?" Su Mu felt a sense of anticipation.

He turned his attention to the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method, and a prompt surfaced in his mind.

To advance the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method from Entry-level to Minor Success required 50 points; from Minor Success to Great Success required 150 points; and from Great Success to Consummate required 500 points.

This was exactly half the points required when he had upgraded the Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method. It was likely because he already had experience with skin tempering, making it naturally easier to practice the method a second time.

"If both identities can earn points, then it won't be long before I can cultivate this Black Jade Skin Tempering Method to the Consummate realm. By then, even if my skin can't match Wei Yongfu's innate bronze skin, it shouldn't be far off," Su Mu thought to himself. He withdrew the panel and refocused his gaze on the case file.

"Zheng Wang is an experienced old headman. Since he said the Wulimiao Village homicide is related to demons, there is a high probability that it truly is."

Su Mu flipped through the file, reading carefully. "If I were just an ordinary headman, my best choice would be to report it to the Taiping Bureau and have them dispatch a Taiping Commandant or even a Taiping Lieutenant to handle it. But I am not."

"I am a White-Clad of the Taiping Bureau myself. If there is a suspected demon, and I seek help without doing anything first, it will definitely affect the Bureau's evaluation of me."

"If I don't even have the courage to face a demon, then I am not fit to be in the Taiping Bureau. Back then, Lin Qihuan gave me a chance because of my courage. If I don't even have the courage to investigate now, I'm afraid he will give up on me directly."

As Su Mu scanned the file, his mind raced.

Even if he were to request reinforcements, he first had to confirm whether the events in Wulimiao Village were truly related to demons, and ideally, find a way to determine the demon's strength. If it truly exceeded his ability to handle, then seeking help would be perfectly reasonable.

The file recorded that in the past six months, exactly six people had died in Wulimiao Village—an average of one person per month.

"One person a month. The most recent one died the day before yesterday."

The file was quite clear: the causes of death for these six people were not the same. Some had died from accidental falls, some from beast attacks, and two had unknown causes of death.

Normally, a few deaths in these times wouldn't be strange. But the strangeness lay in the fact that all six victims were in the prime of their lives and had no prior illnesses.

"A porter, a night watchman, a spring water peddler..."

Su Mu looked at the occupations of the deceased, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

The victims all had legitimate occupations; while not necessarily prestigious, they were enough to ensure a stable livelihood. Was the killer after money? If so, there were plenty of wealthy households in the South City, and these victims clearly didn't have much wealth on them.

If it wasn't for money, was it a personal vendetta? But the six victims had no connection to each other, making it unlikely they shared a common enemy.

Could it really be the work of a demon? But if it were a demon, it wouldn't have stopped at just a few people. Demons are bloodthirsty and cruel, lacking all reason. If a demon truly existed in Wulimiao Village, the entire village would likely have been wiped out by now.

Su Mu read through the file twice more but still couldn't find a clue.

"According to the pattern of deaths, it's basically one person every month. The last victim died only two days ago; the killer shouldn't strike again so soon."

Su Mu rubbed his temples. "There is still time. I can investigate slowly."

He continued to pore over the file until the sun went down, at which point he tucked the file away and returned to the Xu residence—his current home.

In the middle of the night, as Su Mu fell asleep while reading, his biological clock triggered precisely, and his eyes snapped open.

"It's time. Let's see if two identities can actually earn two sets of points."

【Name: Su Mu】 【Identity: Constable Headman / Taiping Bureau White-Clad (9th Grade)】 【Points: 70】 【Cultivation Methods: Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method (Consummate), Black Jade Skin Tempering Method (Entry-level/+)】 【Martial Arts: Fubo Saber Technique (Consummate), Archery (Entry-level)】

In the darkness, Su Mu's eyes lit up.

Seventy points!

It was actually seventy points!

The base points brought by the Headman position daily were twenty. If one performed their duties diligently and maximized their performance, the daily limit was forty. This meant that the identity of a Taiping Bureau White-Clad brought at least thirty points a day.

As expected of an identity tied to a 9th Grade rank. Even without fully performing his duties, the base points alone were at least thirty!

"When you are out in the world, your identity is what you make of it."

A thoughtful expression appeared on Su Mu's face, as if he had found his path. Since two identities worked, could he add even more? For example, a Bounty Hunter...

"I can try for more identities later. For now, I'll upgrade the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method to Minor Success."

With a thought, Su Mu tapped the "+" next to the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method on the system panel.