Chapter 29: Recruitment (Please follow, bookmark, and vote with monthly tickets and recommendation votes)

After a fierce battle, he hadn't even managed to step through the main gates of the Black Dragon Stronghold.

All the gold, silver, and treasures of the Black Dragon Stronghold had been swallowed up by the He family; naturally, there was nothing left for Su Mu.

However, Su Mu did not return empty-handed.

The first and second leaders of the Black Dragon Stronghold had kept nothing of value on their persons at their own doorstep, denying Su Mu the chance to loot their bodies.

But Su Mu had managed to scavenge this silk bundle from Xing Zhaofu.

"He kept it close to his body even when going out of the city to suppress bandits. It must be very important to Xing Zhaofu; it should be something good," Su Mu muttered to himself as he carefully unwrapped the silk bundle.

"A land deed?"

Inside the silk bundle was a ledger. As Su Mu flipped through it, several pieces of paper fell out.

Upon picking them up, a look of disappointment crossed Su Mu's face.

These were deeds to residences in the Inner City. Any single one was worth hundreds of taels. Furthermore, they weren't things one could simply buy if they had the money.

The items were indeed valuable, but to Su Mu, they were as good as scrap paper.

First, the origin of these documents was illicit; second, not just anyone could enter the Inner City.

As he was now unable to even pass through the gates of the Inner City, dreaming of living there was nothing more than a fool's fantasy. It would be impossible to liquidate these assets even if he wanted to.

He casually flipped through the ledger again; it was a record of the wealth Xing Zhaofu had accumulated and the bribes he had paid over the years.

The contents were an eye-opener for Su Mu.

In the years Xing Zhaofu had served as the Head Constable, his least profitable year still saw an income of over a thousand taels, and the amount of silver he distributed annually was equally staggering.

After flipping through it a few times, Su Mu tossed the ledger directly into the brazier, watching as the flames consumed it.

He hesitated for a moment but did not throw the land deeds into the fire. Instead, he re-wrapped them in the silk and tucked them under his bed.

Just in case he ever gained the qualifications to enter the Inner City one day.

…………

Half a month passed in a flash.

The news of the Black Dragon Stronghold's destruction caused no ripples in the South City. The common folk were busy struggling for food and clothing every day; who would care about a band of mountain bandits outside the city?

To Su Mu's surprise, within the South City Bureau, the suppression of the Black Dragon Stronghold seemed as if it had never happened. Even Xing Zhaofu's death appeared to be of no concern to anyone.

As for the position of Head Constable, it was being temporarily filled by a squad leader named Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji had no personal grievances with Su Mu, so he naturally did not make things difficult for him. Su Mu reported for duty and patrolled the streets on schedule every day, living a peaceful and leisurely life.

Without realizing it, he had already accumulated 200 points.

One day, just as Su Mu returned from his patrol, Zhao Ji, acting as the temporary Head Constable, sent someone to summon him.

"Su Mu greets the Head Constable," Su Mu said, cupping his hands.

In a hierarchy where everyone has their place, even though Zhao Ji wasn't the official Head Constable, Su Mu wouldn't dare disrespect the title.

Sure enough, a smile appeared on Zhao Ji's face as he gave a slight nod. He sized Su Mu up, feeling a bit puzzled. He didn't have a strong impression of this Su Mu, only remembering that whenever they crossed paths, this young constable was always extremely respectful.

He wondered why Lord Sima had summoned him.

"Little Su, I heard you come from a family of refugees?" Zhao Ji said, patting Su Mu on the shoulder. "Do you have any relatives in Wuling City?"

"To answer the Head Constable, I have no relatives in Wuling City," Su Mu replied with a shake of his head.

"I see," Zhao Ji said thoughtfully. "Do you know why Lord Sima wishes to see you?"

"Lord Sima wants to see me?" Su Mu's face showed a look of shock. "Head Constable, I have always been diligent in my duties and never dared to be negligent. Please, you must stand up for me!"

Seeing the panic on Su Mu's face, which did not seem feigned, Zhao Ji smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. I saw Lord Sima in a good mood; he likely doesn't intend to punish you. Go on, go see him. If anything truly happens, I will testify on your behalf."

Su Mu bowed in agreement. Leaving Zhao Ji's office, he walked through several corridors and arrived at the place where Sima He Yuxing usually conducted his business.

After announcing his arrival and waiting for half an hour, Su Mu finally stood before He Yuxing.

"I know everything you did," He Yuxing said, getting straight to the point.

"What are you saying, Lord Sima? I do not understand. I am merely a lowly constable; I only know how to perform my duties and nothing else. I do not know what matter you are referring to," Su Mu said.

He Yuxing looked at him for a long while before saying slowly, "You are very clever. That is good. The Outer City is a chaotic place; only clever people can live long. Regarding the matter of the Black Dragon Stronghold, I have not yet bestowed any rewards upon you. Do you have any grievances?"

"The Black Dragon Stronghold? What matter regarding the Black Dragon Stronghold?" Su Mu said blankly. "Wasn't the Black Dragon Stronghold already wiped out by the He family's eldest young master? What else could there be?"

"Haha!"

He Yuxing gave Su Mu a meaningful look and suddenly burst into laughter. "Su Mu, do you want to become a squad leader?"

Su Mu knew that He Yuxing was preparing to use benefits to shut his mouth. This was how great families operated. If everyone acted like Xing Zhaofu and resorted to killing people to silence them, how many people would have to die? Even if they didn't care, it would still be a hassle.

For families of such status, any problem that could be solved with silver was not a problem at all.

As long as the benefits were sufficient, Su Mu wouldn't mind if the He family claimed his merits as their own. In any case, with his current status, even if he held the credit for slaying the three leaders of the Black Dragon Stronghold, it would be useless. In this world, merit alone without strength would not lead to promotion.

Besides, his killing the three leaders was a stroke of luck. Even if he were truly promoted to Head Constable due to his merits, his current strength would be unworthy of the position; he wouldn't be able to suppress the unruly gangs of the South City.

In short, as long as the rewards were enough, everything was negotiable.

"I once heard someone say that a soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier," Su Mu said solemnly. "I believe a constable who doesn't want to be a squad leader is not a good constable either."

"Haha!"

He Yuxing laughed again, and this time the laughter held a bit more sincerity. "Su Mu, do you know why I am able to be the Sima of this South City?"

Without waiting for Su Mu to answer, he continued, "Because my surname is He! I am a member of the He family from the Inner City. Therefore, even if I do not practice martial arts, I can still serve as the South City Sima. If you want to be a squad leader, it is merely a matter of a single word from me. In fact, with one word, I could make you the Head Constable of the South City."

Su Mu was slightly stunned. This was beyond his expectations. Was He Yuxing so magnanimous that he would make him Head Constable directly?

Should he refuse? Or should he accept?

For a moment, Su Mu found it difficult to choose. Being a Head Constable was certainly a good thing, but his current strength was insufficient; he might easily fail...

"But, on what basis?"

Just as Su Mu's mind was racing, He Yuxing continued, "Your surname is not He. On what basis should I promote you?"

Looking at He Yuxing, Su Mu's expression immediately became conflicted. A thought flashed through his mind: *Half a life of drifting...*

"I have a maid in my household. She is of a similar age to you and quite good-looking. Since you are currently unmarried, I intend to betroth her to you as your wife. What do you think?" He Yuxing said, shifting the topic abruptly.

Su Mu's thoughts raced, and he instantly understood He Yuxing's meaning. A maid from a great family like this was either the master's kept woman or would be bestowed upon a servant or guard as a wife.

He Yuxing wanted him to take a side.

If he agreed, he would become He Yuxing's lackey. Though he wouldn't bear the He name, he would be one of the He family's people, and would naturally be given importance and promotion.

Su Mu had thought that a day would come when he would need to take a side, but he hadn't expected it to come so soon!

He was just a lowly constable; why was he being forced to make such a choice?