Cultivating in Different Professions

Chapter 254: Chapter 165: Displaying Might

He had no idea how to control this Nine Dragon True Flame Array.

The moment Wan Qing caught the Command Flag, the flames that were about to devour him immediately and obediently retreated.

He let out a sigh of relief, then waved the Command Flag with a grim expression.

The flames surrounding the other white-haired Taiping Captains also receded.

The white-haired Captains were a sorry sight. Their hair and eyebrows had been completely burned away, and their Brocade and Ink Shirts were in tatters. If not for the defensive properties of the embroidery on the chest, they would have been forced to run around naked.

"Lao Wan, if you’d been any slower, we’d have been cooked well-done,"

an old Captain said.

"You’re the useless one. Why blame me?"

Wan Qing retorted sarcastically.

"How much damn stronger are you than me? If it weren’t for Xiaosu, you’d be a pile of ash right now."

The old Captain muttered with a twist of his lips.

This was just how these old-timers interacted—by trading barbs.

On the battlefield, they would entrust their lives to one another, but in times of peace, you couldn’t expect them to get along.

Bickering was the least of it. Back in the city, they’d get into a brawl every few days.

"Master Wan, we should probably break this Array first,"

Su Mu said with a smile.

These old men were at the end of their ropes. Even though the flames were out, they were all injured, and the intense heat of their surroundings was still taking its toll.

Wan Qing now hung on Su Mu’s every word. He gave him an indulgent smile.

"Watch me."

Holding the Command Flag, Wan Qing began chanting an incantation.

He took a few steps forward, a few more sideways, then squatted and used his steel saber to dig a half-foot-wide, white jade disk out of the ground.

VMM!

After he fiddled with it for a moment, the white jade disk began to glow. In an instant, the sea of flames was sucked into it. The light shield then began to contract, finally retracting back into the disk as well.

"What a find."

Wan Qing patted the white jade disk, a smile spreading across his face.

"This Array Plate is just as valuable as the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow. Keep it safe. You never know when it might come in handy."

Wan Qing said casually, handing the white jade disk and the Command Flag to Su Mu.

They were Su Mu’s spoils of war, after all.

Su Mu didn’t refuse, accepting the white jade disk and the Command Flag.

He turned his head and saw the white-haired Taiping Captains venting their rage on Qi Wuyong’s corpse.

"Poor Old Huang... a hero his entire life, only to die at the hands of a scoundrel like this."

Wan Qing spat on the ground twice before striding over to Qi Wuyong’s corpse and giving it two vicious kicks.

"Qi Wuyong! Ninth on the Fugitive Hunt List!"

Wan Qing snorted. "Even a bottom-feeder like him dares to kick the Taiping Bureau while we’re down? Does he really think we’re finished?"

Wan Qing’s expression was grim.

In the past, fugitives on that list would give anyone from the Taiping Bureau a wide berth. Who would have dared to provoke us intentionally?

The Taiping Bureau was their nemesis!

But ever since the two Marquises fell and the Imperial Court established the Inspection Bureau, all sorts of scum have been crawling out of the woodwork to challenge the Taiping Bureau.

Looking at Qi Wuyong’s corpse, Su Mu also sensed the change.

’I remember when I first joined the Taiping Bureau... how glorious were those days?’

’The four great families of Wuling City’s Inner City were polite and respectful even to a Taiping Capital Captain.’

’Fugitives on the Hunt List wouldn’t have dared show their faces in front of anyone from the Taiping Bureau.’

’And now? Now this Qi Wuyong had the gall to challenge the Taiping Bureau head-on.’

’Something like this would have been unimaginable in the past.’

’The fall of the two Marquises has had far too great an impact on the Taiping Bureau.’

’If the two Marquises hadn’t suddenly fallen, how would powers like the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect and the Divine Weapon Pavilion have dared to make such audacious demands?’

’And how would the Imperial Court have dared to establish the Inspection Bureau?’

"The two Marquises have fallen, but our Taiping Bureau still has so many Commanders-in-Chief, Governors, Taiping Captains, and Taiping Capital Captains. How dare they," Su Mu said in a low voice.

"You’re right. We may have lost two Marquises, but the Taiping Bureau still has plenty of us left. They underestimate us,"

Wan Qing sneered. "The two Marquises are barely cold in their graves, and those people at court are already scrambling to strip the Taiping Bureau of its power.

"They have no idea. We in the Taiping Bureau have never cared about that kind of power."

"Without the Taiping Bureau, would they be able to spend their days in decadent peace?"

"If they truly provoke the Taiping Bureau, they’ll find out exactly what kind of entity they’re messing with!"

Another old Captain also sneered.

The Taiping Bureau’s authority was never a gift from anyone. It was earned by every single member, top to bottom, with blood and steel.

Su Mu shook his head. ’When it comes to the power struggles of the higher-ups, I’m just a lowly Taiping Capital Captain. I can’t concern myself with all that.’

’As long as they don’t come looking for trouble with me.’

’If they do, I won’t go easy on them.’

’Qi Wuyong is a perfect example.’

"Master Wan, I recall that apprehending criminals from the Fugitive Hunt List is one of the Taiping Bureau’s duties, isn’t it?

"Qi Wuyong was ranked ninth on that list. Does killing him count as a meritorious deed?"

Su Mu asked, stroking his chin.

"Of course."

Wan Qing nodded. "Not only was he the ninth-ranked fugitive on the Hunt List, but he also murdered a Taiping Captain. He nearly killed the rest of us, too."

"Qi Wuyong’s Cultivation was at the Rebirth Realm, making his strength equivalent to a Tier Two Demon."

"For a Taiping Capital Captain to slay a Tier Two Demon single-handedly..."

Wan Qing’s expression became troubled.

"If a Taiping Captain slays a Tier Two Demon on their own, they earn two thousand merit points."

"But for a Taiping Capital Captain..."

"Normally, it’s virtually impossible for a Taiping Capital Captain to handle a Tier Two Demon alone."

"If a Taiping Capital Captain runs into a Tier Two Demon by themself, death is almost certain."

"To actually succeed in killing one... while not quite enough for a special commendation, it’s very close."

"What are you hemming and hawing for?"

one of the old Captains interjected. "Xiaosu did all this, and it’s not worth ten thousand merit points?

"He saved all us old geezers! And he avenged Old Huang!"

"I’d say even ten thousand points is too little!"

"I was considering whether we could apply for another special commendation for him,"

Wan Qing said, rolling his eyes at the man.

The old Captains glanced at the collar of Su Mu’s Official Uniform.

Su Mu’s uniform was identical to that of any other Taiping Capital Captain, with one exception: an embroidered cloud pattern on his collar.

It was the symbol of a special commendation.

Anyone who earned a special commendation was entitled to have the cloud pattern embroidered on their collar.

One cloud pattern for each special commendation.

It was a mark of honor.

With that cloud pattern, even though Su Mu was only a Taiping Capital Captain, he wasn’t required to salute Taiping Captains, or even Governors.

This wasn’t a privilege but a point of honor, a sign of the respect the entire Taiping Bureau held for battlefield achievements.

Two cloud patterns...

The old men’s breathing grew heavy.

In the entire history of the Wuling Taiping Bureau, no one had ever had two cloud patterns on their collar.

"Our lives aren’t that important. I’m afraid saving a few old geezers isn’t enough for another special commendation,"

Wan Qing said, finally coming back to his senses and shaking his head.

Su Mu had received his last special commendation for turning the tide and saving Wuling City from a Tier Five Demon Tide.

This incident was minor in comparison.

The ninth-ranked fugitive on the Hunt List was nothing compared to a Tier Five Demon Tide.

"Let’s do this: I’ll approve it for fifteen thousand merit points,"

Wan Qing said thoughtfully.

"The number of merit points isn’t important. I only did what needed to be done,"

Su Mu said calmly. Even though fifteen thousand merit points were more than an ordinary Taiping Capital Captain could earn in a year, he remained completely unfazed.

He only cared about one thing.

"Master Wan, seeing as I’ve now broken through to the Rebirth Realm and have the required merit, can I be promoted to Taiping Captain?"

Su Mu said with a serious expression, "I remember the Taiping Bureau’s rules: to be promoted to Taiping Captain, one must meet the requirements for either strength or merit. I believe I am ready to take on more responsibility."

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