Chapter 52: Promotion, Ninth-Rank Ironclad Constable

Shi Xin looked Lin Yan up and down, then suddenly said coldly:

"A traitor colluding with the Rong tribe appeared in your Green Mountain City, and you were unaware?"

"My lord, this matter..."

Cold sweat broke out on Lin Yan's forehead as he stammered, trying to explain.

"No need to explain. I have already investigated. Wu Que had a good relationship with you. He is currently supplying Fire Crystal Rock to the Rong tribe, which constitutes the crime of treason."

"When we find him, you will go to the execution ground together."

Shi Xin said indifferently.

Old Zhao and the other constables were slightly startled, a chill rising in their hearts.

Lin Yan hurriedly said, "My lord, Wu Que is not a traitor, he is a Rong tribe spy himself!"

"This time, we worked together to kill his elder brother, Wu Man of the Rong tribe's Giant Spirit Sect!"

Shi Xin was slightly taken aback. "Wu Man of the Giant Spirit Sect? He truly died at your hands? Where?"

"Please look, my lord!"

Lin Yan immediately stepped aside. On the ground behind him lay Wu Man's corpse.

Shi Xin quickly stepped forward with his subordinates to examine it carefully.

After a long while, he said thoughtfully:

"This Wu Man was considered a minor expert, one who had entered a rank. I didn't expect him to die here at your hands.

You say he was Wu Que's younger brother?"

Entered a rank?

Yang Ling's expression shifted.

It seemed the Zhao State had a ranking system for Martial Artists, though he didn't know how it was divided.

"Lord Shi, Wu Man was precisely killed by Constable Yang Ling, Yang Ling."

"He personally admitted to being Wu Que's younger brother."

Lin Yan hurriedly added.

At this moment, all the constables looked towards Yang Ling.

Those who had previously thought he got his position through connections now looked at him with a trace of awe in their eyes.

"Yang Ling, I know of him. He is also involved in this case. Is he currently a constable of the Ironclad Department?"

Shi Xin's expression shifted, his gaze sweeping over those present.

"Who is Yang Ling?"

"Your subordinate Yang Ling, greets Lord Shi!"

Yang Ling stepped forward and bowed in salute.

Shi Xin looked Yang Ling up and down, a faint trace of curiosity appearing in his eyes:

"Wu Man was a registered Ninth-Rank Martial Artist, cultivating the Mixed Iron Technique. When circulating his energy, his entire body became like iron skin, difficult for blades and swords to pierce. How did you kill him?"

Here it comes.

Yang Ling knew that if he didn't answer this question well, things would become troublesome later.

"My lord, at the time, I had Old Zhao return to deliver a message. Wu Man became anxious, and I found an opportunity to use a pickaxe to gouge out both his eyes."

Yang Ling said, cupping his hands.

"Are you a Martial Artist?"

Shi Xin neither confirmed nor denied.

"Yes."

Yang Ling nodded. "I have practiced the Thief-Capturing Saber Technique and the Black Tiger Fist.

The Black Tiger Fist was bestowed upon me by Senior Brother Xu Qing of the Mountain and River Sect."

Lin Yan quickly smiled and added, "My lord, Yang Ling enjoys mining. I've heard he sometimes goes down into the mines for several days at a time.

He has a considerable amount of brute strength."

"Being able to kill Wu Man is not just brute strength. The Mountain and River Sect, hmm..."

Shi Xin thought for a moment, then smiled faintly:

"When I arrived, I heard that on the day Wu Que disappeared, he was with you?"

"That is correct. Wu Que intended to take me to an Ore Competition because I mine quickly.

However, midway, he seemed to have some urgent matter to attend to and left first, telling me to wait where I was.

In the end, I never saw him again.

Later, the Fire Crystal Rock mine had an incident, saying the inventory was short by a full three thousand jin!"

Yang Ling said.

"Earlier, when Wu Man sought you out, what was it for?"

"He came to me asking about Wu Que's whereabouts, saying he was Wu Que's younger brother."

Yang Ling answered honestly:

"I said I didn't know, and then he tried to kill me."

"Wu Que, Wu Man... the Rong tribe has quite a few spies like these. If constables everywhere were like you all, the superiors of the Ironclad Department would be at ease."

Shi Xin said thoughtfully.

Lin Yan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Wu Man's corpse could indeed offset the blame for his negligence.

It was just a pity... he probably wouldn't be able to get a promotion.

"Perform the Thief-Capturing Saber Technique for me to see."

Shi Xin said to Yang Ling with a smile.

Lin Yan's eyes lit up, and he quickly said:

"Yang Ling, Lord Shi wishes to see your skills. You must give it your all!"

Envy flashed in the eyes of the other constables, and they were half-dead with jealousy.

How could they not see that this man had already caught the eye of Shi Xin, an Eighth-Rank Ironclad Constable!

Seeing this, Yang Ling immediately took the new official saber he had just received and began performing the Thief-Capturing Saber Technique.

He did not circulate his energy, but the official saber's +3 Strength bonus brought his Strength to 14 points.

His Thief-Capturing Saber Technique at Beginner's Insight further amplified his Agility by 3 points, bringing his Agility to 8 points.

Thus, his performance was fierce and powerful, making the constables present feel ashamed of their own inferiority.

"Oh? Your Thief-Capturing Saber Technique seems to have reached Beginner's Insight."

Shi Xin was somewhat surprised:

"When did you join our Ironclad Department?"

Lin Yan quickly replied:

"Yang Ling only joined our Ironclad Department about ten days ago."

"Ten days, and you've already trained the Thief-Capturing Saber Technique to Beginner's Insight?"

A trace of admiration appeared in Shi Xin's eyes:

"You truly have talent for martial arts. Very good. Based on your current strength and your merit in slaying Wu Man, you are almost eligible for promotion to Ninth-Rank Ironclad Constable."

At this point, he looked at the other constables present:

"Lin Yan, have them withdraw. Also, search Green Mountain City to see if Wu Man had any accomplices."

"You all go out and search. If you find any clues, report back immediately."

Lin Yan instructed.

Soon, only a few of them remained in the courtyard.

Shi Xin looked thoughtfully at Wu Man's corpse:

"He was a registered Ninth-Rank Martial Artist, yet he died at the hands of a newcomer who just joined the department.

If this is reported truthfully, the higher-ups will probably send someone to Green Mountain City to investigate and verify the facts."

Lin Yan's mind stirred, and he was about to speak when he saw Yang Ling clasp his hands and bow:

"Wu Man clearly died at Lord Shi's hands. This subordinate dare not claim credit!"

"This guy..."

Lin Yan was slightly startled.

Shi Xin looked at Yang Ling, remaining silent for several breaths before slowly nodding:

"Good, good. I happen to need this merit. It might help me get promoted to Seventh-Rank Ironclad Constable."

He paused. "I just said your strength is sufficient for promotion to Ninth Rank, but you still need to go to the higher-level yamen to pass an assessment.

However, that process is too troublesome and cumbersome. I'll handle it for you."

After saying this, he ordered a subordinate to take out a set of ironclad uniform and a new official saber and hand them to Yang Ling.

"This is the official uniform of a Ninth-Rank Ironclad Constable. Although this ironclad uniform is not of high rank, it can still block ordinary blades and spears to some extent."

"And this saber is several times better than the broken blade in your hand."

"Later, I will order someone to register you in the Ironclad Department's records. From then on, you will be a Ninth-Rank Constable of the Ironclad Department."

Shi Xin said with a smile.

「Constable profession has been promoted」

「Insight daily usage count +1」

Yang Ling took a deep breath, received the uniform and official saber with both hands, and knelt on one knee:

"This subordinate thanks my lord for your promotion! If you have any orders in the future, how dare I not exert myself to the death?"

Seeing Yang Ling's demeanor, Shi Xin suddenly laughed heartily:

"Good, very good!"

Lin Yan subconsciously thought that this lord seemed to have said 'good' several times already... that must mean he was truly pleased.

Only then did he react. This kid Yang Ling... he's already a Ninth-Rank Ironclad Constable?

Back in the day, he had toiled for seven or eight years before an opportunity allowed him to get promoted to Ninth Rank...