Chapter 78: You Need to Be More Ambitious

Another day passed, and the turmoil surrounding the Snake Gang gradually subsided in Green Mountain City.

Apart from the news of Qi Dalong's death on the first day, which caused some fear and panic among various parties, they later discovered that the Ironclad Department was only targeting Rong tribe spies, which put them at ease.

However, after this incident, Yang Ling's name was deeply etched into their hearts.

This newly appointed Chief Constable of Green Mountain City, a Ninth-Rank Ironclad Constable, possessed such formidable strength that he was probably the strongest Chief Constable in Green Mountain City's history!

Early this morning, Yang Ling had just finished cultivating the Vajra Bright King Technique. He thought that if there were no other matters, he would take Chen Xu and the others back to the Vermilion Gold Mine to continue leveling up.

"I'm currently Level 28, ranked first on the Divine Realm Level Ranking. Lin Caiyi, who is second, is still only Level 26, same as before, and the levels of the others have hardly changed either."

"The higher you go, the more Experience Points you need to level up. Without means to increase the speed of gaining Experience Points, the leveling speed will inevitably slow down."

"Lin Caiyi and the others will be lucky to level up once in the next seven or eight days."

"Even so, I'll first rush to Level 30 to get the treasure chest."

In the government office, Yang Ling and Lin Yan were having breakfast together.

"After this meal, I'm heading to the prefectural capital. I've already been delayed a few days because of this Snake Gang matter. If I don't go soon, I'm afraid it will displease my superiors," Lin Yan said while eating a steamed bun, then picked up a bowl of soy milk and drank it all in one go.

Yang Ling smiled and said, "Boss, don't forget about us brothers when you go to the prefectural capital."

"How could I forget?" Lin Yan's somewhat aged face was full of smiles, the wrinkles forming deep furrows. "To be honest, Xiao Yang, you are truly my lucky star. If it weren't for you, I'd probably be spending my retirement in Green Mountain City for the rest of my life. Where would I get the chance to go to the prefectural capital and see the wider world?"

"Boss, Green Mountain City is also a good place. If possible, I'd like to retire here too," Yang Ling said with a laugh.

He meant this from the bottom of his heart. If there were no other conflicts, he would just mine, level up, and practice martial arts here.

There's food, there's entertainment, nothing is lacking.

Retiring here would truly be a wonderful thing for him.

Perhaps sensing the sincerity in Yang Ling's words, Lin Yan felt a bit emotional. "You kid, your martial arts are so strong, yet you lack the arrogance and impatience of your peers. At such a young age, you're already thinking about retiring in Green Mountain City. I don't know whether to praise you or say you lack ambition."

"Of course it's lacking ambition!" A familiar voice came from outside the door.

Yang Ling and Lin Yan exchanged a glance, immediately wiped their mouths, stood up, and looked towards Shi Xin.

This time, Shi Xin had brought several dozen men with him.

Each had an exceptional bearing. Although they were also constables, they appeared more elite and formidable than the constables of Green Mountain City.

"Lord Shi!" Yang Ling and Lin Yan both clasped their fists in salute.

"I've been traveling all night, so it's good to have something warm to eat. Let's talk after eating," Shi Xin said without ceremony, sitting down to eat breakfast while also letting his subordinates go find food for themselves.

Halfway through the meal, he began speaking.

"After receiving the news sent by Lin Yan, the entire Ironclad Department of Changhe Prefectural Capital was shocked. No one expected the Snake Gang of Green Mountain City to be controlled by Rong tribe spies. This shows the Rong tribe's infiltration of us is becoming increasingly brazen. This news was also sent to the capital at the same time."

"Additionally, regarding the merit you earned this time, the Director of the First Division of the Inspection Department has written words of commendation, which were also sent to the capital."

Lin Yan was extremely excited, his face glowing with delight.

"Last time I earned merit, and now I am the Director of the Second Division of the Public Security Department in Changhe Prefectural Capital. This time, as long as we transport the corpses of Tie Xinghu and Qi Dalong back to Changhe Prefectural Capital, I estimate I can firmly secure this position, and in the future, I might even have a chance to replace the Director of the First Division."

Shi Xin looked at Yang Ling with a smile. "Lin Yan said you don't want to leave Green Mountain City for now, so you gave the credit to him and me again this time."

"Lord Shi, I..."

"No need to say more, I understand. You just need to know I won't let you suffer a loss," Shi Xin said with a smile.

Yang Ling grinned, then asked curiously, "Lord Shi, your martial arts are so formidable, yet your current position seems to be about the same as Boss Lin's..."

"Xiao Yang, what nonsense are you talking!" Lin Yan was startled.

Shi Xin waved his hand with a laugh. "He hasn't been in the official circles before, so of course he doesn't know the intricacies here."

Then he looked at Yang Ling. "Let me put it this way. Lin Yan's position as Director of the Third Division of the Inspection Department is, at most, considered Eighth-Rank. But the Directors of the Public Security Department all start at Seventh-Rank. The Director of the First Division is even Sixth-Rank. This depends on the military force under one's control. The martial power of the Ironclad Department in Changhe Prefectural Capital is basically under the control of the Public Security Department. To get promoted within the Ironclad Department, you ultimately have to spend time in the Public Security Department. Understand?"

"So that's how it is. This humble official understands!" Yang Ling had a moment of realization.

It seems the Public Security Department really is the most powerful department.

The Bandit Apprehension Division and the Inspection Department are both beneath it.

"Good that you understand. Tie Xinghu was a registered, Ranked Eighth-Rank expert. You single-handedly killed him this time. Your strength far exceeds what I imagined," Shi Xin said with a meaningful smile.

"You hid your strength before, probably because you were afraid someone would covet your martial arts path. But now that you are a Ninth-Rank Ironclad Constable, you don't need to fear these things. What do we have the most of in the Ironclad Department? Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts Techniques! The capable take precedence! The reason I personally came to Green Mountain City this time is to transport back the corpses of Tie Xinghu and Qi Dalong, and also to inventory their family wealth. You come back to Changhe Prefectural Capital with me."

Yang Ling's expression changed slightly.

Shi Xin laughed. "Why so anxious? I'm just taking you to Changhe Prefectural Capital to get registered and attain a Ranked Level. With your strength, if you remain unregistered, do you want to rebel? If someone intentionally uses this matter to cause trouble for you, you'll have a headache for a while. So get registered and attain a Ranked Level as soon as possible. As for your position, you'll still be the Chief Constable of Green Mountain City, unchanged for now."

Yang Ling immediately felt relieved in his heart.

As long as he wasn't transferred away.

If he went somewhere else, where would he find a good leveling spot like the Vermilion Gold Mine?

"However... you need to have ambition," Shi Xin continued, his tone blunt.

"I'll give you at most one year. Get the Vermilion Gold Mine affairs in order, fulfill your obligations to the Mountain and River Sect, and then get your ass to Changhe Prefectural Capital!"

Lin Yan, however, looked at Yang Ling with envy.

One year.

Yang Ling thought for a moment, then nodded with a bitter smile.

"Alright."

Soon, breakfast ended. Lin Yan took out this round's confiscation inventory for Shi Xin to look at.

Shi Xin glanced at it and immediately frowned.

"Qi Dalong's private residence had thirty thousand taels?"

Lin Yan asked cautiously, "Is that too little?"

"Too much." Shi Xin made a bold stroke with his brush. "Make it twenty thousand taels. The higher-ups will already be very happy. As for this ten thousand taels, give it to Yang Ling. A martial artist mustn't shortchange their body. All this requires money as a foundation."

Yang Ling was stunned, but Lin Yan had already taken out silver notes and counted out ten thousand taels to hand to Yang Ling.

With one sentence from Shi Xin, Yang Ling's wealth instantly increased by another ten thousand taels.

Reaching a massive total of twenty thousand taels!

This was enough to purchase forty Spirit Nurturing Pills!