“Bai Fan, why is Constable Lu’s son taking over the shift? Where is Constable Lu?”
Gu Qingyun asked as she found Bai Fan, a faint premonition of dread stirring in her heart. In the line of work as a Constable, a family member wouldn't take over a position unless the person currently holding it had died or was severely injured.
Sure enough, upon hearing Gu Qingyun's question, Bai Fan’s expression turned somber.
“Sister Yun, Constable Lu is gone. It happened a few days ago while you were in the provincial capital. He and Constable Wang were chasing a fugitive.
“A fugitive who was only as tall as a child suddenly attacked. He pulled out a hidden dagger and stabbed Constable Lu several times; he didn’t make it. He breathed his last before he even reached the clinic.”
“County Magistrate Yu was furious about it. Fortunately, all the Constables were sent out these past two days and finally brought everyone to justice, but Constable Lu won’t be coming back.
“His son finished handling the funeral arrangements and came to take over the position.”
Even though Gu Qingyun had been mentally prepared, hearing the confirmation still caught her off guard.
There were dozens of Constables in the yamen. Although she wasn't close to Constable Lu, she still remembered the man. He was someone who was cheerful every day, and his favorite topic was bragging about his son.
He would say how good his son looked and how excellent his physical foundation was. He’d often say that if it weren’t for the fact that he was already a Constable, his son might have gone to take the exams to become the Martial Scholar. Whenever he spoke of his son, his eyes would light up.
Gu Qingyun sighed softly, a touch of regret and melancholy appearing in her gaze.
“Have you all offered your condolences yet?”
Bai Fan sniffed and nodded.
“Since you weren’t here, the rest of us went. Besides the yamen’s compensation, each of us contributed one qian of silver to Constable Lu’s family.
“In the past, when things happened at my house or yours, Sister Yun, they all contributed too. Since you weren't here, I covered it for you.”
Gu Qingyun patted his shoulder. “Good brother, thank you.”
Suddenly, another thought occurred to her. “Is Lu Hu serving as a Fast Constable right away?”
Bai Fan paused for a moment before saying in a low voice, “Head Constable Liu actually wanted him to take a night shift, but the kid wasn’t willing. He insisted on taking over his father’s place in the Fast Squad.” He looked around and added, “That kid’s physical foundation is indeed excellent. Like you, Sister Yun, he seems to have made significant progress in an Internal Cultivation Technique. Even Head Constable Liu is no match for him.
“No wonder Constable Lu was always bragging about his son. He really does have some skill.
“However, he definitely isn't as strong as you, Sister Yun.”
Bai Fan didn't forget to flatter her at the end.
Gu Qingyun shot him a glance. “Enough. It’s fine being a Night Patrol Constable. Even though there aren't many perks, at least it’s safe.”
Could she tell him that she wasn't practicing an internal cultivation technique? The system she practiced was entirely different from theirs, and she had no desire for promotions or raises.
Living like this was quite good. The higher the official rank, the greater the responsibility, and the less time there was for cultivation. That was not something she would enjoy.
After completing the roll call with Bai Fan and picking up lanterns, oil, and other night patrol equipment, the two began their rounds.
The cold wind scraped against their faces, bone-chillingly cold. Without spiritual power to protect his body, Bai Fan shrank his neck into his collar.
A black cat, similar to Xiaohei, was perched on his shoulder. Gu Qingyun glanced at it several times.
“Sister Yun, is my cat good-looking? My mother arranged for someone in the countryside to find it. After I told her last time that some Xuan cats are sentient, she went out of her way to get one for me.
“I won’t have to keep borrowing your cat in the future; it was getting quite embarrassing. These past few days while you were gone, I went on patrol with Xiaohei and Little White, one on each side like guardians. It made me feel very secure.”
“Little White?” Gu Qingyun looked at the black cat, thinking the name was a bit sloppy.
Bai Fan scratched his head. “Doesn't it share my surname? Since my surname is Bai, it’s called Little White.”
Little White 【meowed】 a few times and rubbed its head against Bai Fan’s neck, appearing quite clever.
Gu Qingyun looked at the cat on her own shoulder, which was acting aloof as usual, and patted its small head. “Then you should take my surname too. You’ll be called Gu Xiaohei, the cat of Gu Qingyun.”
【Meow. Fine, I'll begrudgingly take your surname.】 A voice suddenly echoed deep within Gu Qingyun’s mind. It was soft and tender, sounding like a small child.
She stared at the kitten on her shoulder in surprise. “Xiaohei, you’re truly gifted. You can already communicate with my divine sense after such a short time.”
Xiaohei proudly raised its little head. 【If I stayed with you every day, my intelligence would develop even faster.】
Gu Qingyun chuckled as she and Bai Fan continued their patrol.
...
In the period that followed, Jiangyin County regained its peace. During the day, Gu Qingyun practiced her saber techniques, her mental technique, and her body tempering technique.
At night, she went on patrol. Her days were packed with a tight schedule.
The fish she had obtained from Xiaojin had been smoked into cured fish by Old Lady Zhang and the other family members. Whenever she had a craving, her grandmother would take one and fry it for her to eat.
Old Lady Zhang was a skilled cook, and her sisters had learned about seventy to eighty percent of her skill. Gu Qingyun felt as if she were living in a honey pot. Whenever she wanted to eat something, she would buy it from outside and have her sisters cook it for her.
Old Lady Zhang would get a headache watching her granddaughter’s extravagant spending.
This was especially true for her several granddaughters. Ever since they started earning money, they often bought food to bring home. Old Lady Zhang felt like she was putting on weight herself.
However, the granddaughter who ate the most hadn’t gained an ounce of fat. Old Lady Zhang had nowhere to vent her grievances; she really was getting old—she would gain weight even if she didn't eat much.
...
While Gu Qingyun was enjoying these peaceful years, in the small mountain village she and Head Constable Liu had visited previously, several men dressed as scholars were huddling together in a ruined house, shivering.
They were all academy students who had returned home from their studies for the New Year holiday.
At this moment, the group huddled together, their faces filled with grief.
“Truly, the world is declining and people’s hearts are no longer what they were. We kindly saved that woman, yet she repaid our kindness with enmity and kidnapped us.
“When my father realizes I haven't reached home in two days, he will definitely send people to save me.
“But what if the people my father sends can't find us? I don't want to die.”
The one speaking was a fair-skinned scholar, and from his attire, one could tell his family was well-off.
He was currently cold and hungry, regretting countless times that he shouldn't have meddled in others' business, which had brought harm to the two scholars traveling with him, as well as his book boy and coachman.
“Brother Yutang, don't worry. Things haven't reached the point of no return yet. They might just be holding us for ransom.
“Nothing will happen to us,” another more steady scholar comforted him.
A youth who had been kidnapped two days before them huddled in the corner and glanced at them.
“Stop dreaming. You won’t get out. Everyone in this village is evil. We only have ten days left to live.
“Ten days from now is the beginning of the month, the day they sacrifice to their god. We are all sacrifices.”
“What? Sacrifices? My father will definitely come to save me! I don't want to be a sacrifice!”
The scholars’ faces turned pale. The scholar named Yutang tightly grabbed the book boy beside him.
“A-Fu, my father will definitely come to save me, right?” The book boy nodded tremblingly.
“Young Master, the Master will definitely send people to find us. You are the only son of the family; the Master won't give up looking for you.”
Rate on N.U.
