Free Web NovelChapter 44: Chapter 44: Reactions from All Sides
’So you’re the one who promoted him, which means I’m the only one who’s offended him?’
Zhao Ji silently cursed him for being an old fox, but he couldn’t help but be impressed.
On the surface, Sima Hu Yuxing had never really targeted Su Mu.
Although promoting Su Mu to squad leader and putting him in charge of Guangfu Square was done with ill intent, at least on the surface, Su Mu had genuinely received a promotion and a raise.
From start to finish, even when Su Mu rejected Hu Yuxing’s recruitment offer, Hu Yuxing never personally made things difficult for him—though a major reason for that was because Hu Yuxing never took a junior constable seriously.
’Usually, my attitude toward him was a little hostile and harsh, but other than that, I don’t think I did much to offend him. I mean, I sent him to Guangfu Square hoping he’d get killed, but he doesn’t know that.’
The thought made Zhao Ji relax considerably.
"Zhao Ji, go and invite Su Mu here."
Hu Yuxing tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair. "For such a talent to emerge from my South City Bureau, it just goes to show my skill in nurturing potential. In all four Outer Cities of Wuling City—east, west, south, and north—which other City Bureau has a chief who mastered blade momentum at seventeen?
My South City Bureau does!"
Zhao Ji’s eyes went wide.
’Chief?’
’Weren’t you supposed to remove the word "acting" from my title?’
’Is this what you meant by "removing" it?’
"Sima, I may not have any great merits, but I’ve certainly put in the hard work..."
Zhao Ji said weakly, ’I know about all the dirty things you’ve done. You can’t just cast me aside after I’ve served my purpose.’ freewebnovёl.ƈom
"Hmph!" Hu Yuxing snorted coldly. "What is there to fight over? A man who can master blade momentum at seventeen—how long do you think he’ll stay in South City?
Let me tell you, it won’t be long before the bigwigs from the Inner City recruit him. In the future, he’ll very likely become a Tributor for some great family. Even I would have to be polite and respectful when I see him. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Once he’s gone, won’t the chief’s position be yours?"
"Oh."
It dawned on Zhao Ji, and a wave of disgust washed over him. He had toiled like an animal his whole life, dreaming of the chief’s position, and for someone like Su Mu, it was just a stepping stone?
"I’ll go get him now."
Zhao Ji sighed to himself as he spoke.
"Wait."
Sima Hu Yuxing suddenly said, "Actually, I’ll go myself. I, Hu Yuxing, am courteous to men of talent."
...
"Brother Mu, please sit!"
"Brother Mu, please, take the seat of honor!"
"Brother Mu, have some tea!"
"Brother Mu, have some of our best tea!"
A chorus of such voices filled the South City Bureau’s squad room.
The five squad leaders, who had previously ignored Su Mu, were now gathered around him eagerly. Some wiped down the table and chair with their sleeves, while others held out teacups.
From the way they were acting, Su Mu almost thought he had become the chief of the South City Bureau.
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
’To be honest, I was a bit impulsive last night.’
’My personality is indeed cautious and steady, but deep down, I have a ruthless streak.’
’Back when I encountered that demon, even knowing death was certain, I still wanted to land a blow before I died.’
’Last night was the same. The Xu Family committed arson and nearly harmed innocent people. That was a line they crossed, and I couldn’t stand for it.’
’Forcing my way into the Xu Mansion and revealing some of my strength would likely bring me trouble.’
’But from the looks of it now, things aren’t as bad as I imagined.’
’Maybe my current strength is a bit greater than I thought. Or maybe it’s just that there aren’t any real masters in the Outer City?’
"Brother Mu, the Gang Leaders of the Fire Snake Gang and the Yellow Sand Gang are outside asking for an audience. They’ve brought some congratulatory gifts and want to personally congratulate you on your promotion to sergeant."
The one speaking was a squad leader named Zheng Wang, who was in charge of Pingkang Square, the most prosperous area in South City.
When it came to being well-informed, nobody beat the various gangs in South City’s territory, except perhaps the squad leaders of the South City Bureau themselves.
These well-informed fellows knew exactly what it meant to master blade momentum at the age of seventeen.
With such aptitude, he was sure to be noticed by the great families of the Inner City. Although he was a bit old to be starting Quenching Body, as long as enough resources were piled on him, there was a high chance he could reach the Third Stage of Body Tempering before he turned thirty.
He might even reach the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering in the future.
Someone at the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering who had also mastered blade momentum would be considered part of the core fighting strength, even in the Inner City.
These squad leaders and gang bosses had no prior conflicts with Su Mu. If they didn’t try to build a connection now, they would truly be too far beneath him to do so in the future.
Seeing the forty- or fifty-year-old Zheng Wang call him "Brother Mu" with a huge smile on his face gave Su Mu a feeling like his whole worldview was being turned upside down.
Just a few days ago, these same squad leaders had given him the cold shoulder, their faces full of contempt.
Now, their change in attitude was just so seamless.
No wonder he was in charge of Pingkang Square, the most lucrative beat, when Xing Zhao Fu was in charge. And when Zhao Ji took over, he was *still* in charge of the most lucrative beat.
’Everyone’s successful for a reason, huh.’
"Have them leave the gifts, but I won’t see them. Steward Xu has been jailed, right? I’ll have to trouble you, brother, to lend me a skilled interrogator—"
Su Mu mused.
"What are you saying?"
Zheng Wang put on a stern face. "We’re brothers! What’s this talk of ’lending’? My men are your men. Use them as you see fit!"
"Then I thank you, brother."
Su Mu said. He remembered clearly how Zheng Wang had made all sorts of excuses when he had tried to borrow a few men just the other day.
Although he felt some contempt inwardly, he maintained a polite facade.
"Where is the Qilin’Er of my South City Bureau? Let this Sima have a look, haha—"
Just then, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out.
Immediately after, everyone saw Sima Hu Yuxing of the South City Bureau walk in from outside with a few men.
The crowd of constables and runners who hadn’t managed to get close to Su Mu quickly parted to form a path.
"Greetings, Sima!"
Su Mu and the other five squad leaders all cupped their fists in salute.
"No need for formalities."
Sima Hu Yuxing raised a hand slightly, stroking his beard as he spoke. "I always knew our Constable Xiao Su was a great talent. It’s a shame my daughter isn’t the right age, or I would have long since taken him as a son-in-law."
He nodded slightly.
Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he truly admired Su Mu.
A thought stirred in the minds of Zheng Wang and the other squad leaders.
When you were trying to make it in the world, you knew that no form of address was used casually.
Before, for instance, the most they would do was call Su Mu by his full name, and behind his back, they might even curse him as a country bumpkin.
But now that they knew his strength, they had to at least call him Sergeant Su. To be more polite, they would call him Brother Mu.
For someone of the Sima’s status, a casual address was even more out of the question.
That "Constable Xiao Su" was definitely not a compliment; the Sima had no need to compliment a mere sergeant.
That could only mean—
"Congratulations, Sima, on gaining a worthy subordinate! And congratulations to Chief Su! As they say, it takes a master to recognize a prodigy."
Zheng Wang declared loudly, "This is a meeting as precious as gold and jade! With Chief Su to assist the Sima, our South City Bureau is destined for greatness!"
"Cheers to the Sima! Cheers to Chief Su!"
The other squad leaders, catching on, all chimed in loudly.
Zhao Ji’s emotions were a complicated mess, but he couldn’t say a single word.
The voices from the squad room carried outside, and several men dressed as runners quietly slipped out of the Government Office.
A moment later, streams of news began to fly out from the South City Government Office.
"Su Mu’s been promoted to Chief! Double the congratulatory gift! No, triple it!"
All the gang leaders sprang into action.
...
"Chief? You have to be alive to hold that position!"
In Guangfu Square, at the Xu Mansion, a household servant leaned in and whispered a few words in Xu Mingchen’s ear. Xu Mingchen violently smashed a teacup on the floor, shattering it to pieces.
A few steps in front of him, a tall, powerfully built man stood with an expressionless face.
"Wei Yongfu, eight hundred taels. I want to see Su Mu’s head within three days!"
Xu Mingchen stared at the man and said coldly.
"Su Mu is an Official of the South City Bureau," Wei Yongfu said. "He’s also an acquaintance of mine."
"Hmph. Would a man like you care about such things?"
Xu Mingchen said with disdain. Wei Yongfu was a man who did whatever he was paid for—escorting convoys, guarding shipments, killing, robbing, he did it all.
"No."
Wei Yongfu shook his head and said with a completely serious expression, "What I mean is, you’ll have to pay more."
