Why do I have so many masters?

The Deputy Magistrate of Guangwu City died in his residence, the assassin clad in black clothes and wielding a bamboo weapon, stormed out, and vanished without a trace.

The entire Guangwu City was stunned by such staggering news, the Lord Prefect nearly lost his breath and, with unprecedented efficiency, swiftly mobilized the entire government officials to search for the murderer.

Then, straightening his attire, he abandoned his official carriage, executed his Qinggong, and charged aggressively towards the Great Qin iron soldiers' camp.

Defending General Zhang Tianlu was training his martial arts in the drill ground, wielding a Crude Iron Heavy Spear like an ink python writhing through the air, casting large shadows within an area of several meters, with the sound of cleaving air resonating incessantly. As he watched the Lord Prefect charging over with formidable aura, he first froze, then burst into laughter, saying:

"What brings the Lord Prefect to my drill ground today?"

"Could it be that you wish to have a match with me?"

In the midst of laughter, his spear in hand whistled through the air as he swept it toward the Lord Prefect with a roaring Vigorous Qi. The Lord Prefect's face grew cold, relying on the fury within him, he neither dodged nor retreated, but instead mustered a mighty Inner Strength, raised his hand to deflect the ferocious Qi from the spear, and firmly grasped the Heavy Spear.

The pure True Qi of both parties, each above Ninth Grade, made contact, stirring up a whirlwind of dust.

With a thunderous crack, the Heavy Spear, just a common soldier's weapon, snapped under the formidable impact, leaving both the Lord Prefect and the Defending General each holding a half. Zhang Tianlu smirked, casually discarded the broken spear handle he was holding, had a warm towel handed to him by a trusted aide which he used to clean his hands, and nonchalantly tossed it to the Lord Prefect:

"It's cold in winter, wipe your hands, Lord Prefect."

"Judging by your expression, you didn't come to spar with old Zhang."

"What advice do you have for me?"

The Lord Prefect flung the broken spear onto the ground, his rage somewhat abated, yet upon hearing this remark, his complexion darkened again. After a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and said:

"Ji Zhiguo is dead..."

Ji Zhiguo was the Deputy Magistrate. The Defending General's expression briefly froze, disbelievingly widened his eyes, and raised his voice asking:

"Dead?!"

Upon receiving an affirmative response, he swung his hand heavily, saying, "The way he died was really damn..."

"No, I mean, how did he die?"

The Lord Prefect ignored his previous words, exhaled a white breath, and stated bluntly:

"Assassinated by a ranger."

"According to the situation at hand, he must have gone into hiding. I need the Great Qin iron soldiers to quickly seal the city gates and, at all costs, commence a thorough investigation first."

Zhang Tianlu solemnly nodded his head and said:

"It should indeed be so."

Then he pulled out a Jade Talisman from his waist and tossed it to a nearby soldier, saying:

"Take this, follow the Lord Prefect's orders. Also, deploy more men to search within the city. Remember, if you find that damned ranger, bind him up securely and bring him back to me. I will beat him to death myself!"

"How dare he act recklessly in Guangwu City!!"

"He is slapping me in the face!"

The aide obediently accepted the order and went on his way. Seeing this, the Lord Prefect, feeling his anger subside slightly, hurriedly took his leave, his expression still terrifyingly grim.

An Imperial Court official assassinated by a ranger in his jurisdiction.

He clenched his teeth, feeling the situation increasingly tense.

The gravity of this matter necessitated an immediate report to the Prefectural Governor and coordination with his close friends at the Academy for any hope of extricating himself from this affair.

Zhang Tianlu watched the departing county honor, seemingly affected by the news of his colleague's death. Even though they couldn't see eye to eye, he felt a pang of sorrow; a heaviness showed on his rugged face, losing any interest in practicing martial arts.

The Great Qin iron soldiers armed in iron armor, and handheld horizontal sabers, marched out in formation, while this defending general had already headed home early.

Sitting in front of the window, looking out at the drill grounds, he sighed:

"Actually killed by a ranger."

"He was only thirty-seven, truly... sigh…"

Within the sound of his words, there seemed to be regret and pity, but his burly face trembled slightly, twisting into a strange expression as if he wanted to burst into maniacal laughter but had to hold it back forcefully, turning his face red and shaking his body.

After a while, he managed to suppress the urge to laugh maniacally to the sky; the fine hardwood desk had already been forcefully torn apart by him.

With one hand, sawdust trickled through the gaps between his fingers. Zhang Tianlu stood up, his expression 'grief-stricken,' as he sighed to the sky:

"It's just so regrettable..."

Although he was sighing, his bean-sized eyes were bright. He thought for a moment before reaching out to draw a sheet of paper from the side, dipping the brush in ink to write letters—some to his superiors, some to his Academy teachers, and also to a good friend who followed Legalism.

This case was conclusive; after that fool died, once the tree falls, the monkeys scatter, and no one can cover up for his blunders anymore.

The ranger who killed him shouldn't face decapitation or hanging, should it be exile to a distance of three thousand li... or five thousand li?

Zhang Tianlu's unkempt eyebrows furrowed together as he wrote a sentence.

"Exile and conscription into the army are similar in rank, but how should one convert an exile sentence into a conscription punishment?"

After sending the letters by bird, Zhang Tianlu sat in his seat, contentedly lost in thought.

Once they catch that ranger, give him a good beating first, then say it's a conscription punishment.

And then... make him a deputy general?

Those Legalist fellows have brains measured by rulers, both straight and rigid. Such spirited men would be a pity to fall into their hands.

That bastard who always rubbed me the wrong way and couldn't be dealt with is dead.

And I might gain a fiercely passionate and formidable general.

Zhang Tianlu's green bean-like eyes were squinted so tightly they were almost invisible.

This day is quite delightful…

..................

Guangwu City was a hub of frequent correspondence, but things did not develop according to normal expectations.

With the death of the deputy county magistrate, many pieces of evidence unexpectedly surfaced, quickly settling the case. Then the entire city's government officials and Great Qin iron soldiers scurried around searching for Yi Nanping but made no progress. After seven days of lockdown, they had to open the city gates due to rising public discontent.

The day after the city gates' guard was removed, Wang Anfeng, who had stayed for more than ten days, departed on horseback once more. Sun Xingwei stubbornly insisted on seeing Wang Anfeng out of the city gates and secretly handed him a manuscript, whispering:

"Anfeng, you're leaving. Remember on the road, do not go to these mountains."

"This is from a bandit stronghold behind Guangwu, it's supposed to be confidential, but you just happen to be heading to Fufeng County... sigh."

"Although I don't know where their strongholds are exactly, it's enough to avoid these areas..."

As he spoke, the old man's expression grew dim.

Wang Anfeng glanced at the manuscript, quickly noted Meng Mountain, and packed it away securely. After repeatedly saying goodbye to the old man, he mounted his green-maned horse, shouldering a zither and carrying a sword, setting off on his journey.

Heading straight for Meng Mountain.

Three days later.

On the trails of Meng Mountain, a band of bandits wielding long sabers surrounded a youth not yet of age, burdened with a qin. The leader of the bandits gazed upon the magnificent steed and bared his teeth in a broad grin:

"Boys, tie him up and bring him back to our fortress!"

"Today, we've caught a fat sheep—eat meat to our heart's content, drink wine by the bowlful!"

"Ohh!!"

The bandits cheered. The youth in blue let himself be bound without resistance, abandoned in a prisoner's cart, his eyes clear, the black and white distinct.

.....................

February 23rd

In Guangwu City, the fugitive Yi Nanping appeared in Meng Mountain, killed thirty-one bandits, and saved seven people.

Later discovered the linked strongholds of Meng Mountain, crushed them.

Left the silver coins untouched.

March 1st

With the new year renamed as the Great Yuan era, in Heaven Capital City, joy reached from dusk till dawn, the sound of singing and dancing ceaseless.

Yi Nanping flattened Forshan Stronghold, killed twenty-one bandits, wounded, left nothing but a single piece of green bamboo, thrust through the neck of the bandit leader.

March 7th

The great Oiran competition on Jiangnan Road, beauties like jade, a long song intoxicated the talented young heroes of the entire city.

With the onset of spring, a great snow swept over Wangxian, covering the mountains and rivers, making it difficult to travel.

Yi Nanping broke into Hongshan Stronghold, entered and cut down three from the Noble Clan, left behind an account book of the bandits.

The Great Qin Legal Code was written in blood.

With irrefutable evidence, the people petitioned, no crime was found.

March 13th

A wealthy man in Anxi spent a fortune for a beautiful woman, constructing walls of jade and coral. She committed herself to him, and the story became a popular tale.

Yi Nanping ventured alone into the Chain Fortress.

Left behind a piece of black clothing, a green bamboo piercing the throat of the Ninth Grade Fortress Leader, straight and inflexible, stained with splashes of blood. The old men in the city sighed, said the blood of a ranger was comparable to blood jade coral.

March 21st

The sixth official died at the hands of Yi Nanping, with eyes that wouldn't close in death, a piece of incriminating evidence laid over his brow, black on white paper, smeared with crimson blood.

The evidence was incontrovertible.

Killing officials and fleeing again and again, though the dead were minor officials of the county city, the malign nature of the deeds was something the Great Qin Empire had not seen for many years. Wangxian was shaken; what of the Brothel songstresses or the beauties' elegance? At this time, none could compare to the reaper of Wangxian.

Not to mention the bandits across various lands, even the government officials of every county were frightened stiff.

The brothels of the entire Wangxian saw their silver coin income drop by a third, and the owners of various taverns sighed and ground their teeth in hatred.

Due to the gravity of the case, the Prefectural Governor of Wangxian County reported it up to Heaven Capital City.

Heaven Capital City, Ministry of Punishment.

A middle-aged man with graying temples couldn't help but admire as he looked at the dossier on his desk:

"Resorting to violence against the law, killing those disloyal and unjust, not sparing oneself, facing warriors' hardships..."

"What a gallant figure!"

Then he sighed and said,

"Unfortunately... the law is heartless, its solemnity is meant to deter the petty; if we cannot capture you and bring you to justice, how can the law deter those with malicious intent?

A ranger may uphold justice, yet can only save one or two, at the most a hundred; but should the awe of law be lost, the nation would no longer be a nation, chaos would ensue, and not just tens of thousands would perish."

After a moment of silence, the man suddenly commanded aloud:

"Tracker Moon!"

A figure silently appeared below the hall, while the man continued to look through the files, speaking, "Capture that ranger. His martial arts are not strong, it is only his movement techniques that are bizarre, he should be no match for you."

The man did not respond. The middle-aged man frowned and looked at him, a man dressed in white, a Jade Crown in his hair, dashing and handsome, but his right leg was exaggeratedly wrapped in a thick layer of white cloth. Seeing the Supervisory Arrest Officer look over, he spread his hands with an awkward smile:

"I'd like to catch him... but my legs are not convenient right now..."

The Supervisory Arrest Officer's mouth twitched slightly, asking,

"How were you injured?"

Tracker Moon's expression stiffened slightly. He fell silent, then, looking at his direct superior officer, cautiously said:

"If I said I got injured when I accidentally fell off the roof while chasing a cat..."

"Would you believe me?"

The man's expression immediately darkened, and he let out a cold laugh while another man dressed in black turned around, his cold voice saying:

"Leave this case to me."

Both men in the hall changed their expressions slightly.

That day, the famous law enforcer Wuxin, for the first time in three years, took on a case.

April 3rd

Yi Nanping broke through the eighteenth stronghold, left behind a stern Bi'an mask, hanging above a piece of green bamboo, then disappeared without a trace. As the weather gradually warmed, a youth dressed in simple spring clothing, a qin on his back and a sword at his side, leading a gold-eyed Green-Maned Horse, arrived in Fufeng County, dusty from travel.

Looking up at the city gate, the youth's face was clean and gentle. He exhaled and said,

"Finally, I've arrived..."

Tightening his clothes, he pulled on the reins, and like any ordinary traveling youth, entered the County City.

Within the fortress, green bamboo stained with blood still stood tall, the Bi'an mask fierce, howling with the wind.

A young man trod three thousand miles, unsheathed his sword, and beheaded men.

(End of Chapter)

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