Becoming a god starts with one certificate becoming eternal.

It was evening.

In a courtyard in the lower town, the fog pressed down, making the lamplight appear yellowish, as if someone had pinched half of it shut, and it just wouldn't light up.

The wolf leaned back in its chair, tapping its knuckles on the armrest with a slow, deliberate rhythm, like the breath it takes before biting someone.

Li Yi spoke first, his voice extremely low: "Boss Wolf, there's new information from Ye Xiao's side."

The wolf didn't raise its eyes: "Speak."

Li Yi paused, as if trying to straighten out a loose thread: "I've been watching him since this morning. He first went to Biyue Street, then went to the martial arts school, but came out quickly, and finally went to the door of Master Huang's side."

"Once the door is closed, half an hour will pass."

Wild Wolf paused for a moment, then continued tapping, his tone unreadable: "He really is unexpected."

Li Yi whispered, "That's Master Huang's territory. I dare not go close. I can only guard the outer circle and cannot judge his intentions."

"No matter what we talk about, it shows that he is becoming increasingly out of control. I originally wanted to slowly find an opportunity to deal with him so as not to displease the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, but now I'm afraid we can't wait any longer."

Wild Wolf finally raised his eyes, his gaze neither cold nor warm: "Now send someone to Mute Alley to arrest his family members. Make sure they are all arrested, and don't alert anyone else. Also, find a stranger to deliver a message: tonight, at the dilapidated temple outside the south city, have him come alone."

Li Yi's Adam's apple bobbed: "Lord Wolf... I'm afraid we won't be able to catch him."

The wolf's fingers paused slightly: "Hmm?"

Li Yi forced a smile and said, "When I was with him at noon, he moved with his people... into Qingshi Lane."

The wolf's knuckles stopped.

The three characters "Qingshi Lane" are like a piece of cold iron being smashed into water.

Li Yi didn't say anything more. He knew that Huang Lang also understood what Qing Shi Lane represented.

Let alone them, even if the head of the hall wanted to arrest someone there, he would need a legitimate reason.

Wild Wolf suddenly chuckled, his smile pale and weak: "So, the reason he went to Biyue Street this morning was to remove his weakness first."

He slowly sat up straight, as if he had forced the command back down his throat:

"It seems I have underestimated him time and time again... This man is indeed extraordinary, with exceptional efficiency and a keen sense of crisis. I think he probably also guessed that Zhang Tu's matter is not over yet."

Just then, there were two soft knocks on the door.

Li Yi stepped forward and opened the door a crack.

A tall, thin messenger squeezed in, his clothes still damp with moisture. He knelt down, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said urgently but not loudly, "Master Wolf, the roster at the branch has been changed."

"Speak," the wolf said coldly.

The messenger swallowed hard and uttered the most important sentence:

"A new name has been added to the Book of Fate."

"Grey Sleeves, Ye Xiao."

Li Yi's expression suddenly changed, and he could hardly contain his shock.

Even in the eyes of the wild wolf, a hint of surprise and astonishment flashed—not much, but genuine.

Regarding Ye Xiao's journey to Master Huang's territory, he considered countless possibilities in his mind... seeking a way out, leveraging power, seeking refuge, escorting goods, or registering as a figurehead.

The only unexpected thing was that Ye Xiao would turn into Gray Sleeves.

Not everyone can be a Greysleeves.

Moreover, he was an inner disciple of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, so there was no reason for him to join the Azure Owl Gang, nor should he have joined the Azure Owl Gang.

Even if they did join, they shouldn't have become Greysleeves so quickly, smoothly, and easily.

The wolf stared at the dark lamp for a long time before whispering:

"Now that he's become Greysleeves, my men can no longer keep a close watch on him."

"It's a small matter if he finds out, but if Master Huang finds out... it will be that I don't know the rules."

He tapped his knuckles lightly, as if making up his mind:

"Withdraw the line of sight and let the eyes outside see... taverns, porters' huts, docks, gambling dens, whoever sees anything, send the news back."

"Don't focus on others, focus on what they might do or where they might go."

"I want to see what he's up to by joining the Green Owl Gang, and how many more surprises he can give me."

Li Yi bowed his head: "Yes."

……

As night fell, the fog pressed down even lower, yet the patrol lantern on the city wall still refused to go out.

The town envoy stood by the window, her dark hair adorned with faint patterns, as if she had perfectly tailored the night. Her hair was held in place by a single plain hairpin, the tip of which was a cold silver line that flickered in the lamplight like the back of a knife.

She didn't move, but the room seemed to have an extra layer of rules, and even the wind dared not wander in.

The deputy stood to the side, holding the dossier, his voice low, but he still couldn't help but speak:

"I'll kowtow first. I'm not questioning your choice or judgment; I just had a loose tongue..."

The garrison commander didn't turn around; he simply raised his hand, and his deputy swallowed the rest of his sentence, as if he had retracted his tongue.

A section of her wrist, pale and white, with distinct knuckles, was exposed. She gently pressed down the wick with her fingertips, and the flame immediately stabilized.

Get to the point.

The deputy immediately seized the opportunity, speaking quickly but not loudly:

"You could have simply included that kid from the lower city in the case file, closed him up according to the rules, clean and simple, and no one could find fault with it. Or you could have just done nothing and seen if the Green Owl Gang could find him... Why did you cover for him, and even give him a way out?"

"Everyone knows the standards of our Town Guard. Anyone else who wants to become a Town Guard has to have their family history investigated for three generations, pass an exam, and in the end, they're just a trainee. By simply lifting him up, you're essentially taking him straight from the mud to the steps."

Seeing that the town magistrate hadn't spoken, he cautiously added:

"It's not that I object to your move, but isn't this move a bit bad...? The deadline you gave was already harsh enough, yet he still pushed it forward by half. This kid is overestimating himself."

The town magistrate finally turned his head slightly, his eyes as cold as ice: "You think he can't do it?"

The deputy immediately waved his hand, his expression so sincere it seemed like he was begging for mercy:

"You can't say that, but I think his chances of doing it are about the same as my chances of having a hot meal on time tonight."

"In other words... it's almost impossible."

The town magistrate remained expressionless, his words as firm as if they were stamped on a seal:

"He came from the mud, but he didn't succumb to its filth."

"He has a solid foundation and a clear mind."

"Most importantly... he knows how to pay his debts, even if it costs him his life."

The deputy paused, then muttered under his breath, "Paying back debts... These days, only the selfish survive, and people who know how to pay back debts are indeed rare. But even so, I still don't think he's capable..."

He wanted to continue speaking, but then he heard hurried footsteps outside the door, followed by a knock.

"Enter," the town magistrate said calmly.

After the scout entered, he knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and before he could even catch his breath, he blurted out the words:

"Reporting to the town magistrate, the Green Owl Gang's roster has added a name... Ye Xiao, Gray Sleeve."

The room fell silent for a moment.

The deputy's remaining words caught in his throat, his face stiffened for a moment, then he quickly changed his tune as if burned:

"I knew the adults had a discerning eye, able to spot treasures in the mud at a glance. We are far inferior to them... It seems I'll definitely be able to have a hot dinner tonight."

The town magistrate merely grunted in response, as if he had heard something that should have been said:

"Mark his line as available, and from now on, he will be your responsibility."

"Yes."

The deputy quickly responded, lowered his head to flip through the files, but couldn't help but let out a soft sigh, as if admitting defeat:

"I'll never learn this move from you in my lifetime. From now on, whenever you make a move, I'll just be responsible for running errands and keeping quiet."

The town magistrate did not respond.

She only looked out the window at the thick fog, which led to the lower town, as if she were looking at a road that was being forcibly trodden out by someone.