Becoming a god starts with one certificate becoming eternal.

"No one can predict what will happen in the future," Ye Xiao replied calmly.

Master Huang's smile vanished, and his voice fell: "Your strength and intelligence are both better than I expected."

He raised his hand.

Qin Yong placed a roll of gray cloth on the table.

When the gray cloth is unfolded, it reveals a genuine gray sleeve patch with fine stitching and a blue owl pattern hidden in the shadows. This is the second identifying feature of the gray sleeve patch.

Master Huang said, "You have the title. Now that the matter is settled, I will keep my promise. From this day forward, you are the true underling of my hall, possessing all real power."

He then pushed a booklet in front of Ye Xiao:

"This is a matter of your territory."

Ye Xiao pressed his fingertip against the ledger without flipping through it, and simply asked, "Where is the territory?"

Master Huang raised his eyes and uttered a few words:

"The eastern section of Bishui Street, from Sanjing Lane to Liumukou."

He paused, then a smile returned to his lips: "Mitsui has a water source, and Willow Mouth is a cart route. The profits aren't small, but the troubles aren't insignificant either."

"So the person in charge there was called Zhao Jiu. You not only took his name, but now you've even taken over his territory. He'll definitely come after you, but with your abilities, it's no big deal."

Zhao Jiu.

Ye Xiao noted down the name; it was the name of the woman he had replaced, Grey Sleeve.

Master Huang continued, "Once you take over the territory, you'll naturally have men under your command. But since you performed exceptionally well this time, I'll give you three extra men."

Qin Yong clapped his hands, and three people entered from outside the door.

Shen Sheng, Yan Quan, and Ye Xiao had met him before. The other stranger had a horizontal scar on his face and thick, hard eyebrows and eyes.

Master Huang said, "You know Shen Sheng and Yan Quan well. Scarface is called Ma Wu. He's also a black-sleeved man, and his background isn't bad either."

Ye Xiao glanced at the three of them, made no small talk, and mentally reviewed how they would be used.

Master Huang casually said, "After you take over your territory, I want you to investigate the accounts there and confirm whether Zhao Jiu has falsified anything."

"Sure," Ye Xiao said directly.

Master Huang's eyes showed even greater satisfaction, then he added, "There's a thorn in your side. I don't know which side it's on. Pull it out yourself. If you can't and something goes wrong... I won't be responsible."

Ye Xiao calmly said, "Both matters can be resolved within half a month."

Master Huang waved his hand: "Go, and don't disappoint me in half a month."

Ye Xiao put away the armband and booklet, then turned and left.

As they reached the door, Master Huang's voice seemed to emerge from the shadows:

"This is just the beginning. Don't forget our promise... three months."

Ye Xiao didn't stop walking, but his back tensed up almost imperceptibly.

Outside the Qingyun Escort Agency, the sunlight was still cold, but the book in his hand seemed even colder.

Zhao Jiu, like a hidden thorn, two thorns embedded in the same line. Master Huang is clearly testing and using him once again.

However, thinking of the box he had hidden last night, Ye Xiao calmed down considerably.

At least he received just as much benefit as Master Huang, and he was one step closer to completing the mission of the Town Guard.

……

Not long after.

Ye Xiao led Shen Sheng, Yan Quan, and Ma Wu to the eastern section of Bishui Street.

The street is not wide, but it is much cleaner than the Silent Alley.

The surrounding area was quiet, with no noise from people and the lights outside the shops flickering. It was like a wealthy but unassuming street, a rare find in the downtown area.

As I approached the entrance to Sanjing Alley, a faint, damp, and fishy smell wafted up, a mixture of well water, soil, and the sweat from carrying loads.

At the entrance of the alley stands a crooked willow tree, its bark cracked like an old scar, its branches hanging down, thin and long, like knives.

The alley is lined with small shops selling noodles, oil, salt, and liquor; the lanterns are neither new nor old. At the end of the alley is Liumukou, where the mud is still wet and the deep ruts show that trucks have passed through today.

Having a car means paying a toll, and paying a toll means having trouble deciding who's in charge.

The footprints around the well were messy and fresh, indicating that many people were drawing water and thus, disputes over water signs were frequent.

Ye Xiao stood at the entrance of the alley, not going in immediately, but walking along the edge of the well.

He first looked at the edge of the well. The marks worn by the water rope were engraved on the stone in circles, like old wounds. Some people carried water in a hurry, leaving deep footprints, while others stood still, leaving shallow but messy footprints.

There was an old wooden sign hanging by the well, with several thin bamboo signs underneath. These were the water signs... The person with the sign could draw water first, while the person without a sign had to wait. If they got impatient, they would cause trouble.

The entrance at the end of the alley is called Willow Mouth, which is the throat of this alley. Trucks that want to come in to unload goods or go out to transport goods have to pay a toll at the entrance.

To put it bluntly, it's a cut of the profits, and the Green Owl Gang has always been responsible for this money, along with the money for the water license.

Finally, Ye Xiao looked at the yellow dog at the alley entrance. Seeing that they didn't bark, it just turned its head to sniff and then lay back down.

Ye Xiao flipped the gray-sleeved token in his palm, neither revealing it nor hiding it, simply letting it hang naturally between his fingers.

Those who understand will see it for themselves; they know the rules here have changed.

He began, "Ma Wu, Yan Quan."

The two men stepped forward half a step: "Lord Ye."

"You two will each go to one of the two ends," Ye Xiao said. "Yan Quan will press down on Liu Mu Kou, and Ma Wu will press down on San Jing Kou."

"Don't make a move yet, just hold your position. The first thing to do today isn't to collect money, but to seal the breach and let everyone here know who will be in charge here from now on."

"clear."

The two nodded, one pressing down heavily and the other lightly, each applying pressure to one end of the object.

Shen Sheng stayed behind Ye Xiao and said in a low voice, "Most of the people in the courtyard are Zhao Jiu's men. You must be careful, sir."

"Um."

Ye Xiao stepped forward, his voice calm: "Let's settle the matter of the payment first, then we'll go into the courtyard."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the muffled sound of wheels grinding through mud came from the direction of Liumukou.

A small car covered with an oilcloth slowly slid into the alley entrance, followed by two men in short jackets, their hands in their sleeves, walking slowly, guarding the car; they were also people who had been paid to escort it.

As soon as they entered the alley, Yan Quan was already standing at the only place they could pass.

He didn't pull out a knife, nor did he shout; he simply turned his body to the side, like a hard rock blocking the front of the car.

The driver instinctively pulled on the reins, and the wheels creaked as they slowed down.

The man in the short jacket frowned and immediately yelled, "Who's this blind fool? Get out of the way!"

Yan Quan looked up, his voice low but firm: "Stop the car."

"stop?"

The man in the short jacket's face darkened, and he pulled his hand further inside his sleeve, as if gripping something: "Do you know whose car this is? Ninth Master..."

Before he could finish speaking, a glimpse out of the corner of his eye caught Ye Xiao walking towards the alley entrance.

Ye Xiao hadn't even gotten close, but the gray-sleeved token on his fingertip was already quite conspicuous. It didn't shake or tremble, yet it was as if a new rule had been nailed into the air.

The words that the man in the short jacket was about to say were stuck in his throat, and he immediately lowered his voice: "So it's Lord Grey Sleeve from the hall."

Ma Wu, with his scarred face, slowly approached from the direction of the wellhead. He had no smile on his face and just stood there like a wall, blocking any way out.

Ye Xiao then spoke, his tone still calm, yet nonetheless commanding obedience:

"The fee remains the same, not a penny more, not a penny less."

"You'll still be in charge, but from today onwards, this money will go into my account first."

"And everything that comes in and out of here from now on must be clearly recorded."