From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

Lin Jizhi's face flushed crimson instantly, the blush spreading from her ears down her neck. "Cao, Wan, Hai!"

He immediately bristled, roaring in anger and embarrassment:

"You, you're talking nonsense."

He had thought that finally a new person had arrived, and since he had entered the government earlier, he could show off his seniority and establish his authority. But he never expected that his past would be exposed in public.

"Tch~"

Cao Wanhai curled his lip and glared at him, retorting, "Don't you know whether it's nonsense or not?"

"One-on-one! Go ahead and fight me one-on-one!"

This is intolerable! Lin Jizhi clenched his fists and said fiercely, "If I don't teach you a lesson today and wipe out your lineage, I'm not a Lin."

"Alright, all of you, quiet down."

Wang Zhenshan lowered his arms, which had been crossed, and stopped the playful banter, a hint of helplessness in his eyes: "You're all so unserious, you're making a fool of yourself in front of the newcomers."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jizhi and Cao Wanhai immediately stopped.

"Zhu Hong, selected today."

Seeing that the commotion had subsided, Wang Zhenshan turned to Zhu Hong and formally introduced them: "From now on, we are brothers." He glanced at everyone and said slowly, "The rules will remain the same. Teach those who need to be taught, and guide those who need to be guided."

"Alright! Don't worry, boss."

Cao Wanhai laughed heartily, patting the boy's shoulder with his large hand: "Kid, did you hear that? From now on, we're comrades-in-arms, brothers who would risk their lives for each other." He raised a thick eyebrow, quite proudly:

"Our little temple doesn't have all those fancy rules, there's only one," he paused slightly, clenching his fist:

"Having a strong fist is to protect yourself and your fellow disciples."

"If we're all in this together, we should all be of one mind. If anyone dares to stab us in the back, I won't even have to lift a finger; you'll beat them up first!" He then slapped the boy hard.

"Kid, did you understand?"

Zhu Hong felt a slight heaviness on his shoulder from the slap, and said with a wry smile, "I've memorized it all."

Although Lin Jizhi was still holding his breath, seeing that Cao Wanhai had made a move, he quickly moved closer to ingratiate himself: "Kid, since you're new here, if you encounter any procedures you can't figure out when you're organizing case files, you can come and ask me."

"People are more literate than you."

Cao Wanhai added a comment from the side.

"Hahahaha...!" Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

As Zhu Hong watched this scene, his tense body gradually relaxed.

It seemed like only a short time, yet it felt like an eternity. In just those few days, it felt as if we had grown accustomed to the survival of the fittest, to the deceit and treachery, and had to suppress all our kindness in order to survive. Yet, the people here, though they were clearly teasing and joking with each other, showed no malice in their eyes, but rather a warm familiarity.

He quietly moved closer to the crowd.

"Lin Jizhi."

Wang Zhenshan stopped the two who were arguing again and said in a deep voice, "It's getting late. Today's selection process at the Imperial Examination Hall was exhausting, and Zhu Hong should go and settle things." His tone was calm, but brooked no argument.

"Take him to the government office in the back alley; he will live there from now on."

"Yes, sir!"

Lin Jizhi immediately agreed, his previous frustration vanishing. He turned to Zhu Hong, raised his chin, and said in a rough voice, "Come on, kid, come with me to see your place."

……

The night wind pushed away the wispy clouds.

The half-hidden "jade plate" shone brightly, and the spilled moonlight washed the entire Jinyang area white.

After walking for a while, they left the government office and turned into a neat alley. At the alley entrance stood a slightly worn stone tablet with two neatly engraved characters:

Ampoule.

It's probably a homophone for "peace and safety".

This alley is neither a bustling, brocade-lined lane nor home to any grand or wealthy families, but it is quiet and peaceful.

On both sides are small courtyards and bungalows built of blue bricks, with neat walls and even eaves, unlike the crooked and messy houses in Chicken and Goose Lane. Occasionally, a few houses in the lane have lights on, and the warm light shines through the paper windows. You can vaguely hear the clinking of bowls and chopsticks and the low murmur of conversation inside.

Not far away, at the entrance of the alley, there was an old grain shop with its sign still up. Next to it was a small bookstore that specialized in writing letters and transcribing contracts for people.

Go further in:

It was a small blacksmith's workshop, from which the soft sound of hammering could be heard from time to time.

The whole scene was a stark contrast to the narrow alley of Chicken and Goose Alley, which was a chaotic mix of people, filled with constant noise and fighting, and exuding a violent atmosphere.

Dare to shout:

A paradise on earth.

"Many of us who work in the yamen live in Anping Lane, not for any other reason than it's free and it's safer than the streets outside." Lin Jizhi walked ahead, his tone casual, the earlier arguing less agitated. "This is an unused official residence, a detached house with its own courtyard. It's not spacious, but it's enough for living." As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow mischievously.

"I guarantee that even if you add another person, it won't be crowded."

"Heh," Zhu Hong chuckled softly, "that's excellent."

"Here it is."

Lin Jizhi stopped in front of a courtyard gate with a wooden sign that read "Bingqi" hanging on it, took a bunch of copper keys from his waist, picked out one, unlocked it, and pushed the gate open to go inside.

"Old Wu, who used to live here, was transferred to the grain transport office last month." He said, pushing open a door in the inner part of the west wing:

"You've gotten a good deal; this house faces south and is very bright."

Zhu Hong looked around and felt quite pleased with himself.

The courtyard was tiny, barely a few feet in diameter, and the furnishings inside were even simpler: a pine bed, a square table with a chipped corner, two benches, and an old sword sheath hanging on the wall. Nothing else. But it was much better than that drafty, leaky place in Chicken and Goose Alley.

"Here's the key."

Lin Jizhi handed him the copper key and casually instructed, "Be careful with the charcoal fire. It's cold at night, so don't put it out too early." He then pointed and said, "If you need any pots, pans, bowls, or dishes, you can buy them at the general store at the end of the alley. They're not expensive."

Having said that, he gave a serious reminder:

"Go to the prefectural police station tomorrow to register your information; don't be late."

Zhu Hong took the key, bowed, and replied, "Understood." He paused, then said softly:

"Brother Lin, thank you for your trouble."

"Oh, don't be so polite." Lin Jizhi smiled and waved his hand.

"No need to be so polite. We're all colleagues. When I first joined the police force, I was taken care of in the same way. Get some rest; we have to get up early tomorrow." He walked to the door, turned back, and reminded them.

"Be vigilant at night. Although Anping Alley is safer than outside, it's next door to the 'Baiyue Gate' market, a melting pot of all sorts of people, and occasionally some petty thieves will wander around. But..." He grinned and patted the iron ruler at his waist:

"Our protective gear is the best doorman."

……

After seeing Lin Jizhi off, Zhu Hong closed the door.

He sat at the square table, staring at the flickering flames in the charcoal brazier, without saying a word.

From a tuberculous patient who was exploited and couldn't even get enough to eat, to entering public service, finding a path to spiritual cultivation, and gaining a new identity, all within just seven or eight days, his life had been completely transformed.

"Official business, constables."

Zhu Hong read his new identity aloud in a low voice.

He felt a sense of unreality; the source of all this was the "Book of the Dead" in his mind.

He can become stronger simply by sewing up corpses.

Although we've found temporary safety, is there still a crisis?

It's not a huge threat, but it's not insignificant either... it still poses some danger to him now. As the saying goes:

It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark.

Stability is only temporary; crisis is never far away.

"well……"

Zhu Hong sighed softly, a faint self-deprecating smile on his face: "In the end, it's because my reasoning wasn't solid enough, and my abilities weren't great enough."

If your fists are strong enough, no amount of petty scheming or underhanded tricks can withstand them.

"If you are not strong enough, you don't even deserve to be safe and secure."

The last trace of hesitation in his eyes vanished, his gaze turning as cold and clear as a still pool. He slowly spoke, "It seems we should try to find some corpses."

Death is fine,

Whether it's alive or not.

……