From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

The words had barely left his mouth when a chorus of agreement erupted in the small room:

"The boss is brilliant!"

Without the daily roll call, these constables, who were already living on the edge of life and death, had more opportunities to fight and earn merit. Some were already planning to visit the demon dens they knew well, or thinking about snatching a lucrative and easy job from the "Merit Wall".

For a moment, my mind was in turmoil.

"Boss, we're off then!"

Someone grinned and started it.

Then everyone clasped their hands in greeting, turned around, and went out. The movements were all done in one smooth motion, and the figures filed out in a flurry of motion.

"Zhu Hong, Lin Jizhi."

Just as Zhu Hong was about to leave with the crowd, he suddenly heard a shout.

"Hey!" Lin Ji responded faster than anyone else, turning around and coming back with a big smile on his face. He asked immediately, "Boss, is there some lucrative job coming our way?"

Wang Zhenshan didn't respond, but simply picked up the scroll on the table:

"There's a case where the two of you would be a perfect match."

He tapped the dossier with his knuckles, his tone calm as if describing the weather: "It's the dead of winter, the mountains are bitterly cold, and some hungry beasts couldn't resist and entered the city." With a flick of his wrist, the dossier slid to the edge of the desk: "Thirty li north of the city, in the evening forest, two porters died yesterday."

At this point, Wang Zhenshan paused slightly and raised his eyes:

The wound has been examined.

The claw marks were three inches deep into the flesh, narrow and long.

"It's probably that 'ground wolf' that's been roaming around for a while." He paused, then added a more somber sentence:

"It's also possible that it was a bear that had just woken up."

"Rank?" Wang Zhenshan's gaze narrowed slightly. "Lower first rank, or perhaps it has already touched the threshold of the middle rank."

Mid-grade first rank?

If it's a ground wolf, that's manageable, but a bear is the real problem.

Thick-skinned and incredibly strong.

Lin Jizhi's playful smile froze instantly, and Zhu Hong's shoulders and back also tensed up quietly.

"but……"

Wang Zhenshan took in their expressions, and unhurriedly offered his bait: "This errand, the monster is a merit, the case being closed is another, one trip, double the reward." He leaned back slightly, his gaze heavy as he looked at them: "Right now, most of our manpower is scattered, this opportunity—"

He paused, then gently pushed the choice back:

"Answer or not?"

"catch!"

Lin Jizhi slapped his thigh suddenly, his eyes lighting up instantly:

"Double the prize? Only a fool wouldn't take that," he rubbed his hands together, his reckless spirit returning.

"This is such a great deal!"

"And you?" Wang Zhenshan turned his gaze steadily to Zhu Hong beside him, his tone flat yet carrying weight:

"Would you like to come with Ji Zhi?"

"Yes," Zhu Hong replied faster than expected.

Almost without hesitation, he straightened up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "As Brother Lin said, double the prize, why not take it!"

"very good."

A faint hint of admiration flashed across Wang Zhenshan's eyes.

His decisiveness was somewhat reminiscent of his younger days. Then, his expression turned stern, and he reprimanded, "This is your first task together. You must cooperate wholeheartedly and look after each other. If you do a good job, you'll earn merit points; otherwise…" His tone suddenly turned cold, and a cruel smile curved his lips.

"If it's messed up, or someone loses their life there..."

Then I'll have to spend the money to buy two straw mats, so at least you can have a proper burial."

"Boss, you really underestimate me!" Lin Jizhi chuckled and nudged Zhu Hong's arm, his face radiating an arrogant "I'm here, everything's fine" attitude.

"With me here, I'll guarantee he'll be safe and sound, and nothing will go wrong!"

"Stop talking nonsense." Wang Zhenshan rolled his eyes at him and said irritably, "You should save your energy for chopping down monsters instead of bragging." He waved his hand as if shooing away flies.

"Get up and get ready!"

……

Before long, the two of them had finished getting ready.

The so-called "ready":

It was nothing more than each person receiving an extra goose-feather knife, a few bundles of hemp rope soaked in raging oil, and a few thunderclaps. This was the yamen's makeshift method for dealing with frightened monsters; the loud banging was more powerful than the actual attack, mostly used to intimidate people.

As soon as you step out of the north gate of Jinyang City, the north wind feels like a knife cutting your face.

The hustle and bustle of the city was instantly left behind, leaving only desolate wilderness. The weeds on both sides of the official road were withered and filthy, and the remaining snow was filthy, with muddy tracks made by the wheels and hooves of horses, stretching into the dark and gloomy shadows of the mountains in the distance.

"This damn weather is so cold it could freeze a bird to death!"

Lin Jizhi pressed Fan Yangli down, and the white breath he exhaled from his mouth and nose was instantly dispersed by the cold wind.

He glanced sideways at Zhu Hong, his tone carrying the cautionary tone of a seasoned veteran: "Zhu Hong, you kid... you've never seen a real demon beast before, have you?" His tone turned serious: "Having brute strength won't do you any good against them. Once you enter Xiangwan Forest, remember to listen to me in everything." At this point, his expression suddenly became earnest:

"besides--

Be very careful when dealing with those beasts.

Livestock have no sense of morality; they are vicious and will bite your throat and rip out your heart.

Riding steadily on the mottled steed, Zhu Hong smiled calmly, "Brother Lin is an experienced horseman, so I'll naturally listen to you. However," he paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on the distant Lin Ying, "I'd like to ask, at this last minute, what are the tricks to dealing with these ground wolves?"

Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle.

His trip wasn't entirely for official business; he also had ulterior motives.

After those four days of intensive physical training, relying on the "Blood Marrow Strengthening Paste" to forcibly draw out a large amount of strength, I now feel like a knife that has been stored away in its sheath for a long time.

Urgently sharpening the edge.

"doorway?"

Lin Jizhi pulled on the reins, slowing the horse a few paces so he could ride alongside Zhu Hong. He turned his head, his eyes beneath the Fanyang hat gleaming menacingly in the twilight: "This beast has a lot of tricks up his sleeve." He raised his hand and ripped open his fur coat with a "rip," tilting his neck towards Zhu Hong:

"See that?"

It was a gift it left for me at Luoyanpo a few years ago.

Lin Jizhi straightened his collar again and grinned: "That thing is extremely fast and holds a grudge. We must kill it all, don't let it get away."

Horses trampled through snowdrifts, kicking up tiny shards of ice.

He continued:

"Most importantly, it doesn't howl. Its movements are like a ghost. Usually, wolves will howl a few times before attacking to build up their strength, but this thing doesn't even let out a breath when it attacks. So," he paused, staring at Zhu Hong with a solemn expression, "once you enter the forest, your ears are more important than your eyes."

"I heard a withered branch break..."

Don't hesitate, just roll to the side first!

"Ears are more important than eyes," Zhu Hong said, nodding slightly as he pressed his fingertips to the hilt of his sword.

"I've remembered those words."

Having said that, the two riders strode into the forest through the snow, and the wind and snow suddenly fell silent.

The entire evening forest seemed...

He kept his mouth tightly shut.