Blind Spot
Chapter 441 - 402 test four

Chapter 441: 402 test four

Pondering these miscellaneous matters, Li Chengyi and his two companions successfully paid their way into the county city.

They walked along a street that was much busier than the town’s.

"We’ll find a place to live first, then go to register," Wang Yifeng said with a smile. "I’ve found a place for you in advance. It’s a house vacated by an old friend of mine, and he’s renting it to us for a bargain—just twelve taels of silver a year."

At roughly a ten-to-one currency exchange rate, this was one thousand two hundred a year, which was, of course, easy for Wang Yifeng.

His annual salary was nearly thirty taels of silver, not to mention other unofficial incomes.

All in all, he could earn as much as fifty taels a year.

"I’ve already paid your rent for the first year. After that, it’s up to you to pay it with your salary. Understand?" Wang Yifeng reminded him.

"Understood," Li Chengyi nodded.

Pretending to part ways with Liu Mingyang, father and son made their way deeper into the county city and found Tongyuan Fang, located between two pharmacies on a street called Lufeng Street.

"The management of civilian housing in the county city is very strict. Whoever lives there must be registered. The area is divided into fangs, and you shouldn’t wander around without good reason. Many fangs are almost isolated from each other. If you’re encounter by the patrolling City Guards, it’ll be a hassle to explain."

Wang Yifeng warned.

"I know." Li Chengyi had already inquired about these situations and nodded in agreement.

"I’ve already spoken to the leader of Tongyuan Fang in advance. When you have time, buy some gifts and pay a visit. It’s good to have someone who can look after you in times of need. Also, the Government Office usually posts various pieces of information at the public notice area at the entrance of the fang. If you want to change houses, buy something, or find someone, you can go there.

But remember to pay the announcer. Because many people can’t read, the announcer needs to broadcast the messages publicly every day. You could choose not to pay, but then he won’t read yours out loud. He might even secretly tear it down for you."

Wang Yifeng was sharing the experience he gained while living and studying here back in the day.

"Back then, I spent six precious years here..."

The two of them followed the path into the interior where the alley began narrow but gradually widened.

The ground was paved with thick black mud slabs, and on either side were residences with wooden doors and windows.

Some residents even occupied the path with bamboo poles to dry clothes and quilts.

Two children with topknots on their heads and naked buttocks chased a white butterfly in the corner.

Splash.

In front of one house, a voluptuous woman with a partly exposed chest poured out her foot-washing water into the middle of the road, wetting the ground.

Wang Yifeng and his companion crossed the soggy mud, and the woman even cast a flirtatious glance at them.

"Hmm... every fang has someone like that. See the black wood branch hanging on the door? That’s a widow. Stay away from her," Wang Yifeng cautioned in a low voice.

"Most of these widows can’t find decent jobs, and in these hard times, they can only take on piecemeal work or things that shun the light to get by," he sighed, not elaborating further.

But Li Chengyi keenly noticed that the widow’s gaze seemed to linger more on Wang Yifeng.

It seemed as though she recognized Head Constable Wang...

Considering that this fellow only needed half an hour to come to the county city...

Li Chengyi’s thoughts raced, and his expression grew strange.

Following the path for a few minutes, the two soon arrived in front of a single-family house with a yard.

This house was different from the others around it; it was clearly a cut above.

The walls built from Black Stone bricks were three meters high, completely encompassing the yard and forming a private space.

"This is it."

Wang Yifeng took out a key, unlocked the door, and went in.

Li Chengyi followed closely, and as he entered, something stirred inside him. He turned back to look.

It seemed as if something had been watching him.

But by the time he looked back, whatever it was had already hidden itself.

After depositing their luggage, the two left their lodging and headed together to the County Prefecture Office.

The registration point for the Divine Martial Bureau was within the Office, and with his recommendation letter, Li Chengyi smoothly obtained the qualification for assessment.

Wang Yifeng also left, content.

Although he verbally expressed that the assessment was difficult, he had absolute confidence in the strength of his son.

The assessment would take place the day after tomorrow at noon.

Li Chengyi then settled down in Tongyuan Fang with peace of mind.

In two days, his True Qi had thickened significantly.

For him, whose daily cultivation was equivalent to 240 days of an ordinary person, three days equaled two years of effort for others.

Such progress rapidly increased the Pine Pattern Energy in his True Qi.

At the same time, the issue of the Pine Pattern Energy being too dilute was also resolved with the aid of the Seven Spirit Holy Technique.

All was advancing in a positive direction.

Two days later.

At the County Prefecture Office, Divine Martial Hall.

On the spacious ash-white training ground, a total of fifteen people participating in the assessment were lined up in the middle, facing the examination platform, standing tall and still.

With the sun high in the sky, noon was the hottest time.

The fifteen candidates were dressed differently, each carrying various weapons, with only the likes of Li Chengyi bringing no weapons at all.

The examination platform was a simple wooden shelter built from planks and tables and chairs.

Inside sat three middle-aged men and women dressed in military official uniforms.

Two male military officials and one female official, all of considerable age, averaging around forty.

The three were in charge of the assessment and also the head officials of the Divine Martial Bureau within the County Prefecture Office.

The chief officer of the Divine Martial Bureau at a local level is usually named directly with an added "head" according to the local standard, modeled after the Blood Guard Bureau.

The county chief here is the small mustachioed martial general sitting in the middle, Fu Ran, a man with a broad waist and round shoulders, towering in stature, with two silver-black giant axes strapped to his back—a clear display of strength-oriented martial prowess.

At this moment, he was looking at the fifteen people standing in the arena and loudly declared,

"The annual assessment, this year it’s your turn. The number is a bit small; out of the twenty towns under this county’s jurisdiction, five towns did not recommend anyone."

"However, don’t you get too pleased with yourselves, the Divine Military Bureau only recruits four people each year, so, eleven of you will be eliminated and return to your hometowns."

Li Chengyi stood quietly in the lineup, listening to the other side talking about the general internal situation of the Divine Military Bureau.

When the entire Divine Military Bureau is mobilized, unlike the city guard army, their main tasks are to follow up and conclude the cases after the experts from the Blood Guard Bureau have dealt with them.

Thus, most of the time they must face the attacks of remaining monsters, disperse the public’s doubts and uproars, deal with the pollution of poisonous blood, and even possibly face the loss of control within the Blood Guard Bureau itself...

Hence, the selection for the Divine Military Bureau is relatively stringent, the aim being to reduce unnecessary casualties and injuries.

Inside the Divine Military Bureau, every location is divided into five fixed ranks.

Common Divine Military soldiers, team leader, large team leader, deputy chief, and chief.

Here, at the county level, naturally, the deputy county chief and the county chief act as the main persons in charge.

There are usually two deputy chiefs. There can only be one chief.

However, the number of leaders of large teams and teams can be multiple and is not limited, depending on specific local needs.

"Of course, I understand that you all want to make a name for yourselves and establish your careers. In our Divine Military Bureau, we also have a similar assessment and promotion system," Fu Ran, the county chief, continued to announce loudly.

"Our actions are mainly determined by the task difficulty handed over from the Blood Guard Bureau."

"The grading is the most basic with heaven, earth, profound, and yellow four levels, the specific meritorious service regulations, you all may look up in the barracks afterward. Now, let’s start with the first item of the assessment, True Qi!"

Fu Ran looked to his left and right.

"The two beside me are the deputy county chiefs of Cangshi County, Lin Daquan and Xie Chengyan. As long as you gain the approval of two or more of us three, you can officially join the Divine Military Bureau."

"My lord, if a team member turns out to be much stronger than the team leader, how should we handle it?" Suddenly, a voice interjected.

Fu Ran was startled, following the voice to look, that was a tall and robust young man with black hair and sword-like eyebrows, not particularly handsome, but his eyes naturally exuded sharpness and confidence.

"Wang Yichen, right?" Fu Ran smiled.

"That’s a good question. Actually, we in the Divine Military Bureau also have an unwritten rule: strength prevails, and those with strength take precedence in rank.

If you are strong enough, you can directly take the position of team leader. As for higher ranks, they require not just strength but also quick thinking and other comprehensive qualities. Promotion in that case can only be achieved through completing missions."

"Thank you, my lord." Li Chengyi said as he clasped his fist in gratitude.

"Very well, then let’s start with you. Show us your True Qi," Fu Ran said with a smile.

Li Chengyi stepped forward, and around his body, bright white True Qi quickly shimmered to life.

"The True Qi I have cultivated is called Pine Pattern Energy, the core of the Family Pine Deer Blade Technique, ungraded, and the total amount of my True Qi is... forty years of cultivation."

"How much?!" Fu Ran’s eyes brightened, asking again.

Li Chengyi quickly repeated.

This time everyone heard it clearly, and murmurs of astonishment spread through the crowd.

"You are nineteen years old, aren’t you? To have cultivated to forty years’ worth at this age, your talent is exceptional! How old were you when you started cultivating Qi?" Deputy County Chief Lin Daquan, moved, took the initiative to ask.

"Nine years old," Li Chengyi answered casually.

Cultivating forty years’ worth in less than a year was far too astonishing, so before leaving, Wang Yifeng had admonished him to come up with a more reasonable genius answer.

Nine years old to nineteen years old, ten years’ time to have cultivated forty years of strength, such geniuses are extremely rare but still exist.

At least they will not be considered freaks and be taken away for research.

"Very good, very good!!" Fu Ran laughed heartily.

"Excellent! From today on, you are the fifth large team leader of Cangshi County!"

In these times, martial strength is the best protective amulet to guarantee safety—everything else is immaterial.

"Yes."

Li Chengyi showed no surprise, serenely responding with a clasped fist.

The envious and jealous eyes of the other fourteen assessors converged on him, but no one had any grounds for objection.

Their True Qi cultivation was at most a few years to a dozen years; compared to someone with the exaggerated talent of Li Chengyi, the gap was far, far too wide.

The assessment was not yet over, but Li Chengyi was already taken aside to receive his team clothes, weapons, and armor.

At the same time, the intelligence and channels he valued were finally opening up.

The Divine Military Bureau has a separate channel for obtaining information that originates from the unique Raven House structure of Shaoyin Country.

Just like the Divine Military Bureau, the Raven House is a department dedicated to providing intelligence for the Blood Guard Bureau and the Divine Military Bureau.

Intelligence is divided into public and private categories.

Public intelligence can be browsed freely without cost.

Private intelligence requires payment to access, but at an internal price.

Besides, there are also distributions of salaries at each rank, various practical gadgets, medicines, warning fireworks, and so forth.

Upon learning the location of the Raven House institution in Cangshi County, Li Chengyi went there without delay.

With his waist tag, he could enjoy a twenty percent discount.

He sought all information on the Illusory Color Dragon and also wished to learn about the world’s true top-level experts.

This was his core purpose in joining the official ranks.

Moreover, there was that God Limit Heart Technique he had encountered before to check if it was the same one.

Additionally, information on various Divine Flower positions and flowers was also necessary to check in advance for evolution benefits and for repairing and replenishing the Floral Dress.

With the support of an official and formal intelligence organization, he could immediately be informed of information from all over Shaoyin Country.

Though the high-end information was out of reach, most of the information he needed was non-high-end and fell into the category of common knowledge.