Chapter 1198: Public Security Fails

Soon, everyone in the magistrate's office knew that two people had become constables through back channels. The entire office speculated about their identities.

"The Magistrate is from the Wen Dao Sect, known for his impartiality; he never shows favoritism. For him to pull strings for someone, their connections must be very strong."

"Do you think they might be from the Wen Dao Sect themselves?"

"No way. Wen Dao Sect disciples are all exceptionally talented individuals; why would they come here to be lowly constables?"

To the common people, constables seem imposing and frightening, and anyone who sees them feels apprehensive. But once you become one, you realize that this job involves continuous day and night shifts. Even on days off, you might be called back to work. If there's a major case, resting is impossible. Furthermore, it requires good combat skills to avoid being stabbed to death by criminals.

The Chief Clerk stated with certainty, "In my opinion, these two are very likely barbarians."

"Barbarians?"

"That's right. Think about it, our Quyi County is in Barren State, and the barbarians are also in Barren State. These two are probably the Magistrate's relatives."

"But their surnames aren't barbarian."

"Distant relatives, barbarians with different surnames."

"That makes sense."

This view quickly gained acceptance throughout the magistrate's office. Since they got in through back channels, the office's rules wouldn't apply to them. As long as they didn't do anything too outrageous, everyone decided to turn a blind eye.

Barren State is rich in minerals. Cultivators refine these minerals according to local conditions, and over time, Barren State became a hub for blacksmiths. Quyi County alone had over a hundred large and small smithies.

Among the many smithies, the Wang Family Smithy was the most inconspicuous. Their main customers were neighbors who brought shovels, hoes, cleavers, and iron pots for repairs.

Old Man Wang, missing a front tooth, was a skilled craftsman. He would repair these items flawlessly. But that was the extent of their business.

The Wang Family Smithy consisted only of Old Man Wang and Little Wang the blacksmith, who depended on each other. As Old Man Wang grew older, Little Wang took over his work, repairing iron pots for the neighbors.

"Grandpa, it's time to eat," Little Wang called out to Old Man Wang.

Usually, Old Man Wang would come out of the house smiling. But today, Little Wang called several times, and Old Man Wang didn't appear. Worried, Little Wang went inside and saw Old Man Wang cradling a red cloth, lost in thought.

"Son, come here. Grandpa has something to tell you," Old Man Wang said, his voice hoarse, his eyes no longer bright but incredibly dim.

"Grandpa, what's wrong?"

"Actually, there's something Grandpa hasn't told you: I'm not an ordinary person; I'm a cultivator."

"My true identity is that of a descendant of the hidden Divine Blacksmith Wang family, a lineage with ten thousand years of heritage."

"I violated the ancestral teachings and forged an evil sword. This evil sword has no inherent rank; it thrives on slaughter and bloodlust. The more people it kills and the more blood it drinks, the higher its rank becomes."

Old Man Wang pulled back the red cloth he held, revealing a sinister blood-red sword. Its hilt was inlaid with a vermilion gem, resembling a demon god's eye.

"As soon as this sword appeared, it was targeted by the Hundred Swords Alliance. They wanted to seize it from me. I knew that if this bloodthirsty evil sword fell into their hands, it would surely bring about widespread devastation."

"To escape the Hundred Swords Alliance's pursuit, Grandpa fled all the way here."

"I also tried to destroy this evil sword, but unfortunately, it was a masterpiece forged beyond my usual skill, and its material is too hard for me to break."

"Since forging demon swords is forbidden by Great Xia, I dared not inform the authorities. I could only live here in anonymity, and then I found you."

"Alas, after hiding for so many years, the Hundred Swords Alliance has finally caught up."

Old Man Wang took out a token. "This is a Hundred Swords Pursuit Order, which I received today. The Hundred Swords Alliance loves to toy with their prey."

"If my prediction is correct, they should make their move tonight."

"Every member of the Hundred Swords Alliance possesses a divine weapon and sword. Where their divine swords point, none can stand against them."

Old Man Wang handed Little Wang a package. "Grandpa is useless; I can't protect you. Soon, I will fight the Hundred Swords Alliance to the death."

"When that happens, you must seize the chaos and run!"

"The forging method I taught you all these years is actually the ninety-nine stage forging technique passed down by word of mouth in the Divine Blacksmith Wang family. From now on, you are the sole heir of the Divine Blacksmith Wang family!"

"Grandpa!" Little Wang cried, hugging Old Man Wang.

Little Wang, though not a child, was more distraught than one. Old Man Wang's eyes also welled up.

"It's truly quiet tonight," Constable Lu Yang and Constable Meng Jingzhou said as they patrolled the streets late at night.

It was past midnight, and the streets were deserted, with only the two of them present.

"By the way, have you decided what kind of Dao Fruit you want to condense?" Lu Yang casually brought up a topic.

Meng Jingzhou shook his head, his saber swinging. "I haven't figured it out yet. With a Nine Heavens Immortal Senior present, I can't condense something like a Supreme Yang Dao Fruit anyway."

"What about you?"

"I haven't decided either."

As they discussed, they saw two shadowy figures approaching, blending perfectly with the night. The figures carried something unknown on their backs, wrapped in black cloth, bulging.

"Stop right there! Who are you, and why are you wandering the streets?" Lu Yang demanded, "Show us your identification or anything else that proves your identity!"

The two mysterious figures' shoulders twitched, and they let out eerie laughter. "Ignorance truly is bliss. Running into us can only be considered bad luck for you."

"Our swords are our identity!"

They drew the items from their backs, which turned out to be two strangely shaped swords!

In a flash, the two mysterious figures appeared behind the two young constables, sheathing their swords cleanly.

"I struck eight times," one of the mysterious figures said.

"I struck nine times," the other, stronger, mysterious figure replied.

The two mysterious figures exchanged cold sneers and continued walking towards the Wang Family Smithy.

"Don't be in such a hurry, come back." Lu Yang grabbed the collars of the two mysterious figures.

The two mysterious figures stared at Lu Yang in disbelief. By all accounts, shouldn't this person have been cut into eight pieces by now? They tried to draw their swords and attack, only to find that their swords had been reduced to mere hilts!

Meng Jingzhou looked down helplessly at the scattered iron fragments on the ground. "What kind of junk swords are these? They shattered the moment they touched us. These two are also incredibly incompetent. They didn't even realize their swords were just hilts and kept swinging them around like madmen."

"Speak up, what are you doing?"

At the Wang Family Smithy.

The grandfather and grandson cried in each other's arms for a long time. Old Man Wang kept muttering to himself, "This isn't right. The Hundred Swords Alliance should have arrived by now."

Knock, knock, knock.

A knocking sound came from outside the door. Old Man Wang's heart tightened. "They're here!"

"Is anyone home? We're constables from the county magistrate's office, here to ask you a few questions."

"Trying to impersonate constables to trick us into opening the door? Does the Hundred Swords Alliance think I'm a fool?"

Old Man Wang wiped his palm across the sword, and the evil sword swallowed the blood from his palm, becoming even more sinister. Little Wang secretly opened the door. Old Man Wang, having gathered his strength, lunged with his sword at the two figures standing at the doorway.

"Son, run! I'll fight them to the death!"

Lu Yang extended his index and middle fingers, gently clamping down on the evil sword, trying to hold back his strength lest he crush the sword.

Meng Jingzhou scoffed, "The public safety here is terrible, isn't it? Our very first night as constables, and we're attacked by two groups?"