Chapter 061: Bringing the Child to Work

Yan City, Eastern Market.

“Auntie, could you please move this basket of vegetables inward a bit? That way it won’t block the pedestrians’ path.”

“Uncle, you should arrange this bamboo pole better. If it falls, it might hit someone walking by!”

Song Ye had already begun his patrol of the marketplace, fulfilling his duty as a bona fide “city steward”—though here, he wasn’t called a city steward, but rather a street patrol constable.

Zhao Zhigao had indeed spoken on Song Ye’s behalf to the city magistrate. After Song Ye passed both the civil and martial examinations, he was promptly appointed as a street patrol constable.

After all, Zhao Zhigao was already a squad leader among the local constables, his words carried weight in the yamen.

From now on, the Eastern Market and the adjoining commercial street were Song Ye’s responsibility to patrol.

The Eastern Market was a vast marketplace, filled with all kinds of stalls. Many villagers from nearby countryside brought their wares here to sell; it wasn’t like the commercial street, which was lined with grand taverns and teahouses.

Song Ye’s patrol partner was none other than his four-year-old sister, Song Yan.

The reason Song Ye wanted to become a street patrol constable was so he could take Song Yan along with him on patrol—what people nowadays might call “bringing your child to work.”

At that moment, Song Yan had wandered over to a sweet cake stall, her small hand resting by her mouth, clearly craving a treat.

The stall owner recognized her as the little sister of the constable who oversaw the Eastern Market, and naturally sought to curry favor.

He picked up a piece of osmanthus sugar cake and handed it to Song Yan. “Here, little one, have a taste!”

Song Yan was about to reach out for it when Song Ye’s voice stopped her. “Song Yan!”

Her little hand, halfway extended, quickly drew back.

“I’ve told you many times, you must never accept food from others. Only what your brother buys for you is permitted. Do you hear me?” Song Ye said, coming to her side.

Song Yan nodded vigorously.

Song Ye turned to the vendor. “How much for the osmanthus sugar cake? I’ll take one.”

The sweet cake vendor replied with a cheerful smile, “Constable, if your sister wants it, she can take one—no need to pay!”

Song Ye insisted, “No, I must pay.”

“Four coins, then.”

Song Ye bought the sugar cake for four coins and handed it over to Song Yan, who immediately began eating it with delight.

Just then, a figure approached from the direction of the marketplace entrance—a face quite familiar to Song Ye.

“Duan Ling?”

Duan Ling of the Moon-Seizing Sect—what was he doing here?

Duan Ling soon spotted Song Ye, and called out joyfully, “Brother Song!” as he walked over.

“What brings you here?” Song Ye asked.

Duan Ling drew Song Ye aside to a secluded corner, then explained, “Members of the Seven Stars Gate have discovered traces of the Blood Sword Demon Lord near Frost City.”

“Frost City is close to the Xuanqing Palace, so Seven Stars Gate has invited Moon-Seizing Sect, Divine Wind Gate, and Heavenly Dawn Sect to gather at Xuanqing Palace and discuss how to deal with the Blood Sword Demon Lord.”

Song Ye had heard tales of the Blood Sword Demon Lord from storytellers in Yan City—he was a sword cultivator, also known as the Blood Sword Demon.

Recently, many storytellers had come to Yan City, delighting in recounting the exploits of legendary figures from the worlds of immortals and demons to attract listeners.

Duan Ling continued, “I accompanied my master to Xuanqing Palace. They are now meeting in the palace hall, but I’m not qualified to attend. I heard a new city has risen here, lively and bustling, so I came to see for myself.”

The last time Duan Ling appeared here was a year and a half ago.

Back then, this place was but a small village—how swiftly things change. Now it was a thriving town. At that time, Song Ye was merely tending a tea stall, now he was a constable in the magistrate’s office.

Then, Duan Ling had been a young cultivator brimming with ambition and zeal. In the year and a half since, he ought to have made considerable progress.

Indeed, he quickly began to boast of his “development.”

“Brother Song, remember more than a year ago, I swore before you that I would become an Immortal Lord. I wasn’t just speaking empty words. My strength has advanced greatly this past year and a half!” Duan Ling declared with pride.

Song Ye immediately checked Duan Ling’s cultivation.

[Duan Ling: Second Level of Profound Understanding Realm]

A year and a half ago, he was at the eighth level of Bone Tempering. Now, he had reached the second level of Profound Understanding—a definite improvement.

Yet, in terms of progress, he still lagged far behind Song Ye.

Song Ye had experienced a stroke of fortune; just his last adventure alone had earned him 187 attribute points.

Thus, the gap between them had only widened, and would continue to grow.

Song Ye’s current attributes were as follows:

[Level]: 74
[Vitality]: 1265
[Spirit]: 50

That morning, Song Ye tested his maximum damage at the Player Space’s wooden dummy—it had reached 327,000 points. According to the chart, that equated to the fourth level of the Void Spirit Realm.

Duan Ling’s second level of Profound Understanding was far from impressive in Song Ye’s eyes.

Even Mu Qiu’s cultivation as a protector had been raised to the fourth level of Sky Shattering Realm by Song Ye, thanks to the Protector True Essence Pill.

“Recently, I mastered a particularly difficult wind-based technique,” Duan Ling continued. “Step back ten paces—I’ll show you!”

The fifth wind technique—Whirlwind Fist!

Duan Ling punched rapidly, summoning a gust of wind with each strike, formidable in power.

Song Ye could see clearly that Duan Ling had thrown thirty-seven punches in an instant.

Song Ye’s vitality attribute enhanced all physical abilities—including eyesight.

After finishing the whirlwind technique, Duan Ling eagerly asked, “Brother Song, guess how many punches I just threw!”

“Thirty-seven,” Song Ye replied without hesitation.

Duan Ling was astonished, then broke into laughter. “Ha! Brother Song, who would’ve thought your guess would hit the mark? You might have seen only one blur of fists, but in a single second, I managed thirty-seven strikes. Isn’t that incredible?”

Song Ye nodded mildly. “It is quite remarkable.”

At that moment, commotion erupted at the far end of the Eastern Market. A growing crowd was gathering, drawn by some spectacle.

As the constable responsible for the Eastern Market, Song Ye was obliged to investigate any disturbance.

He picked up Song Yan and headed toward the crowd, with Duan Ling following close behind.

The source of the gathering was two men in splendid attire, one holding a paper fan.

Song Ye recognized them immediately—the one with the paper fan was Huangfu Xiaoyun, the other, Murong Jingtian.

Both were scions of illustrious cultivation families; their every action naturally attracted attention.

Huangfu Xiaoyun was berating Murong Jingtian loudly.

“Murong Jingtian, you despicable scoundrel. You know the Prince of Xiang favors me and may well invite me to become his son-in-law. With the Prince’s family about to settle in Yan City, you’ve gone and hired people to spread rumors about me, ruining my reputation!”

Murong Jingtian sneered, “Huangfu Xiaoyun, don’t flatter yourself. I’ve asked my friends in Luocheng—your meeting with the Prince of Xiang was nothing but a fleeting encounter, yet you boast that he’ll marry his daughter to you.”

“And besides, everyone knows you’re fond of flitting about the flower houses, keeping mistresses in golden chambers, always surrounded by a flock of courtesans. Your reputation has long been tarnished—do I really need to hire someone to smear your name?”