Soon, everyone in the Government Office knew that two individuals had entered through the back door to become constables.
The entire office was speculating about their identities.
"The Lord County Magistrate is still from the Seek Dao Sect, with an iron face and impartiality, who doesn't give face to anyone. To have the Lord County Magistrate pull strings for them, their connections must be really strong," one person said.
"Do you think it's possible that they are from the Seek Dao Sect?" asked another.
"Impossible. Those from the Seek Dao Sect are all Heavenly Chosen Sons. Why would they stoop to becoming the hardworking constables?"
To the common people, constables appeared imposing and frightening, but only when one actually became one did they realize the job involved uninterrupted day and night shifts. Even on supposed days off, you could be called back for work, and with a major case, rest was out of the question. Moreover, physical skills were a requirement to avoid being stabbed to death by criminals.
The secretary spoke confidently, "In my opinion, these two are very likely from a Barbarian tribe."
"From a Barbarian tribe?"
"Yes, think about it. Our Quyi County is in Wild State, and so are the Barbarian tribes. These two are probably relatives of the magistrate."
"But their surnames aren't Barbarian."
"Distant relatives, with different surnames from the Barbarian tribe."
"That makes sense."
This viewpoint quickly gained acceptance throughout the Government Office. Since they had used the backdoor to enter, the office's rules didn't apply to these two. As long as they didn't do anything too outrageous, everyone turned a blind eye.
...
Wild State was rich in minerals. Cultivators adapted to local conditions to refine these minerals, and over time, Wild State became a gathering place for blacksmiths. There were over a hundred large and small blacksmith shops in Quyi County.
Amongst the many blacksmith shops, the Wang Family Blacksmith Shop was the most unimpressive one. Their main customers were neighbors needing repairs for their shovels, hoes, kitchen knives, and iron pots.
Old Wang, with a missing front tooth, was highly skilled and always repaired these items flawlessly.
But that was all there was to it.
The Wang Family Blacksmith Shop had only Old Wang and Little Wang, the blacksmith, who depended on each other for survival. As Old Wang grew older, Little Wang took over his work, repairing iron pots for the neighbors.
"Grandpa, it's time to eat," called Little Wang to Old Wang.
Usually, Old Wang would come out of the house with a laugh, but today, Little Wang called several times without a response from Old Wang.
Worried about his grandfather, Little Wang went inside and saw Old Wang holding a piece of red cloth, staring into space, dumbfounded.
"Child, come here, your grandpa has something to tell you." Old Wang's voice was hoarse, and his eyes were no longer as bright as before; they had become exceptionally dim.
"Grandpa, what's wrong?"
"Actually, your grandpa has never told you this, but I am not an ordinary person, I am a cultivator."
"My true identity is that of an heir to the Divine Craftsman Wang Family, which has been a hermitage with a legacy lasting ten thousand years."
"Your grandpa broke the ancestral rules and forged an Evil Sword. The Evil Sword has no grade; it craves killing and blood. The more it kills, the more blood it drinks, the higher its grade becomes."
Old Wang uncovered the red cloth he was holding, revealing a fierce Blood Sword with a Vermilion Gem embedded in the hilt, like the eye of a Demon God.
"As soon as this sword came into existence, it was marked by the people of the Hundred Sword Alliance. The Alliance wanted to take my sword, and I knew that if this Bloodthirsty Evil Sword ended up in their hands, it would lead to untold slaughter."
"In order to avoid the pursuit of the Hundred Sword Alliance, I fled all the way here."
"I wanted to destroy this Evil Sword, but unfortunately, it is a product of my extraordinary performance; it's too durable to be destroyed by me."
"Because forging a Demon Sword was banned by Great Xia, I couldn't report this to the government office, so I had to settle here under a false name and then found you."
"Sadly, after so many years of hiding, I have finally been found by the people of the Hundred Sword Alliance."
Old Wang took out a token: "This is the Hundred Sword Pursuit Order, which I received today. The Hundred Sword Alliance loves toying with their prey, and if I'm not mistaken, they will make their move tonight."
"Members of the Hundred Sword Alliance each possess a Heavenly Weapon Divine Sword, commanding respect wherever the sword points."
Old Wang handed Little Wang a package: "Grandpa is helpless and cannot protect you. Later, I will fight a desperate battle with the people from the Hundred Sword Alliance. During the chaos, you must run!"
"The refining techniques that grandpa taught you are actually the Ninety-nine Stages of Refining Technique, passed down orally in the Divine Craftsman Wang Family. From now on, you are the sole heir of the Divine Craftsman Wang Family!"
"Grandfather!" Little Wang, the blacksmith, cried as he held Old Wang in his arms.
Little Wang wasn't being a child, but Old Wang's eyes also started to redden.
...
"It's really deserted out here at night," Constable Lu Yang said to Constable Meng Jingzhou as they patrolled the streets at night.
It was already past midnight, the streets were chillingly silent with just the two of them.
"By the way, have you decided what kind of Dao Fruit you want to condense?" Lu Yang brought up a casual topic.
Meng Jingzhou shook his head, with his saber swinging to and fro, "Haven't figured it out yet. With the Immortal Jiuchong around, I can't condense anything like the Supreme Yang Dao Fruit."
"What about you?"
"I haven't decided either."
As they were discussing, they saw two mysterious shadows approach, blending into the darkness with something on their backs wrapped in black cloth, bulging out.
"Halt, who are you, and why are you wandering the streets at night!"
Lu Yang demanded, "Show us your identity tokens or some other proof of identity!"
The shoulders of the mysterious figures shook as they let out a chilling laugh, "Ignorance truly is bliss. You're just unlucky to have encountered us."