A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

After receiving the donation, Su Bai led Zheng Shijie out of the gambling den.

The afternoon sun was a bit too bright, and the hustle and bustle of the street was overwhelming.

Zheng Shijie followed half a step behind Su Bai, his gaze burning with admiration. He would occasionally turn his head to look at Su Bai's profile, his eyes filled with barely suppressed respect. His steps were light, and his lips were parted in a wide grin, almost as if he were about to burst out laughing.

"Walk properly." Su Bai didn't even turn his head, his voice low but carrying a warning, "Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd found a gold ingot or that you'd had some great joy."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shijie immediately shrank back and forcibly pursed his lips, but his eyes remained bright.

Su Bai glanced at him sideways and, seeing his expression, understood—his decisive actions in the gambling den had indeed stunned the kid.

No wonder. Su Bai knew in his heart that his move just now was indeed beautiful. Even Zheng Shijie, a temporary constable who usually just wanted to make a living, felt his blood boil after seeing it, and he was probably still excited.

"Yes, yes, Boss Su." Zheng Shijie responded repeatedly, trying to keep his expression straight, but his steps were still much lighter than usual.

Su Bai stopped talking to him, reached into his pocket, pulled out a silver ingot, and stuffed it into Zheng Shijie's hand. "Here, ten taels. Consider it a reward for coming with you today."

Zheng Shijie was stunned. Looking down at the solid ingot of official silver in his palm, his cheeks flushed red. His fingers trembled slightly—this was a whole month's salary! He had earned it in just half a day by going out with his boss!

"Boss... this, this..." He stammered, suddenly looking up, his chest puffed out, his voice trembling with excitement, "Don't worry! From now on, I, Zheng Shijie, will always follow your lead! You point east, I'll never go west!"

Seeing this, Su Bai smiled faintly. He raised his hand and patted Zheng Shijie's slightly thin shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy.

"Alright, keep it. Don't shout so loudly, the whole street will hear you." He paused, his tone calm, "I'll remember your loyalty."

For Su Bai, having another subordinate like Zheng Shijie was not a big deal.

The key point is that he actually received more donations today and did a great job – this means he can truly establish himself in the Zhenfu Division.

Perhaps word of this donation collection will reach the ears of the chief inspector.

If the chief inspector knew what was happening in the gambling den today, he might pay more attention to him.

Especially that Lord Ning... he was the highest-ranking official he had ever met.

As long as I continue to behave this way...

Perhaps one day, Su Bai will be able to rise through the ranks and become a constable, or even the chief constable!

Of course, what happened today is just the beginning.

What happens next depends on fate.

......

The gray-black high walls of the Zhenfusi Yamen gradually came into view.

Su Bai led Zheng Shijie through the side gate and across the front yard.

Several constables who were wiping their weapons and chatting in the courtyard saw them and turned their eyes over, whispering among themselves.

The news that Su Bai had been sent to the Fierce Tiger Gang to collect the extra 20% donation had already spread throughout the entire Zhenfu Division within half a day.

A regular constable who got his job by luck is now trying to get back the extra levy that even veteran constables dread—everyone is waiting to see him make a fool of himself and guess how Su Bai will return in a sorry state.

"Hey, isn't this Constable Su? You're back so quickly."

A mocking voice rang out. Chen Dongquan, leading three or four constables, strolled out from the constables' quarters and blocked the path in the courtyard. Cheng Hu and Zhao An followed behind him, their expressions turning complicated when they saw Su Bai.

Su Bai stopped, his expression calm: "After collecting the donations, I naturally returned. This has nothing to do with Constable Chen, does it?"

"Oh dear, what are you saying?" Chen Dongquan raised an eyebrow, drawing out the words, his face plastered with exaggerated concern.

"I'm just concerned about my colleagues! We're all in the same garrison, so we should look out for each other. How's it going with collecting donations? If you're having trouble, don't force yourself. Just tell us, and maybe the brothers can lend a hand."

As he spoke, his eyes swept over Su Bai, trying to find any trace of his disheveled state, and the gloating smile on his lips was almost impossible to hide.

Before Su Bai could speak, Zheng Shijie beside him could no longer contain himself. He took half a step forward, puffed out his chest, and spoke with particular volume due to his excitement: "Officer Chen, no need to trouble yourself! Chief Su has already collected every last penny of the donated silver!"

Upon hearing this, the courtyard fell silent.

"What?" Chen Dongquan's smile froze instantly, turning into utter disbelief. "Impossible!" he blurted out, his voice shrill.

Cheng Hu's eyes widened, and he said urgently:

"Boss Su, you can't make empty promises if you can't collect it! Constable Chen has already promised us that he will take us to collect it tomorrow. When we get the donated silver back, it will be a way for us to make amends."

He and Zhao An disobeyed orders and did not go, and they were already uneasy, but as long as Su Bai could not take them back, they could use Chen Dongquan's power to turn the situation around.

Upon hearing that Su Bai had already collected them all, the first reaction was that it was absolutely impossible.

"Exactly! Su Bai, don't spout nonsense just to save face!" Chen Dongquan's expression changed repeatedly, and he shook his head repeatedly. "What kind of place is the Fierce Tiger Gang? Do you think they can just take that extra 20% like that? I wouldn't even dare to guarantee it! You've only been working there for a few days!"

The constables had already gathered around, and a buzzing of whispers filled the air.

The crowd's gazes shifted between Su Bai's calm face, Zheng Shijie's excited expression, and Chen Dongquan's ugly face, and before they knew it, they had formed a semicircle, encircling the group in the middle.

"What are you all making such a racket here for? When did the Garrison Command become a marketplace?"

A deep, authoritative voice suddenly rang out, breaking the commotion in the courtyard. At the entrance to the officers' quarters, Chief Chen, frowning, walked out with his hands behind his back. His expression was stern, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over everyone in the courtyard. Wherever he went, the noise immediately subsided.

The arrival of Constable Chen instantly silenced the previously noisy courtyard. The constables who had gathered around instinctively stepped back half a step, making way for him, and stood at attention with their hands at their sides, holding their breath.

Chen Dongquan's expression quickly shifted from shock and anger to one of respect, and he bowed and clasped his hands in greeting before Chen Dongquan could react.

"Boss Chen, you've arrived. We...we were talking with Constable Su, asking about our mission to collect donations from the Fierce Tiger Gang today."

He paused, glancing at Su Bai out of the corner of his eye, a perfectly timed hint of doubt in his voice.

"But Constable Su said that he has already recovered all the donated silver. This matter... concerns the regulations of the Garrison Command. I think it would be better to be on the safe side. I was just about to ask him for details."