If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

In the early morning in Anyang, the fog dissipated rather slowly.

Zhou Yang walked back to the Jinyiwei stronghold, his steps as light as if he were walking on cotton. If someone looked closely, they would notice that the distance of each step he took was exactly the same, and although the soles of his shoes were covered with morning dew, not a speck of mud was kicked up.

This is the source of confidence for a long lifespan.

In the past, to save those few years of his lifespan, he didn't even dare to use his lightness skill at its maximum, fearing that running a few extra steps would deplete his yang energy. Now? Even if he ran "Treading Snow Without Leaving a Trace" at full speed for three days and three nights, he wouldn't feel the slightest bit of pain.

Eight hundred and forty-two years.

The number was like a red-hot iron, searing his heart with a mixture of panic and exhilaration. The suffocating feeling of being strangled by death was completely gone, replaced by a sense of cathartic relief, a desire to roar to the heavens.

He hummed an unknown tune, the melody drifting to his grandmother's house, but he found it quite pleasant to listen to.

Passing by a steamed bun shop on the street, I saw steaming hot white steamed buns that had just come out of the steamer.

"Boss, ten meat buns and two bowls of soy milk, please."

Zhou Yang casually pulled out a copper coin, thought for a moment, then pulled out a piece of silver and slapped it on the table. "Keep the change. Keep the rest. I'll come back for more next time."

The waiter froze, forgetting to even touch the rag in his hand. This was a high-ranking member of the Imperial Guard, usually a fierce and menacing figure; he'd never seen anyone so amiable and even offering a tip.

Ignoring the stares of others, Zhou Yang grabbed a hot bun and stuffed it into his mouth.

Really fragrant.

Before, everything tasted like wax; it was bitterness in my heart. Now, my heart is sweet; even steamed buns made with inferior flour and too much yeast taste like those from the imperial kitchen.

After eating and drinking his fill, he let out a burp, dusted off non-existent dust, and swaggered into the gate of the Embroidered Uniform Guard stronghold.

The two captains guarding the gate were whispering to each other. When they saw Zhou Yang enter, they immediately shut up, straightened their backs, and looked at him with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

"Master Zhou."

"Um."

Zhou Yang waved his hand casually, without even lifting his eyelids, and walked straight inside.

In the past, he would have exchanged a few polite words with these local bullies, since he would need their help in the future. But now, he felt it was unnecessary.

If you have the ability, being polite is just giving face; if you don't, being polite is just begging.

He crossed the front yard and turned into the back hall as if he knew the way well.

Qin Shuang's room door was ajar, and a faint scent of ink wafted out, mixed with the cool smell of pine smoke. This was her unique scent—cold, unpleasant, but very invigorating.

Zhou Yang didn't knock; he just pushed the door open and entered.

"Hey, Commander Qin, busy at work?"

The room was simply furnished, with a large pear wood desk adding to the solemnity. Qin Shuang sat upright behind the desk, holding a vermilion brush and marking something on a register. She was dressed casually today, a long blue dress that accentuated her slender figure, her hair held up with only a wooden hairpin, looking relaxed yet exuding a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay.

Upon hearing the sound, she paused, her vermilion brush still in her hand, and looked up.

Those eyes remained cold and aloof, like two bottomless pools of ice.

"Is Xuanji dead?"

She asked directly, without any unnecessary questions.

"Completely dead."

Zhou Yang didn't stand on ceremony. He walked over and plopped down in the armchair opposite her, casually picking up the teapot on the table and pouring himself a cup of tea. The tea was a little cold, but he didn't care, tilting his head back and gulping it down.

"Not even a trace was left."

Qin Shuang put down her pen, leaned back slightly in her chair, and glanced at Zhou Yang a few times, her gaze lingering for a moment on his excessively ruddy complexion.

"It seems you've gained quite a bit."

"Thanks to Lord Qin, I'm able to make a living."

Zhou Yang put down his teacup, leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees, and wore his signature shrewd smile. "Now that the work is done, let's talk about... the payment?"

His eyes lit up when money was mentioned, shining like two gold coins.

Qin Shuang looked at his face and her lips twitched slightly.

"The King of Zhao has been captured."

She spoke calmly, pulled an official document from under the case file, and pushed it in front of Zhou Yang. "The person is imprisoned in the deepest part of the imperial prison. He'll probably never get out of here in his lifetime."

"That's your business. I only want my share."

Zhou Yang didn't even glance at the official document. He stretched out his hand, spread his five fingers, and waved them in the air. "Cash, gold, or any hard currency that can be converted into cash, it's all fine. I'm a practical person, I don't like listening to empty talk."

Qin Shuang frowned slightly.

"The list of those whose property will be confiscated hasn't been released yet, and the treasury has been sealed off. You know the procedures the imperial court follows; it won't be ready for at least a month."

She looked at Zhou Yang, her voice softening slightly, "I don't have any cash on hand right now."

Zhou Yang's smile froze instantly.

Immediately afterwards, the smile receded like the tide, replaced by an undisguised disdain.

"No cash?"

He stood up, dusted off his clothes, and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Lord Qin, we had an agreement. I'll provide the labor, you provide the money. I'm risking my life to fight a grandmaster-level old monster."

He walked up to Qin Shuang, held up a finger, and pointed at the official document. "Look at my face, my complexion, do I look like I'm going to risk my life? I really am! If my hand had slipped, I would be a fresh corpse in the mass grave outside the city right now."

"You said it yourself, that's the King of Zhao. That's royalty. I don't need to elaborate on the risks, do I?"

Zhou Yang became more and more agitated as he spoke, looking as if he had suffered a great injustice. "Now you're telling me the money hasn't arrived? I don't care, that's your problem. I'm a stickler for rules, cash on delivery. If the money doesn't arrive, then this favor... I've done it all for nothing."

Qin Shuang looked at the man in front of her who had instantly transformed into a street ruffian and felt somewhat helpless.

If anyone else dared to speak to her like that, they would have been thrown out long ago. But Zhou Yang was different.

He was indeed the one who took the lead in this battle. Moreover, judging from his energetic appearance, he had clearly gained a great deal from Master Xuanji. Yet, even so, he was still haggling over that small reward.

Is this what they call insatiable greed? No, this is called professional ethics.

In his eyes, this was just a business deal, a purely transactional one.

"I didn't say I wouldn't give it to you."

Qin Shuang sighed and reached into the storage pouch at her waist. It was a private space she carried with her, which no one but her could open.

"The money in the treasury is indeed stuck. Commander Chen is making things difficult, so I can't cash it out immediately."

As she spoke, she withdrew her hand from the bag.

pat.

She slammed a fist-sized object heavily onto the table.

"What is this?"

Zhou Yang's eyelids twitched.

It was a piece of dark metal, its surface uneven and pitted, like the charred remains of something. But strangely, it didn't reflect light; instead, it was like a black hole, sucking in all that was around it.

As you get closer, you can feel an extremely heavy and steady aura emanating from it. It's like a sleeping dragon of the earth, lurking in the shadows.

"Earth Dragon Mystic Gold".

Qin Shuang uttered four words calmly, "This is something I obtained by chance during my travels in my early years. It weighs over a thousand pounds and is indestructible. If used to forge weapons, a piece the size of a fingernail is enough to transform ordinary iron into a divine weapon."

She paused, looking directly at Zhou Yang, "This whole piece is worth at least three thousand taels of gold on the market. And there's no market for it."

Three thousand taels of gold.

Zhou Yang quickly calculated in his mind. At the current bounty standard, this black lump was worth ten Xuanji Zhenren.

This woman is quite generous.

But he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he frowned, stretched out a finger, and poked at the dark lump.

"It's really hard, but it's a bit ugly."

He pursed his lips, giving a "I'm reluctant" look. "It's such a big thing, I can't possibly carry it around with me. You want me to lug this thing all over the place? I'd rather have banknotes."

Despite saying that, his hand was already firmly pressed on the piece of Earth Dragon Profound Gold, not moving it even an inch.

[Special metallic material detected: Earth Dragon Black Gold.]

[Grade: Rare and Precious Treasure (Superior)]

【Characteristics: Extremely resistant to pressure, with excellent conductivity, possessing the potential to bear dragon energy.】

[Note: This item can be used as the core material for repairing the container of the "Dragon Spine Fragment". If combined with the essence of Geng metal, it can be used to forge the shell of a divine weapon.]

The system notification sounded in my mind at just the right time.

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

nice one!

This is really good stuff!

He was worried about what to do with the dragon spine fragments he had. Although the thing was powerful, it was just a fragment after all, without a carrier, and couldn't unleash its true power. This Earth Dragon Profound Gold was simply a "nest" tailor-made for the dragon spine fragments.

With this, the dragon spine fragment can be completely integrated into this body, or rather, into the weapon to be forged later.

This isn't just metal; it's a life-saving charm, a stepping stone to becoming stronger!

Worth three thousand taels of gold? That's for people who don't know anything about these things. For Zhou Yang, this thing is priceless.

He was overjoyed inside, his facial muscles were trembling, but he forcefully suppressed the smile on his lips, turning his ecstasy into an expression that said, "I'm reluctant, but I'm magnanimous."

"Fine, seeing how sincere Lord Qin is, I'll accept this piece of junk."

Zhou Yang grabbed the Earth Dragon Profound Gold.

It felt heavy in his hand, and the weight of it gave him a sense of security. He didn't put it in his storage bag; he just casually held it in his hand and played with it.

"However, Lord Qin."

He looked at Qin Shuang with a hint of mockery in his eyes, "This thing is valuable, but it's not easy to spend. If someone tries to trip me up and deduct my reward money next time, will I have to take this thing to the pawnshop and ask for a price?"

Qin Shuang watched as he packed up the things with a look of disgust on his face but quick and efficient movements. The coldness in her eyes dissipated a little, and a very faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Since you recognize the goods, you should know their value. I'll handle things with Commander Chen; you won't lose a single penny of your reward. This piece of Earth Dragon Black Gold is a personal... favor for your trouble."

It was given to me privately.

These words are subtle.

Zhou Yang whistled, but didn't delve into its meaning.

"Alright, I'll let it slide this time since we're old partners."

He tucked the Earth Dragon Profound Gold into his robes with the speed of a hamster guarding its food. "Now that the money's settled, I'll be going. This place is too stuffy; I'd better get some fresh air."

After saying that, he turned and walked out, his steps light and quick, and he even had the mood to tease the yellow guard dog at the door.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and, without turning around, said:

"By the way, regarding the case of Prince Zhao, if there are any loose ends to be cleaned up, remember to send someone to check the abandoned temple in the south of the city. That old Taoist priest Xuanji has hidden some good things there. Although they are useless to me, they might be a great gift for your Embroidered Uniform Guard."

After saying that, he waved his hand and strode out the door.

The sunlight shone on his back, casting a long shadow.

Qin Shuang sat inside the room, watching the figure that quickly disappeared through the doorway, her gaze falling on the empty table.

She gently shook her head, lowered her head, and picked up the vermilion pen again.

"What a money-grubber."

She murmured to herself, but there was no hint of blame in her voice; instead, there was a sense of relief that was hard to define.

This Zhou Yang is becoming increasingly unpredictable.

But the surprises he gives are indeed increasing.

……

After leaving the base, Zhou Yang didn't rush back.

He found a deserted dead-end alley and slipped inside.

He took out the dark, black earth dragon gold and touched it with great affection.

"Good heavens, with this thing, plus the lifespan I absorbed from that old man Xuanji, this dragon spine fragment can finally be put to use."

He closed his eyes, feeling the vast, ocean-like power within his body. His lifespan of over eight hundred years was like a huge treasure trove, waiting for him to explore it little by little.

"The skeleton is made of earth dragon black metal, and the core is made of fragments of the dragon's spine..."

Zhou Yang muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with a light that seemed to be called ambition.

"Commander Chen? Prince Zhao?"

He sneered, stuffed the Earth Dragon Black Gold into his pocket, and strode out of the alley.

"As long as the price is right, anyone in this world can be killed."

A gust of wind blew across the street corner, swirling up a few fallen leaves. Zhou Yang's figure quickly blended into the bustling crowd, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, disappearing without a trace.

But the mess he left behind, and the turmoil that would soon be stirred up by the Earth Dragon Profound Gold, were only just beginning.

Unseen by him, the undercurrents in Anyang County were surging even more violently because of his "money-adding" operation.