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

The bustling atmosphere of Chang Le Fang was ripped open by Li Baoqing's angry roar.

He didn't go home.

He went directly to his father's private residence.

It was a three-courtyard house hidden deep in a hutong (alleyway). The entrance was small, but the interior was surprisingly spacious. The stone lions at the entrance were polished to a shine, reflecting people's images.

Li Baoqing kicked open the courtyard gate.

The door hinges made a piercing noise.

The two guards were about to speak when they saw who it was, and immediately lowered their heads and shrank to the side. They knew that this young master was in a bad mood today.

Li Baoqing barged all the way to the study in the backyard.

The door was closed.

He didn't knock.

His shoulder bumped right into him.

"Bang!"

A crack appeared in the rosewood door panel. A middle-aged man sat behind his desk, holding a book. Hearing the noise, he merely lifted his eyelids slightly.

This man was Li Baoqing's father, Li Wenbo, the Minister of War.

Li Wenbo put down his book.

He didn't look at his son, but instead glanced at the damaged door. His brow furrowed slightly.

"You worthless wretch." His voice was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Have you forgotten all the rules?"

Li Baoqing was breathing heavily, his chest heaving. He pointed to the door, his fingers trembling.

"Dad! Someone hit me!"

Li Wenbo's gaze finally fell on his son. He saw Li Baoqing's flushed cheeks and the soup and oil stains on his clothes.

"Who?" Li Wenbo asked.

"A member of the Imperial Guard! His name is Zhou Yang!" Li Baoqing's voice was loud. "He made me kneel down in front of so many people! He said he wanted to step on my face!"

Li Wenbo fell silent.

He stood up and walked over to Li Baoqing.

He offered neither comfort nor anger.

He simply stretched out two fingers, plucked a leaf of green vegetable from his son's clothes, and casually tossed it on the ground.

"Just because of this?" he asked.

"This?" Li Baoqing felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his anger. "Father, my surname is Li! I am your son, Li Wenbo! How dare a mere junior officer in the Imperial Guard treat me like this?"

"And then?" Li Wenbo's voice remained flat.

"Then...then he didn't make me kneel." Li Baoqing's voice trailed off. "He said he wanted to give me face. He said...he said it wasn't easy for you in the imperial court."

After listening, Li Wenbo's lips curled into a smile that was hard to decipher—whether it was mockery or something else entirely.

He walked back to his desk and sat down.

"Did that Zhou Yang say anything else?"

"He said it," Li Baoqing gritted his teeth, "that there's more than one person with the surname Qin in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He told me to watch my words so that they wouldn't reach Qin Baihu's ears."

Qin Shuang.

Li Wenbo tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.

He got it.

This is not Zhou Yang abusing his power.

This is Qin Shuang making a show of force.

That woman really thought that by clinging to the Crown Prince's coattails, she could be on equal footing with the Minister of War?

Li Wenbo's gaze turned cold.

The entire capital knew that Li Wenbo was close to Eunuch Feng of the Eastern Depot. The Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had always wanted to get involved in the lucrative arms trade.

Qin Shuang was standing up for Zhou Yang, and also humiliating him.

"Father, are we just going to let this go like this?" Li Baoqing was unwilling.

Li Wenbo glanced at him.

What do you think?

Li Baoqing's eyes lit up.

"Father, do you have a solution?"

Li Wenbo remained silent.

He picked up a small copper bell from the table and shook it.

A dark figure silently descended from the roof beam and knelt on one knee.

"grown ups."

"Go to the Eastern Depot and see Eunuch Feng," Li Wenbo said casually. "Just tell him I'd like to invite him for a cup of tea. We can talk about the recent theft of military equipment in the north."

"Yes."

The shadow flashed and disappeared again.

As Li Baoqing watched all this, his anger gradually subsided. He knew that his father had taken action.

He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Dad, what about Zhou Yang?"

Li Wenbo picked up his teacup and blew on it to cool it down.

"What's the rush?"

"A good knife should be used on a whetstone."

He thought for a moment, then added another sentence.

"Even a knife will eventually chip."

---

Early the next morning.

The atmosphere inside the yamen of the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was somewhat off.

An official document from the Ministry of War was delivered directly to the garrison commander's desk.

The official document was written in a very polite manner.

The report states that during an inventory of the Ministry of War's armory, several hundred newly manufactured standard-issue military blades were discovered missing, a considerable number. This matter concerns national defense and security, making the case extremely serious.

The Ministry of War investigated itself, but found nothing.

Therefore, we earnestly request the Embroidered Uniform Guard to send capable officers to assist in the investigation.

A list was attached to the document.

There is only one name on the list.

Zhou Yang.

The reason given was presented in a grand and respectable manner: "I have heard that Zhou Yang, the captain under the command of the centurion, is meticulous and insightful, and has solved many extraordinary cases. Therefore, I specifically request his assistance."

The entire government office fell silent.

Anyone with eyes can see that this is an open conspiracy.

Luring the tiger away from the mountain.

It's the kind of trap that openly tells you, "I'm a trap," and you still have no choice but to jump in.

When the Ministry of War requested personnel, the garrison commander could not refuse.

Refusing would be disrespectful to the Ministry of War and would be a contempt for the laws of the imperial court.

Refusing means admitting that you're afraid, afraid that Zhou Yang will be harmed if he goes.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards could not swallow this insult.

Qin Shuang held the official document, her fingers turning white from gripping it so tightly.

She walked quickly to the small courtyard where Zhou Yang lived.

Zhou Yang was in the yard, holding a whetstone, slowly sharpening his ordinary waist knife.

The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

"Something's happened." Qin Shuang slammed the official document on the stone table in front of him.

Zhou Yang didn't even lift his eyelids.

He continued sharpening the knife, stroke after stroke. The sound was rhythmic, like a pendulum.

"The Ministry of War specifically named me to handle their case?" he asked.

"Hmm." Qin Shuang's voice was cold. "It's Li Wenbo's doing. He wants to ruin your reputation in Beijing and then destroy you completely."

"A theft of military equipment?" Zhou Yang stopped what he was doing and gently tested the blade with his fingertip.

"It's a dead end," Qin Shuang said. "Once you accept, you'll be in the Ministry of War's territory. They have all sorts of ways to make you give a false confession and force you to reveal your true identity. Then you'll be a wanted criminal for colluding with bandits and stealing military equipment, and no one can protect you."

Zhou Yang smiled.

He slowly sheathed his sword.

"Why refuse such a good offer?"

Qin Shuang was stunned.

She looked at Zhou Yang as if he were a madman.

"Zhou Yang, I'm not kidding! That's a trap!"

"I know it's a trap." Zhou Yang stood up and stretched. "But there might be meat or bones in the trap."

He looked at Qin Shuang, his eyes showing no sign of tension, only a kind of... evaluating light.

"That Li Baoqing, his father is the Minister of War. This case is aimed at me, but even more so at you."

"I know."

"They are forcing us to leave Beijing."

"I know that too."

Qin Shuang grew a little anxious: "Then why are you still..."

Zhou Yang interrupted her.

"Qin Shuang".

For the first time, he called her by her full name.

Are we fugitives now?

Qin Shuang shook her head.

"no."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Zhou Yang said. "Whether it's the Ministry of War or the Eastern Depot, we'll kill one if they come. If two come, I'll kill them both."

His tone was very flat.

It's as if it's saying the weather is nice today.

Qin Shuang looked at him.

There was always an inexplicable, sinister aura about this man. Even when he was in danger, he could always see things that others couldn't.

She took a deep breath to suppress her anxiety.

"Alright. Go ahead," she said. "The Northern Garrison will back you up. If anything happens to you, I'll rip up their armory."

"Don't worry," Zhou Yang smiled, "I'm tough, I won't die."

He turned around and looked at the old locust tree in the yard.

Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself.

"I just don't know how wealthy those guys in the Ministry of War are."

In his heart, he asked a question to that voice that only he could hear.

"System, I have a question."

The mechanical voice in my mind responded immediately.

【Speaking.】

"How much profit can one make by taking a trip to the Ministry of War's warehouse?"

[Analyzing...]

[Target: Ministry of War Armory.]

[Inventory: Imperial standard weapons and armor, war supplies, and some rare and precious materials.]

[Assessment: If high-value looting is carried out, an estimated lifespan replenishment of eight to twelve years can be obtained. The fluctuation range depends on the hidden resonance effect of the "Dragon Spine Fragment".]

[WARNING: The Ministry of War's armory is heavily guarded, with skilled fighters stationed inside and military camps surrounding it. Risk of action: Extremely high. Exposure will trigger a joint manhunt by the Ministry of War and the Eastern Depot, escalating the karmic consequences.]

After hearing this, Zhou Yang's smile deepened.

Eight to twelve years.

This deal is a good one.

He glanced back at Qin Shuang.

That icy face was filled with worry.

Zhou Yang suddenly felt that this face didn't seem so cold anymore.

"Alright." He patted Qin Shuang on the shoulder. "Wait for my good news."

After saying that, he strode out of the courtyard.

The sunlight fell on his flying fish robe, making it very dazzling.

Qin Shuang stood there, watching his figure disappear through the doorway. She clenched her fists.

Her fingernails dug into her palm.