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

At the end of the official road, the enormous city lay like a lurking beast across the plain.

The gray-blue city walls stretched as far as the eye could see, many times taller than those of Anyang County. Banners fluttered atop the city towers, and the defenses were impeccable. Even before entering the city, a sense of oppression was palpable.

Zhou Yang reined in the horse, which snorted and foamed at his boots. He paid no attention, but squinted at the long line of people at the city gate for a long time before swallowing hard.

"My goodness, how many people is that?"

His fingers flew across the abacus beads in his mind.

The tax for entering the city is three coins per person. This line must have been at least several thousand people. Add to that the horse-drawn carts and peddlers carrying goods into the city... how much profit can those few guards at the gate make in a day?

"So much profit..."

Zhou Yang muttered to himself, his eyes revealing a greedy glint in them as if they were seeing a mountain of gold.

"Shut up."

Qin Shuang rode beside him on horseback, giving him a cold glance. "You're already thinking about stealing money before even entering the city. Aren't you afraid of getting your hands chopped off?"

"Lord Qin, I don't like hearing that."

Zhou Yang chuckled, patted the bulging money pouch at his waist, making a pleasant, dull sound. "This isn't stealing money, it's discovering a business opportunity. Look at this capital city, right under the emperor's nose, there are plenty of high-ranking officials and nobles. Even a small leak in the door is enough for us to live on for years."

Qin Shuang ignored him, simply shook the reins, and spurred her horse toward the city gate.

She was dressed in a flying fish robe, with an embroidered spring knife at her waist. Although she was travel-worn and her clothes were a little wrinkled, her chilling killing intent was impossible to conceal. Zhou Yang followed behind, his neck hunched, seemingly timid and submissive, but in reality, his eyes darted around, scanning the surrounding environment thoroughly.

The city gate was heavily guarded, with not only ordinary soldiers but also several Imperial Guards dressed in flying fish robes.

Those were people from the Northern Garrison Command.

Qin Shuang belongs to the Southern Garrison Command and is responsible for inspecting criminal cases on a daily basis. She has always been at odds with the Northern Garrison Command, which is known as the "Hall of Hell" for its specialization in investigation, arrest, and interrogation.

The procession moved very slowly.

When it was their turn, a captain from the Northern Garrison lazily raised his hand and blocked their way.

"Road permit".

The captain was a man in his thirties with a fleshy face and droopy eyelids, looking like he hadn't woken up yet. He glanced at Qin Shuang's waist badge, and his previously indifferent gaze suddenly became more serious, then turned into a sarcastic and provocative look.

"From the Southern Garrison?"

The captain weighed the badge in his hand, a forced smile on his face. "Qin Shuang? Never heard of her. This badge looks a bit old; could it be fake?"

Qin Shuang's face darkened, and she placed her hand on the hilt of her knife. "If you want to investigate, then investigate. Stop talking nonsense."

"Hey, hey, what's the rush?"

The flag bearer spread his hands and pointed to the long queue behind him. "Do you understand the rules? Whether you're from the south or the north, you have to be verified to enter the city. This travel permit isn't very clear, I have to go and check it. You guys wait over there, you can enter the city when it's verified."

After saying that, he ignored Qin Shuang's unpleasant expression and waved for the people behind him to come forward.

This is clearly an attempt to make things difficult.

The small vendors behind them dared not provoke the Imperial Guards. They all shrank back, pushed their carts around them, and didn't dare to even breathe loudly.

Qin Shuang laughed in anger. She was a big shot in Anyang County, yet here in the capital, she was being manipulated by a mere captain.

"Do you want to die?"

Qin Shuang's voice was icy cold, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees instantly.

The captain was not to be outdone, and several Imperial Guards immediately surrounded him, their hands on the hilts of their swords, creating a tense atmosphere.

When Zhou Yang saw this situation, he secretly thought that things were not going well.

This isn't entering the city, this is about to start a fight. If we kill the Northern Garrison Commanders right at the gates of the capital, how are we supposed to live? Forget about investigating the case, even getting out of the city alive will be a problem.

His eyes darted around, and he suddenly spurred his horse forward, grabbing Qin Shuang's wrist.

"Lord Qin, please calm down, please calm down."

Zhou Yang's face was full of smiles, and his shrewd yet amiable expression instantly dispelled the tense atmosphere.

He turned to look at the captain, cupped his hands in a gesture as standard as a street vendor's, and said, "Sir, our Lord Qin has been traveling a long way and is a bit short-tempered. Please forgive him. We are here on official business, not to cause trouble."

The captain glanced at him sideways: "Who do you think you are? Who gave you the right to speak here?"

"I am Lord Qin's attendant, attendant."

Zhou Yang wasn't annoyed. As he spoke, he calmly took out a gold ingot from his pocket.

This was looted from that unfortunate imperial advisor; it's made of pure gold and gleams alluringly in the sunlight.

He didn't just shove it in; instead, he casually tossed it in his hand, making it seem quite heavy.

"Sir, you see, the rules in the capital are very strict. We're new here and don't know any better. This is just a small token, consider it as buying some tea for the brothers to soothe their throats."

Zhou Yang lowered his voice, a knowing look on his face. "We're from the south, we may not have much else, but we know our place. As long as we drink this tea properly, everything's negotiable, right?"

The captain had been keeping a straight face, but the moment the gold ingot was revealed, his eyelids twitched involuntarily.

When Zhou Yang gently tossed the gold ingot into his arms, the captain's hand sank as he weighed it.

heavy.

Ten taels!

That's no small sum. Even a captain like him doesn't earn that much in a year.

The muscular man's face twitched twice, and his sarcastic demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a false sense of "friendliness."

"Oh, brother, what are you doing? You're too kind."

He swiftly stuffed the gold ingot into his pocket, his movements so practiced they were dazzling, as if the gold had always been there.

"Since you're here on official business, you're one of us. It was just a joke, why did you take it so seriously, Lord Qin?"

The captain waved his hand, signaling his men to make way. "Since the travel permit is fine, let's go in quickly. Don't delay official business."

Qin Shuang's eyes twitched as she watched this scene.

She had never seen such a shameless person.

One second they're ready to draw their swords at each other, the next they're taking money and doing their bidding. Their ability to change their tune is faster than turning the pages of a book.

Zhou Yang, however, remained calm and even nodded to the captain: "Thank you for your kindness, sir. Let's have tea together another time when we have some free time."

"Of course, of course."

The flag bearer waved with a smile, watching them enter the city.

With the sound of horses' hooves, the two finally entered the city gate.

Upon entering the city, the noise instantly amplified tenfold.

Shops lined both sides of the wide street, the sounds of hawking, bargaining, and horses' hooves blending together. The street was teeming with people, wealthy merchants dressed in fine silks and satins, scholars waving fans, loud-voiced porters... all sorts of people moving among them.

The air was filled with a smell that was a mixture of rouge, roast duck oil, and old horse manure. It smelled a bit pungent, but it also had a fresh, earthy quality to it.

Qin Shuang took a deep breath, turned to look at Zhou Yang, and asked in a complicated tone, "You just gave him ten taels of gold like that?"

"Ten taels of gold?"

Zhou Yang pursed his lips, spurred his horse to the side, but his eyes were still darting around. "Lord Qin, this is called investment."

"invest?"

"Yes, it's an investment to test the waters."

Zhou Yang lowered his voice, a shrewd sneer appearing on his face. "A mere gatekeeper dares to accept ten taels of gold in one go, without even blinking. What does that say?"

Qin Shuang frowned: "That shows he's insatiable."

"This shows that the waters of the capital are even muddier than we thought."

Zhou Yang reached up and touched his chin, his eyes deepening. "If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too. If the people from the Northern Garrison dare to openly collect money at the city gate, then what must their superiors... and even those above them, be like?"

He chuckled, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "This place may be dangerous, but it also means opportunity. With money, you're the boss here. Lord Qin, I like this capital city."

Qin Shuang rolled her eyes helplessly as she looked at his face, which screamed "money-grubber".

"As long as you don't lose your life, it's fine."

She sighed, looked around, and said, "Let's find a place to stay first. Things are more complicated than I expected this trip to the capital."

The two found a decent-looking inn called "Yunlai Inn".

The inn is located in the east of the city, not far from the imperial city, and is frequented by people of some status.

Qin Shuang requested two superior rooms.

As soon as he entered the lobby, Zhou Yang's gaze swept over the several waiters in the lobby.

The inn was elegantly decorated, with several pots of orchids in the lobby, their delicate fragrance masking other unpleasant odors. The innkeeper behind the counter was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a beaming smile, but his eyes were bright and shrewd.

"Please come in, sir! Are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

The waiter greeted us warmly.

"Two superior rooms, please." Qin Shuang tossed out a silver ingot.

"Alright! Two top-tier rooms!"

The shopkeeper took the money and handed over the key with a smile.

The moment the shopkeeper's fingers touched the table, Zhou Yang's gaze sharpened slightly.

On the smooth tabletop, the shopkeeper's fingertip seemed to casually dip into the tea, drawing a very quick and light symbol before swiftly erasing it.

It was the character "天" (tian, meaning sky), but the strokes were somewhat distorted, like some kind of code.

Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

He had seen this symbol in the notes of his deceased adoptive father, Fang Tian.

Tianlijiao.

Is this shopkeeper a member of the Heavenly Principle Sect?

Or rather, this Yunlai Inn is actually a hidden location of the Heavenly Principle Sect.

Zhou Yang's eyelids twitched, and his heart raced instantly, but his face remained expressionless. He even pretended not to see it, simply stretching and saying lazily, "Lord Qin, I'm exhausted from the journey. Please invite me to your room for dinner."

"what ever."

Qin Shuang clearly didn't notice that detail; she was busy adjusting her collar, and her travel-worn appearance made her very uncomfortable.

The two took the keys and went upstairs.

The corridor was dimly lit, and the wooden planks underfoot creaked slightly.

Zhou Yang walked behind Qin Shuang, seemingly nonchalant, but in reality, he was constantly observing his surroundings. He didn't miss a single corner—the stairwell corners, the beams, the window frames…

When they reached the door, Qin Shuang pushed it open and was about to go in when Zhou Yang suddenly stopped her.

"Lord Qin."

"What is it now?" Qin Shuang turned around.

Zhou Yang stood at his door, his hand on the doorknob, a strange smile on his face.

"Remember to put the knife under your pillow when you sleep at night."

Qin Shuang was taken aback and was about to ask why when she saw Zhou Yang slam the door shut.

in the room.

Zhou Yang did not light a lamp.

He walked to the table and sat down, using the faint moonlight filtering in from the window.

Instead of resting, he took out the account book he had snatched from the Grand Preceptor from his pocket and tapped the cover lightly with his fingertips.

really.

The waters of the capital are not only murky, but also deep.

The influence of the Heavenly Principle Sect has infiltrated to such an extent that even an inn not far from the imperial city can become their stronghold.

The shopkeeper certainly wouldn't recognize him, but his gesture just now clearly indicated that he was sending a signal to someone.

Perhaps it's a rumor that some "easy targets" have moved in, or perhaps...

Zhou Yang's lips curled up slightly.

Since that's the case, then there's no need to be polite.

He had been worried that he wouldn't be able to find any clues about the Heavenly Principle Sect in the unfamiliar capital. Now, however, someone had conveniently provided the path for him.

He reached up and touched his nose, his eyes cold.

"Since you want to play, I'll play with you."

Zhou Yang took out a fragment of a dragon's spine from the system space, and the cool touch reassured him.

He placed the dragon spine fragment on the table, deliberately making a "thump" sound.

Immediately afterwards, he deliberately raised his voice and shouted loudly towards the door, "Waiter! Bring me a pot of hot tea! The most expensive one! I'm rich!"

After shouting that, he listened to the sounds coming from next door.

Next door, Qin Shuang seemed to mutter "country bumpkin," followed by the sound of weapons being unloaded.

Zhou Yang smiled silently.

This wasn't just a shout for the waiter, but also for the shopkeeper.

Is this called "keeping your wealth hidden"? No, this is called "luring the snake out of its hole".

In this capital city, there is no prey more attractive than a nouveau riche.

And he was waiting for his prey to take the bait.