The proof of Emperor Wu began with daily rewards for diligence.

When Chen Jue naturally sheathed his sword, he turned around and looked at Wu Nanyuan, who had a blank expression on her face.

The latter's brain had completely shut down, and he didn't know what to say.

He encountered two formidable figures of his generation who could withstand the true energy of the Star Demon's possession.

She felt that the world was full of hidden talents and geniuses. In the past, she had always been an observer, unaware that there were countless outstanding people in the world.

"He's a decent person. If it were someone else, even if they didn't stab me in the back, they'd be happy for me to die at the hands of demons."

Chen Jue took out a pill from his pocket and tossed it to Wu Nanyuan.

"Work hard! As long as you achieve results, I won't let you down!"

Chen Jue painted this pie as big and delicious, and he didn't believe Wu Nanyuan wouldn't try her best to eat it.

Wu Nanyuan caught the pill, looked down, and was immediately struck dumb, frozen on the spot once again.

Extremely high... top-grade Body Tempering Pill?!

She looked up abruptly, only to see that the patron had already finished his business and left, his figure disappearing into the alley.

……

After leaving Yangcheng, Chen Jue headed straight for the Honglin Street area.

Meanwhile, in the office of the director of Honglin Garrison, Director Sun Kai was confronting Meng Liang, an eighth-rank clerk, in a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

The autumn leaves outside the window are withered and the gate is old and dilapidated, just like the spirit of the Honglin Garrison, which has long been worn down and decayed.

Sun Kai's face was grim. He slammed his hand on the table and scolded Meng Liang with a tone of exasperation, "Meng Liang, I'm reminding you one last time: just do your job!"

"You have no right to interfere in the Red Forest Gang's shady dealings!"

In recent days, Meng Liang has been investigating, both openly and covertly, major cases involving the Honglin Gang's human trafficking and its collusion with the Shihuo Cult.

Moreover, they have repeatedly succeeded, killing and injuring dozens of people from both sides, and have already been put on the kill list of the Red Forest Gang and the Shi Huo Sect.

As time went on, the pressure inevitably spread to the entire garrison and to him, the garrison commander.

This made Sun Kai extremely unhappy.

Yes! You, Meng Liang, are incredibly resourceful! Even after offending the four great families, you managed to survive and make a comeback!

But he himself was a complete self-made man with no background, and even the leader of the Red Forest Gang had to address him as a brother.

You, a mere inspector, have caused such a huge uproar, yet you, as the director, have to take the blame and bear the pressure.

How could there be such a rebellious subordinate in the world!

However, Meng Liang ignored Sun Kai's anger.

He stood ramrod straight, his features clear and upright, exuding an aura of righteousness, just like his character and integrity, which remained unyielding in the slightest.

"Chief!" Meng Liang spoke slowly, his voice steady, arguing forcefully, "The primary duty of a patrol inspector is to guard against demons and thieves, and to protect the land and its people..."

"The Red Forest Gang traffics in contraband, keeps warriors, secretly kidnaps people, and supplies offerings to the Fire Sect..."

"Such a source of chaos has caused immense suffering to countless people. As inspectors, we are paid by the imperial court and are responsible for maintaining peace in this region. How can we turn a blind eye to this?"

"Protect peace in this region?" Sun Kai sneered, pointing at Meng Liang's nose, and said disdainfully, "How much does the imperial court pay you a month? Is it worth risking your life for?!"

"Now everyone knows that the chaos and disorder caused by cults in the outer city are all part of the power struggle among the inner city's powerful clans, who have much bigger ambitions!"

"This is a bottomless vortex that devours lives. If you insist on getting to the bottom of this Red Forest Gang issue, you'll offend the Fire Sect and all sorts of other forces, which will only bring annihilation upon you and the garrison!"

"Do you know about Kaiyang Garrison? It had the Wu family of the inner city backing it up, but what happened to them?"

"Just because they offended the Fire Sect, they were completely eradicated by the Fire Sect, and they are still rebuilding their organization."

"This isn't fulfilling your duty; you're trying to use the lives of everyone in the garrison to achieve your own sense of justice!"

"..." Upon hearing this, Meng Liang couldn't help but take a deep breath, a deep sense of helplessness rising in his eyes, and slowly closed them.

Sun Kai's face lit up with joy. Just when he thought Meng Liang was about to give in, he saw the mountain-like man open his eyes, his eyes as bright as torches.

"It is precisely because the world is in decline and morality has collapsed that we martial artists should uphold our principles!"

"If everyone avoids trouble and seeks only comfort, allowing cults and evil forces to collude and spread, then all people will suffer in the end."

"I, Meng Liang, was orphaned at a young age and grew up on the charity of many families. I learned martial arts and joined the Imperial Guard. I do not seek high office or wealth, nor do I aspire to fame among the feudal lords..."

"I only seek to be true to my conscience and to serve the people!"

Upon hearing Meng Liang's words, Sun Kai felt a chill run down his spine, while his anger flared up on the other side.

For the people! For the people! For the people!

If all those who receive a salary in this world were truly for the people, then why has the world become what it is today?

"You're hopeless! Stubborn and incorrigible! Do whatever you want, but when the Fire Sect is free to kill you, don't blame the garrison for not protecting you!"

"No need!" Meng Liang took off the two badges from his chest and threw them onto the desk in front of Sun Kai.

"From this moment on, I am no longer a member of the Patrol and Inspection Division..."

"In addition, I am a guard who has entered the ninth level of True Qi, so I don't need to pay the two Martial Dao Foundation Establishment Pills required to leave the Patrol Division."

Those two badges, one symbolizing the patrol inspectorate, and the other symbolizing an official of the imperial court.

It slammed onto the desk in front of Sun Kai, making a mocking "clang" sound.

"..." Sun Kai was speechless.

He had never seen such a stubborn and reckless person.

At first, he was extremely annoyed with this guy, hating him for only caring about his own sense of justice and disregarding the safety of everyone in the garrison.

But now... all those words have turned into a sigh.

"Sigh! Since that's how it is, then you should leave... I hope that one day you can truly clarify this murky world."

Sun Kai rubbed his throbbing forehead and waved for Meng Liang to leave.

……

Outside the garrison, Chen Jue was inquiring about Meng Liang's whereabouts.

The two security guards haggled for a long time, and even after being given two hundred dollars, they still complained that it wasn't enough. They sat there and tried to raise the price, pulling and tugging at each other.

Just as Chen Jue was thinking of spending money to ask for directions first, and then snatching it back in one fell swoop, he caught a glimpse of Meng Liang carrying two maces and slowly walking down the old steps of the garrison.

Following Chen Jue's gaze, the two gatekeepers also saw Meng Liang. After cursing their bad luck, they quickly stuffed the two hundred bills into their pockets.

Chen Jue turned around, glanced at the two men, and, to their disbelief, slapped them twice across the face!

"You dare assault the prosecutor?!"

The two guards were stunned. Just as they were about to draw their swords to teach Chen Jue a lesson, a gleaming ten-pound horse-slaying sword was placed squarely against one of their necks.

"Brother! Let's talk this out!"

The security guard, with a knife to his neck, was terrified and turned pale. The other guard also dared not move.

"Give me back my two hundred bills!" Chen Jue said succinctly.

No?! Are you crazy?!

For a mere two hundred coins, he drew his sword against the garrison troops?!

With a knife to his neck, the gatekeeper tremblingly took out a wad of banknotes from his pocket, didn't count them, and stuffed them all into Chen Jue's hand.

"You guys know what's good for you."

Chen Jue sheathed his knife, then turned around and, with a smile on his face, walked towards Meng Liang, much like a Sichuan opera face-changing act.

"Hi, Brother Meng! It's been a month since we last met, and you're still as dashing as ever!"

Meng Liangzheng was still feeling unsettled when he looked up and saw Chen Jue with his face covered by a mask. He immediately beamed with joy.

"Brother Wu! It's been a long time. What brings you here?"

Seeing Meng Liang's gentlemanly demeanor and straightforward manner, Chen Jue didn't beat around the bush either, pulling him towards a secluded spot and whispering:

"I have long known of Brother Meng's noble character, and I do indeed have a request to make..."

"Brother Wu, as long as it doesn't violate moral principles, I, Meng, will certainly do my utmost to help!"

"Brother Meng is a true gentleman."

Chen Jue gave a heartfelt exclamation and then laid out his prepared remarks: "Now that demons roam freely in the outer city, I, being a man of strong character, am determined to fight evil..."

"He couldn't resist and slaughtered even more of the sorcerers from the Shi Huo and Zhen Shui sects..."

"This has caused an imbalance of the five elements in my dantian furnace. I need to kill more demons with wood, metal, and earth attributes to balance the dantian furnace fire within my body..."

"Previously, I heard Brother Meng claim to be a member of the 'Divine Interpretation' sect, and I also learned that the Divine Interpretation sect has the wish to hunt down the relatives of star demons and protect all living beings."

"Therefore I have come to ask for your help, hoping that Brother Meng can tell me the whereabouts of some demons, so as to relieve my worries..."

Upon hearing this, Meng Liang clenched his fist and slapped his palm, dispelling the gloom from his earlier argument, and exclaimed with delight, "Brother Wu is truly a chivalrous man!"

"My two friends and I were just about to launch a surprise attack on the Ghost Gold Cult's retinue that had suddenly appeared in the north of the city in three days, to thwart their attempt to take advantage of the impending chaos caused by the Fire Cult..."

"Since Brother Wu shares our aspirations, we should join hands and make this a great undertaking!"