Chapter 184

184. Chapter 181: The New Captain of the City Patrol

Ding Huan and Yan Mei entered the City Patrol office and saw five or six men sprawled about, chewing on long, stick-like objects, each face twisted in utter rapture.

"Brother Huan, this is Joy Branch—I've heard of it. It's addictive and fatally toxic; once taken, it's nearly impossible to quit. Over time, it drains the body's essence and blood until death."

Yan Mei, upon seeing the Joy Branch, showed fear in his eyes and whispered to Ding Huan.

He came from a merchant family and knew too well about this Joy Branch from the Dao cultivation world—his mother had died from it.

Ordinary people couldn't even afford to eat it.

"We're here to sign up for the City Patrol. Who's in charge?" Ding Huan asked.

Seeing how things were here, he didn't bother saying he was applying for a position.

"I'll help you register," came a timid voice.

Ding Huan, having not used his spiritual sense before, only now noticed a thin, monkey-like figure stepping out from the corner.

The other five men chewing Joy Branch didn't even glance toward Ding Huan.

They knew well that every so often, a few fools would come to the City Patrol to die.

It was precisely because of these fools who kept coming to die that they could enjoy their bliss here so long.

If the City Patrol hadn't been required to maintain a minimum number of response records, they'd have long stopped recruiting anyone.

"Are you two both here to apply for City Patrol soldiers?" the thin man asked cautiously.

Ding Huan said: "We're applying for Captain and Deputy Captain. Are those positions still open?"

The thin man shook his head:

"No. The Captain gets two crystal stones a month; the Deputy Captain gets one."

"Good. Then register us." Ding Huan finished, then casually picked up the law code of the Burning Star Lord's Domain and began flipping through it.

The five City Patrolmen who had been lounging and chewing Joy Branch all turned to stare at Ding Huan in shock upon hearing he wanted the Captain and Deputy Captain posts.

Still, no one spoke.

"May I ask the Captain's name?"

The thin man asked a question that was absurd—but no one found it funny.

"I am the Captain. Ding Huan. The Deputy Captain is him—Yan Mei."

Ding Huan said, smiling, after finishing the law code.

He had a spiritual sense; even though the law book was thick, it was simple to imprint its contents into his memory with a sweep.

"Alright." The thin man pulled out the appointment scrolls for Captain and Deputy Captain, wrote Ding Huan and Yan Mei's names on them with a brush, then handed the two scrolls to Ding Huan and Yan Mei.

Ding Huan's gaze fell on the scrolls, and he was slightly startled.

These were actually two artifacts?

"Press your handprints on them, and the scrolls will record your information."

The thin man's tone remained timid.

Ding Huan and Yan Mei each pressed a hand onto the scrolls.

The next instant, Ding Huan's scroll clearly displayed his information.

It was not much—just one line.

Ding Huan, Captain of the City Patrol of West Wind City, responsible for all security matters in West Wind City.

Before Ding Huan could put the scroll away, one of the men who had just finished chewing Joy Branch stood up, squinting at Ding Huan and said:

"Since you're Captain now, handle the case at the northern city ore shop today."

Ding Huan replied calmly: "What's your position?"

"I am Qi Zhenyu. I've served in the City Patrol for twelve years. I'm currently a Level Four Patrolman." The man's tone was sharp—he clearly didn't regard Ding Huan as Captain.

Ding Huan asked again: "Then who am I?"

"You're just someone who just joined the City Patrol," Qi Zhenyu sneered.

"I'm the Captain. So what right do you have to order me around?" Ding Huan said coolly.

Hearing this, the others froze, then burst into laughter.

After they finished laughing, Qi Zhenyu looked at Ding Huan and sighed:

"Kid, you come in and immediately try to swallow a fat man whole? Afraid you'll choke? Let me teach you—in the City Patrol, the Captain isn't the highest. The one who's been here longest is the highest.

So I can order you around. If you refuse, I have the right to kill you."

"Oh? If you kill me, will this month's two crystal stones go to you? Or if I die outside, will my crystal stones go to you?"

Ding Huan sneered.

"Not stupid. But now that you pressed your handprint, there's no going back," Qi Zhenyu scoffed.

"Who made that rule?" Ding Huan's tone remained unchanged.

One of the men beside Qi Zhenyu had just finished chewing Joy Branch. Hearing Ding Huan's question, he leapt to his feet with a sharp hiss:

"What? You're not convinced? This is our City Patrol rule—and it's been approved by the Lord of West Wind City."

At that moment, a disheveled woman burst in:

"Brother Qi, the Tie Li Alliance from outside the city wants to take my husband away. They beat us, stole our goods, and now they're trying to drag him off…"

Before Qi Zhenyu could speak, the man who had just insulted Ding Huan said again: "We don't handle matters outside the city."

Qi Zhenyu added: "Exactly. Go negotiate yourself. Outside the city has nothing to do with us."

"But when you took my crystal stones, you promised that if anything was stolen within the city, you'd help! They're from outside, but they robbed my shop inside the city…"

The woman cried out in anguish.

"Get out." Qi Zhenyu kicked the woman out with one foot.

After kicking her out, he seemed to remember something and turned to Ding Huan and Yan Mei:

"You two go with her to handle this matter, and next time remember to show respect to your seniors."

With these words, he raised his hand and slapped Ding Huan across the face.

Ding Huan sidestepped, and Qi Zhenyu's slap missed entirely.

He chuckled.

"No wonder you dared ask me if I've got any skill left."

Ding Huan ignored Qi Zhenyu and spoke to himself:

"According to Article Eleven of the General Code of the Burnt Star Lordship City Patrol Laws, any patrol officer who disobeys his superior may be executed without pardon."

After saying this, Ding Huan smiled at Qi Zhenyu:

"Do you think you're guilty of disobeying your superior?"

"Your ancestor—"

Qi Zhenyu flew into a rage, but he had barely spoken three words when Ding Huan sent a wind blade flying.

Qi Zhenyu's head was severed by the wind blade, rolling over ten meters away, his eyes still filled with shock and disbelief.

Ding Huan carefully avoided the bloodstains, then spoke to the thin man:

"According to City Patrol Law, every incident must be recorded in full detail. Did you record what just happened?"

At this moment, Ding Huan understood: this thin man was the City Patrol's recorder, responsible for documenting everything occurring within or outside the patrol.

"Yes, yes, I'll record it now..."

The thin man's face was pale, his voice trembling; he dared not disobey Ding Huan, and quickly picked up his pen to record every detail of what had just occurred.

Ding Huan was too ruthless—he dared not fabricate anything.

"You..." The man who had challenged Ding Huan also turned pale.

How had such a bold person appeared—killing a City Patrol officer inside the patrol headquarters?

Patrol officers were usually killed when meddling outside; being killed inside the headquarters was unprecedented.

No—this man was also a City Patrol officer, and even a captain.

But the City Patrol had never had a captain like this. Why was he acting so out of line?

What did Burnt Star Lordship law say about a captain killing a patrol officer?

"Now it's your turn—you just disrespected your superior..."

Before Ding Huan finished speaking, the patrol officer dropped to his knees:

"Senior, no—Captain, I was dazed from chewing Happy Branches. Please show mercy, Captain!"

Ding Huan's face darkened: "Why should I show mercy?"

"I, I..." This city patrol soldier broke out in cold sweat on his forehead.

The patrol officer's forehead was drenched in cold sweat.

He was certain: Ding Huan was a powerful cultivator.

Why would a cultivator come here to steal our livelihood?

"It's not impossible to forgive you for reporting that woman. Fine—take a team and resolve her case, then return." Ding Huan pointed at the woman kicked out the door.

The woman at the door, hearing Ding Huan's words, immediately knelt to thank him.

She had been terrified by Ding Huan's brutality, but thinking of her husband facing the same fate as the dead Qi Zhenyu, her heart filled with dread.

"This... this..." The man hesitated.

The Iron Strength Alliance outside the city was no gentle group—he might get killed going there.

"Then don't go..." Ding Huan spoke, then raised his hand and sent a wind blade.

"I—" The man felt the breath of death; before he could even say "go," Ding Huan severed his head again.

Ding Huan looked at the trembling young recorder:

"He not only disrespected his superior but also refused to obey orders. Record everything that happened."

"Yes." The thin youth quickly bent over and wrote again.

Ding Huan turned to the other three.

The three still had half-chewed Happy Branches, but the branches had long been discarded, and their expressions of pleasure vanished.

All three stared at Ding Huan in terror.

Ding Huan spoke calmly: "I now command you, as captain, to deal with the Iron Strength Alliance's occupation of another's shop. What do you think?"

The three sprang to their feet on instinct:

"We obey the Captain's order—we're leaving at once."

Ding Huan nodded: "Yan Mei, go with Lao Liu. Assess the situation and act accordingly."

"Yes, Huan Ge." Yan Mei replied immediately.

Ding Huan trusted Yan Mei—he wouldn't get the short end of the stick.

After the group left, Ding Huan turned to the recorder:

"What's your name?"

"Your humble servant is Peng Peng Leizhi. I've served as recorder for the City Patrol for three years." The thin youth spoke with fear.

Ding Huan nodded:

"Good. Clean this place up afterward."

"Yes." Peng Peng Leizhi replied quickly.

As Ding Huan turned to leave, he suddenly remembered something:

"Where is the best place to stay in West Wind City?"

"In the Great Crystal District." Peng Peng Leizhi blurted out.