Chapter 1: Aiming to Stop the Conflict

"Everyone, move aside!"

"The Inspectorate is on official business!"

"Move aside! Move aside!"

"."

Li Fei stood in the crowd, watching a team of people in black uniforms with sabers at their waists roughly disperse the onlookers and cordon off the crime scene.

Outside a noodle shop, a man lay in a pool of blood, motionless. On the ground lay steaming noodles, shattered porcelain bowls, and a broken wooden table.

It was a scene of utter chaos.

"Someone's been beaten to death."

"The one who died is the noodle shop owner; he had a verbal altercation with someone..."

"... It seems to be a martial artist from the Tiger Blade Gang."

"The Tiger Blade Gang again? Does the Inspectorate not care?"

"How would the Inspectorate dare to care..."

"... I heard they took money from the Tiger Blade Gang."

"Shh, keep your voice down."

"."

Li Fei listened to the surrounding conversations with an expressionless face. When he saw the Inspectorate personnel lift the victim's body away without even calling a forensic examiner, he subconsciously clenched his fists, as if recalling something unpleasant.

"This world..."

He pushed his bicycle out of the crowd and soon began pedaling down the road.

Many young people on the street looked at the bicycle Li Fei was riding with envious expressions.

In this day and age, owning a bicycle of one's own is no simple matter.

The latest "Road Safety Law" released by the Judicial Cabinet of the Great Lan Dynasty stipulates that every bicycle must have an independent license plate; bicycles without plates are not allowed on the road, or they face fines. One must also carry a driver's license while riding, or face a 1-yuan fine.

Furthermore, private bicycles are not allowed to be rented out, or they face a 3-5 yuan fine. Changes in bicycle ownership must be registered at the local Ministry of the Interior, or they face a 1-2 yuan fine. Bicycle owners who move must also report it, or face a 1-2 yuan fine.

Finally, every bicycle must pay a 1-yuan road maintenance fee each month.

A brand-new Yonglan-brand bicycle costs 180 yuan, which is already 5 or 6 months' wages for the vast majority of workers. Coupled with the 1-yuan monthly road maintenance fee, bicycles have become almost the exclusive domain of the wealthy.

Therefore, Li Fei, riding his bicycle in the sunlight with his hair flying, was the very definition of a "tall, rich, and handsome" man.

Amidst the envious gazes along the way, Li Fei rode into a large gray compound.

This is the residential compound for mid-level and above cadres of the Xingcheng Inspectorate.

Li Fei parked his bicycle in the parking shed, where rows of gleaming black cars were also parked.

These are cars provided by the Inspectorate to cadres at the rank of squadron leader and above.

Seeing a familiar license plate among the parked cars, Li Fei looked thoughtful and walked quickly into a building.

Climbing to the twelfth floor in one breath, Li Fei, without even a flushed face or shortness of breath, took out his key, opened an iron door, and walked into the house.

"Yesterday, the Xingcheng Inspectorate destroyed a cult stronghold. This cult, known as the 'Anshen Sect,' used talisman water to soothe the mind and bewitch people, while secretly plotting for money and lives. So far, hundreds have died at the hands of the cult..."

Just as he entered, Li Fei heard the voice coming from the radio.

"Xiao Fei is back?"

On the sofa, Li Lei, who hadn't yet changed out of his black uniform, looked up from the entryway while drinking tea and listening to the radio.

"Li Shu."

Li Fei greeted him, walked over to the sofa opposite, took off the gray canvas bag he was carrying, and placed it on his knees. He sat up straight, very properly.

Since he returned early today, there should be a result regarding the matter he had entrusted to him.

"Xiao Fei is back."

A beautiful woman with fair skin, a graceful figure, and a trendy perm walked out of the kitchen carrying a plate of fruit.

"Aunt Zhang."

Li Fei greeted her with a smile on his face.

"Xiao Fei, eat some fruit first. Auntie bought your favorite strawberries."

Zhang Yuqing placed the fruit plate in front of Li Fei and said with a kind smile.

"Thank you, Aunt Zhang."

Li Fei picked up a bright red strawberry and put it in his mouth.

Li Lei turned off the radio and looked at Li Fei:

"Xiao Fei, do you really want to go to the Martial Arts Hall after graduation?"

Li Fei slowly swallowed the strawberry in his mouth before smiling at Li Lei: "Li Shu, Sister Tianyu wants to take the entrance exam for the University's Stop-Conflict Department. With her aptitude, the probability of getting in is very high. My aptitude isn't good enough, so I won't join in the fun."

Li Lei sighed:

"The Great Lan Dynasty has been reforming for seventeen years, and there are still only twelve universities. The competition is too fierce. The difficulty of getting into the Stop-Conflict Department is even greater; your Sister Tianyu might not even get in. Even if she does, the annual tuition is enough to give me a headache."

The education system after the Great Lan Dynasty's reforms is divided into four levels: Primary School, Higher Primary School, Vocational School, and University.

Primary school lasts four years and is free for everyone, requiring only a small fee for books.

Higher primary school lasts two years, requires passing an entrance exam, and requires tuition.

Vocational school, the full name being "Secondary Specialized Vocational School," is divided into eight disciplines: Humanities, Science, Law, Agriculture, Engineering, Commerce, Normal, and Stop-Conflict, specifically training professional talent.

After that comes university, the highest level of academic institution. There are only twelve in the whole country. The exams are difficult, and the tuition is exorbitant, not something an ordinary family can afford.

Li Lei is a squadron leader in the Xingcheng Inspectorate, with a monthly salary of 100 yuan, plus various other incomes. Over the years, he has saved up a sum of money.

But the minimum tuition for one semester of university is 500 yuan, and the Stop-Conflict Department requires martial arts training, which costs even more.

Li Lei's daughter, Li Tianyu, wants to apply for the Stop-Conflict Department, which he can barely afford, but if Li Fei is added, it would be very difficult.

This is also the reason why Li Fei took the initiative to propose not applying for university and going to the Martial Arts Hall instead.

He didn't want to make things difficult for them.

Li Lei looked at Li Fei:

"The Martial Arts Hall is a mixed bag. It would be better for you to come to the Inspectorate than to go to the Martial Arts Hall; I can still look after you. With your vocational school Stop-Conflict Department degree, if you work hard in the future, I guarantee you can sit in my position!"

The Inspectorate is responsible for local public security, holds significant power, and offers excellent benefits. It is definitely a place that the vast majority of people envy.

However, Li Fei shook his head:

"Although the Inspectorate is good, it cannot cultivate martial artists like the Martial Arts Hall, so I still want to try the Martial Arts Hall."

The Great Lan Dynasty was founded on martial arts, has a strong martial atmosphere, and highly values martial artists.

Not only do the vocational schools and universities have a "Stop-Conflict Department" specifically for teaching martial arts and strengthening the physique, thereby using martial arts to stop conflict.

They also have "Martial Arts Halls" set up in various places. As long as you pass the physical exam and pay the money, you can enter to practice martial arts.

Precisely because the threshold is low, it is a mixed bag inside. Children of aristocratic families who fail to get into university and some gang members choose to go to the Martial Arts Hall for "further studies."

And for Li Fei, the most important thing is not only that the Martial Arts Hall can cultivate martial artists, but also that the Martial Arts Hall has several quotas every year to recommend students directly into the Stop-Conflict Departments of the twelve universities, and all tuition fees are covered by the Martial Arts Hall for the students.

The Li family cannot afford to send two people to university at the same time, so Li Fei can only rely on himself.

Li Lei looked into his eyes: "Have you considered it carefully?"

Recalling the corpse of the noodle shop owner he saw today, Li Fei nodded firmly:

"Yes, I've considered it carefully!"

Although this world is not a chaotic era, the lives of ordinary people are not much more valuable than blades of grass.

That noodle shop owner worked diligently to open a shop and make money, was honest his whole life, and never did anything wrong, yet he lost his life just because of a verbal altercation with someone. And the final result is very likely to be left unsettled, because the person who beat him to death was a martial artist from the Tiger Blade Gang.

A martial artist's wanton act can kill a person, and a cult's chaos can cause hundreds to lose their lives. Ordinary people are too fragile in this world; only by becoming a martial artist can one have a chance to grasp one's own destiny!

Half of the world's profound martial arts are in the Jianghu, and half are in the twelve universities. The Jianghu is bloody and cruel, and Li Fei's family background is easily feared by Jianghu people, so if he wants to go further on the path of martial arts, entering the university's Stop-Conflict Department is the best choice.

Of course, getting a quota for the university's Stop-Conflict Department at the Martial Arts Hall is no easy task.

If it were before, he certainly wouldn't be confident, but now...

Li Fei subconsciously touched his chest.

"Since that's the case, I'll take you to the Martial Arts Hall to sign up tomorrow."

Li Lei said to Li Fei.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 2 =====