News of the conflict between two Gold-level Constables spread rapidly throughout the Night Watchmen’s Office as they made their way to the training grounds. Silver and Bronze-level Constables eagerly gathered with their friends to witness the spectacle, flooding towards the grounds behind the office.

“Have you heard? It seems they’re fighting over a Bronze-level Constable.”

“What? Impossible. How could mere Bronze-level Constables cause such a stir between two Gold-level Constables?”

“Believe it or not, it’s true. Many people saw it. This morning, Old Tao went to Li Yuchun to request someone but was refused. They had a big argument, and then each sought out a Gold-level Constable.”

The Night Watchmen gathered together, with those unaware of the situation questioning those in the know. Discussions were rife, and upon learning it was over a Bronze-level Constable, everyone was shocked.

Bronze-level Constables were equivalent to minor patrol officers, while Gold-level Constables held lofty positions. The difference between them was like heaven and earth.

This reason was indeed hard to believe. Curious onlookers sought to uncover the cause, but no one knew the inside story.

*I feel like I’ve become the Helen of Troy causing all this trouble…* Xu Qi An had no outlet for his internal grumbling.

Having just met Cultivation Rank: Gold-level Constable Jiang Lüzhong in person, Xu Qi An roughly deduced what had transpired.

On the day Marquis Pingyuan was killed, this Gold-level Constable had a brief encounter with him. It seemed that upon seeing Xu Qi An’s close relationship with the Celestial Inspection Bureau’s mage, Jiang Lüzhong took a liking to his talent and wanted to bring him under his command.

However, Yang Yan disagreed, and the reason was most likely due to Xu Qi An’s top-grade aptitude. This mentality was similar to how schools in his previous life competed for top students.

Li Yuchun had told him that Governor Wei had generously given him a top-grade evaluation.

*Dad Wei is so generous, purely because of that poem I wrote… This is the pressure of having an aptitude I shouldn’t possess…* Xu Qi An’s face showed excitement tinged with a hint of coyness, eagerly anticipating the impending clash between the two.

Battles between high-level martial artists were rare.

As for whose side he would end up on, he wasn’t too concerned. Although he would miss Spring Brother, Song Tingfeng, and Zhu Guangxiao, he was just an ordinary Bronze-level Constable. Personnel transfers were decided by the organization, and his objections would be ineffective.

In a pavilion near the training grounds, several Gold-level Constables watched the scene unfold from the window.

“What’s going on between Yang Yan and Jiang Lüzhong?”

“Jiang Lüzhong wants a Bronze-level Constable under Yang Yan, but Yang Yan refused, causing a conflict.”

“Yang Yan and Jiang Lüzhong don’t have any grudges, right? This can’t be just an excuse to settle old scores. Does this mean there’s something special about that Bronze-level Constable?”

“I think his name is Xu Qi An.”

“The name sounds familiar… the one from the tax silver case? Just for that, it doesn’t seem worth such a big fuss.”

“We don’t know. Let’s watch the show first, then ask Governor Wei later.”

After entering the arena, the two Gold-level Constables removed their cloaks and began without hesitation.

Xu Qi An only heard a thunderous “boom” as the ground sank several inches, and Jiang Lüzhong vanished from sight.

The next moment, Yang Yan raised his elbow, striking at a space to his left.

Bang!

It collided with a pair of fists.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The two men’s limbs became blurred, and the sound of flesh colliding was incessant.

*Too fast, too fast…* The naked eye couldn’t capture their movements. Xu Qi An widened his eyes, trying hard to observe, but the exchange between the two high-level martial artists had already exceeded the limits of his vision.

After they rapidly exchanged more than a dozen moves, the sounds of their impacts reached his ears with a delay of several seconds.

*A dozen or several dozen hits in one second?* Xu Qi An was stunned.

If human eyes were compared to cameras, the battle between these two high-level martial artists had already surpassed the filming limit.

Xu Qi An, with his passable knowledge of physics, immediately noticed a problem.

*Don’t these two have any recovery time after using their skills?*

Their movements were too fluid… But the action of force is mutual, so why wasn’t there any reactive force when two powerful forces violently collided?

Their forms showed no signs of stagnation… Was it because his naked eye couldn’t capture it, or was it a unique ability of high-level martial artists?

If it was the latter, at what level did martial artists acquire this ability? It must be after the seventh rank, as the seventh rank focused on tempering the spirit.

Moreover, when the two Gold-level Constables fought, their qi was contained, held in rather than released. This was understandable; if they went all out, the entire Night Watchmen’s Office would be reduced to rubble.

“It’s just a spectacle, don’t take it so seriously,” Song Tingfeng patted Xu Qi An’s shoulder. “Battles between Gold-level Constables happen only a few times a year.”

Xu Qi An asked, “Who do you think will win?”

Song Tingfeng smiled, “In terms of pure physical strength and power, there isn’t much difference between Gold-level Constables, so these matches usually end in a draw.”

As for why they only competed with strength and physical prowess, the reason was simple: these fights were not meant to be life-or-death battles.

The fight lasted for over two hours. Night Watchmen and clerks from the office came and went in waves. Some left for lunch and didn’t return, some came to watch for a while after lunch before returning to work, and others came back to observe after finishing their tasks.

In the martial artist system, the ninth rank, Refining Essence realm, was characterized by stamina. It was said that their stamina was inexhaustible, and while this was somewhat exaggerated, it was enough to demonstrate the terrifying endurance of martial artists.

On this point, the Courtesan deeply agreed.

Xu Qi An didn’t return to watch after lunch, as he had to patrol the streets with his colleagues, being a minor constable.

…

After finishing their fight, the two Gold-level Constables silently went to the Lofty Spirit Tower.

Standing in the observation hall, having patiently watched the entire process, Governor Wei commented as the two ascended the tower, “Yang Yan, you still need to continue tempering your physical body. Otherwise, in ten years, as your blood essence declines, you’ll never reach the third rank in your lifetime. Don’t focus solely on honing your spear intent.”

Yang Yan nodded silently.

“Lüzhong, you’re too concerned about maintaining your peak physical condition. What you should do is integrate your blade intent into your fists and feet. Your combat prowess would increase significantly.”

Jiang Lüzhong sighed, “From what you’re saying, Governor Wei, does this mean I have no hope of reaching the third rank?”

Governor Wei smiled, “The third rank is beyond the realm of ordinary humans. It depends on opportunity rather than hard training. Our Defender of the North spent ten years on the battlefield, hovering on the brink of death dozens of times, facing death to preserve life. You both lack that kind of experience.”

The powerful eunuch, who could command the loyalty of Gold-level Constables despite his physical weakness, continued, “Since there’s no clear winner, we’ll drop the matter of personnel transfer.”

Jiang Lüzhong nodded regretfully, then said, “But I have one question, if I may.”

Governor Wei nodded.

Jiang Lüzhong asked, “What’s so special about Bronze-level Constable Xu Qi An that makes Gold-level Constable Yang value him so highly and refuse to let him go?”

Yang Yan’s attitude was very unusual. Typically, out of respect for the face and friendship between Gold-level Constables, such requests wouldn’t be refused by an ordinary Bronze-level Constable.

He was interested in Xu Qi An’s case-solving abilities and connections with the Celestial Inspection Bureau, but Yang Yan, being a martial arts fanatic, never cared about such things.

After Jiang Lüzhong finished speaking, he saw Nangong Qianrou purse her lips, showing some disdain, but more so, unwillingness to accept.

Indeed, there was a bigger secret about Xu Qi An, and this secret was known to Governor Wei, Yang Yan, and Nangong Qianrou.

“It’s not a big deal,” Governor Wei took a sip of tea and pushed a household register document on the desk towards the edge. “I knew you’d ask, so I prepared this specially. Take a look yourself.”

Jiang Lüzhong cupped his hands in respect and reached out to open the register. He saw an evaluation written in red cinnabar:

Top Grade!

He stared at the two bright red characters for a long time without speaking. A few seconds later, he gazed intently at Yang Yan, “Let’s fight again. I want this person.”

What did a top-grade aptitude mean? With Governor Wei’s knowledge and insight, he wouldn’t make such an assessment lightly.

It meant that this Xu Qi An would undoubtedly achieve great things in the future, at the very least becoming a Gold-level Constable like himself.

Such talent must be acquired.

Yang Yan ignored him completely.

“Governor Wei!” Jiang Lüzhong rubbed the crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes, unwilling to give up. “You can’t show favoritism just because Yang Yan is your adopted son.”

Governor Wei didn’t respond.

Jiang Lüzhong raised his voice, “If you don’t agree, I’ll spread this news and see if Yang Yan can withstand the pressure from other Gold-level Constables.”

Governor Wei frowned, “How insolent.”