The days passed, one by one.
Su Mu left early and returned late every day, rain or shine, perfectly fulfilling his duties as a Hunter.
His Identity Points were also slowly accumulating.
To advance the Submerging Wave Saber Technique from minor success to the Great Success Realm required a full three hundred Identity Points. For Su Mu, this meant five months of accumulation—a long and arduous journey.
Fortunately, watching his Identity Points increase every day was a pleasure in itself, so the days weren't too hard for Su Mu to bear.
His life now was so much better than his time as a refugee.
He could eat his fill and see a glimmer of hope.
However, ever since Sun Dazhao had sought him out, Su Mu had deliberately started keeping a low profile.
He even started bringing only a small portion of his daily catch back to the city, discarding the rest.
It was a bit of a waste, but it was better to be safe than sorry. A little caution never hurt.
He didn't even consider hiding the surplus game.
Su Mu had also secretly made some inquiries. The Hunters that Sun Dazhao had introduced to Chief Xing had gone to the South City Bureau and never returned.
Su Mu suspected that their chances of survival were slim.
Silver is nice, but you need to be alive to spend it.
Perhaps because he was hunting with such diligence, the rate at which his Points increased on the panel had slightly improved.
Now, he could earn five Points in just two days.
Over the past month, he had saved up a total of seventy Points.
'At this rate, in three months at most, I'll be able to advance my Submerging Wave Saber Technique to the Great Success Realm. Then I'll have the freedom to advance or retreat. Whether I'm seeking a position as a constable, or trying to make a living at a Nursing Home, at least I'll have options.'
Su Mu's heart was filled with anticipation for the future.
After a full day of rushing about and hunting outside the city, even though his constitution was much stronger now, he still felt a bit exhausted.
He drew some water to wash up, then lay down on his bed and closed his eyes, resting to conserve his energy for the next day's hunt.
...
Tonight, the sky was starless.
Looking down from the sky, the entirety of Wuling City was shrouded in darkness.
Unlike the brightly lit Inner City, the Outer City was almost completely dark and deathly silent.
Light could be seen in only a few places.
One of them was the South City Government Office.
CRACK!
A teacup was smashed to pieces on the floor.
The tea from the cup splashed all over Xing Zhao Fu, soaking a large patch of his blue Constable Uniform.
But this important figure, a man whose stomp could make the South City tremble, now stood with his head bowed, wearing an expression of meek submission.
For a man like Xing Zhao Fu, known as the "Viper," to be so obedient, the person who smashed the teacup could naturally only be the number one man in the South City Bureau: the South City Sima, Hu Yuxing.
"Xing Zhao Fu, look what you've done!"
Hu Yuxing's face was livid as he pointed at Xing Zhao Fu and cursed, "Six months! You've lost men and officers, yet that Black Dragon Stronghold is still at large! Even a dog on a leash would be a better Chief Constable than you!"
Xing Zhao Fu looked bitter. "Sima, I really have done my best. The fact is, the great chieftain of Black Dragon Stronghold is already a master at the Third Stage of Body Tempering. The second and third chieftains are at the Second Stage of Body Tempering.
In our South City Bureau, besides me at the Second Stage of Body Tempering, all the other registered Martial Artists are only at the First Stage of Body Tempering.
We can't beat them. We really can't beat them."
"Are the constables you recruited just for show? Even if you have to pile up bodies, I want you to bury the Black Dragon Stronghold with them!"
A murderous glint shone in Hu Yuxing's eyes. "If you can't flatten Black Dragon Stronghold, and the higher-ups come down on me, you'll be the first one I get rid of!"
"Sima, Black Dragon Stronghold is extremely cunning. They always hide deep in the mountains and forests to ambush us. But I've already thought of a solution! I will recruit a group of Hunters who are skilled at moving through the mountains. With them as guides, I'm confident I can wipe out everyone from Black Dragon Stronghold in one fell swoop!"
Xing Zhao Fu said confidently.
"Hahaha, a defeated foe, boasting so brazenly!"
Just then, a sudden burst of laughter rang out.
"Who's there!"
Xing Zhao Fu's expression changed. With a CLANG, he drew his saber and rushed into the courtyard in a few steps.
Hu Yuxing, however, turned deathly pale with fright and, with a THUMP, rolled under the table.
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
Amidst a series of sharp clashes, two figures collided and then swiftly separated.
Xing Zhao Fu stumbled back several steps, only stopping when his foot landed on a stair. His saber-wielding right hand trembled slightly, his face a mask of shock and fury.
"Consider this a lesson for today. If you dare to provoke my Black Dragon Stronghold again, I'll be taking your head!"
The other figure leaped onto the wall. He was thin, cloaked in black, and had a palm-sized blue birthmark on his cheek. He let out a strange cry.
The words had barely left his mouth when a sharp whistle pierced the air.
Immediately after, several flaming arrows shot into the South City Government Office from all directions.
"Fire!"
The fire grew wildly, fanned by the wind. Constables, officers, and servants descended into chaos, running in all directions.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
Xing Zhao Fu flew into a rage.
He never would have dreamed that the men from Black Dragon Stronghold would be so audacious as to launch a night raid on South City!
A gang of bandits had raided the South City Bureau and set fire to its government office. Xing Zhao Fu could already imagine what fate awaited him.
After this uproar from Black Dragon Stronghold, his career was surely finished. It was even uncertain whether he could keep his life.
Having followed Hu Yuxing for many years, he knew all too well how ruthless and cruel this Sima was.
His only chance now was to capture this third chieftain of Black Dragon Stronghold. Perhaps then, the Sima would spare his life, recognizing his diligent effort even if it yielded no merit.
Worse comes to worst, if he, Xing Zhao Fu, died in battle here, the Sima might spare his wife and children.
Xing Zhao Fu charged forward with his Constable Saber, heedless of his own safety, and launched a frenzied attack on the Black Dragon Stronghold's third chieftain.
SCHLICK!
Soon, a wound appeared on the Black Dragon Stronghold's third chieftain. He was both shocked and enraged.
Xing Zhao Fu was at the Second Stage of Body Tempering, as was he. Their strengths were roughly equal.
He had originally held a slight edge over Xing Zhao Fu thanks to his richer combat experience, but now Xing Zhao Fu was fighting like a madman, attacking with no regard for his own life.
Suddenly, he not only found himself at a disadvantage, but he couldn't even manage to escape.
Xing Zhao Fu's eyes were bloodshot. He looked like a crazed demon as he swung his Constable Saber, making it whistle through the air.
THWACK!
Xing Zhao Fu took a slash to the shoulder, but at the same time, his Constable Saber broke through his opponent's guard and sliced across his chest, nearly disemboweling him.
The third chieftain of Black Dragon Stronghold spat out a mouthful of blood, his face ghastly pale.
A vicious look flashed across his face. He kicked Xing Zhao Fu to the ground, then leaped backward in an instant, leaving a spray of blood behind.
"Xing, I'll remember you! Just you wait!"
The voice of the Black Dragon Stronghold's third chieftain came from the distance. He had actually fled.
"You're not escaping today unless I'm dead!"
Xing Zhao Fu scrambled up from the ground. His shoulder was a mangled mess of flesh and blood, and half of his body was dyed red.
But right now, he couldn't spare a thought for his own injuries.
He absolutely could not let the third chieftain of Black Dragon Stronghold escape.
If his opponent didn't die, he would.
Tearing off a piece of his undergarment, he crudely bandaged the wound, grabbed his saber, and gave chase.
Along the way, he didn't forget to shout at the arriving constables and officers to surround and annihilate the Black Dragon Stronghold bandits who had invaded South City.
...
In the middle of a deep sleep, Su Mu's eyes suddenly snapped open.
The next moment, he performed a carp kip-up, leaping silently to his feet. Like an agile leopard cat, he pounced to the door, pressed his eye to the crack, and peered outside with extreme vigilance.