Martial Arts is a high-risk occupation, and the shadow of death always looms over these people.
Ever since Cui Ziweng was killed after refusing to be conscripted, this sense of insecurity has become even more pronounced.
Although other than Cui Ziweng, the authorities have only lightly reprimanded other Martial Artists, using the incident as a warning to deter others. Still, dissatisfaction has begun to simmer beneath the surface.
Many civilian Martial Artists define themselves as merely a group of mercenaries.
The City Government funds the missions, and they complete them. If the tasks are too dangerous, they have the right to refuse. This has been the practice for the past twenty years, without change.
However, in the eyes of the City Government, civilian Martial Artists are akin to auxiliary military personnel, like militia, and if special circumstances arise, they have the right to forcibly conscript them, even integrating them into the military.
