The distance between the Black Mountain Government Office and the Ten-Mile Bluestone Lane is neither near nor far.
Only just having played a strategic game with Jiang Zhou, engaged with Chen Zhenwu and Xie Wutong, and followed Liu Tieyi to procure constable supplies and register in the civil records, some time had already slipped away.
When returning to the residence once more.
The sky was leaning toward the west.
Just as they passed Carpenter Zhang's doorstep.
Jixia heard a commotion and instinctively furrowed his brows.
"Which blind fool is causing trouble at this hour?"
Zheng Fan felt somewhat displeased.
The two had come specifically to 'Cyan Stone Lane' today, to clear Jixia's name.
Someone was stirring up trouble at this time.
Even if only to put on a show, their status must be upheld.
Moreover, which ordinary household in the Outer City District would dare disregard a constable?
They were just about to draw their blades to intimidate.
But someone was faster.
Jixia did not respond to Zheng Fan, simply quickening his steps.
Before arriving, from the open door and through the expression on Zhang Yuan, who dared not cross the threshold, he roughly deduced the situation.
Then, glancing at the fallen Carpenter Zhang, recalling the warm bowl of porridge from the morning, Jixia contemplated momentarily, removed the newly equipped sheathed treasure saber from his waist, and exerted force, hurling the sheath like a punch!
A few zhang away, it viciously struck Wei Bao on the back of the head, forming a huge bump.
Watching the man spinning, then hastily holding the government officer's saber with both hands.
Simultaneously, Jixia stepped into the courtyard, first helping up Carpenter Zhang who was still in shock, but upon seeing Jixia's arrival, appeared even more astonished:
"In Cyan Stone Lane, do you think you are the heavens?"
The shout was loud enough.
Jixia could hear it clearly from afar.
He grabbed the saber Wei Bao was holding, looking at his retreating figure with a faint smile:
"Do you know who I am?"
Wei Bao came to his senses, his face filled with anger:
"To hell with who you are..."
The sharp pain in his head caused his eyes to redden, just as he was about to clench his fist, he noticed the constable's uniform on the young man before him.
His movements stalled instantly, halting before the blue uniform's collar.
"Blind fool, Wei Bao!"
With a dark expression, Zhong Xu broke through the threshold and followed closely:
"Can't you see Lord Ji's government officer's clothing!"
"Dare to raise a fist against a constable?"
"Especially in this Cyan Stone Lane, raising a fist against the 'Ten-Mile Constable' responsible for this area?"
"Do you want to be subdued right here today?"
Zhong Xu and Zheng Fan were on duty at the Black Mountain Government Office today, but generally, the shifts rotate.
Their usual jurisdiction was the streets and alley ends within the 'First Ring'.
And coincidentally, the area Zhong Xu was responsible for was Fulu Street where Wei Bao's Wei Mansion was located!
The two had encountered each other many times, with Wei Bao often representing the Wei Mansion, presenting numerous benefits both openly and covertly.
However, this relationship also had its levels of closeness.
Having aligned himself with the Department Head Chen Zhenwu, in Zhong Xu's eyes, what was Jixia?
Jixia was the most promising person he could encounter in the next ten years!
If it were the eldest son of the Wei Mansion, he might weigh the matter more, but being just a son of a steward under the Wei Mansion...
He was not qualified!
Hearing the scolding akin to a slap in the face, Wei Bao looked bewildered:
"The constable responsible for Cyan Stone Lane?"
Wasn't his name Jiang Zhou?
Are you kidding!
Previously, when the Wei Mansion sent people to congratulate, he represented his father in visiting, how could he not know the person?
How could merely two or three days pass,
And after being surnamed Jiang, it changed to Ji?
However, Jixia cared little for his shock.
After a glance at Wei Bao and gathering the series of events from Carpenter Zhang's words, Jixia already had his decision:
"Abusing power, forcing sales, trespassing, injuring others..."
Crack!
He slightly extracted the saber by an inch.
This movement already frightened Wei Bao into a shiver.
"More importantly, you even dared to raise a fist against a constable?"
"Such lawlessness, if not sent to the penal room for 'training' now, you might become an unruly troublemaker in the future that disregards the law."
Jixia turned around, seriously looking at Zheng Fan.
The latter immediately understood:
"Indeed, injuring others, conspiring against a constable, if unaddressed, chaos would prevail in the future."
Saying so, without further ado, he stepped forward to restrain Wei Bao.
Even though the latter struggled.
But who was Zheng Fan?
Having achieved 'Golden Flesh and Jade Veins,' possibly even mastering 'Mercury Blood Silver Marrow.'
Not someone he could possibly escape from.
Zhong Xu opened his mouth:
"Should we notify the Wei Mansion first?"
After all, having received their silver coins, he should symbolically fulfill some duty.
But at this moment, Zheng Fan appeared calm:
"Regulations must remain intact."
"Notify them afterwards is doable."
The subtext of his words meant,
You must choose one side.
And he had only limited entanglement with the Wei Mansion, thus naturally chose to support Jixia's authority.
To this, Zhong Xu fell silent for a moment, unable to say more.
"My, my father is—" Wei Bao still attempted to struggle.
Only to be slapped unconscious by Zheng Fan.
"So much nonsense."
After saying this, Zheng Fan looked toward Jixia.
The latter understood, sweeping his gaze around the chaotic courtyard.
When Zhang Yun saw Jixia's calm dark eyes, her heart fluttered uncontrollably, she bowed her head, filled with post-crisis joy and relief.
At the same time, looking at Jixia who had exchanged the rustic aura for a dignified and heroic presence, effortlessly wielding his saber, her legs involuntarily closed slightly, her neck tinged with red.
But unfortunately, Jixia did not pay her much attention.
"You..." At this moment, a hesitant female voice sounded.
A moment later, hearing the movement, Zhang Yun raised her head,
seeing only her mother, Carpenter Zhang's wife Chen Clan, just returning from work, standing in shock at the door, looking at Jixia, hesitated to speak.
In the end, frightened by the imposing youth's aura, she fell silent, contrasting sharply with her earlier bold demeanor.
To this, Jixia glanced at her, smiled, refraining from lingering any longer, and exited the courtyard door.
The cool external breeze brought the dusk twilight, many good workers clustering in groups of three or five.
Cyan Stone Lane, something significant had happened at Carpenter Zhang's house, nobody lacked curiosity.
And when Jixia emerged draped in the constable's uniform, it immediately stirred a moderate commotion and murmurs:
"Constable's uniform, isn't that Jixia's boy..."
"Who said he returned limping yesterday? There is not a trace of limping now!"
"The rumor from Jiang Zhou, was it true? Did he truly conspire against Jixia, only for the constable position to return to its rightful owner?"
"This..."
"Could it be that Ji Erlang from Ji Family in Cyan Stone Lane is truly rising to prominence?"
To this, Jixia remained indifferent.
Alongside Zheng Fan restraining Wei Bao, the trio reached the Cyan Stone Lane's government office headquarters, a square courtyard.
Afterward, he picked up the pen and beneath the 'Cyan Stone Lane Guard' scrapped out the name Jiang Zhou.
Instead, he wrote————
'Jixia.'
Subsequently, accompanied by Zheng Fan and Zhong Xu, with the government office's authority, they disseminated news of the appointment throughout the entire Ten-Mile Bluestone Lane.
When the autumn wind stirred the falling leaves,
before the twilight darkened completely.
In Cyan Stone Lane, regarding the person in charge, there was only one,
that was...
Jixia, Lord Ji!