Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Yanghua refines the body, tempers the skin and flesh, elevates the physique to a higher level.

Unlike the "Essence Body Washing," this directly enhances the physique.

Qi Lake reaches a length of twelve zhang.

Half an hour later.

Li Xian lightly leaped and jumped into the lake. After cleaning his body, he felt invigorated; this feeling was indescribable.

Immortal Mechanism in the Palm, Rainbow on the Shoulder, Chest Drum Thunder Sound...

Back then, Commander Pang was also at this level.

...

...

The next day.

Before dawn, Li Xian was already up. His anomalies manifested, refining his body with Yanghua, many supernatural phenomena clung to him, and his energy was abundant.

He only rested for two hours each day.

Leading the nursing home staff for morning drills. He entrusted some trivial matters to Ding Hu. Once everything was arranged, he rode out of the manor and headed to Qingning County.

A new official takes office with three fires.

On the west street of Qingning County, there is an abandoned hall.

It is the "Martial Captain Hall."

More than a decade ago, Qingning County once had a Martial Captain, also selected for military merits, but his end was tragic, unable to maintain control, ultimately leading to the ruin of his family.

The Martial Captain Hall has been deserted for a long time.

Li Xian rode to the hall's entrance.

Not only is the hall abandoned, but it's overgrown with weeds, and vines entwine the remains. Two moss-covered stone lions block the entrance.

"Is this to establish authority?" Li Xian sneered inwardly, seeing signs that the two stone lions had been moved, clearly indicating they were relocated last night.

It suggests not allowing Li Xian to enter the hall.

The street was bustling, with people flowing like a stream. On the restaurant terraces, in teahouses, in front of bun stalls, among street vendors... in many places, people were secretly observing, gloating over his misfortune.

Li Xian, endowed with heavy pupils, could observe in detail even without opening them, his vision extraordinary. He walked straight towards the two stone lions.

He raised his left palm and struck it. The left lion moved back into place, and with a kick from his right foot, the right lion moved back as well. The two blocking stone lions were subdued and compliant. Li Xian proceeded straight into the hall entrance.

Once he had walked far away.

Spies in the street came to investigate, all filled with astonishment. The two stone lions were perfectly returned to their original positions.

The left stone lion bore a one-inch deep palm print, and the right stone lion bore a one-inch deep footprint.

Moreover... last night, the major martial arts halls jointly inserted an "Iron Core" into the stone lions, adding weight.

Being able to achieve this degree, this Martial Captain is presumably not a pushover.

...

...

Qingning County's forces are complex, with three halls and two sects.

They are respectively:

"Xiongpi Martial Arts Hall," "Barbarian Martial Arts Hall," "Spring Leaf Martial Arts Hall."

"Snake Walking Sect," "Red Copper Sect."

They have dominated Qingning County for many years.

The Leopard Saber Sect is an external power, suppressing the three halls and two sects into silence, but now that's not the case anymore.

A coffin lay horizontally at the sect's gate. Many disciples have scattered. The three halls and two sects have regained their former prestige, tyrannizing the area, arrogant and tyrannical.

At this moment, the leaders of the three halls and two sects were discussing the "Martial Captain" matter in a restaurant.

No one wanted to be suppressed by a young upstart.

Xiongpi Martial Arts Hall's "Iron Bear," with a large stature and bear-like body hair, sat there; it was unclear if he was a bear spirit transformed into a human, or a human turned into a bear spirit.

He spoke boldly: "Everyone, what do you make of this newly-appointed Martial Captain? We are all martial artists; let's speak frankly."

The master of the Spring Leaf Martial Arts Hall, "Miao Xichun," though a man, had a slender waist, and his triangular eyes hid a sharp brilliance. He laughed and said:

"This young lord, so young, severing an enemy general's head amidst thousands of troops. Could it be that the martial arts are so powerful that one man is an army?"

His words were insincere and sarcastic.

The leader of the Snake Walking Sect, "Mei Rentu," sneered coldly: "Hehe, at the age of ten plus, how can he possess such strength? I absolutely don't believe it."

"What times are we in now? Does that killing enemy and earning merit thing still exist? In my opinion, this kid has some backing and deliberately fabricated a story to get an officer appointment."

"Brother Mei's words are reasonable; to be honest, I think so too." Zhou Long from the Barbarian Martial Arts Hall said loudly: "The Yellow Dragon Army's supplies are depleted. I suspect... there was a mutiny, and they cut off the general's head to turn to the Dynasty."

"As for taking an enemy general's head from amidst thousands of troops, hehe, none of us have seen it; we are left to believe whatever he says."

"Everyone has seen and used these little tricks, right?"

Everyone agreed in unison, all expressing their concurrence.

"If that's the case, this kid does have a background, and it's not good to go directly against him. Everyone, I have a clever plan that can not only test this kid but also advance and retreat as needed."

The Red Copper Sect leader was a woman named Hu Shengnan.

"Oh? There is such a clever plan? Please, Sect Leader Hu, tell us." Mei Rentu asked curiously.

Hu Shengnan said: "Have you all forgotten what the Martial Captain's duty is?"

"Of course, we haven't forgotten," everyone replied.

"Let's use a strategy to gauge him, and we'll naturally see through that kid, won't we?" Hu Shengnan said proudly, "As the Martial Captain, he's supposed to mediate local disputes. Let's deliberately create a dispute for him to mediate."

"By then, how capable he truly is will be obvious at a glance. If he indeed has abilities, we'll measure up and decide what to do. If not, things will go as they should."

Everyone understood. This plan was flawless, an open strategy but with no solution.

"In Sect Leader Hu's opinion, what kind of dispute should we create? It's best to make a big fuss, so he can't back down," Iron Bear chuckled.

Hu Shengnan furrowed her brow, as creating a dispute also needed to balance the interests of all parties, requiring participation from all three halls and two sects, with no one exempt.

She had a sudden inspiration, "I have it. I have a plan, but I'm afraid it will require some sacrifice from Master Miao."

Miao Xichun's heart skipped a beat, sensing a foreboding feeling, silently cursing, realizing he was being awaited here.

Hu Shengnan said, "I've heard, Master Miao, some time ago, you acquired a treasure and strange object? We can use this 'treasure and strange object' as a pretext to fabricate a dispute over it."

Miao Xichun's face looked grim. He did indeed have a 'treasure and strange object', well-hidden, but a disciple had seen it, and the rumor spread.

Since then, it has attracted covetous eyes from all sides. If not for Miao Xichun's decades of fame, having moved through the Prefecture City and earned some renown, which still persists to this day.

Otherwise, someone would have long since come to seize it.

"Master Miao, the treasure is yours if it's yours. We're just borrowing its name for a bit. We're not really stealing it, you wouldn't be so petty, would you?"

"Master Miao, we see each other often, we should focus on the bigger picture."

...

Everyone restrained the glint in their eyes, voicing their agreement.

Miao Xichun knew well their nature. If he agreed, the fake robbery would turn real. Killing two birds with one stone, they could both settle the Martial Captain and seize the treasure.

If he disagreed... it would still be difficult to escape such a situation.

At present, he could only grit his teeth and agree, taking one step at a time, "Everyone's words are right, I'm willing to contribute!"

"Hahaha, good."

"Master Miao is magnanimous."

"Master Miao not only surpasses us in martial arts but also in such magnanimity, leaving us in the dust!"

Everyone beamed with joy and showered him with compliments.

...

...

Martial Captain Hall.

"Brother Lin, I must thank you again."

Li Xian clasped his hands and smiled.

Lin Guolong stood on a low stool, tiptoeing to barely stand shoulder to shoulder with Li Xian.

More than ten constables were tidying up in the hall, moving away discarded wooden tables and chairs, uprooting weeds, and cutting vines in half.

These tasks did not require Li Xian's intervention.

"No problem, no problem, Brother Li, your hall is short on staff, I'll send over a dozen people later."

"But... the court doesn't pay those constables their salaries. How to employ them, you'll have to figure out yourself."

Lin Guolong said meaningfully.

The Great Wu is in disarray, and the treasury is exhausted. Sometimes even the County Magistrate struggles for a salary, and among the numerous constables in the yamen, only a handful who hold hereditary positions receive wages from the court.

The rest of the constables have never had a salary. Their income relies entirely on the authority of their 'official uniform', bullying the marketplace vendors.

The people's suffering is unbearable.

This gives a glimpse of the situation.

Li Xian frowned; if he wanted to employ constables, he'd have to allow them to abuse their 'Martial Captain' title to extort money everywhere. If he cherished his reputation and refused to join the corruption.

The constables, without pay, would not help him with anything. Before long, they would disperse. Unless Li Xian funded their salaries himself.

"That's right, Brother Li, this is your salary for this month." Lin Guolong took out a cloth bag.

Inside were three taels of silver.

"Now that you're an official, you should be tactful. This meager salary is not significant."

"Besides, don't you have several shops?"

Lin Guolong smiled.

He was well-versed in the ins and outs, seemingly teaching Li Xian how to slyly maneuver to gather wealth.

Li Xian thought to himself, "In these turbulent times, only this way can one live comfortably. But I refuse to become that kind of person; my heart is troubled."

He smiled, "Brother Lin, could you please assign five new constables to me?"

"New ones?" Lin Guolong patted Li Xian's shoulder, "Why do you want new ones? I'll give you ten veteran constables, they're experienced and efficient."

Li Xian knew that the veteran constables, entrenched in the streets for decades, were notorious for extortion and bribery. These constables were indeed easy to use, requiring no salary and could be commanded effortlessly, adept at pleasing their superiors.

That's exactly why he didn't want veteran constables. "No need, I still prefer new constables. Young and strong."

"Ah, you don't understand the way of being an official." Lin Guolong shook his head and sighed, "Fine, fine, but they're all newcomers who don't know the rules. I'll arrange for an old hand to guide them."

Li Xian was speechless. Lin Guolong was good-natured and treated him well, regardless of anything else. "No need, no need, I have experience in this area, Brother Lin, don't forget I am the commander of Yihetang Manor."

"Ah, that's right, well then." Lin Guolong nodded, keeping this in mind.

Once the Martial Captain Hall was cleaned up, Lin Guolong left with the constables and went straight to the police station to select young constables from the roster.

In the afternoon,

the Martial Captain Hall was extremely quiet.

Li Xian was practicing martial arts in the hall.

"Martial Captain!"

"Zhang Hou, reporting for duty."

"Wang Wu, reporting for duty."

...

Suddenly hearing voices, five constables reported on time. Their faces thin, eyes clear, having just joined not long ago, they still had some ambition left.

Li Xian put down his sword and said loudly, "Very well, you all will work under me from now on."

"There is one thing I must tell you first."

"In our Martial Captain Hall, one must not bully men and women, two must not oppress the people, three must not demand money or goods."

"As for salary... I will pay, three hundred wen coins a month. Occasionally... I will also bring some food for you."

Li Xian had calculated.

Every day before leaving the manor, he would take some hard biscuits and coarse grains from his wife's Vegetarian Restaurant. Feeding five constables would not be difficult.

By issuing salaries himself, he wouldn't have to exploit the people.

Now, in Qingning County, he had his own team and shops.