The next day!
Government office, inside the room.
Lin Fan paced around the wooden table, feeling a bit of anticipation.
They had promised to credit him for his merits—just what kind of reward would it be?
A wife?
No way, women only serve as distractions, leading to a loss of energy and spirit, gradually leaving one exhausted and ultimately causing kidney deficiency.
If there were kids involved, that would be even worse.
Being tied down by two people would make even running from an enemy feel constrained and uncomfortable.
Gold and silver treasure, however, would be nice—improving his meals was a necessity.
After all, he was now a third-class expert.
He just found this new world's martial arts cultivation a bit unfamiliar—as if the path he was walking now leaned more towards the martial world depicted in wuxia novels.
But this wasn't a wuxia world.
This was a world with actual Immortal Sects.
'Immortal Sects'—he had already heard this term more than once.
He believed that these were real.
Otherwise, how could demons and monsters like these exist?
"Boss, are you there?" Wang Baoliu's voice came from outside. Yesterday they cordoned off the Chen Mansion, and this morning the Jiangdu City government took over, freeing them up.
Lin Fan opened the door and found that not only was Wang Baoliu there, but the others had also come.
Wang Baoliu looked at him with admiration. "Boss, you're incredible. We heard about it—how you slew the demon last night and rescued several lords from its clutches. That's a monumental achievement!"
"How did you find out?" Lin Fan was surprised. He hadn't said a word—he wasn't the type to boast.
Actually, it was Wang Zhou who had spread the word.
While they were being treated, the doctors from the Demon Hunting Mansion were stunned, wondering what kind of terrifying demon could injure several officials from their institution so severely.
Wang Zhou, not being part of the Demon Hunting Mansion but instead the head of Jiangdu City's constables, naturally took this opportunity to boast. Though united in fighting demons, they were two different departments.
Of course, he proudly declared how capable his subordinate was.
He directly claimed, "The fact that we're alive is thanks to one of my men. If not for him stepping in, you'd all be looking at corpses right now."
There were quite a few people present.
So naturally, word got out—not that it was a problem.
"Ahem." Lin Fan cleared his throat several times, standing with his hands behind his back, chest puffed out. He said flatly, "There's no need to dwell on this. If it hadn't been for Lord Wang gravely injuring the demon in the first place, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish such a feat. Truly, Lord Wang is mighty, far more so than those officials from the Demon Hunting Mansion."
Was flattering others really Lin Fan's style?
Of course not.
But he had caught sight of Wang Zhou approaching from the distance. If he claimed to have descended like a heavenly warrior to pummel the demon and save the day—it wouldn't look good at all.
People should be humble.
Wang Zhou, arriving just in time, overheard Lin Fan's words. His impression of Lin Fan instantly shot through the roof.
This guy really is a talent.
Not arrogant despite his accomplishment, and considerate of others. No matter what, he had to nurture him well.
"What's everyone up to?" Wang Zhou pretended not to have heard anything as he walked over casually.
It was as if he were saying, "Whatever you just said, I didn't hear it. Feel free to keep praising me behind my back; I'm perfectly fine with it. This kind of atmosphere is great—keep it going."
The constables, startled by his voice, immediately stood in a straight line. "Sir, we weren't doing anything!"
Lin Fan stepped forward and asked, "Sir, why not rest and recover a little longer?"
"It's fine," Wang Zhou waved off his concern. "Moving around helps with recovery. Given your contribution, I've discussed with the officials from the Demon Hunting Mansion, and we've decided to reward you. So, what do you want?"
Wang Zhou had considered planning the reward ahead of time but found himself at a loss.
"Here comes the crucial moment."
Lin Fan was overjoyed internally. What should he ask for? You only get one shot at this; there's no next time.
But deciding what to ask for was proving difficult.
The more he thought about it, the more unsure he felt.
Suddenly.
Lin Fan glanced at his subordinates gathered around. He was new to this world, unfamiliar with the people and the environment. Yet here he was, with a bunch of people following his lead. He needed to win their loyalty now.
After all, he had a little system of his own.
As long as there were chances to hack and slash, he could sustain himself easily.
"Sir, if I may, the merit really belongs to the brothers as well. They worked hard outside the Chen Mansion last night. I believe the reward should go to them." Lin Fan's expression turned serious, sending a clear message: "I'm not the type to hog credit," while also signaling to his men, "Stick with me, and I'll make sure you eat well and live large."
As soon as he finished speaking.
His subordinates were stunned, looking at him in disbelief.
They hadn't expected their boss to give the credit to them.
Wang Baoliu felt immensely ashamed. The boss wasn't telling the truth—he had been sleeping soundly last night, even drooling. If the boss hadn't woken him up, he would've slept till morning.
As he thought about it.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Boss…"
It wasn't just Wang Baoliu. The others felt the same. They never could have imagined having such a leader. In the past, they had obeyed him because of his position. But now, after this incident, they truly admired him from the bottom of their hearts.
The boss was a good man.
As Lin Fan spoke these words, even he felt like throwing up a little.
When had he ever become capable of saying such noble things?
Too noble.
He was almost moved to tears by his own lofty and selfless character.
Instantly.
He felt as though his image had grown taller and more radiant.
"Good, very good. Those who achieve merit should be rewarded—that's only right," Wang Zhou said warmly, his mood evidently improving. Turning to the group of constables, he asked, "So, what do you want?"
Wang Baoliu couldn't help but speak up. "Sir, I'd like some silver taels. My family's home is leaking, and I want to build a proper house for my father."
"Commendable filial piety. Go to the accounts office later and collect fifty taels," Wang Zhou nodded.
"What's with all of you standing around? If the lord asks what you want as a reward, just say it. Keeping it to yourselves—do you expect him to read your minds?" Lin Fan encouraged, clearly impressed by Wang Baoliu's straightforwardness. As long as you dared to ask, Lin Fan wouldn't hesitate to back you up.
Urged by Lin Fan, the others finally worked up the courage to voice their desires.
Wang Zhou approved all their requests—they were all minor things, mostly related to silver taels.
Anything purchasable with money wasn't a problem.
Once they received their rewards, the crowd dispersed, leaving Lin Fan alone with Wang Zhou.
"Sir, may I ask about knowledge related to cultivation?" Lin Fan asked. What he wanted most now was to understand these things. Although he had easily become a third-class rookie with eleven years of cultivation, everything still felt hazy to him.
Wang Zhou explained slowly, "We practice martial arts, with levels classified as Unranked, Third-class, Second-class, First-class, Postnatal, and Innate. Without entering an Immortal Sect, one cannot learn Immortal Law and will forever be stuck at the Innate stage. However, Immortal Sects are incredibly hard to join, so there's no need to think that far ahead."
"Achieving the Innate Realm means reaching the pinnacle of the mortal world. Becoming a lord or general would no longer be a problem."
What he said wasn't a secret.
Everyone desired to join an Immortal Sect, but it was nearly impossible.
Lin Fan mused over this—it seemed the ultimate goal would still be to enter an Immortal Sect. The Innate Realm was the limit for martial artists, and advancing higher clearly depended on cultivation levels.
Judging by the current situation, reaching the Innate Realm didn't seem too difficult and likely wouldn't take long.
Seeing Lin Fan's serious expression, Wang Zhou gave him a supportive pat on the shoulder and laughed. "Don't overthink it. Just focus on the path ahead. Immortal Sects are great, but one must also recognize one's circumstances. For example, I lack a Spirit Root, so Immortal Sects are out of reach. Enjoying wealth and luxury in the mortal world isn't so bad either."
"I can't determine whether you have a Spirit Root since I don't have Immortal Sect techniques. But seeing as you aspire toward martial arts and Immortal Sects, you could visit the Demon Hunting Mansion's archives in the future."
Wang Zhou could only offer this much—he was already considering nurturing Lin Fan as a talent.
"Thank you, sir." Lin Fan clasped his hands in gratitude, feeling a surge of excitement. He happened to lack cultivation techniques, and this was his chance to acquire some and practice properly. Then, when fighting others in the future, he wouldn't have to resort to headbutting.
Just then.
A seasoned constable hurried over to report, "Sir, something's happened!"
"What is it?" Wang Zhou frowned. Was this a season of troubles? They had just battled the Black Fox Demon last night, and now there was more trouble today. Could it be related?
"A merchant caravan was massacred ten miles outside the city," the constable reported.
"Do we know who's behind it?" Wang Zhou asked.
"No survivors. It was discovered by Master Sun from the city medical hall while he was out gathering herbs. He reported it to the government upon his return. Based on his account, there were signs of a fight at the scene," the constable explained.
"I suspect there are only two possibilities: either bandits or demons. But since the cargo remains intact, it's unlikely to be bandits. Therefore, it's highly probable demons were involved." The constable pondered and shared his reasoning.
Lin Fan glanced at him skeptically—wasn't that stating the obvious?
If it wasn't demons, it had to be humans. What other choice was there?
What surprised Lin Fan more was that Wang Zhou actually praised the analysis as reasonable.
Seriously, Captain Obvious?
PS: Signed the contract—please send some tips, hehe.