Chapter 18: The Gradually Growing Ambition

‘Still not enough!’ Just a position as a hundred-house commander was far from satisfactory. When I was still a chief banner commander, I thought quietly developing myself was fine. But now that I’ve risen in rank, my perspective has changed entirely. I want the position of a thousand-house commander, and I want the position of the town magistrate as well.

“Sir?”

Lost in thought, one of my subordinates approached, carrying a cup of tea.

“Mm!” I responded and took the cup naturally.

Noticing Xiao Yongning still smiling obsequiously beside me, I waved him off, signaling he could leave.

“You go handle your tasks. I’ll watch the interrogation for a while and then head back.”

Previously, entering the Zhaoyu Prison required payment, but now that I’m a hundred-house commander, Xiao Yongning is more than eager to pay me.

“Understood! Understood!” Xiao Yongning nodded eagerly.

Inwardly, he had already concluded that I must have some strange fetish for watching others suffer.

After leaving, he even hurried his men to be more efficient, dragging out some prisoners who had already been executed for another beating. After all, since they were going to die, it made no difference if it was sooner or later.

...

“Talent Attribute System!

Host: Ye Liuyun!

Realm: Postnatal Martial Artist!

Martial Arts: Wind-Cutting Blade Technique, Cangyang Strength, Pinewood Blade Technique, Jade-Shattering Hand,

Talent Attributes: Luck (Purple), Iron Muscle and Steel Bone (Purple), Blade Technique Talent (Blue), Photographic Memory (Blue), Sword Technique Talent (Green), Extreme Yang Body (Purple), Aroma Recognition of Women (Green).”

“Iron Muscle and Steel Bone (Purple): Entire body as tough as reinforced steel, immense strength.”

Though all these attributes relate to physical constitution and lack variety, the continuous accumulation has successfully evolved the original blue-quality ‘Robust Strength’ attribute into the purple-quality ‘Iron Muscle and Steel Bone’ attribute.

“The third purple attribute unlocked!”

After leaving Zhaoyu Prison, a broad smile spread across my face as I clenched my fist.

The solid wrist made my grin grow increasingly unrestrained.

Of course, the price for upgrading to a purple attribute was that nearly all the prisoners in Zhaoyu Prison had been killed off. To gather more victims, I’d have to wait a while for new prisoners to be brought in.

But this didn’t dampen my spirits at all; I even hummed a little tune as I left.

“As expected!”

Watching my departing figure, Xiao Yongning nodded knowingly.

Though he didn’t understand why I enjoyed watching others suffer, it didn’t matter—if that’s what I liked, he would cater to it.

“From now on, whenever Commander Ye arrives, be quicker during executions, understood?”

“Understood!”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

...

Back after returning, I saw Shi Sheng sitting on the stone steps, his face troubled.

Upon seeing me, his expression darkened.

“Hmph!”

When advancing in cultivation, he was cheerful, but knowing he would become my subordinate made him sour.

Originally, he was quite happy to break through to the first-class martial artist realm today, but learning he would be reassigned under me wiped away any joy.

“Sir!”

Si Nan, standing nearby, hurried over with a beaming smile when he saw me.

He waved his hand, then glanced at Shi Sheng.

“What’s wrong? Not happy to be my subordinate?”

“Hmph, as long as you don’t worry I’ll cause you trouble later.”

Shi Sheng couldn’t change the imperial guard’s transfer orders, but he wouldn’t change his temperament just because of who he served under. If he saw a spoiled son of a noble misbehaving in public, he’d arrest him.

Whether this would implicate me was of no concern to him.

“Commander Shi, don’t be ungrateful. If it weren’t for me, no one would want you.”

In the imperial guards, lacking backing made survival difficult.

“Hmph!”

Shi Sheng gave Si Nan a cold glance and turned away, refusing to acknowledge him.

“You!”

Si Nan was somewhat displeased, wanting to strike but restrained by his lack of strength.

“I don’t intend to change your personality,” I said, hands behind my back, smiling faintly at Shi Sheng.

“If there were no people like you in the imperial guards, I’d think the entire organization was beyond saving.”

If it were nothing but petty sycophants, it would be truly sickening. Having someone like Shi Sheng, though, made things more interesting.

I indeed planned to bide my time and develop quietly, but some things require a fight—otherwise, you won’t even get the chance to grow.

“You?”

My words softened Shi Sheng’s temper considerably.

Frowning at me, he thought that though I might have changed, my nature surely remained the same—but now it seemed as if I were a different person.

“All right! It’s getting late, let’s call roll and finish for the day!”

“Finish for the day?”

Not only Shi Sheng, but even Si Nan looked at me curiously.

“Ahem, that means going home!”

I was so used to the phrase that it slipped out naturally.

Si Nan nodded in agreement without much thought.

As for Shi Sheng, he said bluntly:

“If you’re going back, then go. I’m going to patrol the streets!”

Shi Sheng remained as proactive as ever in this regard and was about to leave.

“Sir, won’t Shi Sheng’s attitude offend some nobles again?”

Shi Sheng’s indiscriminate arrests often antagonized noble sons.

“So what? I’m now a hundred-house commander of the imperial guards. As long as I don’t leave the capital, what harm can noble sons do to me?”

They wouldn’t dare lay hands on me within the capital.

Besides, if they wanted revenge, they’d first target my convenient father-in-law.

“Understood!”

With me saying so, Si Nan had nothing more to argue.

...

Back home, I continued my cultivation as usual.

Having perfected the Pinewood Blade Technique, next were the Jade-Shattering Hand and Cangyang Strength.

Thanks to the Iron Muscle and Steel Bone talent attribute, training Jade-Shattering Hand went smoothly.

As for Cangyang Strength, even with the Extreme Yang Body, it had to be cultivated slowly—there was no rushing it.

“Master, it’s time for dinner!”

Soaking in the medicinal bath and resting with eyes closed, I heard Xing’er’s voice and slowly opened my eyes.

“How long have I been asleep?”

I had dozed off unknowingly.

“Only half an hour, Master. If you want to rest, have dinner first, then rest.”

“All right!”

I rose from the medicinal bath.

Seeing Xing’er still there, I hesitated for a moment, still slightly groggy.

“Ahem, why don’t you go out first?”

“It’s fine, Master!”

Xing’er blushed and lowered her head.

“I’ll help you dry off, Master.”

...