Volume One: The Wild Child Chapter Fifty-One: The Clarity of the Observer

Since its establishment, the Eastern District had always borne the mark of “the slums of Ruizhou”—a place rife with chaos and disorder, where all sorts gathered.

Yet, this tiny corner managed to spark endless debate among the aristocrats of the entire Wenyan Divine Continent. Was it poverty that bred crime? Or did crime give rise to poverty? Most nobles sided with the latter; in their eyes, fate was set by heaven, and poverty itself was the greatest sin under the sky.

Still, a handful of “eccentrics” among the nobility insisted on speaking up for the wretches, but as time passed, even the common folk of Wenyan admitted their lot, and so fewer and fewer cared to pursue justice.

All these changes had happened in barely two years.

Lately, the Eastern District had been anything but peaceful. Then again, it had never truly known peace.

A youth clad in white, hand on his blade, swaggered down the street, humming a tune, his demeanor brash and arrogant, begging for a beating—a classic case of a petty man made proud.

Yet those who scattered before him were nothing but petty thieves and rogues.

“Old man, how much for your fruit?” The elder tightened his ragged clothes and smiled at the white-clad youth. “Officer Lin, if you want some, take whatever you like. No charge.”

This showy youth was none other than Lin Changtian, assigned to govern the Eastern District by Yang Wuliu. He frowned, feigning anger. “Hey, are you looking down on me? A few coins make no difference! Zhou Tong, pay the old man three times his asking price. You cover it now; I’ll reimburse you later.”

Zhou Tong, his subordinate, managed a bitter smile and shook his head helplessly, stuffing a fat wad of bills into the elder’s hands.

This parachuted lord had been tormenting the entire Eastern District Inspectorate. Zhou Tong himself had once been the sort who ate without paying. Now, every patrol felt like charity work alongside this master. It was only the third time that week he’d had to pay upfront.

Lin Changtian waved at the old man. “Carry on. If you need anything, come to the Eastern District Inspectorate. No matter how big your troubles, we’ll take care of them.”

The old man took it for bravado and agreed with a smile.

Honestly, aside from his outlandish words, this youth was truly righteous. Compared to previous directors, the Eastern District nowadays—can you believe it?—was safe enough for night walks!

...

“Will those gangs dare to fight again tonight?” Lin Changtian bit into an apple and tossed the question to Zhou Tong.

Zhou Tong answered in haste, “Director Lin, you jest. We’ve been ‘cracking down’ for weeks. The brothers below all work diligently; none dare slack. There are far more people walking at night than before. If you stay a few months longer, this place might even earn the title of Civilized District!”

Page (1/3)

Lin Changtian’s expression betrayed nothing. He glanced at Zhou Tong and spoke slowly, “What did you just say?”

“I-I said, if you stay a few more months, this place will surely be named a Civilized District!”

“Not that. Earlier.” Lin Changtian’s tone grew stern.

Zhou Tong wiped cold sweat from his brow, uncertain what he’d said to offend. Terrified, his voice trembled. “Director, my words are clumsy…”

“That’s the one!” Lin Changtian cut him off before Zhou Tong could finish.

Seeing excitement on Lin Changtian’s face, Zhou Tong suddenly understood—his “master” had quite the appetite for authority, wanting to hear “Director” more often. “Why did you stop, Xiao Zhou?” Lin Changtian widened his eyes, staring at Zhou Tong.

Cursing inwardly, Zhou Tong resigned himself, ready to heap on the “Director” titles, when suddenly chaos erupted ahead. Lin Changtian dashed off in a flash, leaving Zhou Tong sighing and forced to follow close behind.

Lin Changtian pushed through the crowd, heading straight for the center. He tapped the shoulder of a busybody and asked, “What’s happened here? Causing such a commotion?”

Being tapped unexpectedly, the busybody was irritated and about to flare up, but seeing it was Lin Changtian, he nearly fainted from fright. “Director Lin, when did you arrive? My apologies—I nearly offended you. Let me host you at my tavern sometime!”

“Enough chatter. Get to the point.” Lin Changtian barked impatiently. People in the Eastern District loved small talk, regardless of urgency.

Seeing Lin Changtian irked, the busybody quickly smiled, pointing at a dark-clad youth in the center. “There, that kid! Dared to assault someone in public. Odd thing is, after hitting them, he didn’t flee, but called for the law enforcement here—provoking you, Director. Don’t let him off easy!”

Lin Changtian followed his finger. The black-clad youth, surrounded by guards, looked at the dead man on the ground with disdain, as if annoyed his hands were sullied.

The youth kept shouting, “Where’s Eastern District law enforcement? Clean this up! You’re wasting my time—I won’t tolerate it!”

“I am. What business do you have with me?” Lin Changtian strode over, not even meeting his gaze, his tone full of contempt.

The youth burst into laughter, pushing aside his guards, stepping up to Lin Changtian, pointing at his own face. “Are you blind? Don’t you recognize me, yet dare to act as Inspector here?”

Lin Changtian blinked, suddenly bowing to the youth with feigned servility. “I’ve only just taken office here, haven’t been here long. Perhaps you’ll tell me your name, so I may know which immortal I’ve offended?”

His words set the crowd abuzz. “Heh! Always seemed upright, thought he was a good official, but turns out he’s just someone’s lapdog!”

“Exactly. In these times, the only ones you can trust are yourself and your wife—everything else is nonsense.”

“Hey? Wait, Wang Er Gou, I saw your wife just now, clothes disheveled, coming out of Old Wang’s house.”

Wang Er Gou sneered at the speaker. “What do you know? I bought a car, a house, and even the kid’s schooling was arranged by Brother Wang. Brother Wang wanted a companion for sports, so my wife went. Maybe she worked up a sweat, but Brother Wang would never do me wrong.”

“Sure—maybe your kid was arranged by Brother Wang too.”

Amidst this hubbub—banter and insults—the message was clear: none of it concerned them.

The busybody’s face soured, and he spat on the ground, cursing under his breath: “Birds of a feather!”

The youth in black smiled, pleased with Lin Changtian’s attitude. “Not bad. My brother is Tiger Shizhen, Deputy Director of the Ruizhou Inspectorate—a figure you’ll never curry favor with in your lifetime! What are you waiting for? Clean up this filth for me. Maybe I’ll put in a good word for you with my brother someday.”

Lin Changtian kept smiling. “Ah, you’re Director Tiger’s brother! No wonder I was impertinent. What crime did this wretch commit to offend you?”

The youth’s face darkened with rage. “Can you believe it? His daughter had some looks, I just wanted to take her—use her and return her later. This blind fool blocked my way. Now, both he and his daughter died for nothing.”

Lin Changtian glanced around. He saw, at last, that the dead man clutched the corpse of a young girl in his arms. She was like a swaddled infant, but in truth, a child of about ten. Lin Changtian’s face grew utterly grim.

“Hey! Why are you spacing out? Hurry and clear this trash. Leave the rest to me.” The youth pushed Lin Changtian, gesturing at the dead man.

Long ago, while planning to recruit the northern bandits, Lin Changtian had posed a difficult question to Yu Baili.

“There must be plenty of scum among them. How do we deal with them all? Do we recruit every one?”

“Firstly, surviving in this barren northern land is hard enough, so set aside your prejudices. Rags don’t mean evil, and fine clothes aren’t proof of virtue. As for degenerates, reform is needed—use your great compassion to move their small hearts, then you’ll warm the world.”

“I don’t mind the trouble, but what about those who never change?”

Yu Baili had paused, then flicked Lin Changtian on the forehead. “You ask a lot of questions. But those earlier words are philosophies of the Central Plains. As for me…”

Yu Baili paused, then uttered a line that would enrage half the scholars under heaven: “Reform is for scholars. If you can teach, teach—run quick and save all the villains, or else when I slaughter scum, don’t let them get caught in the crossfire.”

Page (2/3)

The past cannot bear remembering; in the blink of an eye, it all passes.

Lin Changtian’s blade was swift. The buzzing flies and barking dogs still swaggered, but in an instant, the filth was cut clean.

A deadly silence fell once more. The people of Ruizhou were quick to change face—one word could set them off, but a single blade made them collectively mute.

Lin Changtian had slain the brother of his superior, then called for Zhou Tong.

Hiding among the crowd, Zhou Tong’s hair stood on end, trembling in terror; he dared not answer, truly afraid of this star who never hesitated to act.

Lin Changtian called no further, knowing Zhou Tong feared implicating himself. He turned to the last remaining guard. “I wanted to reason with him, but he couldn’t take a beating. Still, I need someone to hear me out. Go fetch Tiger Shizhen—he must stay and talk with me.”

...

The sky grew darker. Lin Changtian, eyes closed, rested, pressing hard on the blade at his waist. The crowd thickened, all eager for the drama to unfold. Lin Changtian could hardly restrain his urge to draw his blade.

When murderous thoughts surged, one must rest.

He opened his eyes, icy gaze sweeping the crowd. With a flash, his blade was drawn. Fortunately, Tiger Shizhen’s arrival prolonged the crowd’s entertainment.

Tiger Shizhen came with many men, armored and armed, a formidable force. “You killed my brother?” Tiger Shizhen sized up the youth before him, yet his tone was not overly grave. “That brat was nothing but trouble. You did well—I ought to thank you for ridding the Tiger family of a disgrace. But without him, no one will serve me, so today, you must die.”

“Finished? Then it’s my turn. There are two corpses here—you must explain.”

Tiger Shizhen nodded, looking at Lin Changtian with earnestness. “Normally, compensation would suffice, but I’ve already taken my men and wiped out their entire family. Looks like I’ll just have to burn more paper money for them.”

Lin Changtian nodded. He wanted to rest his eyes, but his wrath only grew. What was Tiger Shizhen, really? His evil deeds didn’t even match the cold indifference in the faces of the onlookers.

Those in rags may not be kind, but the laughter from the mansions reeks of rotten meat and wine.

Lin Changtian could no longer bear it. His blade flashed, murderous intent at its peak!

Page (3/3)