Chapter 106: Ascension

Upon returning, Zhuang Jin found Chen Yun and explained what had transpired.

"I can handle this matter, Yun-niang. Rest easy and wait for my return," he said, giving her a brief reassurance before heading straight to find his immediate superior, District Guardian Luan Zhenyun.

...

"Lord Luan, the situation is as I have described." Zhuang Jin knew that Luan Zhenyun, a man of advanced age who now only sought to coast through his remaining days, would be loath to invite trouble. Coming to him with such a grave matter would surely be unwelcome.

Therefore, after detailing the events, he added three points: "I was fortunate enough to break through to the Seventh Meridian yesterday. Miao Lun was your subordinate. This matter is critical; I must head to the Shen family headquarters immediately!"

The first point established his own weight.

The second point highlighted that since Miao Lun was his subordinate, whether he acted voluntarily or was dragged in, he was already implicated. There was a deeper implication as well: with Miao Lun meeting his end under his command, could he be certain Miao Lun's brother wouldn't vent his rage upon him? Could he truly hide even if he wanted to?

The third point signaled his stance: regardless of whether Luan joined him, he would go to the Shen headquarters. However, if the higher-ups conducted an audit and found that such a significant incident had occurred without the involvement of his immediate superior, they might deem it a dereliction of duty, and he would face the consequences.

Luan Zhenyun narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. Initially, he had been extremely displeased by Zhuang Jin’s arrival and his knack for causing trouble. But now that the situation had escalated, it was no longer a matter of personal preference; it was a matter of calculating how to respond in a way that would be most advantageous to himself.

After hearing Zhuang Jin’s three points, the stakes became clear. He knew he could not escape and would inevitably be drawn in. He felt a growing inclination to cooperate, but he had to see if this potential ally was worth the gamble.

"What do you believe is most important right now?" Luan Zhenyun asked.

Zhuang Jin knew this was a test. Without hesitation, he replied, "Speed—to define the nature of this incident before Miao Lun’s brother, Miao Shao, has a chance to react!"

This affair was akin to a coup; it relied on speed. He had to deny Miao Lun’s brother any opportunity to mobilize his connections, ideally cementing the verdict before the man even knew what had happened.

Luan Zhenyun nodded slightly, threw on his coat, and rose abruptly. "Let’s go to the Enforcement Division!"

In his younger days, he had been a man of action. Having assessed and approved of Zhuang Jin, he made his decision.

Just as Zhuang Jin had said, Miao Lun was his subordinate. Now that he was dead, his brother Miao Shao would inevitably harbor resentment. They were grasshoppers tied to the same string; he had to stand with Zhuang Jin. Besides, since the incident had already occurred, he was forced into the fray anyway. He might as well gain some value from it and secure a favor from Zhuang Jin.

Zhuang Jin stood up and cupped his hands. "Thank you, my lord. It is I who has implicated you in this... I shall keep this kindness in my heart."

"Enough, you’ve said all the pleasantries already!" Luan Zhenyun laughed, then paused. "I am much older than you. If you don't mind, call me Elder Brother Luan!"

...

As the two walked out, they found Chen Yun waiting. "Husband, I also know some people at the headquarters. Perhaps I can be of help."

*It is said that husbands and wives are like birds in the same forest—when disaster strikes, they fly their separate ways. Yet, who could have known that in this world, there are also those who stand by each other through thick and thin, never abandoning one another... With a wife such as this, what more could a man ask for?*

Zhuang Jin was moved, but he knew this was not the time for sentiment. He agreed, gave some instructions to Qian Wende and the others, and then, with the Black Goat and Miao Lun’s corpse as evidence, he took Chen Yun by the hand and leaped away with great speed.

...

Upon reaching the Shen family headquarters, Chen Yun went to find acquaintances who might be of help, while Zhuang Jin and Luan Zhenyun headed straight for the Enforcement Division.

They found the duty officer, Department Head Zhao Bin, and explained the situation. Zhao Bin listened with a lukewarm attitude and nodded. "Someone, go and invite Guardian Miao Shao to come here!"

Zhuang Jin and Luan Zhenyun exchanged glances, sensing something was wrong. Their plan had relied on speed—to define the matter before Miao Shao could react. By sending someone to notify him, Zhao Bin had shattered their plan.

"Department Head Zhao, this isn't right. Shouldn't we first summon the coroner to examine the body and verify the evidence to establish the facts of the case?" Luan Zhenyun interjected.

Zhuang Jin remained silent, his brows knit. He had a faint feeling that Zhao Bin held a grudge against him and was intentionally making things difficult.

"In such matters, one cannot listen to only one side of the story. As for verifying evidence and establishing facts, it will not be too late once the relatives of the parties involved have arrived. This is only proper," Zhao Bin replied formulaically, his tone implying that Zhuang Jin was overstepping his bounds.

...

In truth, if Zhuang Jin and Luan Zhenyun hadn't been Seventh-Meridian experts like himself, Zhao Bin wouldn't have just implied it—he would have said it outright.

Zhuang Jin’s intuition was correct: Zhao Bin was playing favorites. He had ties to Miao Lun’s brother and was on speaking terms with him. Subconsciously, he also harbored jealousy toward a talent like Zhuang Jin.

However, there was a deeper reason: Zhuang Jin’s status. As an externally recruited martial student, he was different from the connections recommended by the established families. In the past, recruits like Zhuang Jin were low-level and manageable, but now that the strongest among them had reached the Seventh Meridian, it threatened the interests of the established elite. Their allegiances were naturally skewed toward Miao Shao.

Beyond these factors, there was one more, seemingly trivial yet deeply influential reason. Zhao Bin’s most promising and beloved son, who had broken through to the Fourth Meridian at twenty-one, had gone to the northern part of the city last month to scavenge for battle merits. He had been killed by the Medicine King Gang. The gang were the true murderers, and Zhao Bin could do nothing against them. Unable to vent his rage, he had transferred his resentment onto the person who had profited the month before and left a mess behind: Zhuang Jin.

One cannot reason with a father who has lost his son and has become paranoid and bitter. Human kindness is hard to come by and has its limits, but malice is easy and boundless.

"This..." Luan Zhenyun was left speechless. Zhao Bin’s actions were strictly by the book, and he couldn't find fault with the procedure.

Seeing the state of affairs, Zhuang Jin didn't dwell on it. He stood up and asked Luan Zhenyun to guard the two pieces of evidence while he went out.

"Guardian Zhuang, where are you going? As a person involved in the case, you cannot leave at this time."

"Cannot leave? I am the victim, not a suspect. Department Head Zhao refuses to verify the evidence and is interfering with me—what kind of logic is that?" Zhuang Jin, realizing the man was not acting in good faith, did not bother with politeness. "As for where I am going, I don't mind telling you: I am going to register for promotion to Guard rank. Given your attitude, Department Head Zhao, I highly suspect whether this case can be handled impartially. Once I have been promoted, I will exercise my rights to request a joint review of this case by several Enforcement Department heads."

Since he could not secure Zhao Bin’s support, he stopped harboring illusions and displayed his edge, showing the man he was not a soft target to be kneaded at will.

After saying this, he spoke clearly to Luan Zhenyun: "Lord Luan, please watch over the evidence, lest some small-minded person tampers with it."

With that, he didn't even glance at Zhao Bin and walked straight out.

"You..."

Since becoming a Department Head, Zhao Bin had rarely been treated with such disrespect. He was furious, but he was forced to suppress it. Just as he had used regulations to pressure them, Zhuang Jin was using the same rules to request a joint review. Furthermore, with the Medicine King Gang posing a major threat, the Shen family was eager for people to promote—he could not, and dared not, stop him.

"Heh!" Zhao Bin watched Zhuang Jin’s retreating back with a gloomy expression. *Requesting a joint review? He should see whose territory this is!*

If he had initially been merely playing favorites, the confrontation had now escalated. He decided he would pull some strings to teach this young man a lesson.

...

Zhuang Jin went straight to apply for the assessment. Breaking through to the Seventh Meridian did not automatically grant him status; he was still technically a servant. Registering as a Guard would grant him significant leverage.

*There is also Yue Song at the General Affairs Department; perhaps I can work something out there... As for Xing Yan, he may not be at the workshop, but it never hurts to be prepared.*

He had already instructed Qian Wende to seek help from Xing Yan at the Dongqiao Dock. Even when hunting a rabbit, a lion uses all its strength. He had done everything in his power to unite those he could.

He passed the test with the "Glazed Mirror Puppet" and went to the General Affairs Department to register for his new badge.

Yue Song was stunned when he saw the certificate. "Brother Zhuang, you... you really are at the Seventh Meridian?"

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly. "Just lucky."

Yue Song was speechless. *Lucky? Didn't you say that last time too? When will it be my turn to be lucky?*

He quickly collected himself and busied himself with replacing the badge, explaining the benefits of being a First-Stripe Guard. The monthly stipend increased, as did the standards for clothing, food, housing, and travel. Most significantly, he was now entitled to a personal servant and a maid, expenses covered by the Shen family.

Zhuang Jin understood that this was the Shen family’s official recognition—he had entered the privileged class. He realized the essence of this world: in a world of supernatural power, status and power were manifestations of one's own strength. As he climbed the martial path, he would eventually jump out of the chessboard and become the one playing the game.

He pushed these thoughts aside and asked, "Department Head Yue, do you have any connections here? Can you help me with this matter?"

If he were still at the Sixth Meridian, Yue Song might have avoided him, but a Seventh-Meridian Guard was a different matter. He had waited until he had the status to make his request—people would only invest in someone they believed in.

*This Zhuang Jin is so young and already at the Seventh Meridian... his potential is limitless. And he is known for his gratitude—he never forgets those who have helped him.*

Yue Song gritted his teeth. "I have some connections with Zou Qingfeng, the personal attendant to the Eighth Young Master. He is at the Sixth Meridian, and I can act as a go-between... You are lucky, Brother Zhuang, there is a certain opportunity involved in this..."

A personal attendant was a special position—a trusted aide who represented the master's face. Even a Sixth-Meridian attendant was someone most Seventh-Meridian Guards would treat with respect.

"If you are willing to offer that Skin-Refining completion-level beast treasure, this matter should be easy to resolve..."