Chapter 27: The Path of the Detective?

"This trip to Green Mountain City will take about half a day. Once we finish your business in the city, we'll stay overnight."

"We'll set off tomorrow for another Fire Crystal Rock mine about eighty miles away."

"The Ore Competition will be held there."

Inside the carriage, Supervisor Wu said with his eyes slightly closed, his tone indifferent.

"Ore Competition?"

Yang Ling's expression shifted: "Supervisor Wu, regarding the specifics of this Ore Competition, I'm afraid I don't have a clear understanding..."

"You'll know when we get there."

After saying this, Supervisor Wu began feigning sleep and stopped talking.

Bored and unable to practice his skills in front of him, Yang Ling opened the Divine Realm ranking list to take a look.

"Huh, there are new changes again."

[Divine Realm Level Ranking]

[001: Bitter Awareness Temple, Hui Wu, Level 13, Profession: Martial Monk]

[002: Star Observation Academy, Luo Kai, Level 13, Profession: Child Scholar]

[003: Valley of the Dead, Qi Kai, Level 13, Profession: Medical Apprentice]

[004: Great Yan Sword Sect, Fang Yun, Level 12, Profession: Swordsman]

[005: Heaven's Blade Sect, Ning Xizhe, Level 12, Profession: Blade Guard]

[006: Ghost King Stronghold, Lin Dongdong, Level 12, Profession: Bandit]

[007: ???]

In just over ten days, three new names had been added to the Divine Realm Level Ranking.

"Swordsman, Blade Guard, Bandit... plus Martial Monk, Child Scholar, Medical Apprentice. That makes six known advancement directions now."

"Swordsman... that's a really good profession, but the advancement conditions probably aren't that simple.

I wonder if the Mountain and River Sect has any advancement opportunities in that direction."

A trace of envy arose in Yang Ling's heart.

Unconsciously, two hours passed.

The carriage finally rumbled its way into Green Mountain City.

This wasn't Yang Ling's first time here.

When he first entered the game, he was born in Green Mountain City.

That very day, because he lacked an identity, he was classified as a vagrant and subsequently assigned by the government office to the Fire Crystal Rock mine.

"The Mountain and River Sect's relationship with the Green Mountain City Government Office should be quite good. This must be a core operating area for the Mountain and River Sect."

Thinking this, the carriage stopped in front of the government office.

"Go ahead, I'll wait here."

Supervisor Wu didn't open his eyes.

"Then I'll go first."

Yang Ling immediately got off the carriage.

Directly in front of him was the imposing and magnificent entrance to the government office.

"Finally going to have an identity."

With a sigh in his heart, Yang Ling walked towards the office.

"What do you want?"

A gatekeeper constable at the entrance sized Yang Ling up and down.

If not for the relatively decent carriage, he wouldn't have even let Yang Ling get this close.

"I am Yang Ling, here for household registration."

Yang Ling took out that jade slip.

The other party understood the implication and nodded:

"From the Fire Crystal Rock mine? Go on in."

The process went very smoothly. Yang Ling spent half an hour getting everything done.

When he came out, Supervisor Wu had already gotten off the carriage and was chatting with Chief Constable Lin beside the vehicle.

Yang Ling tactfully waited at a distance.

"That kid? He looks somewhat familiar."

Chief Constable Lin glanced at Yang Ling.

Supervisor Wu smiled: "He has a good deal of brute strength, a skilled hand at my mine. I'm taking him to another Mountain and River Sect Fire Crystal Rock mine for the Ore Competition this time."

"Oh."

Chief Constable Lin nodded, no longer paying attention to Yang Ling, and said casually:

"You previously asked me to help free up a position for your brother-in-law.

Given the current situation... although the person is gone, I've already cleared the spot. That money isn't refundable.

After all, I also have to make arrangements up and down the chain."

Supervisor Wu's expression changed slightly, then he smiled:

"No problem, no problem. That kid was just unlucky, can't blame anyone else."

"Oh? Were they talking about Fifth Brother? Supervisor Wu originally planned to arrange for him to become a constable?"

Yang Ling's mind stirred.

The next second, he suddenly thought of something!

"Constable? Does constable count as an advancement path?"

Yang Ling's thoughts immediately became active.

If constable also counted as an advancement path, then he could complete his advancement right here in Green Mountain City and continue leveling up!

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Currently, he had no way to join a sect, so advancement paths within sects were out of the question.

Other advancement paths... he couldn't think of any offhand.

But this constable path seemed worth a try!

By then, Supervisor Wu had finished his chat with Chief Constable Lin.

He took Yang Ling along and bid farewell to leave.

After settling in at an inn, Supervisor Wu went out.

Before leaving, he instructed Yang Ling not to wander off randomly. It was fine to go out for a stroll, but don't come back too late.

Yang Ling didn't know where he was going, nor did he want to know. As soon as Supervisor Wu left, he asked the inn's waiter about Chief Constable Lin's residence.

After finding the place, Yang Ling patiently waited.

As dusk approached.

Chief Constable Lin finally appeared at the street corner.

Yang Ling stepped forward swiftly: "Chief Constable Lin."

"Who!"

Chief Constable Lin shouted warily. Seeing it was Yang Ling, a flicker of suspicion and uncertainty appeared in his eyes, then his face darkened:

"What do you want with me?"

"Chief Constable Lin, I am Yang Ling. I have already registered my household in Green Mountain City."

Yang Ling said respectfully:

"I wish to find a livelihood for myself, so that in the future I can marry and raise a family here."

"Looking for a livelihood brings you to me?"

Chief Constable Lin said irritably: "I thought it was some petty thief coming for revenge."

After a pause, his expression shifted:

"You overheard my conversation with Wu Que? You want to fill that unlucky brother-in-law of his's vacancy?"

"Exactly."

Yang Ling took out ten taels of silver and respectfully handed them over.

Chief Constable Lin glanced at it, his eyes gradually turning cold, showing no intention of accepting:

"What kind of person do you take me for?"

"You, a mere vagrant by origin, bought your registration by mining, and now you want to be a constable?"

"Are you daydreaming, do you know that?"

"What qualifies you? Are you even worthy?"

Yang Ling wasn't angered. He knew this was a normal reaction from the other party.

He said calmly: "I am not an ordinary miner."

"Oh?"

Chief Constable Lin's expression shifted: "What do you mean?"

"Brother Xu Qing, a disciple of the Mountain and River Sect, has already agreed to let me manage the Vermilion Gold Ore mine under the Mountain and River Sect's jurisdiction."

Yang Ling said without changing his expression: "I am to take up the post soon. This matter was supposed to be kept low-key, so Supervisor Wu is unaware."

"Xu Qing? Him..."

Chief Constable Lin's expression changed slightly:

"The Mountain and River Sect only has one Vermilion Gold Ore mine, also their most profitable venture... If handed over to Xu Qing, that makes some sense, but..."

He eyed Yang Ling suspiciously:

"Why would Xu Qing take a liking to you? To manage a mine vein, especially a Vermilion Gold Ore mine, one would at least need to be a Martial Artist..."

As he spoke, he suddenly reached out to grab Yang Ling.

Yang Ling's eyes changed sharply, easily blocking the move.

Chief Constable Lin's attributes were quite average, similar to Wu Que's.

"So you are a Martial Artist."

Chief Constable Lin immediately understood, then his tone changed completely from before, becoming gentle:

"Little Brother Yang, I was somewhat rude just now. Let's get acquainted properly."

"I am Yang Ling, I am..."

"No, not that line."

Chief Constable Lin said seriously.

Yang Ling's expression shifted, and he immediately handed the silver to Chief Constable Lin.

Chief Constable Lin took it smoothly, opened it for a look, and hefted its weight.

10 taels!

He nodded with satisfaction:

"Starting today, you are a constable of Green Mountain City.

However, you still have to attend the Ore Competition. Come find me at the government office after the competition ends."

Joy surged in Yang Ling's heart. He immediately clasped his fists and bowed:

"Thank you, Boss, for your promotion."

Boss?

A faint smile appeared in Chief Constable Lin's eyes. He nodded slightly:

"You have prospects, brother. Go on back now."

Yang Ling immediately bid farewell and left.

Chief Constable Lin watched Yang Ling's retreating figure and murmured softly to himself:

"Xu Qing, Butcher of Prisoners, Bitter Awareness Temple, Buddhist scriptures, Yang Ling..."

"Forget it, this matter is concluded. What does it have to do with me?"

He shook his head and walked towards his home.