52: Chapter 51 Joining the Governnt Office 52: Chapter 51 Joining the Governnt Office A month had passed, and as expected, the Sword Order ca looking for him.
Hou Niao had thought perhaps the higher-ups would forget about him and let him happily spend his growth period in Jin City, but he was too naive—no newcor could enjoy free resource supply.
In the early morning, after the dawn class, a refreshed Hou Niao arrived early at the South City Prefecture Office to begin his first day as a yan runner.
The Prefecture Office, under the command of Jin City’s Mu Shuai governnt, handled civil disputes and was essentially Anhe Country’s administrative office in various cities.
However, in Shan Country, such offices were jointly presided over by both the Quanzhen Sect and mortals, with the sect playing a leading role.
Being a state city with a population nearing a million, it was divided into four sub-offices—southeast, northwest, each managing its own section, and reporting directly to the Mu Shuai’s office for decisions.
Of course, the mundane troubles involving mortals hardly ever reached the Mu Shuai’s headquarters, and on the rare occasion they did, it often resulted in scoldings for failing to differentiate between major and minor issues.
The head officer was an old fasting practitioner whose age was not small, and with no hope for advancing to the Upper Realm, he was assigned this position to live out his days, a welfare asure by the Quanzhen Sect for those elderly and debilitated mbers who lacked the strength to ascend the ranks.
Many such individuals filled the governnt posts throughout Jin City.
After all, crossing the Tongxuan was a significant barrier, and beyond it was a whole new world.
In the South City office, there were nurous officials like that: secretaries, archivists, inspectors, commanders, jail managers, and so on.
Hou Niao was assigned to a team under an inspector, shouldering water and fire sticks during court sessions, and patrolling the streets outside of them…
“Hou Niao, twenty-three years old, a citizen of Anhe Country, at the Energy Induction Realm… Hmm, you know all the rules?”
Hou Niao responded respectfully, “I understand them all and will not cause any troubles for my superior.”
The inspector was a middle-aged man surnad Huang, in the latter stages of the Essence Building Realm.
Having been injured by a demon in battle, which damaged his foundation, he wound up here passing the ti—a common occurrence among low-rank cultivators who lacked Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
With ti, he grew indifferent; life had to continue, and there were family and friends to care for.
Those who beca despondent and gave up, or who chose death over surrender, were the minority.
Most cultivators would choose to accept their fate.
Here, the posts of yan runners were as unchanging as iron camps with the constant flow of new recruits.
Many disciples in the Energy Induction Realm, who were left in Jin City, were assigned to various offices to familiarize themselves with all kinds of secular environnts.
This was not unique to the Quanzhen Sect; many schools integrated cultivation with worldly paths, and this church-state union was a trend in the developnt of cultivation on the continent.
Perhaps one day, cultivation powers would completely withdraw from the secular world, but that day was not today.
He treated these young cultivators with equal fairness, “Shall I be blunt?
You are different from the other mortal yan runners here; you’re just passing through.
Once your realm advances, you’ll naturally leave, so there’s no point in offending you by treating you as actual runners.
Observe, listen, think more—as for doing the work, it’s up to you.
I won’t insist; but you must behave according to the conduct of Energy Induction disciples.
I might not be able to deal with you, but the Capital Commandant can, and I do not wish it to escalate to that.”
Hou Niao gave a wry smile.
This inspector sure was straightforward, probably having seen through everything after a long tenure here.
He, of course, wouldn’t offend these runners because they had a future, while he did not.
Inspector Huang pointed to a register on the table, “The regular duty roster is all in there.
It’s not too much; it won’t interfere with your cultivation ti.
Take a look yourself; ask more if you don’t understand, and don’t make decisions on your own.
There are so rules that can’t be written down.
For instance, our office does reap so benefits during regular operations.
Those mundane treasures are not for you to share, but if it involves Cultivation items, it’s none of the mortal runners’ business.”
Hou Niao nodded, “That seems fair.”
“There are many factions within the yan, but since you are assigned under , you cannot act on others’ orders!
If you genuinely have difficulties, just speak up; I am not unreasonable.”
“That’s the rule.”
“I cannot decide your future, but I can decide on your evaluation, and that might affect where you get assigned later.
There is quite a difference in the possibilities.”
“I hope for senior brother’s guidance in the future.”
…Hou Niao began his career as a yan runner.
Under Inspector Huang, there were over fifty runners, most of whom were mortals, divided into four teams—A, B, C, D—with only team A consisting of five Energy Induction disciples, now six including him.
The other mortal runners patrolled the streets daily, but these six were spared the harsh weather, with a dedicated Detention Room to rest in; a cup of tea, a sword, and a Cultivation Technique book to read for half the day—that’s how they passed ti.
One might say that this cultivation system was beneficial, but over ti, it had beco what it was.
One couldn’t expect these people to genuinely apprehend thieves or settle disputes on the streets and collect protection fees; they were, after all, cultivators who still cared for their face.
For them, the main task was to handle ergencies or lead missions with potential benefits.
If the matter involved cultivators, it fell squarely on their shoulders; mortal runners wouldn’t cut it.
In the Detention Room, five young runners occupied different spots, none of them batting an eyelid as he entered.
These people were very young, seemingly none over eighteen, which made Hou Niao realize the composition of the Quanzhen Sect’s Energy Induction disciples.
When recruiting externally, the Quanzhen Sect generally did not accept Energy Induction cultivators—Essence Building Realm was the baseline, except for special cases.
The reason there were so many young Energy Induction disciples was that they weren’t recruited from outside but were people from within.
All of them were second or third-generation cultivators with family lineage in the Quanzhen Sect, nurtured from a young age.
So much so that even at the Pulse stage, they were already core mbers of the sect, the most inner circle of the Quanzhen Sect, which led to divisions by faction, such as newcors versus locals.
Newcors to the sect could beco locals over ti, and locals without ambition might degrade to newcors across generations, blurring the distinctions.
Hou Niao was a newcor, but if he had a son who could also cultivate, the son would beco a local, provided he didn’t defect.
The Quanzhen Sect’s vocational system was largely designed for these hogrown disciples born with ample resources.
The system deliberately created such opportunities for them to learn about worldly conduct, preventing arrogance and eventual self-harm.
The intention was good, but how it played out in practice was anyone’s guess.
Growth always ca at a cost, and these people too would have their days of being sent abroad.
Those who returned alive and with improved realms would have learned their lessons; the rest would not make it back.
Hou Niao felt that in so aspects, even a Demon Sect like the Quanzhen had valuable insights, which was no wonder they had endured for thousands of years.
Seeing that no one paid him any mind, he didn’t bother speaking and simply found a spot to sit and brewed himself a cup of tea…
Autumn was approaching, and the future remained engulfed in chaos.
…Early fa in the civil service, no worries as a traveler.
Leaving the vermilion palace at spring’s end, arriving at Jin City amidst blooming flowers.
Snow lts, jade waters rise, the sun ascends above the sword gates bright.
Imagining the return to old trees, the autumn cicadas have already begun their songs.
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