Su Yu followed the directions, passing through a somewhat noisy public office hallway before finally stopping in front of a heavy, black wooden door.

The door plate bore two large, gilded characters: Jiaomu!

This Jiaomu Squad was the name of the squad he was in charge of.

He didn’t knock, simply pushing the door open and walking in.

CREAK!

As the door swung open, three gazes inside the room instantly converged on him.

"Oh! You must be Lord Su!" A slim, middle-aged man in a standard-issue uniform reacted with incredible speed. His face was immediately wreathed in a perfectly judged smile as he bowed extremely low.

"I am Song Mirror. I have long admired your prestigious name! Seeing you today, you truly are heroic and imposing, a dragon among men!"

Spurred on by his lead, a dark-faced, tower-like giant of a man next to him also reacted. He clumsily cupped his fist, his voice booming like a great bell, "I’m Zhao Tie! Me too! I’ve long admired your great name!"

Su Yu gave a slight nod, his gaze not lingering, but passing over the two men to land on the person by the window.

It was a young man dressed in brocade robes with a Jade Pendant hanging from his waist, the only one in the room not wearing the squad uniform. He was leaning lazily against the windowsill, tossing a silver coin in his hand. Only when he saw Su Yu looking at him did he slowly straighten up and give a perfunctory cupped-fist salute.

"You’re Lord Su, right? I’m Zhu Rui, from the Zhu Family. My older brother is a Centurion in the Black Stone Army."

His tone was arrogant; he hadn’t just stated his family name, but had also flaunted his backing.

Seeing this man’s reaction, a trace of surprise flashed across Su Yu’s face.

’Is this guy really that stupid, or is he just pretending? Putting on airs in front of his new superior... Is he afraid I *won’t* make an example of him?’

The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

Song Mirror’s eyes darted about. He quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, picking up the Zisha Clay Teapot. "Sir, please, have a seat. Have some hot tea to drive away the chill."

His expression calm, Su Yu walked directly to the head seat and sat down.

This office was quite spacious. Though its furnishings weren’t luxurious, it exuded the grim, spartan air of a military barracks.

The long desk before him was crafted from a single piece of black ironwood, its surface dark, glossy, and as hard as iron.

On the wall hung a massive survey map of the Outer City. It wasn’t drawn on paper, but on the tanned hide of some Demon Beast, which gave off a faint, oily sheen. Various key areas were circled in Cinnabar.

In the corner, a fist-sized Fire Sun Stone inside a Suanni Swallowing Mouth Bronze Furnace radiated heat, dispelling the damp chill of winter.

"The environment isn’t bad." Su Yu’s fingers began to tap a steady rhythm on the iron-hard surface of the desk.

TAP. TAP. TAP...

He didn’t speak, and no one else in the room dared to. The dull tapping sounded like a hammer, striking their hearts with every beat.

After a long moment, Su Yu finally took a sip of tea and said lightly, "Since Zhu Rui has announced his family background, you two may as well do the same."

Song Mirror let out a breath of relief and quickly straightened his back. "Reporting to you, sir, I am Song Mirror. I’ve been active in the city for over a decade, and I come from the Broken Mountain Pavilion."

’Broken Mountain Pavilion?’

Su Yu’s interest was piqued. That was the largest weapons dealer in the Outer City, and a considerable power.

’The position of Commander of the Golden Scale Law Enforcement Team was said to have been taken by someone from the Broken Mountain Pavilion. I wonder why it later went to Commander Li instead.’

"Sir, I’m from Niu Family Village outside the city. I’m eighteen this year, just got selected through the Martial Examination," Zhao Tie said in his simple, honest voice.

Su Yu nodded.

’A wily veteran, a simple, strapping man, and a pampered brat who I can’t tell is genuine or just pretending.’

His gaze turned to Zhu Rui once more.

Zhu Rui, who had been ignored for a while, was already impatient. Now, feeling Su Yu’s superior gaze on him, a fire of anger ignited in his heart.

His face twitched, and he said in a sarcastic tone, "Lord Su, as I just said, I am from the Zhu Family. In Black Stone City, there shouldn’t be anyone who doesn’t know of the Zhu Family, right?"

Su Yu smiled.

’So he’s a genuinely stupid, pampered young master.’

’The Zhu Family? The great family of the Outer City second only to the Liu Family? So what?’

’This is the Law Enforcement Team, a coercive institution jointly established by the Black Stone Army and the three great families. Forget the Zhu Family; even someone from the Liu Family would have to follow the rules here.’

’Besides, I’m his direct superior. Within the rules, I could easily make things difficult for him, and no one would be able to say a word.’

’To have such an idiot assigned to my squad... I have to say, the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall really has made a lot of trouble for me.’

’Having someone like him on the team will make things difficult in the future.’

Su Yu leaned back, his tone flat but filled with an imposing authority. "In my Jiaomu Team, there are only team members. There are no so-called Zhu Family or any other great families. Everything is done according to the rules of the Law Enforcement Team!"

"If anyone has a problem with that, or won’t follow orders..." Su Yu pointed at the door. "The door is right there. You can get the hell out now."

"You!"

Zhu Rui’s face instantly flushed red. He clenched his fists tightly, fury blazing in his eyes.

He hadn’t expected this country bumpkin, Su Yu, to be so unyielding, not giving him any face at all!

But in the end, he didn’t dare to lash out. If he were sent home on his very first day in the Law Enforcement Team, he would become a laughingstock in his family.

He gritted his teeth and forced himself to endure it.

Su Yu withdrew his gaze. Having put the pampered dandy in his place, he rose and walked to the beast-hide map. He pressed his finger down hard on a certain spot, leaving a red mark. "Qingxi Town!"

"This is the Jiaomu Squad’s first mission. Within three months, we are to completely pacify the chaos there and restore order to the trade routes!"

"Song Mirror, Zhao Tie, Zhu Rui, your task for today is to gather intelligence. Report back here tomorrow at 5:00 AM!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Dismissed."

Su Yu waved his hand and turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, he paused, turned back, and called out, "Zhu Rui!"

"Remember to wear your uniform tomorrow. If you don’t, don’t bother coming!"

With that, he pushed the door open and left, leaving a deathly silence in the room.

Behind him, Zhu Rui stared fixedly at the swinging door, his face ashen, the venom in his eyes practically overflowing.

’Damned country bumpkin! Just a dog of a slave selected through the Martial Examination who got lucky and landed a minor post. Does he really think he’s somebody now?’

’How dare he act so presumptuously against my Zhu Family!’

’He had thought that by revealing his status as a young master of the Zhu Family, backed by his brother, a Centurion in the Black Stone Army, Su Yu would surely try his hardest to curry favor with him. He never expected the damned lackey not only to refuse to bow his head but to dare treat him like this!’

’What gives him the right?’

’Is it just his so-called ’genius’ status?’

’It’s not even certain if these country bumpkins can break through to the Flesh Refining Realm in the future! And he still dares to be so arrogant!’

’My Zhu Family could send out any Tributor and have him crippled!’

’Just you wait! You’ve offended me, and sooner or later, I’ll make you pay!’

「...」

「Evening. Su Mansion Martial Arts Arena.」

WHOOSH!

A piercing sound suddenly tore through the air.

With a flick of his wrist, Su Yu sent an unremarkable Flying Locust Stone streaking through the air like an afterimage. Wrapped in ferocious Spiral Force, it slammed violently into an Ironwood Stake ten zhang away.

THUD!

There was no sharp crack of impact, only a dull thud.

The exceptionally hard Ironwood Stake, specifically used for training by First Acupoint Martial Artists, had been instantly breached by the small stone! The stone embedded itself deep within the stake’s core, the surrounding wood grain splintering in a radial pattern as if drilled through.

Su Yu walked over and pinched the stone with two jade-like fingers. Circulating his Qi and Blood, he wrenched it out by force.

"The Spiral Armor-Breaking Trait is truly domineering!"

Su Yu looked at the undamaged stone between his fingertips and nodded in satisfaction.

’This Penetration Power far exceeds the explosive limit of a First Acupoint. If I were using a heavy water tungsten gold coin instead, I could probably grievously injure even a Second Acupoint Martial Artist with a single strike!’

"Lord Su."

Just then, Li Da hurried into the courtyard, bowed, and reported, "There are two guests outside. They say they are your subordinates, one named Song Mirror and the other Zhao Tie. They’ve come to pay you a visit."

"Song Mirror? Zhao Tie?"

Su Yu’s eyebrows raised slightly.

’What do those two want, coming to visit me at my home?’

"Bring them to the side hall."