"Hao Yu greets District Administrator Gao," Hao Yu said, bowing his head in front of a middle-aged man. Unlike the Magistrate, this man had a muscular build that hinted at a warrior's background. However, he also held a few documents in his hand and seemed to be overseeing matters with wisdom.
Hao Yu hadn't received prior information about this place before coming, and Gao Ke wasn't someone he was familiar with. However, judging from the admiration in An Lei's eyes, he could tell that Administrator Gao was a respected leader.
'Magistrate Han knows about me and my teacher… Is Gao Ke the person he has arranged for me?' Hao Yu thought, keeping a composed expression.
Gao Ke fell silent for a moment, his gaze assessing Hao Yu from head to toe. Then, he spoke, "I've heard about you. It seems you're quite intelligent and have achieved much in the capital city."
"I still have much to learn. Please allow me to learn from you," Hao Yu humbly replied, adhering to one of the basic principles his teacher had taught him. His ultimate goal was to eliminate the cultivators, so he couldn't afford to make enemies within their own ranks.
Gao Ke glanced at the documents in his hand and said, "You must be tired from your long journey. You can rest and return tomorrow. I need to sort through these documents."
Offering his assistance at this moment might give the impression that Hao Yu was trying to overshadow his superior. On the other hand, following Gao Ke's suggestion would indicate a lack of enthusiasm for his role. So, Hao Yu responded, "I understand. However, since this is my first time in this town, may I have your permission to explore it? Observing the bustling town and the smiles on the people's faces would help me unwind."
Gao Ke raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by this request. He waved his hand and said, "If you're not too tired, you're free to do as you wish. Just ensure you're not late tomorrow."
"Yes, Sir," Hao Yu replied, bowing before walking away.
Once Hao Yu had disappeared from sight, a smile appeared on Gao Ke's face. He turned to An Lei and asked, "An Lei, you're tasked with assisting him, correct?"
"Yes, Sir!" An Lei replied, recovering from the surprise of Gao Ke's smile. It was a rare occurrence, which indicated that Hao Yu had considerable potential.
"Learn a lot from him," Gao Ke nodded before turning back to his work.
Meanwhile, Hao Yu took the opportunity to explore the town.
In this town, the highest authority rested with the Magistrate, under whom were four District Administrators. The city itself was divided into four districts: north, west, east, and south. The North District was known for its cultural institutions like theaters and schools, while the West District thrived as a bustling market for trade and commerce. The East District came alive at night, and the South District, which Hao Yu managed, was primarily a residential area.
Although he was in charge of the South District, he needed to familiarize himself with all the districts to provide the best service to the town's residents.
After a cursory look at the other districts, Hao Yu arrived in the South District. As expected, it was teeming with people going about their daily business. While walking along one of the streets, he heard the sound of children playing.
"Take that!"
Turning toward the source of the noise, Hao Yu saw a child kicking a ball made of bamboo cane.
Another child caught the ball and exclaimed, "Haha! You can't get past me. I'll—" He attempted to kick the ball back but suddenly tripped and fell to the ground.
"Uaaahhhh!" He cried out, holding his knee, which had a minor scratch.
A girl quickly came to his aid, checking his knee and saying, "You're a boy; you shouldn't cry. Let's go inside and clean your wound."
The boy nodded, wiping away his tears.
Observing the pair of siblings brought back memories of Hao Yu's own past. Instead of playing with a ball, he and his sister used to weave sandals out of weeds to earn a living. One time, he accidentally cut his finger on the sharp edge of a weed, and he had cried out, "Ouch!"
At that moment, Hao Yu had been on the verge of tears, but his sister had immediately put his thumb in her mouth, reassuring him, "There's no need to cry. Look, it's not so bad."
She had shown him the wound, which had thankfully stopped bleeding, encouraging him to be strong. Hao Yu could still recall the roughness of her hand and the small wounds that were healing. She had endured even more than he had.
Thinking about the warmth of that simple memory, Hao Yu's expression softened briefly before turning cold. That beautiful memory had been shattered.
While watching the people with a mixture of sadness and calmness, Hao Yu couldn't help but imagine what would happen if a cultivator happened to pass through and wreak havoc in this place.
All he could see was the ground stained red with blood and numerous lifeless bodies strewn across it.
'Cultivators are individuals who have harnessed a unique energy within their bodies, challenging the heavens and considering themselves above common people.'
'Despite this, cultivators are often seen in the city. When assigned a mission, they descend from their mountains and stay in the city before completing their tasks.'
'In other words, cultivators will eventually come to this city. In fact, some may already be here. But...'
Hao Yu let out a long sigh, recalling his mentor's teachings.
"Listen, Hao Yu. When you arrive in the city, don't seek out cultivators immediately."
"Why not, Master? Do you think I can control my anger?"
"Listen to me. If your city is known for being hospitable to cultivators, what do you think will happen if a cultivator suddenly goes missing there? They'll investigate, and the most suspicious person will be the newcomer, which is you. The path you're taking is full of sacrifices, so make a choice where you can accomplish your greater goal."
Hao Yu had been reluctant at the time, but he understood his mentor's reasoning. Even if it were just suspicion, a cultivator could easily eliminate him. While he might hold the position of an Assistant Administrator, he was not of paramount importance to the city. So, he had to bide his time and rise through the ranks. Even becoming an Administrator might not offer sufficient protection. Thus, he needed to remain inconspicuous for now.
However, fate seemed determined to test him.
The next day, after returning to the office, An Lei rushed to him, panting heavily. "Sir, we have a situation! One of our men has spotted a cultivator not far from the city!"