I Have 10 Equipment Slots-Chapter 174 - 117: Mr. Gu Is Here

He carried the ring with him just in case he ran into Li Cunyi and could return it.

...

He spent the night at home.

The next day, Gu Zheng went to the County Magistrate’s Office to find Tong Yuanshan. He had him summon the County Soldiers, constables, and government constables, as well as the guards from the city’s martial arts dojos and prominent families—including the Gu Family’s own guards. He also included all the Martial Artists and able-bodied men who had fled to Qingshi County as refugees in the last two months.

Once everyone was gathered, Gu Zheng announced he would teach them the True Skill: the Bibo Smoke Mist Technique.

Everyone was free to cultivate it and could obtain the secret manual for the True Skill from the Government Office.

The crowd instantly erupted, first in a clamor, then in cheers and excited shouts.

"All hail Young Master Gu!"

"Thank you, Lord Gu! Long live Lord Gu!"

"Gu Zheng! I love you!"

"Hahaha..."

"..."

CRUNCH, CRUNCH...

Tong Yuanshan munched on a cucumber as he watched the cheering crowd. "Ping’an," he remarked, still chewing, "you’ve given every single person here a chance to change their destiny. They’ll be grateful to you for the rest of their lives."

"That’s an exaggeration."

Gu Zheng replied casually, "Demon Fiends are running rampant, and times are tough. If people don’t get stronger, they won’t even be able to die with dignity when the time comes."

"I’m just worried some of them will be ungrateful," Han Ming snorted.

"There will always be ungrateful people, but you can’t abandon the many for the sake of the few." Gu Zheng smiled. "Don’t worry. Once you eat that fruit I gave you, you’ll have no reason to fear them causing trouble after they grow stronger from cultivating the True Skill."

"That’s not what I meant." Han Ming blushed slightly. "It’s just that... Never mind!"

He sighed.

Gu Zheng had given him another Source Fruit early this morning, saying he would become stronger after eating it.

Han Ming didn’t eat it right away because he wanted to save it for his sister.

’But it looks like I have no choice but to eat it now.’

Qingshi County was full of outsiders now. Public order had only remained stable thanks to his firm hand.

But if they all started cultivating the Bibo Smoke Mist Technique and developed Divine Wondrous abilities, Han Ming knew he wouldn’t be able to keep them in line.

As the new Chief Constable, how could he do his job if he couldn’t keep everyone in check?

...

Gu Zheng paid Han Ming no mind. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

But he could guess what Han Ming was worried about.

That was why he had given him a Great Strength Source Fruit this morning. Eating it would grant him a Divine Wondrous ability.

Combined with cultivating the Bibo Smoke Mist Technique, Han Ming’s progress would be far faster than anyone else’s.

Furthermore, to bolster the strength of the County Magistrate’s Office...

Gu Zheng called Lu Guangbei over and introduced him to Tong Yuanshan.

"Lord Tong, this is Lu Guangbei—or just Lu. He used to be the Chief of the Shuntong Escort Agency and is a Grandmaster."

"Lu is a man of integrity. He escorted hundreds of civilians all the way from Four Directions Prefecture to Qingshi."

"The men with him are also top experts from the Shuntong Escort Agency."

"If you approve, Lord Tong, you could perhaps appoint Lu as a new Chief Constable for the Government Office. That would help ease some of the pressure on Han Ming."

As Gu Zheng spoke, he turned to Lu Guangbei. "What do you think of my suggestion, Lu? If it sounds good, joining the Government Office could be a new path for you."

"Haha! Since Ping’an himself has made the suggestion, then as long as Lord Tong will have me, I would be honored to serve you!" Lu Guangbei cupped his fist toward Gu Zheng and Tong Yuanshan, laughing boisterously.

"I couldn’t be happier to have you."

Tong Yuanshan put away his cucumber, a smile spreading across his face as well. He gestured and said, "Let’s settle it informally for today. Chief Lu, please come to the Government Office tomorrow, and I will take care of the official paperwork. From now on, we’ll be relying on you to work hard for the people of Qingshi County."

"Not at all!"

Lu Guangbei bowed. "It is my honor to serve the people!"

Han Ming curled his lip.

Although he knew Gu Zheng was right and meant well...

He still felt a bit put out to suddenly have another Chief Constable of equal rank.

Gu Zheng didn’t say anything about it.

He knew Han Ming was uncomfortable, but the situation was urgent.

’More and more outsiders will be coming to Qingshi County.’

’It won’t stop with the people Gu Pan’Er invited.’

’Demon Fiends are running rampant everywhere else, while Qingshi County is almost completely free of them. Once that news gets out, people will definitely flock here.’

The Demon Slayer Bureau had already designated Qingshi County as one of its major rear bases, an important grain-producing region.

Right now, a squad of the Demon Suppression Guard was already patrolling the entire county around the clock, preventing any stray Demon Fiends from slipping in.

Under these circumstances, the Government Office’s military strength had to be assured.

Arranging for a man of solid character like Lu Guangbei to join was just a simple, logical step.

...

...

After teaching the two True Skills.

Gu Zheng returned to the State City, to the Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters.

On the way, he also took the opportunity to clear out a wave of Demon Fiends roaming throughout Nanyun Prefecture.

However, he only earned a little over ten Demon Points.

This amount of Demon Points was clearly not enough to use Deduction to enhance his True Skill.

So, Gu Zheng prepared to take on another mission.

But just then, Xie Bisheng summoned him.

"You’re looking to take on a mission, aren’t you?"

In the main hall of the Public Office, Xie Bisheng, clad in his Great Sun Armor, asked with his usual cold expression.

"Yes." Gu Zheng nodded. "Do you have other arrangements for me, Master Xie?"

"No arrangements, but there is a mobile strike plan that I’d like to get your opinion on—to see if you’re interested." Xie Bisheng explained, "You should be aware of the situation north of Fengzhou. Things there aren’t just tense; they’re critical."

"The two third-rank passages are still holding, thanks to Meng the Big Nose and Old Jiang standing guard. They’re not a major problem for the moment."

"But the other passages, especially the seven second-rank ones... the Demon Fiends pouring out of them have caused immense destruction and countless casualties. That includes our own people—we’ve lost two Thousand Households and nine Hundred Households."

"That many?" Gu Zheng said in surprise. "And wait, weren’t there only five second-rank passages? How did..."

"The two new second-rank passages appeared the day Four Directions Prefecture City was unsealed," Xie Bisheng replied, his expression unchanging. "One of them is located deep in the mountains. No one discovered it during its Domain’s seven-day buffer period."