What did he know?

This was the most pressing question in Jiang Wang’s heart.

But recalling his actions along the way, Jiang Wang believed he had played the part perfectly, remaining vigilant at all times, without any oversights due to carelessness.

In other words, the blind watchman could, at most, harbor some suspicions.

But would such a suspicion be enough to push a promising prodigy away from the nation? The answer was obvious.

So, returning to the question itself.

The blind old man was essentially asking if Jiang Wang was willing to join the “Night Watchmen”!

As long as Jiang Wang answered with confidence, he would immediately receive the cultivation of this terrifyingly powerful individual, perhaps even inheriting his mantle.

However, joining the “Night Watchmen” offered immediate benefits, but what were the restrictions?

Such an agency, rarely appearing before the public, must have strict regulations.

After joining the “Night Watchmen,” could he still retain his own enterprises? Would he still have the opportunity to associate with prominent families and clans?

This was a matter of great importance, and Jiang Wang could not make a decision at this time. At the very least, he needed to understand the “Night Watchmen” before anything else.

“Great Qi is filled with powerhouses. No matter how strong an evildoer, they will always have their match.”

Jiang Wang remained respectful yet assertive: “If it were in the same realm, I would have confidence to face any opponent. But I have only just opened my first palace. To say now that I am confident in slaying Yin Guan would be too arrogant, mere bombast.”

His words did not erase his confidence, but they also displayed a clear-headedness.

Yue Leng also spoke up: “This time, failing to capture Qin Guangwang is my responsibility. But Head Constable Jiang’s contributions should not be erased. I will petition to have him promoted to Fourth-Rank Blue Badge.”

This was an expression of attitude, an attempt to snatch him away, to keep Jiang Wang within the Blue Badge system.

By this point, Jiang Wang’s talent had been recognized.

When they encountered each other at the Ruins of Verdant Decay, the blind watchman had not extended such an invitation.

If it were anyone else, Yue Leng would most likely not have helped him fight for the right to choose for himself.

Jiang Wang’s future was worth betting on.

The blind watchman remained silent.

This was a powerful individual with enlightened insight. Although blind, it did not prevent him from perceiving the world.

Jiang Wang’s temperament was exceptionally steady, without the arrogance of a youth who had achieved early success. He was not the kind of youth whose emotions could be stirred by a single word.

And Yue Leng, having returned to the world only to gain nothing and lose half a lifetime’s worth of prestige, might have experienced a shift in his mindset.

The world “seen” by the mind’s eye was not necessarily more colorful than the world seen with the physical eyes, but perhaps it was more concrete and direct.

The white paper lantern swayed gently, and with a turn of his foot, the blind watchman vanished from the spot.

Yue Leng cast hand seals, collecting all the cast-iron black pillars and the chains connecting to the void.

Jiang Wang stood aside without speaking, waiting for him to finish tidying up, showing his proper respect.

“Do you know him?” Yue Leng suddenly asked.

“We’ve met once,” Jiang Wang replied truthfully.

“They say that you, Jiang Qingyang, have no roots, but the Chongxuan Clan supports you wholeheartedly, and Li Zhengshu, with his aloof nature, has spoken highly of you several times before His Majesty. And now, this one also looks upon you with favor.”

Yue Leng looked at him with a half-smile: “Who is your master?”

Jiang Wang was hearing for the first time that Li Zhengshu had spoken favorably of him before the Qi Emperor. This was truly a proper gentleman, a paragon of scholarly virtue, having spoken for Jiang Wang before the Emperor without ever letting him know.

However, he got along well with Li Fengyao and Li Longchuan, so it was only natural that Li Zhengshu would extend his affection to him.

Facing Yue Leng’s probing, Jiang Wang paused slightly before replying: “Along the way, I have been figuring things out on my own. I don’t have any master.”

It was very difficult to lie in front of someone like Yue Leng. So Jiang Wang did not hide his “unwillingness to speak.” His answer was very perfunctory.

Yue Leng did not press further, and his occasional thoughts of taking him as a disciple faded.

He shook his head and suddenly sighed: “Those who come later are to be feared. Perhaps I should have returned to the Three Penal Palaces in the first place.”

Jiang Wang would not be so narcissistic as to think that the “one who comes later” in Yue Leng’s mouth was himself. Only Yin Guan, who had just achieved the Divine Proving realm, was qualified for the God Catcher to call “fearsome,” to the point of giving rise to the thought of returning to the Three Penal Palaces.

The holy land of Legalism, known as the Three Penal Palaces, was actually a collective term for three legal palaces.

Named “Regulating Heaven,” “Measuring Earth,” and “Punishing Man.”

What people usually referred to as the Three Penal Palaces was actually the Palace of Punishing Man. Because only the disciples of this legal palace would walk the world, serving as officials in various countries. It was also the disciples of this legal palace who often chased down those who violated the law throughout the world.

The Three Penal Palaces were not bound by the factions or nationalities of their disciples, only by ideological regulations, without making any political demands.

Yue Leng’s master in his early years came from the Three Penal Palaces. He learned a whole set of skills from him, and later even surpassed his master, but he himself had never been to the Three Penal Palaces.

Firstly, the holy land of Legalism was not a place he could go if he wanted to.

Secondly, the Three Penal Palaces were not eager to recruit disciples. As long as they did not violate the laws of the Three Penal Palaces, the disciples were free to go wherever they wanted and join any forces they wished. Even if the disciples served different masters and fought against each other, it was not restricted.

In fact, with Yue Leng’s subsequent cultivation progress, he could have completely “returned” to the Three Penal Palaces and become a proper master of the Legalist holy land. Studying the classics, devoting himself to inheritance, and expanding the boundaries of legal studies—as long as he was willing to give up everything in Qi.

Even Qi could not force him to stay. Just like if a disciple of the Three Penal Palaces was determined to be an official of Qi and no longer return to the Three Penal Palaces, the Three Penal Palaces would not interfere either.

In the Three Penal Palaces, he should have been able to make more progress. Because that was the holy land of Legalism, the source of his path.

But Yue Leng chose to stay, to stay in Qi.

Because in his heart, his identity as a Qi citizen was more important than his identity as a Legalist disciple.

However, being in Qi, he could never avoid worldly affairs. Just like this time, he was invited out of retirement by the Zheng Clan.

After so long in seclusion, the Divine Transcendence realm was still out of reach. The God Catcher personally took action, but failed to leave the villain behind. Instead, Qin Guangwang stepped on him to rise, using him to achieve Divine Proving.

Although his lifespan was still sufficient, Yue Leng could not help but lament that he was old.

But Jiang Wang would not take his sigh seriously.

With Yue Leng’s Divine Proving realm strength and his many years of dedication to the Patrol Tribunal, earning the name of God Catcher, the treatment he deserved in Qi would definitely not be lacking.

He had devoted his life to Qi, and it was not something he could abandon so easily.

Jiang Wang did not express any opinion on Yue Leng’s sigh, and Yue Leng did not need him to express anything.

Slightly calming his mood, he then said: “Qin Guangwang had such courage and talent that no one could have foreseen beforehand. But your information was correct. Our Great Qi Blue Badges have always been fair in rewards and punishments, and you will not be shortchanged. Your Fourth-Rank Blue Badge will be implemented as soon as I return to Linzi, and as for the Inner Palace realm treasury secret technique that matches your current cultivation…”

He looked Jiang Wang up and down, meaningfully: “If you are in a hurry, I can take the initiative to pass on one to you first.”

Someone like Yue Leng could naturally see that Jiang Wang’s affiliation with the Blue Badges was just for convenience in leaving the country.

But he did not give him the cold shoulder as Jiang Wang had feared in Beijun. Instead, he seized the opportunity and took the initiative to help Jiang Wang turn his affiliation into a proper position.

Whether to stay in the Blue Badges, or go to the Night Watchmen, or join the army, or seek a post as a prefecture governor… there were many choices. Although they were all in Qi, there might not be much difference for Jiang Wang and Qi.

But for the high-level officials in these places, it was not the same.

Hands were easy to get, but geniuses were hard to find.

And Jiang Wang had already demonstrated the potential to support a faction in the future.