Chapter One: The Gold Medal Cannot Be Returned

Linhai County, Profound Energy Sect.

"To return the gold badge? Absolutely impossible!"

Hall Master Liu Yushan suppressed his anger as he spoke. The gold badge of the Law Enforcement Hall! It required completing thirty missions of slaying enemies of the same cultivation level, ten missions of defeating stronger foes, without a single failure allowed. In the past century, only one person in the entire Law Enforcement Hall had earned the honor of wearing the gold badge. Yet now, this Su Yizhao wanted to hand it back?

Impossible!

A look of grave sincerity appeared on Liu Yushan’s dignified face as he said, "Yizhao, you earned this badge with your life. Over the years, you have apprehended sixteen traitors for our sect and killed twenty-four vicious rogue cultivators who endangered the mortal world. No matter how perilous the mission, you never shirked your duty, nor did you ever fail. How many wounds have you suffered? How many times have you walked the line between life and death?"

A bitter expression crossed Su Yizhao’s face, and a trace of memory flickered in his dark eyes. Yet he still replied in a low voice, "Hall Master, I have lost all my cultivation. I fear I will tarnish the prestige of the Law Enforcement Hall’s gold badge!"

Liu Yushan’s aura surged as he responded, "There will come a day when your cultivation returns—I can wait. With the gold badge at your waist, I believe that among our nearly twenty thousand disciples, none would dare trouble you."

Su Yizhao hesitated, cupping his hands once more. "Hall Master, I have fallen from the mid-level of the Three Profound Realms to having no cultivation at all. The pressure is truly immense—please allow me to quietly recuperate for a while!"

A smile finally broke through on Liu Yushan’s face. "Rest assured and focus on your recovery. A gold badge enforcer is worth the Law Enforcement Hall’s patience!"

With no other choice, Su Yizhao could only turn and leave.

Watching his departing figure, Liu Yushan’s stern face showed a trace of worry. A gold badge Law Enforcement disciple, yet stripped of all cultivation—the pressure on him was not small either!

...

After leaving the main hall, Su Yizhao was met by a tall young man approaching him.

He immediately stepped forward, cupping his hands. "Senior Brother!"

The senior brother returned the gesture quickly. "Su, as a gold badge enforcer, there is no need for such formality!"

A smile suddenly appeared on Su Yizhao’s face. "Senior Brother, why don’t I give you this gold badge instead?"

At these words, his senior brother’s expression changed abruptly, and he hurriedly replied, "Su, be careful with your words! This badge cannot be so easily given to others. Besides, I—"

"Senior Brother, no need for modesty. Over the years, you’ve executed missions tirelessly. It was only a single stroke of bad luck that led to your one failure. In truth, we all know you have long been qualified to wear the gold badge!"

His senior brother’s name was Shi Feichen, and he had served as the top disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall for over ten years.

Now, regret clouded Shi Feichen’s face as he said, "To be honest, my one failure was not from lack of ability, but for other reasons. That’s why the Hall Master has never let me wear the gold badge. Besides, the badge is not awarded based on strength alone."

Su Yizhao was puzzled. "Is it not based on strength?"

Shi Feichen smiled faintly. "Strength is one factor, but luck, determination, and talent matter even more. For example, now that you have lost your cultivation, the Hall Master still has not reclaimed your badge. I look down on you no more than before—this is the reason!"

A thoughtful look flashed in Su Yizhao’s eyes.

Shi Feichen continued, "If it were only about strength, there is another who would also be qualified to wear the gold badge."

Su Yizhao blurted out, "Yang Yuanqing?"

"Exactly. In terms of seniority, he surpasses you. In terms of merit, he is your equal. Yet you overtook him and claimed the badge first—he must find it hard to accept."

Su Yizhao replied without hesitation, "I would gladly give the badge to you, Senior Brother, but as for him, that is out of the question!"

Shi Feichen warned, "Do not mention giving it to me again. My only worry is—"

"That Yang Yuanqing might try to take it by force?"

"He wouldn’t dare!" Shi Feichen’s expression grew stern, his voice dropping low. "Even with the Grand Elder’s support, if he dared seize it by force, he would be breaking the law. As Senior Brother of the Law Enforcement Hall, I would apprehend him on the spot!"

Su Yizhao’s hands relaxed slightly as he replied gratefully, "Senior Brother, your uprightness is truly a model for our Hall!"

Shi Feichen, however, was still worried. "I’m only afraid he’ll challenge you openly to a duel on the life-or-death stage now that you have no cultivation."

Su Yizhao nodded slightly, then added sincerely, "That’s exactly why I wish to give you the badge, Senior Brother. I’m sure the Hall Master would have no objections."

Shi Feichen waved his hands in refusal. "No, the Hall Master would object for certain. Endure a little longer. I must go..."

He cut himself off, hurrying away as if terrified that lingering a moment more would leave him unable to refuse the badge.

Su Yizhao gripped the gold badge tightly in his right hand. Watching Shi Feichen’s retreating figure, he murmured, "How could the Hall Master object?"

After a moment's thought, he made his decision. "Fine, I’ll endure a little longer!"

With that, he chose a direction and strode off.

Enduring was no problem, but someone needed to know that his cultivation was gone. As for what would happen next—it would be up to her.

Leaving the Law Enforcement Hall, he headed straight for the Alchemy Hall.

Su Yizhao’s origins were a mystery; at the age of one he was fostered with the Li family, and a marriage contract was arranged with Li Xiyue, who had just been born. At that time, the Li family was an ordinary clan in Gravel Sand City, but after Su Yizhao was taken in, the family prospered rapidly under Li Tiancheng’s leadership. In just seventeen years, Li Tiancheng had become the third elder of the Alchemy Hall.

As Su Yizhao pondered, a medicinal fragrance suddenly wafted by. Looking up, he found himself already before the Alchemy Hall.

Now that he was no more than an ordinary man, how could he possibly be a match for Li Xiyue? He had come to break off the engagement.

The gatekeeper disciple noticed him approaching and was about to ask his business, but his expression shifted slightly, and he spoke quietly, "Honored gold badge enforcer, what kind of elixir do you seek?"

Su Yizhao slowly closed his hand over the badge at his waist, concealing it. "Su Yizhao of the Law Enforcement Hall, requesting to see Li Xiyue."

He and Li Xiyue had been close before age seven, but since he had joined the Law Enforcement Hall, they had gone their separate ways to cultivate. Though betrothed, they had met only in haste since. This was, in fact, his first time entering the Alchemy Hall.

The disciple at the gate looked troubled, his gaze again flickering to the gold badge Su Yizhao tried to hide in his right hand. After a deep breath, he said, "This way, please, Senior Brother."

In a grand hall, Su Yizhao sat quietly. The faint scent of incense drifted to his nose, making his brow furrow slightly. Though his cultivation was gone, his years of sharp instincts as an enforcer told him that there was more than one woman present.

Sure enough, a soft laugh sounded, and three young women emerged.

His clear gaze met that of the woman on the right, and in that instant, it was as if he could see into her thoughts.

The woman wore a plain blue dress; her beauty and graceful figure could set any man’s mind wandering. She was Li Xiyue.

Su Yizhao sighed inwardly—he knew that today’s visit would be fruitless once again.

Their eyes met, and just as he was about to speak, a voice rang out, "His looks are average, his bearing is passable, but in any case, he is not worthy of you!"

"Indeed, no matter his bearing, with such looks he is certainly not a suitable match for you, Xiyue!"