Chapter 126: The Internal Force

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The Internal Force.

Their job was to monitor all other disciples and report their actions so that points may be given or taken away as necessary. They were a stealthy and efficient unit that reported only to the Division of Internal Disputes.

However, that all changed once the bracelets were introduced.

Since the bracelets each disciple wears can more easily keep track of everyone’s points, the need for the Internal Force greatly diminished. Eventually, they were phased out entirely, leaving the Division of Internal Disputes with far less power than before.

“That old fool Dang has always been bitter about it,” Elder Xue had told Liu Jin once the feast was over. “Still, I never imagined he’d manage to bring it back like this.”

It takes but a few days for the Internal Force to start patrolling the compound once more. For some, it is their first time seeing them in action. Others are already familiar with them. Regardless, the extreme violence with which they stop infractions makes an impact on everyone.

“We have brought three new infractors!”

Three unconscious, heavily wounded bodies are unceremoniously dropped in the main lobby of the Medical Pavilion. The sight has become increasingly common over the past few days. Many of the disciples either glare or back away from the members of the Internal Force.

Bei Hong does not even put them in his eyes.

The disciple looks more at home in the black robes and yellow sash of the Punishment Force than he ever did wearing the red and white robes of an Inner Disciple.

“We’ll collect them after they are treated, so they can serve their sentence in the Punishment House.”

“Is that so?” Liu Jin asks, walking to greet Bei Hong. It is mere luck that he is in the lobby right now. He’d just come down to pick up some paperwork. “And what exactly is it that they did?”

“They tried to go over the three guaranteed challenges.” Bei Hong picks his ear with disinterest. “It seems everyone is trying to do that lately.”

Liu Jin looks down at the three disciples Bei Hong and the other members of the Internal Force have brought in. The members of the Medical Pavilion are already putting them on stretchers.

“I cannot help but notice they are all Disciples from the Exploration Division.”

“That they are.”

“The other day, you brought me disciples from the Armory.”

“That I did.”

“And from the Apothecary earlier still.”

“There is quite a bit of rule-breaking.”

“Yet, somehow, none of the disciples the Internal Force has brought here are from Internal Disputes or External Relations.”

Liu Jin crosses his arms. Bei Hong stares back at him, unflinching.

“I sense you are trying to make a point, but I am far too simple to see it.”

“No,” Liu Jin says, his stare flat. “No, you are not.”

“No, I am not,” Bei Hong agrees, nodding.

Liu Jin sighs.

“Isn’t this beneath you?”

“I am simple,” Bei Hong says, entirely without shame. “I am told to beat people up. I beat people up. If I do it enough times, someone strong enough to be worth my time will appear. You should try it sometime, Jin. You look stressed.”

Despite himself, Liu Jin snorts. “Finding people strong enough to be worth my time has never been an issue. Rather, it seems there’s an increasing abundance of them lately.”

“Oh?” Both of Bei Hong’s eyebrows rise. “How enviable your life must be. Maybe I chose the wrong side.”

“You can still switch if you wish to.”

If Bei Hong’s comment draws worried looks from his fellow Internal Force members, Liu Jin’s further scandalizes them. However, they need not worry. Bei Hong shakes his head in the end.

“No. That would not work.” Bei Hong places a fist over his heart. “I am not a man whose loyalty switches as easily as the day turns to night. Besides, if I did, Huang Shing would be even angrier.”

Ah, so that time had already arrived.

“He’s quite cross with you, but it shall pass,” Bei Hong reassures him. “He’s not half as stubborn as I.”

Bei Hong laughs before they are interrupted.

“I had wondered why a mere drop-off was taking you all so long. Now I see the reason, yet I do not understand it. Junior Brother Bei, why do I find you talking and laughing when there is still work to be done?”

The tall, pale disciple that walks in is Bu Jing, the former disciple of the Medical Pavilion that Liu Jin competed against during the feast.

“I lost track of time talking to a friend, senior brother.”

As expected of Bei Hong. It is an explanation but not an apology. Judging from the way Bu Jing’s eyes narrow, he realizes that as well.

“Friend?” Bu Jing echoes the word with distaste. “Junior, you are a member of the Internal Force. There is hardly any need to associate with someone who has so thoroughly disgraced the Medical Pavilion.”

“Disgraced the Medical Pavilion?” Liu Jin steps forward before Bei Hong can say anything. “Senior Brother Bu, how exactly has this junior disgraced the Medical Pavilion? I can scarcely imagine it is my skill that Senior Brother is talking about. Otherwise, Senior Brother, whose skills were judged inferior to my own in front of the Elders, would have been disgracing the Medical Pavilion for far longer than I.”

Bu Jing’s eyes narrow.

“Elder Xue’s disciples have no manners, it seems. Is that how you talk to your seniors?”

“I was unaware the truth was something to conceal from my seniors. This junior thanks his senior for such crucial guidance.” Liu Jin inclines his head. “This junior will endeavor to be less honest from now on when talking to senior brother.”

“Less honest?” Bu Jing scoffs. “How can someone whose lies led to Elder Cheung’s demise and removed his guidance from the Medical Pavilion could possibly be less honest!”

Liu Jin blinks.

Does Bu Jing truly believe the words he just spoke?

If so, Liu Jin cannot help but wish he had not been so deliberately hostile.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Senior Brother,” Liu Jin says slowly, “Elder Cheung’s guilt was proven before all. Surely you cannot think this junior is capable of deceiving our wise Elders.”

It occurs to him a little too late that his words might be taken as a taunt. Indeed, the way Bu Jing’s brow creases tells Liu Jin that Bu Jing has undoubtedly taken them as such.

“I wonder. Junior, I feel the urge to give you some guidance. Please, step outside so that we may begin.”

“I am afraid that cannot happen.”

“You dare refuse a challenge?” Bu Jing asks, drawing himself to his full height.

“A disciple is only forced to accept three challenges a day,” Liu Jin lifts his bracelet. A jolt of Qi makes two numbers appear over it: the number of guaranteed challenges he has issued today and the number of guaranteed challenges he can still receive. Both are zero. “I am afraid Senior Brother should have come earlier if he wished to impart his wisdom on me. It would be improper of me to aid a member of the Internal Force in rule-breaking.”

Oh, dear. It seems he cannot stop taunting Bu Jing. Has he been unconsciously taking out his frustrations on the people around him to the point it had become routine?

How vexing.

“You lift your bracelet as proof?” Bu Jing scoffs. “They have been malfunctioning lately.”

“So I hear, yet I have never once seen it happen.”

No one speaks. No one in the room can take their eyes off their staredown.

Bu Jing is in the Third Level of the True Realm.

Liu Jin is only in the First Level of the Spirit Realm.

The difference between them is more than an entire Realm. If they were to fight, Liu Jin would certainly lose. There is not a single person who does not understand that.

However, Liu Jin can no longer be challenged.

If Bu Jing forces a fight, he would be breaking the rules. The consequences of doing that would be many and far-reaching. Even the immediate consequences would be unpleasant for everyone.

That is why there is only one way in which this can end.

Bu Jing blinks first.

“We are done here.” He turns around. “Let us not waste any more time.”

As Bu Jing and the other members of the Internal Force leave, more than one relieved sigh fills the room.