Chapter 95 - 79: A Plum Job
Ruyi Square Sub-Department, the Chief Constable’s courtyard.
Shen Qingshuang gazed at the young man standing respectfully before her, clad in a black uniform with a saber at his waist. A peculiar glint once again appeared in her beautiful eyes.
The young man before her was Chen Cheng. He had handsome, refined features. Though his every action and expression conveyed deep respect, his eyes were clear and profound, as tranquil as an ancient, undisturbed well. He gave off an impression of calm composure, of steady resolve, as immovable as a mountain.
It was the same feeling she’d had when she first met Chen Cheng half a year ago, and it had not changed in the slightest.
Shen Qingshuang had seen countless young prodigies, but a temperament like Chen Cheng’s was one of a kind.
He was neither arrogant nor rash, but calm and composed; neither servile nor overbearing.
In her mind, she subconsciously compared Chen Cheng and Yan Jian. Both were geniuses of the Martial Dao, yet Yan Jian was all sharp edges, constantly displaying his pride and confidence like a newly unsheathed sword.
But Chen Cheng, standing before her now, seemed peaceful and humble. She suspected, however, that the pride in his bones was even greater than Yan Jian’s. He merely hid it well. Or rather, it was the kind of innate arrogance only possessed by those peerless Celestial Prides who held vast ambitions and profound plans deep within themselves.
Shen Qingshuang was young, her Martial Arts Power was exceptional, and she considered herself just such a peerless Celestial Pride.
But the bearing Chen Cheng projected far surpassed her own. It was as if in his eyes, a genius-level expert like herself was nothing special.
To put it bluntly, she feared that in his heart, Chen Cheng wasn’t genuinely impressed by her. His respectful demeanor was merely a product of her high-ranking position and her background as a member of a great clan from the Inner City.
Take those two factors away, and she suspected Chen Cheng wouldn’t even give her a second glance.
She recalled Liu Yunfeng’s evaluation of Chen Cheng: "He shows exceptional promise, the makings of a hidden dragon!"
A sudden, inexplicable sense of irritation washed over Shen Qingshuang. It was her intuition, both as a Martial Artist and as a woman—an intuition that had always been remarkably accurate.
Although she devoted herself single-mindedly to Cultivating the Martial Dao and paid little heed to worldly affairs, her upbringing in a great clan of the Inner City meant she had, through osmosis, learned a thing or two about managing people.
The prouder a person is, the harder they are to control.
’Winning Chen Cheng over to the Shen Family’s side will be much harder than it was with Yan Jian! Still, no matter how resolute he is, in the face of absolute Martial Arts Power and the overwhelming influence of my clan, he will have no choice but to yield!’
With this thought, a rare, warm smile spread across Shen Qingshuang’s face.
"Chen Cheng, you have earned great Merit this time. I personally went to the South City District City Guard Headquarters to secure this commendation from the Chief, Lord Jiang. I hope you will continue to strive and not let my efforts on your behalf go to waste."
Chen Cheng, however, had no idea that Shen Qingshuang’s mind had been racing with so many thoughts in such a short time.
’She must have put in a great deal of effort to get me this extraordinary promotion.’
Now that he was leaning on a powerful backer like the Shen Family, he knew he had to show sufficient sincerity. He immediately smiled, cupped his fists, and said, "Thank you, Lord Shen. I will not forget the grace you’ve shown in supporting my advancement."
"Mm, that’s good." Shen Qingshuang nodded slightly. "Liu Yunfeng held you in high regard, so I assume you’ve heard much from him about the Four Great Clans of the Inner City."
"While my Shen Family may not be on par with the Jiang and Qin Families, we are still a top-tier power in Linji City—far beyond what a minor Outer City family like the Zhou Family could ever hope to match."
"Now that you’ve reached the rank of Chief Constable, there are some things you should know."
"In the Four Outer City Districts of Linji City, the City Guard Department holds the most power. That’s why the great clans of the Inner City are constantly vying for positions within it. Their goal, of course, is to control the Four Outer City Districts."
"The other three families control the position of Chief in the City Guard Headquarters of the other three Outer City Districts."
"The Shen Family’s influence has always been strongest in the South City District. It’s only because we haven’t had a suitable candidate for the position of Chief of the City Guard Headquarters in recent years that someone from the Jiang Family has been allowed to hold it temporarily."
"The Chief, Lord Jiang Xinghan, will be promoted soon. Once that position is vacant, it’s only natural that I will take over."
"As for the Ruyi Square Sub-Department, I have already made the necessary arrangements. With the Shen Family’s support and resources, Liu Yunfeng has already achieved Great Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm, making him more than capable of taking my place as Chief Constable."
"And it’s not just Ruyi District. The Shen Family has made arrangements in the other districts as well."
"Take Yan Jian in Dongyue District, for example. His martial talent is exceptionally high, and he’s expected to reach Great Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm within two or three years. When that happens, he too can be promoted to Chief Constable."
"Although you started your Cultivation late, your martial talent is no less than Yan Jian’s. If you cultivate diligently, you too have a chance to break through to the Muscle Strengthening Realm and be promoted to Chief Constable, taking charge of an entire district and rising above the common man."
"Furthermore, if you can reach the Bone Forging Realm within ten years, with the Shen Family’s backing, it wouldn’t be impossible for you to one day become the Chief of the South City Guard and wield authority over the entire South City District."
"You must strive for this."
Chen Cheng could tell that Shen Qingshuang was painting a very rosy picture, highlighting all the benefits while conveniently omitting any mention of the downsides of aligning with the Shen Family.
’Once I side with the Shen Family, I’ll inevitably be caught in the conflicts between them and the other three Great Clans. But I don’t have any better options.’
’Then again, even if I don’t side with the Shen Family, I’ll inevitably clash with the Four Great Clans if I want to advance my Cultivation and secure enough resources.’
’Rather than make enemies on all sides, it’s better to develop quietly under the shade of a great tree like the Shen Family.’
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Shen. I will certainly do my utmost," Chen Cheng said with sincerity, cupping his fists.
Shen Qingshuang knew that in a world where the Martial Dao reigned supreme, Martial Arts Power was the only thing that truly mattered. If she wanted to win Chen Cheng over completely, she would have to display some of her own.
She nodded slightly, her expression turning serious. "You were able to slay Zhou Fang and the South City Thirteen Thieves. Your true combat strength must far surpass that of a Great Success Blade Master who has also achieved Great Success in the Skin Grinding Realm."