Chapter 123 - 91: Dangerous Opportunity
’Of course, I can’t reveal my true strength. There’s no benefit in that.’
After a moment of thought, Chen Cheng smiled and said, "We were just sparring to compare Skills, not fighting to the death. I’m sure Miss Xiaoqing didn’t use her full strength, either."
Hearing this ambiguous reply, Xiaoxing’s heart skipped a beat. ’Chen Cheng really didn’t use his full strength. He’s truly incredible! But, as he said, I didn’t use any killing moves either, did I?’
"Your Martial Arts Power is no longer inferior to Yan Jian’s," Xiaoxing said solemnly.
’Comparing me to Yan Jian? It seems Xiaoxing still underestimates me. She’d never guess in a million years that I’ve already cultivated the Wind Chasing Saber Stance!’ Chen Cheng thought to himself. With a slight smile, he said, "Miss Xiaoqing, you flatter me."
"With your strength, if you were to show just a little more of it, you would definitely be more highly valued by the Young Miss. But you insist on being so cautious, always hiding your true abilities. Sigh... Forget it. It’s not my place to comment on such things."
Xiaoxing sighed softly and continued, "I came to find you today under the Young Miss’s orders, to inform you of something.
The Young Miss just received a Commander-in-Chief’s Document from the City Guard Department. Tomorrow, she will be heading to the South City District City Guard Headquarters to assume the position of Chief.
The position of Branch Chief Constable of the Ruyi Square Sub-Department will be handed over to Chief Constable Liu Yunfeng.
As for you, the Young Miss has asked me to get your opinion. Do you wish to continue serving as a Chief Constable in the Ruyi Square Sub-Department, or will you accept the Young Miss’s reassignment to a new post?"
At this point, Xiaoxing paused, her gaze fixed intently on Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng had long known about Shen Qingshuang’s change in position. He knew that when the time came, his own position would surely change as well; he couldn’t just coast along as a Preparatory Chief Constable forever.
Once Shen Qingshuang left, Chen Cheng would have to lead a team and fulfill the duties of a proper Chief Constable.
Ruyi District was far from the center of the South City District, a relatively remote location, and the area under its jurisdiction was comparatively peaceful. Furthermore, the new Branch Chief Constable, Liu Yunfeng, held Chen Cheng in high regard. Serving under him meant not having to worry about being given a hard time by a superior. Laying low and staying put in the Ruyi Square Sub-Department was naturally the best choice.
However, the fact that Shen Qingshuang had specifically sent Xiaoxing to relay this message obviously meant she had other arrangements for Chen Cheng’s position.
On the surface, she was asking for his opinion, but her true intention was likely to test whether Chen Cheng would obey the Shen Family’s assignments. What she wanted was to see his attitude.
In another month, Chen Cheng would be able to cultivate to Skin Grinding Realm Perfection. If he wanted to continue his cultivation after that and advance to the Muscle Strengthening Realm, he would need a Muscle Strengthening Pill.
The Shen Family provided two Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills every year, which was the most reliable source.
As for hunting Demon Beasts outside the city and exchanging them for Merit at the City Lord’s Mansion, that was far too dangerous. Chen Cheng had never even considered it. For now, his best option was to cling to the great tree that was the Shen Family and use it as a stepping stone for his own gradual development.
At this thought, Chen Cheng cupped his hands and said seriously, "Since Senior Sister already has arrangements, I will naturally comply."
Xiaoxing was clearly very pleased with Chen Cheng’s attitude. She smiled and said, "In that case, you should prepare yourself. In a few days, you will go to Lishui District to serve as a Chief Constable."
Xiaoxing then began to explain the situation in Lishui District to Chen Cheng in detail.
The central area of the South City District was Guangfu District, which was near the Inner City. The various major Government Offices of the South City District were also located in Guangfu District.
However, the largest district in the South City District was actually Lishui District.
Lishui District was close to the Dongcheng District and bordered Jishui Lake. It had a population of nearly 100,000. Due to the shipping traffic at the Jishui Lake Pier, people from all walks of life and all corners of society gathered there.
There were more than a dozen Jianghu Gangs of various sizes. Seven or eight of them were large gangs with over two hundred members. In addition, there were several influential families in the South City District, making it a chaotic melting pot of good and evil.
The Lishui Sub-Department of the City Guard Department had a full twelve Chief Constables and nearly three hundred official constables.
The Branch Chief Constable, Ji Jingbei, was quite powerful, an expert who had reached Muscle Strengthening Realm Perfection and had also cultivated Saber Momentum.
The regular Chief Constables there were also stronger than those in other Sub-Departments; some were even Martial Artists of the Muscle Strengthening Realm.
With such strength, the Lishui Sub-Department of the City Guard Department could be said to be very formidable.
But the situation in Lishui District was chaotic. Some of the large gangs and prominent families didn’t give any face to the City Guard Department’s officials. This wasn’t because their strength surpassed that of the Lishui Sub-Department, but because they all had powerful backers.
These backers included the Four Great Clans of the Inner City, as well as other hidden powers, such as factions from other Prefecture Cities or even other State Cities.
In short, the waters in Lishui District ran very deep. Even a Sub-Department of the City Guard Department, with its great authority, couldn’t claim to have the situation completely under control.
The reason Shen Qingshuang was transferring Chen Cheng to the Lishui Sub-Department was, on one hand, to look after the Shen Family’s businesses there. On the other hand, it was because Chief Constables in Lishui District were annually rewarded with one Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill from the City Lord’s Mansion.
This was a benefit not available in other Sub-Departments. After all, in other Sub-Departments, even a Branch Chief Constable only received two Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills per year, while an ordinary Chief Constable received none at all.
The situation in Lishui District was chaotic, and serving as a Chief Constable in its Sub-Department was more dangerous than in other Sub-Departments. But danger was always accompanied by opportunity. It was easier for a Chief Constable in Lishui District to advance to the Muscle Strengthening Realm, and promotions also came faster.
Therefore, the Chief Constable positions in the Lishui Sub-Department had always been highly sought-after prizes fought over by the scions of various families. The Four Great Clans of the Inner City would all send their most talented disciples to serve as Chief Constables, preparing them for future promotion to Branch Chief Constable.
The Shen Family had only managed to secure two of these positions because Shen Qingshuang had been promoted to Chief of the South City Guard.
One of these spots was given to Chen Cheng, and the other was given to Yan Jian.
Chen Cheng was rather surprised that Yan Jian’s injuries had healed so quickly. According to Xiaoxing, his swift recovery was partly because when he was attacked, he had already reached the Beginner Level of the Muscle Strengthening Realm. His Qi Blood Power was far stronger than that of a Perfect Martial Artist of the Skin Grinding Realm, and his wounds had not been fatal.
After he was injured, the Shen Family hired a famous doctor and used precious Healing Elixirs to treat him. Shen Qingshuang even applied to the family to compensate him with two Muscle Strengthening Pills.
Now, not only had Yan Jian’s injuries fully healed, but his Martial Arts Realm had also risen to a new level, advancing to the Small Success Level of the Muscle Strengthening Realm.
"Now that the Young Miss has been promoted to Chief of the South City Guard, Chief Yan is naturally held in even higher regard. As long as he cultivates diligently, I’m afraid that in just two or three years, he could become the Branch Chief Constable of a district."
"Chief Chen, your martial talent is extremely high, no less than Chief Yan’s. The Young Miss also values you greatly. I hope you can seize this opportunity."
Xiaoxing added at the end. Her way of addressing Chen Cheng had reverted to being formal, a clear sign that she was speaking as a superior to a subordinate, relaying Shen Qingshuang’s message.
"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Xiaoqing. I will be sure to remember Senior Sister’s teachings and cultivate the Martial Dao diligently, rain or shine, through winter and summer," Chen Cheng said solemnly, cupping his hands toward the space outside the pavilion.
"Pfft!" Xiaoxing couldn’t help but laugh at his overly serious and solemn tone. Covering her mouth, she giggled. "Your ’rain or shine, through winter and summer’—I’ve certainly seen it for myself today. I will report this to the Young Miss exactly as you said.
Alright, rest for the next few days. When the official appointment comes down, I will notify you."
With that, Xiaoxing took her leave.
After seeing Xiaoxing off, Chen Cheng continued to practice the Wind Chasing Saber Technique in the pavilion.
He continued cultivating after lunch.
By the afternoon, he had been cultivating for nearly four hours.
However, when he called up his status panel to check, the state of his Wind Chasing Saber Technique remained unchanged.
[Skills: Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Perfection, Wind Chasing Saber Stance) (Technique is being deduced. Current deduction progress: 1/100. Upon completion of deduction, the technique can be advanced to a Superior Technique.)]
’It seems it’s not realistic to try and deduce a Superior Saber Technique just by practicing the Wind Chasing Saber Technique. It would be faster to find a way to get another Superior Saber Technique and view its Fundamental Diagram.’
’All Superior Saber Techniques require a Fundamental Diagram to comprehend their Realm, and these diagrams are secret transmissions that are not easily obtained.’
’For now, having cultivated the Wind Chasing Saber Stance should be enough for self-preservation. Without the Fundamental Diagram of a Superior Saber Technique, I should first focus on raising my Martial Arts Realm. I’ll cultivate the Skin Grinding Realm to Perfection first, then find a way to advance to the Muscle Strengthening Realm. By then, I will be even stronger.’
By now, the heavy rain had stopped. Chen Cheng gazed at the clear, distant sky and murmured to himself.
"Young Master, Steward Qian from Luo’s Shop is here. He is waiting in the main hall," Xi’Er came to report.