Wind God Leg, a Peerless Martial Art

The Insight Technique could uncover the faintest threads of a case and detect subtle changes in others' disguised expressions.

A stream of energy entered Huang Shaojie's eyes. He could clearly feel them becoming brighter, and his perception of the slightest details around him becoming extraordinarily sharp.

At the same time, the first three forms of the Wind God Leg were all implanted into Huang Shaojie's mind, allowing him to grasp every movement and mental cultivation method as thoroughly as if he had practiced them for more than a decade.

The Wind God Leg was a supreme martial art of the high-martial world, encompassing internal cultivation methods, pressure-point techniques, lightness skills, and more. It had six forms in total:

First Form: Catching Wind and Shadows.

Second Form: Strong Grass in the Wind.

Third Form: Violent Storm.

Fourth Form: Swift as Thunder and Wind.

Fifth Form: Wind Sweeping Through Decaying Buildings.

Sixth Form: Divine Wind's Furious Howl.

The first form focused primarily on lightness skill. It was the essential foundation of the Wind God Leg; those who mastered it moved without a shadow, swift as a shooting star.

However, although Huang Shaojie had fully comprehended the first three forms of the Wind God Leg, he had no internal energy within him. Thus, he could not unleash the effects of these three forms at all. They were like flowery fists and embroidered legs—beautiful movements, yet utterly devoid of killing power.

It was like holding a golden rice bowl while the pot did not contain a single grain of rice.

"System, can't you reward me with some Internal Cultivation, or perhaps pills that increase cultivation or something?"

Huang Shaojie asked the system in his mind.

To obtain Internal Cultivation and medicinal pills, the host must solve cases and apprehend criminals. In addition, while serving in the Imperial Guard, the host will receive one year of Internal Cultivation as a reward for checking in each day.

Hmm, that actually sounded pretty good.

"This is the entry-level saber technique of the Imperial Guard. Take it and study it. Practice diligently in your spare time."

Zhu Shi brought Huang Shaojie to the storeroom and issued him a book on basic saber techniques.

"Thank you, sir."

Huang Shaojie put away the book and slipped it into his robe.

Though he knew the first three forms of the Wind God Leg, they had no power for the time being. Learning some basic saber techniques was not a bad idea.

"You have just joined the Imperial Guard. Spend these next few days familiarizing yourself with the case-handling procedures and regulations of the Imperial Guard office. As for your specific duties, report at roll call tomorrow morning and see how Battalion Commander Xiao arranges things."

"Yes, sir."

After saying this, Zhu Shi took Huang Shaojie around the office, gave him a general introduction, handed him a thick document containing the Imperial Guard's regulations and case-handling procedures, then left.

Huang Shaojie found a chair in the side hall, sat down, and began reading the document.

The Imperial Guard had been established by Grand Progenitor Xiang Yu. As the Emperor's personal guard, it was responsible for monitoring the civil and military officials and gathering intelligence on enemies, and had been forged into a secret agency for collecting military and political information.

The Imperial Guard's highest commander was the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Principal Third Rank.

Below him were the four great Pacification Commissioners: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. They were known as the Four Heavenly Kings of the Imperial Guard, Principal Fourth Rank.

Below the Pacification Commissioners were the Imperial Guard Commanders and Deputy Commanders of a Thousand, Fifth Rank and Subordinate Fifth Rank.

Below the Commanders of a Thousand were the Commanders of a Hundred and Probationary Commanders of a Hundred, Sixth Rank and Subordinate Sixth Rank.

Below the Commanders of a Hundred were the Seventh Rank Battalion Commanders and Subordinate Seventh Rank squad leaders.

Below the squad leaders were Imperial Riders, lieutenants, and Strongmen, who received Ninth Rank status.

However, the Emperor did not place absolute trust in the Imperial Guard. To prevent them from colluding with officials and making covert moves, he established another agency to monitor the Imperial Guard.

That agency was the Imperial Surveillance Bureau.

The Imperial Surveillance Bureau was similar to the Eastern Depot and Western Depot of the Ming Dynasty in Huang Shaojie's previous life.

"Looks like the Imperial Guard may look glorious on the surface, but in reality, those eunuchs from the Imperial Surveillance Bureau are shitting on their necks!"

As he flipped through the Imperial Guard's regulations and case-handling procedures, Huang Shaojie found many rules mentioning the Imperial Surveillance Bureau and imposing all sorts of restrictions. He could not help sighing inwardly.

It seemed the Imperial Surveillance Bureau held even greater power than the Eastern and Western Depots of the Ming Dynasty.

Huang Shaojie's first day working at the Imperial Guard passed before he knew it as he read through the documents.

After getting off duty at the hour of the Rooster, Huang Shaojie rode his yellow-maned horse home with a clip-clop, clip-clop.

Before he even reached Huang Manor, he saw from afar that his father and mother, accompanied by more than a dozen servants, were waiting eagerly outside its gates.

"He's here! The young master is back!"

Xiao He had sharp eyes. From far away, she spotted her young master in his constable's uniform riding a yellow-maned horse down the street, and immediately cried out.

"Wow! The young master looks so imposing in that constable's uniform!"

"Of course. The young master was already tall and handsome. Wearing that uniform makes him even more commanding."

Several servants immediately began laying on the flattery.

"Set off the firecrackers. Welcome the young master home."

Huang Baiwan happily instructed the servants.

A servant had long since prepared a long string of firecrackers and hung them from a tall bamboo pole, which he raised high.

Another servant took out a fire starter, blew on it, and lit the firecrackers.

Sparking with firelight, the firecrackers exploded in a rapid series of crackles.

That long string of firecrackers drew out all the neighbors on both sides. Everyone looked around curiously, wondering what happy occasion Huang Manor was celebrating today.

When they saw the young master of the Huang Family approaching on a tall horse, wearing a brown-wrapped cap, a green constable's uniform, and a saber at his waist, the neighbors all revealed astonished expressions and began whispering among themselves.

"Hey, isn't that the young master of Huang Manor? Why is he wearing a constable's uniform?"

"Could Young Master Huang be a constable now?"

"No way, right? Young Master Huang is usually just a wastrel who eats, drinks, and plays around. He can't hold a brush in literature or a blade in martial arts. How could someone like him become a constable?"

"Stop being so sour. Young Master Huang is wearing a constable's uniform right now, and he even has an official saber at his waist. Are you blind?"

"Master Huang has wealth beyond measure. Maybe he spent money to pull some strings and bought his son a constable's position."

"Hey, what kind of official is Young Master Huang, anyway? His uniform doesn't look like that of an ordinary constable."

By then, the firecrackers had finished, and Huang Shaojie rode up to the gates of his manor and swung down from the horse.

A servant hurried forward to take the reins, then led the horse through the side entrance to the stables in the rear courtyard.

Madam Huang, accompanied by two maids, approached with a beaming smile and graceful lotus steps. Taking her precious eldest son's hand, she questioned him about this and that.

Madam Huang was thirty-seven this year, yet her beauty had not faded in the slightest, and her charm remained as alluring as ever.

Fortunately, Huang Shaojie had inherited his looks from his mother.

His tall stature, however, had come from Huang Baiwan.

Huang Baiwan was very pleased with everyone's reaction. This was precisely the effect he wanted.

Smiling, he clasped his hands toward the surrounding neighbors and called out loudly:

"Neighbors and fellow townsfolk, today is the joyous day my unworthy son takes up a post in the Imperial Guard. My humble home has prepared some modest wine. If you do not disdain it, please come inside and drink to your heart's content!"

Upon hearing Huang Baiwan's words, the crowd erupted in an uproar!

"Damn, Young Master Huang actually joined the Imperial Guard? That's incredible!"

"I was saying, Young Master Huang's uniform didn't look like that of the yamen constables. So it's the uniform of an Imperial Guard officer."

"Aiya, what did I say before? Young Master Huang clearly has the face of an official. See? He's directly become an Imperial Guard officer now."

"Master Huang, congratulations!"

"Master Huang, may your son rise steadily through the ranks in the future!"

"Master Huang, I did not prepare any congratulatory gift. Please accept these fifty copper coins as one!"

The neighbors all stepped forward to clasp their hands in congratulations, showering him with endless flattery and praise. They took copper coins or bits of silver from their pouches as gifts and presented them to Huang Baiwan.

They had no desire to curry favor with Master Huang simply because he was wealthy, since no matter how much they fawned over him, he would not give them a single copper coin.

But now that Master Huang's son was serving in the Imperial Guard, even if they did not wish to curry favor with him, they at least did not dare offend him.