Lingxiao Gains the Upper Hand, My Path Progresses

Ye Qingxuan walked through the alleys, the curses of the Pan family's women behind him scattering with the wind. His steps were steady, the five hundred and fifty copper coins in his embrace making a crisp, pleasant clinking sound with his movement.

Returning to the small courtyard in the Southern District, Ye Caiwei was sitting on the doorstep, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed towards the alley entrance. Seeing her brother's figure, she immediately hopped off the doorstep and ran to meet him.

"Brother!"

Ye Qingxuan didn't speak, merely unfastened the heavy coin purse from his embrace and placed it in her small palm.

The coin purse suddenly weighed down, and Ye Caiwei yelped, almost dropping it. Only when she held the purse steady with both hands did the weight surprise her.

"Brother, this... this is all money?"

"Mm, five hundred and fifty wen," Ye Qingxuan walked into the courtyard, closing the gate behind him. "Our own money."

Ye Caiwei hugged the coin purse, following behind him, her small face filled with novelty and joy. She untied the mouth of the purse and saw it was packed full of copper coins. Her large eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled.

"Go to Butcher Wang's at the street corner and buy a pound of pork belly, then get three pounds of corn cobs. For the rest of the money, buy some rice and flour," Ye Qingxuan scooped a ladle of water from the water vat and tilted his head back to drink.

"Buy so much?" Ye Caiwei stuck out her tongue. "Brother, if we eat sparingly, this money can last a long time."

"No need to be frugal," Ye Qingxuan put down the dipper and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "From now on, we'll have meat at every meal."

He said it casually, but to Ye Caiwei, it sounded like the most beautiful words in the world. The little girl nodded vigorously, hugging the bag of money, which was heavier than her head, and ran out of the courtyard with light steps.

For the next few days, apart from his shifts patrolling the streets, Ye Qingxuan spent all his free time in the sandpit in the corner of the courtyard.

On the morning of his day off, he got up before dawn, stripped to the waist, and rolled around in the pit. His skin and flesh constantly collided and rubbed against the sharp-edged stones. The initial pain, like skin being peeled and tendons being torn, had now transformed into a deep, marrow-chilling ache. He circulated his vital energy throughout his body, actively welcoming the pain. Every roll, every tensing and relaxing of his muscles, was perfectly aligned with the cultivation method of the Indestructible Vajra Body.

"Rumble... rumble..."

The sound of rolling sand and stones became the unique morning bell and evening drum of this small courtyard in the Southern District.

After finishing a set of the cultivation technique, he sat up from the pit, heat steaming from his body. His skin was a deep red, covered in fine scratches, yet not a single spot was truly broken or bleeding. After achieving minor success in the Indestructible Vajra Body, the toughness of his skin and flesh was no longer what it used to be.

[Merit: +3]

A scroll flashed in his mind, and text appeared.

[Name: Ye Qingxuan]

[Realm: Body Tempering First Layer, Perfected]

[Martial Art: Indestructible Vajra Body (Realm: Minor Success, Progress: Two Inches, Merit: 12/45)]

He exhaled a breath of turbid air and walked to the well, pouring a bucket of ice-cold well water over his head. The water washed over his body, carrying away sweat and sand. The burning sensation on his skin subsided, replaced by a sense of exhilaration after his muscles and bones had stretched.

This was the reward of cultivation. Every bit of pain was repaid with merit; every drop of sweat made the mountain ahead one inch shorter.

Practicing martial arts consumed a great deal of vital energy, and his appetite grew accordingly. The meat porridge Ye Caiwei cooked every day, a large pot of it, saw seven or eight tenths of it go into his stomach. The little girl didn't begrudge him; instead, she would watch her brother devour his food with a smile, as if the more he ate, the more reassured she felt.

Another two days passed like this, and Ye Qingxuan's merit points had accumulated to eighteen.

The changes brought about by cultivating the Indestructible Vajra Body were not just numbers on the scroll. His physique still appeared lean, but the muscles beneath his short tunic had become as firm as iron. When he walked, his steps were steady, his feet rooted to the ground. Even carrying a burden of three hundred jin, he could walk as if it were nothing.

That morning, it was time to go to the Fengtian Division for duty again.

Ye Qingxuan changed into a clean constable's uniform and, under Ye Caiwei's watchful gaze, walked out of the small courtyard.

Upon arriving at the Fengtian Division's gatehouse, he had just stepped into the roll-call courtyard when he noticed the atmosphere was different from usual. Normally, the constables would gather in twos and threes, either complaining about the hardship of their duties or chatting about gossip from the streets. Today, most of them were gathered in the center of the courtyard, facing one direction, their faces filled with fawning smiles.

At the center of the crowd was Zhang Lingxiao.

The Zhang family's nephew was wearing a brand-new constable's uniform today, the fabric far superior to the coarse cloth worn by them, the temporary constables. His build was already sturdy, and the well-fitting clothes made him look even more spirited. He held his head high, his chin slightly raised, chatting and laughing with the official constables surrounding him, his words filled with the arrogance of youthful success.

"Monkey head, what's all the fuss over there?" Ye Qingxuan walked to a corner and patted Wei Datong's shoulder.

Wei Datong, who had been craning his neck to look, turned his head upon hearing him. He pouted and lowered his voice, "What else could it be? Young Master Zhang officially entered the Body Tempering First Layer last night after starting his martial path."

His words carried a sour tang that could be smelled from thirty feet away.

"Among us, who hasn't toiled for years without even touching the threshold of Body Tempering? Look at him, how long has he been in the Fengtian Division? A month! Relying on the tiger bone paste and Qi-boosting powder his uncle got him, he forcefully piled up his cultivation. Comparing people is enough to make you sick!"

Xiong Tiezhu, standing beside him, added in a gruff voice, "I heard Chief Constable Zhang was overjoyed. Last night, he hosted three banquets at Manjiang Tower, inviting all the influential figures in the Division."

Ye Qingxuan listened, his expression unchanged, his gaze fixed on Zhang Lingxiao in the crowd. The young man's face glowed as he was praised by everyone, his spirit soaring as if the entire Linyuan Prefecture city had been trampled beneath his feet.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The bell for roll call rang, and the noise in the courtyard gradually subsided. The crowd filed into the main hall.

In the main hall, the person in charge today was not Chief Constable Hong, but another Chief Constable with the surname Yan. This Chief Constable Yan was about fifty years old, with a fair complexion and a goatee. He had always been on good terms with Chief Constable Zhang.

He sat at the head of the hall, cleared his throat, and swept his gaze over the constables below.

"I have called you all here today to announce two matters."

Silence reigned below the hall.

"The first is regarding the bounty for the remnants of the Green Fish Gang." Chief Constable Yan picked up a document and waved it. "The Deputy Garrison Commander has issued an order: anyone who provides clues and assists the Division in capturing the leader of the Green Fish Gang, the Flower Arm Flood Dragon, will be rewarded with ten taels of silver and one merit point! If you can capture and kill him personally, you will be rewarded with thirty taels of silver and one major merit point! Temporary constables may be promoted exceptionally!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of suppressed gasps swept through the hall.

Thirty taels of silver! One major merit point! And an exceptional promotion!

This reward was enough to drive all the constables in Linyuan Prefecture city into a frenzy. Wei Datong's eyes went wide, and he muttered under his breath, "Thirty taels... thirty taels... we're rich, we're rich this time..."

Ye Qingxuan, standing at the back of the crowd, felt a stir in his heart as well. This bounty was undoubtedly a way out for him. If he could take it down, not only would the monthly allowance from the Fierce Tiger Hall no longer be a problem, but his and his sister's lives would also be completely turned around.

Chief Constable Yan was pleased with the reaction from below the hall. He put down the document, a smile appearing on his face.

"The second matter is a joyous occasion."

He turned his gaze to Zhang Lingxiao, who stood at the front, his voice rising by an octave.

"Our Fengtian Division has successors! Temporary Constable Zhang Lingxiao, at the young age of seventeen, with exceptional talent and diligent cultivation, successfully broke through last night and officially entered the Body Tempering first stage!"

Before he finished speaking, a wave of flattery erupted from below the hall.

"Congratulations, Young Master Zhang! Congratulations, Young Master Zhang!"

"Young Master Zhang is truly a dragon among men, a prodigy of the Martial Path!"

"With Chief Constable Zhang, such a heroic figure, as his father, Young Master Zhang is naturally a tiger cub from a military family!"

Listening to the compliments from all directions, Zhang Lingxiao straightened his back even further, his arrogant expression softening into a reserved smile. He cupped his hands towards Chief Constable Yan and then bowed to the crowd, appearing mature beyond his years.

Chief Constable Yan raised his hand, silencing the clamor.

"Since Zhang Lingxiao has entered the Martial Path, assigning him to patrol duties would be a waste of his talent," he said slowly. "After discussion with Chief Constable Zhang, starting today, Zhang Lingxiao will be transferred to the Fengtian Division's armory to serve as 'Guard'."

The moment the word "Guard" was uttered, many faces in the hall changed.

The Fengtian Division's armory housed all sorts of weapons confiscated by the division, cultivation techniques, and even some low-grade elixirs. The "Guard" position was not only leisurely but also incredibly lucrative. Normally, one would watch over the storeroom undisturbed, a perfect place for dedicated cultivation. If one was lucky, they might even learn a trick or two from the cultivation manuals.

Such a good opportunity, which countless official constables fought tooth and nail for, now fell to a young man who had just entered the Body Tempering first stage.

Wei Datong, standing beside Ye Qingxuan, almost ground his molars to dust. His lips moved, silently cursing something.

This world has never been fair.

Some people are born in the clouds; others spend their entire lives struggling in the mud.

Zhang Lingxiao was one of those born in the clouds.

Ye Qingxuan watched this microcosm of officialdom and the martial world unfold on stage and below, his heart undisturbed. He felt neither envy nor jealousy.

Zhang Lingxiao had his own bright path; he had his own narrow bridge.

Others' glory belonged to them. His own path ultimately had to be forged step by step.

The boisterous congratulations, the fawning smiles, the arrogance of the young man's success – all became background noise in his eyes. He merely calculated his Merit in his heart.

Twenty-seven points short.

At most nine more days of arduous cultivation.

After the meeting dispersed, everyone crowded around Zhang Lingxiao, suggesting they go celebrate. Zhang Lingxiao waved his hand grandly, offering to treat everyone at a restaurant.

Ye Qingxuan did not join the festivities. He, along with Xiong Tiezhu and Wei Datong, received their patrol assignment for the day and quietly exited the hall.

"Damn it, this is so frustrating!" As soon as they were out of the yamen, Wei Datong couldn't help but curse. "Some brat, relying on his uncle, gets promoted overnight! Us old guys, we work ourselves to death and don't even get a hair!"

Xiong Tiezhu said sullenly, "He has good luck."

"Good luck?" Wei Datong sneered. "It's just being born into the right family. Qingxuan, isn't that the truth?"

Ye Qingxuan walked ahead, not looking back.

"That's the truth," he replied. "So, we have to earn our own fate."

His voice was not loud, but it made Wei Datong and Xiong Tiezhu freeze. They looked at Ye Qingxuan's retreating figure. His build was still that of a youth, but for some reason, he exuded a steadiness that belied his age.

It was as if all the unfairness and clamor of the world could not disturb his steps.