In the Great Zhou Dynasty, once the hour of the Rooster arrived, the workday ended and it was time for the next shift to take over.
Before then, Chen Bin had gone to the reward office and successfully collected ten taels of silver.
With the heavy silver tucked away, he was in high spirits as he strode into a bustling restaurant.
Inside, the aromas of wine and food mingled in the air.
Chen Bin found an empty seat and ordered a feast worth one tael of silver. Before long, nine hearty meat dishes were served one after another.
Every dish was generous in portion and mouthwatering in aroma.
Chen Bin dug in with gusto, eating to his heart's content. Only after he had eaten and drunk his fill did he rise, thoroughly satisfied, and leisurely head home.
For someone who cultivated, going without meat and medicinal tonics made it very hard for the body to hold up.
Chen Bin knew this well, which was why he was treating himself so lavishly.
Back home, he carefully locked the doors and windows, instantly transforming into a quiet homebody.
He walked over to the desk inside, sat down gently, and opened the panel.
It clearly displayed:
[Name]: Chen Bin [Cultivation]: Body Tempering Realm (Jade Marrow Perfection) [Merit]: 494 [Martial Arts]: Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique (Supreme: Cannot Be Fused) Demon Suppression Blade Technique (Supreme) Pure Yang Art - Qi Gathering Chapter (Not Initiated: 0/50) Wind Thunder Saber Technique (Not Initiated: 0/50)
Chen Bin stared at the panel, sinking into deep thought.
"Cannot be fused?"
He murmured to himself, brows knitted tight, and recalled that the Pure Yang Art - Qi Gathering Chapter was the successor technique to the Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique.
Could it be that once he had initiated the Pure Yang Art - Qi Gathering Chapter, the Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique would fuse into it?
And once the two were fused, would he be able to step into the Qi Gathering Realm?
With that guess in mind, Chen Bin didn't hesitate. He immediately chose to spend Merit.
[You spent 50 Merit and began comprehending Pure Yang Art - Qi Gathering Chapter.] [You have gained an Initial Glimpse of Pure Yang Art - Qi Gathering Chapter.] [Your physique has greatly improved.] [Your cultivation has advanced. Qi and Blood are circulating through your limbs and bones, and you are on the verge of entering the Qi Gathering Realm.] [Remaining Merit: 444]
In an instant, the progress bar for the Pure Yang Art - Qi Gathering Chapter changed on the panel:
[Martial Arts]: Pure Yang Art - Qi Gathering Chapter (Initiated: 0/100) [Cultivation]: Half Step Qi Gathering Realm (Gathering Qi and Blood, Opening Tanzhong: 30) [Map]: The detectable range is twenty-five zhang.
Chen Bin looked at the Merit cost of one hundred beside the Pure Yang Art - Qi Gathering Chapter, then at the thirty beside Tanzhong.
Tanzhong meant the Tanzhong Acupoint. Did opening each acupoint require thirty Merit?
He couldn't decide where to spend it.
And besides!
He really didn't have enough Merit to go around!
But the thought flashed through his mind and was gone. He emerged from that state of concentration.
His body felt hot all over.
Although the Pure Yang Art - Qi Gathering Chapter had only just been initiated, he could clearly feel a stream of warmth welling up through his limbs and bones, gathering steadily toward his chest.
With every breath, the wave of heat coursed through his heart and blood vessels, then circulated through his body again and again.
Its path seemed to have been traced a thousand times over. Even if Chen Bin fell asleep, the warmth would keep circulating on its own.
The next morning.
Chen Bin slowly woke. After getting out of bed, he washed up in an orderly fashion.
He walked to the window and looked up at the sky. The sun hung about thirty to forty degrees above the horizon. Judging by experience, he figured it was around eight or nine in the morning.
Today was a day off—or, more precisely, a rare chance to relax after a life-or-death mission.
Chen Bin had something on his mind. He was going to the County Office to find Chen Chong.
Chen Chong had a superb movement technique, and Chen Bin had been thinking about it all day yesterday. Today, he planned to go and get it.
Today, Chen Bin wasn't wearing the Demon Suppression Division's uniform. Instead, he had changed into a dark robe.
The robe was a little tight on him.
But it didn't matter. As long as it covered him, it would do.
He hung the Demon Suppression Blade at his waist, then pushed open the door and stepped out.
The aroma from the breakfast stalls along the street wafted over. Chen Bin spent thirty Copper Coins on a simple but satisfying breakfast.
The stall owner recognized the Demon Suppression Blade and had wanted to refuse payment, but he couldn't stop Chen Bin from handing over the money.
That gave Chen Bin a chance to get a feel for the prices.
So the forty Copper Coins he had paid the previous day really had been too much.
After paying, he headed toward the County Office.
Before long, Chen Bin arrived at the entrance to the County Office.
The constable on guard saw a stranger approaching and was about to step forward to stop him.
But the moment his gaze fell on the Demon Suppression Blade at Chen Bin's waist, his attitude did a complete about-face. He became exceedingly respectful.
After all, who in the county didn't know the Demon Suppression Blade?
When Chen Bin said he was looking for Chen Chong, the two constables on guard immediately volunteered to go and notify him.
Chen Bin didn't mind either way and left the choice to them.
One of them hurried off to deliver the message.
Chen Bin waited calmly outside.
He didn't want to go in and look for Chen Chong. He didn't want to go inside only to be stared at like a monkey.
After a while, the constable came hurrying back with another constable.
He rushed up to Chen Bin, bowed slightly, and spoke with a respectful yet ingratiating air. "Sir, Chief Chen isn't at the County Office. He's out on official business.
"But he's still in the city. I have to guard the gate, so I'll have one of Chief Chen's subordinates take you to him."
The constable who had come along immediately bowed respectfully.
"Lord Chen, this way."
"Let's go." Chen Bin gave a slight nod and replied in an even tone.
Fifteen minutes later, the constable brought Chen Bin to a home in North Ward.
Dozens of commoners had already gathered outside the house, all peering in curiously and whispering among themselves.
Chen Bin's gaze swept across the crowd and instantly fixed on two Demon Race members with Red Names above their heads. His eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of wariness flickering in them.
Chen Bin paid no attention to the crowd. With the County Office constable leading the way, he pushed through and entered the courtyard.
As soon as he stepped inside, he spotted people from the Demon Suppression Division.
He didn't recognize them. Judging by their clothes, they were probably Captains serving under another Captain.
The man saw the blade at Chen Bin's waist but no uniform, and couldn't tell where he was from.
He thought for a long while but couldn't place him. This man was neither a superior nor a colleague.
So he merely glanced at him coldly and paid him no further attention.
Here, only those of equal rank counted as colleagues. What were subordinates?
Dogs.
Chen Bin wasn't surprised to see someone from the Demon Suppression Division either.
According to procedure, the County Office handled ordinary cases first and then notified the Demon Suppression Division for assistance, unless the case was directly under the Division's jurisdiction.
Only when a case truly involved demons or monsters was it handed over entirely to the Demon Suppression Division.
From the looks of it, this case was almost certainly connected to demons or monsters.
Chen Chong was still discussing things with everyone in the courtyard. The moment he saw Chen Bin arrive, he hurried over, surprise showing on his face. "Chen Bin, what brings you here?"
"You said last night you had a footwork technique. I came to find you today." Chen Bin stated his purpose bluntly.
Chen Chong smiled, a trace of helplessness crossing his face. "I wanted to come find you yesterday, but I was tied up with trivial matters and couldn't get away."
"What happened here?" Chen Bin glanced around the courtyard and asked.
"Revenge!" Chen Chong said gravely. "The South Mountain Lord's revenge."
Chen Bin's brows drew tight. "What do you mean?"
"Come with me!" Chen Chong beckoned him to follow.
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