Wang Sheng gave a slight nod, as if he had seen through everything long ago. "I know what you want."
As he spoke, he flicked an Arrow Token toward Chen Bin. "Go to the Martial Arts Pavilion and pick two martial arts."
"Sir, what I really want is the Mind Method for the Meridian Opening Realm and above in the Pure Yang Art's Qi Gathering Chapter." Chen Bin deliberately put extra emphasis on "and above."
Wang Sheng considered this for a moment. "I'll see what I can do about that.
"For now, go learn two martial arts and get some practice in."
"Yes! Thank you, sir." Chen Bin cupped his fists in salute, turned, and strode out.
After Chen Bin left, Wang Sheng slowly turned his gaze to Liu Wei and asked calmly, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Liu Wei spread his hands, his face helpless. "By the time I arrived, they were all already dead."
Wang Sheng fell into thought, murmuring, "Well, that makes things interesting.
"Chen Bin advances one realm every day. Very interesting."
"Sir, what should we do?" Liu Wei stepped forward to ask.
"Everything stays as usual. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility."
Wang Sheng remained calm, his tone firm. "Spend more time talking with Chen Bin. With his strength and talent, he might end up serving at the Hundred Households Office or Thousand Households Office someday—and become our superior."
"Sir, this..." Liu Wei hesitated. "Isn't that a bit far off?"
"What a fool. Can't you learn even when I spell it out?" Wang Sheng said. "Far off? I only just sent a petition recommending him for merit to the Hundred Households Office yesterday. I'll be sending another one for him shortly. Do you think tomorrow is far off?"
"I understand, sir." Liu Wei nodded and was about to leave.
Just then, someone hurried up to report, "Sir, Tiger One's belly was cut open, and all the undigested bones were emptied out. We only found Little Banner Kang's clothes and shoes."
Wang Sheng turned to Liu Wei and said gravely, "Take Kang Ronghao's remains to Captain Qian at the City Defense Division."
"Yes!" Liu Wei accepted the order and hurried off.
Wang Sheng turned to the constable who had delivered the report. "Go tell the kitchen to butcher a tiger. I haven't eaten one in ages.
"And tell the brothers we're having tiger meat tonight.
"Also, send Tiger Two's corpse to Captain Chen's home, head and all.
"It's a Qi Gathering Realm Tiger Demon.
"Have the Yamen Inner Official send a cook to prepare it properly.
"Then take over a few doses of Great Medicine to help him build up his strength."
Wang Sheng was practically drooling. "He's already run himself ragged. He needs the nourishment."
"Yes!" The constable accepted the order and left.
Meanwhile, Chen Bin held the Arrow Token and stepped into the Martial Arts Pavilion once more.
The same constable was there.
Seeing Chen Bin come in, he assumed Chen Bin had come to read one of the manuals he had looked at a couple of days earlier, and asked, "Captain Chen, would you like to read the Pure Yang Art's Qi Gathering Chapter or the Wind Thunder Saber Technique?"
Chen Bin calmly showed him the Arrow Token and announced, "Captain Wang sent me to choose two manuals!"
The constable glanced at the token, his manner immediately growing more respectful. He hurriedly asked, "What would you like to learn, Captain Chen?"
Chen Bin thought for a moment. "Fist, palm, leg, or movement techniques—any of those will do. Ideally, they should be able to work together.
"Basically, I want close-quarters techniques."
"I think we have just the thing." The constable lowered his head and thought for a moment. "The Demon Suppression Division has a manual for Xing Yi Quan. It includes the Three-Body Stance, Five Elements Fist, and Twelve Forms Fist. It'd suit you very well."
Chen Bin's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "Excellent. I like it. What else?"
The constable nodded and continued, "There's also the Bone Marrow Separation and Dragon Entanglement Hand, a grappling technique that specializes in close combat."
Chen Bin nodded again. "I'll take those two."
"Yes!" The constable handed him the sign-in ledger. "Captain Chen, sorry to trouble you, but please sign here!"
Chen Bin didn't refuse. It was a necessary formality, and besides, he had earned the chance to choose through the proper channels.
The constable checked his signature carefully, made sure everything was in order, then turned and ran up the stairs to fetch the manuals.
Soon, the constable came hurrying down with two manuals in his arms.
Chen Bin took them in both hands and eagerly entered a private room.
An hour later, two new martial arts appeared on Chen Bin's status panel.
[Martial Arts]: Bone Marrow Separation and Dragon Entanglement Hand (Not Initiated: 0/50) Xing Yi Quan (Not Initiated: 0/50)
These two martial arts were only collections of moves at the General Banner office. Neither included a method for circulating qi.
Chen Bin figured he would have to go to the Hundred Households Office to find methods for circulating qi.
He returned the two manuals and signed them back in.
"Take care, Captain Chen!" the constable called warmly after him as he put the manuals away.
Chen Bin walked out of the Martial Arts Pavilion and happened to see Liu Wei standing outside with several captains.
When he came over, he couldn't help asking, "Banner Officer Liu, what are you doing here?"
"Hey!" Liu Wei grinned and stepped forward. "Little brother, you got promoted, didn't you? Your big brother here wants to take you out to celebrate."
Chen Bin raised his brows. Someone offering to buy him a meal was always a good thing, so he readily nodded. "Sure!"
"Come on, come on!" Liu Wei warmly called to Li Kun and the others, then pulled Chen Bin along.
"Where are we eating?" Chen Bin asked casually.
"First, we'll eat tiger meat in the mess hall. Then we'll go to the Jiaofang Si for seafood," Liu Wei said mysteriously. "Come to think of it, we have you to thank for this treat!"
That evening.
The Demon Suppression Division in Wanbao County.
Wang Sheng had specifically requisitioned two Hundred-Year Ginseng roots from the Demon Suppression Division's stores. He ordered them to stew tiger meat from a Body Tempering Perfected Tiger Demon with Treasure Medicine, along with a Blood Ginseng root.
The rich aroma spread out, enveloping the entire Demon Suppression Division.
Faced with this feast, Chen Bin devoured three basins of tiger meat, a tiger kidney, a tiger bone marrow, and a section of spinal marrow. Only then did the ravenous hunger inside him, brought on by his advancement, finally begin to fade.
After the meal, Liu Wei beamed as he led Chen Bin toward the Jiaofang Si.
The Jiaofang Si was a fine place in Wanbao County, renowned as the softest, gentlest, and most tender spot in the whole county.
That Spring Breeze Tower Chen Bin had visited before was the sort of place only broke bastards went to.
The fish in its pond reeked, tasted of mud, and might even have parasites.
Well-off birds came to the Jiaofang Si's waters to feast on an all-you-can-eat seafood spread.
The fish here were plump and delicious; the abalones were huge and juicy, clean and hygienic.
Standing beneath the Jiaofang Si's signboard, Chen Bin's eyes immediately lit with interest.
Several lines of text appeared before him in quick succession:
[Hong Mei: Qi Gathering Realm Fox Demon, Merit available: 18]
[Jun Lan: Qi Gathering Realm Fox Demon, Merit available: 19]
[Du Juan: Qi Gathering Realm Fox Demon, Merit available: 20]
He pondered to himself: There were actually twelve foxes in this place, and seven of them had reached the Qi Gathering Realm.
A few notifications about humans appeared as well.
He looked up at the signboard hanging high overhead, the corners of his mouth lifting. He murmured, "Who would've thought this place was a fox den!"
"The Jiaofang Si in Wanbao County can't compare to the one in Prefecture City. These are all the ones that got left behind.
"But we still have three lovely flowers."
As he spoke, Liu Wei gestured lightly with his hand.
"The first is Du Juan, the second is Jun Lan, and the third is Hong Mei.
"They're rare beauties in the county. I'll introduce you to them right now."
With that, Liu Wei grabbed Chen Bin by the arm and enthusiastically led him inside.
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