Successive Visitors

"Haha! Look at me!"

Xiao Cha seemed to have springs in her feet. She leaped more than two stories high and bounced all over the courtyard, kicking up howling gusts of wind.

This was only the initial physical enhancement brought by [Organ Refining]. As her realm deepened, she would become more and more inhuman.

"Whew! That was fun!"

After bouncing around to her heart's content, Xiao Cha landed lightly on the ground, looking terribly pleased with herself.

Then she suddenly remembered something and called out, "Hey! You two, stand still!"

She shoved one hand into each of Lu Li and Wan Qing's clothes, pressed her palms against their chests, and screwed up her face as she concentrated!

All at once, Lu Li felt a tingling current surge through her hand and into his body!

His whole body felt as if he'd been soaking in a hot spring, warm and utterly at ease!

Wan Qing felt it too, and asked in amazement, "Is this a martial artist's [Internal Breath]?"

Xiao Cha flashed a row of porcelain-white teeth. "That's right! Feels good, doesn't it? With this, I can help you two with [Bone Forging]."

"No!" Wan Qing shook her head.

"Internal Breath is the essence of your five organs. You don't even have enough for your own cultivation... You shouldn't give it to me. Just help Young Master Lu."

Xiao Cha looked unconcerned. "Don't worry, I've got plenty of vital energy!"

Her skin was rosy and radiant, the sort that made people want to take a bite. She was indeed a girl with vigorous blood and abundant Yin Yuan.

As the three marveled at the wonders of [Internal Breath], someone pounded on the medical hall's front door.

A deferential voice called out, "Master Luo, it's Old Zhong. I've come to see you!"

Xiao Cha opened the door. The visitor was the middle-aged constable from earlier.

He wore an ingratiating smile and carried half a pig, weighing more than fifty catties.

In this era, meat was a luxury. One Ocean Dollar could buy only three catties.

He was offering nearly two months' wages as a gift. That was quite a show of sincerity.

Xiao Cha glanced at the meat, then turned and walked back into the courtyard, her voice cold.

"Old Zhong, I don't think you have any business coming to see me. You were certainly putting on quite a show of authority just now!"

"Oh, come on! That was all because Qin Chuan forced my hand!"

Seeing Xiao Cha step aside, Old Zhong brightened and hurried into the courtyard, cursing Qin Chuan as he went.

"That bastard is vicious to the bone. He couldn't stand to see you doing well... Thank goodness you're blessed with good fortune!"

Old Zhong first distanced himself from Qin Chuan, then changed his tone and sighed.

"Now you've achieved Organ Refining and finally made it to the top. Captain Luo's spirit in heaven must be overjoyed!"

At that, Xiao Cha looked wistful for a moment, then spoke solemnly.

"Old Zhong, you served under my father, so there's no need for formalities between us. Work hard for me, and I'll give you a squad leader's position!"

A squad leader was a constable's subordinate who could oversee six people.

Old Zhong was overjoyed. "I'll give my all for you. I'll never betray you!"

He immediately pledged his loyalty, then continued.

"There's something you should know! Qin Chuan has been gathering [Spirit Children] for a wealthy patron and has climbed in with the powerful. You'd better be on your guard!"

Xiao Cha's expression turned cold. "Tell me everything."

Old Zhong hurriedly explained.

"The Wang family patriarch looks like he's about to die. They need to prepare a few children to accompany him and serve him in the afterlife, so he ordered the Tooth Brokerage to handle it. Qin Chuan's been running around helping out, hoping to curry favor with the Wang family."

Old Zhong paused, then got to the point.

"I'm worried that bastard might use the Wang family's influence to come after you. You should know... the Wang family has a member working for the [Divine Heart Society]!"

As he spoke, Old Zhong bowed and cupped his hands toward Lu Li.

In his eyes, Xiao Cha was his patron, and Lu Li was Xiao Cha's patron. He had to warn him, too.

After Lu Li's mind had grown stronger, his memory had improved as well.

Hearing "a member of the Wang family, working for the Divine Heart Society," he suddenly thought of something.

"What's the name of the Wang family member in the Divine Heart Society?"

Old Zhong hesitated for a long while before answering uncertainly, "Something Wang... Siqi, I think..."

"Wang Siqi?"

"Yes, that's him! Do you know him, Young Master?"

"Of course I know him..."

Lu Li's expression turned peculiar. Wang Siqi was the bastard who sold crystal meth!

Old Zhong wasn't surprised. There were only so many Cultivators, so it was perfectly normal for them to know one another.

At that moment, Xiao Cha cleared her throat and tactfully saw him off. "I understand. Keep an eye on Qin Chuan, and report to me as soon as anything happens."

"Understood! I won't trouble you any longer, then. I'll take my leave."

Old Zhong repeatedly cupped his hands to Xiao Cha and Lu Li, then left the medical hall.

Good fortune put a spring in Old Zhong's step. He swaggered along, swaying from side to side.

"Looks like I've finally turned my luck around!"

For a constable, having no backing was the most frightening thing.

Now he had a patron of his own, and one with deep roots at that. Life was about to get a whole lot easier!

"Right, I should remind Captain Luo to pay his respects to [Chief Constable Chen]! We can't afford to neglect him!"

Old Zhong quickly slipped into his new role and began thinking on behalf of his superior.

But when he looked up and saw that dusk was near, he reconsidered.

"Never mind today. I'll come by first thing tomorrow morning. That'll make me look devoted."

Old Zhong made a mental note of it and continued swaggering down the road.

But as he walked, he suddenly froze!

At the mouth of the alley, a middle-aged man strode toward him, radiating authority and inspiring awe without even trying.

"C-Chief Constable Chen!"

It was the very Chief Constable he'd just been thinking about! The gap between them was enormous, and Old Zhong hurriedly started to kneel...

But Chief Constable Chen raised a hand and swept it through the air, stirring up a powerful current that held Old Zhong upright.

"Enough. You don't need to bow outside the yamen. Is Xiao Cha here?"

"Yes, yes, she is..."

Old Zhong stood stiffly to one side and watched the Chief Constable head toward the medical hall.

"He actually came to visit a subordinate in person!"

Old Zhong was shaken to the core! But he soon realized why the Chief Constable had deigned to come.

"He must be here for Young Master Lu!"

If Young Master Lu also accepted their recruitment and joined the constabulary, wouldn't Old Zhong himself... rise to the heavens along with everyone around him!

Growing even more excited, Old Zhong continued on his way, walking on air.

But after only a few steps, he nearly collided with a portly gentleman.

"The people in the constabulary are getting more and more useless."

The man shook his head and also headed toward the medical hall.

Old Zhong took a closer look and recognized him. "Jin Chaofeng of the National Martial Arts Association! News travels fast. He's already here!"

"That's right. The National Martial Arts Association has always wanted to support its own Cultivators... Young Master Lu might not join the constabulary after all!"

Old Zhong felt conflicted, but then he thought better of it. Why should he worry about something like that? He'd better hurry home and tell his wife and children the good news.

At the same time, Lu Li was saying, "Xiao Cha, help me find out about Wang Siqi."

"Mm, I understand. That man deserves to die."

As the saying went, the bigger your ability, the bigger the trouble you could stir up.

Before, when they ran into Wang Siqi, all they could do was avoid him. Now they could at least consider getting rid of the bastard.

Even Xiao Cha didn't think anything of it. It had been, at most, a month, yet the situation had changed completely.

As Xiao Cha reflected on this, she went to deal with the pig. Then someone knocked on the courtyard gate again.