Ten Days Later

The night was deep, the starlight sparse, yet in a corner of Nanning County's west city, some households still had their lights on.

Gu Chang'an walked past familiar street corners, his steps steady.

He had experienced a lot today. Though he didn't outwardly show fatigue, his mind was inevitably tense.

It wasn't until he saw the old locust tree in front of his home that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey, little Gu's back!" Aunt Wang from across the way poked her head out the window, smiling. "First day on the job today, tired?"

"It's nothing," Gu Chang'an cupped his fists and smiled, his tone as calm as ever.

A child from a neighboring house also peeked out, asking curiously:

"Brother Gu, did you catch any thieves today? Did you fight anyone?"

Gu Chang'an smiled and shook his head, not explaining further, and said softly:

"Nothing major, just patrolled a few rounds. A bit tired."

Just then, an old woman with silver hair and a kind face, leaning on a cane, slowly walked out from the front of an old house at the street corner. She looked at Gu Chang'an, her voice hoarse but full of concern: "Child, this job isn't easy. If you ever encounter real danger, don't be reckless and try to be brave."

Gu Chang'an immediately bowed and clasped his hands in a formal greeting. "Thank you for your concern, Grandma. Chang'an will remember it."

The old woman nodded, then shakily turned and went back into her house.

The surrounding neighbors gradually dispersed, lights went out, and the streets returned to silence.

Gu Chang'an pushed open the door and entered his home. The room was small, simple, and tidy.

The books were still on the table, a long saber hung on the rack in the corner, and a practice mat was laid out on the bamboo mat. Everything was familiar and reassuring.

He gently set down his travel bag, sat by the couch, and took out the heavy money pouch. Silver ingots and broken silver were poured onto the table, their gleam cold and sharp.

"Two hundred taels... that's enough for me to buy five medicinal baths. I can even break through two more layers in my saber practice without any problem."

Then he took out the two ancient sheepskin scrolls – the Mountain Shattering Saber Technique and the Green Lotus Poison Scripture. He flipped through a few pages; the paper was old and yellowed, but the handwriting was still clear and strong.

"This is what I gained today... Although it was unexpected, it made me a fortune."

He muttered to himself, a hint of determination in his eyes.

Gu Chang'an didn't know the value of the Green Lotus Poison Scripture.

But the Mountain Shattering Saber Technique, this mid-grade Yellow tier saber technique, was worth at least five hundred taels of silver.

Gu Chang'an slowly exhaled and walked to the saber rack, drawing his own saber.

"Shhh—"

The saber left its sheath, a cold light flashed, and the blade still bore some bloodstains. It was Lu Tong's blood.

He stared for a moment, then turned silently to the water jug to fetch water. He carefully wiped the saber clean until it regained its silvery, cold luster before he was satisfied.

He returned the saber to its sheath.

Next, he took off his outer robe, leaving only his close-fitting practice clothes. He sat cross-legged on the mat, took a deep breath, and slowly regulated his breathing until it became steady.

A moment later, he stood up, holding the long saber, his feet spread half a step apart, his stance as firm as a rock.

"Mountain Shattering Saber Technique, first form—Mountain Chop!"

He let out a soft cry and swung the saber fiercely. The saber's momentum was like a mountain collapsing and thunder roaring, breaking through the air with heavy, fierce force, unleashing a deafening saber wind!

"Good!" His eyes lit up, and he didn't stop.

"Second form—Peak Sever!"

"Third form—Rock Split!"

One move after another, though the saber technique was not yet proficient, it already showed some of its essence.

He repeatedly pondered the key points, combining them with his original skills. With each strike, he strengthened his control over power and rhythm.

Unknowingly, the night grew deeper.

Gu Chang'an's sweat soaked his practice clothes, his breathing slightly heavy, but his face was filled with satisfaction.

He sheathed his saber and stood, looking at the faint lights in the distance outside the window, his mind clear—

"Firewood Gang, Flowing Gold Gang, Red Gold Gang... these are all just the beginning."

"Only by becoming stronger can I stop being controlled by others."

He looked at the silver ingots and secret manuals on the table, his eyes as steady as a blade's edge—

"Today was just a small step. The road ahead is still long."

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, as dawn broke, the eastern sky had just begun to show a hint of fish-belly white.

Gu Chang'an rose early, washed, and practiced his breathing, his movements meticulous.

After tidying himself up, he slung his saber over his shoulder and went out, changing into his patrol uniform. He walked steadily towards the Martial Guard Division.

In the front courtyard of the Martial Guard Division, the morning breeze blew, the bluestone floor tiles were slightly damp, and constables were already arriving for duty.

Liu Wei, Song Zong, and Zhou Yue were chatting in a corner. Upon seeing him arrive, Liu Wei beckoned him over.

"Brother Gu, you're with us again today. Let's go, same patrol route in the west city."

Liu Wei said with a smile, patting his shoulder.

Song Zong nodded, his expression as steady as ever.

"Although the west district has been a bit restless these past few days, things appear calm on the surface. We'll stick to the usual plan: handle any trouble that arises, and maintain a deterrent presence when there isn't."

Gu Chang'an cupped his hands in response, "Understood."

The four set off as usual, patrolling the streets and alleys of the west district.

The bustling streets were lined with merchants, and petty thieves and ruffians occasionally appeared. The four would occasionally shout at them, but they didn't encounter any major trouble.

Thus, time gradually passed, ten days in all.

During this period, the death of Lu Tong, the Hall Master of the Black Sand Gang, had not caused any ripples in the city. Even the Flowing Gold Gang made no significant moves. Only one or two scouts occasionally loitered on the streets but did not investigate further.

What puzzled Gu Chang'an even more was the unusual behavior of the Firewood Gang.

This gang had always been overbearing in Nanning County, especially the members of Qingzi Hall in the west district. They regularly bullied the common folk, extorted protection fees, and intimidated merchants, resorting to any means necessary.

Yet, for the past ten days, they had been... unusually quiet.

Too quiet.

There were no reports of households being extorted, no restaurants being vandalized, and even a few troublemakers who often caused issues seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Song Zong had casually remarked:

"The Firewood Gang has been acting strangely these past few days. Not only are they not oppressing the people, but they've also been seen out on the streets much less."

Zhou Yue also felt something was amiss:

"Those thugs who used to collect protection fees every few days – why haven't they shown up in ten days?"

Liu Wei frowned and said in a low voice:

"I've inquired. It seems there's some internal strife within Qingzi Hall. Some say the gang leader is gravely ill, while others say someone higher up has their eyes on them... but who knows if it's true."

Gu Chang'an maintained a calm facade, but his mind was secretly on alert.

However, after observing for several days himself, he found no unusual activity from the Firewood Gang.

Those who should be hiding remained hidden;

Those who should be arrogant had, contrary to their nature, changed as if a new group of people had taken over.

This brief moment of "peace" felt like the calm before a storm.

After finishing the night patrol, Gu Chang'an returned home, contemplating as he wiped down his long saber.

The moonlight shone on the blade, exuding a chilling aura.

At this moment, his strength had greatly increased.

[Name: Gu Chang'an]
[Lifespan: 55 years 3 months]
[Identity: Constable (Minor Official)]
[Realm: Ninth Rank]
[Constitution: 222 (+4/day)]
[Cultivation Techniques: Mountain Shattering Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Mid Rank, Initial Mastery/+), Green Lotus Poison Scripture (Yellow Grade, Initial Mastery/+), Iron Cutting Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Proficient), Complete Iron Cloth Shirt (Yellow Grade High Rank, Initial Mastery/+), Flowing Wind Steps (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Initial Mastery/+), Mountain Shattering Fist (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Beginner/+), Archery (Mortal Grade, Initial Mastery/+)]

Excellent, it's already 55 years.

It's time to spend some lifespan.

Immediately, twenty years of lifespan vanished...

Since lifespan affects blood energy, he kept around 30 years, planning to spend more when necessary.

At this point, his data panel updated to:

[Name: Gu Chang'an]
[Lifespan: 30 years 3 months]
[Identity: Constable (Minor Official)]
[Realm: Ninth Rank]
[Constitution: 329 (+4/day)]
[Cultivation Techniques: Mountain Shattering Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Mid Rank, Proficient/+), Green Lotus Poison Scripture (Yellow Grade, Proficient/+), Iron Cutting Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Mastered), Complete Iron Cloth Shirt (Yellow Grade High Rank, Mastered/+), Flowing Wind Steps (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Proficient/+), Mountain Shattering Fist (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Proficient/+), Archery (Mortal Grade, Proficient/+)]

Seeing this, Gu Chang'an smiled.

Very good, Constitution has reached 329.

This Constitution is already stronger than that of an ordinary Eighth Rank martial artist.