Deep night blanketed the sky with sparse starlight, yet lamps still burned in a corner of Nanning County's West City.
Gu Chang'an walked through the familiar street corner, his steps slightly steady and composed.
He had experienced much today, and though he showed no outward fatigue, his mind was inevitably tense.
Only when he saw the old pagoda tree in front of his house did he gradually relax.
"Oh, little Gu is back!" Aunt Wang from across the street poked her head out the window and said with a smile, "Your first day on duty today, are you tired?"
"I'm fine," Gu Chang'an replied with a fist-and-palm salute and a smile, his tone as calm as ever.
Another neighbor's child poked his head out and asked with curiosity:
"Big Brother Gu, did you catch any thieves today? Did you get into any fights?"
Gu Chang'an shook his head with a smile, offering no detailed explanation, and only said softly:
"Nothing major. I just patrolled a few rounds, a bit tired is all."
At that moment, in front of the old house at the street corner, an old grandmother with a head of silver hair and a benevolent face walked slowly with a cane, looking at Gu Chang'an. Her voice was hoarse yet filled with concern: "Child, doing this job is not easy. If you truly encounter dangerous matters, do not push yourself or act recklessly."
Gu Chang'an immediately bowed with folded hands and said solemnly: "Thank you for your concern, Granny. Chang'an will keep it in mind."
The old grandmother nodded, turned, and tremblingly returned to her house.
The surrounding neighbors gradually dispersed, the lamps went out, and the alleys returned to a quiet stillness.
Gu Chang'an pushed the door and entered his home, which was small, simple, and tidy.
The books still lay on the table, the long saber hung from its rack in the corner of the room, and a martial practice mat was spread out upon the bamboo matting. Everything was familiar and reassuring.
He gently set down his bundle, sat by the edge of the couch, and took out that heavy money pouch. Silver ingots and broken silver spilled across the table, their cold light sharp.
"Two hundred liang... enough for me to buy five medicinal baths, and breaking through two more levels in saber practice will be no problem at all."
Afterward, he took out those two sheepskin ancient volumes—Green Lotus Poison Scripture and Mountain Shattering Saber Technique—and flipped through a few pages. The paper was old and yellowed, yet the handwriting remained clear and strong.
"These are what I obtained today... Though unexpected, they have brought me a great fortune."
He muttered to himself, a resolute glint shining in his eyes.
Gu Chang'an did not know the value of the Green Lotus Poison Scripture.
Yet the Mountain Shattering Saber Technique, a Yellow Grade Middle Rank saber technique, was worth at least five hundred taels of silver.
Gu Chang'an let out a slow breath, walked over to the saber rack, and drew his own blade.
Shua—
The saber left its scabbard with a flash of cold light. The edge still carried traces of mottled blood—Lu Tong's blood.
He gazed at it for a moment, then turned in silence and went to the water vat to fetch water, carefully wiping the blade clean until it recovered the cold, bright silver luster of its polish, only then feeling satisfied.
He sheathed the saber.
Next, he stripped off his outer robe, wearing only his form-fitting practice clothes, sat cross-legged on the mat, took a deep breath, and slowly regulated his breath until it gradually steadied.
A moment later, he rose, grasped the long saber, parted his feet half a step, and assumed a stance as steady as a monolith.
"Mountain Shattering Saber Technique, first form—Splitting the Peak!"
He gave a low shout, and the long saber slashed out abruptly. The saber stance carried the weight and fierce momentum of a collapsing mountain and roaring thunder, tearing through the air and unleashing a deafening blade wind!
"Good!" His eyes lit up, and he did not stop.
"Second form—Severing the Ridge!"
"Third form—Rending the Rock!"
Move after move, though the saber technique was not yet fully mastered, it already revealed a measure of its inner essence.
He repeatedly pondered the essentials, combining them with his own original learning. Every form he slashed reinforced his mastery over force and rhythm.
Unnoticeably, the night grew deeper.
Gu Chang'an's practice clothes were soaked with sweat and his breathing was slightly ragged, yet his face was written with utter satisfaction.
He withdrew his saber and stood, gazing at the distant, dim lights outside the window as his heart turned crystal clear—
"The Firewood Gang, the Flowing Gold Gang, the Red Gold Gang... all of these are merely the beginning."
"Only by becoming stronger can one avoid being at the mercy of others."
He looked toward the silver ingots and secret manuals on the table, his gaze as steady as a saber's edge—
"Today is but a small step, and the road ahead is long."
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, as the sky grew slightly bright and a trace of dawn just brushed the eastern horizon,
Gu Chang'an rose early, washed, and practiced his qi, every movement meticulous.
After packing his things, he buckled on his saber and stepped out, donning his patrol uniform with steady strides as he headed toward the Martial Guard Division.
In the front courtyard of the Martial Guard Division, a morning breeze blew and the bluestone bricks were slightly damp. Constables had already arrived at their posts one after another.
Liu Wei was chatting idly in a corner with Song Zong and Zhou Yue, and seeing him arrive, he waved his hand.
"Brother Gu, today you are still in our group. Let's go, West City patrol as usual."
Liu Wei patted his shoulder with a smile.
Song Zong nodded, his expression remaining steady as he said,
"Though these past few days have not been peaceful in the West City district, the surface remains calm. We'll stick to the old rules—manage whatever comes up, and provide a deterrent when nothing does."
Gu Chang'an cupped his fists in response: "Understood."
The four of them set off as before, patrolling among the alleys of the West City district.
The bustling streets were lined with merchants, and petty thieves or scoundrels occasionally surfaced. The four of them gave out occasional reprimands, but encountered no major trouble.
Thus, ten days gradually passed.
During this period, the sudden death of Black Sand Gang incense master Lu Tong failed to stir any ripples among the common folk. Even the Flowing Gold Gang made no excessive moves, with only an occasional scout or two lingering in the streets without conducting any deep investigation.
What caused Gu Chang'an even greater internal doubt was the abnormality of the Firewood Gang.
This gang had always run amok in Nanning County, especially those people from the Qingzi Hall in the West City district. They routinely cursed and beat the common folk, collected protection money, and terrorized merchants by any means possible.
Yet for these past ten days, they had been... unusually quiet.
Far too quiet.
There were no reports of any households being extorted, nor any taverns being smashed, and even a few troublemakers who frequently caused scenes seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Song Zong had once remarked offhandedly:
"The Firewood Gang is acting very strangely these days. Forget about bullying the common folk; even sightings of them on the street have become scarce."
Zhou Yue also felt something was amiss:
"Those ruffians who collected protection money a few days ago always used to show up every three days. How come they haven't shown their faces in ten days?"
Liu Wei frowned and said in a low voice:
"I've asked around. The Qingzi Hall side seems to be experiencing some internal strife; some say the gang leader is gravely ill, while others say someone higher up has set their sights on them... As for whether it's true or false, I don't know."
Gu Chang'an appeared nonchalant on the outside while remaining inwardly vigilant.
Yet after observing personally for several days, he failed to discover any abnormal activity from the Firewood Gang.
Those who should be hiding were still hidden;
Those who should be arrogant had uncharacteristically changed, as if a completely different batch of people had suddenly been swapped in.
This momentary "peace" felt like the calm before a storm.
When the night patrol ended, Gu Chang'an returned home, pondering while wiping his long saber.
The moonlight shone upon the blade, its chill compelling.
At this moment, his strength had vastly increased.
[Name: Gu Chang'an] [Lifespan: 55 years and 3 months] [Identity: Constable (Minor Official)] [Realm: Ninth Rank] [Physique: 222 (+4/day)] [Techniques: Mountain Shattering Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Middle 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, Budding Practice/+), Archery (Mortal Grade, Initial Mastery/+)]
Very good, it had already reached 55 years.
It was time to spend lifespan.
Immediately, twenty years of lifespan vanished...
Since lifespan affected blood-qi, he kept around thirty years in reserve to spend when necessary.
At this moment, his data panel updated.
[Name: Gu Chang'an] [Lifespan: 30 years and 3 months] [Identity: Constable (Minor Official)] [Realm: Ninth Rank] [Physique: 329 (+4/day)] [Techniques: Mountain Shattering Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Middle Rank, Proficient/+), Green Lotus Poison Scripture (Yellow Grade, Proficient/+), Iron Cutting Saber Technique (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Mastery), Complete Iron Cloth Shirt (Yellow Grade High Rank, Mastery/+), 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 revealed a smile.
Very good, his physique had reached 329.
This physique was already stronger than that of ordinary Eighth Rank martial artists.
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