Second Aunt Pleads

In the following days, Chen Xia went about his routine, patrolling the streets during his shifts and occasionally encountering scenes of conflict.

He himself was not in any danger, as the local mercenary groups generally didn't bother them.

Aside from work, during his lunch breaks and after getting off duty, Chen Xia was basically in a state of arduous training.

He had been practicing the Seven Injuries Fist, which led to a gradual improvement in his strength.

During this period, another incident occurred.

Yang Hua from the Patrol Inspection Office was transferred to his hometown to take up a post, and since the deputy captain of Chen Xia's Eighth Squad was transferred out, Yang Hua was appointed to fill that vacancy, promoted to deputy captain.

To celebrate, he invited members of the Eighth Squad for drinks, including Chen Xia.

However, Chen Xia declined, as he was focused on his rigorous training.

There was already some bad blood between Chen Xia's previous self and Yang Hua.

Furthermore, Chen Xia's refusal to attend made Yang Hua somewhat displeased, and he would often criticize Chen Xia's work.

Now that Chen Xia had the opportunity to break through to Martial Warrior and didn't care about these trivial matters, nor did he seek direct conflict with others, he focused solely on martial arts.

He practiced the Seven Injuries Fist, and two months quickly passed.

One day, Chen Xia finished his early shift and didn't have to work at night, so he returned to his shop.

To his surprise, he found guests at home.

His mother was entertaining a man and a woman, whom Chen Xia recognized.

They were his second aunt and second aunt's husband.

Seeing them, Chen Xia greeted them.

As relatives, the two families didn't interact much.

Because Chen Xia's family was too poor, far from the financial comfort of his second aunt's family. His second aunt's husband owned a small factory locally, which was much better than their family's situation.

A few years ago, his grandfather had a heart attack, and his father had asked the second aunt's husband for a loan of thirty thousand yuan, but he refused, citing cash flow issues.

Later, his second aunt secretly came and gave them thirty thousand yuan, which covered his grandfather's medical expenses. However, this did not please his second aunt's husband.

Although the money was eventually repaid, the relationship between the two families grew even more distant. It was heard that his second aunt's son, Chen Xia's cousin, had even uttered words like "a nest of poor ghosts" about their family.

It wasn't until Chen Xia was admitted into the Patrol Inspection Office that the relationship between the two families eased slightly.

Chen Xia held his second aunt in high regard. She had taken care of their family quite a bit and often gave him red envelopes when he was young.

This time, his second aunt's husband wore a smile, and along with his second aunt, they spoke very cordially.

"Xiaoxia, your second aunt really had no other choice but to come and ask for your help!"

As his second aunt spoke, she suddenly grabbed Chen Xia and began to cry. It was evident that they had been going through a difficult time recently, their faces etched with worry.

"Don't be like this, Second Aunt. Please tell me what's wrong..."

In the subsequent exchange, Chen Xia learned that it was his cousin, Zhu He, who had gotten into trouble.

Zhu He, relying on his family's wealth, liked to idle around outside and flirt with women.

His life would have continued without major incident if he hadn't gotten involved with people from the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group.

Not long ago, while drinking with some members of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group, they were ambushed by people from the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group. Zhu He was among them, and he was injured. Later, he was arrested by the Yijiang City Patrol Inspection Office and had not been released for several days, causing great distress to his second aunt's family.

It was said that the authorities were currently treating matters involving the two mercenary groups differently. If Zhu He had been with members of the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group, he might have been released immediately. However, he had gotten entangled with the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group.

Typically, those arrested in such situations would be detained and subjected to torture, not to be released for at least half a year, and even then, they would be half-dead.

In this High Martial Era, it was not like Chen Xia's previous world. Zhu He, if arrested, would likely be crippled upon release, as he had meddled in matters he shouldn't have.

The Blazing Fire and Gathering Justice mercenary groups, under the guise of mercenary organizations, were actually local powers.

The Seven Injuries Fist manual that Chen Xia had obtained earlier was taken from a member of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xia frowned and said, "Second Aunt, I can't really help with this matter. Besides, Zhu He was apparently arrested by people from the West City Patrol Inspection Office, which is not our jurisdiction. I'm just a patrol officer; I don't have any influence."

His words were true.

Yijiang City was divided into five districts: east, south, west, north, and central. Each district had eight streets, and each street had eight teams. Each team consisted of a captain and a deputy captain, totaling ten people. Chen Xia was a regular patrol officer in the Eighth Squad of the Eighth Xingou Street in the South District Patrol Inspection Office.

The ones who arrested Zhu He were from the Patrol Inspection Office of the Fifth Liren Street in the West District.

Chen Xia had no acquaintance with anyone from that department, so how could he speak to them? Whether Zhu He was released or not was not up to him, but rather the Chief Captain of the Branch Office above them, whom he did not know.

This matter could be significant or minor. After all, Zhu He was not an actual member of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group. However, once arrested, it was a different story.

Regardless, Chen Xia felt he lacked the standing to get Zhu He released.

Hearing this, his second aunt's husband and second aunt turned pale. His second aunt said, "Zhu He is not a member of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group. We tried to find connections, but we found out that the Gathering of Righteousness group didn't want to let your cousin go, so we had no choice but to come to you."

"My husband and I are not expecting you to release him today. We just want you to put in a good word for him. As long as he doesn't suffer in there, he can be released after a few months."

"Xiaoxia, can you see if you can find someone to talk to..." His second aunt looked at Chen Xia, her heart filled with worry. "I heard that people who go in for this kind of thing are usually crippled upon release. But if he doesn't suffer and gets through this stage, he can still come out. Your cousin is truly not part of any mercenary group; he just likes to hang out with them and has no connection to them! Second Aunt, I'm begging you..."

His second aunt's face was anxious. As she spoke, she handed Chen Xia a black plastic bag.

Seeing her Second Aunt's appearance, Chen Xia felt a bit troubled, but he finally took the items. "How about this... I can only try to ask, but don't get your hopes up. It might not work out."

If Zhu He had no connection with the Mercenary Group, there would be a chance, but some things were hard to say. After all, the matter Zhu He was involved in was a bit unusual.

He wasn't confident.

And Chen Xia naturally knew this money wasn't his; it was for him to do a job.

"That would be great! Thank you, Xiaoxia. You've helped Second Aunt a lot..."

Seeing a glimmer of hope, they were both incredibly excited.

Chen Xia felt immense pressure at this moment. Fortunately, Zhu He hadn't hurt anyone or done anything excessive.

He was just involved, and it wasn't easy to get out. But if someone could put in a word, it might help.

Chen Xia thought for a moment. He only had two methods.

The first was to go directly to the West City Patrol Inspection Office and find the Chief Captain there, or the Director, or whoever was in charge of detaining Zhu He.

The second was to find his own Headquarters or Director and have them communicate. However, with his own efforts, the chances of either method succeeding weren't very high.