Chasing Moon Knife Technique!

Just as Chen Xia thought Jiang Xinglan was going to keep questioning him, she simply nodded calmly.

"Mm, I believe you."

Jiang Xinglan went on, "Evil techniques don't have a clearly defined boundary. Strictly speaking, only techniques based on harming others count as evil. Even if someone practices an evil technique, as long as no one catches them in the act and they don't hurt anyone, nothing will happen to them."

There was a deeper meaning behind her words.

What she meant was, as long as he didn't admit to it and no one caught him in the act, what did it matter if he practiced one?

The look in her eyes made Chen Xia understand that she had clearly noticed something. She simply wasn't pressing him on it.

"Thank you for your trust, Director!" Chen Xia stopped explaining. They both understood without needing to say it aloud.

"Mm."

Jiang Xinglan's thoughts stirred. She hadn't sensed any wicked aura from Chen Xia. More importantly, he had advanced to the Second Rank so quickly and performed so well in his battle against the Blood God. He must have had some kind of innate talent.

But Jiang Xinglan naturally wouldn't pry into a secret like that. As far as she was concerned, it might well be a good thing.

"I have another book for you." After setting the subject of evil techniques aside, Jiang Xinglan took a book from the cabinet and handed it to Chen Xia.

Chen Xia's expression flickered. Jiang Xinglan had given him an intermediate bone-tempering technique before, but he hadn't used it yet because his strength was still insufficient.

And now she was giving him another technique?

"Director, this is..."

"After the Blood God incident, the South City Branch Office destroyed all of the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group's hideouts and arrested quite a few people. They found a knife technique among the spoils. It's an intermediate Chasing Moon Knife Technique, so it's just right for you!"

Jiang Xinglan's dark eyes rested on Chen Xia as she spoke slowly. "As it happens, this knife technique was once practiced by the leader of the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group on Xingou Street in South City. Later, it was taken by the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group and ended up in the hands of the Patrol Inspection Office. I've set it aside to reward you. It's an official reward, not something from me personally."

At her words, Chen Xia recalled being at a teahouse with Eighth Team Captain Jiang Bing and Yang Hua. Jiang Bing had mentioned that the Blazing Fire leader knew a knife technique. He just hadn't expected it to end up in his hands.

And it was an intermediate technique!

An intermediate knife technique was worth at least two hundred thousand. Chen Xia couldn't help marveling at how easily he seemed to be getting his hands on things worth hundreds of thousands these days.

Of course, that was also because Jiang Xinglan valued him. She called it an official reward, but in reality, she was giving it to him personally.

"Thank you, Director. I'll make sure to practice it properly." Chen Xia really was short a knife technique, so since she was offering it, he accepted.

Jiang Xinglan nodded. "These are all minor matters. Next, you'll be appointed Deputy Headquarters Chief. There's something I need to tell you."

"Please go ahead, Director!"

"There are two major mercenary groups in Mengtang Street, the area you'll be responsible for: Iron Blood and Beacon Fire. Iron Blood belongs to the Su Family, and the Su Family is allied with my Jiang Family."

"Meanwhile, Baiyu Street has two major mercenary groups as well: Cangying and Wild Wolf. Cangying is weaker than Wild Wolf. Wild Wolf's core leader is Fang Haolong, a Second Rank, Eighth Stage martial artist. They say he's about to break through to the Third Rank and form Silver Bones. You'll need to be careful of the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group. They have the Fang Family behind them, and they're not easy to deal with."

"Of course, if anything really happens, I'll cover for you."

Jiang Xinglan continued, "There are complicated ties in these two streets. To secure your position as Deputy Headquarters Chief and manage them well, you'll need skill and ability. It would be best if no major incidents happened during your tenure, or they could affect you personally."

Hearing all this, Chen Xia felt that taking the Deputy Headquarters Chief position was going to be complicated.

A Deputy Headquarters Chief managed two districts on his own. It was nothing like when he'd been a squad leader under Zhou Tong. There were far more things to worry about.

He also had to maintain the status quo and avoid causing any major trouble.

"By the way, Director, what's the Fang Family's background?" Chen Xia asked. He wanted to understand the connections behind them.

"The Fang Family?" Jiang Xinglan said. "They have extensive connections in Yijiang City. One of the city's Deputy Futais is from their family, and they have plenty of ties among the middle and upper ranks as well. They even have someone backing them in Chujiang Province. Deputy Director Qian of the Chief Office is one of their people, too. He didn't say so openly at the meeting, but he objected to your appointment as Deputy Headquarters Chief. He just didn't dare oppose it with me there."

"That Deputy Director Qian is a friend of Yang Hua's father, from your South City Branch Office. He was the one who arranged for your previous nomination as Deputy Squad Leader to fall through."

"But you don't need to worry. You're already Deputy Headquarters Chief, and you have a certain standing. He won't dare do anything to you. Aside from the Fang Family behind the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group, there's nothing else to worry about. Besides, my Jiang Family has people backing us, too."

Jiang Xinglan told Chen Xia a great deal about the power dynamics in Yijiang City.

It made him realize just how deep the waters ran there.

As his position rose, he was starting to come into contact with people of some influence in Yijiang City.

In such circumstances, only his own strength could command respect. Otherwise, countless people would be watching any position just a little higher up.

It was only because of Jiang Xinglan that he'd been promoted. Even as a Second Rank martial artist, he would have had a hard time rising through the ranks in such fierce competition.

Martial artists were rare, but it depended on where you looked. Among the elite competing for positions in officialdom, there was no shortage of them.

A local mercenary group had a martial artist close to the Third Rank. That showed just how many skilled fighters they had.

Of course, with Chen Xia's current strength, maintaining the status quo wouldn't be a problem.

Although he was only a Second Rank martial artist, he also knew several evil techniques. With those methods, along with the Seven Injuries Fist and the Eternal Night Blood Scripture he was practicing, he was still growing stronger.

If someone failed to recognize his worth, he'd have ways to deal with them.

And there was one thing about his promotion that Chen Xia hadn't expected.

On Baiyu Street, within the Second Squad's jurisdiction, there was a Hongsheng Hardware Factory. It was the company that had failed to compensate his dad after his workplace injury, and it happened to fall under Chen Xia's jurisdiction. Now he could go and claim the compensation his dad was owed.

"That's all. You can head back. Your appointment letter will arrive this afternoon."

After talking with Chen Xia for a while, Jiang Xinglan said.

"I'll do my best as Deputy Headquarters Chief and won't let you down, Director!"

Before leaving, Chen Xia made a show of his sincerity. If he couldn't even manage that much courtesy, it would have been downright rude.

"Mm."

After watching Chen Xia close the door behind him and leave, a graceful figure appeared in the room before long. Lin Qinghan's long eyelashes fluttered as she looked at Jiang Xinglan.

"What do you think of him?"

"He's a little strange," Lin Qinghan replied frankly.

"Indeed." Jiang Xinglan smiled at Lin Qinghan. "He's advancing at a remarkable pace, and he knows a few unusual techniques. His Fist Force pierced the Blood God's qi shield before. It seems not only has practicing those unusual techniques caused him no physical problems, but he's also full of vitality and in excellent health. But the more that's true, the more he's worth cultivating. I just don't know what he'll become in the future."

Lin Qinghan said, "Chen Xia was born into poverty and went years without advancing. The Director took an interest in him and promoted him several times, so he should be grateful. He also risked his life to save his squad leader. He has a sense of loyalty, and there's nothing wrong with his words or actions."

"Going forward, we'll have to see whether he can withstand the temptations from other factions. The Fang Family has considerable influence, after all, and they may try to recruit him."

"Anyone in that position is bound to face the temptation of money. If he joins another faction, then there's nothing more to say."

Jiang Xinglan's eyes flickered. "But our Jiang Family has plenty of unmarried women. If he continues to improve and reaches the Third Rank, he might just become worthy of someone from the Jiang Family. We could arrange a match for him then."

"That's a good idea, Director."

Lin Qinghan smiled. "He's twenty-eight now. He once pursued a rich second-generation college student, but she wasn't interested. They say he was despondent for quite a while afterward."

"But if he really can become a Third Rank martial master, he'll have made something of himself. Then we can tie him to the Jiang Family by marrying him to someone from a collateral branch. He'll be one of our people."