Gold Jade

It was past noon.

He came to the South District Main Division again.

This was his first time here in more than half a year. The last time he came was for Zhang Hai's matter. That time, he could be said to have been cautious, bowing his head and trying not to attract any attention, trying to lower his presence and quietly going to the prison in the back.

This time was different. He was summoned by Xu Hongyu, the Chief Constable. Even if he wanted to lower his presence, it was impossible. He had to report to the front desk first, and then go to the central main building of the Main Division, led all the way up to the highest fourth floor.

The constable who led him up was a staff member in the Main Division. He cast many curious glances at him, and greeted him with a smile on his face along the way, asking this and that, revealing a desire to get acquainted.

The constables who can work in the Main Division generally have some connections or some skills. They are different from the low-level constables in the various ward sub-divisions. They have seen more and have a broader perspective.

Someone like Chen Mu, who could be summoned by Xu Hongyu, the Chief Constable, was definitely not an ordinary person, no matter what the reason was. Naturally, they were willing to get to know him.

"Alright, I'll take you here. Upstairs is the Chief Constable's hall. Brother Chen, please go up by yourself. When you have time, Brother Chen must come and find me. I must invite Brother Chen to taste the most famous Wind Tower Drunken Duck in our South District."

The constable who led Chen Mu upstairs took Chen Mu to the third floor, then stopped and cupped his fist with a smile.

Chen Mu cupped his fist at the other party, then went upstairs.

Fourth floor.

This was the highest floor of the main building of the City Guard Main Division. From here, one could also overlook the most prosperous streets in the South District.

The entire floor was very large, but it was quiet. Chen Mu only encountered a female constable in light clothing along the way, who led him to the innermost hall.

"Come in."

Xu Hongyu's voice did not come from the main hall in front, but from the side hall next to it.

The female constable who led him over gestured for him to enter.

The side hall was not as spacious as the main hall, but it was very elegant, with several Wisteria Wood desks placed, with some documents or one or two pots of flowers and plants on them.

Xu Hongyu was not wearing the white Flying Fish Uniform, but rather a slightly loose casual outfit, sitting behind a desk near the window, half of her body leaning against the window sill, one hand clenched into a fist supporting her chin, overlooking the city view outside the window.

"Chief Constable."

Chen Mu stopped about two meters away and saluted.

Xu Hongyu slowly turned her head, looked Chen Mu up and down, and then said, "Your father, Chen Feng, is an old constable in Nine Stripes Ward. He found Liu Ming's connections to arrange for you to enter the City Guard. At that time, you didn't know any saber techniques. In these years, you haven't had any connections, and you haven't learned saber from anyone. Then it should be that you accidentally obtained a saber manual and practiced it yourself for three or four years?"

With one sentence, Xu Hongyu made Chen Mu's resume clear.

Chen Mu was not surprised. After all, with Xu Hongyu's status, it was too easy to investigate all his information. It probably only took a morning.

The reason for asking him to come in the afternoon was probably because she ordered someone to collect his resume information this morning.

This resume was basically correct. Maybe even his daily patrol affairs had been thoroughly investigated, but the only thing that was not clear was... he had only practiced saber for more than nine months, not three or four years.

Of course, Chen Mu would not argue about this. It was more reasonable for Xu Hongyu to think that he had practiced for three or four years.

"Yes."

Chen Mu cupped his fist again, appropriately showing some awe.

Xu Hongyu looked at him a few more times, suddenly stood up, walked to Chen Mu, and suddenly stretched out her hand, her crystal-like jade-like small hand bent, and used her index and middle fingers to poke three times in a row on Chen Mu's ribs, chest and abdomen, and the center of his back.

These three pokes were as fast as lightning. Chen Mu only saw a blurry afterimage, and already felt a tingling pain in three places. Then his body softened slightly, and he staggered, almost unable to stand.

"Hmm... it seems so."

Xu Hongyu retracted her hand, returned behind the desk, and looked at Chen Mu with a calm expression, pushing a stack of things on the table forward, signaling Chen Mu to take them.

Chen Mu felt a bit numb and weak after being poked three times by Xu Hongyu. Although he guessed that she might be using some method to check his physical condition, he couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

He moved forward a few steps with some difficulty and picked up the things on the table to look at.

He saw several pieces of paper.

The first one was a note handwritten by Xu Hongyu, with the words 'Withdraw three hundred taels of silver' written on it.

The second one below was a series of densely packed small characters, with some larger, more conspicuous words at the top—Gold Jade Mo Pi Fa.

"My lord, this..."

Chen Mu showed surprise at the right moment and looked at Xu Hongyu.

But in his heart, he was as clear as a mirror. It seemed that at his age, having learned Saber Intent on his own, the talent he displayed was probably higher than he had expected, so much so that Xu Hongyu, the Chief Constable, was willing to show him favor and win him over.

"Although Tang Quan was killed by you, I was there at the time, so it can be considered that you captured him alive. The three hundred taels of silver is his wanted reward. As for this Gold Jade Mo Pi Fa... you should have heard of inner body tempering methods?"

Xu Hongyu looked at Chen Mu with a calm expression.

Chen Mu nodded and said, "In response to your question, my lord, I have heard of the saying 'first skin, second flesh, third tendons, fourth bones', and I have always had the idea, but the price is a bit expensive, so I have not had the opportunity to touch it."

Xu Hongyu nodded slightly and said, "First Mo Pi, then Lian Rou, then Yi Jin, to Duan Gu... this is the most stable step in body tempering cultivation. Generally speaking, if you can perfect Mo Pi, it is no problem to deal with four or five thugs with your bare hands. If you can further refine the Lian Rou skill, even a dozen thugs will not be able to get close."

"You can learn Saber Intent on your own, which shows that you have good comprehension. Although your natural endowment is average, and you came into contact with this body tempering method a little late, you still have a good chance to refine the Lian Rou realm to perfection. At that time, you will be considered to have some level of skill."

"Oh, right, Tang Quan, who was killed by you, was a Martial Master who had perfected Lian Rou. He was already seriously injured by me at that time, but the remaining power was still extraordinary, you should have a good understanding of that."

It was more than just understanding, Chen Mu still remembered it vividly.

In terms of skill, Tang Quan was not much different from him, and should have reached the level of practicing 'Power of Intent', but the difference in physique was too great. If Tang Quan had not been seriously injured, he would probably have been unable to withstand two or three moves from him.

"If Tang Quan hadn't been injured, I would have been no match for him."

Chen Mu shook his head and said.

Xu Hongyu nodded slightly and said, "That's right, you have the skill of 'Power of Intent', but you don't have the physical strength to support it, so you are like duckweed without roots. It is easy to deal with some insignificant characters, but it is difficult to cope with those who have cultivated body tempering methods to a certain level, even if their skills have not reached the level of 'Power of Intent', they can still overwhelm people with force."

"With your current level, you are probably equivalent to someone who has perfected Mo Pi but has not mastered 'Power of Intent', but if you can also reach Mo Pi perfection, then you can easily crush those of the same level who have not mastered 'Power of Intent', and even be able to deal with some who have just achieved Lian Rou, but whose skills have stopped before 'Power of Intent'."

Chen Mu had never had a very clear understanding of his own strength level. Now, after hearing Xu Hongyu's words, he finally had a general understanding.

Saber techniques are skill, body tempering methods are strength.

Only when strength and skill are combined can one walk the right path, the road to heaven.

Relatively speaking, cultivating 'Power of Intent' depends entirely on comprehension, but body tempering relies more on the accumulation of resources. Therefore, those who have mastered Power of Intent are considered a type of talent, and if they are young enough, then they are even more extraordinary.

As Xu Hongyu said, even among some people who have achieved great success in Lian Rou, or even perfected Lian Rou, many have stopped at the great success of their skills and have not cultivated 'Power of Intent'. They can only be regarded as second-rate at best.

And someone like Chen Mu, who has mastered Power of Intent at a young age, only needs to temper his physique to Lian Rou perfection, and then he alone can deal with ten ordinary Lian Rou perfection existences who rely on resources to accumulate their strength but whose skill realm is not enough.

This is the real elite.

In the Outer City, he can serve as the Yamen Director of a Nine Stripes Ward, commanding two or three hundred constables.

In the Inner City, among the major forces, he could also become a mid-level elite, a Martial Master in charge of guarding some men.

"You've already cultivated the most difficult Power of Intent. This body tempering method only requires diligent practice every day to accumulate layer by layer. Although my 'Gold Jade Mo Pi Fa' isn't the most efficient, it causes very little damage to the body. Even when you're older, you don't have to worry about accumulated hidden injuries flaring up. If it were outside, it would be worth a fortune."

"Now I'm giving you this Mo Pi Fa as a reward. Do you... understand?"

Xu Hongyu quietly looked at Chen Mu.

Chen Mu naturally knew what he should say, and immediately said, "I am just a constable, acting on orders from above. With such great kindness from you, I will naturally follow your lead in the future."

The forces in Yu City are intricate and complex. Even the City Guard isn't entirely controlled by Xu Hongyu. There are also forces from the Inner City and other places reaching in, either through bribery or infiltration. Xu Hongyu feels that he is a talent worth cultivating, so naturally she wants his clear attitude.

"Very good."

Xu Hongyu nodded slightly, very satisfied with Chen Mu's attitude, and said, "You can go back now. I have already informed Min Yamen Director to take care of you. When you have successfully cultivated this Mo Pi Fa, I will transfer you to the Main Division."

Chen Mu bowed again, "Thank you for your appreciation, my lord. I will follow your instructions."

Xu Hongyu didn't say anything more, and waved her hand at him.

Chen Mu respectfully put the few pages of paper into his arms, and then left the side hall.

After Chen Mu left, Xu Hongyu looked at Chen Mu's back, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes.

"To be able to cultivate Saber Intent through self-study for three or four years is indeed a talent. It's a pity that his background is too poor, and he didn't get access to body tempering methods earlier. It's not difficult to cultivate to the Lian Rou realm, but the hope of reaching 'Yi Jin' is somewhat slim."

The children of wealthy families often study skills from a young age. When they reach the most suitable age of fifteen or sixteen, they begin to cultivate body tempering methods simultaneously. After 'three years of Mo Pi Fa and five years of Lian Rou', they reach the Lian Rou completion stage before the age of twenty-five, then they have a great hope of entering the third realm of 'Yi Jin'.

If Lian Rou completion plus skill completion is considered mid-level elite, then reaching the Yi Jin level is truly the upper echelon.

Like her, the Chief Constable, is based on this.

She didn't get the position of Chief Constable based on her background. Strength is one of the fundamentals.

But...

Chen Mu came into contact with body tempering methods a little too late.

She had just tested Chen Mu's aptitude. He had never practiced body tempering methods before, and he is now over twenty-two years old. Even with diligent practice, it will be difficult for him to reach Lian Rou completion before the age of thirty.

Because the best age to cultivate body tempering methods is from fifteen or sixteen to twenty-five. This is the period when young people's blood is at its peak, which can be said to be twice the result with half the effort. Afterwards, it is basically fixed.

After the age of thirty, it basically starts to reverse, becoming half the result with twice the effort, and it is difficult to improve further.

With Chen Mu's talent, if he had been born into a wealthy family, his achievements today might not be much lower than hers. Even if he wasn't in the Yi Jin realm, he would definitely have reached Lian Rou completion. Now that he has just started to cultivate diligently, he is already more than one step behind.

She can only feel regret about this.

After all, Chen Mu is considered a very rare talent in the outer city. He originally had the opportunity to be on par with her.