Settled

Inside the City Guard Hall.

At the City Guard, low-ranking runners had no separate places for handling official business or resting. There was only a spacious rear courtyard and several shared, shabby little rooms.

But Head Runners were different. The five Head Runners each had their own separate room behind the main hall, usually used for official business or rest. Zhao Zong's room, in particular, had gone unoccupied for a long time.

After Zhao Zong grew old and his old hidden injuries flared up, he basically stopped coming to the hall. Still, his room continued to be cleaned every day and remained spotless. Now, after many years, it had welcomed a new owner.

Chen Mu stood at the doorway, examining the room.

The room was not large. Inside stood only a long table set crosswise, with several books stacked atop it and a clean tea set beside them. Behind the table was a yellowwood chair, with a small chip missing from one armrest, though it did not affect its use.

Neither the table nor the chair bore any dust, and the bluestone floor was free of caked mud.

It was not grand or spacious, but it was clean.

That was a very fair assessment.

Zhao Zong stood beside Chen Mu with his hands behind his back and sighed. "Those of us who practice martial arts wear down our vitality and blood. Even if we do not fight others, old hidden injuries always accumulate. Once we grow old and can no longer suppress them, they flare up..."

As he spoke, he somewhat reluctantly stroked the table. No one in the Nine Stripes Ward Guard Office had greater seniority than him, including Min Baoyi, the City Guard official. If not for his physical condition worsening by the day until he was nearly unable to fight anyone, he would not have been willing to resign his post as head runner. Being able to retain the title for now and remain at the City Guard as an Instructor Captain was already a result he could accept.

He had originally intended to make contact with Ren Yan, that rising talent, and sell him a favor in advance. Then, when he stepped down in a few years, he could rely on that relationship to retain some authority. Yet Chen Mu's appearance had taken everyone by surprise.

And after learning from Wang Gong and the others that Chen Mu had been personally recommended by Xu Hongyu, the Chief Constable above, Zhao Zong immediately abandoned all such thoughts. At the same time, he finally understood why Min Baoyi had suddenly begun addressing Chen Mu as a brother.

"This Body Tempering Method of Skin Tempering and Flesh Tempering also harms the body?"

Listening to Zhao Zong, Chen Mu asked thoughtfully.

Zhao Zong smiled. "Of course. Whether it is Skin Tempering or Flesh Tempering, both refine the body through various methods, supplemented by medicinal powder. Naturally, they harm the body. If you want to practice martial arts and live a long life besides, where in the world is there such a good thing? These days, my waist and back ache like they are being pricked by needles every day. That is because the Mo Pi Fa I practiced in my youth focused too much on quick results and caused great internal damage. But sometimes, one cannot help oneself. Being able to practice at all is already fortunate. How many people want to learn martial arts but have no path into it?"

Listening to Zhao Zong, Chen Mu thought of the Gold Jade Mo Pi Fa Xu Hongyu had given him.

Xu Hongyu had mentioned then that its effects might not be the fastest, but it was gentler and more balanced, causing less harm to the body. If Zhao Zong had cultivated this Mo Pi Fa in his youth, perhaps he would not have ended up in his current state.

"Alright, I've told you everything I should. It's time for me to leave. If anything else comes up, go ask Wang Gong, Qin Bei, and the others." Zhao Zong slowly withdrew his hand, nodded to Chen Mu, and walked outside.

"Take care, Elder Zhao."

Chen Mu watched Zhao Zong depart. Then he slowly walked to the table and picked up several books for a look. They were maps of the streets and districts of Nine Stripes Ward, as well as documents on population statistics and the like.

Setting down the booklet, Chen Mu went to the window and looked outside. The lingering drizzle had stopped, and the weather had cleared after the rain. A ray of evening sunlight streamed through the window into the room. In the fading glow, he could see Zhao Zong's retreating figure, as well as many Yamen Runners gathered in twos and threes in the distance, all discussing what had just happened. The shock in their eyes had yet to fade.

Chen Mu's promotion to head runner had come as no surprise to him. He had simply not expected Min Baoyi to act with such thunderous speed. Xu Hongyu had only made the arrangements a day ago, yet the replacement had already been completed here.

Even—

His Blue Uniform, Waist Tag, and the rest had not yet been prepared. They were still being made.

But from this day onward, he was already a head runner of Nine Stripes Ward. He commanded the men Zhao Zong had once overseen, numbering thirty or forty in total. If he felt that was insufficient, he could also recruit more people from outside at will.

That was how low-ranking Yamen Runners were—recruited at will and dismissed at will. Within a certain number, a head runner could make the decision himself.

He turned back and surveyed the room once more.

Chen Mu turned and walked out. When he reached the hall outside, he happened to encounter Qin Bei coming out as well.

"Head Chen."

Qin Bei looked at Chen Mu with a complicated expression and greeted him.

Chen Mu had always been a yamen runner under him. Then, without warning, Chen Mu had climbed onto the Chief Constable's connections, not only becoming a head runner but also a favored guest of Min Baoyi. It was difficult for Qin Bei not to feel awkward about it.

This differed from Ren Yan. First, there had long been rumors about Ren Yan, and Qin Bei himself had been actively supporting him for more than half a year. Even if Ren Yan became a head runner, he would still have to call him Brother Qin. But Chen Mu had silently leaped up in a single bound, becoming someone on equal footing with Qin Bei—or even someone able to press him down. That awkward feeling could not be cast away in a short time.

"Captain Qin."

Chen Mu also cupped his hands. He had no particular feelings toward Qin Bei. When he had worked under Qin Bei, Qin Bei had been neither warm nor cold toward him, but he had never deliberately made things difficult for him. Thus, Chen Mu remained calm and composed.

Qin Bei had been a head runner for many years, after all. He swiftly forced down the awkwardness in his heart and said, "Congratulations on your promotion, Head Chen. When you are free in a few days, I'll treat you to a drink. I hope Head Chen will honor me with your presence."

"Certainly."

Chen Mu answered with a smile, then walked outside.

Once outside—

The scattered Yamen Runners in the courtyard saw Chen Mu approaching. They each froze for a moment before coming back to their senses and hurriedly saluted him.

"Lord Chen!"

Unlike Qin Bei, they were far more nervous. They had once worked in the same courtyard as Chen Mu, and after so many years, even if they had never interacted with him, they had at least discussed him behind his back once or twice. Moreover, everyone had previously believed Ren Yan's promotion to head runner was as certain as a nail driven into a board, and all of them had gone to curry favor with him. Yet Chen Mu had suddenly soared into the sky in a single step, so naturally they felt uneasy.

"Rise."

"I am still unfamiliar with this post after taking over as head runner. Continue handling matters according to the usual practice."

Chen Mu spoke casually to the gathered Yamen Runners.

"Yes."

The many Yamen Runners responded in unison.

Chen Mu then passed through the crowd and reached the outermost area, where Liu Song and Li Tie were standing. When the two saw Chen Mu approach, they no longer had their former ease and casual manner. They greeted him somewhat stiffly.

"Why must you two be so restrained?"

Seeing this, Chen Mu spoke in a half-joking tone.

Yet Liu Song still replied cautiously, "My lord has been promoted. You have crossed the Dragon Gate. How would ordinary mortals like us dare put on airs before you? Just give your orders if you need anything."

Although the world was chaotic, the more chaotic it became, the stricter its hierarchy and rules grew. Chen Mu was now a head runner. Even if he lowered himself to befriend them and continued calling them old brothers as before, they would not dare accept it. Chen Mu now treated Qin Bei and the others as equals. If Qin Bei and the rest saw Chen Mu address them that way, what would they think? For Liu Song and Li Tie, it would undoubtedly be a calamity.

"I have redrawn the roster with the Runner Office and transferred the two of you under my jurisdiction. Starting tomorrow, you need not patrol the streets. Remain at the hall and await my orders."

Chen Mu looked at Liu Song and Li Tie and spoke seriously.

He had known them for several years. Though they were not deeply connected, they were still the Yamen Runners he knew best at the City Guard. Now that he had become a head runner, he needed several trusted people beneath him to handle matters.

As soon as those words were spoken, several other Yamen Runners cast envious looks toward Liu Song and Li Tie.

Remaining at the hall and awaiting orders meant they had gone from ordinary Yamen Runners assigned to patrol shifts to close attendants who only needed to help Chen Mu with matters and follow his dispatches. It was not an official promotion, but the treatment was worlds apart.

Working under a head runner meant becoming that head runner's trusted man. First of all, they would not have to participate in those troublesome patrol duties, nor would they have to take turns on the night patrol every two months.

"Thank you for your favor, my lord!"

Liu Song and Li Tie were equally overjoyed upon hearing this and repeatedly bowed in thanks.

The two had been whispering to each other just moments ago, wondering whether Chen Mu, after soaring into the sky in a single step, would remember old ties and give them a lift. Their hearts had been full of unease. Now that the dust had settled, they naturally gave their thanks with delight.

Chen Mu nodded slightly and said no more. He left the City Guard, leaving behind a crowd of Yamen Runners with complicated gazes, some envious and some sighing as they watched his disappearing back.

News that Chen Mu had taken over as head runner of the Nine Stripes Ward Guard Office spread quickly through Nine Stripes Ward. Within only half a day, figures from all sides had learned of it. After all, among the powers people living in Nine Stripes Ward dealt with most often, aside from gangs, there was the City Guard.

If it were merely a yamen runner, it would be nothing. The City Guard replaced at least a dozen runners each year, if not several dozen. But Head Runners were different. There were only five in total. Offending one of them would be quite troublesome. What was more, rumors said that Chen Mu was close to Min Baoyi of the Runner Office, so people needed to treat him with even greater caution.

Those were the reactions of certain local gentry, powerful figures, and gang forces within Nine Stripes Ward.

But outside Nine Stripes Ward, looking across the entire South District, the scene was entirely different.

Night fell.

The South District City Guard Main Division remained brightly lit.

Inside a spacious and clean hall somewhere within, a fair-skinned man sat beside a table with a document in his hand.

He was He Mingxuan, Deputy Chief Constable of the South District City Guard Main Division. His position was second only to Xu Hongyu's, and even his background was in no way inferior to hers. Mention the surname He in the Inner City, and it was known to everyone like thunder ringing in their ears.

"Nine Stripes Ward... Chen Mu... interesting."

"Twenty-two years old, and he comprehended Saber Force by himself. He is indeed a talent. No wonder Xu Hongyu gave him special attention. But your Yu Family is now beset by troubles both within and without, and you still want to continue fostering your own trusted followers in the City Guard? I'm afraid that will not be so easy."

He Mingxuan revealed a cold smile and held the sheet of paper over the candle flame until it burned.

Ordinary people did not know Xu Hongyu's origins and were unfamiliar with the surname Xu. But anyone with even a little power knew that Xu Hongyu's mother bore the surname Yu. Xu Hongyu took her father's surname and was a direct descendant of the Yu Family in the Inner City.

The struggle between the He Family and the Yu Family over the City Guard had not been going on for merely a year or two.

A branch City Guard division for a single ward had nearly two hundred people. The entire South District had ten wards, and with the City Guard Main Division included, that amounted to nearly three thousand people. The other three districts—east, west, and north—were not much different. Altogether, they had a force of roughly twelve or thirteen thousand men.

Such a large force was undoubtedly no small number. Its quality might not match the elite private soldiers trained by each family, but its numbers were considerable, and it held the authority of the imperial court. It could openly and legitimately do many things. If concentrated in the hands of one faction, it would inevitably become a threat. Thus, the various families restrained one another.

Xu Hongyu had served as Chief Constable for only two years. Despite her high status and great authority, she did not have many direct subordinates she could truly trust.

Chen Mu had displayed a measure of talent and caught Xu Hongyu's eye. She had tentatively decided to cultivate him as a direct subordinate she could use in the future. In tiny Nine Stripes Ward, he had naturally soared into the sky in a single step. But there were also quite a few people unwilling to see Chen Mu grow into Xu Hongyu's right arm.

"Hm. Just a minor head runner who has not even begun cultivating a Body Tempering Method. He is not worth my personal 'attention.'"

After pondering briefly, He Mingxuan summoned someone and gave a few instructions. Then, with a calm expression, he picked up his teacup and slowly savored his tea.

Xu Hongyu had offended no small number of people over the past two years. He only needed to leak a little information about Chen Mu, then sit back and drink tea. In a few days, someone would naturally do what he wished to have done. Even if Xu Hongyu flew into a rage afterward, she would not be able to trace it back to him.