The Northern Suppressing Faction

"Heaven and earth possess righteous qi; with intent, it reaches the great sun, and with the blade, it bears the Celestial Dipper..."

Chen Zhuo held his blade horizontally before his chest, while the three incomplete forms of the Zhengyang Blade Technique flowed through his mind.

He closed his eyes. His body followed the blade as it turned, and the blade moved with his intent.

After reaching the Bone-Entering Realm, the Zhengyang Blade Technique in his hands seemed to have opened a whole new chapter.

With every swing, a constant humming filled the air.

Even the sparse fallen leaves on the ground were split in two and scattered.

Every move was effortless despite its weight, its faintly emerging aura like a towering mountain, yet also like water floating lightly on the breeze.

[Zhengyang Blade Technique (Incomplete) +1]

Even with his eyes closed, Chen Zhuo could faintly sense rows of tiny characters, like flying gnats, constantly appearing before him.

The incomplete Zhengyang Blade Technique was improving at a visible pace.

Chen Zhuo immersed himself in it, completely unaware of time passing.

In the blink of an eye, the rosy dawn had gradually turned to blazing sunlight, and the light falling on his blade had grown somewhat dazzling.

Just then, Chen Zhuo abruptly opened his eyes.

He raised the long blade high, as if lifting a shattered sun.

His moves changed abruptly.

"Dawn Break, Heaven Patrol, Solar Eclipse, Flowing Fire..."

Every move Chen Zhuo made was completely different from before.

There were no complicated flourishes. The moves were simple and crisp—and faster, steadier, and heavier.

Even the air seemed to crack around him.

Broad leaves whirled through the air, but the moment they touched the blade's edge, they were cut to pieces.

A long while later, Chen Zhuo stood with his blade lowered. Not a single whole leaf remained beneath him.

The panel appeared again.

Just as he'd expected, Spontaneous Myriad Laws had completed the incomplete Zhengyang Blade Technique.

[Zhengyang Blade Technique: 1/20 (Not yet initiated)]

"The complete Zhengyang Blade Technique has only nine forms?"

Chen Zhuo frowned, then slowly sheathed his blade. After pondering for a moment, he relaxed his brow.

The Zhengyang Blade Technique focused on unstoppable power and surging righteous qi. It truly wasn't known for complicated, intricate moves.

Nine forms of the Zhengyang Blade Technique were more than enough to slay enemies and demons.

But this blade...

Chen Zhuo lifted the sheathed blade and weighed it in his hand.

It was a little too light.

"Looks like I'll have to buy a heavy blade at the Ghost Market next time it opens—or have the Weapon-Forging Shop make one to order?"

Chen Zhuo thought it over, then remembered the fifty tael banknote in his pocket, along with the five or so taels in loose silver. In the end, he gave up on the idea of going to the Weapon-Forging Shop.

"When does the Ghost Market open?"

Chen Zhuo counted on his fingers.

The Ghost Market's grand opening was the day after tomorrow.

He committed the date to memory, put aside his other thoughts, fastened his saber at his waist, and hurried toward the kitchen.

Time to get to work.

The kitchen was less hectic than it had been around sunset, though there was still plenty to do with noon approaching.

As soon as Chen Zhuo arrived, he began chopping vegetables. But between chopping, he now had another task.

Preparing live animals.

He had to handle every chicken, duck, and fish himself.

It was an order personally issued by Master Chef Yan. No one else was allowed to step in.

Because of this, the kitchen hands looked at him with pity, whispering among themselves and wondering if he'd somehow offended Master Chef Yan.

Only Chen Zhuo knew that this was a way to hone his Dissection Technique.

If he couldn't dissect demons and refine True Blood himself, how could he call himself a proper Blade-Catcher?

So he had no choice but to run back and forth between chopping vegetables and preparing live animals.

[Dissection Technique +1]

Watching the Dissection Technique steadily advance lifted his spirits just as practicing martial arts did.

It felt reassuring.

Before long, after he'd prepared eight fish, three chickens, and three ducks, the work in the kitchen gradually came to an end.

Chen Zhuo didn't return to the small courtyard. He pulled over a little stool and sat down.

The others were still waiting for their meal, but he had already started eating.

Now that his standing in the kitchen was second only to Master Chef Yan's, he naturally had that privilege.

He ate mouthful after mouthful of glistening, translucent fatty pork with fragrant rice, and felt what happiness was.

Just one bite like this made all his hard work worthwhile.

"Master Chen, having your meal?"

As Chen Zhuo ate, an old man with a pointed head, a sharp face, and a pair of thin moustaches suddenly poked his head through the kitchen door.

"Fifth Master? What brings you here?"

Chen Zhuo stopped his chopsticks and greeted him with a forced smile.

"Master Chen, now you're flattering me. How could I call myself a master? You're the real master."

Fifth Master chuckled, squeezing his thin, small frame through the narrow gap in the doorway.

As soon as he came in, Fifth Master cupped his hands toward Chen Zhuo. "To be honest, I wouldn't have come unless it were important."

"Oh?"

Chen Zhuo raised his head. "What can I do for you, Fifth Master?"

Fifth Master waved his hands repeatedly. "Don't put it like that. It's not an order. It's just that Young Master Sun was afraid you wouldn't see him, so he asked me to bring you something."

As he spoke, Fifth Master carefully took an envelope from his robe and held it out to Chen Zhuo.

Chen Xiao put down his chopsticks, took the envelope, and asked in confusion, "What couldn't Sun Fei come over and tell me in person? Why write a letter?"

Fifth Master smiled. "You may not know this, Master Chen, but Young Master Sun said the Sun Family has been swamped with business lately and is short on hands. He's taken leave from the Yamen and has to go away for a while. He won't be back until before the Autumn Hunt."

"Young Master Sun also said you should read the letter carefully. It's very important to you."

Fifth Master put particular emphasis on those last three words, as if imitating Sun Fei's tone.

Chen Zhuo nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Fifth Master cupped his hands, then turned and opened the door to leave.

Glancing at the door as it slowly closed, Chen Zhuo lowered his gaze to the envelope in his hand.

He couldn't help recalling the scene at the Morning Assembly that day.

Ever since Huang Yuan'er had made things difficult for him, Fatty Sun had vanished from his sight.

Though, for a moment, he thought he'd seen someone dragging him away.

Perhaps he'd written this letter out of guilt.

At the thought, Chen Zhuo smiled to himself, then shook his head.

No matter how you looked at it, Fatty Sun couldn't be blamed for what had happened.

If anyone was to blame, it was Huang Yuan'er—and this wretched world.

Chen Zhuo thought of Chief Clerk Sun, too. His mind was so meticulous, in complete contrast to Fatty Sun's.

First, he'd sold Chen Zhuo out. Then, on top of repaying his own favor, he'd left Chen Zhuo owing him one.

"What could possibly have happened to make even Young Master Sun so solemn?"

Curious, Chen Zhuo opened the envelope.

"I am departing on a long journey. As for the incident a few days ago, whatever you may think of it, I offer my sincere apologies on behalf of my elder brother."

"After thinking it over for days, there is something I must warn you about. The selection of Yamen Runners was supposed to take place once every three years. Why was the usual schedule suddenly changed this year? And why are there only two positions? The reason is an urgent decree from the capital: the Northern Suppressing Faction has repeatedly recommended our office, and this year a special edict has called for talented people throughout Yong Territory."

"Our little county of Baiyun has only two spots. To be frank, one has already been promised to me, while the other is temporarily assigned to Zhou Sheng. The Autumn Hunt is almost upon us. I hope you'll fight with all your might to take the lead. Opportunity vanishes in a flash, so don't take it lightly. If one day you and I can travel together to the capital, wouldn't that be a joyous occasion?"

"Your talent and natural endowments are both peerless; I've always believed in you. I only hope you'll set your sights high and strive with all your might. You must defeat Zhou Sheng."

Couldn't he just speak like a normal person?

Chen Zhuo read through the letter again and again, word by word. Only after a long while did he fully understand what Fatty Sun had meant.

So this was what lay behind the Autumn Hunt.

"The Northern Suppressing Faction... That fatty..."

Chen Zhuo smiled and gently set down the letter. A glint flickered in his eyes, and a blade's edge gradually emerged within it.