Novice Yamen Runner

Another major incident had occurred at South City Prison, leaving all the prison guards groaning in misery.

The one making the guards suffer was still Cheng Rui, the chief jailer. He had once again begun making frequent rounds of the prison, his face as stern as ever as he walked slowly with his legs spread wide apart.

Naturally, whenever Cheng Rui made his frequent inspections, he wore those trousers with the inner pocket sewn into the leg, and the "money pouch" inside was always plump and round.

Chen Cheng saw at a glance again that the "money pouch" was clearly an iron ball. This fellow was training again.

It was not just Cheng Rui. While walking the streets, Chen Cheng noticed quite a few richly dressed young masters and gentlemen wearing trousers with inner pockets sewn into the legs, their similar round "money pouches" bulging out. They walked exactly like Cheng Rui, with their legs spread wide apart. Yet unlike Cheng Rui's stern expression, these young masters and gentlemen wore hesitant looks, with a faint excitement shining through.

At first, this phenomenon had been popular in Ruyi Ward, but it gradually spread to Guangfu Ward, where South City Prison was located. As for the rest of South District, Chen Cheng rarely went there, so he had no way of knowing.

"Have you heard? There's been a divine art going around lately, called the Crimson Sun Great Root Art. It's incredibly powerful."

"You mean that internal-breath cultivation manual sold by Luo's Shop?"

"Exactly. So you know about it too!"

"Know about it? I even bought it. This divine art has endless marvelous uses... heh heh heh..."

"I bought one too. Twenty taels of silver per copy—it's a little expensive, but Luo's Shop guarantees that cultivating their manual won't go wrong."

The two richly dressed young masters whispered as they walked toward a district hung with blazing red lanterns.

On his way home after getting off duty, Chen Cheng happened to overhear their conversation, and could not help feeling a pang of emotion.

"The Crimson Sun Great Root Art manual is selling so well. It seems Luo's Shop has made quite a fortune!"

That was all it was—a passing thought. Chen Cheng had no other ideas.

Without power or influence, even if he knew the manual might sell like wildfire, he could not seize that opportunity.

Only a force like Luo's Shop, with enough fame and credibility, could sell such a manual so explosively.

"Ah Cheng."

On the next street over, Liao San waited on the road Chen Cheng had to take home.

"Third Brother." Seeing that he had come looking for him, Chen Cheng's heart leaped with joy. "Is there news?"

Liao San nodded.

Chen Cheng hurriedly said, "How about we find a place for a couple of drinks and talk while we drink?"

"My wife has dinner ready and is waiting at home, so no drinking today." Liao San shook his head with a smile, then got to the point. "That day, you said you wanted to join the City Guard Office. I told Chief Liu first thing in the morning. He thinks highly of you, so of course he agreed.

"The reason it took until now is that the City Guard Office has limited openings for street-patrol runners, while there are many martial artists who want in. Everyone has been pulling strings and greasing palms over this matter. Chief Liu had a hard time securing an opening for you."

"Thank you, Third Brother. I'll treat you properly another day, and we brothers can have a good few drinks." Chen Cheng said delightedly.

Liao San waved his hand. "Kid, why are you being so formal? With that little salary of yours, how could you afford to treat people every day? Life isn't easy for anyone, so save where you can.

"Once we brothers are on duty together, there'll be plenty of chances to drink."

Chen Cheng smiled. "Then I'll listen to Third Brother. Oh, right. Chief Liu did me such a huge favor. I should prepare some gifts to thank him."

Liao San shook his head again and said seriously, "There's no need to prepare any gifts for Chief Liu either. He's a constable, after all, and has a substantial fortune. He isn't like us lowly runners, living off that meager salary."

"Wouldn't that be improper?" Chen Cheng asked thoughtfully.

"What's improper about it? Just listen to me." Liao San patted his chest.

"Alright," Chen Cheng replied.

Liao San continued, "The runners of our City Guard Office are divided into official runners, probationary runners, and an even lower class—temporary corvée laborers conscripted from commoners or criminal households. Corvée laborers change all the time and cannot be entered into the government registry. Only probationary runners and official runners can be registered.

"You were already a prison guard, with your name registered by the government. You only need to resign from your prison guard post at the prison, then you can come to the City Guard Office and start as a probationary runner.

"Ordinarily, probationary runners have to pass an assessment. You need to cultivate some skill to the minor-success stage and have a bit of strength before you can pass.

"But you're one of our own brothers. During the assessment, just perform a couple of sets of basic unarmed moves for Chief Liu to look over. It'll be enough to go through the motions.

"Tomorrow, go resign from the prison. Rest at home for a day, then come straight to the Ruyi Ward branch of the City Guard Office and find me the day after tomorrow."

"Alright. Thank you, Third Brother."

The next day.

South City Prison, the duty office.

"You should think this through. If you resign from this post, it will be difficult to return to the prison later."

Chief Jailer Cheng Rui scrutinized the somewhat thin young man before him. Rare regret showed on his stern face.

Ever since he had come to South City Prison, Chen Cheng had always been honest and dutiful. While on duty, he stood guard properly and never slacked off, almost like a transparent man.

Because of Qin Kai's matter, Cheng Rui had once sent people to keep an eye on Chen Cheng. But it was obvious that this honest and dutiful youth had no connection whatsoever to Qin Kai.

After watching him for a few days, Cheng Rui had put the matter out of his mind, and later gradually forgotten it altogether. Had Chen Cheng not come to resign on his own initiative, he would have nearly forgotten that there was such a young prison guard in the prison.

In his view, for a youth born into a poor family and weak in strength, being a prison guard was far better than becoming some damned probationary runner at the City Guard Office.

After all, prison guards and probationary runners earned the same salary, but probationary runners had to patrol the streets, braving wind and rain. If they encountered criminals who cultivated martial arts, their lives would be at risk.

How could that compare to the stability and ease of working in a prison?

As for probationary runners being able to increase their strength through martial cultivation, earn merits, rise to become official runners, and thereby improve their treatment—that was even less something the youth before him could hope for.

For the son of a commoner, whose salary barely covered food and clothing, cultivating martial arts was nothing more than a fool's dream.

Chen Cheng cupped his hands. "Chief Cheng, I've thought it through."

"Since you insist on resigning, then take care of yourself." Cheng Rui hastily signed the resignation document.

There were plenty of people competing for a prison guard's post. Now that Chen Cheng's resignation had left an opening, those seeking the position would certainly not neglect to grease the palms of him, the chief jailer.

After leaving the prison, Chen Cheng went to the market, bought some meat and daily necessities, and only then returned home.

When he arrived at Locust Tree Alley, he happened to see Zhou Biao emerging from Widow Tian's house.

This fellow had recently become quite hot and heavy with Widow Tian. He often spent the night at her home and never left until the sun was high in the sky.

"Second Brother Chen, not on duty today?"

Zhou Biao's face was glowing with delight. He tightened his waistband and greeted him.

This fellow was actually wearing trousers with an inner pocket sewn into the leg as well. The pocket meant for the money pouch bulged into a round shape too—he had clearly hung an iron ball there.

"I'm off today." Chen Cheng gave a perfunctory smile.

Zhou Biao looked Chen Cheng over, his gaze finally settling on the bundle in Chen Cheng's hand. In a strange, insinuating tone, he said, "Lady Tian really wasn't wrong. Second Brother Chen has been living quite comfortably lately. I wonder where you struck it rich?"

"Comfortably, my ass. It's just a bag of coarse rice." Chen Cheng shook the bundle in his hand. Whenever he bought meat, he usually wrapped it in coarse rice to conceal it. Yet Zhou Biao had sharp eyes and seemed to have noticed something.

"Looks like Second Brother Chen's coarse rice is rather heavy."

There was meaning behind Zhou Biao's words. Suddenly putting on a casual air, he continued, "Have you run into Constable Liu lately?"

This fellow was still probing him! Without changing expression, Chen Cheng said, "Tomorrow, I'll be working under Constable Liu."

"Working under Constable Liu? Could it be that you've become a street-patrol runner?" Zhou Biao's expression changed abruptly, and he seemed greatly startled.

"Exactly." Chen Cheng remained impassive.

"Then congratulations, Second Brother Chen!"

Zhou Biao cupped his hands, turned, and left. Because of the iron ball hanging from his trouser leg, he took wide strides, yet he walked away in great haste.

"This fellow seems unwilling to let things go!"

Watching his retreating figure, Chen Cheng frowned slightly and thought to himself.