Something Was Amiss

Liao San misunderstood him even more and said anxiously, "A-Cheng, could it be that you truly intended to give up after suffering just a little setback?"

"Third Brother, this assessment might not necessarily be a setback." Chen Cheng shook his head slightly.

Just then, among the five men, a fair-skinned young man with a mole on his chin strode toward Chen Cheng.

On the training ground, aside from those five, only Chen Cheng was not wearing the City Guard Office constable uniform. Since he was also so young, the man recognized at once that Chen Cheng was the one competing with them for a probationary constable position.

"So it's you. You want to compete with us in martial arts?"

The mole-chinned youth held his chin high, his eyes filled with disdain.

A poorly dressed, skinny commoner brat actually dared compete with martial artists like them, who had trained in the martial path. It was truly laughable.

The mole-chinned youth was certain that a single punch would make this shabby boy cough blood—or even kill him outright.

Though the mole-chinned youth looked fair and refined, he was tall and agile. Chen Cheng silently gauged his strength, then after a while said leisurely, "I only want to join the City Guard Office."

"Hah!" The mole-chinned youth laughed. "I came over out of kindness to advise you to retreat when faced with difficulty, yet you don't know what's good for you! Since that's the case, don't blame me for showing no mercy later."

As he spoke, the mole-chinned youth rolled his neck from side to side, his joints grinding together with a crisp series of cracks. Then he clenched his fists, and his knuckles burst out in sharp pops as well.

A single crack was worth a thousand in gold—he was flaunting his martial prowess.

"I forgot to tell you, my Fierce Tiger Fist has already reached mastery..."

He said only half of it before turning and striding back. As for the rest, it went without saying. When a mastery-level fist technique struck someone, the consequences would be severe!

"That is Li Lin from Tiger Might Martial Hall. Since his fist technique has reached mastery, if you face him later, it would be best not to compete with him in fist techniques," Liao San warned.

"Mm." Chen Cheng nodded faintly, his gaze growing deeper still.

"The Chief Constable and the others are here," Liao San suddenly said.

Chen Cheng followed his gaze and saw a group of people strolling toward the training ground along the bluestone path.

At their head was a young woman in her twenties, dressed in a blue uniform patterned with clouds, a three-foot jade-green sword hanging at her waist. Her steps were calm and unhurried.

Behind her followed several constables in black cloud-patterned uniforms, including Liu Yunfeng.

There was also an elderly man around fifty, as well as a man in his forties.

Both the old man and the middle-aged man wore martial hall attire.

"The Chief Constable is a woman?" Chen Cheng asked in surprise.

Liao San nodded and lowered his voice. "Our Chief Constable is named Shen Qingshuang. She comes from the Shen Family of the inner city and is an extraordinary figure. When you see her, you must show proper respect."

"Alright." Chen Cheng nodded, then asked, "Third Brother, is the probationary constable assessment so important? Even the Chief Constable came personally?"

Liao San shook his head, equally puzzled. "A probationary constable assessment is no major matter. Especially this one—the positions were already decided, and only one person needs to be eliminated. To the Ruyi Ward branch office, it is even more insignificant. I never expected the Chief Constable to come in person."

This Chief Constable had fair skin, bright and beautiful eyes, and breathtaking features. She looked cold as frost, while her long, toned legs made her already tall figure appear even more striking.

Even if Chen Cheng racked his brains, he would never have imagined that the Chief Constable of the Ruyi Ward branch office would be such a woman.

He was merely seeking a small probationary constable position. How had he somehow stumbled into such a grand affair?

Shen Qingshuang walked straight toward the platform beside the training ground.

Liu Yunfeng swept his gaze around the area, then hurried toward Chen Cheng.

"Greetings, Constable Liu." Chen Cheng quickly stepped forward and clasped his hands in salute.

Liu Yunfeng smiled. "A-Cheng, Liao San told you about today's matter, didn't he?"

Chen Cheng nodded. "Mm. Third Brother told me that if I want to become a probationary constable, I have to pass an assessment."

Liu Yunfeng sighed softly. "You were already a jailer and had been entered into the registry. By rights, you could have directly joined the City Guard Office as a probationary constable. But the positions happened to be scarce, and that bastard Zhao Yongfeng is at odds with me, which is why he stirred up this whole affair."

As Liu Yunfeng spoke, he looked toward the distance with a complicated expression.

A constable in his thirties was walking toward the five martial hall disciples.

This constable was tall, with a waist like a wasp's and arms like an ape's. His eyes shone brightly, and his bearing was extraordinary. He was most likely Zhao Yongfeng.

Zhao Yongfeng whispered a few words to the five martial hall disciples, then turned to look at Liu Yunfeng with a faint sneer on his face.

"A-Cheng, have you trained in martial arts before?" Liu Yunfeng asked.

Back in Locust Tree Alley, he had personally seen Ma Liu with his arms and legs broken by Chen Cheng, so he knew Chen Cheng had some ability.

Therefore, when Chen Cheng asked Liao San to put in a good word for him because he wanted to join the City Guard Office, Liu Yunfeng readily agreed.

In Liu Yunfeng's eyes, Chen Cheng had some skill and was ruthless enough. He was most suited to be a street-patrolling constable and would surely make a fine subordinate in the future.

Chen Cheng considered briefly before answering casually, "While I was in the prison, I learned a few loose-handed moves from fellow jailers and martial artists among the prisoners. I also practiced a saber technique left behind by my father.

When I had nothing to do at home, I would temper my strength and practice the saber technique."

The Iron Garment Art was an internal-breath technique, so naturally Chen Cheng would not expose it. As for the Chasing Wind Saber Technique, he had long prepared an explanation—he would say it had been left behind by his late father.

Jailers often dealt with prisoners who practiced martial arts. It was not impossible for one to occasionally obtain a saber technique manual or two.

Liu Yunfeng pondered for a moment. "If you have only learned a few loose-handed moves, this assessment may be difficult. How about waiting until there is another opportunity? I can find a way to arrange for you to enter then."

Clearly, he did not think Chen Cheng could defeat those five martial hall disciples.

A jailer who tempered his strength at home and taught himself a saber technique—even if he were a genius, how could his ability compare to martial hall disciples who had properly joined a martial hall and received personal instruction from renowned masters?

"Chief Liu, how about I give it a try? Perhaps I can pass the assessment," Chen Cheng said seriously.

Liu Yunfeng's eyes lit up, and he praised, "A-Cheng, I was right about you. You can rise to the challenge. Even if you lose, you still have backbone. Next time I speak for you, Zhao Yongfeng and Lady Shen will surely have nothing to say.

When the contest begins, just give it your all. They are martial hall disciples after all, so you must be careful. As long as you do not get hurt, that will be enough."

Chen Cheng answered, "Alright."

Only then did Liu Yunfeng head toward the platform.

Chen Cheng looked at his retreating back, then at Shen Qingshuang on the platform, deep in thought.

Having lived two lives, he instinctively felt that today's matter was not as simple as it appeared. Something was off—so abnormal that it was almost unbelievable.

Shen Qingshuang was the Chief Constable, yet she had personally appeared at the probationary constable assessment. Such an unusual action could only mean one thing: Liu Yunfeng and Zhao Yongfeng were openly at odds, and she clearly welcomed the conflict—perhaps she was even adding fuel to the flames.

Before he had even joined the City Guard Office, he had likely already been drawn into the dispute between Liu Yunfeng and Zhao Yongfeng.

The Ruyi Ward branch office of the City Guard Office was likely a place where trouble brewed!