Progress Accelerates

Just then, Liu Yunfeng hurried over.

"Greetings, Lady Shen."

Shen Qingshuang continued looking up at the sky, utterly ignoring him. Only when footsteps sounded again and Xiao Qing returned to stand guard at the entrance to the small courtyard did she turn and enter the main hall. Liu Yunfeng followed her inside.

Once inside the main hall, Shen Qingshuang seated herself without ceremony. Looking at Liu Yunfeng, she said coolly, "Did you gain anything from your trip to the Flying Eagle Gang?"

Liu Yunfeng nodded and said solemnly, "I was just about to report to you, Lady Shen.

Not long after I led men to the Flying Eagle Gang, Zhao Yongfeng went there as well. Besides him, Zhou Xu, an official from the South District City Guard Headquarters, also arrived."

"So the force behind the Flying Eagle Gang truly is the Zhou Family." A chill flashed through Shen Qingshuang's eyes, though she did not seem surprised. Then she said thoughtfully, "For Zhou Xu to appear in person, the Flying Eagle Gang must not be as simple as it looks on the surface.

Zhao Yongfeng, Zhou Xu... this extermination case is becoming more and more interesting. We may truly be able to trace some clues leading to the Black Lotus Sect."

"Lady Shen, should I send some men to secretly monitor the Flying Eagle Gang's every move?" Liu Yunfeng asked.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Shen Qingshuang said, "No need. By taking men to the Flying Eagle Gang's headquarters, you have likely already startled the snake in the grass. They will certainly be on guard.

Moreover, the Flying Eagle Gang's headquarters lies within Zhao Yongfeng's jurisdiction. If you send people to watch them, he will inevitably notice."

"So we do nothing?" Liu Yunfeng asked in confusion.

"The Black Lotus Sect acts with extreme secrecy. The more we investigate them, the more cautious they become. Rather than waste effort pursuing them, it is better to do nothing and wait for them to expose a flaw themselves.

If I am not mistaken, the Flying Eagle Gang has recently been clashing with other gangs again and again, eager to expand its territory. The person behind them is likely about to make a move."

"Lady Shen plans within the command tent and wins from a thousand miles away. I am deeply impressed." Seizing the moment, Liu Yunfeng slipped in a flattering remark without leaving a trace.

Fawning and bootlicking were not Liu Yunfeng's usual style. Shen Qingshuang frowned slightly. Knowing that he wanted to ask about Chen Cheng, she could not help asking curiously, "Do you think so highly of Chen Cheng?"

"Nothing can be hidden from you, Lady Shen." Liu Yunfeng gave a bitter smile, then said honestly, "Lady Shen intends to cultivate me, so naturally I should follow your example and focus on cultivating my subordinates.

Among my men, Liao San is bold and willing to fight. As long as he diligently trains in martial arts, he will surely become a qualified constable in the future.

But he ultimately lacks cunning and strategy, so his future achievements will go no further than that.

Though Chen Cheng came from a poor family, he possesses both courage and wisdom. If he grows, his future accomplishments will be beyond measure.

Moreover, his background is clean and his nature kind. If Lady Shen could lend him a little support, he would surely become a great help to you in the future."

At the Ruyi Ward branch office, everyone believed Shen Qingshuang targeted Liu Yunfeng at every turn and was suppressing him.

Who could have imagined that, behind the scenes, Shen Qingshuang had long regarded him as a candidate to succeed her as chief constable?

Sometimes, supporting a subordinate did not mean blindly protecting them. Placing one's own people in an opposing position made it easier to detect the movements of enemies lurking in the shadows.

This was precisely the brilliance of Shen Qingshuang as chief constable, and Liu Yunfeng had always deeply admired her for it.

Shen Qingshuang said casually, "Didn't I already give him a manual for the Brown Bear Skin-Tempering Art?"

"But the medicinal ingredients required to cultivate the Brown Bear Skin-Tempering Art are exorbitantly expensive. How could Chen Cheng possibly have such wealth?" Liu Yunfeng said. He truly could not understand Shen Qingshuang's intentions.

In his view, rather than giving him a top-tier Skin-Tempering Art manual that he lacked the money to cultivate, it would be more practical to give him an ordinary Skin-Tempering Art along with cultivation resources.

Shen Qingshuang said sternly, "The Shen Family values you, Liu Yunfeng, because you possess sufficient strength, and so they are willing to invest many resources in you.

But Chen Cheng is only a minor probationary runner. Whether he can achieve success in cultivation as you have remains unknown.

If he wants sufficient resources, he can only fight for them himself and prove himself with his strength.

Not just Chen Cheng—even the Shen Family, even I, Shen Qingshuang, are no exception. Everything I have was won through my own efforts."

At such a young age, Shen Qingshuang had already cultivated to the peak of the Tendon-Transforming Realm. While she certainly had the advantage of family resources, she must also possess exceptional talent and have endured arduous training.

Liu Yunfeng knew her words were reasonable. He could only sigh inwardly before taking his leave.

At that moment, Xiao Qing walked in and said, "Miss, Chen Cheng was deceived by Master Xiuchen before. He nearly suffered grave injury and died while cultivating the incomplete Iron Garment Art. He is rather pitiful too."

Shen Qingshuang glanced at her. "You share Liu Yunfeng's thoughts as well? You want me to properly cultivate him, preferably arranging for him to enter the Shen Family's martial hall in the inner city to train in martial arts?"

"I would not dare," Xiao Qing said, somewhat guilty.

Shen Qingshuang stared at her, then suddenly smiled. "Xiao Qing, you are twenty-two this year. You must be anxious to find a husband. I think Chen Cheng seems rather good."

"Miss, please do not tease me. I only wish to follow Miss and cultivate martial arts. I have no interest in getting married." Xiao Qing's face flushed red as she hastily defended herself.

"Very good. Though you are my maidservant, your martial cultivation has already reached the peak of the Skin-Tempering Realm. Chen Cheng is not worthy of you yet." Shen Qingshuang nodded, then sighed. "But who can say for certain what will happen in this world?

I have observed Chen Cheng. Though he has never cultivated a body-tempering art, his physique already rivals that of a martial artist at the initial stage of the Skin-Tempering Realm. With such martial talent, cultivating external arts will naturally yield twice the result with half the effort, far faster than ordinary people.

If he trains diligently and seizes the chance to join a martial hall in the inner city, he may perhaps catch up to you in the future."

Xiao Qing's eyes lit up. "Miss, do you mean to let Chen Cheng join Zheng Martial Hall? Wouldn't that make him your junior brother?"

Shen Qingshuang waved her hand. "With his martial talent, my master is naturally the most suitable person to teach him. Otherwise, why do you think I gave him the Brown Bear Skin-Tempering Art manual?

I only hope he will not disappoint me!"

Night fell, and a waning moon hid behind thick clouds, casting a faint, dim glow.

After dinner, Chen Cheng rested briefly before continuing to practice the Chasing Wind Saber Technique in the courtyard.

As his progress in the Iron Garment Art increased, his qi and blood grew ever more vigorous. The fifty-pound weight no longer burdened him at all. Even if he practiced the Iron Garment Art under that weight for an entire day, he did not feel tired. Instead, he was full of energy.

When practicing the Chasing Wind Saber Technique, his progress advanced even faster than before.

Beneath the dim moonlight, his footwork was light and swift. The long saber in his hand danced, its moves smooth and natural, increasingly effortless.

After finishing a set of saber forms, Chen Cheng came to a stop. His dark eyes were deep and bright, and a realization stirred in his heart.

"Martial cultivation emphasizes cultivating both within and without, each complementing the other. Cultivating internal methods strengthens the body and greatly enhances the cultivation of external arts.

It is like a child trying to learn saber techniques. Limited by strength, speed, and agility of movement, even gripping and swinging a saber would be arduous, let alone practicing the technique.

But for an ordinary adult, learning saber techniques would be comparatively much easier.

And for a trained martial artist, mastering a saber technique would be easier still.

My overall strength now far surpasses that of an ordinary martial artist, so cultivating saber techniques is even simpler.

For an ordinary martial artist to cultivate a saber technique to great mastery, it would take two or three years at the longest, or one to two years at the shortest. But with my physique, coupled with guaranteed progress from training, I estimate it will take only a few months—perhaps even less.

After all, as my martial realm rises, my physique will grow stronger and stronger, and my progress in the Chasing Wind Saber Technique will increase ever faster.

The future is promising!" Delight appeared on Chen Cheng's face, but he soon sank into thought again.

It was certainly gratifying that his martial cultivation was developing in a positive direction, but he could not ignore the dangers lurking beyond.

One had to remain vigilant in times of peace.

He had joined the City Guard Office and gained its protection. Liu Yunfeng had also tried his best to shield him, even going so far as to mobilize a large force and lead his subordinates to the Flying Eagle Gang's headquarters.

All of this appeared to be Liu Yunfeng protecting a subordinate, yet Chen Cheng always felt there was more to the matter than met the eye.

As a constable, Liu Yunfeng surely knew that a major figure stood behind the Flying Eagle Gang.

Yet he had still disregarded everything and led men there. That alone was unusual.

Having offended Zhou Xu, an official from the South District City Guard Headquarters, Liu Yunfeng was merely a constable, yet he seemed not the least bit panicked. Where did his confidence come from? It was not difficult for Chen Cheng to guess that a major figure also supported Liu Yunfeng from behind.

That major figure was likely opposed to Zhou Xu.

Therefore, Chen Cheng had most likely already been drawn into the conflict between the major figure behind Liu Yunfeng and Zhou Xu.

He still had to be more careful. Otherwise, one day he might inexplicably become cannon fodder without even knowing it.