Xin Character Night Patrol Team

Only after asking Yu Chen did Xu Qing learn that before he arrived, Yu Chen had already told Zhao Jingyuan some things about him, letting Zhao Jingyuan know that Xu Qing actually possessed considerable Martial Talent.

As a result.

Through Yu Chen's account, Zhao Jingyuan saw Xu Qing as someone with considerable Martial Talent. For him to master Azure Hawk Force and step into Bright Force was as certain as a nail driven into a plank.

Also.

Zhao Jingyuan had already reached peak Bright Force, yet because of hidden injuries within his body, he had been unable to break through into Dark Force. However, Azure Hawk Martial Arts School possessed a Secret Medicine, and only official disciples of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School could gain access to it.

This Secret Medicine could heal Zhao Jingyuan's hidden injuries.

At that time.

Once the hidden injuries in his body recovered, Zhao Jingyuan might be able to break through and step into the level of Dark Force.

"So that's how it is."

Xu Qing nodded.

Besides.

Yu Chen and Zhao Jingyuan had known each other for ten years. Back then, Zhao Jingyuan had just become a constable and was still a greenhorn. He suffered grave injuries in a battle while pursuing a fugitive, and only survived because Yu Chen saved him.

Therefore.

Zhao Jingyuan and Yu Chen had quite a good friendship.

"Couldn't Brother Zhao ask someone else? Azure Hawk Martial Arts School should have quite a few official disciples, right?"

Xu Qing asked.

"Heh heh."

Yu Chen sneered a few times. "Xu Qing, aren't you taking the title of an official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School far too lightly?"

"First."

"You need to understand something."

"In troubled times, Martial Force reigns supreme. There are indeed many martial arts schools throughout the outer city, but only Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, Crushing Stone Martial Arts School, and Crimson Eagle Martial Arts School are the strongest. They even have influence in the inner city."

"Also."

"Azure Hawk Martial Arts School turns away no one. As long as you pay, Azure Hawk Martial Arts School will teach you. But to become an official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, you must master Bright Force within one month."

"You don't seriously think mastering Bright Force within a month is an easy thing, do you? Some people might need a year, or even ten years, to master Bright Force!!!"

"So."

"Every official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School is a genius at martial arts."

"This..."

After hearing Yu Chen's words, Xu Qing could not help but feel shaken. At the same time, he was somewhat glad that he had not revealed his strength to Azure Hawk Martial Arts School.

However.

After Yu Chen finished saying all this, he gave Xu Qing a rather complicated look.

"One could well imagine."

Yu Chen continued, "Given Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's status and their own talent, once someone becomes an official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, they become one of the high and mighty in Qingbei Town's outer city. Although Brother Zhao is a minor constable of the yamen and an 'official lord' in ordinary people's eyes, in the eyes of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, he is merely a little lackey of the yamen."

"So."

"Brother Zhao wanted to ask an official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School for help? And have them risk being punished by the school master to give him the Secret Medicine? How could that be possible without real friendship and benefits involved?!"

Actually.

By this point, Xu Qing had formed an entirely new impression of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. He had most likely underestimated it before, thinking it was merely a martial arts school.

In reality.

Azure Hawk Martial Arts School was a colossal beast entrenched in Qingbei Town's outer city.

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded.

At noon.

After Xu Qing left Kaiyuan Tower, he returned to his residence. The food at Kaiyuan Tower was too expensive, and he was worried Yu Chen would spend too much, so Xu Qing had barely eaten.

After returning to his residence, Xu Qing pan-fried another pound of Tai Sui Spirit Meat. Once he swallowed the cooked Tai Sui Spirit Meat, a warm current spread from his abdomen through his entire body.

In the afternoon.

Following Zhao Jingyuan's instructions, Xu Qing arrived at the yamen. He registered at the yamen's recruitment area, then underwent a test by one of the yamen constables. After passing, the constable issued him a standard uniform, an iron sword, and a patrol token.

From that moment on.

Xu Qing became a member of the yamen's night patrol teams.

The yamen had already recruited quite a few people. Although the threshold for joining the night patrol teams was not high, recruits still had to be young and strong, have practiced combat techniques, and know a few moves.

At present.

The yamen had recruited twelve night patrol teams. Each night patrol team had between twelve and eighteen members. The largest had eighteen people, while even the smallest had twelve.

They were named respectively after the characters Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui, Zi, and Chou. Xu Qing was assigned to the Xin Patrol Team.

"You're Xu Qing?"

The Xin Patrol Team's Captain, Yang Ye, was a middle-aged man in his thirties. He was a saber-wielding yamen constable. His strength was ordinary, and he had not mastered Bright Force, but he was proficient in several combat techniques and could be considered somewhat capable.

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded.

"Mm."

Yang Ye sized Xu Qing up a few times. "Constable Zhao has already spoken to me. From now on, you will be one of the two Vice-Captains of the Xin Patrol Team."

"You two Vice-Captains should get acquainted."

"Yes."

Xu Qing looked over and saw the other Vice-Captain of the Xin Patrol Team. Before his eyes was a middle-aged man around forty, carrying a large cleaver on his back. When the man noticed Xu Qing looking at him, he smiled.

"Hello."

The middle-aged man carrying the cleaver extended his hand toward Xu Qing. "My name is Qin Daniu."

"Xu Qing."

Xu Qing introduced himself as well.

"Humph!"

On the other side.

Among the members of the Xin Patrol Team, there was a middle-aged man with a hawk nose whose expression had darkened somewhat. He swept Xu Qing with an unfriendly glance.

One had to know.

The yamen had certain requirements for every Patrol Team. Aside from the Captain having to be a yamen constable, every Patrol Team needed at least two Bright Force martial artists.

Generally speaking.

Those two Bright Force martial artists would serve as the Patrol Team's Vice-Captains.

However.

Because of Xu Qing, the Vice-Captain position of the Xin Patrol Team's other Bright Force martial artist—the hawk-nosed middle-aged man, Wang Changye—had been squeezed out.

In other words.

Xu Qing had become the one who came in through the back door.

"Alright."

Yang Ye swept his gaze over everyone present. Including Yang Ye, Xu Qing, Qin Daniu, and Wang Changye, the Xin Patrol Team had a total of fourteen people.

The entire outer city.

Had a total of eighteen streets.

Among them.

Four streets lay close to the inner city, so the yamen had dispatched three Chief Constables and teams of constables to patrol them at night, ensuring the safety of those four streets.

Apart from that.

There were still twelve streets remaining. Since they were not close to the inner city, twelve night patrol teams were assigned to guard them. The Xin Patrol Team happened to be assigned to Hongye Street, where Xu Qing lived.

"Listen carefully."

Yang Ye said loudly, "Before six in the evening, before the sun sets, you must gather here, then head to Hongye Street for patrol duty."

"Generally speaking."

"At that time, you will be divided into two teams again. One team will patrol the first half of the night, while the other will patrol the second half, until six the next morning."

"Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Understood."

"..."

Everyone shouted in unison.

"Dismissed."

Yang Ye waved his hand.

After that.

Everyone left one after another.

"Xu Qing."

At this moment.

Xu Qing had only taken a few steps when the hawk-nosed middle-aged man, Wang Changye, called out to him. "Do you know that night patrols are very dangerous? If someone without sufficient strength insists on sitting in a position that does not match his ability, the consequence will be losing his life when danger comes."

"Are you threatening me?"

Xu Qing stopped. He turned around, and his gaze gradually turned cold.

"..."

Wang Changye's pupils contracted slightly.

Because.

Just then.

When Xu Qing fixed him with that icy gaze, Wang Changye actually felt his scalp go numb, as if a needle had pierced straight into his heart.

"You..."

Wang Changye's breathing hitched slightly. "I'm not threatening you. I'm kindly reminding you. There's an idiom: virtue does not match one's position."

"Heh heh."

Xu Qing laughed. "You should worry about yourself instead. I see darkness between your brows with a red gleam mixed in. You will face a bloody disaster within the next few days."

Once he finished speaking.

Xu Qing left directly.

"Xu Qing."

Wang Changye clenched his fists indignantly.

Clearly.

Although Wang Changye was extremely displeased and even wanted to beat Xu Qing up, he did not dare and lacked the nerve. Just moments ago, Yang Ye had said before everyone that Zhao Jingyuan was backing Xu Qing, and that Xu Qing had been forcibly inserted by Zhao Jingyuan.

Although Zhao Jingyuan was not a Chief Constable, he was still a minor constable and had reached peak Bright Force. Wang Changye was only a martial artist at minor accomplishment Bright Force. How could he dare offend Zhao Jingyuan?

Therefore.

No matter how displeased Wang Changye was, he had no choice but to swallow it.

Evening.

Xu Qing's residence.

"Huff..."

Xu Qing slowly finished his practice. After returning to his residence, he had repeatedly gone through Eight Extremities Fist, only stopping when evening was close.

Five hours had already passed.

He practiced five times per hour, gaining five experience points each hour. Over five hours, without resting in between, he practiced twenty-five times and gained twenty-five experience points.

Eight Extremities Fist LV5:40/160(...)

"My experience points have reached forty."

Xu Qing said.

"It's almost time."

Xu Qing looked at the sky. "I should set out."

Therefore.

Xu Qing swiftly put on the standard uniform issued by the yamen, fastened the Deputy Captain of the Xin Character Night Patrol token to himself, then picked up the iron sword and prepared to leave.

"Right."

Xu Qing's eyes flashed as his gaze landed on the iron sword in his hand.

"Record."

With a thought.

Xu Qing's consciousness connected with the Omni-Codex. As the Omni-Codex flashed with fluorescent light, the iron sword in Xu Qing's hand was also recorded within the Omni-Codex.

At the same time.

It appeared in the form of data.

Just like the worn hand crossbow from before.

Iron Sword LV1:0/10(This is an ordinary iron sword forged by an ordinary blacksmith.)

"Oh."

Joy appeared on Xu Qing's face.

Because.

Along with the completion of the iron sword's recording, the Omni-Codex also revealed how the iron sword could be upgraded. That worn hidden-weapon hand crossbow had gained experience through shooting arrows.

The iron sword in Xu Qing's hand could gain experience through "sword swings."

As the name implied.

Each time Xu Qing swung his sword, he could gain one experience point.