Inner City Patrol

Early the next morning, Cheng Heng rose at dawn, brimming with energy. After washing up, he glanced at Li Qingwan, who was still deep in slumber, then walked out through the courtyard gate.

Cheng Heng was, after all, now a Bright Force martial artist, full of vigor. Li Qingwan was becoming less and less able to endure his dragon-like vitality and tiger-like ferocity!

Upon arriving at the martial hall, Cheng Heng had just prepared to practice his fist technique when he saw Zhao Wei walk over.

"Junior Brother Cheng, now that you've officially become a Bright Force martial artist, there are several positions suited to you. Take a look."

Hearing this, Cheng Heng immediately stopped what he was doing and listened attentively.

The first was to take a post at the Xu Family Escort Agency, mainly handling escort assignments. This position came with heavy responsibilities and considerable danger, but the pay was quite good—five taels of silver each month.

The second was to take a post with the Li Family in the Inner City, responsible for patrolling the residence, intimidating petty villains, and protecting the wealthy Li family. The monthly pay was around four taels of silver.

Cheng Heng shook his head after hearing this. Though both positions paid well, neither offered much freedom.

His current financial pressure was not great, and he also possessed the Heaven Rewards Diligence cheat.

If too much of his daily time was taken up, the loss would outweigh the gain. Cheng Heng still wanted to focus his energy on cultivation.

"The last one is Inner City patrol duty."

"Recently, County Magistrate He has wanted to expand the number of patrol guards in the county seat. It pays three taels of silver a month. You only need to patrol the Inner City once a day, so it won't take much time. If you agree, you can report for the position tomorrow."

"Many disciples in the martial hall think the pay is too little, so not many have signed up."

Inner City patrol guards were chiefly responsible for the Inner City's safety: maintaining public order, handling disputes within the city, and questioning suspicious individuals. With the county yamen at their backs, the work was quite leisurely.

After pondering for a moment, Cheng Heng nodded slightly. "Senior Brother Zhao, I'll take the Inner City patrol position!"

Zhao Wei immediately took a letter from his robes. "This is the token for Inner City patrol duty. Go to the county yamen at noon and report to Constable Wang. Someone will arrange your duties then."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao!"

Cheng Heng accepted the token and cupped his hands toward Zhao Wei.

At noon, Cheng Heng arrived at the entrance to the county yamen with the token tucked inside his robes.

The yamen was not especially large, but it was imposing nonetheless. People streamed through its grounds, most of them Inner City patrol guards. It was currently shift-change time.

Cheng Heng lifted his foot and stepped into the county yamen.

He casually stopped a patrol guard hurrying past and asked, "Brother, may I ask where Constable Wang works?"

The patrol guard sized Cheng Heng up. Though Cheng Heng wore ordinary coarse hemp clothes, his frame was imposing and his eyes gleamed sharply. He was clearly a martial artist who had entered the hall and crossed the threshold.

The impatience on the guard's face immediately eased. "Constable Wang is in that room inside. Just go find him."

"Thank you!"

Cheng Heng cupped his hands in thanks, then headed straight for Constable Wang's room.

When he reached the door, Cheng Heng knocked lightly.

"Come in!" A booming voice sounded from within.

Pushing open the door, Cheng Heng entered and saw a dark-skinned middle-aged man of around thirty.

"My name is Cheng Heng. I'm here to take up an Inner City patrol position!"

Cheng Heng's expression remained calm.

"Do you have the token?"

Cheng Heng took the letter from his robes and handed it to Constable Wang.

Constable Wang accepted the token, opened it, and said after reading it:

"From the Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall?"

"That's right," Cheng Heng said.

"The token is fine, and you seem physically fit as well. We're currently expanding the patrol guard force, so your timing is just right."

Constable Wang gave Cheng Heng another look, then spoke in a relaxed tone:

"My name is Wang Ming. You can call me Chief Wang from now on."

"You already know the rules and salary for Inner City patrol guards, right?"

"Senior Brother already told me before I came."

"Mm. I'll repeat them anyway. Inner City patrol duty is fairly easy. Your main responsibility is public order in the Inner City. There are seven patrol squads in total, and each squad only needs to patrol the Inner City for two shichen each day."

"The squad that has the day off rotation gets to rest that day."

"If there are chicken thieves, dog thieves, or people fighting in the streets, deal with it yourself if you can. If you can't, report it at once. The Inner City isn't like the Outer City—you can easily offend someone here."

"If you truly provoke someone you shouldn't, even I might not be able to cover for you!"

Cheng Heng immediately said seriously, "Thank you for the guidance, Chief Wang. I understand."

Seeing that his attitude was fairly good, Wang Ming continued:

"Come back tomorrow. You'll receive your waist token then, and that will count as your official start. Is there anything else?"

"No."

"Then go."

It was not until the afternoon that Cheng Heng returned to the Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall and began his formal training.

Before training, Cheng Heng took a Blood-Qi Pill from his robes and swallowed it in one gulp. Feeling the abundant qi and blood brought by the medicine's potency, he began practicing the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique over and over again.

After completing one round of the fist technique, the fist technique progress on his fate panel in his mind rose sharply.

[Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique Beginner (788/1000): practice ten times a day, minor mastery in three months, major mastery in one year]

"Hmm?"

He had not expected that using medicinal pills as assistance could also speed up cultivation progress. The bottle of Blood-Qi Pills Wu Zhong had given him last time contained only three pills.

In a few days, he would be able to formally become Wu Zhong's disciple. By then, he would no longer need to pay tuition.

He currently had nineteen taels of silver left. After setting aside the necessary expenses, he would find an opportunity to go to the Inner City and buy more Blood-Qi Pills.

"Junior Brother Cheng, let's spar."

The speaker was Chen An.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Heng immediately nodded. He had never truly tested what level his current strength had reached. With a genius possessing a Superior Bone Constitution as a sparring partner, he could not have been happier.

Cheng Heng loosened his muscles and bones, exerted strength through his fists and feet, and charged at Chen An in an instant.

Chen An's eyes gleamed as he saw this. His aura surged forth, and he met Cheng Heng in battle.

The wind from their fists roared as, in the blink of an eye, they had exchanged four or five moves!

By now, Cheng Heng's entire body had reached its peak state. Chen An, too, was responding with one hundred percent of his focus, not daring to relax in the slightest.

The longer they exchanged moves, the more shocked Chen An became!

Though Chen An had broken through to Bright Force a month before Cheng Heng, when it came to actual combat ability, he was unexpectedly somewhat no match for Cheng Heng.

Moreover, judging from Cheng Heng's progress in the fist technique, he was clearly not far from minor mastery!

After another clash of fists, both of them staggered back more than four or five steps!

"Hahaha, that was satisfying! Again!"

Cheng Heng shouted loudly, preparing to rush forward once more.

"Enough, stop. The two of you won't be able to determine a victor anytime soon!"

It was Wu Zhong who had spoken to stop them!

The two hurriedly cupped their hands and greeted Wu Zhong.

"Cheng Heng, come with me."

Cheng Heng did not dare delay and hurriedly followed Wu Zhong into the Inner Courtyard.

Upon reaching the main hall, Wu Zhong sat upright in the seat of honor, cleared his throat, and said:

"Cheng Heng, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Cheng Heng was delighted upon hearing this. He had finally waited for this day. So long as he became a formal disciple, not only would his tuition be waived, Wu Zhong would also direct more of the martial hall's resources toward him. This would be even more beneficial to his martial cultivation.

"This disciple is willing!"

Cheng Heng said solemnly, then respectfully bowed to Wu Zhong.