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 lost in dreams, then stepped out of the courtyard.

Cheng Heng was now, after all, a Bright Force martial artist, overflowing with vigor. Li Qingwan was finding it harder and harder to endure his dragon-and-tiger-like ravaging!

When he arrived at the martial hall, Cheng Heng had just prepared to practice his fist technique when he saw Zhao Wei approach him.

"Junior Brother Cheng, you have now officially become a Bright Force martial artist. There are several suitable posts for you at the moment. Take a look."

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

The first was a position at the Xu Family Escort Agency, mainly responsible for escorting shipments. This post came with heavy duties and considerable danger, but the pay was excellent—five taels of silver a month.

The second was a position at the Li Family in the Inner City, responsible for patrolling the residence, deterring petty villains, and protecting the Li family and their household. 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 time was occupied each day, the loss would outweigh the gain. Cheng Heng still wanted to devote his energy to cultivation.

"The last one is Inner City patrol duty."

"Recently, County Lieutenant He has wanted to expand the number of patrol guards. It pays three taels of silver a month, and you only need to patrol the Inner City once each day. It does not take up much time. If you agree, you can report for the post tomorrow."

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

Inner City patrol guards were mainly responsible for the Inner City's safety: maintaining public order, handling disputes, and questioning suspicious people. Backed by the county yamen, the work was quite leisurely.

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

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 work then."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao!"

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

At noon, Cheng Heng tucked the token into his robes and arrived at the entrance of the county yamen.

The yamen was not particularly large, but it was rather imposing. People moved through it in a steady stream, most of them Inner City patrol guards. It was currently shift-change time.

Cheng Heng stepped forward and entered 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 he wore ordinary coarse hemp clothes, he had a powerful build and sharp eyes. He was clearly a martial artist who had entered the hall and passed through the door.

The impatience on his 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.

At the door, Cheng Heng knocked lightly.

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

Cheng Heng pushed open the door and entered. A dark-skinned middle-aged man of around thirty came into view.

"I am Cheng Heng. I've come to take up an Inner City patrol post!"

Cheng Heng's expression was calm.

"Do you have a token?"

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

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

"From Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall?"

"That's right," Cheng Heng said.

"The token is fine. You look sturdy enough as well. We're currently expanding the patrol force, so your timing is just right."

Constable Wang gave Cheng Heng another look and spoke in a gentler 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 told me before I came."

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

"The squad that is off rotation that day gets the day off."

"If there are any chicken thieves, dog thieves, brawlers, or troublemakers, handle them yourself if you can. If you cannot, report it at once. The Inner City is unlike the Outer City—people here are easy to offend."

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

Cheng Heng immediately replied seriously, "Thank you for your guidance, Chief Wang. I understand."

Seeing that his attitude was decent enough, Wang Ming continued,

"Come back tomorrow. You'll receive your waist token then, and that will count as officially starting work. Anything else?"

"Nothing else!"

"Then go."

It was only in the afternoon that Cheng Heng returned to Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall and began his proper training.

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

After finishing one round of the fist technique, the progress of the fist technique on his destiny grid in his mind rose sharply.

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

"Hmm?"

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

In a few days, he would be able to formally take Wu Zhong as his master. By then, he would no longer need to pay tuition.

He still had nineteen taels of silver in hand. After setting aside 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.

Hearing this, Cheng Heng immediately nodded. He had never truly tested what level his current strength was at. With a genius of superior bone structure as a sparring partner, he could not have been happier.

Cheng Heng loosened his muscles and bones, drove force through his fists and feet, and instantly charged toward Chen An.

Chen An's eyes flashed. His aura surged as he moved to meet Cheng Heng in battle.

Their fist winds roared, and in the blink of an eye, they had already exchanged four or five moves!

By then, Cheng Heng's condition had climbed to its peak. Chen An, too, was putting forth one hundred percent of his focus, not daring to slacken in the slightest.

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

Although Chen An had broken through to Bright Force a month earlier than Cheng Heng, when it came to actual combat ability, he was actually somewhat no match for Cheng Heng.

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

Afterward, their fists collided head-on once more, and both were sent staggering back four or five steps!

"Ha ha ha, exhilarating! Again!"

Cheng Heng shouted and prepared to charge forward once more.

"Enough, stop. The two of you won't be able to determine a winner 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."

Not daring to delay, Cheng Heng quickly followed Wu Zhong into the inner courtyard.

When they reached 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. Once he became a formal disciple, not only would his tuition be waived, but Wu Zhong would also increase the martial hall's allocation of resources to him. This would be even more beneficial to his martial cultivation.

"This disciple is willing!"

Cheng Heng said solemnly.

Then he respectfully bowed to Wu Zhong.