A Fine-Looking Talent Indeed

The clouds parted and the rain ceased.

In the county yamen's training ground, Wang Ping gripped his blade with one hand and dragged a body cleaved in two with the other, leaving a stark trail of blood behind him.

On either side of the grounds, the constables had gathered at the commotion. They stared at the scene, then at one another, each seeing the same disbelief in the others' eyes. None of them had expected this.

"Who's that kid?"

"Forget his name. I just remember he's new."

"Wang Ping, I think? The chief specifically told Old Liu to show him the ropes... Wait, didn't he join the yamen only half a month ago?"

"He killed that White Lotus rebel?"

"He's capable of that?"

"Must've landed the finishing blow... Ah, poor Brother Qin. He lost his life, but a newcomer got there first. He won't see a penny of the reward."

Wang Ping ignored the chatter around him.

He was silently reviewing what he had done, weighing what had worked against what had not. Strictly speaking, it was the first time he had killed anyone since crossing over.

First, I'm not that strong yet—or rather, I'm not well-rounded enough. True Dragon Sinew gives me tremendous strength, but my speed, defense, endurance, explosiveness... they all lag far behind. I only succeeded because I caught the right moment.

It looked as though he had killed Xie Shi with a single slash, but he had prepared thoroughly beforehand.

Without Spirit Sense locking onto Xie Shi in advance, he could never have intercepted him so precisely while the man fled for his life in a frenzy.

He had even used Spirit Sense to guide that slash.

Its perception had let him avoid the point where Xie Shi's attack was fiercest and strike at his weakest opening, moving a thousand catties with four ounces.

Thanks to Spirit Sense, I could make the most of my advantage. Xie Shi had tempered dragon sinew too, but his was clearly no match for my True Dragon Sinew. He couldn't beat me in a contest of raw strength. I dragged him into the kind of fight I was best at, and that was how I defeated him.

Of course, Wang Ping had not escaped unscathed.

He had dodged Xie Shi's dying blow quickly, but it had still grazed him. The force it carried had dealt him a serious injury.

Ordinarily, he would have needed months in bed to recover.

But the moment he was hurt, he had activated [Qi Suppression], using True Qi to stop the bleeding and regenerate flesh. By the time he returned to the training ground, he had almost fully healed.

The thought only strengthened one conviction.

Cultivating immortality really is better than practicing martial arts!

With nothing more than a cultivator's most basic Spirit Sense and a rudimentary spell, he had overcome a stronger opponent in a martial fight. Which path held more promise was plain as day.

Just then, a voice called out.

"Congratulations, Brother Wang!"

Wang Ping turned toward the voice. Seeing who it was, he hurriedly cupped his hands. "Master Liu..."

Before he could finish, Liu Ye waved both hands. "Please, don't. You killed that White Lotus rebel, Brother Wang. You've earned a reward that could reach the heavens."

Wang Ping watched Liu Ye reach into his robes and pull out a money pouch. Under the guise of a handshake, Liu Ye slipped it into his hand.

"Oh, right. This is the silver you dropped earlier, Brother Wang. I picked it up for you."

"Count it and see if it's all there."

Wang Ping glanced at the pouch. A sweep of Spirit Sense told him what was inside. It's the silver bits I gave him before, plus another ten taels...

Is this a return gift and an apology?

Wang Ping immediately understood. The old constable had hidden depths. Had he seen Wang Ping's slash through that curtain of rain?

He knows I've tempered True Dragon Sinew.

He thinks I have a bright future, so he's trying to get on my good side early? Maybe he's even worried I resent how much money he took from me before?

Once he had worked it out, Wang Ping smiled.

He promptly pressed the pouch back into Liu Ye's hand and said quietly, "Don't think so little of me, Brother Liu. Aren't we friends?"

He could have taken the money, of course, but there was no need. [Iron Ox Skill] had helped him enormously, and all he had paid for it was a little loose silver. If anything, he had come out far ahead. Demanding the money back now that his prospects had improved would be reaching out for a foot after being given an inch. It did not sit right with him.

Besides, he valued the goodwill between himself and Liu Ye more than a simple exchange of money.

There were plenty of troubles in this world that money could not solve, no matter how much one spent. With the right connection, though, resolving them might take no more than the lift of a hand.

"This..."

Liu Ye looked at the pouch returned to his hand. His mouth fell slightly open before he sighed helplessly. "Brother Wang... your future is looking brighter by the moment."

"You flatter me, Brother Liu." Wang Ping chuckled.

Liu Ye shook his head and said no more. He put away the pouch, then grew serious. "The chief just gave an order. You're to see him at once."

Time to collect the reward?

Wang Ping's spirits rose. He accepted the order and strode toward the yamen's inner courtyard.

As soon as he entered, he saw Chen Haoyan, chief constable of Longxing County, seated squarely in a grand armchair at the center of the main hall.

At almost the same moment, Chen Haoyan looked over.

Wang Ping's pupils contracted. A powerful sense of danger rushed toward him, as though an invisible hand had suddenly seized his heart.

Is this... a gaze technique?

By now, Wang Ping was no novice to martial arts. After so many days talking with Liu Ye, he had a clear understanding of Great Shun's martial system.

A gaze technique belongs neither to the external arts of skin, flesh, sinew, bone, blood, and marrow, nor to the higher realm of Inner Force. Only martial artists who have gone beyond that and begun to touch upon spirit can master such a secret art. In that case, Chief Constable Chen must be close to a breakthrough...

Wang Ping considered this in silence.

"Not bad. A fine-looking talent indeed."

Chen Haoyan spoke. His voice was gentle rather than stern. "You're here as a meritorious man collecting his reward. There's no need to be so stiff."

"Come, sit and rest a moment."

Chen Haoyan pointed to a chair nearby, inviting Wang Ping to sit.

Then he took a gleaming gold ingot from his sleeve and tossed it into Wang Ping's lap. "That's your reward for killing the rebel."

"Besides, there's something I called you here to ask."

Chen Haoyan's pressing gaze fixed on Wang Ping as he asked, enunciating each word, "What grade is the dragon sinew you tempered?"

Wang Ping had expected the question.

He showed no panic. Cupping his hands, neither servile nor overbearing, he replied steadily, "My lord, after I perfected my blade technique, I tempered True Dragon Sinew."

With Spirit Sense to help him, Wang Ping could have concealed his True Dragon Sinew if he wanted to. But after thinking it over, he saw no need.

Playing down my abilities is modesty, not tying my own hands.

It's one thing to do it out in the world. But if I hide my abilities in the yamen instead of showing what I can do, how is my superior supposed to give me greater responsibilities? How am I supposed to advance?

Of course, there was risk in that choice.

After the sudden death he had suffered two lives ago, he knew Chen Haoyan's habit of burning bridges once he had crossed them all too well. But Wang Ping had a different source of confidence now.

This is the confidence my cheat gives me.

If that bastard burns me again, I'll throw away this life to make him pay. The cooldown on [Otherworldly Celestial Demon] is over anyway...

Silence settled over the hall.

At length, Chen Haoyan said, "At the end of the day, [Yama's Three Demon Blades] is only an inferior martial art. In theory, it couldn't possibly nurture True Dragon Sinew."

"Unless you secretly learned a better Sinew Tempering art."

"Absolutely not!"

Wang Ping shook his head with complete confidence. He truly had not practiced any other martial art. He had not even begun to learn [Plain Moon Lotus Blade].

Chen Haoyan narrowed his eyes. "Absolutely not? Then how did you temper True Dragon Sinew?"

Wang Ping scratched his head. "Maybe I was born with extraordinary strength?"

"...Hahaha!"

Chen Haoyan's stern expression suddenly gave way to laughter. "Born with extraordinary strength... Yes, that could indeed make True Dragon Sinew possible."

"That was how it was for me back then, too."

He stepped forward and patted Wang Ping on the shoulder with a smile. "Do you know which martial art best suits talent like ours?"

Wang Ping shook his head.

"Archery!"

Chen Haoyan put weight behind the word. "My family's secret [Cloud-Piercing Heaven-Shaking Bow] would suit you best!"

"If you make it your principal art, you might join the Divine Constables Bureau as I did and become an Inner Force Martial Master. One day, you might even earn a place on the Weapon Ranking."

And what's the price?

Wang Ping knew Chen Haoyan was dangling a reward before him, clearly alluding to the perilous assignment he had mentioned earlier on the training ground—one with nine chances of death to one of survival.

But... that's exactly what I want!

With that thought, Wang Ping let eagerness and hesitation show on his face. After a pause, he asked softly, "May I ask what you need me to do, my lord?"

Chen Haoyan smiled in satisfaction and answered without delay.

"I want you to escort something for me."

He took out a silver-white flying blade Wang Ping knew all too well. Its gleam spilled forth like moonlight, carrying a clear, cold chill.

[Lotus Blade]!

"This is the White Lotus Sect leader Shouchong's bonded weapon," Chen Haoyan explained. "Not long ago, the Destiny attached to this flying blade suddenly plummeted."

"I don't know exactly why, but Shouchong is plainly anxious. The White Lotus rebel you killed slipped into the county yamen late at night to retrieve it. But that was only an appetizer sent to test the way. Shouchong himself is the main course. He'll certainly come for the blade in person."

"For me, that presents an enormous opportunity."

Chen Haoyan looked earnest as he explained patiently. "In short, I intend to return the flying blade to Shouchong, then defeat him before everyone."

"Most of the blade's Destiny may have scattered, but its renown remains."

"If I defeat Shouchong in public and shatter the blade, I can strip away that renown and turn it to my own benefit. It will help me break through the limits of Inner Force and climb another floor."

"But... I can't be sure I'll win."

At that, Chen Haoyan looked at Wang Ping. "So although the blade must be returned to Shouchong, he mustn't get it back easily. He has to pay a price."

And then you'll take his life while he's weakened, right?

Wang Ping understood, but one point still troubled him. "My lord, my martial abilities are modest. If I have to face Shouchong myself, I'm afraid I'll be out of my depth..."

"You won't have to."

Chen Haoyan shook his head. "I've already invited the Wandering God True Person of the Spirit Wandering Temple. He'll personally destroy the flying blade in public."

"But the Wandering God True Person doesn't wish to leave the Spirit Wandering Temple."

"So your task is to deliver the flying blade to the Spirit Wandering Temple... Remember, deliver it openly. Make sure everyone sees."

Wang Ping understood.

Escorting the blade is just a pretext. He's fishing!

He'll deliberately spread word that he's sending [Lotus Blade] to the Spirit Wandering Temple for the Wandering God True Person to destroy, forcing that old bastard Shouchong to intercept it.

That leaves Shouchong no choice but to face the Wandering God True Person, who clearly has some real ability himself. Chen Haoyan wants to watch the snipe and the clam fight while he plays the fisherman. Whether Shouchong wins or loses, Chen Haoyan can jump out afterward and beat the drowning dog.

It was a vicious scheme, yet it had the flavor of an open challenge.

There was one problem, though.

"May I ask, my lord..." Wang Ping frowned and lowered his voice. "What if I fail to get [Lotus Blade] into the Spirit Wandering Temple?"

If the blade never entered the temple, the Wandering God True Person might not act.

Wouldn't that be like throwing a meat bun to a dog and expecting to get it back?

"That's where the nine chances of death come in."

Chen Haoyan smiled. "If the mission fails, you, as the man escorting the blade, will undoubtedly die... So if you don't want to die, don't let it fail."

He dodged the question.

He must have another arrangement, but he doesn't want to tell me... Fair enough. Why would he tell me a secret that truly matters to his own interests?

Chen Haoyan continued.

"Well? Do you dare accept?"

Wang Ping pulled a pained face and answered carefully, "My lord, this mission offers nine chances of death and one of survival. My death would be a small matter, but if I ruined your plan, ten thousand deaths couldn't atone for it."

Chen Haoyan's expression did not change. "I can teach you [Cloud-Piercing Heaven-Shaking Bow]."

"If you're worried about dying before you can use it, I'll also grant you permission to pass the art on to one person of your choosing."

With that, he produced a book.

Wang Ping's eyes brightened, but then he shook his head. "A book this thick would take at least a month or two to practice."

"This is the table of contents. The manuals are over there."

Following Chen Haoyan's finger, Wang Ping saw a small mountain of books—at least forty or fifty volumes.

"That many? Just reading them would take a year."

Chen Haoyan chuckled. "I spent three years reading them and another thirty practicing before I attained the skills I have today. Martial arts demand perseverance."

Wang Ping opened his mouth. "Thirty years? How much time do I have to practice, my lord?"

"Three days."

Wang Ping's eye twitched. "Three days... Then it's still nine chances of death to one of survival!"

Chen Haoyan's smile widened. "Not so. If you practice, you have one chance to survive out of ten. If you don't, you have none. I trust you know which to choose."

Wang Ping: "..."

Silence filled the hall again. Chen Haoyan waited with perfect composure, confident the young constable understood what he had left unsaid.

Refuse? What a joke.

From the moment Wang Ping had entered the hall, Chen Haoyan had left him no room to refuse. Obedience had been Wang Ping's only path from the start!

How else could he live up to being called a fine-looking talent?

At last, Wang Ping raised his head and forced the words through gritted teeth. "I can take the assignment, my lord. But... you'll have to pay me more!"