The Gift of a Blade

Cheng Yannian's eyes lit up, and he applauded. "Good! That strike was nothing like something a novice who'd studied the blade for only seven days could pull off. Even I can't find a single flaw. Have you practiced this blade technique before?"

Lin Qing sheathed his blade. "No."

"Then it's pure talent. Impressive. The younger generation is something else. Keep working hard and aim to pass the Reexamination in six months." Cheng Yannian turned to an attendant behind him. "Go to my study and bring me the Cold Shadow Blade hanging on the wall."

"Yes, my lord!"

The attendant moved quickly, returning with the blade in a dozen breaths.

"I favored this blade when I was young. It cuts through iron like mud. Take it, and don't disgrace it." Cheng Yannian tossed it over. Lin Qing reached out and caught it firmly.

With a metallic ring, Lin Qing drew the blade halfway. Pale gold patterns were etched along it, and its edge flashed cold and sharp in the sunlight.

"A fine blade!" Lin Qing sheathed it. "Rest assured, Lord Cheng. I won't let your generosity go to waste."

Cheng Yannian nodded slightly. "Yang Feng, come with me!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The two entered the pavilion ahead, one after the other. Lin Qing turned toward the Corpse Collectors' courtyard, but halfway there, a figure stepped out beside him.

"Lin Qing, Lord Pang wishes to see you. Come with me." The speaker was an old man dressed in a blue-gray martial outfit.

"All right." Lin Qing's heart stirred, but he did not dare refuse. Pang Tong was the head of the Night Patrol Office. Whatever the circumstances, he could not turn him down.

They arrived at a courtyard several hundred paces northeast of the Corpse Collectors' courtyard. It was quiet inside, with a pond and an artificial rockery beside it.

Lin Qing entered and saw Pang Tong standing with his back to him, head tilted slightly upward as he gazed at something in the distance.

"My lord, I've brought Lin Qing," the old man said softly.

"Leave us."

"Yes."

Once the old man had gone, Pang Tong turned around. A fierce aura surged toward Lin Qing like a tiger charging down a mountainside.

Lin Qing's heart stirred. A Hidden Strength martial artist is already this formidable. How powerful must a Transforming Force martial artist be?

Over the past few days, he had spent his spare time chatting with Yu Qiuyu and had learned more about martial arts. Bright Force, Hidden Strength, and Transforming Force were the first three stages.

Yang Feng and Jiang Baihe were both at the peak of Bright Force, while Pang Tong and the other two leaders had reached Hidden Strength. Cheng Yannian was at Transforming Force.

Of course, all this came from Yu Qiuyu. Lin Qing had no way to verify it and could only use it as a reference.

"Lin Qing, I hear Yang Feng has taken you as his disciple?" Pang Tong studied him for a moment, then spoke in a deep voice.

His voice boomed, his eyes were fierce, and his bearing was savage. An ordinary person would have struggled to stand steady before him. Fortunately, Lin Qing kept his composure. He gave a slight salute. "I went through the apprenticeship ceremony a few days ago."

"Good. But whatever Yang Feng can give you, I can give you twice as much. Are you willing to work for me?" Pang Tong asked suddenly.

"My lord, I'm not sure what you mean." Confusion showed on Lin Qing's face.

"Working for me and working for Yang Feng are two different things. I see talent in you, but you have no future following him. Follow me, and I'll make sure you never lack wealth or status." Pang Tong sat down in a large chair made of golden nanmu wood.

"I'm grateful that you think so highly of me, my lord. But I've only just become his disciple. If I switched sides now, people would laugh at me." Lin Qing looked troubled.

"That's easy enough. You can remain Yang Feng's disciple and work for me in secret. In return, silver, medicinal tonics, martial arts manuals—whatever you want, I'll give it to you." Pang Tong fixed Lin Qing with an unblinking stare.

Lin Qing hesitated briefly, then saluted. "My lord, please allow me three days to consider it before I decide."

"At your age, you can't even make a decision like this? Fine. Go home and think it over." Pang Tong waved him off, impatience on his face.

Lin Qing bowed and withdrew. Once outside the courtyard, he took a deep breath and decided to seek Yang Feng's advice at once.

He had long known that the infighting in the Soul-Calming Office was fierce. He just hadn't expected it to reach him so soon.

He had no intention of betraying Yang Feng. For one thing, Pang Tong was aligned with Jiang Baihe, and Lin Qing would never side with Jiang Baihe. For another, a person ought to act with honesty and keep his word. Betraying his master right after becoming his disciple was beneath him.

A short while later.

At the Corpse Collectors' compound.

In a room on the east side of the inner courtyard.

Lin Qing met Yang Feng and quickly recounted what had happened.

Yang Feng frowned slightly and tapped his fingers against the table.

"That old dog Pang Tong has no sense of decency!"

Lin Qing did not dare respond. He truly did not want to get caught up in this. He only wanted to practice martial arts in peace.

"Lin Qing, this concerns a struggle for power within the Soul-Calming Office and across all of Jiangyin County. The Han Family backs Pang Tong, while Commissioner Cheng and the prefectural Soul-Calming Office back me.

"It's complicated, but don't worry. Even if you refuse, Pang Tong won't dare do anything to you. With Commissioner Cheng above him, he can't act as he pleases," Yang Feng said coldly.

"I understand, Master," Lin Qing replied.

"All right, you can go. If Pang Tong sends someone after you again in a few days, refuse him outright," Yang Feng instructed.

"Yes. I'll take my leave, then." Lin Qing turned and walked out, deeply uneasy.

He only wanted to collect corpses and practice martial arts in peace, but trouble refused to leave him alone. Who knew whether the turmoil from this factional struggle would sweep him up?

Strength is what matters. I need to grow stronger as soon as possible, Lin Qing thought.

Inside the room.

Yang Feng watched Lin Qing's retreating figure through the window and murmured, "I was right about him."

Several days passed without Pang Tong sending anyone else. But a new problem came knocking.

That day, Lin Qing was practicing the Eight Strikes of the Spirit Snake in the training ground.

Halfway through, a slender figure appeared at the entrance. It was Yu Muqing, head of the Yin-Yang Bureau.

Fear showed on everyone's faces. They stopped what they were doing and greeted him in unison. "Greetings, Lord Yu!"

Lin Qing did the same. He recalled what Yu Qiuyu had said about Yu Muqing a few days earlier: he was utterly cold-blooded, had never been seen smiling, and acted swiftly and ruthlessly.

As Lin Qing considered this, he noticed Yu Muqing's gaze settle on him. His eyes were chillingly indifferent.

"Are you Lin Qing?"

"Yes."

Facing Yu Muqing, Lin Qing felt an oppressive force. But his bearing was different from Pang Tong's. Pang Tong was vicious; Yu Muqing was cold to the bone.

"Lin Qing, someone reported to the Yin-Yang Bureau that you have an Eight-Armed Wooden Idol. Is that true?" Yu Muqing asked coldly.

"My lord, I've never seen such a wooden idol. Please investigate the matter thoroughly." Lin Qing's heart sank, but he did not panic. Unless they had irrefutable proof, he could not admit anything. Besides, Yu Muqing's tone suggested he was not certain. It was only a suspicion.

"True or not, your word means nothing. Come with me!" Yu Muqing reached for Lin Qing's shoulder.

Lin Qing's heart jolted. This is trouble. If Yu Muqing takes me away, things could get much worse.

Just then, another person appeared at the courtyard entrance. It was Shen Cheng.

"Chief Yu, why go after a newcomer? The wooden idol isn't in his hands. You should look elsewhere."