What Wouldn't I Dare?

"What the hell is all this junk?!"

At the Pacification Commission offices, Cao Jinxing stared at the heap of burial goods they had seized. Aside from gold, silver, and jewels, there were illustrated silk scrolls of dual cultivation and potent aphrodisiacs...

"This imperial preceptor was seriously low-class..."

The corner of Cao Jinxing's eye twitched.

"Low?"

Su Yunsheng and Sun Lang looked baffled.

Cao Jinxing took two bottles of pills out of his bag. "[Essence-Nurturing Pills]. These are at least somewhat useful. You two take them."

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard carried out an assignment, everything seized during a property confiscation had to be turned over in full. Otherwise, anything obtained while pursuing and arresting suspects belonged to the officer in charge.

This was an unwritten rule.

It was also why so many people wanted good assignments: there were spoils to be had. A martial artist's expenses could hardly be covered by his salary alone.

"Thank you, sir."

The two of them had more or less figured out Cao Jinxing's temperament. Making a show of declining and dragging things out would only annoy him.

Since he treated them so well, they would simply do their utmost for him in the future.

"Esoteric Buddhist cultivation methods differ from those of the Central Plains. They cultivate chakras and channels rather than meridians. Otherwise, I could give you these books to practice. They're a little better than what you're using now."

Apart from all that trash, the few esoteric cultivation manuals were decent. They were among the finest Jialin Zhenshan had collected.

"But there's no rush. You did well today, so you should both get a chance to enter the Secret Vault. Our pacification commissioner is fairly evenhanded with rewards and punishments."

"Yes, sir," Su Yunsheng and Sun Lang replied.

Cao Jinxing could freely pass judgment on the pacification commissioner because he was strong enough and increasingly valued. The two of them did not dare speak so casually.

"Take a handful of these valuables each, then go home and sleep." Cao Jinxing stretched and stood up. "I'm heading home to bed too."

A handful each...

Sun Lang and Su Yunsheng were stunned. Their eyes widened, and they wondered whether they had misheard.

Cao Jinxing said, "What are you standing there for? I told you to take them, so take them."

"Then... th-thank you, sir..."

The two carefully took a small amount.

Even that was worth ten years of their salaries!

For their superior to show them such generosity was truly...

They were both veterans of the Pacification Commission and had served under plenty of officers. Every last one had hoarded wealth like a mythical beast that swallowed treasure but never let any out. Yet this man gave them not only pills, but silver too...

Great heaps of silver...

Both immediately dropped to one knee. "We would gladly lay down our lives for you, sir, and brave fire and boiling water!"

"All this fuss over a little loot? You're far too easy to buy."

Cao Jinxing smiled. "I gave you the chance, and you chose how much to take. Don't regret it later. Not every job has this much loot. Last time I cleaned out Crouching Tiger Mountain, I only got a little over a thousand taels."

Cao Jinxing treated wealth like dirt, not because he did not care about it, but because he was confident he could earn more.

Spend a fortune, and another will come. Why fret over this little bit?

Seeing how casually he treated it, Sun Lang and Su Yunsheng admired him even more and relaxed further. They smiled. "You remain unruffled by fortune or misfortune, sir. We can't manage that. If we took any more, we wouldn't sleep soundly."

"All right, then."

Cao Jinxing bundled up the rest and carried it out on his back. "Go home and get some rest. We still have roll call tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

The three went their separate ways.

Cao Jinxing returned to his courtyard in Ming Shi Ward. When he opened the gate, he spotted a small parcel beside the door to the main room. Xuan Yuan Fourteen smelled it and came out.

The parcel contained the food Windcloud Manor had promised for Fourteen. Though it consisted entirely of sixth-rank spiritual materials, the package was still worth a considerable sum.

"You've got a sharp nose."

Cao Jinxing tapped its little head, earning a disgruntled huff from Fourteen. It wanted to bite him but could not bring itself to do so, and instead stuck out its tongue to lick his fingers.

Cao Jinxing carried the parcel inside and lit the oil lamp. Leaving Fourteen to eat and drink, he sat at the table and examined the greatest prize from this venture-the [Mani Jewel].

He had already figured it out.

Its "poison protection" and "fire resistance" did not come from any special properties of the jewel itself, but from the power of Tummo. Once mastered, it filled the body with blazing heat, naturally warding off poisons and high temperatures.

Simply wearing it was no different from wearing an ordinary accessory.

"This thing contains internal energy and a cultivation method. Even after that old bastard Jialin Zhenshan used up so much, there should still be plenty left. Just keeping it would be a waste. Should I sell it?"

He had learned quite a few secrets from Gu Yanzhu and knew there was a Ghost Market beneath the capital where all sorts of treasures could be traded in secret.

The [Mani Jewel] had limited appeal to people of the Central Plains, but to esoteric Buddhists, it was priceless. He should be able to trade it for something good...

Just as that thought crossed his mind-

Crack!

While he was distracted, Xuan Yuan Fourteen sneaked closer, opened its mouth, and bit down on the [Mani Jewel]!

Thinking it was some tasty snack, it pierced the jewel with its sharp teeth, crunched it to pieces, and swallowed it. It even licked its lips afterward.

Cao Jinxing: "..."

Then a surge of power welled up in Fourteen's belly. Its mouth and throat grew dry, and it could not help sneezing. A tongue of flame shot out of its throat!

"Meow?"

The sight of the flame startled Fourteen.

Then, as though it had discovered a fun new toy, it followed the guidance of Venerable Milarepa's lingering will and silently circulated its energy. It slapped a little paw onto the table!

Smack!

Flames flared!

A scorched paw print appeared on the tabletop.

Xuan Yuan Fourteen grew even more delighted. Thrilled by the fiery aura forming around its paw, it scampered over to show Cao Jinxing, happily conjuring and dispersing flames over and over.

"Well, this really is..."

A cat, practicing martial arts...

Cao Jinxing did not know whether to laugh or cry. He stroked its head. "Forget it. Selling it doesn't matter that much. As long as you're having fun."

Xuan Yuan Fourteen meowed and sprang into Cao Jinxing's arms.

Master is the best!

Early the next morning.

At the Pacification Commission offices, Liu Zhenyuan stared at the mission report Cao Jinxing had handed him and fell silent for a long time.

"I told you to find their hideout, and you wiped them out..."

"Sir, the true qi produced by the Hehuan Sect's dual cultivation methods is impure. They look strong, but they're weak underneath. I judged that I could handle them, so I acted immediately before complications could arise."

"..."

The corner of Liu Zhenyuan's mouth twitched. "Thank you for your efforts, Baihu Cao." He took out a token and tossed it to Su Yunsheng first. "You two, go to the Secret Vault and choose a sixth-rank spiritual martial art each."

"Thank you, sir!"

The two were overwhelmed with excitement and hurriedly bowed their thanks.

"You may go."

"Yes, sir."

The two left first.

Liu Zhenyuan looked at Cao Jinxing with a troubled expression. "Everyone else builds seniority and advances one step at a time. You keep piling up solid achievements instead... If another baihu had handled this affair, he would have brought a qianhu along. He'd have given away half the credit, but he wouldn't have to worry about the consequences. Do you understand what I mean?"

Cao Jinxing smiled. "I do, but there's nothing I can do. My legs aren't very good. I can't kneel."

"You really are something."

Liu Zhenyuan smiled too. "I don't think I can hold you back anymore, so I won't. Martial cultivation and the pursuit of the Dao work along similar lines. All you need are resources, companions, methods, and a place to cultivate. What do you want?"

Cao Jinxing said, "Pills for detoxification, treating illness, and healing injuries. The more, the better. Nothing else matters."

He had a place to cultivate, and his methods were sufficient for now. As for companions, his comprehension was exceptional, so he did not need anyone to cultivate alongside him.

That left resources, including rare natural treasures, miraculous pills, and divine weapons...

Weapons and armor could be bought with money, but pills for treating illness and poison were extremely precious. Even with money, there was nowhere to buy them. They offered better value.

"All right."

Liu Zhenyuan said decisively, "But they'll only be sixth-rank. They can't possibly compare with what Eunuch Lu gave you. To make up for that, you may also choose a spiritual martial art."

Cao Jinxing thought for a moment. "All right."

It was a good chance to choose a palm technique.

"Go take a look. Come see me when you're done."

Liu Zhenyuan said meaningfully, "There's no need for you to advance step by step anymore. But becoming a Deputy Qianhu won't be that simple, either. At the very least, we need to make sure no one can openly object. That won't be easy. Do you dare take it on?"

Cao Jinxing said, "What wouldn't I dare?"

"Good!"

Liu Zhenyuan slapped the table. "In that case, I'll give you a chance to earn a major achievement! As long as you return successful, I guarantee no one will have a word to say."