Immaculate Body

The next day.

Cao Jinxing returned to the capital with the group.

With the mission complete, their return was nowhere near as urgent as the journey out. None of the five were in a hurry. They rode at a normal pace, changing horses and resting at relay stations, chatting along the way. By the following afternoon, they arrived comfortably in the capital.

During the journey, Cao Jinxing had become familiar with the four Embroidered Uniform Guards, especially Zhu Wu and Gu Yanzhu.

Zhu Wu was a veteran with many missions under his belt and a wealth of experience. Gu Yanzhu was a rising talent from a distinguished family, with a detailed understanding of the martial world's balance of power.

Neither put on airs. Through their conversations, Cao Jinxing caught up on a great deal of common martial-world knowledge that his predecessor, a company commander, had never learned. He felt that the original owner of this body had wasted his twenty-odd years: the useful information he had possessed amounted to less than what Cao Jinxing had gained in these two days.

But he could not be blamed entirely.

He had inherited his position in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His father had died young, leaving him nothing but a small courtyard home. Simply surviving to this age had been difficult enough.

Perhaps it was precisely because he had no one to rely on that he had suffered so much bullying.

When they reached the Pacification Commission, its vermilion gates stood open, revealing grand, imposing buildings. The squad commander on guard immediately came forward to take their horses.

"Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen. The commissioner is already waiting in the inner hall."

"Sorry for the trouble. Please announce us."

Before long, the commissioner summoned them.

The five strode into the Pacification Commission, passing through corridors and moon gates until they reached the inner hall. Commissioner Liu Zhenyuan sat at its head, reviewing official documents.

He was in his forties, wearing a silver-white Flying Fish Uniform embroidered with cloud patterns and a four-clawed flying fish. His presence was stern and unyielding, commanding respect without a trace of anger.

Of the Thirteen Great Protectors of the Northern and Southern Pacification Offices, he ranked first.

"Well done."

Liu Zhenyuan swept his gaze over the five men below, lingering briefly on Cao Jinxing. His voice rang out firmly. "The bandit chief was killed, and every bandit was captured. A major achievement. Effective immediately, Cao Jinxing is promoted to company captain. Attendant."

A man entered carrying a tray. Upon it lay a neatly folded iron-gray Flying Fish Uniform and an Embroidered Spring Saber.

Both their design and quality far surpassed the equipment issued to a company commander.

"Captain Cao, this mission was perilous. Thanks to your exceptional courage and resourcefulness, you slew the bandit chief and prevented further casualties. I trust you will continue to serve the court wholeheartedly, just as you have today."

"Yes, sir."

Cao Jinxing cupped his fist in salute.

He merely listened to the stock speech and let it pass.

He waited patiently for the main event.

Liu Zhenyuan seemed to read his thoughts. With the hint of a smile, he tossed out a token. "Take this to the Secret Vault and show it to the gatekeeper. Choose two grade-six martial arts. You may go. The other four of you, stay."

The other four answered, "Yes, sir."

Cao Jinxing caught it. "Your subordinate takes his leave."

He bowed, turned, and left.

Once he was gone.

Liu Zhenyuan frowned at his departing figure and murmured, "That yin aura... I've felt it before..." Raising his voice, he addressed the other four. "Captain Cao's martial prowess has improved greatly, and his temperament has changed completely. What caused it?"

Their written report had already touched on this. Asking again now meant he wanted the truth. If they dared conceal anything further, it would become an entirely different matter.

Zhu Wu told him everything they knew.

Liu Zhenyuan stated decisively, "Crouching Tiger Mountain is a remote backwater. It doesn't have enough spiritual energy to nurture rare natural treasures. As for an expert passing on his skills... that's possible, but I suspect the expert wasn't from the orthodox path. That should explain his vagueness."

Zhu Wu started. "Then, sir, you mean..."

"Don't overthink it."

Liu Zhenyuan waved a hand. "If I intended to pursue the matter, why would I promote him to captain? The Pacification Commission makes no distinction between orthodox and unorthodox. We judge deeds, not hearts. As long as he devotes himself to public service, I would take him in even if he were a fiend from the demonic path!"

"A wise decision, sir!"

"Save your flattery. I have two more urgent assignments that require experienced men. You've returned at just the right time. Go take care of them."

"..."

Damn it, we only just got back!

The four lowered their heads and rolled their eyes in unison.

The Secret Vault stood at the center of the Pacification Commission, a six-story pavilion. Within were not only countless secret martial arts collected by the previous dynasty and inherited by the imperial family, but also supreme martial arts "offered" by the major sects of the current dynasty.

Its holdings included, but were not limited to, martial manuals, miraculous medicines, and divine weapons-all devoted to cultivating the court's enforcers so they could trample the martial world beneath their horses' hooves.

The most infamous of these were the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Even some renowned masters had no desire to provoke them.

Of course, sects could refuse to offer anything. But if they angered those killers, the men could simply fabricate a charge, raze the sect, slaughter everyone on the mountain, and seize what they wanted!

Even Wudang and Shaolin, leaders of the orthodox path, had to hand things over when asked!

The smaller sects stood even less chance.

On the surface, only two squads of guards took turns patrolling the Secret Vault. In reality, countless protectors watched from the shadows, and several guardian servants remained stationed inside year-round.

Over all these years, every hand that had dared reach for the Secret Vault had been chopped off without exception!

Anyone who truly wanted its contents had only two choices: get castrated and join the Eastern Depot, or sell themselves to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After leaving the inner hall, Cao Jinxing found an empty room, washed his face, and changed into his captain's uniform. A strikingly handsome Embroidered Uniform Guard captain, with an air of unmatched nobility, was freshly unveiled.

Looking at himself in the bronze mirror, Cao Jinxing nodded in satisfaction. "How did those lines go again? A face like polished jade, swordlike brows, eyes like stars-so handsome it practically bubbles over. Just what I'd expect of myself!"

Once he finished admiring himself, he fastened on his Embroidered Spring Saber and went to the entrance of the Secret Vault, presenting his token. "Newly promoted Embroidered Uniform Guard Captain Cao Jinxing. Please let me through."

The guard by the door took one look, then immediately bowed and stepped aside. "Please enter, sir."

This was the first gate.

Cao Jinxing stepped inside.

A long passage stretched before him. A long table stood along its right side, covered with catalogs of martial arts. Beside it, a drunken old Daoist reclined in a grand armchair, pouring wine into his mouth from a gourd.

He was the gatekeeper.

"The catalogs are on the table. The grade-six ones are those by the corner. They contain names and descriptions. Tell me when you've chosen... hic..."

The old Daoist rattled off his instructions, bleary with sleep, without even opening his eyes.

These reclusive masters all behaved like this.

Cao Jinxing said no more and turned to the catalogs.

Sword arts, saber arts, internal arts, hidden weapons, movement arts...

Every discipline and category was there.

He had already thought it through before coming. The Cold Toad Art had let him thrash Yan Baihu and the other two, and could be cultivated all the way to Xiantian. It had to be at least grade six, so there was no need to change his internal art.

Beyond that, he needed a powerful, explosive offensive art that could unleash the full might of the Cold Toad Art, along with a saber art.

With his comprehension, he could certainly steal techniques by observing them. But for martial arts of the same grade, mastery mattered more than quantity. Merely knowing them would not be much use. Far better to choose one and practice diligently, building on his strengths and compensating for his weaknesses.

Since the books contained only catalog descriptions, Cao Jinxing read rapidly, taking in ten lines at a glance. Soon, the passage filled with the rustle and clatter of turning pages.

"Tsk!"

The old Daoist grew irritated. Are you making a fool of me? Can you even read anything at that speed? Are you deliberately making noise to keep me awake?!

He opened his eyes and looked at Cao Jinxing.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the old Daoist's expression changed dramatically, and he sprang to his feet, staring straight at Cao Jinxing. A dazzling golden light flashed through his eyes as he blurted, "This! This! An Immaculate Body! How is this possible!"

He reached for Cao Jinxing's wrist to confirm it. Cao Jinxing's expression darkened slightly, and he used the Lightning Movement Step to pull back. "What? Do I need a physical examination to collect my manuals? Mind your position, senior!" You're just a damned gatekeeper. What gives you the right to grab me?!

"I..."

The old Daoist smiled ruefully. "I was merely curious about your constitution. I meant no harm... lad! I trained at the Celestial Masters' Mansion on Dragon-Tiger Mountain. Your aptitude is extraordinary! I could write a letter..."

At that point, his expression suddenly changed. He remembered that this was the Pacification Commission, and the young man before him was already an Embroidered Uniform Guard...

The old Daoist was heartbroken. "What a waste! What a terrible waste! Such aptitude! Such aptitude! And yet... and yet..."

And yet he's become the court's lapdog!

He only dared grumble inwardly. He would never say it aloud. Even with a hundred times his courage, he would not dare poach someone from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Cao Jinxing roughly understood what he meant. Unfortunately, he was not interested.

He could not endure an austere life in the mountains, nor did he have any desire to become a Daoist. This world was so vast-what was the point of hiding away on a single mountain?

A person only lived once and should enjoy that time to the fullest. Whether it was money, authority, or strength, the Pacification Commission could provide it. Dragon-Tiger Mountain could not.

Besides, the Secret Vault held an abundance of martial resources. Giving up an entire forest for a single tree was inadvisable.

"Thank you for your kindness, senior. I've already made my choices."

Cao Jinxing opened two books and pointed to a page in each. "The grade-six finger art, Heavenly Sword-Linked Finger, and the saber art, Xinyou Saber Manual. Please show me the way, senior."

"Heavenly Sword-Linked Finger..."

The old Daoist frowned. "Formless sword qi. It is indeed an excellent martial art, but its nature is utterly yin and utterly cold. Ordinary internal energy cannot bring out its power. You..."

He took another careful look, his golden eyes sweeping over Cao Jinxing's dantian. What he saw was extraordinary. He sighed in sincere admiration. "No wonder... you already have a master's legacy, and such an exceptional art at that... a pity, a pity..."

Cao Jinxing raised an eyebrow. "You recognize the martial art I practice, senior?"

The old Daoist shook his head. "The world is full of gifted people, and there are countless divine arts and supreme techniques that rarely see the light of day. Even I cannot recognize them all. But the true qi of this art is extraordinarily pure and condensed, almost liquid. It flows through your meridians without the slightest obstruction and seems to form a complete system of its own. Such a thing is rare indeed. Who was your master?"

"..."

Cultivating martial arts meant refining qi.

The purer the qi and the smoother its flow, the better it nourished the meridians, the greater its benefits to the body, and the stronger its power. This was common knowledge in the martial world.

Doubt stirred in Cao Jinxing's mind.

Something's wrong!

This old Daoist was knowledgeable and experienced. If the Cold Toad Art could earn such praise from him, it had to be even better than Cao Jinxing had thought. In that case, why had its expert practitioner been captured by three bandits and injured so badly?

Doesn't that mean he's overstating it?

"Then, in your opinion, senior, what grade would this art be?"

"My knowledge is limited, but among arts of the yin and cold path, it should rival the Great Simplicity Yin Scripture, one of the Demonic Cult's nine great evil arts. It may even be stronger. At the very least, it is upper-tier grade five."

"...Oh. Please show me the way, senior."

Cao Jinxing suppressed his doubts and focused on what was before him. He could investigate sooner or later. He would simply have to be careful and discreet...