As time passed, Chen Tie and He Liang made a circuit of the eastern part of the city and returned to the patrol station. It was nearly one in the morning, and they completed the handover with the two men in blue robes at the entrance.
Chen Tie's part-time shift was now over. After saying goodbye to He Liang, he returned home.
To get enough rest, Chen Tie inevitably slept until nine the next morning. Fortunately, he did not have to patrol every day.
Half a month later, in Chen Tie's courtyard.
He lowered his waist and settled into a horse stance. Air burst as he swung his arms, every punch carrying a fierce wind that made his clothes snap. Before his fists arrived, sharp wind pressure rushed forward like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, its might shaking all who faced it.
Suddenly, Chen Tie's bearing changed. His fists became palms, seemingly soft as clouds, without a trace of fierce power, as though he were merely brushing something aside. In truth, strength lay hidden beneath that softness. His movements looked light and drifting, but were poised to strike, impossible to guard against, their distinctive penetrating force capable of injuring the internal organs.
After finishing his practice, Chen Tie discovered that his progress had not fallen behind by much and nodded in satisfaction.
[Fierce Tiger Fist, minor mastery (120/200)] [Fierce Tiger Stance Art, minor mastery (145/200)] [Resounding Viscera Blood Scripture, second level (8/100)] [Supple Bone Palm, beginner (7/200)]
In particular, breaking through to the second level of the Resounding Viscera Blood Scripture had been a pleasant surprise for Chen Tie. Not only had his breathing become longer and steadier, but he could also clearly feel that his heart and lungs had grown stronger.
"My blood and Qi regeneration must be stronger than that of others at the same stage. Accumulated day after day, the difference will be considerable!"
At noon, Chen Tie brought his younger sister to the martial arts school and discovered that neither Shen Yan nor Xu Da was there.
He did not think much of it and spent the entire afternoon practicing martial arts. Yet neither of them appeared all day, so he asked a junior martial brother.
"Second Senior Brother and Third Senior Brother haven't come at all today?"
"Senior Brother Chen, neither of them has been to the school for two days."
Chen Tie frowned slightly. When he missed a day at the school, it was because he had to work his part-time job. Shen Yan and Xu Da had sometimes arrived late in the past, but they had never failed to show up for an entire day.
Chen Tie shook his head, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and devoted himself wholeheartedly to his training. Even if they had encountered trouble, he could not help them with his current strength.
In the inner hall of the Xu Family's escort agency.
Xu Renyi sat before a desk with a gloomy expression. Holding a business report, he could not help sighing.
"Over the past month and a half, the agency's business has taken a sharp turn for the worse. Our income has dropped by more than half. It isn't that there's no business out there-it's that none of it can get through the doors of the Benevolence and Righteousness Escort Agency!"
The escort captains below exchanged glances. Clearly, they knew the state of the agency's business very well. Lately, most of them had been sitting idle at the agency, and the only jobs they could get were small ones.
But the escorts under their command needed money and supplies every month. The agency's expenses now exceeded its income. Though they could still struggle on, the outlook was bleak.
"At this point, we can only increase income and cut expenses. Each captain should trim costs, then go out and make some rounds to see where we can find work."
"Yes, Chief Escort!"
Xu Renyi pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his head and looked at Xu Da beside him.
"You need to cut costs on your end too. Stop the monthly stipends for the Skin Refining martial artists."
"Father, how can we do that?" Xu Da wanted to say more, but Xu Renyi immediately interrupted him.
"I understand what you mean, but the Xu Family isn't doing well right now. It isn't just the escort agency's business that has worsened. Our other businesses have also suffered heavy blows. Even maintaining things as they are is a serious financial strain. Do you understand?"
A conflicted look crossed Xu Da's face. In the end, he spoke. "Father, I only ask that we keep the stipend for one Skin Refining martial artist!"
"All right," Xu Renyi finally agreed with a nod.
Seeing Xu Da's expression, he knew that this person was probably on good terms with him. One stipend would not matter much.
A group had gathered in the Shen Lineage's meeting hall.
Candlelight flickered inside the hall, casting everyone's shadows onto the finely crafted wooden walls.
Shen Zhen, the lineage head, sat in the seat of honor, his brows slightly furrowed and his gaze fixed on the account books spread across the desk. The pages were densely filled with records of various losses.
The Shen Lineage's elders and younger members sat in rows along either side of the hall. The atmosphere was oppressive.
"You all know what has happened. Half a month ago, the Wen Family of the inner city intervened in dock shipping through the Lin Family of the outer city. With the Wen Family's support, the Lin Family began seizing the eastern docks by force. Originally, our two families each held half of the eastern docks. Now the Lin Family occupies most of them, leaving us less and less room. Now they want to take everything, and we have agreed to settle the matter with a martial contest at the docks in one month."
Shen Zhen raised his eyes and swept his gaze across those in the hall. "We cannot afford to lose our interests at the docks. I summoned everyone here today because this contest will be decided by two wins out of three. Who is willing to fight?"
An elder seated below added, "Among those fighting for the Lin Family, there will likely be martial artists from the Wen Family. We must not be careless."
Zhao Ruifeng, an Attendant of the Shen Lineage standing on the left, cupped his hands. "I am willing to lead the charge. I have already reached major mastery in Flesh Refining, but I am forty now. I'm afraid I cannot fight three matches in succession. Let me take the first match. My chances of winning are good, and I can blunt the Lin Family's edge!"
Everyone in the hall nodded slightly at his words. Zhao Ruifeng was already one of the Shen Lineage's foremost Flesh Refining experts. If even he could not win, the others would have little chance.
Seeing this, Shen Zhen settled the matter decisively. "Good. Attendant Zhao will fight the first match!"
Shen Gai, a thirty-year-old young man, immediately stepped forward, a short saber at his waist and a keen look in his eyes. "Your nephew is willing to fight the second match. I have now reached minor mastery in Flesh Refining. I excel in saber techniques and movement techniques, as well as close-quarters fighting. I have a killing move-as long as I find an opening, defeating my opponent will not be difficult. My only weakness is that my defensive hard-body arts are lacking. If my opponent is seasoned and gives me no chance to strike, I may find it difficult to win in a head-on clash."
At his words, everyone in the hall began whispering among themselves.
Shen Zhen frowned slightly. It was not that Shen Gai lacked strength, but his cultivation was somewhat low, after all. If his opponent was a martial artist at major mastery in Flesh Refining, his chances of winning would be even lower.
"Does anyone have another recommendation?"
Two more young members wanted to volunteer, but an elder shook his head and stopped them. "You are not seasoned enough yet. This contest is no small matter. The Lin Family will show no mercy. Going up there would mean throwing your lives away."
Seeing this, Shen Zhen could only agree for the time being. "Shen Gai will fight the second match. Do we have anyone for the third?"
Silence fell over the hall once more. The choice for the third match was crucial; that person would be their final trump card.
If they won only one of the first two matches, the third and final match would decide everything.
Seeing that no one stepped forward to fight, Shen Zhen knitted his brows tightly. "The third match is extremely important. We cannot be careless. By all rights, the combatants should all be Flesh Refining martial artists." He fell silent for a moment before slowly continuing, "For now, Zhao Ruifeng will fight first, probing the opponent's strength and striving for an opening victory! Shen Gai will take the second match and seize an opportunity to defeat his opponent. If he wins, there will be no need for a third match. We will give further thought to who should anchor the lineup. For this month, those taking part will enter seclusion and train hard. The lineage will provide resources with its full support!"
He looked up at everyone and said gravely, "Remember, this martial contest puts more than victory or defeat at stake. It is the Shen Lineage's docks, the livelihoods of the several hundred people in our entire lineage."
"Yes, Lineage Head!"
Everyone in the hall rose and cupped their hands, their expressions solemn.
After everyone else had dispersed, two elders remained behind. One of them asked thoughtfully:
"Lineage Head, do you already have someone in mind for the third match?"
Shen Zhen slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with worry. "Our Shen Lineage has no successors. Our youngest Flesh Refining martial artist is already over thirty. The consequences of defeat would be extremely serious."
"So we will need outside help for the third match. We must find a powerful Flesh Refining martial artist to fight."