Chapter 94 - 78: Young Hero

By my calculations, I can reach Perfection in just over two more months.

’An ordinary genius cultivating a Body Tempering Technique takes one year to reach Small Success in the Skin Grinding Realm, two years for Great Success, and three for Perfection.’

’But with the Bear Skin Grinding Technique, I can reach Perfection in about half a year. That kind of progress is simply unheard of.’

’As for the Iron Armor Skill, it’ll take less than a year in total to reach Perfection.’

’At that point, I’ll have one Inner Breath Technique and one Body Tempering Technique at Perfection within the Skin Grinding Realm. My actual combat strength could probably rival a Great Success Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm!’

’The future is bright!’

At this exciting thought, Chen Cheng’s eyes gleamed, and he was filled with ambition.

Soon, however, he frowned. Compared to his Iron Armor Skill and Bear Skin Grinding Technique, his progress with the Wind Chasing Saber Technique was much slower.

It wasn’t slow because his progress during practice was lacking, but simply because he didn’t have enough time to practice it.

Chen Cheng wasn’t made of iron. He couldn’t slack off on duty these days, and he was genuinely exhausted after his shifts. As a result, the time he had to practice the Wind Chasing Saber Technique each day was dwindling.

’I can’t rush this. I’ll take it slow. After all, not many experts have cultivated Momentum. The strength I’ve publicly shown is only Great Success in the Skin Grinding Realm and Great Success in my Saber Technique. Even if someone wanted to move against me, they probably wouldn’t send an expert who has comprehended Momentum.’

With that thought, Chen Cheng left his bedroom and strolled leisurely to the kitchen doorway.

Xi’Er was bent over the stove, cutting mutton on a chopping block.

Though young, the girl came from a family of hunters and was very nimble. She kept the pointed kitchen knife in her hand extremely sharp, making it perfect for anything from slicing meat to chopping bone.

After slicing the leg of mutton, Xi’Er was about to scrape some scraps from the bone to feed the Night Owl. But when she turned, she saw the Night Owl with its cat-like head tilted back, gulping down a large chunk of meat.

The creature had obviously snatched it from the ceramic basin while she wasn’t looking.

"Xiaoguzi, you’re stealing food again!"

Xi’Er reached out to swat it, but the Night Owl quickly scurried far away. As it ran, it swiveled its cat-like head a full one hundred and eighty degrees to look back, its large, yellowish-red eyes filled with smug satisfaction.

"Oh, fine, you can have it!" Xi’Er rolled up her sleeves and shook her head helplessly. Suddenly, she noticed Chen Cheng standing in the kitchen doorway, smiling.

The young girl shrank back, explaining guiltily in a hushed voice, "Young Master, I didn’t mean to feed Xiaoguzi the mutton. It’s just too clever."

"It’s my fault. I’ll be sure to watch it more closely from now on."

Ordinary families could barely eat their fill, yet she was feeding mutton to a Night Owl. It was an incredible luxury.

Xi’Er braced herself for her young master’s scolding.

"It’s fine! If this Night Owl eats some meat, it’ll grow faster. Then we can stew it and have owl for dinner," Chen Cheng chuckled.

"HOOT... HOOT... HOOT..." As if it understood, the Night Owl flapped its wings and hooted repeatedly, its large eyes wide.

Xi’Er’s face went pale with fright. She waved her hands frantically. "Young Master, you can’t eat Xiaoguzi! He’s all bones, and the meat is really tough. It doesn’t taste good at all."

"If we keep him, he can help catch mice! He can stand watch at night, too. If a bad person tries to get into the house, he’ll hoot loudly."

"Alright, then we won’t eat him."

Chen Cheng smiled, strode into the kitchen, and gently ruffled the little girl’s hair.

"That’s wonderful!" Xi’Er’s face lit up. She had been genuinely afraid of losing her little companion.

Chen Cheng beckoned to the Night Owl. "Come here, let me have a look at you."

The Night Owl stared with its large, yellowish-red eyes and shook its head, looking afraid.

Xi’Er quickly called out, "Xiaoguzi, the Young Master said he won’t eat you. Hurry up and come over!"

Only then did the Night Owl cautiously approach Chen Cheng.

"You’ve got some real Spirituality for a beast. Alright, you can stay."

Chen Cheng pinched its ear tufts, then stroked its furry, cat-like head.

"HOOT HOOT HOOT!" The Night Owl cooed obediently.

"Not bad!" Chen Cheng laughed, then grabbed two large pieces of mutton from the basin and stuffed them into its beak.

The Night Owl was overjoyed. As it gobbled down the mutton, it rubbed its wings against Chen Cheng’s leg to curry favor.

"Young Master, it’s too extravagant to feed Xiaoguzi like that," Xi’Er said, blinking her big eyes.

"It’s fine! The Chens’ can afford to keep Xiaoguzi!" Chen Cheng laughed.

...

「The next morning.」

After practicing a few rounds of the Wind Chasing Saber Technique and eating breakfast, Chen Cheng arrived at the Ruyi Square Sub-Office. He found the Government Office Hall packed with people, both inside and out.

Nearly all two to three hundred men from the Ruyi Square Sub-Department’s three shifts of government officials were present. The constables from each squad were lined up in formation, as if something major was about to happen.

’Could it be that they’re going to make a move against the Black Lotus Sect today?’

Chen Cheng wondered silently as he walked straight to the front of Su Chenglin’s squad and took his position.

"What’s going on?" Chen Cheng asked Mu Chuan, noticing many of the constables murmuring amongst themselves.

Mu Chuan shook his head. "I’m not sure. I had just arrived at the Government Office Hall when Captain Su told us all to line up and wait. He said the Chief Constable has an announcement."

"Oh." Chen Cheng settled in to wait with the others.

Before long, Chief Constable Shen Qingshuang arrived, leading the other chief constables.

The constables hurriedly stopped their chatter, and the Government Office Hall immediately fell silent.

Shen Qingshuang’s eyes fell on Chen Cheng for a moment before she raised her hand and announced in a clear voice, "A few days ago, the South City Thirteen Thieves committed a heinous massacre in Ruyi District, causing widespread panic."

"Chen Cheng killed two leaders of the South City Thirteen Thieves, Bo Qi and Lou Hui, earning great Merit."

"The Chief of the South City Guard has personally issued a commendation, rewarding the Ruyi Square Sub-Department and, at the same time, promoting Chen Cheng to Preparatory Chief Constable."

"Chen Cheng, come with me."

With that, Shen Qingshuang turned and walked toward the rear courtyard.

Her words were brief, but the news she delivered struck the crowd like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone stunned.

Chen Cheng himself was caught completely off guard and stood stunned for a moment. He had only recently been promoted to official constable; to be promoted to Preparatory Chief Constable so quickly was far beyond his expectations.

"Brother Cheng, the Chief Constable called for you! You should hurry and go!" Mu Chuan urged, tugging on Chen Cheng’s sleeve from behind.

"What do you mean, Brother Cheng? Is that what you should be calling him? It’s Mr. Chen now!" Liao San rushed over excitedly, chiding Mu Chuan.

Only then did it dawn on Mu Chuan that the "Brother Cheng" before him was now a high-ranking figure at the Chief Constable Level. To keep calling him ’brother’ would be disrespectful.

He scratched his head in embarrassment and said with an apologetic smile, "You’re right, you’re right. I should be calling him Mr. Chen. Mr. Chen, my tongue slipped. Please don’t take offense."

Chen Cheng snapped out of his daze and smiled. "We’re all brothers here. Why be so formal?"

"Ah, but Mr. Chen, you’re a rank higher now. We have to address you properly, otherwise we’d be breaking the rules."

"Exactly. ’Mr. Chen’ just sounds right."

Li Ze, Lai Yingchang, and the others also crowded around to offer their congratulations.

Even the veteran constables in their thirties and forties were all addressing him as "Mr. Chen."

Chen Cheng cupped his fists to the men all around him and said,

"Everyone... my brothers, I’m grateful for your support. I must be going now."

After finally extricating himself from the crowd of constables, he saw Liu Yunfeng, Su Chenglin, and the other chief constables approaching him.

Chen Cheng quickly cupped his fists and said, "Mr. Liu, Captain Su, Mr. Pu..."

Liu Yunfeng laughed heartily and clapped Chen Cheng on the shoulder. "Mr. Chen, no need for formalities. Lord Shen is waiting for you, so you’d better go."

"Right." Chen Cheng smiled and strode toward Shen Qingshuang’s personal courtyard.

"Sigh... Mr. Chen, a Chief Constable at eighteen. Truly, youth produces heroes!"

Su Chenglin said with emotion as he watched Chen Cheng’s departing figure.

The other three chief constables chimed in:

"Isn’t it the truth? Compared to Mr. Chen, we old-timers should be ashamed of ourselves."

"Before this, Yan Jian’s promotion to Chief Constable at nineteen made him the so-called youngest chief in the South City District. Now, that title belongs to our very own Ruyi Square Sub-Department."

"Exactly. Yan Jian is talented, to be sure, but his personality is a bit lacking. Mr. Chen, on the other hand, is the real deal."

Over in a corner, Zhao Yongfeng’s expression was grim. He was so frustrated he felt he could cough up blood.

In the Ruyi Square Sub-Department, he had once been able to compete with Liu Yunfeng for the top spot. But now, Liu Yunfeng was held in high esteem by Shen Qingshuang, and his prestige was growing by the day.

Forget Liu Yunfeng—even this Chen Cheng, who had appeared out of nowhere, was admired by every chief constable and constable in the Ruyi District, despite having no subordinates of his own.

Meanwhile, he, Zhao Yongfeng, had clearly been pushed to the fringes.

’When one’s time comes, heaven and earth conspire to help; when one’s luck runs out, even a hero is not free. That brat, Chen Cheng... How I detest him!’

Zhao Yongfeng cursed inwardly and stalked sullenly toward his office.