Chapter 230 - 136: Sharing Life and Death

’Wang Xiongzhang... his name contains "Xiong." Could he be from the Wang Family? And how did Shen Qingxuan get involved with someone from the Wang Family?’

Since one shouldn’t be rude to a smiling face, Chen Cheng clasped his hands in return. "So you’re Brother Wang. A pleasure. The ’number one Chief Constable’ is just a baseless rumor; you can’t take it seriously."

"Ah..." Wang Xiongzhang waved a hand dismissively and said with a serious expression, "The Lishui Sub-Department’s assessment has always been strict. If Brother Chen didn’t have true ability, how could you have possibly ranked first?

"Besides, you became the Chief Constable of the Lishui Sub-Department in the South City District at just eighteen. That’s a true testament to your strength."

Chen Cheng said, "I’m nineteen now."

Wang Xiongzhang quickly replied, "Silly me, I forgot the new year just passed. Of course you’d be nineteen now. By the way, I’m twenty this year, a year your senior. It doesn’t feel right calling you Brother Chen. How about I call you Younger Brother Chen?"

Chen Cheng gave a slight nod. "Sure."

"Younger Brother Chen, you’re a straightforward man! Come, have a seat over here," Wang Xiongzhang called out warmly.

Chen Cheng walked over and sat down beside him.

Shen Qingxuan put a hand to her forehead and shot Wang Xiongzhang a playful, reproachful glare. "Young Master Wang, you truly live up to your reputation of having friends all over the world. After just a few words, you’re already calling each other brothers with Chen Cheng?"

"It’s a case of heroes recognizing heroes, of kindred spirits. You ladies wouldn’t understand."

Wang Xiongzhang chuckled, then picked up the wine flagon to pour a cup for Chen Cheng. He filled his own cup to the brim, raised it with a magnanimous air, and said, "Younger Brother Chen, I feel as if we’re old friends, though we’ve only just met! It’s a shame we didn’t cross paths sooner. This calls for a drink!"

"Alright!" Not wanting to seem hesitant, Chen Cheng raised his cup and downed it in one go.

"Excellent!" Wang Xiongzhang cheered, also downing his own cup in a single gulp.

As the wine went down, a flush instantly crept over his face. It seemed he couldn’t hold his liquor very well.

Seeing this, Shen Qingxuan chided him even more. "Young Master Wang, can’t you drink a little less? If you keep this up, I’m afraid you’ll be spending the night here on the Yun Meng Painting Boat."

Wang Xiongzhang shook his head, as if trying to clear it, but the movement only made the flush on his face grow stronger.

"Sigh... this Bear Gallbladder Wine really is potent. I’m afraid I truly can’t handle much more!"

He sighed, then noticed that Chen Cheng’s complexion was completely normal. He couldn’t help but ask in surprise, "Younger Brother Chen, how are you not affected at all?

"This is no ordinary wine. I steeped it myself with the gallbladder from a Tier Two Demon Bear. A single sip would be enough to knock out an ordinary Martial Artist."

"Even at my level, the Great Success in Muscle Strengthening Realm, I can only drink three cups before I get drunk."

Chen Cheng smiled, and a faint flush suddenly appeared on his face as well.

"I’m just forcibly suppressing the alcohol with my Qi Blood Power. To be honest, I’m feeling a little tipsy myself."

"Being able to suppress this Bear Gallbladder Wine with Qi Blood Power... Younger Brother Chen, you really are extraordinary."

Wang Xiongzhang clicked his tongue in admiration, then turned to Shen Qingxuan and laughed. "And look at Qingxuan! She only had half a cup, and now her face is redder than anyone’s."

Shen Qingxuan snorted and retorted irritably, "Who’s competing with you guys? I just can’t be bothered to suppress the alcohol with my Qi Blood Power!"

Wang Xiongzhang said, "Alright, alright, you’re the mighty Female Knight Shen, none of us are a match for you. Is that better?"

Shen Qingxuan said proudly, "But of course. On the last hunt for that Demon Bear, if I hadn’t been there, you, Young Master Wang, would have ended up in its stomach."

"Yes, yes, of course! My deepest thanks to Female Knight Shen for saving my life!" Wang Xiongzhang said, clasping his hands in a show of gratitude.

Shen Qingxuan giggled, looking even more smug.

"Hey, you damned couple! Keep it down, you’re ruining the music for me!"

"That’s right! If you want to flirt, take it outside! You’re spoiling my mood!"

...

The few other people in the private room began to complain.

Wang Xiongzhang shot to his feet, his eyes sweeping around the room as he roared, "I’d like to see who has a problem with us! Are you looking to spar a few rounds with me?

"Qin Ruixuan! Jiang Yu! Jiang Ling! Which one of you isn’t happy?"

Wang Xiongzhang called out several names in a row. The young masters and ladies he named seemed to be intimidated by his powerful presence and immediately fell silent.

"Alright now, everyone was just joking around. What are you getting so worked up about? Sit back down." Shen Qingxuan, surprisingly, spoke up on their behalf.

"Yes, yes." Wang Xiongzhang agreed, sitting back down. He turned to Chen Cheng with a smile and said, "Younger Brother Chen, we all grew up together. We’re bosom buddies who can talk about anything. We just like to poke fun at each other when we get together. There’s no real malice in it."

"I understand," Chen Cheng said with a slight nod, though inwardly he was puzzled. ’These young masters and ladies are from the Four Great Clans of the Inner City, yet they’ve become such close friends? It’s truly bizarre. From what I know of the Martial Dao power structure in Linji City, from the rumors I’ve heard in the Jianghu to my own personal experiences, the Four Great Clans have always been fighting, both overtly and covertly, for power. How could the children of these clans be close enough to share anything? Things are probably not as simple as they appear on the surface.’

Seeing Chen Cheng looking thoughtful, Wang Xiongzhang seemed to guess what was on his mind and explained, "Younger Brother Chen, you’re probably thinking it’s strange that people like us, from different branches of the Four Great Clans, are such good friends.

"The truth is, there are no major conflicts among our Four Great Clans. All our families are subordinate to the Great Dao Sect."

"The Ancestors of our Four Great Clans are all Outer Sect Stewards of the Great Dao Sect, making them martial brothers."

"So, when it comes to our generation, we should also get along as fellow sect members, just like our Ancestors."

"I don’t care what anyone else thinks. That’s how I see it, and it’s how I’ve always conducted myself."

"Everyone here today feels the same way. When we’re out on missions for the Demon Suppression Department, we often hunt Demon Beasts together. We’ve long since become brothers and sisters, comrades who have faced life and death side-by-side."