That afternoon, Constable Huang, Constable Liu, and Constable Li all came over to exchange a few pleasantries with him, as if getting to know him all over again. They were still a bit surprised and uncertain about Chen Pingâanâs sudden promotion. However, after what had happened that morning, they were all quite polite to him.
As it happened, the group of constables Chen Pingâan had belonged to was under Constable Liâs command.
Now, however, their positions had reversed. With his new status as a Preparatory Constable, he could now interact with Constable Li as an equal.
After a brief discussion and with the endorsement of Shen Shikang from the Inspectorate, Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Mr. Qin were all smoothly transferred to Chen Pingâanâs command.
Of course, the paperwork would still take some time.
There were five Constables at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. Aside from Constable Zheng, with whom he was already on bad terms, and Constable Yan, who was close to Constable Zheng, Chen Pingâan had managed to establish a relatively good preliminary relationship with the others.
This had been Chen Pingâanâs most comfortable day since joining the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
As he left the Constableâs office after his shift, many constables still greeted him.
The feeling was truly strange and wonderful.
Upon returning home, Chen Pingâan couldnât wait to tell Chen Erya the good news: he had been promoted to Preparatory Constable.
With his promotion to Preparatory Constable, his Monthly Allowance had also increased from one tael and two mace to one tael and eight mace.
When she heard the news, the little girl was stunned at first. Once it sank in, she was overjoyed.
The siblings finished their dinner amidst joyous laughter.
Even on the day he was promoted to Preparatory Constable, Chen Pingâan didnât stop his martial arts practice.
Power was nice, but he knew that in a world like this, only personal strength was truly fundamental.
After practicing the Public Door Thirteen Sabers, Chen Pingâan had accumulated enough Cultivation Experience. As he focused his mind, specks of starlight stirred by the experience points flowed into the space between his eyebrows.
It was as if he had gone through years of arduous cultivation and practice; a sliver of enlightenment bloomed in his mind.
Public Door Thirteen Sabers, Great Success!
As his Sword Skill reached Great Success, the Qi Blood in Chen Pingâanâs body began to surge, advancing his Martial Arts Realm by a large margin. However, he still hadnât reached the Qi Blood Fourth Layer Perfection. To be precise, he was still a considerable distance away.
To quantify it, Chen Pingâan was now at the mid-stage of the Qi Blood Fourth Layer.
âThe Public Door Thirteen Sabers has reached Great Success!â
His Martial Arts Realm had taken another small step forward, and Chen Pingâan was in a good mood.
âI can start practicing the Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training!â
The Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training was said to be a single Cultivation Technique. In reality, it could be divided into thirteen parts: Iron Broom, Iron Arm Technique, Iron Head Technique, Iron Throat Technique, Iron Pile Technique, Iron Elbow Technique, Iron Fist Technique, Iron Palm Technique, Iron Finger Technique, Iron Knee Technique, Iron Leg Technique, Iron Shoulder Technique, and Iron Back Technique.
Each of these thirteen techniques had its own dedicated training method.
In terms of true power, the Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training was actually close to a superior cultivation method. However, it was too fragmented, which greatly increased the difficulty of Cultivation. Moreover, because it was one of the Hard Skills, it was much more likely to leave behind hidden injuries and long-term problems.
With his mind made up, Chen Pingâan began to practice the Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training according to the methods recorded in the manual.
He began practicing the various stances.
He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent in a high horse stance. He placed his open palms, facing upward, on either side of his waist, his gaze fixed forward.
He inhaled through his nose, visualizing the Qi in his Dantian rising to the crown of his head. When he could inhale no more, he shouted, "HA!" while simultaneously raising his right hand to slap his head. Then he exhaled, relaxed, and switched to his left hand.
This was the training method for the Iron Head Technique.
Just like that, Chen Pingâan practiced, one step at a time. It took him a full hour before he finally completed the basic movements for all the techniques within the Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training.
+1.
The all-too-familiar Cultivation Experience notification flashed by.
Name: Chen Pingâan
Realm: Qi Blood Fourth Layer
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt (Perfection), Flying Locust Stone (Great Success, 48/100), Public Door Thirteen Sabers (Great Success, 0/100), Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training (Uninitiated, 1/10)
...
âIt worked!â
Chen Pingâan was delighted.
âThe Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training truly lives up to its name as a Mid-level Technique. Itâs so hard to practice! At this rate, I can only practice it once per night. The morning practice session isnât long enough! Unless... unless I use all the time I spend on the Flying Locust Stone and Public Door Thirteen Sabers to practice the Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training!â
âWhile the power of the Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training is impressive, it might not be as useful in the early stages as the Public Door Thirteen Sabers and Flying Locust Stone at Perfection. Iâll get those two to Perfection first, then focus all my efforts on the Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training!â
âAt my current rate of progress, I should be able to get both techniques to Perfection in about ten days!â
âHmm... now that Iâm a Preparatory Constable, I have more free time during the day. I wonder if I can use it to practice my techniques. If so, my Cultivation progress will be even faster. Iâll try it out tomorrow!â
â...â
...
ăThe next morning.ă
Early the next day, Chen Pingâan arrived at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. Unlike before, today he stood on the high platform at the front, looked up to by all the constables.
As it stood, he was the only Preparatory Constable in the entire Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. And while it was a "preparatory" position, most of the benefits were no different from that of a full Constable.
Constable Zheng did not attend the pre-shift meeting. He was still at home, supposedly reflecting and calming his mind.
During the meeting, the announcement was made that Chen Pingâan would be in charge of the third squad of constables, which drew gasps of amazement from the crowd. Standing among them, Zheng Shiyong lowered his head, his hands clenched into tight fists.
Chen Pingâan stood on the high platform, surveying the constables below. His gaze swept across the crowd, lingering for a moment on Zheng Shiyong, then moving to Tan Huacong.
âIâll have to find a chance to settle the score with you two!â
Chen Pingâan sneered inwardly.
After the meeting ended, a round of pleasantries was inevitable. Chen Pingâan was now something of a rising star at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
"Hmph." Constable Yan shot Chen Pingâan a cold glance before turning and walking away.
He was closest to Constable Zheng and had no intention of showing Chen Pingâan any respect.
Chen Pingâan glanced at him but said nothing.
"Thatâs just his temper, haha." Constable Li laughed it off. The other two Constables stood to the side, smiling but saying nothing.
âIt seems the relationships between the Constables are quite complicated.â
Chen Pingâan saw this with perfect clarity, discerning the underlying dynamics.
But none of that had much to do with him. For him, the most important thing was his Martial Dao Cultivation.
Stepping down from the platform, Chen Pingâan walked toward Monkey Head and his group. Standing with them were other constables. His command of the third squad had been finalized. These men were now his subordinates.
"Constable Chen."
A dozen or so constables bowed respectfully to Chen Pingâan in greeting.
They had been colleagues for a long time, so all these constables knew Chen Pingâan. But now the situation was different; Chen Pingâan was a Preparatory Constable. When youâre under someone elseâs roof, you have to bow your head.
The lesson taught to Cheng Yuan, Zhao Hu, and Old Fan was still fresh in their minds.
Under these circumstances, how could any of these constables dare to be insolent toward him? Some were even feeling anxious, worried they might have inadvertently offended Chen Pingâan in the past.
"At ease."
Chen Pingâan said casually, raising his hand slightly.
"Iâve just been appointed Preparatory Constable. I still need to get familiar with many things, so for now, just carry on as you usually do."
"Elder Qin, your group stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed."
"Yes, sir."
The constables of the third squad responded in unison.
The other constables dispersed, leaving four men standing in place: Mr. Qin, Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Zeng Jihe.
Looking at Chen Pingâan, their previous easygoing manner was gone. They felt a little awkward, unsure how to act around him now that he was a Preparatory Constable.
...