Early in the morning, after finishing his Iron Shirt practice, Chen Ping'an ate breakfast and headed to the Nanquan Lane Suppression Office to go on duty.
At the morning's pre-shift assembly, all five head runners were present, as Deputy Office Chief Tian Fuliang was attending in person.
Standing on the high platform, Tian Fuliang looked in high spirits.
Not long after the Nancheng Suppression Office had issued the bounty notice, Nanquan Lane had already put down Trash Fish, the Blackfish Gang remnant. Reporting this to the Nancheng Suppression Office brought them an immense amount of prestige.
Tian Fuliang still remembered that when they gave their report yesterday, the office chief and deputy office chief of Qingliu Lane had turned completely green in the face.
"Zheng Shiyong and Tan Huacong joined forces to slay the Blackfish Gang remnant Trash Fish. Zheng Shiyong dealt the decisive strike, for which he is credited with a medium merit and rewarded ten taels of silver. Tan Huacong is credited with two minor merits for his vital assistance and rewarded five taels of silver. Chen Ping'an is credited with one minor merit for providing valuable information and rewarded five taels of silver."
Tian Fuliang announced the bounty commendations.
"Zheng Shiyong, Tan Huacong, Chen Ping'an—all three of you are elites of our Nanquan Lane! I am thoroughly pleased." Tian Fuliang lavished praise upon them. "Especially Zheng Shiyong! You haven't been with our Nanquan Lane Suppression Office for long, yet you've already rendered such a major service! The paperwork for your formal registration has already been forwarded to the Nancheng Suppression Office. I think very highly of you! Your future potential is limitless!"
Tian Fuliang's words brought ecstatic delight to Zheng Shiyong's face below.
To be commended in front of so many runners by Tian Fuliang was truly an immense honor. Led by Tian Fuliang, the surrounding runners spared no praise either. The chorus of compliments left Zheng Shiyong walking on air.
"It is all thanks to the wise guidance of the Office Chief, Lord Tian, and the head runners that Shiyong could achieve this today."
Zheng Shiyong's face flushed red with pride as he spoke in a resounding voice.
"Good, very good." Zheng Shiyong's reply satisfied Tian Fuliang. This young man knew how to handle himself; he was worth grooming!
Standing behind Tian Fuliang, Zheng Zhenwu was also in a fine mood. Zheng Shiyong's achievement reflected glory onto his face as well.
Tan Huacong stood among the crowd of runners, beaming ear to ear.
With Zheng Shiyong out front taking the lead, he had merely spun a convenient lie and walked away with two minor merits for nothing. Looking at it now, this deed had carried no risk whatsoever.
Evidently, that kid Chen Ping'an had seen sense after all!
Thinking this, Tan Huacong glanced toward the corner where Chen Ping'an stood. The youth looked completely calm, his gaze deep and inscrutable, giving no hint of what was on his mind.
The bounty commendation of the Nanquan Lane Suppression Office concluded smoothly. Near the end, Tian Fuliang even called Zheng Shiyong aside for a private word.
"Ping'an, the five-tael reward came through! Come on, you have to treat us! Treat us!" Monkey said excitedly, looking as though he were the one who had collected the five taels.
"All right, my treat," Chen Ping'an said with a smile.
"Five whole taels of silver! That's several months of stipend. We've got to fleece you properly! Hmm, let me think..." Monkey lowered his head, feigning deep thought.
"Dashan, what about you? What do you want to eat?" Chen Ping'an asked.
"Anything is fine with me," Dashan replied with a simple, honest grin.
In a lighthearted mood, the three left the Nanquan Lane Suppression Office.
All morning long, Monkey clamored about wringing Chen Ping'an dry. But when noon actually arrived, all he ate was a bowl of noodles.
Chen Ping'an had wanted to treat them to something nice, but as they passed a noodle stall, Monkey insisted he shared a fated affinity with it and refused to eat anywhere else. Dashan chimed in to back him up, leaving Chen Ping'an no choice but to indulge them with a bowl of noodles.
While eating, Monkey still hollered loudly about making Chen Ping'an go bankrupt, grandly ordering the vendor to add a pork chop on top.
...
A few days after that pre-shift assembly, the Nancheng Suppression Office officially approved Zheng Shiyong's registry status.
Temporary runner of the Nanquan Lane Suppression Office, Zheng Shiyong. His name was inscribed into the roster, and he was officially promoted to registered runner of the Nanquan Lane Suppression Office.
He was bestowed a saber, which he did not need to return after shift, granting him the right to carry a blade at all times. He was bestowed a waist token proving his status as a registered runner. In addition, he was granted the Thirteen Yamen Sabers.
The black uniform Zheng Shiyong had worn as a temporary runner was replaced by the official uniform of a registered runner—a blue fabric robe with a crossed collar, narrow sleeves, and a red woven sash tied around the waist. Standing among the runners, he looked quite formidable.
This stirred no small amount of envy among the temporary runners, who gathered around him in droves. Even seasoned registered runners showed eagerness to curry favor.
In terms of standing, Zheng Shiyong was now their equal. Moreover, he not only possessed ties to Head Runner Zheng, but had recently won the favor of Deputy Office Chief Tian Fuliang. His future shone bright!
Given time, he might well become an influential head runner within the Nanquan Lane Suppression Office.
Yet none of this had anything to do with Chen Ping'an.
A registered runner...
Chen Ping'an's mood was not dampened in the least. He continued patrolling the streets alongside Monkey and Dashan, and continued practicing Iron Shirt.
Over the next few days, Chen Ping'an lived a remarkably full life. During this time, he had a day off, allowing him to accumulate several more points of Iron Shirt cultivation experience than usual.
One evening, Chen Ping'an was practicing Iron Shirt in his small courtyard.
A familiar experience symbol surfaced before his eyes.
"Done!"
Seeing the faint plus sign emerge on the panel, Chen Ping'an felt a flash of joy.
Without the slightest hesitation, he focused his intent and pressed the plus sign.
Whoosh—
Experience points swirled as specks of starlight rushed into the space between his brows.
The familiar sensation surged through him once more as a torrent of intricate insights poured into his mind.
These realizations regarding Iron Shirt felt as though he had attained them through unremitting bitter practice day and night, combat insights, experiential reviews, and personal breakthroughs.
It was entirely natural!
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Qi and blood second layer, perfected
Martial Art: Iron Shirt (Perfected)
...
The transformation within Chen Ping'an was not limited to insights into Iron Shirt; it also altered his qi, blood, and skin membrane. Right now, Chen Ping'an was brimming with qi and blood, and his physical strength surged yet again. The skin membrane that had previously rivaled oxhide became even firmer and denser, as if two thick layers of oxhide had merged into one.
Iron Shirt perfected! Qi and blood second layer, perfected!
Even Little Tiger of the Tiger Head Gang was only at the martial realm of qi and blood second layer, perfected.
In less than a month, Chen Ping'an had gone from an ordinary youth who knew nothing of the martial path to matching Little Tiger's realm.
Among the many runners of Nanquan Lane, Chen Ping'an's strength had already reached the pinnacle, representing the peak of a registered runner. Any further would put him on the level of a head runner.
"I've put it off for a few days, but now that my qi and blood second layer is perfected, it's time to head to the black market."
After wiping down his body, Chen Ping'an put on the clothes he had prepared beforehand.
With Iron Shirt perfected, his martial cultivation would grind to a halt without another manual. For this reason, Chen Ping'an had naturally made preparations early on.
Five nights ago, he had gone to the black market, spent no small effort, and secured an appropriate channel. Within his limited budget, he had ordered a transcribed copy of a lower-grade martial art from the black market.
Truth be told, if not for his tight purse strings, Chen Ping'an would have certainly preferred to buy a martial manual from the Treasure Pavilion in the city.
That way, he could have practiced the martial art out in the open.
Unfortunately, he lacked the money!
Compared to the manuals in the Treasure Pavilion, which easily cost tens or dozens of taels, the black market offered far better value!
And tonight was the agreed-upon time for the trade.
Chapter 40