Longxing County, the county yamen's drill grounds.
Early in the morning, Wang Ping changed into his black and red constable attire, strapped his oxtail saber to his waist, filled his belly with food, and arrived to take part in the constables' daily morning drill.
Many constables had already arrived early. Some were standing in stance postures, some were practicing saber drills, and others were gathered in a corner chatting idly.
Wang Ping glanced around and conscientiously joined the ranks of those practicing stances. He had only read through the manual of the Three Demon Blades of Yanluo yesterday. Although having the standard-issue oxtail saber on hand meant he could easily grasp the fundamentals of the art, a ten-thousand-zhang tower had to rise from level ground; two people entering the basics of a blade technique could end up worlds apart.
To be safe, he had not rushed to master the basics yesterday.
*Better to scout around the drill grounds first, ask the veteran constables how they practice this blade art, and only attempt to master it after I have a decent grasp of things.*
Just as Wang Ping was pondering this, a voice suddenly barked from behind.
"Stand properly, all of you!"
A familiar voice. Wang Ping recognized him almost instantly—it was the fellow who had broadened his chest with a single arrow back at the White Lotus Sect's Daoist hermitage!
In the next instant, the constables who had been scattered all over swiftly assembled. Not daring to delay, Wang Ping blended into the crowd and fell into formation. The noisy drill grounds instantly fell silent, and over a hundred gazes converged on the man in the center of the grounds, clad in a black and red official robe.
*Chen Haoyan...*
Wang Ping soon located the man's information within the memories of his new identity. He was the head constable stationed in Longxing County by the imperial court's Divine Constabulary, and his martial arts prowess was unfathomable.
"Lin Sheng has taken leave to rest," Head Constable Chen Haoyan said in an even voice at the front of the ranks. "To fill his vacancy, we have recruited a new brother whom you all know.
"Step forward when your name is called.
"Wang Ping."
As soon as the words fell, Wang Ping hurried out of the ranks. Chen Haoyan exchanged a smile with him before calling another name:
"Liu Ye."
Watching the second constable step forward from the ranks, Wang Ping could not help a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes. To think it was yet another old acquaintance.
*Master Liu from the grass market outside town...*
Immediately after, Chen Haoyan said indifferently, "Old Liu, you are in charge of patrolling the grass market outside town. Your duties aren't heavy, and you happen to have the time, so take Wang Ping under your wing.
"Help him master the Three Demon Blades of Yanluo as quickly as possible."
"This subordinate obeys."
Liu Ye hastily cupped his hands in assent. Chen Haoyan nodded at the sight, signaled for the two to return to the ranks, and then raised his voice to begin the morning drill lecture.
"Today, we will focus on weapons.
"As everyone knows, some time ago we wiped out the White Lotus Sect that was running rampant across several counties, and we even captured the Lotus Blade wielded by White Lotus Sect Master Shouchong.
"However, this is not the end. The Lotus Blade is a renowned treasure cultivated in body and soul by that old bastard Shouchong. The reason it fell into our hands this time was likely his deliberate intention—all to accumulate renown, coalesce karmic fortune, and borrow our county yamen's fortune to elevate it into a true divine artifact."
*A renowned treasure? A divine artifact?*
Wang Ping was bewildered, but fortunately, he was not the only one. Soon, another constable voiced the question. Seeing this, Chen Haoyan nodded.
"Regarding this, those among our brothers with established backgrounds should already know, but some may not understand well. I will give you all a brief explanation today.
"Weapons under heaven are divided into five grades:
"Common weapons, sharp weapons, renowned treasures, divine artifacts, and celestial crafts. These five grades of weapons also correspond to five classes of martial artists. The better your martial arts, the stronger your weapon."
At this point, Chen Haoyan gestured toward all the constables present.
"For instance, the vast majority of you belong to the first class of martial artists. The oxtail sabers issued to you by the imperial court are common weapons, and your martial arts are capped at external body conditioning."
Seizing the opportunity, Wang Ping raised his hand and asked, "What is external body conditioning?"
Chen Haoyan patiently explained, "Skin like an ox, flesh like an elephant, sinews like a dragon, bones like a tiger, blood like fire, marrow like frost. Only when all six are attained is external conditioning perfected.
"Different martial arts emphasize different areas. For example, our Three Demon Blades of Yanluo primarily tempers the sinews. As long as you master the basics, you can achieve sinews like a dragon. But dragons come in different calibers—whether a viper dragon, a flood dragon, a horned dragon, or a true dragon, the gap in strength is immense.
"Taking the Three Demon Blades of Yanluo as an example once more..."
Chen Haoyan drew his saber from its sheath. In that instant, Wang Ping sensed the thick sinews on the head constable's arm twanging in a ceaseless hum, crisp and clear like the roar of a dragon.
"The 'sinews like a dragon' cultivated after mastering the basics of the Three Demon Blades of Yanluo are mostly viper dragon sinews. Only when the technique reaches perfection can they be elevated to flood dragon sinews.
"Yet a rare few with superior bone structure can achieve flood dragon sinews right upon learning the basics, and once they reach perfection, they can even elevate them to horned dragon sinews, far beyond ordinary men.
"As for true dragon sinews, that is a tier the Three Demon Blades of Yanluo simply cannot attain.
"Still, at the end of the day, all of this is limited solely to the sinews.
"If you wish to attain external perfection, you must master five other martial arts, each corresponding to skin, flesh, bones, blood, and marrow."
Wang Ping's scalp went numb listening to this.
Skin, flesh, sinews, bones, blood, and marrow—each corresponded to a martial art, and six martial arts meant six weapons. Did one really have to assemble a full six-piece divine equipment set just to count as having perfected external conditioning?
For a moment, troubled expressions surfaced on the faces of many constables.
After all, six different martial arts that strictly corresponded to skin, flesh, sinews, bones, blood, and marrow were hardly easy to come by—certainly not something people like them could find.
Did this not mean that the vast majority present had no hope of ever reaching external perfection in their entire lives?
Observing the dampened spirits on the drill grounds, Chen Haoyan was not surprised. He immediately shifted the topic: "However... this state of affairs is not entirely absolute.
"Ultimately, it depends on the grade of the martial art.
"Although our Three Demon Blades of Yanluo possesses considerable power, it remains a low-grade martial art capable of condensing only a single weapon method. It cannot be considered truly profound.
"Yet more profound intermediate-grade arts, superior-grade arts, and even the legendary peerless arts are said to be capable of tempering multiple parts—or even the entire body—with a single technique. Thus, as long as you specialize in one such art, you can attain external perfection, making the cultivation of internal jin in the future completely natural."
As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar broke out across the drill grounds.
Seeing the enthusiasm rekindled, Chen Haoyan finally revealed his true objective. "In fact, I happen to hold an intermediate-grade martial art in my hands.
"This art is my family's secret heritage.
"Not only is it empowered by two weapon methods once mastered, but it also specializes in bone and blood. Far from conflicting with the Three Demon Blades of Yanluo, it complements it."
Speaking to this point, Chen Haoyan retrieved a book from his robes and held it high above his head.
"I have an exceptionally perilous assignment here—one with a nine-in-ten chance of death. Whichever brother is willing to undertake this task, this martial art will be his reward!"
His booming voice resonated across the drill grounds.
Wang Ping was instantly electrified.
*A nine-in-ten chance of death? Who else could take this task but me!*
Yet in the next breath, he reined in his excitement. *Calm down. The Fiend from Beyond cooldown hasn't reset yet. Wait until it finishes before taking this mission.*
For a time, the drill grounds lapsed into silence once more; no one responded.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Chen Haoyan's eyes, but he said nothing more. Stowing the book away, he smiled. "This is a matter of life and death, so there is no need to rush.
"I will give you brothers time to consider.
"My offer remains valid for three months.
"However, let me make this clear beforehand: the sooner you come to me, the sooner you can practice the art, and your chances of survival will naturally be greater then."
With that, he strode away.
He left behind only the constables looking at one another, none able to read the decisions in the others' hearts. Soon, they dispersed across the grounds to resume their respective drills.
Wang Ping naturally began practicing along with them.
Right then, however, a voice suddenly came from the side.
"Xiao Wang, stop practicing."
Wang Ping looked over in response, only to see the veteran acquaintance assigned to him by Chen Haoyan. Master Liu from the grass market was holding a long-stemmed pipe in his hand.
"So eager to grasp the basics of the blade art?"
Puffing on his pipe, Liu Ye said, "Take my advice. Don't rush into the basics just yet. It won't be too late to master them three months from now."
"Three months from now...?"
Wang Ping raised an eyebrow. "Does this have to do with Constable Chen's mission?"
"Heh, looks like you're not a fool after all."
Liu Ye chuckled. "Indeed. Though the head constable didn't say it outright, we are seasoned veterans in the county yamen. How could we not catch his underlying meaning?"
A sudden flash of inspiration struck Wang Ping.
The next instant, he grasped Liu Ye's hand, pressing a small piece of broken silver into his palm as he said earnestly, "Please enlighten me, Master Liu."
Liu Ye's expression changed at once.
"You lad... you have a future! Since you're so sincere..."
Soon, Liu Ye pulled Wang Ping along to a secluded corner of the drill grounds before lowering his voice: "This matter actually concerns the White Lotus Sect!"
"The White Lotus Sect?" Wang Ping narrowed his eyes.
Liu Ye nodded. "The head constable mentioned it earlier: the Lotus Blade belonging to Shouchong, the White Lotus Sect Master, is currently sitting right inside our county yamen.
"Do you know why?"
Wang Ping recalled the lecture and said, "Constable Chen said that old bastard Shouchong intends to borrow the county yamen's karmic fortune to elevate the Lotus Blade into a divine artifact."
Liu Ye shook his head. "You know the 'what,' but not the 'why.'
"Let me put it to you bluntly.
"Among the five grades of weapons under heaven, common weapons and sharp weapons are mundane items when all is said and done—nothing extraordinary. But when it comes to the third tier, renowned treasures, things are different.
"For a weapon to rank as a renowned treasure, the key lies in the 'renown'—in having a name. Typically, it must be celebrated across a region, known by countless people. Take the White Lotus Sect's Lotus Blade, for example; across Longxing County and the neighboring counties, it is widely renowned.
"Holding a renowned treasure makes one a figure of consequence in the pugilistic world.
"A divine artifact, however, is a further elevation upon a renowned treasure."
Liu Ye gestured as he explained, "In short, a renowned treasure is a weapon whose fame spread because it participated in a major event.
"A divine artifact, on the other hand, creates a myth."
"What counts as a myth?"
Hearing this, a spark of realization flashed through Wang Ping's mind. "Rebellion... overthrowing a county government... In times like these, does that count as a myth?"
Liu Ye answered candidly, "That is beyond my ability to measure.
"However, at least within our Changle Commandery, a county yamen has never once been breached by rebels. It is unprecedented since ancient times. If you achieve it, immense renown will surely follow."
Wang Ping understood.
"So, that old bastard Shouchong... the White Lotus Sect's plan is to deliver the Lotus Blade into the county yamen, and then find a way to shatter the imperial court's control over Longxing County. By using such an unprecedented event to amass immense renown for the Lotus Blade, Shouchong himself will..."
"Most likely make a breakthrough!"
At this point, a hint of wariness crept into Liu Ye's voice. "When that time comes, even Constable Chen might not be a match for that old bastard."
"Wait a moment..."
Wang Ping frowned deeply, suddenly sensing something amiss. "If that's the case, why would Constable Chen deliberately play along and keep the Lotus Blade inside the yamen...?"
His voice cut off abruptly.
Without waiting for Liu Ye to explain, Wang Ping figured it out himself. "...Baiting a hook?"
"You lad really do have a future."
Liu Ye grinned. "Spot on. Shouchong wants to borrow the yamen's renown to advance his martial arts, while Constable Chen wants to use this opportunity to completely eradicate the White Lotus Sect.
"In the end, it comes down to who has the better skills.
"The winner takes all; that is the fundamental truth of this world."
With those words, Liu Ye's voice suddenly turned somber.
"However, as everyone knows... fishing requires bait. And whether the fish bites or not, the bait ends up dead without a burial place."
*So that's how it is.* That was the main reason why, despite Chen Haoyan offering his family's ancestral martial art as a reward, not a single constable was willing to step forward.
Wang Ping understood clearly, yet he felt no fear; if anything, he was even more thrilled. He made up his mind to seek out Chen Haoyan as soon as the Fiend from Beyond cooldown finished.
On the other side, Liu Ye noticed the shift in Wang Ping's expression and immediately frowned.
"You still intend to enter the basics as soon as possible?"
Liu Ye's frown deepened. "If you don't master the basics, even if the sky falls, it won't crush you. But if you do, the head constable might seek you out.
"When that happens, if you agree, you will surely die. If you refuse, you'll displease him, and your official career will be finished.
"Why bother?"
For the sake of that piece of silver, Liu Ye was speaking with genuine sincerity. Yet Wang Ping merely shook his head, having no intention of explaining himself to Liu Ye.
After all, such things were difficult to explain to someone without a cheat system.
"*Sigh*, fair enough."
Seeing Wang Ping persist, Liu Ye stopped trying to persuade him and changed the subject: "Regarding the Three Demon Blades of Yanluo, you were right not to rush into it.
"True to its name, this blade art has only three forms.
"These three blades are Greed, Wrath, and Delusion, corresponding respectively to the basics, minor mastery, and major mastery. When you can unite the three blades into one, that is perfection.
"The reason it is called a demon blade lies in the emotions corresponding to the forms. The three poisons of greed, wrath, and delusion are human vices. If you attempt to learn the basics without proper preparation, it is extremely likely that the initial blade intent of Greed will backfire, reducing you to a madman. Constables who have died from this are beyond count."
Hearing this, Wang Ping frowned deeply.
*So dangerous... Good thing I was cautious and didn't act recklessly...*
Thinking of this, he looked back at Liu Ye, who had paused his explanation at some point. Catching on immediately, Wang Ping retrieved another piece of silver and clasped his hand.
"Master Liu, please enlighten me further."
"Easy enough! Easy enough!"
At the sight of the silver, Liu Ye beamed with joy.
"To be frank, your luck isn't bad; you found the right man in coming to me. Constable Chen likely assigned me to mentor you because of my signature skill."
*Signature skill?*
In the next instant, Wang Ping watched as Liu Ye reached into his robes and pulled out a thin booklet. "This skill of mine is a martial art I obtained through a lucky encounter.
"Unlike ordinary martial arts, it has no corresponding weapon. It uses the physical body as a weapon. Strictly speaking, it's actually unranked."
"Unranked?" Wang Ping looked somewhat disdainful.
By now, he already had a fair understanding of martial arts in this world. If an art was unranked, it could not temper skin, flesh, sinews, bones, blood, or marrow.
What was the point of having such trash?
Seeing his reaction, however, Liu Ye wore a rather smug smile.
"Don't be in a rush. Hear me out before you decide.
"This martial art of mine is called the Iron Ox Art. The weapon method condensed upon reaching perfection is called 'Golden Spear Never Falls,' and its corresponding weapon is the family jewels between your legs..."
Then again, measuring the value of an art purely by its rank was too shallow; there were no useless arts, only useless people!
Chapter 9