December 23rd, Wuding District, Huihu Mansion.
Today was the eightieth birthday of Cheng Zhou, former deputy director and current senior consultant of the Disposal Bureau. From early morning on, guests had been coming and going in an endless stream both inside and outside the mansion.
The Cheng clan was originally from Yangzhi. Since the old era, their forebears had passed down martial arts through generations. A century ago, the Cheng family's predecessors led a host of disciples to join the expeditionary army that overthrew the former imperial house, suffering heavy casualties before ultimately putting down roots in Jibei Dao Center City.
In his younger years, Old Master Cheng had taught at local schools as well as Center City Wuyi Academy, and had run the family martial arts hall. His students were legion; at least a hundred among his more outstanding disciples now held key posts in Center City's Disposal Bureau, the military, Wuyi, and various surrounding cities.
Furthermore, Center City was home to many families that carried on martial traditions. Some stood in mutual support with the Chengs, while others rallied around or attached themselves to the Cheng family, making them truly a force to be reckoned with in Center City.
However, the Cheng family upheld strict discipline and kept a low profile. Disciples and followers alike strictly observed rules and decorum, so their presence did not appear particularly prominent to outsiders.
Because it was not a rest day, the birthday banquet was set for the evening. Yet after midday, many Cheng nephews, younger kin, and disciples had already returned from out of town one after another to offer their congratulations.
Liu Yin walked into the mansion alongside his family elders. As the most outstanding junior of his generation, he was qualified this time to enter the main hall with the elders to offer birthday greetings.
According to old Yangzhi etiquette, juniors had to wait outside before offering greetings. Once the elders finished their pleasantries and the feast officially commenced, the elders would deliver their toasts first, after which the juniors would rise together in congratulation.
He was different now, though. Having reached the third limit as a fighter, he was entitled to a seat inside the hall.
Still, he had no desire to stay among a crowd of stern, rigid elders where everyone sat stiffly without daring to breathe too loudly—especially since Old Master Cheng was a stickler for etiquette, where not the slightest slip was tolerated.
So after presenting his birthday greetings to Old Master Cheng, he slipped outside. In the past, someone might have voiced disapproval, but a third-limit fighter commanded that kind of weight; one enjoyed far more freedom in how one carried oneself, and no one thought anything was amiss.
Once outside, he saw Xiao Jing waving vigorously at him. "Brother Liu Yin, over here!"
Looking over, he saw several familiar peers, including Han Kuang and Ren Qiao. He walked over and sat down in the empty seat they had saved for him.
Xiao Jing said, "Brother Liu Yin, you haven't hung out with us in ages."
Liu Yin smiled. "The Disposal Bureau has frequent missions, and everyone on the squad works hard. The competition is fierce, so even on rest days I have to seize every minute to train, or I'll fall behind."
Han Kuang patted him on the shoulder and said enviously, "You've really made a name for yourself now. You don't have to look at your family's faces anymore."
The juniors around the table nodded in agreement. Liu Yin hadn't followed his family's arrangements; he had carved out his own path and was doing quite well. Word was that he had joined the Disposal Bureau's most elite enforcement squads, specifically Investigation Supervisor Xu Chan's Second Action Team.
With such credentials, over the next two or three decades he could rise step-by-step from enforcement officer to enforcement captain, then step into the role of investigation supervisor, or even become a deputy director like Old Master Cheng in the future. As for the rest of them, they would be lucky if they ever made it to enforcement officer.
With Liu Yin's example before them, they were tempted to try as well, but lacked both the nerve and the talent, so they could only entertain the thought in their heads.
Xiao Jing and the others were curious about his bureau affairs, so Liu Yin shared some non-critical, non-sensitive details.
As they chatted, Xiao Jing tugged on his sleeve. "Brother Liu Yin, look there."
Liu Yin glanced over and saw a young man following an elderly gentleman into the main hall. He asked, "Is that Senior Martial Uncle Qiao? That young man—is he Senior Martial Uncle Qiao's disciple?"
"Yeah. I heard Senior Martial Uncle Qiao brought him over from Yangzhi, saying his talent is exceptionally high. But I don't like him—he talks so rigidly, like a little old man."
If it had been a few years ago, they might have looked down on someone from Yangzhi. But with a certain precedent before them, they didn't dare underestimate him. What was more, this fellow's relentless drive in martial training was something they found overwhelming.
They had thought that since their ages were roughly the same, they could invite him out to hang out and get acquainted. But he had zero pastimes; every spare moment was spent training martial arts. It put tremendous pressure on them, and the family elders kept holding him up as an example.
Xiao Jing said, "I really can't stand it. Word has it this guy does nothing but train without pause, except for eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom. If someone lives like that, what's the point of living?"
Ren Qiao lowered his voice. "I heard Senior Martial Uncle Qiao didn't teach students like this before. It seems he was spurred by Martial Uncle Cheng..."
Liu Yin nodded. Truth be told, Senior Martial Uncle Qiao wasn't the only one provoked by Martial Uncle Cheng; their elders had all felt the sting to varying degrees. Yet why did he feel a secret sense of satisfaction in his heart?
Before they knew it, evening fell, bringing even more guests. By now, the arrivals were mid-to-high-level officials from the Disposal Bureau and City Patrol, along with instructors from Wuyi. Firecrackers crackled to life, lanterns were hoisted, and the mansion became bustling inside and out.
The square in front of the mansion gates was packed with vehicles. At that moment, an inconspicuous off-road vehicle drove up and parked.
Cheng Zitong and Xiao Ke stepped out of the vehicle. Xiao Ke went to the trunk to fetch the congratulatory gifts. Looking at all the well-dressed, prominent figures gathered at the entrance, he felt a bit intimidated and asked, "Brother Tong, did... didn't your student come with you?"
"Xiao Chuan?" Cheng Zitong replied nonchalantly, "Xiao Chuan is on a mission out in the Outer Ocean these days. With that Skyline connection just yesterday, he's tied up with work. As his teacher, how could I hold him back?"
Xiao Ke thought about it and realized he was right. The Skyline was of paramount importance, and returning from Haidong Dao to Center City would take at least three days even by airship. Xiao Chuan probably couldn't make it back today. He couldn't help feeling a trace of regret.
Cheng Zitong clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't overthink it. We're here today to celebrate the old man's birthday. Chin up."
"Alright, Brother Tong."
Carrying the gifts, the two walked up to the entrance, where several Cheng juniors were welcoming guests. One of them, a man in his thirties, clearly recognized Cheng Zitong and froze. "Third Uncle? It's you... Why... why did you come?"
Cheng Zitong scoffed. "What kind of talk is that? Is that how your father taught you? It's the old man's eightieth birthday. Can't I, his son, come to offer birthday greetings?"
"Third Uncle, I... I didn't mean that." The man shot a glance behind him, and a younger junior spun around and dashed inside.
Cheng Zitong was about to walk in when the man stepped forward with an awkward expression. "Third Uncle, please wait."
"What is it?"
"Third Uncle, the invitation," the man said. "You have to show me an invitation."
Cheng Zitong said in disbelief, "Now that's a new one. A son needs an invitation to attend his own father's birthday?"
"No, Third Uncle, you know how strict the family rules are. That's the order from above. No matter how unreasonable it is, we juniors just have to follow orders..."
Cheng Zitong gave him a look. "Fine, I won't make things hard on you. Your Third Uncle has suffered under those rules too. You sent someone to call the higher-ups, right? I'll wait."
Just as they were speaking, a Disposal Bureau off-road vehicle drove up.
Ni Xixi sat in the back seat. Today she had changed into a red, stand-collar, parallel-fronted long robe paired with a light pink pleated skirt. Beside her sat a female colleague. Before stepping out, she took out a compact mirror to check her makeup.
Just then, her eyes caught the figure standing at the mansion entrance. Her expression shifted, and she reached forward to pat the squad captain's shoulder. "Hey, Old Li, looks like we're in for a good show."
Hearing her, the squad captain turned his head and looked over. "That's..."
"That's Old Master Cheng's son, Supervisor Cheng Zitong."
"...Sounds familiar." Captain Li suddenly perked up and asked in a low voice, "Section Chief Chen's teacher?"
Ni Xixi nodded. "Right, that's him."
Captain Li recalled now, though the father-son relationship between him and Old Master Cheng wasn't great. A subtle expression crossed his face as his interest was piqued, and he stared toward the entrance. *Now this is interesting.*
After watching for a moment, he couldn't help asking, "Speaking of which, what exactly is the grudge between Supervisor Cheng and Old Master Cheng?"
Ni Xixi said eagerly, "That involves an obsession of the Cheng family. Didn't you know, Captain Li?"
Captain Li gave her a speechless look. Her face practically screamed *ask me, ask me*. Still, he couldn't resist; he wanted the gossip too.
Turning sideways, he said, "Well now, Sister Ni, you're pretty, kindhearted, and always in the loop. Why don't you enlighten me so I can learn a thing or two?"
Hearing his flattering words and seeing her female colleague's gleaming eyes, Ni Xixi felt thoroughly satisfied. She gave a cough, cleared her throat, and said, "Ever since the last generation, and the generation before that, the Cheng family has always yearned to produce a limit-breaking martial artist."
"Hah, who wouldn't?" Captain Li thought to himself. His own Li family dreamed of that too.
Crossing her arms, Ni Xixi shot him a sideways glance. "And do you think you have a shot, Captain Li?"
Captain Li gave a sheepish sigh. "Don't hit where it hurts." The female colleague beside them covered her mouth with a giggle.
Ni Xixi hummed. "In the Cheng family, every single generation has had people reach the third limit—and more than just one. That's no small feat."
Captain Li nodded. That couldn't be achieved merely through cultivation arts and resources; knowing how to teach was a science in itself. Talent, without additional technological enhancement, was notoriously unreliable when passed down by bloodline. An elder generation might be brilliant, but the next generation was never guaranteed to be—which was precisely why many in the upper echelon were adherents of the implant faction.
He said, "True. I don't know about earlier times, but over the past hundred years, the Cheng family has brought forth outstanding talents generation after generation. That really is impressive."
The female colleague nodded in agreement; having formidable figures in every generation made the Cheng family a rare breed in Center City.
Ni Xixi said, "Still, how can any of that compare to producing a true martial artist? You know the Bai family in Shannan Dao? Their background was originally quite similar to the Chengs'. They also responded enthusiastically to the calls back then, also took part in overthrowing the former imperial house. But just because they produced Senior Bai, they vaulted into a top-tier martial arts clan overnight.
"Old Master Cheng could have made it originally, but for some reason he didn't. So he pinned all his hopes on his eldest son—"
Midway through her sentence, she caught sight of a square-faced, burly middle-aged man walking out from inside. A thrill of excitement swept over her, and she slapped the front seatback. "Look, Old Li! Someone came out. The show's starting!"
Chapter 996