Chen Cheng really didn't want to get dragged into any conflicts.
He had sought a constable position in the City Guard Department for one simple reason: to make Zhou Biao of the Flying Eagle Gang think twice. This would deter the Flying Eagle Gang and other Jianghu Gangs from making a move against him, allowing him to cultivate the Martial Dao in peace.
But what he had seen and heard today made him realize that in this world, there was no such thing as a safe haven.
If he just kept his head down and didn't fight back, he feared he'd be silently crushed long before his cultivation bore any fruit.
Perhaps even at the level of Liu Yunfeng and Zhao Yongfeng, even after becoming a Chief Constable, one still had to fight and scrap for the slightest chance of survival.
Chen Cheng couldn't help but recall the scene when he was drinking with Liu Yunfeng at Ronghe Restaurant.
"In the eyes of the great families and nobles of the Inner City, forget you—even I could be disposed of at any moment..."
The throat-slitting gesture Liu Yunfeng had made was still vivid in Chen Cheng's mind.
'No matter what, I must join the City Guard Department today and become a Preparatory Constable.' A powerful sense of crisis suddenly surged through him. Chen Cheng vowed silently, his gaze hardening with resolve.
Just then, Shen Qingshuang suddenly turned her head, her gaze meeting Chen Cheng's. An unusual glint flickered in her beautiful eyes, tinged with a hint of surprise.
As the Branch Chief Constable of the Ruyi Square Sub-Department, Shen Qingshuang's Martial Arts Cultivation was at least at the Muscle Strengthening Realm. Having been noticed by such a powerful expert, Chen Cheng, as someone of lower status, dared not be presumptuous. He quickly offered a small smile and a cupped-fist salute before naturally averting his gaze.
"Chief Liu, it seems the person you've recommended is no ordinary man."
Shen Qingshuang remarked to the approaching Liu Yunfeng, her lips curved in a half-smile.
She hailed from a prominent family, possessed formidable Martial Arts Power, and served as the Branch Chief Constable of the Ruyi Square Sub-Department—a position of great authority. Normally, she was aloof and as cold as ice. In the Ruyi Square Sub-Department, anyone she looked at, aside from the other Chief Constables, would usually be so overcome with a sense of inadequacy that they would act with trembling deference.
Yet this slender youth, though his posture was respectful, seemed completely at ease. His expression and bearing were entirely natural, and he appeared utterly unruffled. If nothing else, this steady temperament alone was enough to astound her.
Shen Qingshuang's abrupt comment left Liu Yunfeng momentarily confused. After a brief pause to consider, he cupped his hands and replied, "Though Chen Cheng comes from a Humble Family, he shows exceptional promise. He has a firm character, acts decisively, and is truly a talent worth cultivating."
"'Exceptional promise,' you say?" Shen Qingshuang's expression suddenly turned cold. "Are you sure you're not talking about yourself, Chief Liu?"
Liu Yunfeng gave a wry smile. "I wouldn't dare."
Shen Qingshuang said coolly, "Chief Liu, you keep beating around the bush, but you haven't said a single word about Chen Cheng's Martial Arts Power. Why is that? Is it because his Martial Arts Power isn't even worth mentioning?"
Liu Yunfeng was clearly on the back foot. He answered evasively, "Lord Shen, Chen Cheng cultivates a martial art passed down through his family. I don't know the details."
"'A family-inherited martial art,' indeed!" Zhao Yongfeng strode over, his face a mask of ridicule. "Chief Liu, I have to admire your talent for spouting utter nonsense!"
Liu Yunfeng's expression darkened. "Chief Zhao, what do you mean by that?"
Zhao Yongfeng's lips curled in a sneer, making no attempt to hide his scorn. "A lowly Prison Guard who's never even set foot in a Martial Arts Hall? He probably only knows a few sloppy Scattering Hand Techniques. Yet you call his third-rate skills a 'family-inherited martial art'? If you want to plant one of your own men in the City Guard Office to get a free ride, just say so. You don't need to use such a pathetic excuse to try and fool Lord Shen.
Lord Shen is wise and perceptive; how could she possibly be deceived by the likes of you?"
"Zhao Yongfeng, you're spouting nonsense!" Liu Yunfeng roared.
Zhao Yongfeng flicked his sleeves. "We'll see if it's nonsense after the assessment. I'm eager to see if you'll still be acting so tough then, Chief Liu!"
"That's enough!" Shen Qingshuang waved her hand, cutting off their argument. "Elder Zou and Instructor Yang are present. The two of you are Chief Constables of the City Guard Department; don't make a spectacle of yourselves."
Zou Bingliang, Hall Master of Tiger Power Martial Arts Hall, and Yang Tai, Instructor of Liuhe Martial Arts Hall, exchanged a glance. They hastily cupped their hands, insisting they wouldn't dare laugh.
The two most powerful Chief Constables in the Ruyi Square Sub-Department, Liu Yunfeng and Zhao Yongfeng, had always been at odds. Their rivalry was so well-known they were called the "Two Peaks Vying for Supremacy." The Martial Arts Halls had their own ways of surviving, and as men of the Jianghu, Zou Bingliang and Yang Tai strictly adhered to the principle of not offending either side.
If both their halls didn't have disciples trying to enter the City Guard Department, and if neither was willing to lose a spot, they would never have waded into these muddy waters.
By having their disciples compete for the spots for Preparatory Constable, they had already implicitly gone against Liu Yunfeng. They certainly didn't dare add any more fuel to the fire now.
Zou Bingliang quickly spoke up. "Lord Shen, since everyone has arrived, perhaps we should begin the assessment."
Yang Tai chimed in, "Elder Zou is absolutely right."
The two of them couldn't wait to get out of the City Guard Office; they didn't want to stay a second longer than necessary.
"Mm." Shen Qingshuang nodded in acknowledgment before falling into thought. "In this assessment, one of the six will be eliminated. The question is, what is the most appropriate way to conduct the test?"
How could Zou Bingliang and Yang Tai dare offer an opinion? Both pretended to bow their heads in deep contemplation, while in reality, they were simply waiting for Liu Yunfeng and Zhao Yongfeng to speak up.
Shen Qingshuang glanced at Liu Yunfeng. Seeing that he had no intention of speaking, she turned to Zhao Yongfeng. "Chief Zhao, how do you think this assessment should proceed?"
Zhao Yongfeng had already worked out a plan. He had just spoken to the five disciples from the martial arts halls, promising them rewards to teach Chen Cheng a lesson and make Liu Yunfeng lose face.
He spoke at once. "It's simple. The disciples from Tiger Power and Liuhe Martial Arts Halls have all been cultivating the Martial Dao at their respective halls. Their strength is not far off from that of an official constable, so there's no need to assess them.
On the other hand, this Chen Cheng, recommended by Chief Liu, claims to know some 'family-inherited martial art,' which is obvious blustering. Why don't we just pick the weakest of the martial arts hall disciples and have him fight Chen Cheng? The winner stays, the loser is eliminated. It's the most straightforward solution."
Both overtly and implicitly, he was still taking a jab at Liu Yunfeng.
"Hmm, that does seem reasonable." Shen Qingshuang nodded, then turned to Liu Yunfeng. "Chief Liu, what are your thoughts?"
Liu Yunfeng considered this for a moment. "It would certainly be ideal if we could identify the weakest candidate simply and directly. However, how can we be sure that the person Chief Zhao selects is truly the weakest of the five?
What if he picks the strongest, and Chen Cheng happens to lose? Wouldn't that be unfair?"
Shen Qingshuang nodded slightly. "What Chief Liu says has merit.
Chief Zhao, you tell us. How do we determine who is the weakest among the five of them?"
Zhao Yongfeng froze, momentarily at a loss for words.
Shen Qingshuang turned to Zou Bingliang and Yang Tai. "What are your thoughts?"
The two exchanged a look, and Zou Bingliang reluctantly spoke up. "Lord Shen, of these five disciples, three are from my Tiger Power Martial Arts Hall, and two are from the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall.
The two disciples from Liuhe Martial Arts Hall have cultivated the Six Harmonies Saber Technique to a level approaching Great Success. When it comes to saber technique, our three disciples from Tiger Power Martial Arts Hall are no match for them.
As for my three disciples from Tiger Power Martial Arts Hall, I am familiar with their abilities. Li Lin was the last to join and has trained for the shortest time, so his strength is the weakest. Having him compete against Chen Cheng should be fair."