Facing a full two months' salary, Zheng Jun did not even bat an eye. He immediately declined, grasping Zhou Pu's hand, and said sincerely, "I've been young and ignorant these past few days, so thank you for your help, Zhou Pu! I absolutely cannot accept this money. Just treat it as me buying you a drink. Please don't refuse!"
The two taels and six maces for the broken saber was not cheap. But the Great Zhou Court's standard Treasure Saber was something money could not buy. Even in those shady underground markets, one standard Treasure Saber would cost seven or eight taels of silver coins! After all, when the Court forged sabers, they did not mix in any impure iron.
If not for the recent campaign to clear the mountains and slay demons in the commandery, which resulted in the deaths of a batch of constables, Officials, Commandery Soldiers, and County Soldiers on Black Mountain, this broken blade wouldn't have ended up like this.
Moreover, even as a broken blade, countless people fought over it. For Zhou Pu to bring this broken blade back for him, he had already cashed in a massive favor. If Zheng Jun had gone alone, let alone two taels and six maces, he wouldn't be able to buy it even with three taels and six maces or four taels and six maces!
After all, no matter how broken the blade was, the iron was still premium. Melting it down and reforging it would also be an excellent choice. Therefore, Zheng Jun's heart was filled with genuine emotion. Although he had only transmigrated a few days ago, he could clearly tell who treated him well.
"Ah, we're family, there's no need to be so polite." Zhou Pu laughed heartily and similarly grasped Zheng Jun's hand. Zheng Jun only felt that Zhou Pu's hand was steady and powerful. Then, he heard Zhou Pu say with an imposing air, "I collect protection money from the hunters and gangs in town day and night; I'm not lacking your four maces of silver! You have some Martial Arts talent, so take the money and buy some meat to temper your body!
"If you don't have enough money, just tell me." After stuffing the silver back, Zhou Pu patted Zheng Jun's shoulder and comforted him. "When you're a bit older, I'll take you to pay your respects to the local bosses so you can get a share of the protection money too... You're too young right now, so it's easy for those guys to look down on you. Those guys are sly!"
A constable's monthly salary was extremely low. Relying on a mere two maces of silver to support a family was naturally difficult. Moreover, many constables practiced martial arts. Therefore, it was common for constables to have some grey income.
Harboring thieves for a share of the loot, letting criminals run rampant to harm civilians, extorting victims, falsely arresting commoners, using lynching and torture, coercing thieves into false accusations, embezzling confiscated goods, and plundering stolen properties. These evil deeds were not considered rare among constables.
However, Zhou Pu had not sunken to that level. Major schemes like harboring thieves for a share of the loot or acting as an umbrella for criminal syndicates were not things a mere constable like him had the authority to do. Zhou Pu was merely in charge of a few gangs of porters and peddlers within his jurisdiction. The gangs gave him a fixed amount of silver every month for his leniency. Occasionally, they also needed to borrow Zhou Pu's name to intimidate out-of-town porters and peddlers.
After all, these were proper gangs, not some Jianghu Gang. They had their inconveniences and needed the cooperation of Officials like constables, which naturally meant they couldn't skimp on the bribes. Aside from that, taking money to get things done and helping people boost their influence was also a common occurrence.
As for falsely arresting commoners, using lynching and torture, or coercing thieves into false accusations, only heinous villains could do such things. Living in the county seat meant everyone was a neighbor who saw each other daily; one wouldn't stoop to such beastly acts. Only impoverished scoundrels and rascals like Zhao Da and Zhao Er would do such things once they gained power.
Naturally, County Officials such as the County Magistrate, the Chief Clerk, and the vice County Magistrate knew about such matters. However, since grassroots Officials struggled to support their families and always needed to earn silver coins through other channels, the superiors naturally had to turn a blind eye to these activities. Otherwise, no one would work for the Government Office.
Thinking of this, Zheng Jun fell into deep thought. If that was the case, did he have a chance to get a slice of the pie from these grey incomes?
Zhou Pu was naturally unaware of what Zheng Jun was thinking. He patted Zheng Jun's shoulder again and said, "Alright, your sister is probably getting anxious waiting at home! Take this broken saber and practice every day. You absolutely must not do anything absurd that harms yourself and others."
The latter half of the sentence carried a hidden meaning, and Zheng Jun also caught the implication in Zhou Pu's words. He immediately took the saber and said, "Don't worry, Zhou Pu. I will only practice with this saber and never draw it for real. I won't do those absurd things!"
Seeing this, Zhou Pu was quite relieved. After giving Zheng Jun a few more instructions, he casually walked away. Only Zheng Jun remained on the spot, holding the broken saber and the remaining four maces of silver.
After lifting the saber, Zheng Jun felt a restless urge. He naturally disregarded the pig offal he had just bought and started practicing in the front yard. He practiced martial arts continuously until his muscles swelled with a sore ache. Only then did Zheng Jun let out a hearty laugh, turning around to dive into the kitchen to light the fire and eat meat!
Four days passed in a flash.
During these four days, Zheng Jun practically never stepped out of his front door. Aside from going to the market every day to buy meat for cooking, he buried his head in practicing the Cloak and Dagger for the rest of his time.
As for why he didn't go to work... his superior had granted him an injury leave to rest. If he still insisted on showing off by going to work, did he break his brain from trying to be a workaholic?
This afternoon, as Zheng Jun wielded the broken blade again, practicing at home until he was drenched in sweat and dizzy, he suddenly cultivated a speck of Spiritual Light that exploded in his mind. Zheng Jun's entire being suddenly became clear-headed at this moment.
Small ink-wash words from the Great Tao Martial Book floated before his eyes.
[Practiced the Cloak and Dagger routine, occasionally gaining Spiritual Light and evolving characteristics. Current repayment progress: 2945/5000.]
Seeing this scene, Zheng Jun was immediately stunned. For the past four days, his training could almost be described as self-forgetful. The Eight Forms of Saber Technique of the Cloak and Dagger Technique were completely familiar in his heart, and he only felt that he was becoming increasingly perfect!
He thought in shock, "In just an instant, I actually advanced the progress by 500 points in one breath?!"
Thinking of the sensation of having 'Cultivated Spiritual Light Transcending the Room' just now, Zheng Jun's lips dried up, his breathing quickened, and his heart couldn't help but go THUMP THUMP.
In front of Zheng Jun, the Great Tao Martial Book suddenly appeared. Among the ink-wash characters, a line of small gilded words emerged, attaching to the lower side of the first page.
[Cloak and Dagger (Great Success)]
[Created by a mysterious expert in the Jianghu, it possesses internal and external dualities, with coordinated footwork! Chop, Shave, and Slash are external moves; leap, jump, and turn are internal stances. Combining the internal and external, unleashing all eight forms simultaneously, moving between donning the cloak and hanging the dagger, this brings one to Perfection.]
[Derived Cloak and Dagger characteristic: Blade Skill Consolidation.]
The sudden Golden Light truly took Zheng Jun aback. Derived characteristic, Blade Skill Consolidation?
Zheng Jun didn't quite understand. He tightly gripped the broken saber in his hand and weighed it a few times. He felt that he had indeed become much more steady. Even if he didn't Chop and Slash according to the Cloak and Dagger stance, but merely hacked haphazardly a couple of times, he still felt a sense of stability and peace of mind.
"I never expected this Great Tao Martial Book to actually have such an effect!" Zheng Jun thought with delight. When he swung his saber again, it immediately became incredibly refined.
It wasn't just a refinement in his Saber Technique, but a difference in his physical posture. Chest puffed out, abdomen tucked in, muscles exerting force—as this strike swung out, it actually carried the howling sound of wind, seemingly piercing through the gale.
With this 'Sword Technique Foundation' characteristic, just the starting posture of a single strike could engage every part of his body into the application of his Saber Technique. Compared to his previously merely proficient hacking and slashing with the Cloak and Dagger, it was much more brilliant.
Before, he had only achieved Great Success in this Saber Technique, deeply familiarizing himself with its application in his heart. But with this 'Sword Technique Foundation', this was true Great Success for his Cultivation Technique!
As Zheng Jun felt completely settled and full of confidence in his heart, the small gilded words rippled like water at this moment, forming concentric circles before revealing a completely new line of text.
[Cloak and Dagger (Great Success) → Cloak and Dagger (Perfection).]
[Requirements: After reaching the Blood Refining and Bone Tempering Realm, master the characteristic 'Sword Technique Foundation', and the characteristic 'Momentum like a Rainbow'.]
"Perfection?!" Zheng Jun exclaimed internally. He hadn't expected that there was Perfection above Great Success, but he quickly suppressed this feeling of surprise and excitement.
Not to mention the issue of characteristics, just this Blood Refining and Body Tempering realm of tempering muscles and bones was still quite a distance away for him. At the very least, he had to make his Blood Qi like mercury before he could enter this Martial Arts Realm.
Thinking up to this point, Zheng Jun checked the sky. Just now, he had been practicing with his saber so tirelessly that he didn't even notice the setting sun fading into the distance. He better hurry up, light the fire, and cook, then go to sleep early so as not to delay tomorrow's morning roll call!
Tomorrow would be his first day back on duty after his rest days. He still needed to be careful.