It was only after asking Yu Chen that Xu Qing found out why. Before Xu Qing had even arrived, Yu Chen had already spoken to Zhao Jingyuan about him, letting Zhao Jingyuan know that Xu Qing was actually quite talented in Martial Arts.
This way,
Thanks to Yu Chen's story, in Zhao Jingyuan's eyes, Xu Qing was a man of considerable Martial Arts talent. Mastering the Cyan Eagle Force and stepping into the realm of Ming Jin was a foregone conclusion.
Also,
Zhao Jingyuan was currently at the Peak of Ming Jin, but a hidden internal injury had prevented him from breaking through to An Jin. At the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, there was a certain Secret Medicine, but only Official Disciples of the hall had access to it.
This Secret Medicine could heal Zhao Jingyuan's hidden injury.
When that happens,
Once his internal injury was healed, Zhao Jingyuan might be able to break through and reach the An Jin realm.
"So that's how it is."
Xu Qing nodded.
Moreover,
Yu Chen and Zhao Jingyuan had known each other for ten years. Back then, Zhao Jingyuan had just become a constable. He was still a greenhorn and was seriously injured while pursuing a fugitive. Fortunately, Yu Chen saved him, and that's how he survived.
So,
Zhao Jingyuan and Yu Chen were on very good terms.
"Couldn't Brother Zhao find someone else? There must be quite a few Official Disciples in the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, right?"
Xu Qing asked.
"Heh."
Yu Chen let out a cold laugh. "Xu Qing, you really don't appreciate what the title 'Official Disciple of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall' means, do you?"
"First,"
"You need to understand something."
"In these chaotic times, martial strength is everything. And throughout the entire Outer City, while there are many Martial Arts Halls, only the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, the Broken Stone Martial Arts Hall, and the Yinghong Martial Arts Hall are the strongest. They even have influence in the Inner City."
"Also,"
"The Cangying Martial Arts Hall accepts anyone. As long as you pay, they'll teach you. But to become an Official Disciple, you have to achieve Ming Jin within one month."
"You don't actually think achieving Ming Jin in one month is easy, do you? Some people take a year, or even ten years, to reach Ming Jin!!!"
"In other words,"
"Every single Official Disciple of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall is a martial arts genius."
"This..."
Xu Qing was inwardly shaken after hearing Yu Chen's explanation. He also felt a wave of relief that he hadn't exposed his true strength to the Cangying Martial Arts Hall.
However,
After Yu Chen finished speaking, he gave Xu Qing a complicated look.
"As you can imagine,"
Yu Chen continued, "Given the status of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall and the talent of its disciples, anyone who becomes an Official Disciple is considered a member of the upper echelon in Qingbei Town's Outer City. Even though Brother Zhao is a Junior Constable at the Government Office, one of the so-called 'Officials' in the eyes of common folk, to the Cangying Martial Arts Hall, he's just a small fry from the Government Office."
"So,"
"Brother Zhao wants to ask an Official Disciple of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall for help? One who would risk punishment from the Hall Master to give him the Secret Medicine? How could that be possible without a deep friendship and mutual benefit!"
By this point,
Xu Qing had a completely new understanding of the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. He had likely underestimated it before, thinking it was just another Martial Arts Hall.
In reality,
The Cangying Martial Arts Hall was a colossus looming over the Outer City of Qingbei Town.
"Mm."
Xu Qing nodded.
「Noon.」
Xu Qing left Kaiyuan Tower and returned to his residence. The food there was too expensive, and he was worried Yu Chen was spending too much, so he hadn't eaten much.
After returning to his residence, Xu Qing fried another pound of Tai Sui Spirit Meat. Once he ate it, a warm current spread from his abdomen throughout his entire body.
「In the afternoon.」
Xu Qing did as Zhao Jingyuan had instructed and went to the Government Office. He registered at the recruitment area, was tested by a constable, and after passing, the constable issued him a standard uniform, an Iron Sword, and a Patrol Order.
From then on,
Xu Qing was a member of the Government Office's night patrol team.
The Government Office had already recruited quite a few people. While the requirements for the night patrol team weren't high, applicants still had to be young, strong, and trained in some fighting styles.
Currently,
The Government Office had formed twelve night patrol teams. Each team had between twelve and eighteen members; the largest had eighteen, and the smallest had twelve.
They were designated Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui, Zi, and Chou respectively. Xu Qing was assigned to the Xin Patrol Team.
"You're Xu Qing?"
The captain of the Xin Patrol Team, Yang Ye, was a middle-aged man in his thirties. He was a blade-wielding constable. His strength was average—he hadn't reached Ming Jin—but he was proficient in several fighting styles and could be considered quite capable.
"Yes."
Xu Qing nodded.
"Mm."
Yang Ye sized Xu Qing up for a moment. "Chief Zhao already spoke with me. From now on, you're one of the two vice-captains of the Xin Patrol Team."
"You two vice-captains should get acquainted."
"Yes."
Xu Qing looked over and saw the other vice-captain of the Xin Patrol Team. He was a man of about forty with a large saber strapped to his back. He smiled when he met Xu Qing's gaze.
"Hello."
The man with the large saber extended his hand. "My name is Qin Daniu."
"Xu Qing."
Xu Qing introduced himself as well.
"Hmph!"
Meanwhile,
Among the members of the Xin Patrol Team, a middle-aged man with an aquiline nose had a grim expression. He shot Xu Qing a hostile glance.
You see,
The Government Office had specific requirements for each Patrol Team. Aside from the captain needing to be a Government Office constable, each team had to have at least two Mingjin Martial Artists.
Generally,
These two Mingjin Martial Artists would serve as the team's vice-captains.
However,
Because of Xu Qing, the other Mingjin Martial Artist on the Xin Patrol Team—the aquiline-nosed man, Wang Changye—had been pushed out of his vice-captain position.
In other words,
Xu Qing was the one who had gotten in through connections.
"Alright."
Yang Ye's gaze swept over everyone present. Including himself, Xu Qing, Qin Daniu, and Wang Changye, the Xin Patrol Team had a total of fourteen members.
The entire Outer City,
Had eighteen streets in total.
Of these,
Four streets were close to the Inner City, so the Government Office dispatched its three Chief Constables and their constables to form night patrol teams to guard them and ensure their safety.
Besides those,
There were twelve streets left. Since they weren't near the Inner City, they were patrolled by the twelve newly formed night patrol teams. The Xin Patrol Team was assigned to patrol Red Leaf Street, which was coincidentally where Xu Qing lived.
"Listen up."
Yang Ye said loudly, "Before six in the evening, before the sun goes down, you must all gather here. Then we'll head to Red Leaf Street to begin the patrol."
"Essentially,"
"You'll be split into two groups. One will patrol the first half of the night, the other will take the second half, and we'll finish at six in the morning."
"Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
...
The men shouted in unison.
"Dismissed."
Yang Ye waved his hand.
Afterwards,
The men began to disperse.
"Xu Qing."
Just then,
Xu Qing had only taken a few steps when he was stopped by the aquiline-nosed man, Wang Changye. "Night patrols are dangerous, you know. When someone without strength insists on taking a position they don't deserve, they end up losing their life when danger strikes."
"Are you threatening me?"
Xu Qing stopped and turned around, his gaze growing cold.
...
Wang Changye's pupils constricted slightly.
Because,
Just now,
When Xu Qing had stared at him with that icy gaze, Wang Changye had felt his scalp go numb, as if a needle had been plunged straight into his heart.
"You..."
Wang Changye's breath caught in his throat. "I'm not threatening you. I'm kindly reminding you of the proverb about one's ability not matching one's station."
"Heh."
Xu Qing chuckled. "You should be more worried about yourself. Your glabella is dark and tinged with red. You're due for a bloody disaster in the coming days."
With that,
Xu Qing turned and left.
"Xu Qing."
Wang Changye clenched his fists, his face a mask of resentment.
Obviously,
Although Wang Changye was furious and wanted nothing more than to beat Xu Qing to a pulp, he didn't dare. He didn't have the nerve. Just a moment ago, Yang Ye had announced in front of everyone that Zhao Jingyuan was backing Xu Qing—that Xu Qing had been shoehorned in by Zhao Jingyuan himself.
Zhao Jingyuan might not be a Chief Constable, but he was a Junior Constable at the Peak of Ming Jin. Wang Changye, a mere Martial Artist with only Minor Achievement in Ming Jin, would never dare to offend him.
Therefore,
No matter how furious Wang Changye was, he had to swallow his anger.
「Evening.」
Xu Qing's residence.
"Hooo..."
Xu Qing slowly concluded his practice. Ever since returning to his residence, he had been practicing Baji Fist over and over, only stopping as evening approached.
Five hours had passed.
He practiced it five times an hour, earning five Experience Points each time. Over five hours, without any breaks, he had practiced it twenty-five times and earned twenty-five Experience Points.
[Baji Fist LV5: 40/160 (...)]
"My Experience Points are already at forty."
Xu Qing noted.
'It's almost time.'
Xu Qing glanced at the sky. 'I should get going.'
And so,
Xu Qing quickly put on the standard-issue uniform from the Government Office, pinned on the vice-captain's Token for the Xin Night Patrol Team, and picked up his Iron Sword, ready to depart.
'Oh, right.'
A glint appeared in Xu Qing's eyes as his gaze fell upon the Iron Sword in his hand.
'Record.'
With a thought,
Xu Qing's consciousness connected with the All Things Treasure Mirror. With a flash of fluorescent light from the mirror, the Iron Sword in his hand was recorded into the Encyclopedia of All Things.
At the same time,
Data about it appeared before him.
Just like with the dilapidated old Crossbow.
[Iron Sword Level 1: 0/10 (This is an ordinary iron sword forged by a common blacksmith.)]
'Oh.'
A look of delight appeared on Xu Qing's face.
Because,
As the Iron Sword's recording was completed, the All Things Treasure Mirror also showed him how to upgrade it. The old Hidden Weapon Crossbow gained Experience Points by firing bolts.
The Iron Sword in his hand could gain Experience Points by 'swinging the sword.'
Just as the name suggested,
Every time Xu Qing swung the sword, he would gain one Experience Point.