Chapter 185: Chapter 117: Who is the Hunter

"Now that I’ve explained, surely you understand?"

As he spoke, Yan Jian straightened his posture abruptly, tilting his nose to the sky with a hint of arrogance—the very picture of a top-tier expert of the Martial Dao.

’This guy beat around the bush forever just to show off his strength to me,’ Chen Cheng thought. ’And he even equates himself with a Great Success Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm. How shallow.’

A character like him probably couldn’t withstand a single one of Chen Cheng’s claw strikes. Naturally, Chen Cheng paid no mind to his smugness and asked, "Don’t tell me this Treasure Sword is from the Zhou Family’s Blacksmith Shop?"

"That’s right." Yan Jian nodded proudly, then lowered his voice. "I’ve heard the Zhou Family sells quite a few of these weapons on the Black Market every month. Just think about it, how much precious metal would that require? You can imagine the extent of the Zhou Family’s wealth!"

Chen Cheng mentally filed away the name: Zhou Family’s Blacksmith Shop. The family’s wealth wasn’t his concern. He immediately said, "Mr. Yan, carrying a Treasure Sword worth one thousand taels doesn’t make you look like someone with ’difficulties’."

"Ahem..." Yan Jian cleared his throat. "I just arranged some business deals recently and made a small profit. It’s nothing worth mentioning.

"Mr. Chen, what I’m trying to say is that the Zhou Family is extremely powerful. The Patriarch, Zhou Hongjun, is a Bone Forger Realm Martial Artist. Although he’s old and his vitality is failing, his combat strength still far surpasses that of an ordinary Perfect Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm.

"Zhou Xu is a Perfect Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm, that goes without saying. Additionally, Zhou Hongjun’s younger brother, Zhou Hongda, is also a Perfect Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm. He also has two powerful henchmen known as the Black and White Double Slaughter. It’s said that those two are Great Success Martial Artists of the Muscle Strengthening Realm and are skilled in using Qimen Weapons.

"Their weapons are no simple matter—they’re Treasure Soldiers that can slice through iron as if it were mud. With these Treasure Soldiers, they can even rival a Perfect Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm.

"The Black and White Double Slaughter specialize in eliminating the Zhou Family’s enemies. Countless experts have died at their hands.

"My Yan Family is expanding its influence in the Lotus Pier district, which naturally offends the Zhou Family. If I weren’t a Chief Constable of the City Guard Department with the Shen Family’s backing, I’m afraid the Zhou Family would have dealt with us long ago.

"While the Zhou Family wouldn’t dare make a move on me directly, they’ve likely set their sights on my family’s businesses. That’s why I had no choice but to recruit those constables to work for me.

"Mr. Chen, surely you can understand my difficult position now?"

’The guy’s just trying to make excuses for his disloyalty,’ Chen Cheng thought, not bothering to argue the point.

’As for this supposed threat from the Zhou Family... knowing Shen Qingshuang, if she sent Yan Jian to the Lotus Pier district, she must have already made other arrangements.’

’Yan Jian’s failure to mention any of Shen Qingshuang’s arrangements proves he’s still trying to pull one over on me.’

"I told you before, it’s a small matter. I won’t hold it against you," Chen Cheng said with a wave of his hand.

Yan Jian chuckled. "Then I thank you for your understanding, Mr. Chen. We should still look out for each other from now on.

"As for those constables, they’re just nobodies. I only recruited them to help guard the Yan Family’s businesses. I have no intention of giving them any real responsibility."

’He’s finally telling the truth for once,’ Chen Cheng thought. He gave a slight nod. "I know." Then, adopting a posture that clearly indicated it was time for his guest to leave, he said, "Is there anything else, Mr. Yan? If not, I have things to attend to."

"In that case, I won’t disturb you," Yan Jian said with an awkward smile.

When Yan Jian saw Chen Cheng also step out the door and hurry off, he watched the man’s retreating back, and a flicker of derision crossed his eyes.

’Chen Cheng, Chen Cheng... I was originally going to help you, give you a few more tips. It’s a shame you don’t appreciate the gesture. You’re so arrogant, so why should I bother?

’Trying to make it in the City Guard Department without currying favor with your superiors, and instead spending your own money to recruit a bunch of useless constables... You’re so shortsighted!

’This works out for the best. Once I help Miss Shen destroy the Zhou Family, the Shen Family will cultivate me as a priority. As for you, Chen Cheng, you probably won’t even survive the immediate future!

’The Zhou Family, Ji Jingbei, the Tiger and Leopard Gang... you’re surrounded by these local tyrants. You won’t even know what hit you!

’Whatever. I, Yan Jian, should be emulating a Celestial Pride like Miss Shen. Why would I lower myself to bicker with a shortsighted whelp from a Humble Family?’

...

After getting rid of Yan Jian, Chen Cheng went home to continue Cultivating Martial Dao.

He didn’t put much stock in anything Yan Jian had said.

’He has enough spare money to buy a Treasure Sword worth one thousand taels of silver. The guy must be living quite comfortably. He’s obviously been sucking up to Shen Qingshuang and secured plenty of resources.’

’Otherwise, how could a mere Chief Constable like him have enough influence to ensure the Yan Family’s smooth sailing in the Lishui District?’

Still, Chen Cheng had gleaned some useful information from him, like the existence of the Zhou Family’s Blacksmith Shop and those so-called Black and White Double Slaughter.

...

「In the days that followed.」

Chen Cheng continued to immerse himself in his daily Cultivation of the Martial Dao.

His constables were like a pack of wolves, patrolling the nights with ferocious energy. As a result, no more major cases occurred in the Qingshui Pier district after dark.

The day shift, however, was another story. With only five constables on duty, the Qingshui Pier district was chaotic. Thefts, brawls between Jianghu figures, and all sorts of other cases occurred one after another.

These types of cases were common everywhere. As they were within a manageable scope and wouldn’t affect his year-end assessment, Chen Cheng simply chose to ignore them.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.

A heavy snow blanketed the world in white. The blizzard didn’t let up until around noon.

In his attic, Chen Cheng finished his Cultivation and summoned his panel to check his status.

[Name: Chen Cheng]

[Realm: Muscle Strengthening (Great Success)]

[Skills: Iron Armor Skill of the Muscle Strengthening Realm (Small Success 765/1000)]

[Dragon Eagle Muscle Strengthening Technique (Great Success 1820/10000)]

[Powerful Eagle Claw Skill (Perfection, Powerful Eagle Claw Stance 69335/100000)]

[Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Perfection, Wind Chasing Saber Stance) (Deducing Cultivation Technique. Current progress: 16/100. Upon completion, the Cultivation Technique can be upgraded to a Superior Technique.)]

His Iron Armor Skill of the Muscle Strengthening Realm and Dragon Eagle Muscle Strengthening Technique had both improved, further increasing his strength.

The only drawback was that his weight training wasn’t sufficient, so his Cultivation Progress on the Iron Armor Skill was slow. He would need another half a month or so to reach the Great Success Level.

As for his Dragon Eagle Muscle Strengthening Technique, he had run out of Muscle Strengthening Pills and couldn’t advance it for the time being.

His Cultivation of the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill was progressing faster and faster. It would probably take less than half a month for him to cultivate its Momentum.

Once he mastered two types of Momentum, his strength would rise to a whole new level.

Most importantly, he would then be able to ask his master, Mr. Zheng, for the Fundamental Diagram of the Powerful Eagle Claw Skill and proceed to cultivate its Realm.

Once he cultivated a Realm, all of his current problems would be solved with ease.

"The future looks bright!"

Chen Cheng thought to himself. Just as he was about to resume his Cultivation, his doorman, Shi Fangdong, came to report that Li Sheng had arrived.

Chen Cheng quickly changed his clothes and went to the front courtyard. Li Sheng was already waiting there.

"Master Chen, there have been too many thefts during the day. The victims have banded together and filed a complaint at the Lishui Sub-Office Hall. Lord Ji has ordered you to report to the Chief Constable’s Government Office Hall," Li Sheng said cautiously.

The five constables on the day shift were all men Chen Cheng trusted, just like Li Sheng.

Chen Cheng had given them a simple task: while on duty, they were to watch for any unfamiliar Jianghu figures in the Qingshui Pier district and monitor the movements of the Tiger and Leopard Gang.

As for the rampant thefts, they were to handle them if they could, but turn a blind eye if they couldn’t.

"Go back and report to Lord Ji. Tell him this official is now devoting all his effort to tracking down the thieves."

’Ji Jingbei just wants me to report in so he can flex his authority as my superior and give me a lecture. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.’

"But..." Li Sheng hadn’t expected Chen Cheng to be so defiant. His heart sank.

Chen Cheng said coolly, "Just relay my message. I will personally take over the patrols. There will be no more thefts during the day shift in the Qingshui Pier district.

"As for the victims, register their financial losses and tell them to wait."

"Yes, sir." Li Sheng accepted the order and departed.

Recently, the culprits behind the frequent thefts in the Qingshui Pier district were either members of the Thief Gang or thugs acting on orders from the Tiger and Leopard Gang.

The Thief Gang showed restraint. They didn’t do anything too outrageous, specifically targeting outsiders and leaving the poor common folk alone.

The Tiger and Leopard Gang, on the other hand, was far more brazen. They stole from everyone. They used to only target wealthy households, but for the past few days, they hadn’t even spared the few copper coins the poor had on them.

For the poor, those few copper coins were a matter of life and death. Once robbed, they would naturally report it to the authorities.

’The Tiger and Leopard Gang robbing the poor isn’t about the paltry sum they carry,’ Chen Cheng surmised. ’It’s about making a statement.’

All this time, he had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to find evidence of the Tiger and Leopard Gang’s crimes.

’Who is the Hunter, and who is the prey? That remains to be seen!’

"The tree wishes for quiet, but the wind will not cease. These people are getting impatient!

’Are they in such a hurry to make a move on me? Fine. I’ll just deal with the Tiger and Leopard Gang ahead of schedule. It’s a good chance to get some money to buy Black Gold for my weight training!’

Chen Cheng’s eyes gleamed with resolve. He quickly got himself ready and strode out of his courtyard gate.