The wanted poster from the Garrison Commandant's Office was, without a doubt, an opportunity for Chen Ping'an.
He had just been pondering how to legitimately secure a position as an official constable, and now the perfect opportunity had fallen into his lap.
On the surface, he was just a temporary constable with no knowledge of the Martial Dao. With the help of his Golden Finger, not even someone as powerful as Vice Inspector Tian Fuliang could discern his true state.
If he wanted to become an official constable, the simplest method would be to reveal his true Martial Arts Realm. Then, with some meritorious service on top of that, he could easily become an official constable for the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
But that path was not an option!
'How did I achieve Martial Arts Introduction? Where did the martial arts I'm cultivating come from? And how did I reach the Qi Blood Second Layer in my Martial Arts Cultivation?'
These were all pitfalls, all questions Chen Ping'an couldn't answer.
His past was an open book, and it wouldn't hold up to the slightest bit of scrutiny.
Therefore, the path Chen Ping'an planned for himself was to first find a way to secure a position as an official constable without revealing his Martial Arts Cultivation. After becoming one, the Garrison Commandant's Office would, by custom, bestow upon him the standard-issue Sword Skill for official constables: the Public Door Thirteen Sabers.
He could use the Public Door Thirteen Sabers as a pretext for having achieved Martial Arts Introduction and embarking on his Martial Dao Cultivation. From there, he could slowly reveal his innate talent, cement his reputation as a martial arts prodigy, and gradually distinguish himself within the Garrison Commandant's Office until he was entrusted with greater responsibility.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and now he was about to take his first!
Becoming an official constable of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
This was the perfect time.
If he could earn a mid-level commendation, he could be directly promoted to an official constable. Then, nearly all of his problems would be solved as a matter of course.
'If I become an official constable, what about the Tiger Head Gang's monthly protection money?'
'Hilarious!'
'Even if I were willing to pay it, I doubt the Tiger Head Gang would dare to collect!'
'An official constable in Nanquan Lane represents not just himself, but also the reputation of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.'
'Collecting protection money from the family of an official constable of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office? Does the Tiger Head Gang have a death wish?'
'If I were an official constable, would Young Master Xiao Hu dare to brazenly break down my door? Would Popei Liu'Er dare to slam his fist on my table? Would they dare to mock me to my face?'
'They wouldn't dare do any of it!'
'And yet, they dared to do all that to me in reality! The only thing I'm missing is the status of an official constable.'
'There are so many things I'm powerless to change, and it's all because I don't have enough power! Not enough status! Not enough backing!'
Chen Ping'an had no backing; he could only rely on himself. He had to fight for the things he wanted, piece by piece, to build a life for himself and Nannan.
That day, Chen Ping'an, Monkey Head, and Da Shan patrolled with exceptional diligence. They even cut their usual midday break short. Unfortunately, by the time they clocked off, they had found nothing.
'It makes sense, though,' he thought. 'If they were that easy to find, the Cyan Jade Gang remnants would never have managed to break out in the first place.'
"Where is he! Where could he be hiding?"
"Hairy Fish, oh, Hairy Fish, my bright future depends on you!"
Monkey Head was still muttering about it as they turned in their Waist Tokens and sabers.
Chen Ping'an clapped Monkey Head on the shoulder and gave him a meaningful look.
"Patience! What's meant to be will be!"
"Right, we'll be back tomorrow!" Monkey Head was full of fighting spirit, his expression one of pure determination. "Da Shan, get a good night's rest. We continue tomorrow!"
"Yeah, got it," Da Shan replied with an emphatic nod.
The men parted ways at the Garrison Commandant's Office and headed home.
After clocking off, Chen Ping'an didn't go straight home. He first paid a visit to Uncle Zhang's place and asked for some sharp, angular stones, about the same amount as the gravel he'd gotten before.
Uncle Zhang happened to be home and readily agreed.
Chen Ping'an offered some silver coins, but the older man repeatedly refused. Seeing that his refusal wasn't mere politeness, Chen Ping'an let the matter drop for the moment. He made a mental note to find a way to repay this favor later.
When he returned home, he was once again greeted by Chen Erya's familiar, smiling face.
"Brother, you're back! Dinner's almost ready!"
A warmth flooded Chen Ping'an's chest, filling him with a sense of comfort.
"Alright."
Chen Ping'an replied with a smile as he walked into the courtyard.
'It feels so good to be home!'
After dinner, Chen Ping'an began practicing his Iron Cloth Shirt.
He had hoped to gain 4 points of Cultivation Experience, but in the end, he only managed to get 3.
'I'll wait for the stones to arrive tomorrow and try again!'
After achieving Great Success in Iron Cloth Shirt, the gravel was much less effective for training. The effects of repeated stimulation were diminishing, making it difficult to gain 4 points of Cultivation Experience in a single session.
...
The next day, after finishing his Iron Cloth Shirt practice and gaining 3 points of Cultivation Experience, Chen Ping'an headed to work as usual. Having learned his lesson from the previous day, he went in a little earlier than normal.
Only two Constables showed up for the pre-shift meeting that morning. Apparently, it wasn't normal for them to attend. As ranking Constables, it was generally enough for them to show their faces at critical moments to coordinate tasks. They weren't expected to check in for roll call every day like the regular constables.
After the meeting, Chen Ping'an, Monkey Head, and Da Shan began their daily patrol.
"Da Shan, let me tell you, that was an excellent question you asked. Why do we call Lord Tian 'Lord,' instead of 'Vice Inspector?' Listen closely and I'll explain. There's a real art to this."
"In the Garrison Commandant's Office, the hierarchy is strict. There are ranks upon ranks! You don't have to suck up to your superiors, but the least you can do is not offend them, right? So, learning how to talk to people is a skill in itself."
"When you see the Vice Inspector in public, and the Lord Chief isn't around, you address him as 'Lord!' It shows respect for him, and it also shows respect for the Lord Chief. It acknowledges the Vice Inspector's status while implicitly demonstrating your reverence for the Lord Chief. By addressing him this way, you don't offend the Vice Inspector, and you don't offend the Chief."
"Now, if you meet with the Vice Inspector privately, you don't call him 'Lord' anymore. You have to call him 'Lord Chief'! And whatever you do, don't be an idiot and call him 'Vice Chief.' Are you trying to slap him in the face? You think he doesn't know he's the Vice Inspector? Does he need you to remind him?"
"And when you see the Chief himself, no matter the situation, you must always call him 'Lord Chief!' This shows that he is special, that his position in Nanquan Lane is unique! Calling him Lord Chief is an acknowledgment of and submission to his authority."
"When the Lord Chief and the Vice Chief are both present, you call the Chief 'Lord Chief,' and you call the Vice Chief 'Lord.'"
"All of this, Da Shan, is the inside scoop. You can't learn this stuff from books. This is all wisdom I've figured out on my own. You'd better remember it."
"…"
All along the way, Monkey Head continued to show off his deep and solid understanding of such unofficial knowledge to Da Shan. Chen Ping'an listened from the side, amused.
'This Monkey Head is a real character!'
With his banter, the day passed remarkably quickly.
That day, they once again came up empty, finding no trace of the Cyan Fish Gang remnants.
Back at the Garrison Commandant's Office, Monkey Head asked around for the latest news, then rushed back to share it excitedly with the other two.
"Ping'an, Da Shan, no one's found any sign of the Cyan Fish Gang remnants yet. We still have a chance. Let's keep at it tomorrow!"
"Right. We'll keep at it tomorrow," Chen Ping'an agreed.