That afternoon, Constable Huang, Constable Liu, and Constable Li all ca over to exchange a few pleasantries with him, as if getting to know him all over again. They were still a bit surprised and uncertain about Chen Ping’an’s sudden promotion. However, after what had happened that morning, they were all quite polite to him.
As it happened, the group of constables Chen Ping’an had belonged to was under Constable Li’s command.
Now, however, their positions had reversed. With his new status as a Preparatory Constable, he could now interact with Constable Li as an equal.
After a brief discussion and with the endorsent of Shen Shikang from the Inspectorate, Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Mr. Qin were all smoothly transferred to Chen Ping’an’s command.
Of course, the paperwork would still take so ti.
There were five Constables at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. Aside from Constable Zheng, with whom he was already on bad terms, and Constable Yan, who was close to Constable Zheng, Chen Ping’an had managed to establish a relatively good preliminary relationship with the others.
This had been Chen Ping’an’s most comfortable day since joining the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
As he left the Constable’s office after his shift, many constables still greeted him.
The feeling was truly strange and wonderful.
Upon returning ho, Chen Ping’an couldn’t wait to tell Chen Erya the good news: he had been promoted to Preparatory Constable.
With his promotion to Preparatory Constable, his Monthly Allowance had also increased from one tael and two mace to one tael and eight mace.
When she heard the news, the little girl was stunned at first. Once it sank in, she was overjoyed.
The siblings finished their dinner amidst joyous laughter.
Even on the day he was promoted to Preparatory Constable, Chen Ping’an didn’t stop his martial arts practice.
Power was nice, but he knew that in a world like this, only personal strength was truly fundantal.
After practicing the Public Door Thirteen Sabers, Chen Ping’an had accumulated enough Cultivation Experience. As he focused his mind, specks of starlight stirred by the experience points flowed into the space between his eyebrows.
It was as if he had gone through years of arduous cultivation and practice; a sliver of enlightennt blood in his mind.
Public Door Thirteen Sabers, Great Success!
As his Sword Skill reached Great Success, the Qi Blood in Chen Ping’an’s body began to surge, advancing his Martial Arts Realm by a large margin. However, he still hadn’t reached the Qi Blood Fourth Layer Perfection. To be precise, he was still a considerable distance away.
To quantify it, Chen Ping’an was now at the mid-stage of the Qi Blood Fourth Layer.
’The Public Door Thirteen Sabers has reached Great Success!’
His Martial Arts Realm had taken another small step forward, and Chen Ping’an was in a good mood.
’I can start practicing the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training!’
The Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training was said to be a single Cultivation Technique. In reality, it could be divided into thirteen parts: Iron Broom, Iron Arm Technique, Iron Head Technique, Iron Throat Technique, Iron Pile Technique, Iron Elbow Technique, Iron Fist Technique, Iron Palm Technique, Iron Finger Technique, Iron Knee Technique, Iron Leg Technique, Iron Shoulder Technique, and Iron Back Technique.
Each of these thirteen techniques had its own dedicated training thod.
In terms of true power, the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training was actually close to a superior cultivation thod. However, it was too fragnted, which greatly increased the difficulty of Cultivation. Moreover, because it was one of the Hard Skills, it was much more likely to leave behind hidden injuries and long-term problems.
With his mind made up, Chen Ping’an began to practice the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training according to the thods recorded in the manual.
He began practicing the various stances.
He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent in a high horse stance. He placed his open palms, facing upward, on either side of his waist, his gaze fixed forward.
He inhaled through his nose, visualizing the Qi in his Dantian rising to the crown of his head. When he could inhale no more, he shouted, "HA!" while simultaneously raising his right hand to slap his head. Then he exhaled, relaxed, and switched to his left hand.
This was the training thod for the Iron Head Technique.
Just like that, Chen Ping’an practiced, one step at a ti. It took him a full hour before he finally completed the basic movents for all the techniques within the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training.
1.
The all-too-familiar Cultivation Experience notification flashed by.
Na: Chen Ping’an
Realm: Qi Blood Fourth Layer
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt (Perfection), Flying Locust Stone (Great Success, 48/100), Public Door Thirteen Sabers (Great Success, 0/100), Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training (Uninitiated, 1/10)
...
’It worked!’
Chen Ping’an was delighted.
’The Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training truly lives up to its na as a Mid-level Technique. It’s so hard to practice! At this rate, I can only practice it once per night. The morning practice session isn’t long enough! Unless... unless I use all the ti I spend on the Flying Locust Stone and Public Door Thirteen Sabers to practice the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training!’
’While the power of the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training is impressive, it might not be as useful in the early stages as the Public Door Thirteen Sabers and Flying Locust Stone at Perfection. I’ll get those two to Perfection first, then focus all my efforts on the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training!’
’At my current rate of progress, I should be able to get both techniques to Perfection in about ten days!’
’Hmm... now that I’m a Preparatory Constable, I have more free ti during the day. I wonder if I can use it to practice my techniques. If so, my Cultivation progress will be even faster. I’ll try it out tomorrow!’
’...’
...
「The next morning.」
Early the next day, Chen Ping’an arrived at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. Unlike before, today he stood on the high platform at the front, looked up to by all the constables.
As it stood, he was the only Preparatory Constable in the entire Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. And while it was a "preparatory" position, most of the benefits were no different from that of a full Constable.
Constable Zheng did not attend the pre-shift eting. He was still at ho, supposedly reflecting and calming his mind.
During the eting, the announcent was made that Chen Ping’an would be in charge of the third squad of constables, which drew gasps of amazent from the crowd. Standing among them, Zheng Shiyong lowered his head, his hands clenched into tight fists.
Chen Ping’an stood on the high platform, surveying the constables below. His gaze swept across the crowd, lingering for a mont on Zheng Shiyong, then moving to Tan Huacong.
’I’ll have to find a chance to settle the score with you two!’
Chen Ping’an sneered inwardly.
After the eting ended, a round of pleasantries was inevitable. Chen Ping’an was now sothing of a rising star at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
"Hmph." Constable Yan shot Chen Ping’an a cold glance before turning and walking away.
He was closest to Constable Zheng and had no intention of showing Chen Ping’an any respect.
Chen Ping’an glanced at him but said nothing.
"That’s just his temper, haha." Constable Li laughed it off. The other two Constables stood to the side, smiling but saying nothing.
’It seems the relationships between the Constables are quite complicated.’
Chen Ping’an saw this with perfect clarity, discerning the underlying dynamics.
But none of that had much to do with him. For him, the most important thing was his Martial Dao Cultivation.
Stepping down from the platform, Chen Ping’an walked toward Monkey Head and his group. Standing with them were other constables. His command of the third squad had been finalized. These n were now his subordinates.
"Constable Chen."
A dozen or so constables bowed respectfully to Chen Ping’an in greeting.
They had been colleagues for a long ti, so all these constables knew Chen Ping’an. But now the situation was different; Chen Ping’an was a Preparatory Constable. When you’re under soone else’s roof, you have to bow your head.
The lesson taught to Cheng Yuan, Zhao Hu, and Old Fan was still fresh in their minds.
Under these circumstances, how could any of these constables dare to be insolent toward him? So were even feeling anxious, worried they might have inadvertently offended Chen Ping’an in the past.
"At ease."
Chen Ping’an said casually, raising his hand slightly.
"I’ve just been appointed Preparatory Constable. I still need to get familiar with many things, so for now, just carry on as you usually do."
"Elder Qin, your group stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed."
"Yes, sir."
The constables of the third squad responded in unison.
The other constables dispersed, leaving four n standing in place: Mr. Qin, Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Zeng Jihe.
Looking at Chen Ping’an, their previous easygoing manner was gone. They felt a little awkward, unsure how to act around him now that he was a Preparatory Constable.
...
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