117: Chapter 117 It's Hard for Children from Poor Families to Achieve Success

"Yes." Liang Jinshan nodded. "Two Banner Sergeants died over in the south of the city, and in the west... except for Chen Mo's squad, the others also suffered significant losses."

"They died well."

Liu Feng set down his teacup, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop.

"When people die, positions open up. Banner Sergeant, General Banner... these positions are all choice cuts of meat. Ye Chiaki is only focused on killing to establish her authority; she might not be able to manage these trivial personnel arrangements."

He looked at Liang Jinshan, a cold smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Go make the arrangements. Stuff our people into these vacancies. Especially in the west of the city; that's Tiger Li's territory. That old fellow is a fence-sitter and easy to deal with. Mix some sand in there, and by the time Ye Zhi autumn snaps back to her senses, it won't be certain whose name this City Guard Department really carries."

Liang Jinshan's eyes lit up. "Brilliant! Truly brilliant! This subordinate will see to it immediately!"

...

West City, City Guard Department Station.

Compared to the majesty of the General Bureau Yamen, this place appeared much more dilapidated.

A lot of the lime on the courtyard walls had peeled off, exposing the gray bricks beneath. In the courtyard, a group of Runners were washing their weapons, bloody water flowing noisily down the drainage ditch.

As soon as Chen Mo entered the courtyard, Zhao Dazhu came to meet him.

The lad had changed into clean clothes, but his arm was still wrapped in thick bandages, though a silly grin hung on his face.

"Head! You're back!"

At Zhao Dazhu's loud shout, the surrounding Runners all looked over, their eyes fervent.

Chen Mo nodded and signaled for Zhao Dazhu to follow. The two entered Chen Mo's private office.

Once the door closed, most of the noise from outside was cut off.

Chen Mo plopped down into a chair, picked up the teapot on the table, and without caring if it was cold, took a large, gulping swallow directly from the spout.

"Refreshing."

He wiped his mouth.

Zhao Dazhu leaned in, his face full of gossip. "Head, how was it at the General Bureau? Did Lord Ye promote us?"

"Promotion?"

Chen Mo gave him a sidelong glance. "Promotion, wealth, or a dead wife—which one are you hoping for?"

"Hehe, I just want to get rich." Zhao Dazhu scratched his head.

Chen Mo pulled out the Official Order from his robe and waved it in front of Zhao Dazhu's eyes.

"One thousand taels."

Zhao Dazhu's eyes instantly bulged like copper bells, his breathing growing rapid.

"Good heavens... a thousand taels! How many roast chickens could that buy!"

"Have some ambition."

Chen Mo tucked the order away. "This is blood money for the brothers. When we exchange it for silver later, distribute it according to the rules. For the brothers who died, double the compensation and deliver it to their homes personally. If anyone dares to embezzle a single copper, I'll chop off their hand."

"Don't worry, Head, you know how I handle things."

Zhao Dazhu patted his chest in guarantee, then lowered his voice. "So... besides the silver, did Lord Ye say anything else?"

Chen Mo was silent for a moment.

He looked at Zhao Dazhu's honest yet slightly cunning face. This lad had blocked blades and taken the fall for him; he was an absolute confidant.

"She wants me to join the Black Robe Guard."

Chen Mo said flatly.

"The Black Robe Guard?!"

Zhao Dazhu nearly jumped, his voice changing pitch. "You mean... the Ye Family's private army? I heard the benefits there are ten times better than ours, and they walk the streets like they own them!"

"Mm."

"Then did you agree, Head?"

"I didn't fully agree, but I didn't refuse either."

Chen Mo's fingers tapped the tabletop. "She gave a condition: within one year, reach a Breakthrough to the Meridian Unblocking Realm."

The excitement on Zhao Dazhu's face faded slightly, and he clicked his tongue. "Meridian Unblocking Realm... that's a top-tier expert. Even our Head Li has practiced for so many years and only just touched the threshold of Meridian Unblocking, right? One year? That's too difficult."

"It's only worth doing if it's difficult."

Chen Mo's gaze was firm. "Easy things won't fall to the likes of us."

He then briefly recounted the encounter with Liang Jinshan downstairs at the General Bureau.

After hearing it, Zhao Dazhu's expression shifted.

"That old fox Liu Feng has his eyes on you too? Head, this isn't good. When the gods fight, the Mortals suffer. We're caught in the middle, catching heat from both sides."

"Better to catch heat than to have no breath left at all."

Chen Mo sneered. "Ye Zhi autumn is currently a dragon crossing the river, her Aura is at its peak. Liu Feng is a local snake with deep-seated roots. Since we've taken Ye Zhi autumn's benefits, we have to follow this path to the end. Being indecisive is the fastest way to die."

Zhao Dazhu looked at Chen Mo, the admiration in his eyes increasing further.

"Head, this is exactly why I respect you. Even if the sky falls, you'd use it as a blanket. Just say how we're doing this, and I'll do it."

"Alright, stop the flattery."

Chen Mo stood up. "Go call the brothers back. Anyone not on night watch tonight is going out for drinks. My treat, but we're not going to Drunken Immortal Tower. We're going to Old Wang's Mutton House; it's more practical."

"You got it!"

Zhao Dazhu scurried out eagerly.

...

By the second-floor window.

Tiger Li stood with his hands behind his back, looking through the gap in the window as Chen Mo and Zhao Dazhu walked out of the courtyard one after the other.

But looking at Chen Mo now, his feelings were complicated.

This kid was just a greenhorn when he first arrived. How long had it been? He was decisive in killing and meticulous in thought; now even Ye Zhi autumn looked at him with new eyes.

When Chen Mo returned just now, that Evil Qi about him made even an old hand in the Jianghu like him feel startled.

"Meridian Unblocking Realm..."

Tiger Li sighed and patted his somewhat chubby belly.

He had been stuck at Body Tempering Perfection for ten years already.

When he was young, his ambitions were as high as the sky. He wanted to take the imperial Martial Exams and build a career on the frontier.

But reality had given him a harsh slap in the face.

The imperial Martial Examination system had long since rotted.

In the past, the Martial Exams looked at horsemanship, archery, and strategy. Now? It looks at who stands behind you, how much silver you can produce to bribe the examiners, and whether your family's inheritance of Cultivation Techniques is high-grade.

It is difficult for commoners to produce noble sons, and even harder to produce a Grandmaster.

Without resources and without famous masters, relying solely on oneself? One is destined to be a mere gatekeeper until death.

The current world belongs to the strong, and even more so to the powerful factions.

Like the Four Great Families, they monopolize medicinal herbs and Cultivation Techniques. For an ordinary person to rise, it is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

"This kid Chen Mo might actually be able to break through."

Tiger Li muttered to himself.

He could see a certain drive in Chen Mo. It was the ruthlessness of wild grass sprouting through a crack in a rock.

If Ye Zhi autumn gave him a bit of sunlight, he would dare to shine brilliantly for you.

"The waves of the Yangtze River behind push those in front."

Tiger Li shook his head and closed the window.

The room fell back into dimness.

He walked to the desk, picked up a pen, and signed his name on an official document.

The content of the document was an application for compensation for the Runners killed in this battle.

...

This year's winter came particularly early and was strangely fierce.

The twelfth lunar month had just begun, and the northwest wind in Qingyang City was like a bone-scraping knife, painful against the face. Several stray dogs on the streets had frozen solid and were dragged away by passing beggars to be made into meat soup.

West City, Chen Mo's small courtyard.

The snow in the courtyard was ankle-deep, a vast expanse of white that was quite blinding.

Chen Mo stood bare-chested in the middle of the snow.