119: Chapter 119 The Secret Manual is Hard to Find

In any case, having more skills wouldn't hurt. He had the panel, and as long as he had experience points, he could train very quickly.

"Experience points..."

Chen Mo glanced at the long string of numbers at the bottom of the panel.

Although he hadn't killed many people lately, he had accumulated quite a bit from his daily cultivation and catching a few petty thieves while patrolling the streets.

It was enough to push two new Cultivation Techniques to the entry level or even Minor Achievement.

"I'll make a trip to the Scripture Repository tomorrow."

Chen Mo made up his mind.

While the City Guard Department's Scripture Repository didn't have any peerless divine arts, it had plenty of common goods. Common goods had their own advantages: they were easy to learn, and...

His current status was that of Ye Zhiqiu's man. Going to the Scripture Repository to pick out two Cultivation Techniques was a perfectly reasonable benefit.

It would be a waste not to use it.

Just as he was thinking, Tiger Li's loud voice came from outside the door.

"Boss! Boss! Something's happened!"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.

In the middle of winter, what could possibly happen?

He stood up and pushed open the door, letting in a gust of cold wind mixed with snowflakes.

Tiger Li stood at the door panting, his eyebrows covered in white frost. He held a greasepaper bundle that gave off the aroma of braised beef.

"What's the panic?"

Chen Mo glanced at him. "Is the sky falling?"

"It's not that the sky is falling, it's... it's that..."

Tiger Li swallowed hard and caught his breath. "A body was found over in the east of the city."

"What's so strange about a dead person?" Chen Mo turned back into the room. "In this weather, isn't it normal for a few beggars to freeze to death?"

"It's not a beggar!"

Tiger Li followed him in, closed the door, and lowered his voice, his expression somewhat terrified.

"It's... it's someone from the Liu Family. Moreover, the state of the corpse is horrific, as if it were torn apart by some wild beast, but the wounds... the wounds are covered in black hair!"

Chen Mo's hand holding the tea paused for a moment.

Black hair?

Had a Monster entered the city?

Or... was someone practicing some evil technique?

"How interesting."

Chen Mo set down his teacup, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

It seemed these peaceful days were about to be disrupted again.

But that was fine.

He was just wondering where to find more experience points.

"Let's go take a look."

Chen Mo tightened his cotton robe and strode out.

In the wind and snow, his back appeared exceptionally solid, like a bear awakening from hibernation. Though he looked lazy, anyone who dared provoke him would have to be prepared to have their head crushed by a single swipe.

Chen Mo wandered around several martial arts halls and bookstores in the city for most of the day, eventually returning home empty-handed.

His expression wasn't very good.

He wanted to find a movement technique or an explosive-type skill, but it turned out to be wishful thinking. The goods on display were either low-life trash like 'Black Dog Crawls Through Crotch'—a name that made one want to castrate themselves—or common street-level calisthenics like 'XX Long Fist'.

Anything truly decent, even if only Yellow Rank Low Grade, was kept tightly under wraps by the various Families.

In this world, knowledge was a monopolized resource, and killing techniques even more so.

"It still has to be Ye Zhiqiu."

Chen Mo kicked a pebble on the side of the road.

He had originally wanted to try his luck with that wealthy woman Jiang Hongli; even a fingernail-sized scrap of benefit from her would be enough to fill him up. Unfortunately, he heard a couple of days ago that a letter had arrived from the White Jade Capital, summoning her back in a hurry.

Supposedly it was for the old man's birthday, but who really knew? The affairs of great families were messier than any stage play.

Returning to his small courtyard, just as he pushed the door open a crack, Chen Mo's eyes narrowed.

The snow in the courtyard had been stepped on.

The footprints were shallow but very steady.

A man wearing dusty grey cotton armor was standing under that bald old locust tree, holding a withered branch and gesturing with it.

It was Armament Three.

One of the shadow guards by Ye Zhiqiu's side.

"Head Constable Chen, you're back quite early." Armament Three tossed the branch aside and turned around. His ordinary face held no expression, but his gaze was much sharper than the last time they met.

"To what do I owe the honor of Lord Armament Three's presence?" Chen Mo closed the door, blocking out the cold wind.

"No need to call me Lord, just call me Armament Three."

Armament Three brushed the bark dust off his hands. "The Young Miss sent me to deliver a message. The promotion originally set for after the New Year has to be moved up."

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen?"

"Liu Feng couldn't sit still anymore."

Armament Three walked to the stone table and, without standing on ceremony, poured himself a cup of cold tea to moisten his throat. "Many people died outside the city last time. Using the excuse of replenishing troops, Liu Feng stuffed a bunch of new faces into the City Guard Department. They're all his private soldiers from the Outer City; they just changed their skins and want to enter the Inner City to get a piece of the pie."

Chen Mo understood.

This was a power grab.

"And the Young Miss's intention is?"

"To have you step up." Armament Three stared at Chen Mo. "In two days, you will be officially appointed as a 'minor banner officer'. You won't just be in charge of public security; you'll also oversee part of the city defense patrols. Most importantly, you will have the authority to transfer people across districts."

minor banner officer.

The title didn't sound big, but in a place like Qingyang City, having military power made you a big shot.

Before, Chen Mo was just a constable, dealing with petty crimes and having to mind his manners when encountering tough characters. Now that he was a minor banner officer, he was a proper military officer who could lead a squad and walk tall in the streets.

"In two days? So soon?" Chen Mo asked.

"It has to be soon. Liu Feng's people are already going through the procedures. Any later, and all the spots will be filled."

Armament Three paused, his tone becoming serious. "But this position won't be easy to hold. The City Guard Department is currently a mess—Liu Family people, the City Lord's people, and the original old-timers are all stirring the pot. You stepping in is like dropping water into boiling oil."

Chen Mo smiled, unbuckled his saber, and placed it on the table. "When water drops into boiling oil, it's the oil that splatters, not the water."

Armament Three was stunned for a moment, then the corner of his mouth curled up.

"Good attitude."

He took two steps back and struck a pose, his cotton armor making a slight friction sound.

"However, attitude alone isn't enough. Those old soldiers only recognize fists. The Young Miss told me to see if you've been slacking off lately."

He was here to test the goods.

Chen Mo didn't waste words either. He stood up and rolled his wrists.

"How do we test?"

"No sabers, just a spar." Armament Three put one hand behind his back. "If you can force me back three steps, you pass."

Looking at Armament Three's profound and mysterious act, Chen Mo felt like laughing.

People are always easily killed by their own assumptions.

"Fine."

Chen Mo agreed readily.

As soon as the word left his mouth, he moved.

There was no fancy opening stance, just a straightforward punch thrown with full force.

The snow beneath his feet exploded violently, as if a landmine had been detonated.

Armament Three's originally nonchalant gaze changed instantly.

Fast!

Too fast!

This was no probe; it was like a wild bull charging straight at him.

Armament Three had no time to think. He instantly withdrew his hand from behind his back and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

THUD!

A dull impact sounded.

Armament Three felt as if his arms had been struck by an iron sledgehammer; his bones were groaning. He slid backward uncontrollably, his feet plowing two deep furrows into the snow.

He slid back five or six meters, only stopping when his back hit the courtyard wall.