61: Chapter 61 The Four Great Families, One Knife

Tiger Li looked up, his expression turning serious. "The Liu Family doesn't engage in commerce. For generations, they've operated within the yamen. From county magistrates to jailers, from the City Defense Army to street patrols, everywhere you look there are Liu Family members, or their disciples and former subordinates. You could say that half the blades in Qingyang City are held in the hands of the Liu Family."

Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat.

If they hold the blades, then doesn't that mean Lord Ye, the Chief Investigator, has been completely sidelined?

"The current Deputy Chief of the General Yamen in the City Guard Department is named Liu Feng," Tiger Li said with a cold laugh. "He's in his early thirties, the Young Lord of the Liu Family. Originally, when the old Chief retired, the position of General Bureau Chief was nailed down as his. And then what? Lord Ye descended from the heavens, directly yanking the chair out from under him."

Chen Mo understood.

This was a grudge born of a stolen wife... no, a stolen position.

"Liu Feng is a very insidious person. He doesn't dare confront the Young Miss of the Ye Family head-on, not with the background of the White Jade Capital looming there. But he can trip her up from below." Tiger Li tossed a peanut into his mouth, chewing with a loud crunch. "Lord Ye's orders, once they leave the General Bureau's office, get watered down. The subordinates feign compliance while secretly defying, leaving Lord Ye as a commander without an army."

"So, Lord Ye needs a blade," Chen Mo looked at Tiger Li. "A blade that doesn't bear the surname Liu, nor Zhao, Qian, or Sun."

"Right." Tiger Li nodded. "I'm a rough man, I only recognize one stubborn principle: I listen to whoever has the higher rank. So, I barely count as half a blade. But I'm not sharp enough, and my position is too conspicuous. Liu Feng is watching me. You're different."

Tiger Li looked Chen Mo up and down. "Your background is clean, you have no backing, no ties to the Four Great Families. Most importantly, you're ruthless enough and your mind is quick. Lord Ye promoted you because she wants you to go to West City—that's the Liu Family's stronghold—to drive a nail in there."

Chen Mo felt the bronze token in his hand grow a little hot.

This wasn't a promotion; this was being thrown into a wolf's den to snatch food.

Liu Feng, in his thirties, Deputy Chief of the General Yamen. To reach that position, his martial arts were definitely not low, and his schemes ran even deeper. What was the difference between a small constable like himself running wild in the other's territory and seeking death?

"Scared?" Tiger Li asked with a half-smile.

"Yes," Chen Mo admitted frankly. "But I'm even more afraid of poverty, of dying for no clear reason."

In this world, not fighting meant death. By fighting, one might still live like a human being.

"What Realm is Liu Feng at?" Chen Mo asked a crucial question.

"Two years ago, he had already reached Perfection in the 'Bone Forging' Realm. Now... it's hard to say. He might have touched the threshold of 'Organ Refining'." Tiger Li sighed. "That guy is a martial arts fanatic, with far more talent than me."

Bone Forging.

Chen Mo calculated in his heart. Although his Qi and blood were currently vigorous, he was only at a beginner's level. He still had some distance to go before reaching Major Achievement in 'Skin and Flesh', let alone Bone Forging.

The gap was a bit large.

"But you don't need to worry too much," Tiger Li seemed to sense Chen Mo's concern. "Liu Feng values his status too much to personally deal with a small constable like you. If he made a move, it would be bullying the weak, bringing shame to the Liu Family. He'll only use his subordinates, or borrow someone else's blade to kill you."

"Kill with a borrowed blade?"

"Right, for example... the Axe Gang."

Tiger Li brought the topic back to reality. "West City is chaotic, chaotic because there are many Gangs. The Axe Gang is just one of them. That Wang Dahui seems rough and bold, but he's actually a fence-sitter. He's being friendly to you now because he thinks you're a rare commodity worth cultivating. Once the Liu Family applies pressure or offers enough benefits, he can turn around and sell you out in a blink."

"Besides the Axe Gang, you also need to be careful of the 'Iron Bone Martial Arts Hall'," Tiger Li continued. "The hall master is a Guest Elder of the Liu Family. Under him are a bunch of disciples and grand-disciples, all practicing hard, unyielding martial arts. They have hot tempers and often clash with officials. When you go to West City, you'll inevitably have to deal with them."

"And one more, remnants of the 'White Lotus Sect'." Tiger Li frowned, seeming to detest the name. "Recently, a bunch of mystifying fellows have popped up in the city, dispensing talisman water everywhere, tricking commoners into joining their Sect. These people are the hardest to deal with—they're not afraid to die, and their methods are insidious and vicious. If you encounter them, don't show any mercy. Cut them down directly."

Chen Mo committed these names to memory one by one.

Zhao, Qian, Sun, Liu. The Axe Gang. The Iron Bone Martial Arts Hall. The White Lotus Sect.

The waters of Qingyang City were deeper and murkier than he had imagined.

"Alright, official business is done. Let's talk about private matters."

Tiger Li poured the last bit of wine from the jug into a bowl and pushed it toward Chen Mo. "Brother, judging by your current Qi and blood, you should be at the Peak of 'Blood Nourishing,' right?"

Chen Mo nodded, not denying it.

In truth, with his System's boost, his Qi and blood had long since overflowed. He had just been suppressing it, not showing it.

"Not bad, really not bad." Tiger Li nodded approvingly. "For most people, just the Blood Nourishing stage takes three to five years of grinding. How long have you been training? A full month at most? This talent of yours, tsk tsk."

How could he know that Chen Mo relied not on talent, but on burning his lifespan.

"At this rate, in another six months, a year at most, you can attempt 'Muscle Tempering'." Tiger Li spoke with the tone of an experienced guide. "Muscle Tempering is meticulous work. You have to seep your Qi and blood bit by bit into the muscle fibers, training the flesh to be as tough as cowhide. By then, ordinary blades and swords will only leave a white mark on you."

A year?

Chen Mo chuckled inwardly.

If he really waited a year, the opportunity would be long gone.

As long as he had sufficient resources and enough time, his growth speed would be terrifying.

"Thank you for the guidance, Head Li." Chen Mo cupped his hands in salute.

"There's one more thing you need to remember." Tiger Li put away his smile, his expression turning serious. "Training martial arts isn't just about training the body; you also have to train techniques. The body is the boat, skill is the oar. No matter how sturdy the boat, without oars it won't row fast; no matter how good the oars, if the boat leaks, it will sink. Your saber technique... although it looks fierce, it's a wild, unorthodox path. All killing moves, no staying power. When you get the chance, find a proper saber manual to practice."

"Understood." Chen Mo nodded.

His current saber technique was entirely born from life-and-death struggles, emphasizing a single fatal strike. It truly lacked systematic structure.

"But having said that..." Tiger Li suddenly sighed, his eyes turning somewhat weathered. "What's the use of training so well? People like us, we risk our necks to make a living. Who knows when we might be gone one day. Being able to survive is the greatest skill of all."

These words struck a chord in Chen Mo's heart.

Survive.

That was his ultimate goal.

He didn't seek to dominate the world, nor did he seek immortality. He only sought to live peacefully until his natural end in this chaotic world.

Only by living long would his potential value be high.

Only with high potential value would his martial training be fast.

Only by training martial arts fast could he live even longer.

It was a perfect cycle.

"Head Li is right," Chen Mo lifted his wine bowl. "To staying alive."

"To staying alive!"

Two rough, large sea bowls clinked together, emitting a crisp sound.