24: Mountain-shaking Fist, Flowing Cloud Palm

“Yes, it’s my sister. Recently, some ruffian has been bothering her for some reason, so I wanted to ask you, Head, to teach that ruffian a lesson… to make him remember.”

Jiang Lan recalled for a moment, and the image of Zhang Wen’s sister appeared in his mind.

His expression became a bit strange.

Zhang Wen’s sister was named Zhang Cui.

Just like Zhang Wen, Zhang Cui was less than five feet tall, and her build… was also hard to describe.

She bore a striking resemblance to the water vat in Jiang Lan’s courtyard.

As for her looks, they were acceptable; not beautiful, but not ugly either.

Jiang Lan ate a bun, then looked at Zhang Wen with a half-smile.

“Is one intervention from me only worth six copper coins?”

“Ah, no, no, no…” Zhang Wen’s smile vanished, and he waved his hands repeatedly, “How could that be? After it’s done, I’ll treat you to the Yan Chun Pavilion, all the food and drink you can handle!”

“Oh, cut it out.” Yu Zhi swallowed the congee in his mouth, “Your monthly allowance isn’t even enough for one dish at the Yan Chun Pavilion.”

Zhang Wen blushed.

“I have quite a bit of family wealth!”

Watching the two argue, Jiang Lan chuckled.

“I’m just kidding, you don’t need anything. Come find me after work, and we’ll go see your sister. If we run into that ruffian, we’ll just teach him a lesson.”

“Thank you, Head!”

Zhang Wen was overjoyed.

While the status of a Demon Suppression Guard might not be much within the Demon Suppression Division, it was quite intimidating on the outside.

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to challenge government constables who dealt with others, let alone a Demon Suppression Guard who dealt with demons.

As they chatted, the few of them finished their breakfast.

Jiang Lan stood up.

“Clean up, I’m going out for a bit.”

Zhang Wen began cleaning up with unusual eagerness.

Jiang Lan walked out of the squad room.

He planned to go to the Scripture Pavilion to see if there were any suitable Cultivation Techniques.

However, before that, he had to go to Wuwei Hall first.

Without a token, he, a Demon Suppression Guard, couldn't enter the Scripture Pavilion.

After walking only a couple of steps, Jiang Lan suddenly saw a familiar figure.

Dressed in a date-colored robe with a cape tied to his back, it was none other than Centurion Qiu Rang.

Qiu Rang also saw Jiang Lan and immediately stopped walking.

“Jiang…” He hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth, “Brother Jiang.”

“Centurion Sir.”

Jiang Lan bowed slightly.

It wasn’t that he wanted to bow; it was mainly due to muscle memory.

Qiu Rang quickly moved to the side.

As soon as he moved, he felt something was off.

Logically, Jiang Lan’s position was a Demon Suppression Guard.

Above a Demon Suppression Guard, there was a Captain, and only after that came a Centurion.

So his current rank was two levels higher than Jiang Lan’s.

Why did he dodge then?

This thought had just appeared when he extinguished it.

Of course, he had to dodge!

Let alone him, even some less powerful Commander Sirs, knowing Jiang Lan's Realm, might not dare to accept such a bow face-to-face.

The current Jiang Lan, purely from the perspective of Realm, was sufficient to be a Commander.

Standing back in place somewhat awkwardly, Qiu Rang spoke:

“Brother Jiang, where are you off to?”

Jiang Lan had no intention of concealing it.

“To the Scripture Pavilion.”

“Is that so? I also need to go to the Scripture Pavilion, let’s go together!”

Jiang Lan’s mouth twitched slightly.

The directions to Wuwei Hall and the Scripture Pavilion were the same.

So if they were truly going the same way, he should have seen Qiu Rang’s back, not bumped into him face-to-face.

However, Jiang Lan didn’t expose Qiu Rang, smiling, “That would be troublesome; I happen to not have a token, and I might not even be able to enter the Scripture Pavilion. Centurion Sir, please go first.”

“Please, please… let’s both go.”

A moment later, the two arrived in front of the Scripture Pavilion.

At the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, the old man who had been idle and about to doze off was startled when he saw them, scrambling up from his reclining chair with a face full of smiles.

“Centurion Sir, what brings you here?”

Facing outsiders, Qiu Rang resumed his usual authority.

“You’re quite nosy, aren’t you?”

“No, no, no…” The old man waved his hands repeatedly, “This old man was just curious, no other meaning…”

Qiu Rang pointed at Jiang Lan.

“Remember his appearance; from now on, when he comes to the Scripture Pavilion, he doesn’t need a token.”

“Alright!”

How could the old man dare to say no?

Entering the Scripture Pavilion without a token was indeed against the rules.

But the rules were set by them, so breaking them was breaking them.

Seeing the old man agree readily, Qiu Rang glanced at Jiang Lan, “Um, Brother Jiang… I suddenly remembered I have some official business, so I won’t accompany you inside.”

“Centurion Sir, take care.”

After Qiu Rang left, the old man scrutinized Jiang Lan, then suddenly grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

“Good lad, you have such strong connections, eh?”

Jiang Lan merely smiled.

He had been serving in this Demon Suppression Division for several years, and he knew most of the people in the Division. He didn’t have any particularly close friends, but they were all nodding acquaintances.

Moreover, his original body had also visited this Scripture Pavilion many times before, so the old gatekeeper naturally recognized him.

“Alright, go on in.” The old man said, “Just give me a greeting when you come in the future.”

“Then I’ll trouble Uncle Huang.”

After thanking him, Jiang Lan walked into the Scripture Pavilion.

The first floor of the Scripture Pavilion had many books, but they were all novels, biographies, folklore, and historical records.

Jiang Lan merely glanced at them before taking the stairs to the second floor.

The bookshelves on the second floor appeared much emptier.

This was where various Martial Skills were stored.

As for the third floor, he had just been there a few days ago; the entire third floor only had that one Cultivation Technique.

《Three Origin True Essence Art》

Throughout the Great Yan Nation, there were only a handful of Cultivation Techniques openly known.

As for Martial Skills, they were not as precious.

Not only were many recorded in this Scripture Pavilion, but many martial arts schools in Yan Country also had their own inherited Martial Skills.

However, without a Cultivation Technique, no matter how profound a Martial Skill was cultivated, it could only show off its might in front of ordinary people.

Jiang Lan went straight to the bookshelf.

Before coming, he had already decided to look for a fist technique and a leg technique.

But after interrogating that prisoner this morning, Jiang Lan suddenly had a new idea: he wanted to find a Martial Skill for concealing his aura, to be used for tracking.

He just didn't know if such a Martial Skill existed in this Scripture Pavilion.

After determining his goal, Jiang Lan began his search.

He casually picked up a Martial Skill.

《Mountain Shaking Fist》

He flipped through a few pages, then put it back in its original place.

This fist technique was powerful, but too wide and open.

He used a saber; fist techniques were his trump card.

Such a fiercely powerful fist technique was clearly not suitable for use as a trump card.

He couldn't possibly be fighting someone, suddenly throw down his saber, yell 'Eat your grandpa's Mountain Shaking Fist,' and then charge up, could he?

What Jiang Lan needed was a method that could quickly achieve results in a critical moment.

He continued to browse the bookshelves for a while.

《Flowing Cloud Palm》

This one wouldn't do either.

It was too soft, like something a girl would use.

Frowning, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Jiang Lan’s mind.

Who said a trump card had to be a fist or foot technique?

No matter how powerful fists and feet were, they were ultimately not as good as a Sharp Weapon.

Couldn’t hidden weapons also serve as a trump card?