2: Chapter 2: Basic Swordsmanship for Constables - Perfected with One Click

[Ding! Consumed 100 critical hit points, "Basic Constable Saber Technique" critical success!]

The System prompt had just finished when Lin Feng felt as if his mind had been struck by a bolt of Nine Heavens thunder!

Boom!

A massive and pure torrent instantly rushed into his Sea of Consciousness.

It wasn't some profound Cultivation Technique or world-destroying Move, but endless insights into the "Basic Constable Saber Technique," this most unpretentious of saber styles!

How to hold the saber with the least effort, how to strike most swiftly, how to hack most effectively, how to block most firmly...

It was as if a Grandmaster of the saber who had spent decades immersed in this path had imparted his life's work to him in an instant, like a divine revelation.

"Basic Constable Saber Technique," Perfection!

All this took a long time to describe, but in the outside world, it was only a split second.

The bluish-black zombie, after dealing with Old Wang, had its hollow eye sockets—filled with ghostly fire—locked onto the only living person in the field: Lin Feng.

"Roar!"

It let out a low roar, carrying a thick stench of death and a bloody wind, and suddenly lunged off the ground. The solid earth was stomped into a shallow pit as its figure turned into a bluish-black bolt of lightning, its sharp claws aiming straight for Lin Feng's heart!

Fast!

Too fast!

If it were the previous Lin Feng, he probably wouldn't have even had time to react before being instantly disemboweled.

But now, it was different!

In Lin Feng's eyes, the ghost-like speed of this zombie's movements seemed to have been put in slow motion.

Flaws! Flaws everywhere!

Because it pursued ultimate speed, its neck was completely exposed, its defenses wide open!

Lin Feng's gaze was calmer than ever before.

He didn't retreat; instead, he took a step forward, his body sinking slightly into a standard horse stance as steady as Mount Tai.

The Hundred-Refined Steel Saber in his hand—the one he had complained was worse than a kitchen knife—also became different at this moment.

"Buzz—"

The blade let out a slight hum, as if excited for the ultimate strike that was about to come.

There were no flashy Moves, just the simplest strike from the "Basic Constable Saber Technique"—a straight cleave!

Yet, this unremarkable strike, in Lin Feng's hands, bloomed with a completely different brilliance.

[2x Critical Strike triggered!]

In an instant, Lin Feng felt as if he wasn't holding a saber, but a beam of moonlight condensed to the extreme! A force far exceeding his own surged from his arm into the blade, and both speed and sharpness received an incredible boost at that moment!

Swish!

A blindingly bright blade-light, like a silver crescent moon, flashed and vanished in the silent mass grave.

That blade-light was precise, swift, and carried an unstoppable sense of resolve, perfectly slicing through the zombie's neck.

There was no loud metallic clang, nor the expected resistance.

That feeling was like a red-hot iron brand passing through solidified butter—unbelievably smooth!

The zombie's charging figure suddenly jerked to a halt, its sharp claws less than three inches from Lin Feng's chest.

"Gurgle..."

A massive, hideous, bluish-black head rolled off its neck, hit the ground, bounced twice, and the ghostly fire in its hollow eye sockets extinguished with a "puff."

Its headless, massive body, driven by momentum, lunged forward another two steps before collapsing to the ground with a thud, completely silent.

One strike, decapitation!

"Huff... huff... huff..."

Lin Feng panted heavily, looking at the incredible scene before him, his heart still pounding wildly.

But this time, it wasn't from fear, but from the ecstasy and excitement of surviving a disaster!

[Ding! Successfully killed a Rank 1 Living Corpse!]

[Critical Multiplier increased to 2.5x! Obtained 100 critical hit points!]

The System prompt sounded again, bringing Lin Feng back to his senses.

He glanced at the corpses of the zombie and One-Eyed Dragon on the ground, then at Old Wang, who was lying nearby, his fate unknown. He took a deep breath, knowing now was not the time to daze out.

He first went over to check Old Wang's breathing and found he was still hanging on by a thread, though his spine was shattered and his injuries were severe.

Lin Feng didn't dare delay. Using all his strength, he hoisted the large-framed Old Wang onto his back.

Then, suppressing his nausea, he picked up the zombie's foul-smelling head with one hand.

With his other hand, he picked up One-Eyed Dragon's Ringed Greatsword and casually lopped off One-Eyed Dragon's head as well, tying it to his waist with a rope.

Having done all this, he trudged toward the direction of Qingyang County, carrying a living person on his back and two dead heads in his hands.

...

"Halt... Halt! Who goes there!"

The two guards at the gate were half-asleep, but seeing a blood-stained figure carrying a person and two heads approaching, they jolted awake, nearly wetting themselves in fear.

"Trainee Constable, Lin Feng!"

Lin Feng's voice was somewhat raspy.

When the guards approached and used their lanterns to see Lin Feng's face and the "trophies" in his hands and at his waist, they gasped in shock.

"My god! Is that... the head of the bandit One-Eyed Dragon?"

"The other one... blue-faced with fangs, is... is it a demon?!"

The news spread like it had wings, instantly reaching the entire back courtyard of the county yamen.

In an instant, the quiet county yamen was abuzz!

Even already retired for the night, Magistrate Zhao Dehai was disturbed and opened court in the middle of the night.

The main hall of the county yamen was brightly lit, the atmosphere solemn.

Magistrate Zhao sat high on the bench, looking at the pale but determined Lin Feng and the two authentic heads below, his face filled with shock and admiration.

"Lin Feng! You showed no fear in the face of danger, not only bringing back the bandit One-Eyed Dragon but also slaying a rampaging demon and saving your colleague Wang Er. Your merit is great!"

Magistrate Zhao struck his Gavel, his voice like a resonant bell. "This official now announces that Trainee Constable Lin Feng is hereby promoted ahead of schedule to become an official constable of the Qingyang County Yamen!"

"Thank you, My Lord!"

Lin Feng was delighted. He finally had a permanent position!

"Men, award him fifty taels of silver! Settle Constable Wang properly and summon the best physician in the city to treat him!"

"Thank you, My Lord!"

Lin Feng thanked him again, but internally he started grumbling.

Killing a demon is only worth fifty taels?

Isn't that a bit little?

Just then, a middle-aged man with a mustache and sinister eyes stepped forward; he was Chief Constable Li Gang.

Li Gang first gave a hypocritical salute to the Magistrate, then said to Lin Feng with a fake smile, "Lin Feng, congratulations on your promotion. However, you're new and don't know the rules. According to our yamen's custom, a portion of the reward silver must be handed over for public use. Everyone needs money for wine, tea, and repairing weapons, right? Besides, Brother Wang Er is so badly injured; the subsequent medical fees will likely be a bottomless pit..."

Saying this, he took the fifty taels from the Treasurer and, in front of everyone, counted out five taels and stuffed them into Lin Feng's hand.

"You take these five taels first. I'll 'keep' the remaining forty-five taels for you to use for Old Wang's treatment."

Lin Feng's brow furrowed instantly.

Good heavens, he's giving me a 10-90 split right off the bat?

His greed is too blatant!

He looked up at Chief Constable Li Gang, meeting eyes that were filled with warning and contempt.

A show of authority, huh?

Lin Feng gripped the lonely five taels, sneering in his heart, but on the surface, he remained impassive and bowed. "I shall abide by the Chief Constable's decision."

A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years.

A petty man's revenge lasts from morning till night.

I, Lin Feng, am no gentleman.

Li Gang nodded with satisfaction, thinking the kid knew how to play the game, and then made another show of arranging things:

"Yes, good. From tomorrow, you'll be an official constable. I see the security in the south of the city hasn't been great lately, with petty thefts happening often. You'll be responsible for the daily patrols there. It's good for young people to get more exercise."

The other veteran constables present all showed gloating smiles upon hearing this.

The south of the city was the poorest and most chaotic area of Qingyang County, where all sorts of people gathered. It offered the fewest perks and the most trouble; patrolling there was universally recognized as a thankless job.

This was clearly Li Gang's way of suppressing and marginalizing Lin Feng, the newcomer who had risen so quickly.

Lin Feng saw through it clearly but still calmly accepted the task.

"Yes, your subordinate obeys."

In their first confrontation, he seemed to have lost, but only he knew.

Having the System...

...he was no longer in the same world as these old-timers who only knew how to scheme and slack off.

The most urgent matter was to increase his strength!