Chapter Sixty-Nine: Progress

After settling his father, Qin Yi descended the mountain and made his way toward the county city.

It was the hour before dawn.

At last, Qin Yi arrived beneath the city walls. Hiding behind a large stone, he waited until the patrol above had passed, then sprang out and leapt upward. The pair of daggers in his hands stabbed into the crevices of the wall, and he used them to propel himself higher.

Each time he pushed off, he gained more than half a meter. In no time, he landed atop the city wall.

He glanced left and right—no one was in sight—then headed down toward the inner city.

After landing, his face concealed, Qin Yi swiftly made his way home.

Just as he neared his house, a woman in white crossed paths with him, barely ten meters away, moving in the opposite direction!

Both passed each other by several meters before stopping in their tracks.

They turned back at the same time.

Qin Yi saw, ten meters away, a slender woman clad in white, her face veiled.

Their gazes met for a brief moment.

Then, as if by tacit agreement, they withdrew their eyes and continued on their respective paths.

“Ninth-rank speed!” Qin Yi thought in astonishment.

A few leaps, and he vanished into the night.

It was merely a chance encounter, not an enemy.

After circling around several times to ensure no one was following him, Qin Yi quietly returned home.

…

The next day.

After arranging all his tasks, Qin Yi went alone to the Giant Elephant Martial Hall.

The disciples guarding the entrance, upon hearing that the captain of the constables wished to learn martial arts, greeted him warmly and ushered him inside.

Upon entering, Qin Yi saw a group of burly men practicing in the training yard. Unlike the previous Moon-Chasing Martial Hall, most of the learners here were muscular and robust.

Soon, a giant of a man, eight feet tall and powerfully built, strode out to meet him.

“So the esteemed Captain Qin has graced us with his presence! I hear you wish to learn martial arts at our hall. May I ask which technique you’re interested in?” Zhuang Meng asked with a hearty laugh.

He looked at the young captain, already a ninth-grade official, his face full of warmth. For martial halls, many disciples eventually went to work at the magistrate’s office, mixed with gangs, or served as bodyguards for prominent families. Inevitably, they would interact with constables; forging good relations with the mid- and upper-level officers was certainly desirable.

“Master Zhuang, I want to learn your Giant Elephant Force. What are the requirements?” Qin Yi stated his intention.

“You wish to learn our Giant Elephant Force?”

“No problem! All it takes is the payment. My son is currently the captain of the fifth constable squad at the magistrate’s office. You and he are colleagues. Since you’re one of us, I’ll give you a ten percent discount!” Zhuang Meng offered.

“So your son is a constable as well? I’m fortunate indeed,” Qin Yi replied, somewhat surprised.

After exchanging pleasantries and business compliments, Qin Yi paid four hundred and fifty taels of silver, insisting on starting immediately.

Zhuang Meng, not one to delay, personally instructed Qin Yi in the Giant Elephant Force.

…

Inside the training yard.

As he demonstrated the Giant Elephant Force, Zhuang Meng explained, “Our Giant Elephant Force differs from ordinary fist or palm techniques. It includes various attack methods—shoulder charges, elbow strikes, swinging punches, grappling, thrusts, holds, lifts, throws, and more! The main focus is on simple movements and explosive power.”

“These exercises are paired with a special breathing method. Ideally, after training, one should soak in medicinal baths and take our secret medicines to condition the body. Because aside from practicing the moves, we have a unique strength training regimen. The Giant Elephant Force is all about breaking through with sheer power! Strength is paramount, but our methods can be hard on the body, so those secret medicines are essential…”

Qin Yi listened and thought, well, it’s all about selling their secret medicines to me.

“I understand. Could you show me how you train for strength?” Qin Yi asked.

“Of course. We have a breathing method for strength training as well…”

Just like that, most of the day passed.

Toward evening, Qin Yi rejoined his team, led them back, and finished his shift.

On the way home, Qin Yi entered a venerable old pharmacy.

“Shopkeeper, I’d like fifty taels’ worth of the Complete Vitality Soup.”

“What? Fifty taels? That’s a hundred servings! Are you certain you want that much?” The old shopkeeper was startled.

“Yes,” Qin Yi replied, already accustomed to such looks.

“Sir, if you overdo it with such tonics, it could cause a deficiency of yin…”

“…”

In the end, Qin Yi left a fifty-tael silver note and gave his home address. “Can you deliver it to my house?”

“Certainly.”

After leaving the pharmacy, Qin Yi checked his purse and found only thirty taels of silver left.

“Money really doesn’t last long,” he muttered.

Passing by a casino, his eyes lingered inside for a few seconds before he continued homeward.

That night, Qin Yi deposited all the delivered medicinal ingredients into the system.

He instantly gained sixty energy points!

…

Three days passed quietly.

During those days, Qin Yi spent at least half his time each day at the Giant Elephant Martial Hall, learning martial arts.

In the northern part of the city.

Inside a slaughterhouse.

“Zhu Fengyin has disappeared?” Zhou Wuzhi halted his subordinate’s report, his brows tightly knit.

They had agreed beforehand: yesterday was the day to pay Zhu Fengyin the deposit. Yet they waited all day at the appointed place, and she never showed.

They waited most of today as well, but still no sign.

So he sent someone to check her residence, only to find it empty.

“Wasn’t she out to kill that He Xiongjian a few days ago? How did she suddenly vanish?” Zhou Wuzhi knew Zhu Fengyin was determined to avenge her brother and cause trouble for the constables.

“Could she have foolishly tried to go after Huo Boru?” a subordinate speculated.

“No, Huo Boru is the chief constable and has ninth-rank strength. She’s only eighth-rank; she wouldn’t risk her life so recklessly,” Zhou Wuzhi shook his head.

“So there are three possibilities: first, she left for some reason. Second, maybe while targeting the constables, she had the misfortune to run into Huo Boru and other experts and was killed. Third, after killing He Xiongjian, she may have left clues, allowing Huo Boru and others to track her down and ambush her!” another subordinate analyzed.

“These are all possible. But since Zhu Fengyin is missing and we’re collaborating with her, we should investigate thoroughly. Also, send someone to Huangsha Town to contact the people from the Golden Alliance. Our heavy armor must arrive on schedule!” Zhou Wuzhi commanded gravely.

“Yes, Master.”