Chapter 15: Qin Tou

In Lihua Alley, there were several public water sources available to everyone. However, the one closest to Chen Pingan's home was located under the large mulberry tree to the east.

Beside the large mulberry tree ran a small stream, where women from the alley often came to wash clothes. There was also a small clearing where many children accompanied their mothers and played boisterously. In the clearing sat a well, which served as the water source for the surrounding households.

Chen Pingan walked with extremely fast strides and soon arrived under the large mulberry tree.

As expected, there were many people there. Children were running around, playing happily. "Have you heard? Sister Gao from the southeast corner—it seems her family's life has taken a turn for the better lately."

"What happened?"

"A few days ago, when I was out visiting, I happened to run into them while they were eating. I saw they were actually eating braised pork!"

"Braised pork!? Her husband has neither the skill nor the strength; how did this happen? Did they strike it rich?"

"I don't know! Isn't it strange!"

"It is strange! Let's go and snoop around another day to see if they found some way to make money!"

"..."

By the stream, several women were washing clothes and gossiping about local affairs.

Chen Pingan ignored them. He walked straight to the well and began drawing water.

There were specialized wooden buckets by the well; Chen Pingan tossed one into the well in a single motion.

The sound of clear water splashing echoed.

Chen Pingan skillfully manipulated the wooden rope, the bucket tipped, and it began to swallow the fresh water from the well.

Chen Pingan watched the mouth of the well, and once the water overflowed, he pulled the bucket up in one go.

*Hmm!?*

Chen Pingan froze slightly. He found that the bucket, now full of water, felt somewhat light—it was nothing like the sensation in his memory.

Chen Pingan pulled the bucket out of the well and poured it into the bucket he had brought; it was exactly one full bucket.

Repeating the action, he filled another bucket to the brim.

"Has my strength increased this much?"

The second time he pulled the bucket, it still felt light and easy. Chen Pingan speculated inwardly.

Shouldering the two buckets, Chen Pingan began walking home.

Along the way, his steps were light and brisk, a complete departure from his previous experiences drawing water.

In the past, although he could carry two large, full buckets, he would wobble all the way, and by the time he reached home, nearly half the water would have splashed out. Carrying two buckets essentially meant half a bucket was wasted on the road.

This was not only exhausting but also inefficient. Therefore, Chen Pingan usually only filled the buckets halfway.

But today...

Chen Pingan carried them steadily, looking completely at ease.

Even after pouring the water into the water vat, he remained calm and composed, feeling no fatigue whatsoever.

"So this is the change brought by the First Layer of Vitality!"

Chen Pingan felt an inexplicable sense of joy.

This was the first time he had felt the changes occurring in his body so tangibly.

"Again!"

Chen Pingan rushed out of his house with excitement.

He repeated this process until the water in the vat reached the brim.

Normally, it took ten trips to fill the vat, but today he only needed seven or eight. This was because every time he drew water, it was full, unlike before when he had deliberately only filled them halfway.

"My strength is more than double what it was before!"

After fully experiencing the sensation, Chen Pingan began practicing the Iron Cloth technique.

Half an hour later, the familiar "+1 Experience" appeared.

Name: Chen Pingan Realm: First Layer of Vitality Martial Arts: Iron Cloth (Entry Level) (3/15)

In the days that followed, Chen Pingan's life became extremely disciplined.

Every morning, he would wake up early, practice the Iron Cloth once, and then head to the Nanquanli Alley Constabulary to clock in on time.

According to his assignments from the Constabulary, he patrolled the various streets and alleys of Nanquanli to deter petty criminals.

After finishing his shift each day, he would eat dinner with Chen Erya and then practice the Iron Cloth once more.

During these few days, he also saw Head Qin once.

Head Qin had graying hair and a kind smile.

At nearly sixty years old, he was approaching his sixtieth year. He no longer possessed the aggressive, combat-ready posture of his youth; if not for his formal official's uniform, he would look like any other short, elderly neighbor walking through the crowd.

Only the occasional flash of sharpness in his eyes revealed his martial cultivation of the Second Layer of Vitality.

To become an official constable of the Nanquanli Alley Constabulary starting from nothing and with no background, Head Qin certainly had to have some skill.

Just as Old Man Chen had been, so too was Head Qin.

On this day, Head Qin rarely slacked off and instead went on a street patrol with them.

Having not seen him for a while, Head Qin was quite generous and even paid out of his own pocket to treat them to tea.

During their conversation, Head Qin spoke of Chen Pingan's father, Old Man Chen, with a hint of melancholy in his voice.

"Old Chen was quite a character back in the day! If it hadn't been for that operation to suppress the Myriad Demon Sect, where he was heavily injured by one of their deacons... given Old Chen's condition, he might have stepped into the Third Layer of Vitality within two years! By then, he wouldn't have been stuck with just the rank of a constable!"

The First Layer of Vitality was Skin Refining! The Second Layer was Flesh Refining! The Third Layer was Tendon Changing!

As long as a constable successfully reached the Third Layer of Vitality without any significant criminal record, the Nanquan Town Constabulary would generally grant them the rank of Head Constable.

Once one was appointed Head Constable, it truly represented a leap in social class.

Chen Pingan remained silent. His mind drifted to the memories of Old Man Chen's face and voice.

The Myriad Demon Sect...

"A Head Constable! In our Nanquanli Alley, those are people who deal with the big shots!"

Head Qin took a sip of tea and sighed.

"Head Qin, you aren't lacking either. With your Second Layer of Vitality and your mastery of the Official Thirteen Blades, you're a well-known figure in Nanquanli!"

Hou Tou complimented him from the side.

"Isn't that right, Dashan?"

Dashan nodded with a silly grin in agreement.

There were over thirty official constables in Nanquanli Alley, and at least half of them had not yet reached the Second Layer of Vitality, remaining stuck at the peak of the First Layer.

"I'm old, I'm old! In the path of martial arts, once you grow old, your strength fails, your vitality drains, and your blood and qi decline! I am already fifty-nine. Despite having the Second Layer of Vitality, if we were to truly fight, I'd likely only be at the level of the peak First Layer."

Head Qin looked at the saber hanging at his waist, as if thinking of something.

"A person just can't help but feel old!"

"An old ginger is still spicy. You're still very formidable, sir!"

"Hahaha..."

Head Qin laughed loudly.

Seeing this, Hou Tou and Dashan also gave a few dry laughs.

Though they had not entered the path of martial arts, they knew a thing or two about martial common sense.

There were six layers of Vitality, and each layer was stronger than the last!

Except for the final two layers, the first four were all subject to the natural laws of aging, exhaustion, and the decline of vitality.

Once one passed fifty, they would slowly begin a downward slope.

Unless one used various precious medicines and treasures to nourish the body, the arrival of those declining years could only be delayed by a few years, or perhaps a decade.