Chapter 12: Livelihood

Three days later.

Chen Qing had just finished washing up when someone arrived outside his cabin door.

The visitor was a man in his thirties wearing a black short-sleeved jacket, followed by four or five burly henchmen.

The middle-aged man smiled and said, "This must be Brother Chen Qing, right? I am Xu Chengfeng of the Tiger Gang."

Chen Qing replied calmly, "So it is a master from the Tiger Gang. I have heard much about you."

Xu Chengfeng cupped his hands and said, "Starting today, the Tiger Gang will be taking over this area. Please make things convenient for us in the future. If there is anything we do that isn't up to standard, I hope Brother Chen will be understanding!"

Chen Qing said with a look of feigned flattery, "You are too kind, sir."

With the Tiger Gang showing up at his door, it seemed that Dazi Bay had truly changed hands; the Golden River Gang was now a thing of the past.

Xu Chengfeng smiled. "Brother Chen is too polite."

After a few moments of idle chatter, Xu Chengfeng left with his henchmen.

Once they had left the Chen residence, Xu Chengfeng whispered an order: "Ah Jie, go find out where this Chen Qing learned his boxing."

When it comes to people and affairs, being cautious is never a mistake.

"I understand."

The henchman behind him nodded.

"Ah Qing, who was that just now!?"

Mrs. Han lifted the curtain and asked curiously.

Chen Qing said indifferently, "People from the Tiger Gang."

"The Tiger Gang!?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Han’s face immediately filled with worry. "Are they going to demand more protection money again?"

Every time a new gang appeared, they would demand three months of tribute in advance.

Chen Qing said, "Mother, don't think too much about it."

Even with Chen Qing’s comfort, Mrs. Han’s expression remained grim.

After all, these gangs were like a mountain pressing down on their shoulders.

Chen Qing didn't say anything more; he left the house and headed to the Zhou Academy.

At this moment, the senior disciples in the inner courtyard were sparring and exchanging moves.

The sound of fists cutting through the air echoed with a series of "crackling" sounds.

Chen Qing tidied himself up and began to practice his boxing.

The hardest part of Tongbi Boxing was not the moves, but this subtle control of the body.

If it were too loose, the power would dissipate; if it were too tight, the power would stagnate. One had to find that perfect balance between tension and relaxation.

Before he knew it, he had already gone through the Tongbi Boxing routine twice.

Sun Shun walked over. "Junior Brother Chen, there are currently a few positions available for concurrent posts. Take a look..."

Hearing this, Chen Qing stopped his movements, and Sun Shun listed the three available positions.

One was a post at the Li Family Chamber of Commerce. The primary duties were guarding the warehouse and the gates of the freight yard, patrolling at night, and escorting short-distance valuable goods to deter petty criminals.

The pay was quite good, at four taels per month.

The second was a post at the Zuiyue Pavilion. This position was somewhat special and was also known as a "dark stake."

The daily duties involved maintaining order in the establishment, deterring troublemakers and card sharps, collecting gambling debts, and "cleaning up" trouble when necessary.

The monthly pay fluctuated between five and eight taels, but the risks were very high.

Chen Qing shook his head; he was clearly not satisfied with either of these.

While the Li Family Chamber of Commerce post was safe, it lacked freedom.

As for being a "dark stake" at Zuiyue Pavilion, it was simply too dangerous. Who knew what kind of monsters or demons might pop up in a gambling den?

"The last one is a River Patrol guard."

Sun Shun said, "The River Office is severely short-handed. As long as you agree, you can be registered by tomorrow. The pay is two taels of silver a month, with six days of leave each month."

"The disciples in the academy think the pay is too low, so not many go."

The primary duties of a River Patrol guard were to patrol designated sections of the river, maintain public order, handle minor disputes, inspect suspicious personnel and vessels, and assist the River Commissioner with river affairs.

When there was nothing going on, it was very leisurely.

After careful consideration, Chen Qing nodded. "Let's go with that one."

Sun Shun took out a letter and instructed, "This is a letter of introduction. Just go to the Qinghe Wharf and find River Commissioner Cheng."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother."

Chen Qing took the letter and headed toward Qinghe Wharf.

The bluestone path was damp and shimmering.

The river water gently lapped against the wooden pilings, and a few black-awning boats swayed with the waves.

The morning market on the shore had already opened, and the cries of vendors mixed with the smell of fish in the humid air.

Chen Qing stepped over the puddles, turned into a narrow alley, and arrived in front of the River Office.

The River Office was not large, and the facade looked slightly aged, with the peeling paint revealing dark wood underneath.

The door was open, and a smell mixed with old paper, sweat, and the fishy scent of the river wafted out.

Inside, figures moved about, and the noise was chaotic. Most were patrol guards wearing River Office uniforms, occasionally interspersed with arguments and disputes.

Chen Qing stepped over the high threshold.

The light in the main hall was dim, and the furnishings were quite simple. Several long tables were piled high with files and miscellaneous items, and one could even see wet footprints on the floor.

He stopped a passing runner and asked with a bow, "Brother, may I ask if River Commissioner Cheng Ming is in?"

The runner looked Chen Qing up and down. Seeing that although he wore ordinary coarse clothes, his posture was upright, his eyes were clear, and his knuckles were well-defined—showing signs of a martial artist—he pointed to a narrower passage on the side of the hall. "Commissioner Cheng is in the inner office. He’s been busy all night, so he’s probably in a foul mood right now. Go find him yourself."

"Many thanks."

Chen Qing thanked him and walked inside following the directions.

At the end of the passage was a small room with the door ajar, light spilling out from within.

Chen Qing stood still before the door and knocked lightly on the wooden panel.

"Who is it?" A hoarse, tired voice came from inside.

"I am Chen Qing, here to take up a post," Chen Qing said in a steady, clear voice.

The door creaked open from the inside.

"I am Cheng Ming."

A square-faced man in his forties appeared before him. His saber hung loosely at his waist. He looked at Chen Qing and asked, "Do you have a letter of introduction?"

Chen Qing took the letter from his chest and handed it over with both hands. "I do."

Cheng Ming took the letter, read it, and his furrowed brows relaxed slightly. "A disciple of Master Zhou Liang?"

"Exactly," Chen Qing replied.

"The letter is in order, and you look sturdy enough. The River Office is short-handed right now; you’ve come at just the right time."

Cheng Ming looked Chen Qing over, his tone softening. "You know the rules of the River Office and the monthly pay, right?"

"I do," Chen Qing replied.

Cheng Ming nodded and said slowly, "Let me give you some instructions. The River Office has nine squads. Each squad has one River Commissioner and three patrol guards. The work is very simple."

"Walk along the river section assigned to you and keep your eyes sharp. If you see thieves, brawlers, or suspicious characters, don't be a fool and rush in yourself."

He emphasized his tone and warned, "Come back and report first; there are constables to handle that. Don't provoke the boat captains at the wharf or the managers of the freight yards if you don't have to; they are old slippery eels. If you really run into some blind petty thief and have to fight..."

Cheng Ming’s voice dropped. "Use your own judgment. Don't get hurt, but don't blow things out of proportion either. Remember, you are 'concurrently posted'."

He looked Chen Qing in the eye, his gaze carrying a complex warning. "If you really cause a huge disaster, the face of the Zhou Academy... might not be enough to cover for you."

Chen Qing cupped his fists and said earnestly, "Thank you for the reminder, Commissioner Cheng."

Cheng Ming was satisfied with Chen Qing’s attitude and nodded imperceptibly. "Tomorrow at the first hour of the卯 (Mao) period, go to the duty room at the east end of the wharf and find Old Li to get your waist badge and uniform. He will tell you which section to patrol. Today counts as your check-in; go back and rest."

After waiting a moment, Cheng Ming noticed Chen Qing was still standing there and couldn't help but ask, "Is there anything else?"

Chen Qing bowed and said in a low voice, "Commissioner Cheng, I have a bold request... could I possibly... receive an advance on my salary for the next few months?"

"An advance on your salary?"

Cheng Ming was slightly taken aback; this was the first time he had heard such a request. His brows furrowed imperceptibly. "What for?"

"To pay for tuition," Chen Qing answered concisely.

Cheng Ming’s gaze lingered on Chen Qing’s face for a moment before he mused, "There is no precedent for advancing the River Office's monthly pay..."

He paused slightly, then changed his tone. "Very well, I will give you five taels of silver first. For the next few months, you won't receive your monthly pay; it will go directly to me."

Chen Qing quickly bowed deeply. "Thank you, Commissioner Cheng, for your kindness!"

Cheng Ming waved his hand. "Go."

In the afternoon, Chen Qing went to the Zhou Academy to continue his training.

"Junior Brother Chen."

Several senior brothers greeted him with smiles.

The disciples who had just joined were even more enthusiastic.

Sun Shun waved his hand and said, "Junior Brother, come, let's spar."

"Alright!"

Chen Qing nodded and put on his Zhou Academy training uniform.

"Then I won't hold back."

Sun Shun loosened his muscles, pushed off with his feet, and rushed toward Chen Qing.

Chen Qing did not retreat but advanced, taking a large step forward.

Tongbi Boxing emphasizes being "connected," "long," and "fast." In layman's terms, it means extending to strike from a distance, having penetrating power, and combining hardness with softness.

With the force of three steps, his fists were like a gale. When attacking, he struck in continuous chains; before one move was finished, the second had already arrived, forming a dense offensive.

The blood in Chen Qing’s body surged, and his waist, legs, feet, fists, and spine emitted a "crackling" sound.

The air exploded with an astonishing momentum—this was the so-called "a thousand gold cannot buy a single sound," the realm of Ming Jin (Bright Power).

At this moment of sudden eruption, his fist wind whistled.

Sun Shun was quick-witted and agile; he performed a roll to avoid the attack, then flipped over and struck out with a palm.

Bang!

After the two collided, Chen Qing retreated several steps.

"Again!"

Sun Shun shouted and rushed over again.

His right arm flickered like a snake emerging from its hole, aiming straight for Chen Qing’s center. It looked straightforward, but it hid changes; he could turn the probe into a chop or switch to a grapple at any moment.

Chen Qing focused, not daring to be negligent.

He knew well that Sun Shun had a solid foundation and was far more experienced than a novice like himself who had just entered the realm of Ming Jin.

Seeing the fist wind coming, he sank his waist and hips. Instead of blocking head-on, he used his left arm to parry outward, utilizing the clever force-deflecting technique of Tongbi Boxing. At the same time, he shifted his feet, sliding half a step to the side and back, attempting to neutralize the momentum.

"Pa!"

Their arms met with a crisp sound.

Chen Qing felt a great force, his arm going slightly numb, but he managed to deflect the fierce punch.

He took the opportunity to thrust his right fist out from his waist, aiming straight for Sun Shun’s ribs—a swift counterattack.

"Well done!"

Sun Shun praised, as if he had expected this move.

He remained calm, retracting his arm and bending his elbow, sinking down to block Chen Qing’s fist. At the same time, his left palm swept up from below, aiming for Chen Qing’s chin. The speed of his change was dazzling.

This was the subtlety of Tongbi Boxing’s close-quarters combat—continuous and unending.

These exchanges were as fast as lightning, and the surrounding disciples couldn't help but stop what they were doing to watch.

"Junior Brother Chen is impressive. He just entered Ming Jin and can already trade these moves with Senior Brother Sun?"

"Senior Brother Sun definitely isn't using his full strength; he's just feeding him moves."

"That's still incredible. Look at Junior Brother Chen’s reaction; that power really looks like it’s been cultivated."

Sun Shun didn't press the attack but stood in place, smiling at Chen Qing. "How does it feel?"

Chen Qing took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood, and cupped his fists. "Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother. I understand now."

He truly felt it—even though he felt his strength had increased significantly, he still felt a sense of powerlessness when it came to applying that force.

It was clear that Sun Shun was trying to help Chen Qing familiarize himself with the power of Ming Jin more quickly.

Sun Shun smiled. "We are all fellow disciples; no need to be polite."

At this moment, Zhou Yu walked over and said, "Senior Brother Sun, my father wants you to come to the backyard."

"Alright, I understand."

Sun Shun nodded and followed Zhou Yu toward the backyard.

Besides Sun Shun and Qin Lie, there were several other disciples who had reached the An Jin (Dark Power) realm.

Seeing this immediately attracted the attention of many disciples.

Someone whispered, "Did something happen?"

A senior brother next to him said, "The Martial Examination is approaching. Master is likely giving instructions regarding it. Senior Brother Sun and Senior Brother Qi are disciples Master values highly..."

The Martial Examination!?

A wave of discussion broke out in the courtyard.

Chen Qing didn't pay much attention to it and continued to ponder his Tongbi Boxing.

Before long, a golden light appeared in his mind.

[Heaven rewards diligence; there will be success.]

[Tongbi Boxing: Minor Accomplishment (1/1000)]