Chapter 53: Pay Raise

After the martial arts examinations concluded, life returned to its usual tranquility.

Chen Qing's life remained a repetitive cycle: training, patrolling, and returning home—a routine so regular it lacked even a ripple of excitement.

One day, just as he arrived at the River Administration Office, Cheng Ming hurried toward him: "Ah Qing, quick, come with me to see the Chief River Commissioner! He's in the signing room right in front, and he specifically asked for you!"

"See me?"

Chen Qing felt a slight sense of surprise.

Cheng Ming smiled and patted his shoulder: "Perk up, it's a good thing."

With Cheng Ming leading the way, the two soon arrived at the signing room, the core of the River Administration Office.

Chen Qing straightened his back and strode across the high threshold.

The room was spacious yet somewhat dim. Behind a large sandalwood desk sat Ke Yunqi, dressed in official robes adorned with green egret rank patches, quietly reviewing dossiers.

Chen Qing cupped his fists and said, "Your subordinate, Chen Qing, pays respects to the Chief River Commissioner."

Hearing the voice, Ke Yunqi looked up. His gaze fell upon Chen Qing, and he smiled. "Not bad. I didn't expect our River Administration to produce such a talent."

Chen Qing replied modestly, "The official overpraises me; I was merely fortunate."

"If you lacked true skill, could you have passed the martial arts examinations on luck alone?"

Ke Yunqi waved his hand, his eyes filled with appreciation. "There is no need for modesty. I heard from Cheng Ming that you are a disciple of Master Zhou from the Zhou Academy. You have performed your duties faithfully during your temporary posting, and our office is currently in need of talents like you."

He shifted his tone. "Are you willing to officially take up the position of River Inspector? You would be specifically responsible for patrolling dangerous stretches of the river, supervising the river fort soldiers, assisting in flood prevention, and capturing river bandits. Especially regarding the long-standing threat of Black Stone Beach—if you can eliminate it, I shall reward you handsomely."

Had anyone else in the office heard this, their hearts would have stirred.

A River Inspector was an official martial post with actual authority. For a youth from a humble background, it was nothing less than leaping over the Dragon Gate.

However, upon hearing this, Chen Qing's brow furrowed inwardly.

This was an attempt to turn his temporary posting into a full-time position.

While a River Inspector seemed to hold certain powers, it came with much more responsibility and was far more dangerous than a standard river patrol.

Most importantly, it required facing river bandits head-on.

Even if his monthly salary increased tenfold, it would only amount to twenty or thirty taels; it wasn't worth risking his life for.

"I thank the official for his patronage!"

Chen Qing cupped his fists, his tone earnest. "Although I was fortunate enough to pass the exams, my foundation is shallow and my martial arts are crude. I fear my incompetence might lead to failure and jeopardize the stability of the canal."

He paused briefly, observing Ke Yunqi's expression before continuing, "Secondly, the construction work at Black Stone Beach is of great importance. If... if even the slightest mishap occurs, it would be a small matter if I were to be crushed to pieces, but if I were to tarnish your reputation, I would be unable to atone for it even in ten thousand deaths!"

Silence fell over the signing room, leaving only the curling smoke from the sandalwood incense burner.

"Very well."

After a long silence, Ke Yunqi finally spoke. "A forced melon is not sweet. Since you consider yourself lacking in talent and unfit for such a heavy responsibility, I shall not compel you."

Chen Qing felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.

"However," Ke Yunqi pivoted, "given your current strength, serving as a mere patrolman would be a waste of talent. Instead, you shall be promoted to a Deputy River Official on a temporary basis, with a salary three times your current one. Do not disappoint me again."

As a Deputy River Official, he would even be exempt from daily patrols in the future, unless a major event like the assassination attempt on the Commandant occurred; otherwise, his days would be quite leisurely.

Chen Qing cupped his fists. "Thank you for your grace, official! Your subordinate, Chen Qing, will certainly do his utmost not to fail your cultivation!"

"Mhm, you may leave."

Ke Yunqi waved his hand, his tone returning to its usual indifference as he looked away from Chen Qing.

"Your subordinate takes his leave!"

Chen Qing bowed respectfully and slowly exited the signing room.

"How did it go?"

Cheng Ming walked up quickly and asked with a smile.

Chen Qing briefly summarized the latter half of the conversation, and Cheng Ming nodded repeatedly upon hearing it.

Chen Qing cupped his fists. "Thank you, Boss, for your kind words."

Cheng Ming must have said many good things on his behalf in front of the Chief River Commissioner.

"Hah, it was nothing."

Cheng Ming waved it off, but his face soon clouded with difficulty. "Ah Qing, this month's subsidy... I'm afraid it will be a bit late..."

Chen Qing asked in a low voice, "Boss, are you facing some difficulties?"

It was impossible for a family's operations to be delayed repeatedly over "trifles." Had something happened to the Cheng family?

"It's fine."

Cheng Ming waved his hand. "Business is tough, and the clan's expenses are high. We'll just have to weather this period first."

Seeing that Cheng Ming was unwilling to say more, Chen Qing did not press further.

After chatting for a moment, Cheng Ming hurried away.

Chen Qing also tidied himself up and began walking toward home.

Since this area was close to the Inner City, the streets were very lively.

In the distance, disciples from the Tianju and Guangchang martial arts halls were beating drums and gongs, holding up placards to recruit new students.

Chen Qing glanced over; the group was led by an An-level (Hidden Strength) disciple, accompanied by several Ming-level (Bright Strength) disciples, drawing the attention of passersby.

It seemed competition between the martial arts halls was becoming increasingly fierce.

On both sides of the street, pharmacies and weapon shops stood in rows.

The pharmacies did not just practice medicine; they also sold Blood-Qi Powder and Blood-Qi Pills for martial artists. The prices were not cheap, making them out of reach for ordinary citizens.

It was said that the Wanbao Hall in the Inner City specialized in selling precious fish and medicinal herbs, and one even had to verify their qualifications just to enter.

At this moment, the medical clinics were bustling with people—not just those buying tonics, but many martial artists coming and going as well.

"It seems studying medicine is also a good way to make a living in this world."

Seeing this, Chen Qing contemplated ways to earn money.

Subsidies and temporary postings were steady, slow streams of income.

Within Gaolin County, the paths to making big money were long since monopolized by powerful clans and gangs.

The only other fast method was robbery.

But that was not a righteous path; the risks were extremely high, and hitting a "hard plate" meant certain death.

His gaze shifted to another gathering point of people—the wanted posters bulletin board.

Various types of people gathered before the board: burly men with stout builds and wandering travelers with bamboo hats obscuring their faces.

These were the "Blade-Takers," men who lived by hunting those listed on the wanted posters for bounties. If the price was right, they would sometimes take on "private jobs" as well.

Those hanging on the board were all major criminals wanted by the dynasty, such as legendary thieves, forest bandits, or even notorious martial underworld figures.

The bounties were set by the Imperial Court, though victims could also add extra rewards.

If one could pull off a big job, it would be enough to live comfortably for years.

Among them were many fierce individuals, some of whom had taken the lives of officials and others had spilled the blood of fellow Blade-Takers.

"Being a Blade-Taker is also very dangerous."

Chen Qing shook his head inwardly.

Those who could make it onto the wanted list were by no means mediocre; they were all death-defying outlaws living on the edge of a blade.

Of course, besides hunting criminals, Blade-Takers also spent their days searching for precious herbs in deep mountains and rare fish in great marshes.

Both were guarded by exotic beasts and were exceptionally perilous.

Many people endured immense hardships to find these treasure locations, only to end up as food in the bellies of exotic beasts.

As Chen Qing wandered, he continued to think.

Small vendors lined both sides of the street, selling a wide variety of goods: chipped and glazed coarse porcelain bowls, yellowed thread-bound books, strangely shaped wood carvings and stones, and even old bellybands.

Chen Qing crouched down to take a look.

The stall owner was a thin old man. Seeing Chen Qing stop, he immediately put on a wide grin. "Oh, my! Look here, sir! These are all old items passed down from my ancestors. Who knows, one of them might be a family heirloom hiding a profound secret!"

He crouched down, his eyes landing on a small booklet with a tattered cover.

"What sharp eyes! You can tell at a glance that you know your stuff, sir!"

The stall owner immediately spoke in a mysterious, almost mystical tone.

"Don't look at how worn it is. These days, something worn isn't necessarily old, and something old... hey, that's where the real knowledge lies!"

As he spoke, the stall owner brought the booklet closer to Chen Qing, his words like honey-coated hooks. "Take a closer look at this paper. Could ordinary rotten paper last all these years without turning to dust? And this thread—it's incredibly tough! Who knows what might be hidden inside... some kind of lost treasure?"

He deliberately emphasized the words "some kind of lost treasure" with a heavy, ambiguous tone.

"I'm just looking."

Chen Qing stood up and walked away.

Did people really believe that buying a random broken object on the roadside would reveal a peerless martial arts manual!?

He certainly didn't believe it.