Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Waves, Demon Suppression Skill
’A Body Technique Martial Arts?’
Fang Xing’s eyes lit up as he looked at the martial art in the booklet.
As his gaze focused, a crimson text appeared in his eyes.
[An ordinary Martial Art, Gale Step. Enhancement requires one hundred and fifty Enhancement Points.]
’One hundred and fifty points. That’s more than double the cost of Grapple Hand...’
Looking at the crimson prompt, Fang Xing sighed.
Enhancing Grapple Hand only cost sixty, but this Gale Step required one hundred and fifty Enhancement Points.
One hundred and fifty Enhancement Points.
At his current rate of accumulation, it would take at least two and a half months.
’Still, I can start cultivating the Body Technique Martial Arts first. With a Body Technique, I’ll have an escape route if I need one.’
Coming back to his senses, Fang Xing gave the Gale Step Martial Arts book a quick read.
Then, he put it away.
Acquiring a Martial Art was a completely unexpected surprise.
Even though it was a Body Technique Martial Arts, it was still a rare find.
...
When he walked out of the master bedroom, the others had also more or less finished their search.
They had found some silver in the other rooms as well.
Bits and pieces, but it all added up to one hundred and fifty taels of silver.
He was smart enough to have multiple hiding spots.
The hidden compartment in the master bedroom was only one of them.
In total, his fortune amounted to three hundred taels.
For an ordinary person, this was an absolutely staggering sum of money.
Looking at the one hundred and fifty taels of silver found during the search, Fang Xing made a decision: he would keep everything from the hidden compartment for himself.
As for the remaining one hundred and fifty taels, he let his men take a share, took a token amount for himself to keep up appearances, and turned in the rest.
You have to take your share when you can.
By taking a token amount, it would prove he wasn’t being greedy with the official findings.
After searching the place one last time, Fang Xing let the horse-faced youth leave.
Then, he and his contingent of Constables also left the courtyard.
Before leaving, he affixed an official seal from the Government Office, marking it as seized property.
As for what happened next, that was none of his business.
These assets would surely be confiscated by the government; he couldn’t get any ideas about that.
Before returning to the County Yamen, Fang Xing first went home to hide the money he’d acquired. After that, he went to check on the gambling den.
The haul from the gambling den wasn’t small either.
After adding up all the odds and ends and giving the Constables under him their cut, there were still over a hundred taels of silver left.
He had his men carry this as well and returned to the County Yamen.
—
Inside a room in the North Guard Room of the County Yamen, Xu Zhengxiong looked at the confiscated money.
Over two hundred taels. This was definitely a huge sum.
Fang Xing had certainly pocketed a portion before turning the money in, but Xu Zhengxiong didn’t ask him about it. It was an unwritten rule.
As long as it wasn’t too outrageous, whatever one took was considered "hard-earned pay."
However, he hadn’t expected Fang Xing to take care of the Black Tiger Gang Leader on his very first day.
With the Black Tiger Gang Leader dead, the Black Tiger Gang was effectively destroyed.
Even he was startled by the commotion this caused.
"You’ve certainly made a big splash, kid. Aren’t you afraid of stirring up trouble by making such a bold move?" Xu Zhengxiong said, looking at Fang Xing, somewhat at a loss for words.
The fire he’d lit on his first day in office had burned brighter than anyone expected.
No Deputy Constable had ever shown such audacity.
He didn’t know whether to call the boy recklessly brave or truly fearless.
Forget a Deputy Constable, not even a new Constable would cause such a stir on their first day.
However, this series of actions made him see Fang Xing in a new light.
Taking care of the Black Tiger Gang Leader... that was a Bright Force Martial Artist.
Even he couldn’t say with one hundred percent certainty that he could kill him, yet Fang Xing had somehow managed it.
There might have been some twists and turns involved, but compared to the process, the result was far more shocking.
Hearing Xu Zhengxiong’s words, Fang Xing replied with a serious expression, "Uncle Xu, I was simply handling the matter impartially. Xu Hu colluded with two others to hire an assassin, and he even tried to ambush me and resist arrest. According to Article 732 of the Great Jing Law, the crime of attacking a Constable alone is enough to warrant summary execution."
Xu Zhengxiong: "..."
"You can’t just handle everything with brute force. The Black Tiger Gang is one thing; they’re a minor power. But if you tried this with the two major powers in the North City District, you probably wouldn’t live to see the next sunrise," Xu Zhengxiong said, his expression turning serious.
Fang Xing smiled faintly. "Don’t worry, Uncle Xu. I know my limits."
Fang Xing naturally knew which two North City powers Xu Zhengxiong was talking about.
These two powers were among the top-tier factions in all of Qingshan County.
They not only controlled the prosperous central area of North City but also held significant influence in the towns and villages of Qingshan County.
The reason was simple: both of these powers were backed by a Neutralizing Force Martial Artist.
A Neutralizing Force Martial Artist was a top-tier existence in Qingshan County.
Like a great clan such as the Ning Family, their foundations ran deep!
Perhaps they were nothing in the context of an entire province, but in the eyes of an ordinary person, they were like a mayfly gazing upon the heavens.
Looking at Fang Xing, Xu Zhengxiong said, "As long as you understand. Be more moderate in your actions from now on. Qingshan County isn’t as simple as you think. Some of the major powers have even stronger existences behind them. As a Constable, you have to know where to draw the line. That’s how you stay comfortable. Otherwise, an open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to defend against!"
Fang Xing nodded.
’For him to say all this, Uncle Xu must truly see me as his successor.’
’But... the position of a mere Constable isn’t enough to satisfy my appetite.’
’Advancement is inevitable!’
’I’ve transmigrated to another world. It would be a waste not to see what this Great Thousand Worlds has to offer.’
’Of course, that’s not a realistic goal for now.’
’In these chaotic times, traveling without sufficient strength to protect myself is a death sentence.’
’This world doesn’t just have Evil Cults and bandits, but also Demons and Ghosts.’
’Those Demons and Ghosts are the most terrifying of all!’
—
After chatting for a while, Fang Xing left.
Before finishing work at 5:00 PM, he briefly filled out a report and submitted it. The case was now considered closed.
However, while the dust had settled for him, the fall of the Black Tiger Gang caused quite a stir in North City.
The destruction of a gang would inevitably attract the attention of other underworld forces.
For a time, hidden currents stirred within North City.
The Black Tiger Gang’s territory was quickly taken over by other powers.
And Fang Xing’s name became a focal point of attention for these underworld forces.
...
In the study of a residence in North City, a middle-aged man in a dark robe sipped his tea while listening to a report from the person beside him.
"Master, that is the general situation."
Beside him, a middle-aged man in a short jacket with a goatee said in a low voice.
After hearing the report, the middle-aged man in the robe set down his teacup.
"Fang Xing... A mere Deputy Constable with such courage on his first day. This young man is certainly full of vigor."
A faint smile appeared on the robed man’s face as he murmured to himself.
Hearing this, the man with the goatee looked at him. "Master, this man only recently reached Bright Force and has already made a name for himself upon becoming Deputy Constable. Should we try to make contact?"
"No need. He’s just a Deputy Constable, not yet worthy of contact. Just keep an eye on him," the robed man said flatly.
At these words, the man with the goatee nodded and left the study. The robed man’s gaze drifted out the window, lost in thought.
...
After leaving the County Yamen, Fang Xing went straight home.
Once inside, he checked his gains. Setting the money aside for the moment, his gaze fell upon the handwritten manual for the Grapple Hand Martial Arts.
’Sixty points... I wonder what kind of Martial Arts it can be enhanced into.’
Looking at the crimson prompt before him, Fang Xing took a deep breath. Then, with a single thought, he enhanced the Martial Arts.
A crimson glow emerged from the booklet in his hand.
In the next moment, a crimson prompt appeared in his vision.
[The basic Martial Art, Grapple Hand, has been successfully enhanced. You have obtained the Superior Martial Arts, Demon Suppression Skill.]
As the crimson text materialized before his eyes, Fang Xing’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.
