Chapter 23: The Decision
Chapter 23: The Decision
Within the City Guard Headquarters, the lower-ranked patrol officers did not have their own designated spaces for official duties or rest. They only had access to a spacious courtyard at the back and several shared, dilapidated small houses.
However, it was different for the Senior Patrol Officers. The five Senior Patrol Officers each had their own private rooms behind the main hall, which they used for official matters or rest. One of these rooms belonged to Zhao Zong, and it had been unoccupied for a long time.
After Zhao Zong's hidden injury flared up due to old age, he rarely came to the headquarters. Still, his room was kept clean and tidy, and now, after many years, it was welcoming a new owner.
Chen Mu stood at the doorway, examining the room.
The room was not large, containing only a long table placed horizontally and a set of clean tea utensils on top of it. Behind the table was a yellow wooden chair with a slightly chipped armrest, but it didn't affect its functionality.
Both the table and chair were spotless, without a trace of dust, and the floor, paved with bluestone, was free from mud.
While not spacious, the room was clean.
This assessment was indeed fair.
Zhao Zong stood beside Chen Mu, hands behind his back, and sighed, "We martial artists, by nature of our training, endure wear and tear on our bodies. Even if we don't engage in fights, hidden injuries accumulate over the years. When we reach old age, these injuries flare up, and there's no holding them back..."
As he spoke, he caressed the table with a hint of reluctance. Among the Nine Streets City Guard, no one had more seniority than him, including Patrol Commander Min Baoyi. If not for his declining health, which left him unable to engage in fights, he wouldn't have given up his position as Senior Patrol Officer. Being able to temporarily retain the title and remain in the City Guard as an instructor was still a satisfactory outcome for him.
Zhao Zong had originally planned to connect with Ren Yan, a rising star, to build a favor that could be cashed in later when he retired. He wanted to maintain some influence and authority. However, Chen Mu's sudden appearance surprised everyone, including Wang Gong and Qin Bei.
When Zhao Zong learned from them that Chen Mu was personally recommended by the Deputy Commander, Xu Hongyu, he immediately put his mind at ease. He also understood why Min Baoyi would suddenly address Chen Mu as a brother.
"Does this Skin Tempering and Muscle Tempering Body Tempering Technique also damage the body?" Chen Mu asked thoughtfully, listening to Zhao Zong's words.
Zhao Zong smiled and replied, "Yes, whether it's Skin Tempering or Muscle Tempering, both techniques temper the body in various ways, aided by medicinal powders. It's only natural that there's some damage to the body. If you want to cultivate martial arts and live a long life, there's no such perfect solution in this world. I now suffer from back pain like needle pricks, a result of overdoing the Skin Tempering technique in my youth, which caused significant internal damage. Sometimes, we can't help but push ourselves. Being able to cultivate at all is already a privilege, as many aspire to learn martial arts but lack the opportunity."
Chen Mu thought of the Jade-Gold Skin Polishing Technique that Xu Hongyu had given him.
Xu Hongyu had mentioned that while this technique might not be the fastest, it was more gentle and less damaging to the body. If Zhao Zong had practiced this Skin Polishing technique in his youth, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up in his current state.
"Alright, I've told you what I should. It's time for me to go. If you have any questions, you can ask Wang Gong, Qin Bei, and the others." Zhao Zong slowly withdrew his hand and headed outside.
"Take care, Elder Zhao," Chen Mu said, seeing Zhao Zong off.
After bidding farewell, Chen Mu` approached the table, picked up a few books, and glanced through them. They were maps of the Nine Streets and various documents related to population statistics.
Putting down the books, Chen Mu walked to the window and looked outside. The drizzle had stopped, and as the sun set, a ray of sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room. In the distance, he could see Zhao Zong's departing figure and several groups of patrol officers gathered in twos and threes, discussing the recent events. Their faces still bore traces of shock.
Chen Mu's promotion to Senior Patrol Officer was no surprise to him, but he hadn't expected Min Baoyi to act so swiftly. Within just one day, Xu Hongyu had barely given the order, and the transition was already complete.
Moreover, Chen Mu's blue guard uniform and identification badge weren't even ready yet; they were still being tailored.
From this moment on, he was officially a Senior Patrol Officer of the Nine Streets, overseeing the team previously managed by Zhao Zong, totaling thirty to forty people. If he felt he needed more manpower, he could also recruit additional officers from outside.
This was the life of a low-ranking patrol officer.
Chen Mu turned around and took one last look at the room before stepping outside, where he encountered Qin Bei.
"Senior Officer Chen," Qin Bei greeted Chen Mu with a complex expression in his eyes.
Chen Mu had been his subordinate, and now, suddenly, he had risen to the Deputy Commander's notice. Not only was he promoted to Senior Patrol Officer, but he had also become a favored guest of Min Baoyi. This couldn't help but make Qin Bei feel a bit awkward.
This situation was different from Ren Yan's. Ren Yan had been groomed for this position for a long time, and even if he were promoted, he would still call him 'Brother Qin'. But Chen Mu had quietly leaped ahead, becoming his equal, even surpassing him. This awkward feeling wouldn't dissipate anytime soon.
"Senior Officer Qin," Chen Mu replied with a slight bow. He didn't have any particular impressions of Qin Bei. When he had served under him, Qin Bei had treated him neither coldly nor warmly. As a result, Chen Mu felt quite calm and composed.
Qin Bei, having been a Senior Patrol Officer for many years, quickly suppressed his discomfort and said, "Congratulations on your promotion, Senior Officer Chen. In a few days, when I have some free time, I'd like to invite you for a drink. I hope you'll accept."
"Absolutely," Chen Mu replied with a smile. Then, he walked outside.
In the courtyard, several patrol officers stood scattered about. They paused upon seeing Chen Mu approach, then quickly reacted, greeting him:
"Senior Officer Chen!"
Compared to Qin Bei, they were much tenser. After all, they had worked alongside Chen Mu for many years, and even if they had no direct interactions, they had likely gossiped about him behind his back. Everyone had assumed that Ren Yan's promotion was a sure thing, and they had all been flattering him. Now, with Chen Mu's sudden rise, they couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
"Everyone, rise."
Chen Mu casually addressed the group of patrol officers. "I've just taken over as the Senior Patrol Officer, and I'm not yet familiar with things. You can continue with your duties as usual."
"Yes, sir."
The patrol officers responded in unison.
Chen Mu then made his way through the crowd and approached Liu Song and Li Tie, who were standing at the very edge. Upon seeing Chen Mu, they momentarily lost their usual relaxed demeanor and greeted him with a hint of nervousness.
"There's no need to be so formal, you two," Chen Mu said with a half-joke.
Liu Song, still cautious, replied, "Sir, now that you've risen in rank, you've crossed the Heavenly Gate. We, mere mortals, dare not presume to be on equal terms with you. Just give us your orders."
In this chaotic world, the more chaotic it is, the stricter the rules and hierarchy become. Now that Chen Mu had become the Senior Patrol Officer, even if he 'lowered himself to associate with them,' they still wouldn't dare address him as 'Elder Brother' as they did in the past. After all, Chen Mu now treated Qin Bei and the others as equals. If Qin Bei were to hear them addressing Chen Mu in such a familiar manner, it would be a disaster for them.
Chen Mu looked at Liu Song and Li Tie and said, "I've already discussed with the City Guard Commander, and your names have been reassigned to my jurisdiction. Starting tomorrow, you won't need to patrol the streets. Just stay in the main hall and await my orders."
Liu Song and Li Tie had known Chen Mu for several years, and although they weren't extremely close, Chen Mu considered them to be the patrol officers he knew best in the Nine Li City Guard Post. Now that Chen Mu had been promoted to Senior Patrol Officer, he still needed a few trusted subordinates to handle matters.
Upon hearing this, the other patrol officers looked at Liu Song and Li Tie with envious expressions.
"Staying in the main hall to await orders" meant that they would no longer be ordinary patrol officers on street duty but would become close aides to Chen Mu, following his commands. It wasn't a promotion, but the treatment was vastly different.
Serving under a Senior Patrol Officer meant becoming their trusted aide, which meant no more tedious patrol duties or taking turns for the monthly night patrols.
"Thank you, sir, for your favor!" Liu Song and Li Tie expressed their delight, repeatedly expressing their gratitude.
They had been whispering earlier, wondering if Chen Mu would remember their past acquaintance and give them a boost. Now that the dust had settled, they were naturally grateful.
Chen Mu nodded slightly and left the City Guard Headquarters without saying more. The patrol officers watched him leave, their eyes filled with a mix of envy and sighs.
...
News of Chen Mu's appointment as the Senior Patrol Officer of the Nine Li City Guard Post spread quickly throughout the Nine Li region within just half a day, reaching various influential figures. After all, for those living in the Nine Li region, the City Guard and gangs were the most prominent forces in their daily lives.
If it were just an ordinary patrol officer, it wouldn't be a big deal, as the City Guard would replace dozens of patrol officers every year. However, the Senior Patrol Officer was different; there were only five of them in total. Offending one of them could be quite troublesome, especially since rumors suggested that Chen Mu had a close relationship with the City Guard Commander, Min Baoyi. This made it necessary to treat the situation with caution.
The above was the reaction of local gentry, powerful families, and gang forces within the Nine Li region.
Beyond the Nine Li region, the entire Southern City District presented a different scene.
As night fell, the Southern City District Guard Headquarters remained brightly lit.
In a spacious and clean main hall, a man with fair skin sat at a table, holding a document in his hand.
He was He Mingxuan, the Deputy Commander of the Southern City District Guard, second only to Xu Hongyu in status, and his background was no less impressive than Xu Hongyu's. The surname 'He' was well-known throughout the Inner City, striking fear into the hearts of many.
"Nine Li... Chen Mu... quite interesting."
"At the age of twenty-two, he has grasped the sword technique through his own understanding. Indeed, he is a talent. No wonder Xu Hongyu has taken a special interest in him. However, your Yu Family is currently facing internal and external troubles, and if you want to continue fostering your own trusted aides within the City Guard, it won't be that easy."
He Mingxuan let out a cold smile and burned the page he was holding over a candle flame.
Ordinary people might not know Xu Hongyu's background, and the surname 'Xu' might be unfamiliar to some, but those with a bit of influence were aware that Xu Hongyu's mother was from the Yu Family, one of the direct lineages in the Inner City. She had followed her father's surname.
The rivalry between the He Family and the Yu Family within the City Guard was not a recent development but had been going on for years.
The City Guard had nearly two hundred people in each of the ten wards, and together with the Guard Headquarters, there were almost three thousand people in the entire Southern City District. The other three districts—Eastern, Southern, and Western—were not much different, totaling nearly twelve thousand personnel.
Such a large number of personnel was undoubtedly significant. Although they might not match the quality of the private armies cultivated by various factions, their sheer size, combined with the authority granted by the court, allowed them to openly carry out many tasks. If such a force were concentrated in the hands of a single faction, it would undoubtedly pose a threat, which was why there were checks and balances among the factions.
Xu Hongyu had been the Commander for only about two years, and despite her high position and authority, the number of trusted direct subordinates under her command was limited.
Chen Mu had displayed some talent, catching Xu Hongyu's attention, and she intended to cultivate him as a future trusted aide. However, there were also many who didn't want to see Chen Mu grow into Xu Hongyu's right-hand man.
"Hmm, a mere Senior Patrol Officer who hasn't even cultivated the Body Tempering Technique yet. It's not worth my personal 'favor,'" He Mingxuan thought for a moment, then summoned someone and gave a few instructions. He then calmly picked up his teacup and slowly sipped his tea.
Xu Hongyu had offended many people in the past two years. He Mingxuan only needed to leak some information about Chen Mu and then sit back and drink his tea. Soon enough, someone would take care of the matter for him, and even if Xu Hongyu became furious later, they wouldn't be able to trace it back to him," he thought.
(End of Chapter)
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