Chapter 7: Patrol
Chapter 7: Patrol
"Oh, I see." Chen Mu's expression revealed a moment of enlightenment.
In this day and age, any opportunity for advancement would spark fierce competition. Older patrol officers like Liu Song and Li Tie might have lost interest due to their declining strength and energy, feeling unable to master any new martial arts skills. However, the younger ones still harbored dreams of soaring high and rising swiftly in their careers.
Chen Mu, however, wasn't particularly enthusiastic. On one hand, the existence of the System meant that even the most skilled martial instructors couldn't compare. On the other, Ren Yan had just started learning himself, so how could he guide others? Even if he did learn some skills, whether he could teach others was another matter entirely. Teaching and personal practice were two different things.
To think that sucking up to Ren Yan for guidance would lead to mastering a skill was nothing but a fantasy.
Yet in this world, even the slightest glimmer of hope attracted people like moths to a flame.
"Chen Er, at your age, if you had the chance to train in swordsmanship, who knows, you might even develop some skills. We're too old to have such aspirations, why don't you go and take a look?" Li Tie said with a smile, addressing Chen Mu.
Chen Mu shook his head. "Martial arts aren't that easy to learn. If you don't train properly, it's no different from freehand combat."
In the past, he hadn't truly understood the essence of martial arts, but now that he had mastered swordsmanship, he knew better. At least at the 'Unranked' level, the difference between a horizontal slash and vertical slash in freehand combat wasn't that significant. Even if it was slightly better than freehand combat, in actual combat, blades had no eyes, and a mere graze could cause injury. Death was always an unpredictable outcome.
One had to train to at least the 'Rank 2' level to be considered somewhat skilled.
"Hehe, that's true. Martial arts aren't easy to master," Liu Song chimed in with a laugh. Being older, he knew of some who had studied in the Inner City Martial Arts Academy for a year or two, and while they did improve after leaving, there were also countless cases of people being hacked to death by random blades. The difference wasn't that noticeable.
Their conversation was quiet, and in the noisy corner of the courtyard, it didn't draw much attention. However, Ren Yan, who was surrounded and flattered by the crowd, noticed Chen Mu as soon as he entered the courtyard.
Although they were a bit far away, and he couldn't make out their entire conversation, he caught a few words and lip movements, which made him feel slightly displeased.
Chen Mu was the youngest among the Nine Streets City Patrol Corps, aside from himself. On several occasions, he had invited Chen Mu to join him for a drink, but Chen Mu had always declined. Chen Mu never gave him any face, which irritated him. He felt that Chen Mu was looking down on him because of his younger age.
Now, with the news that Chen Mu's family had come into good fortune and he had the opportunity to learn swordsmanship at a martial arts academy, the entire courtyard was buzzing with people trying to get close to Chen Mu. Even the older patrol officers were more amicable towards him, all except for Chen Mu, who hadn't approached him since he entered the courtyard. The look in his eyes lacked any respect.
Ren Yan's heart sank, but he maintained a cheerful facade and took a few steps towards Chen Mu. "Chen, you said that if you don't train properly, it's no different from freehand combat. Since I've only just started learning, how about you guide me a little?"
Chen Mu had no interest in arguing with Ren Yan. Moreover, Ren Yan was younger than him, and in his second life, he considered him as a child. So, he shook his head and said, "It's just an outsider's joke. You have this opportunity, and in the future, when you master a sword technique, you'll rise swiftly."
Ren Yan's expression softened, and he nodded at Chen Mu before turning to chat with the other patrol officers.
In the future, he would master swordsmanship, rise swiftly, and become a senior patrol officer or even a patrol commander. There was indeed no need to take a regular patrol officer like Chen Mu seriously. He had heard that Chen Mu's family was impoverished, and they wouldn't be of the same status in the future.
The brief exchange between Chen Mu and Ren Yan didn't elicit much response from the crowd. They all just smiled, except for some of the younger patrol officers who secretly observed Chen Mu. They thought Chen Mu didn't understand the situation and should have taken this chance to suck up to Ren Yan. Once Ren Yan rose to power and became a senior patrol officer, why would he pay any attention to them?
However, no one bothered to remind Chen Mu of anything. After all, everyone had their own aspirations. If he wanted to spend his life as a patrol officer with the older ones, there wasn't much more to say.
Even Liu Song and Li Tie didn't say anything.
They were slightly surprised, though, as they were quite familiar with Chen Mu. They knew he was usually cautious in his actions, and they assumed he had some ambitions. They hadn't expected him to be so indifferent today, perhaps something had happened, and he had suddenly decided to live an ordinary life?
Well, that was fine too.
If one didn't have any aspirations, they wouldn't take any risks. Even if they, as patrol officers, lived in poverty, at least they had food on the table and a job they could do until they were old.
"Alright, time to get back to patrol, or else Qin Tou will give us an earful."
Liu Song finished his bitter tea and stood up, calling out to Chen Mu and Li Tie.
"Okay."
Chen Mu, who had only drunk half his tea, also rose and joined Li Tie and Liu Song as they left the courtyard together. The other patrol officers in the courtyard soon dispersed in small groups, though many secretly shook their heads as they watched Chen Mu's departing figure.
...
The Nine Streets area was not small, and the most bustling part was lined with taverns, bustling with people.
Chen Mu, Liu Song, Li Tie, and the others' patrol mainly involved a quick sweep through the busier, more important alleys and streets. Their sole purpose was to intimidate local thugs and hooligans, ensuring they didn't cause trouble in broad daylight or disrupt the lively taverns and markets.
After all, many taverns and markets paid a monthly fee to local gang forces and the City Guard to keep the peace. They didn't expect protection, but at least they needed to maintain a certain level of face.
Of course.
None of this silver ever reached the hands of low-ranking patrol officers like Chen Mu.
Most of it went to the Patrol Commander, with the Senior Patrol Officers getting a smaller share.
After a casual patrol, Liu Song suddenly felt like having a drink, so he dragged Li Tie and Chen Mu to a tavern. After Chen Mu's refusal, they settled for tea instead.
These days, even if a patrol officer openly went to a tavern for a drink, the worst that could happen if they were caught by a Senior Patrol Officer was a scolding. Chen Mu, however, was always cautious and meticulous, preferring to endure rather than make a mistake and leave himself open to trouble. He didn't want to give anyone a handle to grasp, as he knew that if he were made an example of, a minor issue could be blown out of proportion.
Li Tie agreed with Chen Mu's reasoning, and Liu Song didn't insist. The three of them went to the tavern, where they were greeted by a bowing waiter. They sat by the window, ordered a pot of tea, and some peanuts and fennel beans.
◇6◇9◇Book◇Bar◇
As they ate and chatted, a commotion broke out outside.
Chen Mu turned to look out the window and saw a fight not far away, causing passersby to scatter.
One group was clearly losing, retreating step by step. Even some nearby vendors who hadn't packed up yet were caught in the chaos. It was hard to tell who was fighting and who was being robbed; everything was in disarray.
Still, neither Chen Mu nor Liu Song and Li Tie moved to intervene. They watched from the distance, sipping their tea.
Such incidents were all too common.
As long as it didn't involve the taverns, markets, or pawnshops, and was just a street fight, the patrol officers usually didn't interfere unless someone was killed in broad daylight. Then, the City Guard might step in.
Moreover, both Chen Mu and Liu Song recognized the fighting groups as gang members, which meant the patrol officers wouldn't get involved.
"Looks like the Black Serpent Gang is in trouble."
Liu Song squinted, watching the distant fight and identifying the group that was losing.
"Oh? How so?"
Li Tie, munching on a fennel bean, looked over curiously. "But the Black Serpent Gang has over a hundred members, and they've got some real tough fighters. They've been making waves lately."
Chen Mu also looked at Liu Song, waiting for an explanation.
He knew the Black Serpent Gang as one of the more powerful gangs in the Nine Streets. They controlled the street where he lived and several nearby ones, collecting 'protection fees' every month.
Of course, as a proper patrol officer, he wasn't bothered by the gang. Whenever they saw him, they'd nod respectfully.
"Hey, didn't you know? The Black Serpent Gang suffered a major blow recently. Their leader was badly injured, and several of their gang leaders were killed or wounded. They might not last much longer."
"Look at the ones chasing them relentlessly. I remember them as the Crimson Gold Gang. Just a few months ago, they were unknown, but now they've reportedly taken over much of the Black Serpent Gang's turf. I bet they'll replace the entire Black Serpent Gang soon."
Liu Song chuckled, taking a sip of tea as he spoke.
Hearing this, Li Tie was visibly moved. "So, the Black Serpent Gang is finished? But their leader was a formidable figure. I heard he was a master of gun techniques, his shots as swift and venomous as a snake. He once killed dozens of people with just a gun. Among our City Guard, only the Patrol Commander could match him."
Not just Li Tie, but even Chen Mu remembered the Black Serpent Gang leader. The man had once come to the City Guard over an issue, and even the Senior Patrol Officer above Chen Mu couldn't handle him. In the end, the Patrol Commander had to step in personally to resolve the matter.
(End of Chapter)
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