After three rounds of drinks.
Min Baoyi was slightly tipsy, and with a hearty slap on Chen Mu's shoulder, he laughed and said, "We've had enough food and wine, and I hear you're not yet married. Would you like big brother to take you to a good place? The delights there are quite remarkable."
Once he uttered these words, it was naturally understood what kind of place he was talking about. Even though Chen Mu's thoughts had not yet stirred, the qi-blood within his body surged tumultuously ahead of him. Just when he was about to act upon his impulses, he suddenly recalled the Golden Jade Skin Toughening Technique, which mentioned that before cultivating had succeeded, one must strictly guard their qi-blood. Immediately, he forcefully suppressed the restlessness in his heart.
"While I should certainly accompany brother Min in such cultured pursuits, I've just begun my Body Refining, and my Cultivation is not yet complete…"
Chen Mu tactfully refused.
Min Baoyi immediately slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "Ah, I forgot about that! Indeed, the Golden Jade Skin Toughening Technique requires one to lock down their qi-blood tightly. You're focusing on cultivating this technique; I'm afraid you'll have to postpone matters of marriage for several years."
"No rush, no rush."
Chen Mu said, shaking his head with a smile.
In fact, just yesterday, through Wang Gong, someone had tried to arrange a match for him. After all, he was Ninth District's newly appointed Head Constable, highly regarded by those above, his prospects broad, and only twenty-two years old. There were plenty of local gentry willing to offer their daughters in marriage.
However, Chen Mu's heart was not set on this for the time being, and given that he wanted to practice the Golden Jade Skin Toughening Technique, he tactfully refused all proposals.
"Alright, there's plenty of time in the future."
Min Baoyi stood up, accompanied Chen Mu down from the tavern, and watched him leave. Then he stroked his chin and said, "His resolve is also not bad… Well, it makes sense, at his age to have comprehended Blade Momentum, how could his willpower be lacking?"
At this point, he couldn't help but think back to when he was cultivating Skin Toughening. The slightest temptation had made him unable to resist heading to the pleasure houses. From there, things escalated beyond control, and as a result, the process of his Skin Toughening was delayed by a full three years!
Otherwise, he might have stepped into the Tendon Changing Level by now.
The past, however, cannot be spoken of.
In any case, Xu Hongyu has taken a liking to this young man. His perceptiveness is without question, his prudence and determination in his actions are noteworthy, and his background is extremely clean. Indeed, he is worth developing, and Min can give a detailed report to Xu Hongyu.
…
Having parted ways with Min Baoyi.
Chen Mu had no interest in aimlessly wandering about and hurried home.
While drinking with Min Baoyi, he deliberately restrained himself. He hadn't drunk much, and his natural capacity for alcohol was good. Now, with the addition of practicing Skin Toughening, his qi-blood was abundant and he felt essentially unaffected.
Yu Family, He Family, Red Gold Gang…
Chen Mu pondered the multitude of news he had received from Min Baoyi. For now, it seemed the most prudent thing to do was to stay quiet in Ninth District, practice martial arts, occasionally deal with a few petty thieves, and collect tax silver.
In fact, after understanding the general structure of the City Defense Division and the overt and covert struggles between various powers, he even thought that if he did not become the Head Constable and remained an inconspicuous government officer, it would be a better plan.
Although the Head Constable was just a small role to the truly powerful, he was, after all, involved with Xu Hongyu, which would inevitably put him on others' radar and attract some trouble.
But with opportunity comes hardship, such is the way of the world.
If he had not caught Xu Hongyu's attention, he would not have obtained the Golden Jade Skin Toughening Technique, and hundreds of silver would be a fanciful dream. Likewise, it would not have been possible to receive relocation gifts from various local gentry and powers within such a short few days.
Although each gift was not very valuable, the total still amounted to a hundred taels of silver in income.
And it had only been a few days.
With money, power, and a path for advancement, his entire life had flipped upside down. Even if it involved some trouble, Chen Mu had no complaints—after all, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
"The practice of Skin Toughening will be quick, but to develop Momentum with the Gale Blade Technique will take a much longer time."
Chen Mu had learned this earlier from Min Baoyi.
Above Blade Momentum indeed lies a realm known as 'Blade Intent', also referred to as Artistic Conception. However, such a thing is even more nebulous and elusive than Momentum—it's extremely difficult to leap to that all in one go, which is why there is an intermediate stage of accumulation between Momentum and Intent.
It's called Multiple Momentum.
As the name suggests, after mastering one Blade Momentum, one can simultaneously cultivate other Blade Techniques. If one could develop a second Blade Momentum, then integrating the two would result in 'Dual Momentum,' which is somewhat more powerful than a single Momentum.
However, for Martial Artists to master a single Momentum is already difficult, many spend their entire lives in hard practice and still cannot reach that Realm. To master Multiple Momentum is even more challenging.
As for the higher Triple Momentum, Quadruple Momentum...
The number of people who can achieve such a level is few and far between, generally important figures, and even Min Baoyi knew only a handful.
"Ordinary people don't have the energy and time to study multiple Blade Momentums, but I don't have this problem with the system panel. At most, it will take me half a year to master a second Blade Momentum."
Chen Mu nodded inwardly at this. At least the path he had chosen before was not wrong.
Even if one cultivates various Blade Techniques without reaching a higher level of Artistic Conception, at least one can steadily master 'Multiple Momentum,' always maintaining an advantage in the domain of skills. This would be his extraordinary strength.
He pondered this in his heart.
Unknowingly, Chen Mu walked into a somewhat secluded alleyway.
By the time he came back to his senses, he was already in the middle of this quiet alley.
Since it was broad daylight, still around noon, Chen Mu didn't mind and continued straight ahead.
But after walking further, several figures suddenly emerged from the nearest corner ahead. These men were dressed in tight-fitting, old clothes, some holding clubs, others wielding shiny machetes, and their eyes revealed traces of ferocity.
"Hmm?"
Chen Mu's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Suddenly, he heard a noise from behind, turned his head to look back, and saw more shady figures approaching from the rear of the alley, all dressed in shabby clothes, yet each radiated a vicious aura.
With villains appearing both in front and behind, Chen Mu finally confirmed that these were not gangsters just passing by; they were targeting him!
Although he had gone out with Min Baoyi for drinks without wearing his government officer uniform, to say that these people who came at him didn't recognize him would be a big joke... To attack a Head Constable with weapons in broad daylight within the Ninth District was outrageously bold.
Not to mention ordinary villains—even a gang with a formidable reputation like the Red Gold Gang, if they dared to act this way, would surely enrage Xu Hongyu, the Chief Constable. Even if she led a direct charge to eliminate the Red Gold Gang, she would be justified!
He didn't recall offending anyone in recent days.
Chen Mu's face grew stern, but he didn't stop. Instead, he continued walking forward, his right hand already gripping the handle of the Servant's Knife at his waist. Now, he was never without his most critical weapon at any time.
The number of villains coming towards him increased.
At least seventeen or eighteen people turned out of the corner of the alley, further deepening Chen Mu's frown.
With at least thirty or forty people in front and behind, even in these chaotic times, it would be impossible to mount such a large ambush here in broad daylight without alarming various parties.
These men didn't speak but walked straight towards him. As they came within four or five meters of Chen Mu, the leaders simultaneously threw something white and powdery at him, accompanied by a pungent odor.
Chen Mu, ever vigilant, reacted quickly. He immediately closed his eyes and leaped backward, avoiding the lime powder thrown at him.
"Just a few days ago, I used this very trick on Tang Quan, and now someone has used it against me so quickly. Truly, what goes around comes around..." Chen Mu thought to himself.
And Min Baoyi had just told him that as long as he was cautious in this territory, nothing would happen. It had not been long since they parted, and the contradiction came as fast as it could be.
This time the distance was very close, but Chen Mu ultimately dodged most of it, only a bit touched him, not greatly affecting him. After the dodge, he immediately surged forward again, his Servant's Knife in hand sweeping through the air like a wild whirlwind and brutally striking down!
The winds were chaotic, the western wind howled!
Crack!
The leader, who met him with a knife, was only able to clash once before Chen Mu's ferocious blow overpowered him. The Servant's Knife pressed against the opponent's blade, sparking as it slid downward, slicing open the man's throat and causing blood to spurt out instantly.
"Attacking a government officer in broad daylight, do you all wish to rebel?"
Chen Mu shouted coldly, his voice echoing through the alley. With the intimidating force of his murderous blow, he momentarily stunned all the villains present.