Promise!

Chapter 135, Hibernation

On the morning of January 30th, news spread that Zhuang Jin would be leaving Dongqiaowu next month and being transferred to the east of the city, and people came to visit him in an endless stream.

The seven guards, all from the same "capital," came in twos and threes, a total of six or seven, each carrying carefully prepared gifts. They were no longer as cold and arrogant as before.

"Recent propaganda has been spreading about Zhuang Zhenshou's exploits: anticipating the enemy's moves, stealthily escaping by land, and consecutively slaying three members of the Medicine King Gang's Seven Scriptures... His name is legendary!"

"Yes, when others ask about this, they feel proud to hear that I am from the same town as Zhuang Zhenshou and that we know each other!"

"Zhuang, the town garrison commander, is going to the east of the city next month to recuperate from his injuries? It's only natural! It's only natural! Considering the current situation... we are truly envious!"

……

It was only today that Zhuang Jin realized that these once arrogant colleagues would actually take the initiative to greet her, offer topics of conversation, and flatter her.

This really made him feel a little uncomfortable for a while, and he even wanted them to return to their former arrogant demeanor.

"Just as I predicted, martial artists value strength above all else. Those who surpass them in strength will realize the gravity of the situation… And in the future, when the gap in strength reaches a certain level, all the constraints of background and social standing will be shattered and destroyed!"

Zhuang Jin thought to herself, without showing any displeasure. She was polite and courteous, yet subtly distant.

This is normal. Adding flowers to brocade is nothing compared to providing charcoal in the snow.

These people were also self-aware and did not harbor any illusions of mutual support like Liu Licheng. They came here more to apologize for their previous indifference and subtle isolation.

To put this into perspective, it roughly means: We admit we used to be a bit loud... no, a bit arrogant, but who would have thought that after reaching the seventh meridian, breaking through to a higher realm would be as easy as eating and drinking? Breaking through to the eighth meridian in two months, who knows what the future holds... We acknowledge your prowess and are here to apologize. If you ever reach the tenth, twelfth, or even higher meridian-opening realm, don't bring up those petty grievances or dwell on those past little things!
Zhuang Jin naturally understood this point and wouldn't hold these things against him. However, to reassure these people, to avoid needlessly making enemies, and considering his own reputation, he accepted the gifts.

……

That afternoon, after leaving Dongqiaowu, Chen Yun and her two maids, Song Lan and Yu Xiaoxiao, packed their things.

At the eighth level of cultivation and with two guards, compared to the seventh level, in addition to the improved basic monthly allowance, food and clothing allowance, one can also be equipped with two servants and two maids. However, due to the Min Shang incident, the servants are not well understood, so to avoid falling into another trap, the servants are no longer needed.

The General Affairs Department is fairly honest; they don't need servants, and this payment is converted into cash.

As for the maid, Chen Yun had been in the outer courtyard for so long and was quite familiar with her, so she didn't refuse. Choosing another one could help share some of the trivial matters and keep her company.

It is said that Chen Yun is now a legend among the maids in the outer courtyard. She has a discerning eye and chose Zhuang Jin. In just half a year, as Zhuang Jin broke through his cultivation level one after another and rose to prominence, as Zhuang Jin's wife, her status rose with her husband's. For example, the deputy director and director who used to manage the Shen family headquarters now all respectfully call Chen Yun "Madam Zhuang".
Furthermore, it is foreseeable that as Zhuang Jin's potential continues to materialize and her realm and status continue to rise, the scope of her influence will also expand accordingly. Who knows, one day, even the directors and deputy directors of the Shen family headquarters will be three points lower than her.

Further up, well, they don't dare to think about it yet.

In short, because of Chen Yun's example, other martial arts performers recruited from outside the palace who reached the level of servants were even more popular and were scrambled for by the maids in the outer courtyard, all hoping to make a successful bet like Chen Yun.

One day after dinner, Chen Yun brought up this matter as an amusing story, and Zhuang Jin shook his head with a smile upon hearing it.

Those people only see Chen Yun's current success, but they don't see how much she has silently sacrificed: taking on all the trivial matters, providing meticulous care and companionship, maintaining relationships with colleagues... It can be said that Chen Yun has made a significant contribution to Zhuang Jin's rapid progress to where she is today.

And this time, it was also because of Zhuang Jin that we took on enormous risks.

It can only be said that people are only amazed by the flower of success in its present moment, but they do not know how much effort and blood and tears are behind it.

Getting back to the main point, the second maidservant spot was also highly sought after, and the couple eventually decided to choose Song Lan, whom they were familiar with.

……

"Husband, everything is packed. Shall we set off now?" Chen Yun asked as she came over.

"Ah."

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly and followed along, heading east of the city.

"This trip will allow us to avoid the intense follow-up battles and observe the situation from the sidelines. The Eighth Prince has also hinted that this period will be at least six months."

In just six months, he accumulated over 20,000 battle merits. In that safe environment, it was foreseeable that his strength would experience a significant boost!
'At least ten meridians, maybe even eleven. If we're more optimistic, and can stay in the east of the city a little longer, we could even reach the Great Perfection of the Twelve Meridians of the Qi Condensation Realm… uh, that's unlikely. Considering that the meat from refined-level beasts gets more expensive the higher you go, battle merits probably won't be enough!'

However, in any case, after this period of dormancy in the east of the city, when Zhuang Jin reappears, he will undoubtedly be completely different and have entered another level.

Rumble!
At this moment, spring thunder roared in the sky, rolling endlessly; it was the time of the Awakening of Insects.

……

In the inner courtyard of the Shen family, in a small garden.

It's only the time of year, around the time of the Awakening of Insects, yet this place is already bursting with flowers, peaches, and plums, a garden full of spring colors.

Under a peach tree, a stone table and benches were laid out, and the Eighth Young Master Shen Xuchen was playing chess with an elderly man with white eyebrows.

A gentle breeze stirred, and occasionally petals fell, landing on the two of them.

At this moment, Shen Xuchen stared intently at the chessboard, occasionally pausing to think deeply, clearly under considerable pressure.

The white-browed elder opposite seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding scenery, exuding an indescribable harmony and naturalness. On the chessboard, every piece he placed was perfectly placed and appropriate, interconnected, making the most of each piece and forming an invisible cage that sealed off the heavens and the earth.

The white-browed elder was none other than Shen Xianhong, the head of the Shen family. At this moment, after Shen Xuchen had pondered for a long time and finally made his move, he gently picked up a chess piece and placed it down, asking, "How is the Zhuang Jin case going?"

A mere martial artist of the Eight Classics is naturally not worth the personal attention of the Shen family head, but this matter is of great importance because of its behind-the-scenes impact and concerns the foundation of the Shen family's order, so it is inevitable that he will pay attention.

"Zhuang Jin has agreed to compensation and will be transferred to the east of the city next month... Zhao Bin and Miao Shao will also be assigned to the south of the city, the most dangerous area adjacent to the Medicine King Gang... These two and their families are being watched, and they will be put on high alert if they make any small moves..."

At this point, Shen Xuchen made a vertical cutting gesture.

Shen Xianhong nodded slightly and asked Shen Xuchen, "What are your thoughts on how each party is responding to this matter?"

Shen Xuchen thought for a moment and replied, "Zhuang Jin is calm, rational and reasonable. He did not take action on his own, but reported it to the authorities... Director Mu and Director Li handled this matter well, followed procedures and did not do anything stupid."

"This case has attracted too much attention, and Zhao Bin and Miao Shao are both from the upper-middle class, so we must have solid evidence..."

He emphasized the words "solid evidence": "Otherwise, with the judiciary corrupted, everyone will feel insecure, and if things escalate, even Chief Justice Mu and Chief Justice Li will get into trouble."

"In the end, Miao Shao and Zhao Bin were rather foolish. They couldn't see the situation clearly and relied on this to their advantage. They were stubborn and offended the General Affairs Department and the Law Enforcement Department... Now they seem to have escaped a calamity, but they are already being watched. If these two have any disloyal thoughts or actions, they will be killed and their families wiped out in an instant. If they don't move, they will only have to work for my Shen family, shedding blood and sweat... Zhuang Jin's existence is also a torment for these two. In the future, we can squeeze out all their value and make Zhuang Jin... more loyal to them... In my opinion, these two will probably have their entire families wiped out in the future... It can be considered that they have received their due punishment."

"Hmm!" Shen Xianhong listened and said calmly, finally placing a piece on the board.

"Father's chess skills are superb!" Shen Xuchen resigned after seeing his large group of stones captured.

"You were hiding your true intentions and didn't give it your all."

Shen Xianhong shook his head slightly: "How's the other matter I instructed you to handle?" "I've already given Zhuang Jin a hint about his trip to the east of the city, promising that as long as things are settled, whatever benefits can be seized will be his own..."

"Hmm, do you know why I didn't give you a formal order, but instead had you offer benefits and incentives?"

"Forced commands are not the way to manage people. They will breed resentment, sow the seeds of future problems, and make the other party unwilling and reluctant to do anything. On the contrary, enticing them with benefits is the best way to motivate them and get them to take initiative..."

Shen Xuchen spoke clearly and logically, then paused and changed the subject, saying, "But I think Zhuang Jin is a cautious person. Even if you offer him benefits and inducements, he may not be willing to act as a tool to stir up the stagnant waters in the east of the city."

"look!"

Shen Xianhong stood tall and gestured for Shen Xuchen to look over.

Just then, a breeze suddenly arose, sweeping across the trees in the garden, causing the fallen petals to patter down like rain.

"The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease? Father is wise!" Shen Xuchen exclaimed.

However, after studying Zhuang Jin's file, he believed that Zhuang Jin should be overestimated as much as possible. Therefore, even if such a situation were encountered, he might still be able to remain calm, reconcile the relationship, and protect himself. The final result might still disappoint his father.

Shen Xianhong seemed to see through Shen Xuchen's thoughts and said calmly, "It's just a casual move. If it succeeds, great; if it doesn't, so be it."

"As long as the war with the Medicine King Gang continues, the number of dead and wounded martial artists will only increase... Although most of the casualties are those recruited from outside, there are also those who are constantly being transferred to the front lines and dying from the headquarters, the east of the city, and other places not adjacent to the Medicine King Gang's elite forces... The old and decaying are dying, while newcomers like Zhuang Jin are growing and rising, and the proportion of fresh blood in my Shen family will continue to increase... The tide of history will always push reality in the direction I want it to develop..."

These words are utterly shocking! The head of the Shen family actually views the war with the Medicine King Gang in this way!
Upon deeper reflection, there are even more chilling aspects to consider. For example, is the rigid and inflexible tactics of the Medicine King Gang, besides the fact that the rules are favorable to the Shen family and they are unwilling to break them, and that they can win by relying on their superior strength and fighting a dull battle step by step, also aimed at fighting rats and replenishing their own blood?
And was the ambush on the fleet really as simple as it appeared? Did the Medicine King Gang truly win the first battle? Now that the war has escalated, is this what the Shen family wants at this stage?

"This is a righteous and open strategy! Father, you are so farsighted!" In that instant, Shen Xuchen thought of many things and was filled with admiration and respect.

"You're wrong. The art of controlling people and the tricks of the trade are minor skills. Even overt strategies and grand schemes are hard to rely on."

As Shen Xianhong spoke, he looked at the chessboard behind him: "In that game just now, if you had gone all out from the beginning, what do you think your chances of winning would have been?"

After thinking for a moment, Shen Xuchen gave an objective answer: "Thirty percent."

"No, you don't have a single cent."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xianhong shook his head, raised his eyebrows to look at a petal falling in front of him, and casually swept it away with his sleeve.

Swish!
At this moment, the soft petal, like a meteorite made of refined steel, shot swiftly into the center of the bluestone chessboard, accompanied by a streak of fiery red light.

A few breaths later, with a crack, the entire bluestone chessboard shattered into four pieces.

Shen Xianhong turned around and looked at Shen Xuchen: "Chen'er, do you... understand?"

"I..." At this moment, Shen Xuchen's forehead was covered in cold sweat, as if he had just woken up from a dream, and he said with difficulty, "I understand now. Interpersonal skills and schemes can only be secondary. One's own strength is the foundation... I have been lax lately..."

"Okay, good that you understand. Go ahead!"

"Your son takes his leave!" Shen Xushen walked a short distance and looked back. Under a peach tree, his father stood in a blue robe. His white eyebrows, which represented the years and wisdom, were very striking. At this moment, he had restrained all his imposing manner and looked like an ordinary teacher.

In the hearts of the brothers, their father was indeed a good teacher and helpful friend, just as he had been since they were young, imparting knowledge and teaching them skills... The mountain of their father seemed to have no end, and no matter how or when they looked at it, it was always a towering peak to be revered.

'My brothers and sisters and I have only learned a few things from our father, yet we are called dragons and phoenixes among men. How much more so our father himself? It is an honor for the Shen family to have such a leader, but a great misfortune for the Shen family's enemies and ambitious people,' Shen Xuchen thought to himself.

……

East of the city, Qingyuanfang.

This is where Zhuang Jin was assigned this month. Like Dongqiaowu, Qingyuanfang has six streets under its jurisdiction: Qingping, Qingming, Qingning, Qingqiong, Qingyun, and Qingan.

Because the eastern part of the city is peaceful and free from war, and is relatively prosperous and wealthy, the interests are too great, so it is managed in a fragmented manner, and there is no capital garrison above the ward garrison.

Or rather, the Ten Classics Garrison was originally established temporarily along the line of the Medicine King Gang in the north and south of the city due to the war with the Medicine King Gang.

Of the six streets, besides the three streets' core members, Xue Yandao, Duan Tao, and Lin Hong each occupied their own positions, there were also three original street garrison commanders.

One man named Ban Ming, a master of the Four Classics, spoke little, yet every word he uttered was concise, to the point, and watertight.

One of them was named Song Jinghui. He was at the Fifth Rank and seemed to know how to get along with people. He was full of flattering words, but he wasn't like Qian Wende, a lackey who flattered without any bottom line. Instead, he was more like a friend or colleague, praising and complimenting in every way.

The last one was named Huang Hua. He was a master of the Six Classics, and his demeanor and tone of voice showed that he was not as honest and respectful as the previous two.

Another very interesting point is that although this person is clearly the strongest of the three and seems to be the center of the group, it is precisely him who is asked questions and is the one who gets the short end of the stick, which is a thankless and troublesome task.

"My lord, I wonder what the regulations are for our streets this month?" Huang Hua asked.

Zhuang Jin gave the man a deep look, then looked at Ban Ming and Song Jinghui, finding the three of them quite interesting. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "Let things remain the same as before!"

In situations where there is no clear understanding, it is better to remain still than to act. Doing nothing will prevent mistakes, and following established practices will at least prevent the situation from collapsing.

Ban Ming, Song Jinghui, and Huang Jun all breathed a sigh of relief when they heard that Zhuang Jin had no intention of interfering with the matter below. This meant that their interests would not be affected, and it was best if nothing happened to either side.

Zhuang Jin observed the three people's micro-expressions, and upon seeing this scene, his eyes narrowed slightly: 'I've long heard that the east side of the city is lucrative, but it's also a place with deeply entrenched relationships and many shady dealings!'

The Eighth Prince, Shen Xuchen, had hinted that he could do whatever he wanted, with the General Affairs Department and the Law Enforcement Department backing him up. He could seize all the benefits during the process.

"While charging into battle might indeed bring in a large sum of money, it would be extremely draining. Not to mention, cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents…it will inevitably provoke a fierce backlash, and I might be driven out before six months are up."

The effort and the reward weren't worth it!
"My priority now is to digest these 20,000-plus battle merits and convert them into strength. With strength, everything will fall into place. Conversely, if I don't have enough strength, why should I waste so much money underground?"

Zhuang Jin politely declined any offer of such a drastic measure, a way to heal the Shen family's wounds, or, in other words, to burn herself like a candle to illuminate the Shen family's future.

After the meeting, Zhuang Jin kept Qian Wende behind: "Go and investigate, especially our Qingyuanfang neighborhood, and see what the situation is... If you have any problems, go find Xue Yandao, Duan Tao, and Lin Hong, the three street magistrates; they will help you..."

"Brother Zhuang, don't worry!" Qian Wende's eyes widened upon hearing this, his expression excited. He patted his chest repeatedly, thinking that Zhuang Jin had only superficially appeased Huang Jun and the other two, but was actually plotting to secretly gather evidence and take action.

"It's just an investigation, don't make a fuss."

Zhuang Jin saw through Qian Wende's thoughts and gave him an extra instruction, telling him not to overstep his bounds. Then he waved for him to leave, secretly thinking: 'Although my idea is for both sides to remain neutral and not interfere with each other, understanding is still necessary. At the very least, I can't let my subordinates treat me like a clay statue.'

Having a knife in your hand and not using it, and not having a knife in your hand, are two different things.

……

(End of this chapter)