Promise!

Chapter 147, Departure

The inner courtyard of the Shen family, the small courtyard of the eighth young master, Shen Xuchen.

This place truly lives up to its reputation as the residence of the young master of the Shen family. The courtyard is serene and elegant, with lush greenery, a babbling brook that glistens in the sunlight, and a breeze blowing across the stream, filling the air with the chirping of cicadas.

Shen Xuchen and Zhuang Jin sat facing each other in the pavilion. Shen Xuchen poured tea for Zhuang Jin and sighed with a complicated expression, "I didn't expect that Zhuang Jin would reach the Tenth Scripture Realm in just half a year!"

When he first heard of Zhuang Jin, both of them were at the seventh level of cultivation. He had been cultivating diligently for the past two months and had just broken through to the eighth level last month. But Zhuang Jin was already at the tenth level... The gap had not only not narrowed, but had widened. This was simply outrageous!
Although the cultivation methods were different, and for some reason he did not take the pills to break through the bottleneck, even so, one could only say that Zhuang Jin was a freak.

Zhuang Jin thought to himself, 'If you knew that I broke through the eleventh meridian after registering for promotion yesterday, you would probably be even more astonished.' But on the surface, he humbly said, 'There is no war in the east of the city. In such a stable environment, I can focus on cultivation. I have also worked harder than ordinary people, which is why I have achieved what I have today.'

Shen Xuchen listened, outwardly nodding in agreement, but inwardly he thought, 'If all it takes is a stable environment and hard work to break through to higher realms, then so many people wouldn't be stuck at their bottlenecks.'

It can only be said that such talent is innate and cannot be envied by others. He can only comfort himself with the idea that "not competing for short-term gains, but going far is the key to victory."

As the two chatted, Shen Xuchen spoke about the current situation: "In the north of the city, the Medicine King Gang has been completely driven out, and my Shen family has won a great victory... However, in the south of the city, which borders the Medicine King Gang, because of the loss of the north, the Medicine King Gang's forces have united, and the fighting is becoming increasingly bloody and brutal..."

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly upon hearing this, not thinking that the other party was only saying this much today, and waited for what was to come.

Sure enough, Shen Xuchen continued, "The six-month period you mentioned has come to an end... Commander Zhuang is now at the Tenth Rank, which would make him a commander in both the north and south of the city. It's difficult to assign him to a position in the north... Only the south, which borders the Medicine King Gang, urgently needs martial artists..."

However, he then changed the subject: "Of course, if Commander Zhuang is willing to take on the responsibility, I can also decide to let him remain in the east of the city..."

Zhuang Jin understood what he meant: He was currently at the Tenth Scripture Realm, and with the war in the north of the city over, there were only so many positions available, making it difficult to assign him to any particular post. He could only go to the south of the city, where manpower was most needed, or he could remain in the east, but as a scapegoat…

He had already guessed this, and immediately said, "Thank you for your kindness, Eighth Young Master. However, I have been fortunate enough to receive your care and have recovered from my injuries after half a year of recuperation. Since the southern part of the city needs people now, I will go to the place where the Shen family needs me most next month!"

These are beautiful words, but they mean a polite refusal to be taken to the knife, preferring to go to the south of the city.

Yes, Zhuang Jin thought that if he was going to stay in the east of the city to work as a knife, he might as well go to the south of the city!

The more he learned about the current situation in the east of the city during the past six months, the more troublesome it seemed. So troublesome that even with his current open and covert understandings, he was unwilling to get involved.

"The powerful and entrenched forces in the east of the city are deeply entrenched. If I were to take the fall, I would be targeted by the entire East City Rat faction, like dancing on a knife's edge... In this kind of life-or-death struggle that touches upon fundamental interests, don't expect any tenderness or compassion. The other side will use any means necessary and is capable of anything. Who knows what might happen?"

"In contrast, I've already inquired about the battlefield in the south of the city. The fighting is limited to those below the Meridian Opening Realm, with the highest being the Twelve Meridian Condensation Realm. These Twelve Meridian Condensation Realm warriors rarely make a move; they mostly serve as cover... I currently have eleven meridians, and my movement technique is the Swift Wind Step. With this strength, as long as I don't stand out among the many warriors, I'm actually in a seemingly precarious but actually safe situation. It's actually in the east of the city that I'm in a seemingly safe but actually precarious situation!"

"Also, after six months of losses, our battle merits are almost depleted. It's a good time to replenish them. Zhao Bin is also in the south of the city; we can take care of him while we're at it."

Various factors led Zhuang Jin to prefer going to the south of the city.

"Very well, Zhuang Zhenshou is resolute, so I won't force him." Shen Xuchen gave Zhuang Jin a deep look. Although he knew that with Zhuang Jin's character, it was unlikely that he would be deceived or tempted by appearances, his clear-headedness and decisiveness still impressed him.

Today, Shen Xuchen invited Zhuang Jin to a small gathering, mainly to discuss this matter. After discussing this matter, they chatted casually about the rest, and Zhuang Jin took the opportunity to ask about the offspring of martial artists.

"Zhuang, the town magistrate, is asking about this!"

Shen Xushen said, "The probability of a martial artist and an ordinary person who has never practiced martial arts having children is indeed lower than that of a martial artist and another martial artist, or an ordinary person and another ordinary person."

"However, your wife is not pregnant yet, and the main reason lies with the garrison commander Zhuang!"

"Oh?" Zhuang Jin looked over.

"The Black Fiend Technique is cultivated rapidly, squeezing out potential and refining the body's essence into internal energy, which is naturally detrimental to offspring..."

"This isn't right, is it?" Zhuang Jin had a question, citing examples such as Ping Yongfeng, Chang Hetong, and Xing Yan, all of whom had children, and more than one.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuchen's eyes flashed with a hint of resentment for a moment: "But none of them are like Zhuang Zhenshou, breaking through realms so quickly, as if there were no limits! When you're stuck at a bottleneck for a long time, and the Black Fiend Technique no longer instinctively refines essence, then things will be fine..."

Zhuang Jin listened expressionlessly and nodded, but inwardly he was speechless: 'This method works for others, but for me… I don't have a bottleneck! If I don't have a bottleneck, I won't be stuck, meaning I'll be constantly having my essence refined by the Black Fiend Technique, and thus I'll never have offspring?'

He hadn't expected that having no bottleneck and combining it with the Black Fiend Technique would result in such a side effect. "Zhuang Zhenshou has excellent aptitude. If he's worried about being stuck at a bottleneck for a while, there's another way: switch to a different cultivation method, such as the Five Elements Technique or the Five Elements Mutation Technique. This will reduce the amount of physical potential you're pushing, or even eliminate it altogether. That will solve the problem for you."

Shen Xuchen frowned slightly as he said this: "However, as you said that time, Zhuang Zhenshou also knows that the main materials for cultivating the Five Elements Technique and the Five Elements Mutation Technique require more Qingyuan Liquid than Black Jade Grass, and the cost is higher... Therefore, only those who have reached the Meridian Opening Realm and the Offering Level are qualified to teach the Five Elements Technique in my Shen family."

This is also why Zhuang Jin hasn't let Chen Yun cultivate it yet; he wants to wait until he reaches the Meridian Opening Realm and the Offering Level before giving Chen Yun the qualification to cultivate the Five Elements Technique.

Women's blood and energy are not as strong as men's, and they also have menstruation. If they practice the Black Fiend Technique, which squeezes out potential, they will likely shorten their lifespan... Practicing the Five Elements version of the technique would be better. Of course, the best would be the third version of the Five Elements Mutation Technique, such as the Shen family's Wind and Thunder Shock Technique, but just thinking about it makes it impossible.

"This method..."

Zhuang Jin pondered, then frowned: 'I am perfectly compatible with the Black Fiend Technique. If I switch to another technique, my cultivation speed will be greatly slowed down.'

One could say: switch to another cultivation method, and then switch back after having children... but that's not actually feasible!

Different cultivation methods require different resources and have different meditation techniques. When switching cultivation methods, one's internal energy will also change accordingly. This constant switching can cause disharmony and create hidden dangers for the future.

Just like a blank sheet of paper, if you fold it into a paper airplane, then unfold it and fold it into a frog, and finally fold it back, it will be wrinkled and its performance will be far inferior to the paper airplane you folded the first time.

Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly and decided to put the matter aside for the time being.

"By the way, Commander Zhuang, I have a request... If Commander Zhuang does not stay in the east of the city, the next person to take over will be my teacher, Martial Master Pang Shusheng. Master Pang was my mentor in martial arts... This trip to the east of the city is to bring peace to the land... Master Pang is upright and incorruptible, and hates evil as if it were his enemy. If there is any conflict, he has no ill intentions and is not trying to make things difficult for me... Please forgive him... I will repay him in another way..."

……

The next day, Zhuang Jin understood why Shen Xuchen had asked him to be lenient. During the handover of the town's garrison, Pang Shusheng checked the accounts meticulously, as if he were examining a criminal. If someone were petty, they might really hold a grudge.

"That's enough. Zhuang Zhen is stationed in the east of the city. Although he hasn't made any progress, he hasn't gotten involved or gone along with the corrupt practices either."

Pang Shusheng's implication was that if it weren't for this, Zhuang Jin wouldn't have gotten away so easily today: "It's true that Zhuang Zhenshou is a martial arts genius, and as far as I know, he's also very clear about right and wrong. However, in his position as the wardens of Qingyuanfang, he inevitably has the suspicion of being a mere figurehead..."

"Not everyone can burn themselves out like a candle, illuminating others. I am just an ordinary person," Zhuang Jin said frankly.

"The candle burns until it's ash, its tears finally dry? How well said!"

Pang Shusheng was not a perfectionist and would not be too demanding of others. After sighing, he simply said, "Then the garrison commander should give up his position and let someone willing to do so take over!"

Zhuang Jin knew that Pang Shusheng was about to personally take action against the group of rats in the east of the city, a move that had the implication of "I will go even if there are thousands of people against me." Therefore, he was not uncomfortable with these words.

He thought for a moment and asked, "May I ask, is Garrison Commander Pang here to promote himself? Or to clean up the Shen family's long-standing problems? Or perhaps for the sake of the people...?"

Upon hearing this question, Pang Shusheng paused for a moment before saying, "I used to be an official in the government. Because I acted impartially, I was later relegated to a sinecure... Later, I resigned and came to the Shen family, where the head of the family personally tutored the young master... This time, I volunteered, hoping to do something I truly want to do and that is right."

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly: "I understand, but this path is not easy to walk."

"There will always be people like this in this world."

"Yes, there always needs to be people like that."

After Zhuang Jin finished speaking, he solemnly bowed and said, "The winds and waves ahead are high and the situation is treacherous. Mr. Pang... take care!"

He may not become that kind of person, but that doesn't stop him from expressing his respect for such a person; this "sir" was a heartfelt expression of admiration.

Zhuang Jin handed over the seal to the other party and left with his back turned.

Behind them, a blood-red setting sun burst forth with its afterglow at the moment of day's transition from night to day, as if to drive away every shadow. But like a final burst of light before death, it vanished in an instant, plunging the world into darkness.

……

(End of this chapter)