A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

"Is it urgent?"

Looking at the soldiers in front of him, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.

Zhao Dacheng had just met with Goldman Sachs at Wangjiang Tower last night, and he immediately came to see me this morning?

Such a coincidence could not help but make him suspicious.

However, despite thinking this in his heart, he remained relatively calm on the surface.

After greeting his sister, he followed the anxious soldier and hurried toward the North City Patrol Office.

Zhao Dacheng is now his superior, and Zhou Yuan cannot openly disobey his orders before the matter is investigated.

Upon entering the back hall of the patrol office, a wave of heat hit you.

Zhao Dacheng, with his large, fleshy body, was sitting in the main seat. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan, he immediately stood up with a beaming smile.

"Brother Zhou Yuan, please have a seat!"

His enthusiasm prevented anyone from feeling the slightest bit of hostility.

Zhou Yuan remained outwardly calm, cupping his hands in a respectful greeting: "I wonder what urgent matter the Inspector has summoned me for?"

"Hey, what's with all this talk about adults? We're brothers, don't be so formal."

Zhao Dacheng warmly pulled Zhou Yuan to sit down, personally poured him a cup of hot tea, then changed the subject, leaning forward and lowering his voice.

"Brother, I called you here today because I have a fantastic opportunity, and I specifically wanted to give it to you."

Zhou Yuan made a gesture of listening attentively.

Zhao Dacheng continued, "We recently received intelligence that Xuejiabao, located thirty miles outside the city, is suspected of producing and selling smuggled salt."

This is a capital offense; according to regulations, our inspection department must send someone to investigate.

Outside the city? Xuejiabao?

Zhou Yuan's heart sank instantly.

He raised his head, feigning some difficulty: "Sir, I am new here and unfamiliar with this place, I am afraid I am not up to the task."

"Hey! That's why I sent you, just because you're new!"

Zhao Dacheng, with an air of "I'm thinking of you," patted him on the shoulder.

"Think about it, we can't ignore a witness report. But this kind of thing is very complicated."

Sending an older person might cause trouble. You're just a new officer; you can simply go through the motions and give them a warning.

At this point, Zhao Dacheng suddenly winked and gave a mysterious smile.

"That Xue family fortress is rolling in money. Do you think they'll let you come back empty-handed to clear their name?"

This mission will not only save face for the government, but you'll also be able to reap a real benefit.

"How about it? Isn't this arrangement from your brother pretty generous?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan sneered inwardly, but his face instantly lit up with a delighted expression. He immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Zhao Dacheng.

"Thank you for your guidance, Inspector! I will certainly handle this matter well and will not let you down!"

"That's more like it!"

Zhao Dacheng laughed heartily with satisfaction.

"I knew you were a smart person. Your family has it tough, and your sister has been bedridden for years. I've seen it all. I'll definitely think of you again if there's anything good like this in the future."

He waved his hand: "Alright, go back and prepare, take a few capable men with you. We'll set off early three days from now."

"yes!"

Zhou Yuan left the inner hall with a feeling of "gratitude".

Only after his figure completely disappeared outside the gate of the patrol office did Zhao Dacheng's smile slowly fade, finally turning into a cold, sinister arc.

"Sir, this lad seems like an honest man to me. Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Just then, a figure slowly walked out of the back hall. It was none other than Wang Meng, one of the constables of the North City Patrol Division.

He also looked at Zhou Yuan's departing figure, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

"Hmph, serves him right for offending someone he shouldn't have."

Zhao Dacheng snorted coldly. He was just a patrol inspector. Although he had some power, he was no match for the real powerful figures.

Moreover, they promised to transfer him to the Inner City Patrol Chief after the matter was settled.

On the other side, Zhou Yuan walked back to the mud alley, his expression as usual.

But he stopped walking after turning into a deserted corner.

A chill suddenly rose from the bottom of my heart.

If he had only guessed before, now he was 70% certain that Zhao Dacheng was colluding with Goldman Sachs.

He even had a guess about their plan.

That is because Goldman Sachs was wary of his status as a constable in the city and dared not take action.

So he conspired with his superior to set up this scheme to lure him out of the city.

Once outside the city, far from the emperor's reach, life and death were entirely in their hands.

If I hadn't happened to witness his secret meeting with Goldman Sachs last night, I probably would have believed the old fox's lies and happily accepted this "wonderful job."

Zhou Yuan's mind raced as he considered countermeasures.

Zhao Dacheng was his immediate superior, and as a new errand boy, he had no reason to refuse.

If you disobey orders, it will only confirm that you have a guilty conscience, and the other party will have plenty of excuses to deal with you.

That leaves only one path.

Strike first and take down Goldman Sachs before it's too late!

If Goldman Sachs is taken down, this situation will collapse on its own.

Therefore, he must break through to the Bone Forging Realm within these three days!

Zhou Yuan clenched his fist hidden in his sleeve, and took another step, but this time the direction was no longer home, but Qingyang Martial Arts School.

……

Time passed slowly.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Unexpectedly, the entire outer city fell silent. The members of the Jinshi Gang, who had been harassing and radiating murderous intent just days before, vanished overnight as if they had never existed.

The thugs and hooligans on the street all breathed a sigh of relief.

But Zhou Yuan did not relax in the slightest.

He knew all too well that this was the most terrifying calm before the storm.

He has barely slept or rested for the past two days.

Apart from necessary water breaks and very short naps, all the time was spent in the martial arts school's training ground.

He swallowed the dozen or so Body Tempering Pills he had accumulated over the past few days, one by one, as if they were candy.

The elixir transformed into a torrent of heat, sustaining his almost self-destructive ascetic training. The progress bar on the panel was rising at a visible speed.

The third day, early morning.

As the sun rose, Zhou Yuan finished his night of training at home and prepared to head to the martial arts school for his final push.

Before leaving, he took out all the silver he had on him, a total of more than twenty taels, carefully wrapped it up, and went to his sister Zhou Ting's door.

Zhou Ting had already woken up and was sitting on the edge of the bed, preparing to start her embroidery work for the day.

"Yuanzi, are you going to the martial arts gym so early?"

Zhou Yuan handed the silver to his sister.

"Sister, keep this money safe. Today, no matter who knocks on the door, don't open it. Lock the door."

Zhou Ting took the heavy money bag and was startled, realizing that something was amiss.

"Ah Yuan, what happened?"

Looking at his sister's worried face, Zhou Yuan calmly said,

"It's okay, sis, don't be afraid."

"Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up."

Looking at her younger brother's determined face, Zhou Ting didn't ask any more questions. She knew that the only thing she could do was listen to him.

She nodded emphatically.

Zhou Yuan arrived at the martial arts school.

As soon as I entered, I heard excited discussions coming from the training ground.

"Have you heard? Senior Brother Wang is back!"

"They've not only returned! The Jiang family went to a neighboring county to transport goods, but they ran into the notorious bandit 'Little White Dragon' from Black Wind Mountain, and Senior Brother Wang single-handedly killed him!"

"My God! Those are notorious bandits who have been around for years! Senior Brother Wang has only just entered the Bone Forging Realm!"

"The eldest daughter of the Jiang family was overjoyed and immediately rewarded Senior Brother Wang with five hundred taels of silver and several bottles of Body Tempering Pills!"

Amidst the murmurs, Wang Tengfei, surrounded by a group of scions of prominent families, strode in, his face beaming.

He now wears a magnificent brocade robe, and the naivety of the fisherman boy he once was is long gone. Every gesture he makes exudes a spirited and confident air.

That evening, he planned to hold a grand banquet at Wangjiang Tower to celebrate his first victory.

Those invited were either inner disciples who were on good terms with him or wealthy young men from prominent families.

His gaze swept across the training ground, finally landing on Zhou Yuan, who was still silently training his body in the corner.

He pondered for a moment, and finally shook his head slightly.

There was a time when he held this resolute senior brother in high esteem.

But now...

The gap is widening.

They are ultimately from two different worlds.

Wang Tengfei looked away, chatting and laughing loudly with his friends, and didn't look at Zhou Yuan again.

Zhou Yuan was completely unaware of this.

His entire being was immersed in his own world.

Sweat soaked through their clothes, and the force of their punches tore through the air.

All he could see was that constantly changing control panel.

[Realm: Body Tempering Stage 1 - Skin Refinement]

[Exercise Method: Six Harmonies Stance Exercise (Beginner)]

[Progress: 499/500]

[Martial Arts Skill: Mountain-Shaking Fist (Second Level)]

[Progress: 499/500]

It's just a hair's breadth away.

Tonight will be his breakthrough night.

......