Chapter 21: Intelligence Update! Soul-locking Jade, Young Master of the Chen Family
"小 Chi Yang Gong?"
Qin Wang's eyes lit up as he read the three big characters on the title page of the booklet. He immediately opened it and flipped through, seeing many illustrations of people sitting cross-legged with red lines depicting the circulation routes. He quickly stuffed it into his pocket, collected the silver ingots, banknotes, and jade, and turned to leave.
Before long, Qin Wang tried to return the way he came but found the more than ten-foot-high wall impossible to climb without footholds. He instead went to the front gate, climbed over the wall from a flower bed, and left.
An hour later, Qin Wang weaved his way back to his rented house.
"I need to focus on practicing my lightness skill. I couldn't even climb a wall this high."
"How am I supposed to rescue Qin Xuemei if I can't?"
Thinking back to his experience at Zheng Kecheng's hideout, Qin Wang decided to train hard at the Feiying Martial Arts School.
"Internal martial arts techniques!"
Qin Wang locked his door, barred it with a stick—a habit he had developed. Though it might not stop a skilled master, it was the best he could do at the moment.
He didn't count the silver but instead took out the "Little Chi Yang Gong" manual and started reading.
There were four illustrations of people sitting cross-legged.
Beside the illustrations were small annotations detailing important points to note. The "Little Chi Yang Gong" focused on cultivating pure yang internal energy, a martial art technique easier for men, especially virgins, to master.
Once a certain level is achieved, internal energy can be infused into weapons like swords and knives, or even unleashed as a Chi Yang palm strike to kill enemies.
After reading through the manual, Qin Wang turned his attention to the banknotes and silver ingots he had taken from Zheng Kecheng's house.
There were 65 taels of silver ingots and 11 banknotes of fifty taels each, totaling 550 taels. Adding it up, it came to 615 taels of silver.
"Zheng Kecheng, as the chief constable of Yanyun County, can't possibly have so little money."
"Could it be that he took most of his money to bribe officials in Youzhou?"
Qin Wang pondered, and this seemed to be the only possibility.
If he wanted to advance, he would inevitably have to bribe with silver. He must have taken most of his wealth with him since rising higher would quickly return the invested silver.
"This yellowish jade, cool to the touch, would be nice to wear if it had a hole."
Qin Wang picked up the yellowish jade and thought to himself.
This jade, stored in Zheng Kecheng's cabinet, must be valuable.
"Let's check today's intelligence first!"
Qin Wang put away the banknotes, silver ingots, and yellowish jade. With a thought, a book-like interface appeared before him.
[Daily Intelligence Update!]
[Today's Intelligence!]
1) Regarding the murder of the tooth merchant Yan Po that you were concerned about yesterday, related intelligence has been obtained. Deputy Chief Constable Ji Shun found Yan Po's records of trading boys and girls over the years in another room belonging to her son, confirming that Yan Po was killed out of revenge. The perpetrator is being hunted down.
2) Yesterday, you paid your monthly fee of 5 copper coins to the Black River Gang's Tie Wen, acquiring related intelligence. Black River Gang leader Ji Zhang practices demonic arts and must absorb a person's blood every half month. Given his demonic cultivation, he may capture someone nearby to drain their blood soon.
3) Yesterday, you obtained the internal martial arts manual "Little Chi Yang Gong" from Zheng Kecheng, acquiring related intelligence. Your "Little Chi Yang Gong" will reach entry level in six days.
4) Yesterday, you obtained a piece of yellowish jade, acquiring related intelligence. This jade piece is a Soul-locking Jade containing the spirit of a mysterious woman.
5) Yesterday, you went to Feiying Martial Arts School, acquiring related intelligence. Feiying Martial Arts School's master, Du Xiang, will fight Iron Clothes Martial Arts School's master, Lu Ming, by the Black River today. The battle will end in a draw.
6) Yesterday, you went to Zheng Kecheng's hideout, acquiring related intelligence. Zheng Kecheng's concubine, Qu Wan, returned from her parental home to find the house robbed and went back to her parental home.
7) Yesterday, you met Black River Gang's head Tie Wen, acquiring related intelligence. Tie Wen is discontent with being just a small leader and is eager to advance. He plans to find a wealthy target to kill and use the money to bribe his superiors.
8) Yesterday, you focused on County Magistrate Chen Hao, acquiring related intelligence. County Magistrate Chen Hao has been unable to relieve himself for three days, suffering greatly. Various doctors are helpless, and two elderly doctors were punished for it.
9) Yesterday, you scouted outside the Dianjian Martial Arts School, acquiring related intelligence. Dianjian Martial Arts School's master, "Lightning Sword" Jiang Haitian, will secretly observe Du Xiang and Lu Ming's battle tomorrow, hoping to benefit from it.
10) Yesterday, you passed by a restaurant owned by the Chen family, one of the four great families, acquiring related intelligence. The young master of the Chen family, Chen Yi, was spotted by a passing elder of the Taiyi Sword Sect and taken as a disciple.
"Yan Po, that wicked old woman's records have been found?"
Qin Wang's eyes flickered as he read the first piece of intelligence. Yan Po had committed many evils, and he felt he had done a good deed by eliminating her.
"The Black River Gang leader Ji Zhang practices demonic arts and needs to absorb a person's blood every half month? He might capture someone nearby to drain their blood soon?"
Qin Wang frowned deeply as he read the second piece of intelligence.
This city offers many opportunities but also many dangers. One could be captured by Ji Zhang for his demonic cultivation at any moment, so he must avoid him.
According to Qin Wang's knowledge, the Black River Gang operates in the northern part of the city.
Qin Wang's eyes lit up as he read the third piece of intelligence. "I will reach entry level in 'Little Chi Yang Gong' in six days? That's excellent!"
"The jade piece from Zheng Kecheng's house is a Soul-locking Jade containing the spirit of a mysterious woman?"
Qin Wang pondered as he read the fourth piece of intelligence.
He had thought the jade felt cool to the touch and would be nice to wear if it had a hole, but he didn't expect it to contain a ghost!
The idea of wearing a piece of jade with a ghost inside on his chest was terrifying!
"Feiying Martial Arts School's master Du Xiang and Iron Clothes Martial Arts School's master Lu Ming will end in a draw?"
Qin Wang's eyes flickered as he read the fifth piece of intelligence.
Since he was now learning lightness skills at Feiying Martial Arts School, he needed to pay close attention to Du Xiang's intelligence.
"Tie Wen wants to kill a wealthy target to bribe his superiors and advance?"
"He wants to climb up?"
Qin Wang frowned as he read the seventh piece of intelligence. Tie Wen did not seem like a good person.
"County Magistrate Chen Hao, indeed, bad deeds bring bad consequences. He exploits the people and now suffers for it."
Qin Wang skipped the eighth piece of intelligence.
"The young master of the Chen family, one of the four great families, Chen Yi, has been taken as a disciple by an elder of the Taiyi Sword Sect?"
Qin Wang was shocked as he read the tenth piece of intelligence.
The young master of the Chen family had truly encountered great fortune!
Qin Wang frowned again.
To rescue his sister Qin Xuemei in the future, he would inevitably have to become enemies with the Chen family. Now that Chen Yi had become a disciple of the Taiyi Sword Sect, it would be more challenging.
Qin Wang had thought about exchanging silver for his sister's freedom.
However, considering how much Yan Po took, it would cost dozens of taels to buy his sister back.
Although he had the silver now, someone like him possessing so much silver would not withstand scrutiny!
His sister might not be rescued, and he could be consumed by the Chen family.
With so many experts in the Chen family, he could only proceed slowly.
"To rescue my sister, I must be prepared to make enemies!"
Qin Wang took a deep breath and resolved.
His sister must be rescued!
Only by improving his strength! Using intelligence to find a way!
"First, I'll sleep. Tomorrow morning, I'll start practicing 'Little Chi Yang Gong' and then go to Feiying Martial Arts School to learn lightness skills!"
Qin Wang took a deep breath and resolved.
Tonight, he had gone to Zheng Kecheng's house, carefully sneaking around with his mind tense, and now he was indeed tired.