Chapter 57: Chapter 53: Pay Raise

After the Martial Arts Examination, life returned to its peaceful routine.

Chen Qing’s life was still a simple loop: training, patrolling, and returning home. It was a rhythm without the slightest ripple.

This day, just as he arrived at the River Department, Cheng Ming hurried over to greet him. “Ah Qing, come with me to see the Chief River Envoy! He’s in the front Signature Room and specifically asked to see you!”

“See me?”

Chen Qing was a little surprised.

Cheng Ming smiled and patted his shoulder. “Look sharp. It’s a good thing.”

Cheng Ming led the way, and the two soon arrived at the Signature Room in the core of the River Department.

Chen Qing straightened his back and strode over the high threshold.

The room was spacious but slightly dim. Behind a large sandalwood desk sat Ke Yunqi, dressed in official robes with an egret patch, leafing through a scroll.

Chen Qing cupped his fist. “This subordinate, Chen Qing, pays his respects to the Chief River Envoy.”

Ke Yunqi looked up at the sound of his voice, his gaze falling on Chen Qing. He smiled. “Not bad. I didn’t expect our River Department to produce such a talent.”

Chen Qing said humbly, “You praise me too much, Your Excellency. This subordinate was merely lucky.”

“If you didn’t have real skill, could you pass the Martial Arts Examination on luck alone?”

Ke Yunqi waved his hand, his eyes filled with appreciation. “There’s no need to be so modest. I heard from Cheng Ming that you are a disciple of Master Zhou from the Zhou Institute. You have been loyal and diligent in your part-time position. The River Department is in dire need of talented individuals like you.”

His tone shifted. “Are you willing to formally take up the position of River Patrol Officer? You would be responsible for patrolling dangerous sections of the river, supervising the garrisoned soldiers along its banks, assisting in flood control, and capturing River Bandits. Especially Black Stone Beach, a perennial problem. If you can eliminate it, I will reward you handsomely.”

If anyone else from the River Department had heard this, their hearts would have certainly been stirred.

A River Patrol Officer was a Military Position with official standing. For a disciple from a Humble Family, it was akin to leaping the dragon gate.

But when Chen Qing heard this, his brow furrowed slightly.

’This is asking me to go from a part-time position to a full-time one.’

A River Patrol Officer seemed to wield a certain amount of authority, but it came with much more responsibility and was far more dangerous than being an ordinary River Patrol.

Most importantly, he would have to face the River Bandits directly.

’Even if my monthly salary is multiplied by ten, it would only be twenty or thirty taels. It’s not worth risking my life for that.’

“Thank you for the promotion, Your Excellency!”

Chen Qing cupped his fist, his tone sincere. “Although this subordinate was lucky enough to pass the examination, my foundation is shallow and my Martial Arts are crude. I fear my incompetence would lead to mistakes and disrupt the peace of the canal.”

He paused for a moment, observing Ke Yunqi’s expression before continuing, “Secondly, the dangerous work at Black Stone Beach is of great importance. If… if there were even the slightest mishap, my own death would be a small matter, but if I were to tarnish Your Excellency’s good name, I could not atone for it even with ten thousand deaths!”

For a moment, the Signature Room fell silent, with only the scent of sandalwood wafting from the incense burner.

“So be it.”

After a long while, Ke Yunqi finally spoke. “You can’t force a melon to be sweet. Since you believe yourself to be unlearned and incapable of this great responsibility, I will not insist.”

Chen Qing felt a sense of relief.

However, Ke Yunqi’s tone shifted again. “With your current strength, it would be a waste of your talent to continue as a Patrol. You’ll be promoted to a nominal River Envoy instead, with triple the monthly salary. Do not disappoint me again.”

As a nominal River Envoy, he would even be exempt from daily patrol duties in the future. Unless a major event like the Captain’s assassination occurred again, his days would be very peaceful.

Chen Qing cupped his fist. “Thank you for your grace, Your Excellency! This subordinate, Chen Qing, will certainly do my utmost to live up to your nurturing!”

“Mm, you may leave.”

Ke Yunqi waved his hand, his tone returning to one of indifference. He didn’t look at Chen Qing again.

“This subordinate takes his leave!”

Chen Qing bowed respectfully and slowly backed out of the Signature Room.

“So, how did it go?”

Cheng Ming walked over quickly, asking with a smile.

Chen Qing briefly recounted the latter part of the conversation, and Cheng Ming nodded repeatedly after hearing it.

Chen Qing cupped his fist. “Thank you for putting in a good word for me, Chief.”

Cheng Ming must have said many good things about him to the Chief River Envoy.

“Hah, it was nothing.”

Cheng Ming waved his hand, then a troubled expression appeared on his face. “Ah Qing, this month’s stipend… I’m afraid it will be a bit late…”

Chen Qing asked in a low voice, “Chief, are you having difficulties?”

’A family’s operations would never be repeatedly delayed over such a trivial matter. Could something have happened to the Cheng Family?’

“It’s fine.”

Cheng Ming waved his hand. “Business is tough, and the clan’s expenses are high. We’ll talk again after we get through this rough patch.”

Seeing that Cheng Ming didn’t want to elaborate, Chen Qing didn’t press the matter.

The two chatted idly for a moment before Cheng Ming departed in a hurry.

Chen Qing also tidied up and started walking home.

This area was close to the Inner City, so the streets were very lively.

In the distance, students from the Tianju and Guangchang Martial Arts Halls were beating gongs and drums, holding up signs to recruit new members.

Chen Qing glanced over. The group was led by a Dark Force disciple, followed by several Manifest Force disciples, drawing a crowd of onlookers.

It seemed the competition between Martial Arts Halls was also becoming increasingly fierce.

The streets were lined with pharmacies and weapon shops.

The pharmacies not only practiced medicine but also sold supplies for Martial Artists like Blood and Qi Powder and Blood Qi Pills. The prices were not cheap, forcing ordinary people to only look on from a distance.

It was said that Wanbao Hall in the Inner City specialized in selling Treasure Fish and Treasure Medicine, and one even needed to have their qualifications verified just to enter.

At this moment, the medical halls were bustling with people. Besides those buying supplements, many martial arts practitioners were also going in and out.

’It seems that studying medicine is also a good path in this world.’

Seeing this, Chen Qing began to ponder ways to make money.

The stipend and the nominal position were both sources of slow, steady income.

In Gaolin County, the paths to making large money had long been controlled by powerful families and gangs.

The fastest remaining method was murder and robbery.

But that was not the Righteous Path and carried extremely high risks. If he messed with the wrong person, it would be a dead end.

His gaze shifted to another place where a crowd had gathered—the wanted posters board.

All sorts of people were gathered in front of it: burly men, and Wandering Martial Artists with their faces hidden by bamboo hats.

These were the Assassins, who made a living by capturing wanted criminals for the bounties on the posters. If the price was right, they would sometimes take on ’private jobs’ as well.

Those on the board were all major criminals wanted by the dynasty, such as lecherous thieves, fierce forest bandits, and even vicious Jianghu figures whose crimes were innumerable.

The bounties were set by the Court, but victims could also add to the reward.

If one could pull off a big job, it would be enough to live worry-free for several years.

Among the wanted were many ferocious individuals who had the lives of Officials on their hands and had also shed the blood of Assassins.

’Being an Assassin is also extremely dangerous.’

Chen Qing shook his head to himself.

Those who made it onto the wanted list were no amateurs; they were all Desperadoes who lived on the edge of a blade.

Of course, besides hunting fugitives, Assassins also spent their days searching for Treasure Medicine in deep mountains and Treasure Fish in great marshes.

Both were guarded by Exotic Beasts and were exceptionally dangerous to acquire.

Many people went through immense hardship to find these treasures, only to end up as a meal in an Exotic Beast’s stomach.

Chen Qing mulled this over as he strolled along.

The sides of the street were crowded with small stalls selling all sorts of things: chipped and unglazed porcelain bowls, thread-bound books with yellowed pages, oddly shaped wood carvings and stones, and even old dudous.

Chen Qing crouched down to take a look.

The stall owner, a skinny old man, saw Chen Qing stop and immediately broke into a wide smile. “Aiyo, young master, take a look! These are all heirlooms passed down from my ancestors. Who knows, one of them might be a family treasure with a hidden secret!”

His gaze landed on a small booklet with a tattered cover.

“A sharp eye! This young master clearly knows his stuff!”

The stall owner immediately adopted a mysterious tone.

“Don’t just see that it’s worn out. These days, worn out doesn’t necessarily mean old. But old… heh, that’s where the real knowledge is!”

As he spoke, the stall owner moved the booklet closer to Chen Qing, his words like honey-coated hooks. “Take a closer look at this paper! Could ordinary scraps last so many years without turning to dust? And this thread, it’s still tough! Who knows what might be hidden inside… some kind of… lost… something-or-other?”

He deliberately enunciated the words ’lost something-or-other’ with a heavy and vague emphasis.

“I’m just browsing.”

Chen Qing stood up and walked away.

’Does anyone actually believe you can just buy some piece of junk from a roadside stall and find Unparalleled Martial Arts hidden inside?!’

In any case, he didn’t believe it.

…..

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep