SNT Chapter 12: Livelihood

Three days later.

Chen Qing had just finished washing when someone came to the cabin door.

The visitor was a middle-aged man in his thirties, wearing a black short jacket, followed by four or five burly subordinates.

The middle-aged man smiled, "You must be Brother Chen Qing. I'm Xu Chengfeng from the Tiger Gang."

Chen Qing replied calmly, "So it's an expert from the Tiger Gang. I've long admired your reputation."

Xu Chengfeng cupped his hands, "From today on, this area will be managed by our Tiger Gang. We hope for your cooperation in the future. If there's anything we don't do well, please bear with us, Brother Chen!"

Chen Qing acted flattered, "Sir, you're too kind."

The Tiger Gang people had come calling. It seemed Mute Bay had truly changed hands, and the Golden River Gang was now a thing of the past.

Xu Chengfeng smiled, "Brother Chen is too polite."

After chatting briefly, Xu Chengfeng left with his subordinates.

After leaving the Chen household, Xu Chengfeng whispered instructions, "Ah Jie, go find out where this Chen Qing is learning martial arts..."

Being cautious in all matters was certainly not wrong.

"I understand."

The subordinate behind him nodded.

...

"Ah Qing, who was that just now?!"

Lady Han lifted the curtain and asked curiously.

Chen Qing replied flatly, "People from the Tiger Gang."

"The Tiger Gang?!"

Hearing this, Lady Han's face immediately showed deep worry, "They won't be adding more incense money, will they?"

Every time a new gang appeared, they would demand three months' worth of fees in advance.

Chen Qing said, "Mother, don't think about it so much."

Despite Chen Qing's consolation, Lady Han's expression remained very troubled.

After all, these gangs were like mountains weighing on their shoulders.

Chen Qing said nothing more and left home for Zhou's courtyard.

At this moment, the senior brothers in the inner courtyard were sparring and exchanging moves.

Fist winds surged, producing crackling sounds.

Chen Qing prepared himself and began practicing boxing.

The most difficult aspect of through-arm boxing wasn't the techniques, but this subtle body control.

Too loose and strength would scatter, too tight and strength would stagnate. One had to find that perfect balance point between loose and tight.

Before he knew it, he had completed two sets of through-arm boxing.

Sun Shun walked over, "Junior Brother Chen, there are several escort positions available now. Take a look..."

Hearing this, Chen Qing stopped his movements, and Sun Shun described three available positions.

One was with Li's Trading Company, where the main duties were guarding warehouses and gates, night patrols, escorting short-distance valuable goods, and deterring petty criminals.

However, the treatment was quite good, with a monthly salary of four taels.

Another was at Drunken Moon Tower, a somewhat special position also called a "hidden stake."

Daily duties included maintaining order in the establishment, deterring troublemakers and cheaters, collecting gambling debts, and when necessary, physically "cleaning up" problems.

The monthly salary typically ranged from five to eight taels, but the risk was very high.

Chen Qing shook his head, clearly unsatisfied with these two options.

The Li's Trading Company position was safe but offered little freedom.

Going to Drunken Moon Tower as a "hidden stake" was quite dangerous. Who knew what kind of demons and monsters might emerge from gambling dens?

"The last one is river patrol guard."

Sun Shun said, "The River Office is desperately short-handed. If you agree, you can register tomorrow. Two taels of silver per month, with six rest days monthly."

"Courtyard disciples think the pay is too low, so not many go."

River patrol guards' main duties were patrolling designated river sections, maintaining security, handling minor disputes, checking suspicious people and boats, and assisting river officials with river affairs.

When there was nothing happening, it was quite leisurely.

After careful consideration, Chen Qing nodded, "Then let's go with this one."

Sun Shun took out a letter, instructing, "This is a letter of recommendation. Go to Green River Dock to find River Official Cheng."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Chen Qing took the letter and headed toward Green River Dock.

The bluestone road was wet, gleaming with faint light.

River water gently lapped against wooden posts, and several black-canopied boats swayed lightly with the waves.

The morning market was already open on the shore, with vendors' calls mixing with fishy smells in the humid air.

Chen Qing stepped through puddles and turned into a narrow alley to reach the River Office entrance.

The River Office wasn't large, with a somewhat weathered facade where peeling paint revealed dark wood beneath.

The door was open, and a mixture of old paper, sweat, and river water scents hit him.

Inside, figures moved about with noisy voices, mostly patrol guards wearing River Office uniforms, occasionally mixed with arguments and disputes.

Chen Qing stepped over the high threshold.

The main hall was somewhat dim, with simple furnishings. Several long tables were piled with scrolls and miscellaneous items, and even undried wet footprints could be seen on the floor.

He stopped a hurried clerk and asked with cupped hands, "Brother, is River Official Cheng Ming available?"

The clerk looked Chen Qing up and down. Seeing that although he wore ordinary coarse clothes, his posture was upright, his eyes clear and bright, and especially his hands with distinct knuckles showing traces of martial arts training, he pointed to a narrower passage beside the main hall, "River Official Cheng is in the duty room inside. He's been busy all night and is probably irritated right now. Go find him yourself."

"Thank you."

Chen Qing thanked him and followed the directions inside.

At the end of the passage was a small room with the door slightly ajar, light filtering out from within.

Chen Qing stood at the door and gently knocked twice on the door panel.

"Who is it?" A hoarse, weary voice came from inside.

"I'm Chen Qing, here about a position." Chen Qing's voice was steady and clear.

The door creaked open from inside.

"I'm Cheng Ming."

A square-faced man in his forties appeared before him, with a loosely hanging sword at his waist. He looked at Chen Qing and asked, "Do you have a letter of recommendation?"

Chen Qing took out the recommendation letter from his chest and handed it over with both hands, "Yes."

Cheng Ming took the letter and looked at it, his furrowed brow relaxing slightly, "A disciple of Master Zhou Liang?"

"Correct." Chen Qing replied.

"The letter checks out, and you look quite sturdy. The River Office is short-handed right now, so your timing is perfect."

Cheng Ming examined Chen Qing, his tone becoming gentler, "You know about the River Office rules and monthly pay, right?"

"I do." Chen Qing replied.

Cheng Ming nodded and said slowly, "Let me brief you on some things. The River Office has nine small teams, each with one river official and three patrol guards. The work is quite simple."

"Walk along your assigned river section and keep your eyes sharp. When you see thieves, fights, or suspicious activities, don't foolishly charge in yourself."

He emphasized his tone, instructing, "Come back and report first. The constables will handle it. Don't provoke the boat captains at the docks or warehouse managers without reason. They're all old eels soaked in oil, very slippery. If you really encounter some blind petty thief who wants to fight..."

Cheng Ming's voice lowered, "Use your own judgment. Don't take losses, but don't make things big either. Remember, you're 'attached,' and if you really cause a big mess, even Zhou's courtyard's reputation... might not be able to cover for you."

Chen Qing cupped his fists and said seriously, "Thank you for River Official Cheng's reminder."

Cheng Ming was quite satisfied with Chen Qing's attitude and nodded almost imperceptibly, "Tomorrow at the first quarter of the hour of the rabbit, go to the duty room at the east end of the dock to find Old Li for your badge and uniform. He'll tell you which section to patrol. Today counts as your registration, so go home and rest first."

After waiting a moment, Cheng Ming noticed Chen Qing was still standing there and couldn't help but look up, "Is there something else?"

Chen Qing cupped his fists in salute and said in a deep voice, "River Official Cheng, I dare to ask... could I advance a few months' salary?"

"Advance salary?"

Cheng Ming was slightly stunned hearing this. This was the first time he'd heard such a request, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, "For what purpose?"

"To pay tuition." Chen Qing answered straightforwardly.

Cheng Ming's gaze lingered on Chen Qing's face for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "The River Office's monthly pay has never had a precedent for advances..."

He paused slightly, then changed direction, "Very well, I'll give you five taels of silver first. In the coming months, you won't need to collect your monthly pay, it'll go directly to me."

Chen Qing immediately bowed deeply, "Thank you, River Official Cheng, for your accommodation!"

Cheng Ming waved his hand, "Go on."

...

In the afternoon, Chen Qing came to Zhou's courtyard to continue cultivating.

"Junior Brother Chen."

Several senior brothers greeted him with smiles.

Especially the newly enrolled disciples, who were very enthusiastic.

Sun Shun waved his hand, "Junior brother, come spar with me."

"Good!"

Chen Qing nodded, then put on Zhou's courtyard practice clothes.

"Then I won't be polite."

Sun Shun loosened his muscles and bones, generated power from his feet and fists, and in the blink of an eye charged toward Chen Qing.

Chen Qing didn't retreat but advanced, taking large steps forward.

Through-arm boxing emphasized "through," "long," and "fast." Simply put, it meant striking far and long, with penetrating strength and combining hardness with softness.

So momentum was most important.

Three steps of charging power, fists like strong wind, attacking with continuous strikes, one move not yet finished before the second arrived, forming dense offensive pressure.

At this moment, Chen Qing's body reached its optimal state, with his waist, legs, feet, fists, and spine all generating rhythmic bursts of power.

The air exploded with impressive force, the so-called "a thousand gold can't buy one sound," this was the realm of obvious strength.

This sudden explosion created howling fist winds.

Sun Shun, with quick eyes and hands, immediately performed a donkey roll to avoid this attack, then flipped over and threw a punch.

Bang!

After this exchange, Chen Qing couldn't help but retreat several steps.

"Again!"

Sun Shun shouted and charged forward once more.

The two exchanged moves, completing dozens of techniques in just a few moments.

Chen Qing knew that Sun Shun was proposing this sparring match to help him better understand obvious strength, and he felt several degrees of gratitude in his heart.

"Not bad. In terms of technique proficiency and application alone, among disciples below hidden strength in the courtyard, not many are stronger than you."

After sparring, Sun Shun picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from his body and said with some surprise, "If I didn't know your background, I would have thought you'd been practicing for several years!"

Chen Qing was not only skilled in techniques but also extremely sophisticated in combinations.

He was unpredictable, and some of his technique applications even inspired Sun Shun.

Chen Qing smiled, "I've practiced too much. These techniques have become part of my memory."

Every day before dawn, he came to Zhou's courtyard to train. The nine moves and eighty-one forms of through-arm boxing had long been indelibly etched in his memory.

At this time, Zhou Yu walked over, "Senior Brother Sun, father wants you to go to the back courtyard."

"Alright, I understand."

Sun Shun nodded, then followed Zhou Yu toward the back courtyard.

Besides Sun Shun and Qin Lie, several other disciples who had reached hidden strength were also there.

Seeing this immediately attracted the attention of many disciples.

Someone whispered, "Could something have happened?"

A nearby senior brother said, "The martial examinations are approaching. Master is going to discuss martial examination matters. People like Senior Brother Sun and Senior Brother Qi are disciples that Master values..."

Martial examinations?!

The courtyard immediately erupted in discussion.

Chen Qing paid no attention and continued pondering through-arm boxing.

Soon, a golden light appeared in his mind.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Success Guaranteed]

[Through-arm Boxing: Minor Achievement (1/1000)]

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