Chapter 15

In Pear Blossom Alley, there were several public water-drawing spots. However, the closest one to Chen Ping'an's home was beneath the large mulberry tree to the east.

By the mulberry tree, a small stream flowed, and women from the alley often came to wash clothes there. Nearby, there was a small open space where many children played while accompanying their mothers. On that open space stood a well, the main water source for the surrounding households.

Chen Ping'an walked swiftly and soon arrived under the large mulberry tree.

As expected, the place was bustling with people. Children ran back and forth, playing joyfully.

"Did you hear? Old Gao's wife from the southeastern corner seems to be living well lately."

"Oh? What happened?"

"The other day, I was visiting neighbors, and I happened to see them eating dinner. To my surprise, they were having braised pork!"

"Braised pork!? Her husband has neither skills nor strength. What's going on? Did they strike it rich?"

"I don't know! Isn't it strange?"

"It is! We should visit sometime and find out if they discovered a way to make money!"

By the stream, a few women chatted as they washed clothes.

Chen Ping'an paid no attention to their conversation. He went straight to the well and began drawing water.

There was a wooden bucket specifically for fetching water beside the well. Chen Ping'an tossed it into the well in one swift motion.

The clear sound of water splashing echoed.

Chen Ping'an skillfully maneuvered the rope, tilting the bucket so it could fill with water. He watched as the bucket filled to the brim, then effortlessly lifted it out of the well.

"Hmm?"

Chen Ping'an was slightly surprised.

He noticed that the bucket, now full of water, felt much lighter than he remembered.

He poured the water into his own wooden bucket, filling it completely.

Repeating the same action, he filled another bucket.

"Have I really gotten this much stronger?"

Lifting the second bucket felt just as effortless.

Chen Ping'an silently pondered.

Balancing the two full buckets on a carrying pole, he headed home.

Along the way, his steps were light and steady—completely different from his past experiences.

Previously, although he could carry two full buckets of water, they would sway and spill as he walked. By the time he reached home, nearly half of the water would be lost along the way.

Not only was this exhausting, but it was also inefficient. So, to save effort, he usually filled the buckets only about three-quarters full.

But today...

Chen Ping'an carried them with ease, steady and composed.

Even when he emptied the water into the storage vat at home, he remained completely calm, not feeling the slightest bit tired.

"So this is the change brought by reaching the first level of Qi and Blood?"

Chen Ping'an was both astonished and delighted.

For the first time, he truly sensed the transformation happening within him.

"Let's go again!"

Excitedly, Chen Ping'an rushed out the door.

He repeated the process again and again until the water vat was filled to the brim.

Normally, it took him ten trips to fill the vat. But today, he only needed seven or eight. Because each time, he carried a full load instead of deliberately leaving space as he did before.

"My strength has increased by more than half!"

After carefully feeling the changes in his body, Chen Ping'an began practicing Iron Cloth.

Half an hour later, the familiar "+1 experience point" notification appeared.

Name: Chen Ping'an

Realm: First Level of Qi and Blood

Martial Arts: Iron Cloth (Beginner) (3/15)

In the days that followed, Chen Ping'an settled into a highly disciplined routine.

Every morning, he practiced Iron Cloth before heading to Nanquan Alley's Town Patrol Office to report for duty.

As assigned, he patrolled various streets and alleys within Nanquan Alley, maintaining order and deterring troublemakers.

After finishing his shift, he would return home, have dinner with Chen Er'ya, and then practice Iron Cloth once more.

One day, he finally saw Qin Tou again.

Qin Tou, with graying hair and a warm smile, was nearing sixty. He was long past the days of being reckless, fighting, and killing like the younger officers. Without his uniform, he would have looked just like any other short, elderly man in the neighborhood.

Only the occasional sharp glint in his eyes revealed his second-level Qi and Blood martial arts cultivation.

For someone who had no background and started with nothing, reaching the rank of a full-fledged patrol officer in Nanquan Alley's Town Patrol Office was no small feat.

Chen Ping'an's father, Old Chen Tou, was like that back in the day. Qin Tou was no exception.

One day, Qin Tou unexpectedly joined them for a patrol instead of slacking off as usual.

It had been a long time since they last met, but Qin Tou was in good spirits. He even treated them to tea, paying out of his own pocket.

During their conversation, Qin Tou mentioned Chen Ping'an's father, Old Chen Tou, with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

"Old Chen was quite a man back then! If it weren't for that mission to eradicate the Ten Thousand Demons Sect—where he was seriously injured by one of their officers—he would've reached the third level of Qi and Blood within two years! By then, he would've surely been promoted to Captain."

First Level of Qi and Blood: Refining the skin.

Second Level of Qi and Blood: Strengthening the muscles.

Third Level of Qi and Blood: Transforming the tendons.

Any patrol officer who reached the third level of Qi and Blood, and didn't have any major disciplinary issues, was almost guaranteed to be promoted to Captain in South City's Town Patrol Office.

Achieving that rank was a true leap in social status.

Chen Ping'an remained silent, recalling images of his father in his mind.

The Ten Thousand Demons Sect…

"A Captain in our Nanquan Alley… That's someone who deals with high-ranking officials and big figures!"

Qin Tou took a sip of tea and sighed.

"Qin Tou, you're quite accomplished yourself. With your second-level Qi and Blood cultivation, plus your mastery of the Thirteen Blades of the Public Office, you're one of the well-known figures in Nanquan Alley!"

Houzi flattered him from the side.

"Right, Dashan?"

Dashan grinned and nodded in agreement.

Out of the thirty or so full patrol officers in Nanquan Alley, at least half of them had yet to reach the second level of Qi and Blood, still lingering at the peak of the first level.

"Hah! I'm getting old! In martial arts, once you age, your strength declines. Life force weakens, Qi and Blood deteriorates. I'm already fifty-nine… Even with second-level Qi and Blood, in a real fight, I might barely match a first-level practitioner at their peak."

Qin Tou glanced at the blade on his waist, seemingly lost in thought.

"A man can't escape aging."

"Experience is what truly matters! You're still formidable, Qin Tou!"

"Hahaha…"

Qin Tou laughed heartily.

Seeing this, Houzi and Dashan chuckled along.

They weren't martial artists, but they understood some basics.

The Six Levels of Qi and Blood—each stronger than the last.

Aside from the final two levels, the first four couldn't escape the natural decline of age.

Once a martial artist passed fifty, their strength inevitably began to wane.

Only with rare and precious medicines could they delay the arrival of their declining years by several or even a dozen years.