Chapter 55: Passing the Test
Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Passing the Test
When Su Mu opened the door, he immediately saw two people standing not far from the entrance, their backs turned to him.
The two were dressed in Brocade and Ink Shirts, and the "Ping" character on their backs was incredibly striking.
’The Taiping Bureau!’
Su Mu wanted to greet them but realized he didn’t know how to address "Brother Taiping."
Just then, the two men turned around.
One of them was indeed Brother Taiping, whom Su Mu had met once before. The other was slightly older and a complete stranger.
"We meet again."
Brother Taiping stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his tone cheerful. "In just one short year, you’ve gone from a mere refugee to a constable squad leader for the South City Bureau. As expected of the man I had my eye on."
’Brother, you might want to watch your wording. That phrase ’had my eye on’ is easily misunderstood.’
Su Mu complained internally, but bowed with his hands clasped. "Thanks to the saber technique you bestowed upon me, Sir, I have not dared to slack off for a single day. Fortunately, I haven’t disappointed your high hopes and have made some progress with the Submerging Wave Saber Technique."
"Hit me."
Before Brother Taiping could speak, the older man beside him suddenly said, "Use your strongest technique and hit me."
Su Mu was speechless.
’Isn’t that request a bit rude? We just met for the first time.’
"He told you to attack, so attack,"
Brother Taiping scoffed. "Don’t hold back. Use your full strength, and don’t worry about hurting him.
This is the Governor of our Wuling City Taiping Bureau, Zhao Poni. You couldn’t hurt him even if he stood perfectly still."
’The Governor of the Wuling City Taiping Bureau?’
Su Mu’s eyes lit up as understanding dawned on him.
’This bigwig probably wants to test my mettle.’
’Holding back now would just be foolish.’
"Governor, please forgive my offense!"
Su Mu said with a slight bow.
Before the words had even left his mouth, Su Mu’s expression turned solemn, and he drew the long saber from his waist with fierce resolve.
The instant he drew his blade, Su Mu’s focus sharpened to an unprecedented degree. The skin all over his body tightened, and for the first time, he unleashed the full power of his Skin Tempering Perfection.
VMM!
In a flash, the gleam of the blade became a streak of light, leaving nine afterimages in its wake.
The air itself seemed to split apart with the sharp sound of tearing silk.
’Nine Waves of Breaking Waves!’
’It really is the Submerging Wave Saber Momentum!’
’To master the Submerging Wave Saber Momentum in just one short year... this kid is really something.’
It all happened in a flash.
The blade was now a mere inch from Zhao Poni.
Zhao Poni suddenly raised his hand. In a motion that seemed slow but was blindingly fast, he flicked a finger.
TING!
With a crisp ring, a jolt shot through Su Mu’s hand. An immense force surged through his arm, and his right hand could no longer grip the long saber.
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
He staggered back several steps before he managed to dissipate the force.
Just then, the long saber fell and embedded itself in the ground before him, exactly a foot from the tips of his toes.
Su Mu was horrified. ’So this is one of Wuling City’s top masters?’
’I could barely withstand a single, casual blow.’
’Such an absolute gap in power renders all techniques useless.’
’He shattered my Submerging Wave Saber Momentum with a mere flick of his finger.’
However, Su Mu didn’t lose heart. He was still young. When he reached Zhao Poni’s age, it was hard to say who would be stronger.
"You’ve... reached Skin Tempering Perfection?"
Su Mu was horrified, but he had no idea that Zhao Poni was even more shocked than he was.
He had assessed Su Mu’s Cultivation while observing him on the street just yesterday.
If he wasn’t mistaken, Su Mu had not yet reached Skin Tempering Perfection yesterday.
That was the reason for the bet between him and Lin Qi Huan.
If Su Mu could reach Skin Tempering Perfection overnight, he would give him a chance.
He had only made the bet because he thought it was impossible for Su Mu.
Zhao Poni’s figure blurred, and he reappeared in front of Su Mu as if by teleportation, grabbing his arm.
Knowing Zhao Poni meant him no harm, Su Mu didn’t try to dodge.
Not that he could have, even if he wanted to.
Zhao Poni held Su Mu’s arm, carefully examining the skin there.
It was, without a doubt, Skin Tempering Perfection.
Moreover, while the effect of the tempering couldn’t compare to an innate copper-like hide, it was still slightly stronger than average.
’In just one short year, he not only mastered the Submerging Wave Saber Momentum but also achieved Skin Tempering Perfection!’
’With such insight and talent, he’d be considered a top contender even in the Taiping Bureau.’
’It’s just a shame he started on the Martial Dao so late.’
Zhao Poni released Su Mu’s arm, shaking his head with a sigh.
"He really reached Skin Tempering Perfection?"
Lin Qi Huan came closer, glancing at Su Mu’s skin and clicking his tongue in amazement. "Boss, what do you have to say now?
I told you, my eye for talent is unmatched."
"Su Mu. Age seventeen. Of refugee origin. Currently a fast squad leader in the South City Bureau. In one year, he has mastered the Submerging Wave Saber Momentum and achieved Skin Tempering Perfection. Insight and aptitude: pass."
Zhao Poni continued in a deep voice, "During his tenure as the South City Bureau’s fast squad leader, he solved two homicide cases and six theft cases. The district under his jurisdiction has been kept peaceful and stable, and he personally paved a road for the residents of one ward.
Character: pass."
As Zhao Poni spoke with a deadpan expression, a cold sweat broke out on Su Mu’s back.
’So everything I’ve done lately has been watched by the Taiping Bureau?’
’Thankfully, I worked diligently as a squad leader to earn those ’merit points’ and didn’t neglect my duties.’
’Otherwise, I would’ve definitely been stamped with ’Character: fail’!’
’I guess that was a happy accident.’
’Or maybe it’s true that luck favors the hardworking?’
"Su Mu, are you willing to join the Taiping Bureau and fight alongside us?"
Zhao Poni asked, looking at Su Mu.
Su Mu was ecstatic. ’Am I willing?’
’Of course I am!’
’Just being associated with the Taiping Bureau was enough to make the heir of the Wang Family—one of the four great families of the Inner City—willing to give up his interests in the Outer City just to get on my good side.’
’Putting everything else aside, if I join the Taiping Bureau, at least I won’t have to worry about being pushed around anymore.’
’He Yuxing, Zhao Ji... I’m not even in the same league as you guys anymore.’
He desperately wanted to say "I accept" right away.
But at that moment, his cautious nature took over again.
"I’ve heard the requirement for joining the Taiping Bureau is reaching the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering before the age of twenty. Am I really qualified?"
Su Mu asked earnestly.
’Privileges and responsibilities are two sides of the same coin.’
’The Taiping Bureau enjoys special privileges granted by the Imperial Authority, but in return, they must slay demons and eradicate evil.’
’Demons and monsters really exist in this world; I’ve seen them with my own eyes.’
’And they are all enemies of the Taiping Bureau.’
’Joining the Taiping Bureau with a low Cultivation level would be a death sentence, not a blessing.’
’I’m sure the Taiping Bureau’s recruitment standards weren’t set arbitrarily.’
’It’s like the safety regulations in the factories of my past life. Behind every seemingly unreasonable rule was a lesson written in blood.’
"Reaching the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering before the age of twenty is a test of aptitude,"
Zhao Poni said. "Your aptitude and insight are both fine.
I can make an exception and give you a chance."
"So if I agree, I can join the Taiping Bureau?"
Su Mu asked.
"Yes and no,"
Zhao Poni said. "You’ll merely be qualified to try. Whether you can actually join the Taiping Bureau will depend on your own abilities.
Even for the prodigies you mentioned—those who reach the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering before twenty—passing the initial selection is just the first step. To truly join the Taiping Bureau, they also have to pass one final trial.
I can give you the chance to stand on the same starting line with them.
You will have three years. Within those three years, as long as you can break through to the Blood Transformation Realm, you will earn the right to embroider the word ’Taiping’ on your uniform."
"I accept."
Su Mu spoke the moment Zhao Poni finished.