Chapter 108: Movement Techniques

After reaching an agreement with Zou Qingfeng, Zhuang Jin split the tasks. Zou went to invite the Eighth Young Master, Shen Xuchen, while Zhuang Jin used his guard token to apply for a joint investigation of the case by several department heads, which the Enforcement Division arranged according to protocol.

Since this would take some time, he first visited the Martial Arts Transmission Division to obtain the meditation techniques and movement arts for the seventh through twelfth meridians.

The meditation techniques for the seventh to twelfth meridians were standard issue, as expected.

However, Zhuang Jin found himself in a dilemma regarding movement arts. Unlike combat skills, which could simply be paired with the Black Fiend Palm associated with the Black Fiend Technique, there was a wide variety of movement arts available: Drunken Step, Gale Step, Snow Drift Step, Grass-Skimming Step, Water-Walking Step, Wild Goose Cloud Vault...

"Senior You, could you enlighten me on the pros and cons of these techniques?" Zhuang Jin asked, offering a student's salute to an elderly man with crane-like hair and a youthful face, dressed in white robes with two stripes on his shoulders.

The man was You Peng, an Eighth Meridian expert, a two-stripe guard, and a department head of the Martial Arts Transmission Division. Seeing Zhuang Jin’s respectful demeanor, he nodded slightly. Although guiding guards in selecting martial arts was his duty, he was willing to elaborate for those who showed proper etiquette. "Movement arts are also known as light-body skills. As the name implies, they are techniques to make the body nimble; they are essentially the same thing."

"As for their relative merits, have you heard the saying that there is no best technique, only the most suitable one? It depends on what you want. Gale Step offers the strongest short-distance burst but lacks versatility and escape utility. Drunken Step and Snow Drift Step provide unpredictable footwork, giving you an advantage in combat. Wild Goose Cloud Vault makes you as light as a swallow, perfect for scaling walls and fleeing..."

"Senior, is there one that is comprehensive and lacks weaknesses?" Zhuang Jin asked after hearing the descriptions.

"You aren't the first to ask that. Everything in this world is about balance. To excel in every aspect actually means excelling in none. Someone once refused to believe this and created a martial art that was indeed strong in all areas, but shifted the flaw to the difficulty of cultivation..."

You Peng pulled out a technique and said, "Here, this is it. It is called the Gale Step. At the same level of proficiency, it is indeed more comprehensive and slightly stronger than other movement arts, but the difficulty of cultivation is more than one level higher. Even the entry-level bottleneck is incredibly difficult. Most can master other techniques by the seventh meridian, but if your comprehension is lacking, even an Eighth Meridian expert would struggle with this."

"For us warriors, the realm is what matters most; martial arts are secondary. Choosing this is a waste of time and effort."

*High cultivation difficulty and a hard bottleneck? I don't have bottlenecks. While others might fail at this technique, it suits me perfectly.*

Zhuang Jin made his decision and said firmly, "Senior, I choose the Gale Step. I hope you will grant my request."

"You... sigh!" You Peng had found Zhuang Jin agreeable, but he felt his advice had been ignored. He had seen many stubborn individuals like this, and most eventually returned to switch their techniques.

"As you wish. But keep in mind, if you regret your choice later and want to change, it won't be free; it will cost one hundred taels of silver." He shook his head and tossed the manual to him.

"Many thanks, Senior You," Zhuang Jin bowed respectfully and departed.

***

After leaving the Transmission Division, Zhuang Jin went to the Alchemy Division to purchase cultivation resources—middle-grade Black Essence Powder, at five taels of silver per set. He exchanged some battle merits for it and handed over the beast treasure from a skin-tempering perfection stage beast. According to the rules, he received a voucher for an "Enhanced Meridian-Clearing Pill," which he could collect in one day.

This pill was highly coveted, and two other department heads even asked if he would consider transferring it, but Zhuang Jin declined, citing that he had already promised it to someone else.

Upon returning to the Enforcement Division, before he could even enter, a murderous figure rushed out.

"So it was you who killed my brother?" Miao Shao roared, his toes tapping the ground as he lunged forward.

He had always known his brother, Miao Lun, was trying to surpass him, and he had always looked out for him—he had even reserved a Meridian-Clearing Pill for him using his own merits. But now, his brother was dead!

He didn't care about right or wrong; he only knew his brother was dead at Zhuang Jin's hands. Since his brother was dead, why was Zhuang Jin still alive?

*Whoosh!*

Miao Shao was lightning-fast, kicking up dust as he struck a palm toward Zhuang Jin’s face.

Zhuang Jin’s expression turned grim. He mobilized his internal energy, blending open and hidden force, and unleashed his Black Fiend Palm, which he had practiced to the peak of mastery, to meet the attack.

*Clash!*

Their forces collided in mid-air with a sound like tearing silk.

Zhuang Jin staggered back seven or eight steps, while Miao Shao stopped after only one.

While Zhuang Jin’s Black Fiend Palm was at its peak, he was a notch behind in pure power, and Miao Shao’s internal energy—fully accumulated through the seventh meridian—was far deeper and more refined.

Knowing he was no match for Miao Shao, Zhuang Jin did not fall into the trap of addressing the accusation regarding Miao Lun. Instead, he gathered his breath and bellowed, "What madman dares to attack a guard at the Shen family headquarters? Are you a spy for the Medicine King Gang? Such audacity! Someone, come here!"

Miao Shao, who had intended to press the attack, changed color and stopped. If he continued, wouldn't he be confirming the suspicion that he was a spy?

***

Even if he stopped, the commotion had already escalated.

This was the Shen family headquarters. Within a few breaths of Zhuang Jin’s shout, many fourth, fifth, and sixth-meridian warriors rushed over, along with several white-robed guards.

Zhuang Jin even vaguely sensed a chilling aura flash by in the darkness, a sensation like a commoner facing a predator.

"Misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding!"

Zhao Bin and two other Enforcement Division department heads arrived—Ren Ze, who had a square face, and You Donglai, who was rotund and smiling.

"This is... the brother of Garrison Commander Miao has passed away..." After much explaining, the situation was calmed, though Zhuang Jin received a stern warning.

After they left, Zhao Bin turned and scolded Zhuang Jin, "Garrison Commander Zhuang, look at the trouble your shouting caused! Do not yell randomly! Whether someone is a spy is not for you to decide!"

Zhuang Jin did not try to justify himself by saying he didn't recognize the attacker. Instead, he went on the offensive: "Yes, who is a spy is not for me to decide. I suppose it is for Department Head Zhao to decide? I heard that Department Head Zhao is quite formidable in the Enforcement Division. It reminds me of a story I heard recently about a corrupt official nicknamed 'The Tiger Who Sits on the Ground,' who monopolized power and turned a county into his own private fiefdom... Oh, why has your face changed, Department Head Zhao? I didn't say it was you..."

He refused to fall into the trap of self-defense—defense only proves innocence, but a proactive attack can harm the enemy.

His words were incredibly ruthless: utilizing flattery, assigning a derogatory nickname, and guiding the crowd toward a specific analogy. As someone well-versed in public opinion, he knew that narratives need a memorable hook, so he branded Zhao Bin with the nickname "The Tiger Who Sits on the Ground."

Many had not yet left, and Zhuang Jin had spoken loudly. It was certain that before long, this nickname would spread, making it impossible for Zhao Bin to wash his hands of the reputation.

And those eyeing Zhao Bin's position would surely not let such a "flaw" go to waste. In the current conflict between the Shen family and the Medicine King Gang, even if Zhao Bin could hold onto his position, the cost of maintaining his standing would skyrocket, leaving him overwhelmed.