Boundless moonlight bathed the land as the night wind whimpered, its cry like a mournful wail.
Outside a courtyard in Sweet Water Well Alley.
He watched as Fang Rui cleanly cut down Chief Huang with a single slash.
Jiang Ping’an froze. Nearby, Sister-in-law Jiang, who had yet to enter the courtyard, let out a soft gasp and quickly covered the eyes of her two little ones, Niu Dun and Xiaodouya.
Sister-in-law Jiang was shaken by the bloody scene.
As for Jiang Ping’an...
A moment ago, it had been a life-or-death situation. Fang Rui had intercepted Chief Huang, and then... in the blink of an eye, Chief Huang was a corpse.
Fast!
It was too fast!
A grab, a kick, and a slash. Fang Rui had killed Chief Huang in three moves, as easily as an adult swatting a child, a grandfather disciplining a grandson.
And Chief Huang had been a genuine Eighth Grade Martial Artist!
Jiang Ping’an clearly remembered a time Chief Huang had fought a fierce bandit. It had taken him over a dozen moves to finally subdue and capture the man.
Yet this same expert had been killed by Fang Rui in three moves... no, wait. One of those moves had been to save him. Technically speaking, Fang Rui had only used two moves to kill Chief Huang!
The contrast was just brutal.
Jiang Ping’an couldn’t even begin to imagine how powerful Fang Rui truly was.
It took him several long breaths to process what had happened. He swallowed hard with a GULP and let out a subconscious curse. "Holy shit!"
"Brother Fang, how did you do that?" Jiang Ping’an asked, his eyes burning with intensity.
He genuinely wanted to learn. Fang Rui’s fighting style was so clean and efficient, without a single wasted motion. It possessed an indescribable, fluid beauty, like a form of art.
He would be content just to learn a fraction of its lethality and a sliver of its grace.
"It’s merely a matter of practice," Fang Rui said lightly, his hands behind his back.
Jiang Ping’an was speechless.
"Just kidding... Brother Jiang, it’s not something I can explain in a few words. If I had to sum it up, it’s a combination of technique and raw strength..."
"First, to grab Chief Huang’s wrist so precisely, you need to completely overwhelm his reaction speed and strength."
"Then, while his mind was reeling from the shock, I landed a heavy kick on one of his pressure points. Even without using Power, the physical force was immense, hundreds of pounds of it."
"That kick left his entire body numb, unable to muster any Force."
"Finally, no more talking. Just step in and finish it with a single slash."
"See? It’s that simple!"
"So long as you have overwhelming reaction speed and strength, a Mastery of the body’s pressure points, and don’t waste time talking before you swing your blade..."
Fang Rui spread his hands in an understated gesture. "And that’s it. Very simple."
Jiang Ping’an was speechless.
He felt like a failing student who understands the lesson in his head but can’t make his hands perform the task.
’My brain: I get it! My hands: No, you don’t.’
"Let’s not talk about this anymore... Brother Jiang, Sister-in-law, it’s chaotic and windy out here. We should get the little ones inside quickly!"
As he spoke, Fang Rui picked up Chief Huang’s corpse, preparing to toss it far away.
"Hey, Brother Fang, don’t throw it away! That’s a valuable asset..."
Jiang Ping’an stopped him, just as he was about to explain.
Suddenly, a long, snaking line of torches appeared in a distant alley, weaving its way toward them. It was clearly a large contingent of soldiers.
"Bandits... no, the Rebel Army?! This isn’t the place to talk... Brother Jiang, Sister-in-law, come on, let’s get inside!"
Fang Rui ushered Jiang Ping’an, Sister-in-law Jiang, Niu Dun, and Xiaodouya back through the gate.
...
Shortly after they got inside, the sound of marching soldiers passed by the gate. The troops didn’t stop, heading straight for the city center.
"They must be heading for the County Magistrate’s Office. They got here so fast... Thank goodness I didn’t go with Chief Huang, otherwise..."
Jiang Ping’an shook his head, still shaken. He looked at Fang Rui gratefully. "Brother Fang, you saved my life!"
"Yes, we’re so grateful..." Sister-in-law Jiang added her thanks as well.
"It was nothing. Brother Jiang, Sister-in-law, with the friendship between our two families, there’s no need for such words. Now, we should deal with this first..."
Fang Rui gestured with Chief Huang’s corpse.
"Ah!"
Niu Dun and Xiaodouya, the two little ones in Sister-in-law Jiang’s arms, flinched. Sister-in-law Jiang’s eye twitched as well, and she instinctively pulled her children back two steps.
"Where’s my head..."
Jiang Ping’an slapped his forehead. "This thing is too gruesome. Brother Fang, why don’t we leave it in the front yard for now? We can cover it with a burlap sack, so it doesn’t upset your mother and sister..."
"That works."
After setting down Chief Huang’s body, Fang Rui led Jiang Ping’an’s family to the back courtyard.
There, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady received Sister-in-law Jiang, while Fang Ling and Nannan became playmates for the two little ones, Niu Dun and Xiaodouya.
As for Fang Rui and Jiang Ping’an, the stench of blood on them was too strong, so they didn’t go inside. Instead, they sat under the large willow tree in the courtyard to talk.
"...I was woken up by shouts that ’the city has fallen.’ I was actually happy I wouldn’t have to report for duty on the wall tomorrow, but then Chief Huang showed up. He wanted me to go with him to defend the County Magistrate’s Office... It’s not like I was looking for trouble, but I had no choice. His fist is bigger than mine... I made the excuse that my wife and kids would be left alone, said it was just a short walk, and came over here..."
Jiang Ping’an gave a bitter smile. "You know the rest, Brother Fang."
"So that’s what happened."
Fang Rui nodded, finally understanding the full story.
"As for Chief Huang’s corpse, it can be a stepping stone for you... I can call in a few favors, grease a few palms. It shouldn’t be too hard to get an official post for you, Brother Fang..."
Jiang Ping’an looked at Fang Rui. "With your strength, Brother Fang, you could probably become a Chief Constable in one fell swoop!"
A governmental officer, for the most part, hasn’t achieved Entry Grade and handles trivial matters like street patrols. A constable is typically Ninth Grade and handles investigations. A Chief Constable, the head of the constables, has a strict requirement of being at least Eighth Grade in strength...
Even a governmental officer like him could skim a lot off the top, to say nothing of a constable or a Chief Constable.
"Become a Chief Constable?!"
Fang Rui shook his head, refusing firmly. "I won’t do it... Brother Jiang, you know I don’t like all the dirty dealings and corruption that come with being an official..."