Starting with Xingyi Quan, it swept across the chaotic world.

Time flies, and twenty days have passed quietly.

Lu Li not only learned the subsequent boxing techniques of Xingyi Quan from Master Qin, but also adapted to the job of patrolling the city defense department in these twenty days.

Initially, Lu Li was somewhat skeptical of what his senior brother Duan Kang said about life being easy. After all, he had heard many similar statements since childhood, such as "things will be simple once you get to college." In reality, every stage has its own troubles, so Lu Li didn't have high hopes.

But he didn't expect that the patrol of the city defense bureau was really so leisurely.

His daily work consisted of patrolling his assigned area at sunrise and sunset.

Moreover, the work management wasn't strict. During this time, Lu Li had built a good relationship with the old man in charge of the house, and many of the tasks he was assigned were to patrol the streets around Ping'anfang. So Lu Li would go to the steamed bun shop every morning and evening to check on things, which made him feel more at ease.

As for the rest of his free time, Lu Li returned to the White Crane Martial Arts School to continue practicing Xingyi Quan and Liuhe Zhuang Gong.

That day, Lu Li finished practicing Xingyi Quan for the last time.

[Destiny: Heaven rewards diligence]

[Six Harmonies Stance Training - Minor Success (146/1000)]

[Xingyiquan Minor Success (119/1000)]

Due to the temporary posting, some time for cultivation was inevitably delayed, but the result was still acceptable.

And thanks to the money and meat he received from his temporary post, his physique became increasingly robust during this period.

At the same time, he discovered that he had grown quite a bit taller during this period, from about 1.7 meters tall when he transmigrated to a height of over 1.8 meters in just a few months.

With his robust physique, he stood out from the crowd in Lin'an City, and ordinary people dared not look him in the eye.

"Unfortunately, the salary for this half-department is still too little. If it were more, and we could buy some medicine every month, it might speed up the process of getting through the second stage."

Having witnessed the changes that Ming Jin (manifest strength) brought to his life, Lu Li was even more eager to learn about An Jin (hidden strength).

Hidden strength was the treatment given to Commander Wang.

All things considered, I am an auxiliary police officer, while Commander Wang is practically a bureau chief.

That day, Lu Li accompanied Wang Hong on his inspection tour.

As we passed through a bustling area, we suddenly heard a commotion.

"Are you blind? How dare you block my master's way!"

"If you don't move aside, Grandpa will give you a good whipping!"

The hawking and haggling of the bustling market transformed into the restless neighing of horses.

If you listen carefully, you can hear children crying amidst the gasps of surprise.

Several men dressed in uniform with fierce expressions led the way, pushing through the crowd and squeezing out a passageway in the throng.

The burly man, who had initially been somewhat angry, fell silent the moment he saw the knives at the waists of those men.

"We must not rush forward rashly..."

Wang Hong wanted to remind Lu Li not to act like a hero, but when he turned his head, he found that Lu Li was standing straight, showing no intention of punishing evil and promoting good.

This left Wang Hong with the rest of his sentence stuck in his throat.

But that's alright, this kid is a smart one.

Wang Hong nodded to himself. In the past, he had indeed encountered some hotheads who, after breaking through to the Ming Jin realm, thought they were all upright officials and ended up causing trouble, almost dragging him down with them.

Lu Li had no idea what Wang Hong was thinking; at that moment, he was simply staring quietly ahead.

He wasn't that stupid. If the other party dared to be so ostentatious in the bustling city, they must have something to rely on.

Moreover, apart from pushing and shoving the crowd, the other party didn't actually do anything heinous. Even if they had, Lu Li would only keep his distance.

Besides, Commander Wang hasn't even moved, so why should I?

You must not overstep your bounds!

"Tap! Tap! Tap!"

The sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, rising rhythmically.

A tall, jet-black horse came into Lu Li's view, and Lu Li saw an exceptionally strong and powerful man sitting on its back.

"Don't make eye contact with him!"

Wang Hong spoke up to remind him.

Upon hearing this, Lu Li quickly turned his head and asked in a low voice:

"Boss, who's this guy?"

Wang Hong waited until the group had disappeared from sight before answering:

"That was a military officer."

"With this title, he can not only run rampant in this bustling city, but even the county magistrate would have to give him some face."

As Wang Hong spoke, a look of longing appeared in his eyes.

"A military scholar can only be exempted from some taxes and corvée labor, but a military graduate can have all his family servants exempted from taxes as well. This is truly a case of 'when one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!'"

If a military officer were to emerge from his family, his business would never have to fear competition again...

Unfortunately……

Wang Hong could only bury that thought deep in his heart.

His words undoubtedly filled Lu Li with longing.

He looked in the direction where the martial arts master had left, and unconsciously clenched his fist.

"That's the inner city." Wang Hong and Lu Li looked over there together.

Although it was evening, lanterns were already lit in the inner city. Unfortunately, the inner city walls blocked most of the view, and only through the heavily guarded city gates could one catch a glimpse of what lay within.

It has a somewhat eerie, mayfly-like quality to it.

Lin'an City is divided into inner and outer cities. The inner city is a place where every inch of land is precious, with numerous clans and landlords and gentry singing and dancing. The outer city, on the other hand, is filthy and chaotic, with slums. Although they are in the same city, they seem like two different worlds.

Therefore, there is a saying: "The outer city is Lin'an City, and the inner city is Yong'an City."

"You must have seen those rice paddies outside the city. Over 90% of the farmers toil all year, ultimately planting rice for the lords of the inner city," Wang Hong said quietly from the side.

Even in a bountiful year, they might not have an extra bite of rice in their bowls.

Lu Li remained silent.

The issue of land annexation in the Great Yong Dynasty has been long-standing, but in this world of martial artists, the voices of the lower classes are so insignificant. Even if someone rises up and wields the yellow axe, it is nothing more than a moth drawn to a flame, fleeting and ephemeral.

He recalled a poem he had learned in the past: "There is no idle land under heaven, yet farmers still starve to death."

The so-called struggles for supremacy and the battles for supremacy, the deeds of countless heroes and heroines, are nothing but...

When a dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when a dynasty falls, the people suffer.

"I still need to become stronger." Lu Li didn't want himself or his family to become one of the countless desolate hills in Beiman.

Wang Hong, seeing Lu Li remain silent, stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder:

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. I have something to tell you that concerns you."

Lu Li was taken aback: "Is it related to me?"

"It's about Ping'anfang. There's been a lot of trouble there lately. If you don't have anything to do, try to avoid going there," Wang Hong said.

He knew that Lu Li lived in Ping An Fang.

"Is it the Wild Wolf Gang and the Fierce Tiger Gang? I've heard about them before. They've been fighting for a long time, but no one can gain the upper hand."

Lu Li still remembered that not long ago, Zhang Feiyu from the Fierce Tiger Gang had come to ask him to take up a temporary post.

"Can't determine a winner?" Wang Hong shook his head with a smile: "We'll find out soon enough."

Upon hearing this, Lu Li simply glanced deeply at Wang Hong's retreating figure.

Immediately, Lu Li continued to look down at Ping An Fang.

The outcome will soon be revealed?

Lu Li's deep eyes gleamed with an unusual light.

That was probably when they were on the verge of desperate measures.

He remembered that ever since he discovered that someone from the Wild Wolf Gang was watching Ping An Fang, people had been going missing one after another.

Without exception, they were all people who had a past grudge against Zhou Quan and posed a certain danger to him.

The number of disappearances has decreased recently.

This doesn't necessarily mean giving up the search; it could also mean that you've locked onto a target but don't know how to make a move.

However, just because it's difficult to make a move doesn't mean it's impossible. When things really come to a head, those desperados are capable of anything.

……

That evening, Lu Li had just returned to Ping'anfang Street when he saw a group of people swaggering through the streets.

They look like gang members.

"Fellow villagers, if anyone has any news about Zhou Yue, our gang leader will reward them handsomely." One of the gang members clasped his hands in a fist salute to both sides of the street.

Just as Lu Li was wondering what was going on, he overheard a noisy chatter from the wonton stall next to him:

"Those Tiger Gang members are really impressive."

"That's right? I heard that the Wild Wolf Gang has lost quite a few people recently. Even their leader, Zhou Yue, was surrounded and attacked by Zhang Tie and his men from the Fierce Tiger Gang. He was seriously injured and only managed to break through the encirclement..."

"I don't think this wolf gang will last much longer!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Li narrowed his eyes:

"Oh?"