When Chen Shijie led in the young man with dual iron rulers at his waist, a palm-leaf hat atop his head, and cloud-treading boots on his feet, Zhao Xing immediately recognized him.
"Brother Zhao? Is that you?" Shen Zhui was also somewhat surprised upon seeing Zhao Xing.
"It seems you two know each other?" Chen Shijie asked with a smile.
"Of course, Captain Shen is the most outstanding and youngest catcher in the Martial Division," Zhao Xing cupped his hands in greeting.
"I dare not claim such praise. The Martial Division is filled with experts; I merely had the luck to complete a few more tasks," Shen Zhui responded humbly in front of Chen Shijie. "My acquaintance with Brother Zhao is mainly due to the tax area of 'Anping Town' that he oversees, which is also within my jurisdiction for public security."
The Agricultural Affairs Bureau is responsible for advising farmers and auditing taxes, while the Martial Division's catchers are in charge of maintaining order in the towns.
Zhao Xing had interacted with Shen Zhui a few times during his visits to the towns and had a very good impression of him.
"Since you know each other, I won’t need to introduce you," Chen Shijie said with a smile. "Shen Zhui, Zhao Xing, you two can chat."
Chen Shijie gave the two young men some space, and Shen Zhui looked at Zhao Xing, taking the initiative to speak first: "I didn’t expect the person I was assigned to protect would be you, Brother Zhao. What a twist of fate."
"Protect?" Zhao Xing was taken aback. "Is Captain Shen's order to protect me? Is there trouble with the Mysterious Heaven Sect again?"
Shen Zhui adjusted the iron ruler at his waist and explained, "Due to the Mysterious Heaven Sect's involvement, the officials in the various counties of Nanyang County have been arrested, causing a negative impact. While they have vanished without a trace, many strong individuals have taken the opportunity to cause trouble, committing numerous homicides, making it truly unsafe."
"Moreover, with East Lake Mountain about to open, the atmosphere in Grain City is tense, and the level of vigilance has increased significantly."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xing finally understood that Chen Shijie had not only found him a sparring partner but had also arranged for a bodyguard from the Martial Division.
Old Chen is quite capable; when there’s a matter, he genuinely helps.
"Then I’ll trouble Captain Shen during this time."
"It’s part of my duties; there’s no need to be polite."
Although he had gained a bodyguard, Shen Zhui was not there for constant protection.
When Zhao Xing went to the Agricultural Affairs Bureau for work or study, Shen Zhui did not need to accompany him, unless they were leaving the city, in which case he would join Zhao Xing.
Additionally, at Zhao Xing's request, they would spar for one hour each in the morning and afternoon.
The location was set at Chen's residence, which was spacious enough and allowed for the use of spells.
Their first sparring session resembled a game of cat and mouse.
One person would escape while the other would chase, and the area was confined within Chen's residence.
Shen Zhui stood in place, waiting for Zhao Xing to cast his spell first.
He was a martial artist, and the training ground was limited in size; if he were to act first, Zhao Xing would have no chance to play.
Thus, the rule was that after Zhao Xing cast his spell, Shen Zhui could begin his pursuit after a count of ten breaths.
"Wind rise!"
Zhao Xing cast his spell, and a fierce wind whipped up the dust, not to attack but to obscure visibility.
Whoosh~
Shen Zhui squinted, pressing down his palm-leaf hat.
Although he could not see Zhao Xing’s position with his eyes, a martial artist's perception of vital Qi allowed him to sense Zhao Xing's location.
But the next moment, a flicker of surprise crossed Shen Zhui's face.
"He actually vanished?!"
In the training ground, Shen Zhui stood still, astonished as he looked at the dark clouds above.
"The drifting clouds concealed his vital Qi fluctuations? But when did these clouds appear? I didn’t even notice?"
"One breath, two spells? Did he complete the drifting clouds while summoning the wind?"
Just as it began, Shen Zhui felt that Zhao Xing, the Agricultural Affairs Bureau official, was clearly different from anyone he had encountered before.
However, he was mistaken; Zhao Xing was not casting two spells in one breath but three.
In an instant, he had unleashed Drifting Clouds, Wind Rise, and Rainfall.
"Pat pat pat~"
Raindrops fell on Shen Zhui's palm-leaf hat, and before the ten breaths were up, it turned into a torrential downpour!
"Crash~"
Shen Zhui's vision was completely obscured, and visibility was reduced to within five meters.
"Swish swish swish~"
The iron rulers trembled, locking onto a direction, and suddenly two beams of white light shot out, swiftly disappearing into the rain.
The light split the curtain of rain by twenty to thirty meters, granting a brief moment of clarity. Shen Zhui's eyes sparkled as he locked onto a blurry figure.
As the ten breaths counted down, he began his 'pursuit.'
Zhao Xing, meanwhile, hid behind a willow tree in the eastern part of the training ground and began his second spell—Grass Man Technique.
"I just created a Grass Man to attract his attention, but one Grass Man alone won’t be enough to escape pursuit."
Zhao Xing gently broke off a willow branch while carefully listening to Shen Zhui's movements.
"Brother Zhao, the game is over." Shen Zhui flew down from a nearby rockery, instantly surpassing the blurry figure.
"Is that so?" The blurry figure emitted Zhao Xing's voice. "Captain Shen, why not take a closer look?"
"Grass Man?" Shen Zhui was taken aback.
"Captain Shen, it’s still too early."
The Grass Man disintegrated on its own; upon encountering Shen Zhui, its mission ended. A Grass Man could never defeat Shen Zhui unless there were twenty or thirty powerful ones, but this was merely a Grass Man made from ordinary willow branches.
"I was actually deceived by a Grass Man? His Grass Man Technique is so exquisite that it can even produce sound?" Shen Zhui's expression began to change.
To be clear, he was at Gathered Essence Seventh Level, while Zhao Xing, as introduced by Chen Shijie, was only at Gathered Essence Third Level!
As the strongest genius of the Martial Division, he was toyed with by a Gathered Essence Third Level official from the Agricultural Affairs Bureau?
Shen Zhui drew both rulers.
He was about to get serious.
"Tap tap tap~"
The cloud-treading boots made a rhythmic sound on the rain-soaked ground.
But Zhao Xing also sensed something was off; after the first Grass Man disintegrated, Shen Zhui's movements became harder to track.
After two breaths, Shen Zhui's footsteps vanished.
Or rather, they did not disappear but completely blended into the rhythm of the raindrops.
Zhao Xing manipulated the Drifting Clouds, using vital Qi for fine control, altering the rhythm of the rain.
Yet each time, Shen Zhui could adjust his movement within two breaths, quickly merging into the environment.
As a result, in rapid motion, Zhao Xing could not discern his exact location.
To Zhao Xing, Shen Zhui had also vanished.
"His movement technique has reached the level of Nine Transformations into Subtlety; Old Chen really picked a good sparring partner for me." Zhao Xing's eyes sparkled with excitement.
This was precisely the level of challenge he desired; in such confrontations, the efficiency of his vital Qi purification would also increase.
"Recreate Grass Man, rise!"
Soon, a second Grass Man appeared beneath the willow tree, its height and build similar to Zhao Xing's.
"Go!"
Zhao Xing commanded the Grass Man to hide elsewhere in Chen's residence to confuse Shen Zhui's vision.
After another ten breaths, the third Grass Man took shape.
However, as the third one began to move, it stepped on two dry branches.
"Crack~" The dry branches snapped, producing a crisp sound.
Although it was quickly drowned out by the sound of rain, to Zhao Xing's ears, it was painfully sharp.
At the same time, in the rain, Shen Zhui seized the anomaly, no longer concealing his figure, and charged over.
"Not good." Zhao Xing's expression changed slightly; he immediately abandoned the creation of the Grass Man and ran in another direction.
(End of Chapter)