I Have A Qi Fortune Altar.

Chapter 51: 51 conditions!
 

The middle-aged man leading the group furrowed his brow slightly and stepped forward with a clasped-hand salute:

“May I inquire what brings the two lord officials here?”

Though Chen Yuan’s attire was somewhat different from that of a regular government official, he really was somewhat too young. Guo Xu was not clear about his rank and thus dared not address him rashly.

“I have come to pay a visit to the venerable Zhao Nanshan,” Chen Yuan raised his hand to indicate politeness, as he had come to seek favors and naturally could not afford to carry himself too arrogantly.

“I am the arrest officer…”

Guo Xu squinted, sizing up Chen Yuan with a sense of unfamiliarity.

In the county government, he might not know every old official, but he had seen most of them, yet he had never seen this person before.

Wang Ping stepped forward at the right moment and said:

“This is Chen Yuan, the new arrest officer of our Ping’an County Government!”

“Chen… Arrest Officer!”

Guo Xu was startled, carefully examining the patterns on Chen Yuan’s official robe, a bit stupefied. He had never imagined that the person to replace Huang Xing would be such a young constable.

Soon Guo Xu recovered and, addressing the disciples who had gathered around, he called out loudly:

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Ɲονǥ0.сօ

“Continue your practice.”

“Chen… Lord Chen, my master is in the backyard. Please follow me.”

Knowing Chen Yuan’s true identity, Guo Xu behaved extremely politely, even somewhat restrained, and quickly gestured with his hand to lead Chen Yuan to the back yard.

Though he was unaware of the arrest officer’s purpose, he definitely could not obstruct him.

For an arrest officer from the county government, even within the whole of Ping’an County, that was no small figure. Under his command were scores of government officials and white servants, and with a mere stomp of his foot, Ping’an County would tremble.

Guo Xu had previously seen the authority wielded by the former arrest officer Huang Xing and knew well that it was not something he, a mere Guo Xu, could challenge.

The true strength of Zhao Nanshan was obviously not known to these disciples.

“May I ask what matter brings Lord Chen to seek my master?” Guo Xu asked tentatively.

Chen Yuan smiled:

“To practice martial arts.”

“To practice martial arts?”

Guo Xu was astounded, never having expected Chen Yuan’s answer to be this. But how could that be?

To become an arrest officer of the county government means one’s strength must be absolutely formidable.

As for Sanhe Fist, in the ranking of several martial arts halls within Ping’an County, it was not particularly outstanding and even ranked rather low. The current situation was getting worse, causing Guo Xu to feel extremely anxious.

However, Master Zhao Nanshan seemed not to be worried at all, as if he had lost all confidence.

When Chen Yuan, accompanied by Wang Ping, entered the backyard, he instantly noticed an elder in green clothing lying on a chair, seemingly in a deep sleep, with a folding fan covering his face.

Chen Yuan fell silent for a moment on the spot, then slowly stepped forward with a clasped-hand salute:

“Chen Yuan pays respects to senior Zhao.”

The fan slid off his face, revealing Zhao Nanshan’s visage.

With wrinkled skin and gray hair, a pair of sharp eyes opened and sized up Chen Yuan from head to toe, then he sat up and extended his hand:

“Arrest Officer Chen, please take a seat.”

Chen Yuan did not stand on ceremony and took a seat opposite Zhao Nanshan.

Although according to Li Mingqi, Zhao Nanshan was now practically incapacitated and no longer had the strength of the Gang Condensation Realm, he was still not to be underestimated, so Chen Yuan did not dare to disrespect him.

Wang Ping stood silently behind Chen Yuan, while Guo Xu picked up the fan to fan air towards Zhao Nanshan.

“Arrest Officer Chen, newly appointed, instead of pursuing the whereabouts of the No-Life Sect’s felons, you come to my Sanhe Boxing Club. I wonder what brings you here?” Zhao Nanshan’s voice was not loud, unlike that of someone who practiced martial arts; rather, it more truly resembled that of a frail old man in his sixties or seventies.

Chen Yuan didn’t beat around the bush but went straight to the point:

“I have come for martial arts practice!”

Zhao Nanshan’s brow furrowed slightly, his face unchanged, merely asking:

“My Sanhe Fist is not the highlight of Ping’an County, unlike the martial arts taught by the other schools. Are you sure you want to learn?”

Chen Yuan shook his head lightly:

“Not to learn the fist, but the saber!”

Upon these words, Guo Xu froze in his spot.

There’s a saber technique in Sanhe Martial Arts Hall?

Why does he, as the chief senior disciple, not know about it?

Zhao Nanshan narrowed his eyes, showing an expression that seemed to say “I knew it,” and after a moment of silence, he said to Guo Xu:

“You go out first.”

“Yes, Master!”

Despite being filled with countless confusions, Guo Xu didn’t dare to contradict Zhao Nanshan and bowed before leaving the back yard.

“Wang Ping, you go out too.”

Chen Yuan said in a low voice.

Wang Ping nodded and left the backyard without a word.

Although he didn’t quite get along with Chen Yuan at times, Wang Ping clearly knew when to be serious; otherwise, if he were just a brainless twit, Chen Yuan wouldn’t keep him around.

The reason why Chen Yuan somewhat valued Wang Ping was not only because of their decent past relations but also because Wang Ping was skilled at reading the room and understanding priorities.

“Was it Li Mingqi who told you this?” Zhao Nanshan’s tone was slightly cold.

It was because he had once interacted with Li Mingqi. Moreover, when Li Mingqi first took office as the County Magistrate of Ping’an County and accidentally stumbled upon his whereabouts, he even paid him a visit. But upon learning that he had become semi-crippled, Li began to grow distant.

Such a person, very practical, was also very repulsive.

“Indeed, Lord Li praised Zhao Predecessor for his outstanding saber technique, fierce and decisive in killing; as Chen has practiced the saber, but the few saber techniques in the county government are not presentable, he suggested Chen try and see if he could learn from Zhao Predecessor’s true teachings.”

A trace of sincerity showed on Chen Yuan’s face.

“This is the Zhao family’s ancestral saber technique, how can it be imparted to outsiders?”

Zhao Nanshan’s eyes flickered as he picked up his fan and began to wield it.

Chen Yuan gave Zhao Nanshan a long look, stood up, and suddenly smiled:

“Since Zhao Predecessor is unwilling to pass it on, then… I shall take my leave.”

Having said that, Chen Yuan turned around and strode off.

Zhao Nanshan: “???”

Why was this man not following the script? Shouldn’t he be begging earnestly and then give himself a chance to set conditions?

Why did he just turn around and leave?

Was he not interested in the Zhao family’s saber technique?

Zhao Nanshan was full of puzzlement.

Just as Chen Yuan was about to step out of the backyard, Zhao Nanshan suddenly spoke up:

“Constable Chen, wait!”

Chen Yuan’s uplifted foot gently touched down, the corner of his mouth curling slightly, though the smile quickly vanished. He had seen Zhao Nanshan’s desire when he refused, but Chen Yuan wanted to maintain control.

Moreover, Chen Yuan wasn’t desperate for this particular technique. It wasn’t some top-tier saber technique, not worth pleading for; he’d manage just fine starting with the Basic Blade Technique.

With the Qi Fortune Altar at his disposal, Chen Yuan believed that one day he would acquire other top-tier techniques.

“Elder Zhao, is there anything else?”

“I can teach you the technique, but you must do three favors for me,” Zhao Nanshan said, word by word.

“Elder Zhao must be joking. If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave,” Chen Yuan said with a bow, turning around to leave.

Are you kidding me? Three conditions, does he think I’m Aladdin’s Magic Lamp?

He can do without the technique!

Watching Chen Yuan turn around decisively, Zhao Nanshan was momentarily stunned, then hastily said:

“Constable Chen, hang on, let’s… talk it over.”

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