Chapter 69 - 68: Patrolling the River

Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Patrolling the River

Perfect Skin Refining.

Lu Jing’an slowly withdrew his technique. An invisible ripple seemed to wash over his body before vanishing beneath his skin.

Under the faint daylight filtering through the latticed window, his once slightly rough skin now glowed with a strange luster, gentle as jade yet tough as old leather.

He looked down at the back of his hand.

As he slowly clenched his fist, he could feel the blood and qi flowing like a stream beneath his skin.

It was full and stable, on a completely different level than before.

The time it took to reach this state of Perfection was actually a few days off from Lu Jing’an’s initial estimate.

Originally, Lu Jing’an had estimated it would take him no more than half a month.

However, matters with the Water Patrol Bureau had taken up some of his energy.

That was why it had been delayed until today.

The increase in his strength settled Lu Jing’an’s mind.

’In these chaotic times, it all comes down to strength.’

’Even if my current plans go awry, with my skills as they are now...’

’...I can still fight my way out and have the means to turn the tables.’

’This is what sets Martial Cultivators apart from other Cultivators.’

’Stronger survival capabilities, and a wider margin for error.’

At this thought, the last trace of anxiety in his heart vanished without a trace.

His gaze shifted to the revolver on the table beside him.

He reached out and picked it up, the cool metal pressing into his palm.

Lu Jing’an’s expression was calm as he held the gun in his right hand.

He slowly raised his left hand, pressing the dark muzzle against his open palm.

BANG!

A deep, muffled crack echoed through the room, not as sharp as a normal gunshot.

It was as if the sound had been smothered by something heavy.

The faint smell of gunpowder drifted through the air.

His expression unchanged, Lu Jing’an slowly moved his left hand away.

In the center of his palm, a brass-colored bullet, completely flattened and deformed, lay quietly.

Aside from a small patch of skin blackened by the gunpowder, there wasn’t even a red mark, let alone a break in the skin.

"This is Copper Skin."

Lu Jing’an picked up the deformed bullet.

Feeling the warped metal and its lingering warmth with his fingertips, he muttered to himself,

"I suppose I can be considered somewhat superhuman now."

A sudden flurry of urgent footsteps sounded from the courtyard.

The commotion had clearly alarmed everyone.

Black Bear and Chen Xuan were the first to rush into the courtyard, followed by several guards.

All of them were on high alert, their hands on their weapons.

"It’s nothing."

Lu Jing’an placed the bullet gently on the table and waved a hand at them.

"I was just testing a technique. Everyone, dismiss."

Seeing that Lu Jing’an was unharmed and glancing at the strange, flattened bullet on the table, they were bewildered but didn’t dare ask any questions, retreating as ordered.

Only Chen Xuan remained.

He walked forward, his eyes sweeping over the bullet.

Then he studied Lu Jing’an for a moment. "The Copper Skin Realm. You’ve made it."

Lu Jing’an nodded. "Yes, Master."

Chen Xuan mused, "Your progress is even faster than I expected."

"At this rate, achieving Perfection in the Muscle Refining Realm won’t be far off."

"We should start making arrangements to find the subsequent Cultivation Technique for the Six Harmonies Fist now."

Lu Jing’an immediately cupped his hands in a fist.

"I’ll leave this matter entirely in your hands, Master."

"Whatever men or silver coins you need..."

"...feel free to mobilize them, Master. You don’t need to ask me."

Chen Xuan knew that most of his focus lately was on the Water Patrol Bureau.

He didn’t refuse, simply agreeing, "Alright. I’ll arrange for reliable people to make inquiries as soon as possible."

"I’ll be counting on you, Master."

Chen Xuan looked at his apprentice—his eyes clear and calm, his aura deep and solid.

He had originally wanted to offer a few words of caution about the dangers of the Water Patrol Bureau, but now it felt unnecessary.

Once the courtyard was quiet again, Lu Jing’an called for a medicinal bath to be prepared.

As he submerged himself in the warm, dark-brown medicinal liquid, his Tendons and Bones and muscles relaxed, but his mind grew ever sharper.

He closed his eyes and focused, meticulously sorting through, simulating, and then adjusting and supplementing all the arrangements and follow-up plans for the Water Patrol Bureau in his mind.

’Since the Lu Family is betting on the river this time, I should be even bolder. I might as well take a bigger step.’

After a round of planning, he felt confident and prepared.

When he finished his bath, he rose and, with the gentle help of his Maid, Orchid, changed into a fresh inner tunic.

His mind clear and free of stray thoughts, Lu Jing’an slept especially soundly and peacefully that night.

「Half a month passed in a flash.」

The Water Patrol Bureau’s other two Ironclad Ships arrived on schedule and were moored at their exclusive dock.

Their gray-black hulls cast cold, hard reflections on the River’s surface.

The personnel training was also nearing completion.

The bureau’s staff came from three main sources:

First were Chen Xuan’s old subordinates from the Public Security Bureau.

These men had followed Chen Xuan for years; they were experienced, loyal, and reliable.

They formed the backbone that maintained the Water Patrol Bureau’s discipline and operations.

Second were the brothers from the Cao Bang under Lu Huaisan.

They had spent years on the Canglan River and knew its waterways intimately.

Fierce and brave in battle, they were the local strongmen on the water.

Third were recruits selected from the city’s martial arts halls.

Both Situ Yiyun’s Zhengxin Martial Arts Hall and Chen Heqing’s Land Rover Martial Arts Hall had given their full support.

This wasn’t just a matter of giving face to the young master of the Lu Family; it was also a way to find a promising future for their own disciples.

The Water Patrol Bureau offered generous pay and rations, held a special status, and was extremely attractive to ordinary martial artists.

The two martial arts halls were also happy to use this opportunity to build their reputation and recruit talented students.

Lu Jing’an had used his ability, [Cause and Effect Following Sound], to listen to the thoughts of all three groups for days on end, screening them repeatedly.

For now, it seemed there were no hidden dangers lurking among them.

Including the clerks, logistics staff, and various other positions, the entire Water Patrol Bureau now numbered over four hundred people, making it even larger than the Yin Mountain County Public Security Bureau.

This was not illegal, however, as the Water Patrol Bureau was established jointly by three counties.

The provincial government had originally authorized a staff of three hundred.

Thanks to Secretary Hu’s covert maneuvering, the quota had been expanded to five hundred.

So for now, Lu Jing’an still had some room to spare.

Of course, whether it was three hundred or five hundred...

...it was still just a drop in the bucket for the winding, complex, three-hundred-li-long Canglan River.

Everything was ready. The first patrol was imminent.

At the docks, the two Ironclad Ships raised their banners.

Their steam boilers rumbled deeply, and wisps of gray smoke puffed from their smokestacks.

Over a hundred elite bureau members had already lined up and boarded the ships, dressed in Martial Attire with guns at their sides, their expressions solemn.

Lu Jing’an did not give a grand, passionate speech.

He stood at the prow, his gaze sweeping slowly over every face, before uttering two deep words:

"Move out."

The order was given, and the engines turned.

One after the other, the two Ironclad Ships plowed through the murky river water, heading slowly upstream.

Lu Jing’an and Chen Xuan commanded the lead ship with fifty men.

Black Bear led the other ship, also with fifty men, following close behind.

The Ironclad Ships’ speed was about fifteen knots as they traveled against the current.

Patrolling this three-hundred-li stretch of the Canglan River and back would take roughly six hours.

The river wind blew against his face, carrying the stench of water and a faint, earthy smell.

Lu Jing’an stood leaning against the railing, gazing at the vast river before him and the receding houses, fields, and mountains on both banks.

He silently activated his talent, [Cause and Effect Following Sound], to its full extent.

To others, this patrol was either a show of presence or a routine matter.

But for Lu Jing’an, it was an opportunity to truly "listen" to the Canglan River.

The river’s width varied, over a hundred meters at its widest and only about thirty meters at its narrowest.

With his current ability, his talent’s perception was enough to cover both banks.

However, what he wanted to "hear" this time was far more than the voices, birdsong, and clamor of traffic on the surface and the banks.

His consciousness, like invisible threads, slowly probed beneath the water’s surface.

In the dark depths of the river, undercurrents surged.

Weeds swayed, and schools of fish darted through.

Deeper still, there were sunken ships and rotting bones, strange hidden things, and secrets that ordinary fishermen would never know.

The Canglan River had rolled eastward for hundreds of years. Its underwater world...

...was its truest and most unfathomable cross-section.

’If I can find a suitable Water Demon and tame it with [Mind Control], my future actions will become much more convenient.’

Lu Jing’an gazed into the river’s depths, his eyes serene as a plan quietly took shape in his mind.

The wind billowed his robes, making them flap and rustle.

Behind him stood the bureau members, at attention and awaiting orders. Before him lay the bottomless Canglan River.