When Chen Shijie led the young man, who had twin iron rulers at his waist, a brown turban on his head, and cloud-treading boots on his feet, into the room, Zhao Xing immediately recognized him.
“Brother Zhao? Is that you?” Shen Zhui was also surprised to see Zhao Xing.
“It seems you two know each other?” Chen Shijie asked with a smile.
“Of course, Catcher Shen is the most outstanding and youngest Catcher in the Martial Arts Office.” Zhao Xing cupped his hands.
“I wouldn’t dare say that. The Martial Arts Office is full of experts; I merely got lucky and completed a few more missions.” In front of Chen Shijie, Shen Zhui appeared very humble. “Brother Zhao and I know each other mainly because the Anping Town tax district he is responsible for is also my jurisdiction.”
The Agricultural Official is responsible for encouraging farming and inspecting land taxes, while the Catchers of the Martial Arts Office are responsible for maintaining public order in towns and villages.
Zhao Xing had interacted with Shen Zhui a few times when he went to the towns and had a very good impression of him.
“Since you two know each other, that saves me the trouble of introductions.” Chen Shijie said with a smile, “Shen Zhui, Zhao Xing, you two chat amongst yourselves.”
Chen Shijie left space for the two young men. Shen Zhui looked at Zhao Xing and spoke first: “I didn’t expect the person I was assigned to protect to be Brother Zhao. What a coincidence.”
“Protect?” Zhao Xing was startled. “Brother Shen’s orders are to protect me? Is the Xuan Tian Sect causing trouble again?”
Shen Zhui adjusted the iron rulers at his waist and explained: “It has to do with the Xuan Tian Sect. After the capture of officials in various counties of Nanyang Commandery, it caused a negative impact. They themselves disappeared without a trace, but many strongmen took the opportunity to cause trouble, committing many murders, and indeed there is no peace.”
“In addition, Donghu Mountain is about to open, so all parts of Gucheng are outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense, and the security Rank has been raised significantly.”
After hearing Shen Zhui’s explanation, Zhao Xing finally understood that Chen Shijie had not only found him a sparring partner but also a bodyguard from the Martial Arts Office.
Old Chen is a good man; he genuinely helps when there’s trouble.
“Then I’ll be troubling Brother Shen during this time.”
“It’s my duty, no need to be polite.”
Although he gained a bodyguard, Shen Zhui wasn’t providing full-time, close protection.
When Zhao Xing went to the Agricultural Supervision Bureau for official duties or to study, he didn't need to go, unless Zhao Xing left the city, then he would accompany him.
Additionally, at Zhao Xing’s request, they would spar for one hour each morning and afternoon.
The location was set at Chen Mansion; it was spacious enough and allowed for the use of Spells.
Their first sparring session was like a game of cat and mouse.
One person would flee, and one person would catch, all within Chen Mansion.
Shen Zhui stood still, waiting for Zhao Xing to cast his Spell first.
He was a Martial Artist, and the training ground was only so big. If he were to make the first move, Zhao Xing wouldn't stand a chance.
So the rule was that he could only begin his pursuit on the tenth breath after Zhao Xing cast his Spell.
“Rise Wind!”
Zhao Xing cast a Spell, and strong winds stirred up sand, not to attack, but to obscure vision.
Whoosh~
Shen Zhui narrowed his eyes and pressed down on his brown turban.
Although he couldn't see Zhao Xing’s position with his eyes, the Martial Artist's perception of the human Origin Qi still allowed him to sense Zhao Xing's direction.
But the next moment, a hint of surprise flashed across Shen Zhui’s face.
“He actually disappeared?!”
On the training ground, Shen Zhui stood still, looking up at the dark clouds above his head in surprise.
“Moving Clouds covered his Origin Qi fluctuations? But when did these clouds appear? I didn't even notice?”
“Two Spells in one breath? When the wind rose, Moving Clouds was also completed?”
Right from the start, Shen Zhui felt that Zhao Xing, this Agricultural Official, was distinctly different from others he had met.
However, he was still mistaken; Zhao Xing didn't cast two Spells in one breath, but three.
In an instant, he had cast Moving Clouds, Rise Wind, and Spread Rain.
“Pitter-patter~”
Raindrops fell on Shen Zhui’s brown turban, and before the ten-breath countdown ended, it became a downpour!
“Splash-splash~”
Shen Zhui’s vision was completely blurred, and visibility was reduced to within five meters.
“Swish swish swish~”
The iron rulers vibrated, locking onto a direction, and two streaks of white light suddenly appeared, rapidly disappearing into the rain.
The light split the rain curtain for twenty to thirty meters, and his vision momentarily became clear. A sharp glint burst from Shen Zhui’s eyes, locking onto a blurry figure.
The ten-breath countdown ended, and he began his ‘pursuit’.
Zhao Xing, meanwhile, hid behind a willow tree on the east side of the training ground and began his second Spell—the Straw Man Spell.
“I just broke a Swift Straw Man, which should have drawn his attention, but to escape pursuit, one Straw Man isn't enough.”
Zhao Xing gently broke off a willow branch, while carefully listening for Shen Zhui’s movements.
“Brother Zhao, the game is over.” Shen Zhui flew down from a rockery, instantly overtaking the blurry figure.
“Is it?” The blurry figure spoke in Zhao Xing’s voice, “Brother Shen, why don’t you take a closer look?”
“A Straw Man?” Shen Zhui was startled.
“Brother Shen, it’s still too early.”
The Straw Man disintegrated on its own because it had encountered Shen Zhui; its mission was over. A Straw Man couldn't possibly defeat Shen Zhui, unless it was twenty or thirty Great Strength Vajras, but this was a Swift Straw Man, and its Materials were just ordinary willow branches.
“I was actually fooled by a Straw Man? His Straw Man Spell is so exquisite, it can even speak?” Shen Zhui’s eyes began to change.
One must know, he was at Gathering Origin Rank Seven, while Zhao Xing, according to Chen Shijie, was only at Gathering Origin Rank Three!
He, as the strongest Genius of the Martial Arts Office, was being toyed with by a Gathering Origin Rank Three Spell from the Agricultural Supervision Bureau?
Shen Zhui drew both rulers.
He was going to get serious.
“Tap tap tap~”
The cloud-treading boots had a very rhythmic sound in the rain.
But Zhao Xing also noticed something was wrong. After the first Straw Man disintegrated, Shen Zhui’s movements also became difficult to capture.
After two breaths, Shen Zhui’s footsteps disappeared.
Or rather, they didn't disappear, but completely blended into the rhythm of the raindrops.
Zhao Xing controlled Moving Clouds, using Origin Qi for micro-control to change the rhythm of the rain.
But each time, Shen Zhui was able to adjust his movement technique within two breaths, quickly blending into the environment.
As a result, during rapid movement, Zhao Xing also couldn't pinpoint his exact location.
For Zhao Xing, Shen Zhui had also disappeared.
“His movement technique has reached the level of Nine Revolutions into Subtlety. Old Chen picked a good sparring partner for me.” There was some excitement in Zhao Xing’s eyes.
This was exactly the intensity of confrontation he wanted; in such a confrontation, his Origin Qi purification efficiency would also increase.
“Replicate Straw Man, rise!”
Soon, the second Straw Man appeared under the willow tree; its height and build were similar to Zhao Xing’s.
“Go!”
Zhao Xing ordered the Straw Man to hide elsewhere in Chen Mansion to confuse Shen Zhui’s vision.
Another ten breaths passed, and the third Straw Man took shape.
But as the third one began to move, it stepped on two dry twigs.
“Crack~” The dry twigs snapped, making a crisp sound.
Although quickly covered by the sound of the rain, in Zhao Xing’s ears, it was so jarring.
At the same time, Shen Zhui in the rain also grasped the anomaly, no longer concealing his figure, and fiercely chased over.
“Not good.” Zhao Xing’s expression changed slightly. He immediately gave up making the Straw Man and ran in another direction.