Da Xuan Martial Saint

Chapter 41: Chapter 39 Inner City

Yu City was enormous.

If one were to travel from the edge of the Outer City to the Inner City, it would even necessitate horseback riding.

The Ninth District, where Chen Mu resided, was neither too far nor too close to the Inner City Area, striking a perfect balance. With his strong legs, he naturally walked quietly, avoiding drawing attention, and soon crossed several streets and alleys.

The closer he got to the streets of the Inner City, the cleaner and more spacious they became, bustling with even more vitality.

Of course.

This was only during the day.

During the day, the areas near the Inner City were generally patrolled by government officers, and households with even a slight amount of wealth and power would hire Protectors, making it hard for riffraff and thugs to linger.

But at night, these wealthier areas became more attractive to thieves. After all, though close to the Inner City, it was still technically part of the Outer City and at night, all oversight was abandoned, including by the City Defense Division.

“The Inner City…”

Chen Mu continued north, walking swiftly along the streets and alleys. After what felt like a long time, he finally arrived at the Inner City of Yu City for the first time.

Previously, he had only heard people talk about it and had no direct impression. Now, at first glance, he was somewhat shocked; the walls of the Inner City were much thicker and taller compared to the Outer City, far surpassing the walls he remembered from his previous life!

The entire wall was constructed of an unknown material, which under the sunlight, even glimmered with a metallic luster, and there was a deep moat dug around the outside.

“No wonder the Inner City Area is a completely different world. With such towering, solid walls, even if the Outer City were to be thrown into chaos and burnt to ashes, it wouldn’t affect the inside.”

After looking up at the towering walls for a moment, Chen Mu slightly shook his head.

He then went straight toward the city gate of the Inner City Area.

The city gate of the Inner City Area was also heavily guarded, and anyone entering or leaving had to be thoroughly scrutinized. Ordinary people had no right to enter, and commoners who wished to enter had to spend a great deal of money to purchase a special Inner City Waist Token.

Chen Mu approached the city gate and showed the Head Constable’s Waist Token from the City Defense Division to the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper glanced at the Waist Token, then handed it back to Chen Mu with an expressionless face, saying, “Go in, but remember to come out before night falls; you can’t stay overnight.”

Chen Mu nodded to acknowledge his understanding.

He had learned from Min Baoyi that the Head Constable’s Waist Token allowed entrance to the Inner City, but didn’t permit buying a house or a prolonged stay in the Inner City. During times of enhanced security, Head Constables were only allowed to enter and exit within the same day.

Only when promoted to Prefecture Chief could one have the right to live in the Inner City indefinitely and purchase property… Of course, if Chen Mu really wanted to access the Inner City and had enough Silver to buy a property there, getting help from Xu Hongyu was also very feasible.

For now, Chen Mu merely entertained the thought of purchasing property in the Inner City.

The astronomical prices of even a modest estate, costing tens of thousands of Silvers, meant he could only long for it from a distance.

Once inside the Inner City.

At first glance, it truly seemed like a different world from the Outer City.

The streets were wide and even, without a single pothole in sight. On both sides, there were elegant restaurants and shops, bustling with people, either dressed in fine silks and satins or wearing neat long robes, all appearing relaxed and leisurely.

Chen Mu was also dressed in a decent blue long robe, his best outfit, which he had purchased for ten Silvers, a common sight in the Inner City, allowing him to blend seamlessly into the crowd without drawing any attention.

He continued further inside.

No single isolated cottages could be seen; all the residential areas in the back street were grand courtyards, each roughly comprising at least three or four sections of residences, and some even occupied large swathes of space.

Although it was his first visit to the Inner City, Chen Mu had not lost his way. The Yu Family Martial Arts Institute was easy to find, located on Yu Family’s grounds, which encompassed a large part of the eastern side of the Inner City Area, as he had long been aware.

Soon.

Chen Mu found the Yu Family Martial Arts Institute.

Called a martial arts institute, it was actually a vast area composed of many complex courtyards nested together, and the east and west sides were divided; a large area on the east was for males, and the much smaller opposite side was for females.

Chen Mu walked around and came to the main gate of the women’s section, then went over and knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

After a while, someone opened the door halfway. It was a woman in her thirties with a solemn expression, who frowned as she eyed Chen Mu standing outside.

Chen Mu quickly explained his purpose.

“Oh, Chen Yue, huh?”

The woman nodded her head, her frown easing slightly, but she didn’t allow Chen Mu inside, asking him to wait by the side of the door.

Another moment passed.

The door opened again, and a familiar figure appeared at the doorstep, it was Chen Yue, whom he had not seen for five months.

In just five short months, the changes had been significant; not only had she grown taller by half a head, her previously somewhat childish face had matured, still showing some naivety but more a young girl’s look, and in every aspect, she looked better than before.

“Brother!”

Chen Yue walked over happily, but unlike before, she didn’t throw herself onto Chen Mu immediately. Instead, she maintained a bit of girlish reserve, joyfully looking at him.

Chen Mu looked Chen Yue up and down, smiling faintly, and felt inwardly relieved that the little girl had indeed grown quite a bit. Seeing her complexion and demeanor, it was clear she was doing well in the Yu Family Martial Arts Institute, so he felt much reassured.

“The Outer City has been too chaotic, I’ve been unable to find free time. How have you been staying here?”

Chen Mu habitually touched Chen Yue’s head and then led her toward a big banyan tree nearby.

Chen Yue, still retaining some of her naive demeanor, looked up and said, “It’s been alright, training is very tiring, but I’ve met a lot of people, and Master Yu has taken good care of me… Brother, training with the saber must have been tough for you too.”

Back then, she had watched Chen Mu practising with the saber, not thinking much of it, only aware that he worked very hard.

Now, as she studied Swordsmanship in the martial arts institute, she felt the struggle. After nearly five months of training, she had only reached Minor Achievement with her sword technique, still lagging behind Major Achievement, and she had heard that the transition from Major Achievement to Perfection was the most difficult hurdle, which few could surpass.

If she could cultivate her Swordsmanship to Perfection and develop Sword Momentum before turning twenty-five, she would hold a different status within the Yu Family Martial Arts Institute, becoming a so-called “Inner Institute Disciple,” with access to more resources.

“Hmm.”

Listening to Chen Yue, Chen Mu said calmly, “There’s no easy way to train, takes sweat to reap rewards. I could reach today’s level only through enduring the heat and cold.”

From what Chen Yue shared, she had been practicing the Dripping Rain Sword Technique and had reached Minor Achievement, and her Skin Toughening Method was also cultivated to the realm of Minor Achievement. She was steadily progressing toward Major Achievement, estimating that in another two or three months, both her Swordsmanship and Skin Toughening Method could reach Major Achievement.

This progress was indeed commendable.

Being able to reach Major Achievement in both Swordsmanship and Skin Toughening Method within a year was relatively rare. For instance, Ren Yan from City Defense Division, who had started martial arts training early in the Inner City, had also been at it for over a year but had not yet achieved Major Achievement in both techniques.

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