Chapter Eleven: Coach Zhang

A Silver Badge Constable was not to be underestimated. Yesterday, the Living Dead team needed to pair up against each wild boar, while Swordless Silence could essentially handle one by himself. Now, as a wild boar charged with unusual ferocity, Genghis Chun simply kicked it flying and pummeled it unconscious with a flurry of heavy fists. Zhang He’s experience points soared like a rocket once more—he could claim ten percent of the experience value for each boar, and Brother Chun’s efficiency was clearly far superior to the two groups from yesterday.

The Six Doors’ martial arts system was remarkably eclectic, mostly focused on external skills. The entry technique was the Seizing Hand, followed by the Tiger-Subduing Fist, Iron Fan Palm, and so on—primarily close-combat abilities. Officially, all Six Doors members received a ten percent bonus to their constitution and vitality.

Furthermore, their unique items were also bestowed by the system: the Demon-Dispelling Ring, the Killing Rod, the Iron Walnut—these pieces of equipment could be switched at will, each with its own peculiar effect. This was an innate advantage for Six Doors players. Of course, later on, advanced techniques like the Bone-Dislocating Hand and Thousand Mountains Crossing would allow one to stride the martial world with pride.

Zhang He was thoroughly awed by Brother Chun’s prowess. When they lured the boar king that had taken Swordless Silence’s life yesterday into the cave, Brother Chun dispatched the ferocious beast with a mere three punches and two kicks. Zhang estimated that Brother Chun’s health, strength, and agility were all off the charts; ordinary constables couldn’t compare to his agility and skill.

“This is where Swordless Silence fell yesterday!” Zhang He declared with conviction, gesturing to the surroundings to further convince Brother Chun that Swordless Silence had indeed been here. If he were accused of deceiving an officer, things would turn truly dire.

Still, Zhang He underestimated Genghis Chun’s abilities. Constables boasted high constitution, and a good officer’s tracking skills were second to none. If a famed Inner Court detective arrived, he could probably sniff out Swordless Silence by scent alone.

After listening to the ground for a moment, Genghis Chun announced, “There’s movement due north.”

Zhang He hesitated. “That’s Tiger Ridge—where level-twenty monsters roam.”

Genghis Chun responded with a booming voice, “No matter. If someone’s been there, the monsters in that area must have been cleared out. Just stick with me.”

Left with no choice, Zhang He followed behind. The price of bluffing was greater risk, and now that he’d reached level twenty, a death meant a loss of level. Secretly, Zhang hoped there would be more monsters at Tiger Ridge so Brother Chun’s skills would truly shine.

But that thought ended abruptly. As they climbed Tiger Ridge, they saw a group of people gathered on the grassy slope below. Each had a terrifying red name—so notorious that even their names couldn’t be hidden, forcibly exposed by the system: Swordless Silence, Waterless Flight, Flowerless Flaw, Moonless Sound, and Heartless Ice.

Clearly a family clan, and Zhang He could never have dreamed he’d run into Swordless Silence again by sheer misfortune. Had he known, he would never have come, nor tried to greedily enlist a constable. Now, his own life might well be forfeit here today.

Genghis Chun stood imposingly atop the slope and shouted, “All of you, stand still!”

The roar startled Zhang He. He thought, you may be a constable, but must you be so flamboyant in making arrests?

The group below had already sensed something was afoot, but never expected only one man would show up. Spotting the silver badge, they immediately drew their weapons.

Peeking over the rise, Zhang He saw Swordless Silence with a short sword, Flowerless Flaw and Moonless Sound wielding long spears, Heartless Ice displaying two polished leather pouches at her waist—likely for hidden weapons—and Waterless Flight with empty hands, probably a close-combat specialist. Though they were a family, it seemed not all belonged to the same martial arts school.

Zhang He’s mind raced. If all five were at the second advancement stage, equipment aside, even a fourth-advancement expert like Brother Chun might be hard-pressed.

Though the gap between fourth and second advancement was enormous, the game “Dynasty” maintained its balance well. Why could a group of low-level players corner a powerful boss? Teamwork was the answer.

In “Dynasty,” there was no final verdict between team philosophy and heroism. If everyone performed well, even ants could gnaw an elephant to death, while a tiger might sweep all before it. As a veteran constable, Brother Chun surely understood this.

But Brother Chun’s soaring bravado nearly made Zhang He faint. “Don’t move! Hands up! Drop your weapons and surrender! Lay down your arms and you won’t be killed!”

Swordless Silence retorted angrily, “Do you take me for a fool?”

Brother Chun glared, “You dare resist arrest?”

“Idiot. If I’ve made it this far, do you think I fear the law?” Swordless Silence shouted, and with Flowerless Flaw and Moonless Sound, launched their attack.

“You dare assault an officer!” Brother Chun bellowed in rage, surging forward to meet their assault rather than retreat.

Flowerless Flaw and Moonless Sound’s spears gave them the advantage in reach, thrusting first. Brother Chun had no choice but to dodge.

He ducked and squatted, executing a textbook Six Doors ground sweep. Not only did he evade the spears and Swordless Silence’s leaping strike, but he also sent Flowerless Flaw and Moonless Sound sprawling, legs in the air.

Zhang He nearly cheered aloud. True veterans attacked while dodging, not simply evading. However, Brother Chun couldn’t press his advantage, for Heartless Ice in the rear flicked her wrist, sending a flurry of cold, shining needles toward him.

Brother Chun, supremely skilled, retreated two steps to avoid the needles, then, without even glancing back, expertly caught Swordless Silence’s short sword as it stabbed from behind. This required not just acute sensory skills but mastery of Six Doors’ barehanded weapon-catching technique. With a swift shoulder throw, he sent Swordless Silence flying.

Now, Waterless Flight, who had been motionless, moved, both palms striking straight at Brother Chun’s face, whistling through the air—a clear sign of advanced mastery.

Brother Chun had no way to dodge this blow after a rapid sequence of kicks, throws, and evasions; he had to take it head-on.

Two crisp slaps echoed in the air, and Brother Chun staggered back several steps, his expression changing dramatically.

Zhang He saw it clearly—Brother Chun’s palm had a darkened patch. Evidently, Waterless Flight’s palm technique was laced with poison. Over Brother Chun’s head, blue-violet “-5” values appeared, signaling a poisoned state.

In the first exchange, Brother Chun floored three opponents with his kicks and throws, looking impressive, yet he had secretly suffered a great setback. Though the five opponents might be inferior in strength, their coordination was superb. Brother Chun gained no real advantage; they had attacked an officer, but what could he do about it?

Zhang He quietly produced a pill, enabled the “Assist Mode” in the team settings, and tossed it. Brother Chun felt a warm surge spread from his back throughout his body, and saw his constitution slowly recovering.

Brother Chun realized the young companion behind him had given him medicine—effective medicine at that.

“Fortunately, I teamed up with this young brother today, or it would be a joke for a proud Silver Badge Constable to fall to these petty crooks,” Brother Chun thought, feeling steadier.

But Zhang He was heartbroken. The pill he’d just thrown was a freshly crafted “Ginger Lord”—costly to make, selling for seventy copper coins apiece. Yet seeing the situation, he had no choice but to help Brother Chun; otherwise, if the constable fell, Zhang He himself would be meat on the chopping block.

“Ginger Lord: restores ten constitution per second for forty seconds.”

But such a move couldn’t escape the notice of these second-advancement experts. Swordless Silence cried out, “It’s him! He’s the one who got me killed yesterday. Die!”

Seeing Zhang He ignited Swordless Silence’s rage. Furious, he charged up the slope, sword swinging.

“Lock!” Zhang He suddenly shouted. The group was momentarily stunned—what did he mean by “lock”?

But Brother Chun understood instantly—it was Six Doors’ martial arts jargon.

Though their external techniques were varied, Six Doors’ abilities were not especially offensive prior to earning the Gold Badge. Their main focus was subduing opponents. Zhang He had already seen Brother Chun’s skillful barehanded disarm, proof that his Seizing Hand was well-mastered. Now, with Swordless Silence losing his cool, a perfect opportunity had arisen.

It was the same principle as Swordless Silence annihilating the Living Dead team the day before—once you broke formation in a fit of rage, teamwork collapsed.

Brother Chun was experienced, though not necessarily adept at improvisation in PvP. Upon hearing Zhang He’s shout, he ducked and darted toward Swordless Silence, appearing at his side in a flash, five fingers curved into a claw to seize him.

Swordless Silence instantly recognized the Seizing Hand—quick, precise, clever. Seeing the speed of the attack, he knew the opponent’s mastery was high—hard to dodge head-on.

He finally used his red-aura Palm, trying to shake Brother Chun off, but miscalculated. As soon as he extended his left hand, Brother Chun’s fingers deftly caught his wrist, twisted, and supported his elbow. Before the short sword could strike, both of Brother Chun’s hands gripped his throat and shoulder.

Swordless Silence felt his strength drain away—no need to even look. With such a technique, one’s strength and agility dropped by twenty percent for a short time. If the opponent’s level was much higher, a hundred percent loss until total immobility was possible.

“威!” Zhang He shouted again. Brother Chun, sharp as ever, kicked the back of Swordless Silence’s left knee, forcing him to his knees, then hoisted him up and flung him backward. The two female red-names caught him on their upraised spears, unable to strike at Brother Chun.

But it was too late. Brother Chun now held a menacing, pitch-black wooden staff. As the spears caught Swordless Silence, the staff swept with a whistling arc at Moonless Sound’s slender waist.

—Thank you, everyone. This book has finally made the New Releases list. Let’s all work a bit harder and see if we can climb even higher. The protagonist grows stronger with each chapter—may your votes grow just as powerful.