Chapter 5: Benefits for Official Members

The handsome old man, Shen Shipeng, breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Shen Ye agree to accept the position of a Special Action Group operative. He had truly feared that his grandson might be as stubborn as a mule, which would have meant significant trouble.

He had asked once before about Shen Ye’s sudden display of immense strength, great speed, and his possession of gauntlets and spider silk. When Shen Ye did not answer directly, he decided not to press the issue.

First, everyone has their own secrets. He had his own, as did the deputy captain of his squadron; it was no surprise that Shen Ye had his.

Second, since Shen Ye began his journey, he had always acted with chivalry. The handsome old man had secretly investigated those Shen Ye had killed, and every single one of them had truly deserved to die. How could someone with such a character be capable of committing any grave wrongdoing? Therefore, he chose to let the matter rest.

"However, the punch and gauntlet techniques you used during your time as the 'Chopstick Hero' are too conspicuous. It's easy for others to identify you. You should hide them."

"I have here a set of internal energy cultivation methods and a set of blade techniques that I used in my youth. Take them and study them at your leisure. In the future, use the blade techniques when facing enemies. Since your primary attribute is strength, using sword techniques is completely the wrong path for you." The handsome old man made the decision for Shen Ye but added, "If you want to switch, just come to me. There is nothing we cannot discuss as grandfather and grandson."

With a flick of his hand, two books were tossed out.

As for the internal energy, it was the "Shaolin Internal Energy." Back in the day, the leader of the Red-Clad Guards, Liang Zijin—the world’s foremost expert—was invincible. He confiscated the martial arts manuals of all sects; those who dared to refuse were wiped out! It was truly an awe-inspiring display of power. At the time, the various sects were waiting for the greatest sect of all, Shaolin, to stand up and resist. But the majestic Shaolin sect chose to bow its head and submit, offering up its manuals—with the exception of their supreme scriptures, the *Yi Jin Jing* and the *Xi Sui Jing*.

Seeing that even Shaolin had bowed, the other sects had no choice but to follow suit and hand over their secrets.

After Liang Zijin obtained the manuals of a hundred schools, he compared them and found that while each sect's internal energy had its own characteristics, the purest and most suitable for everyone was the Shaolin internal energy.

Shaolin internal energy was divided into the beginner-to-intermediate "Shaolin Internal Energy" and the advanced "Bodhi Heart Technique."

Liang Zijin eventually tried to fuse all these martial arts into one, creating the "True Scripture of a Hundred Schools," but he ended up suffering from a deviation in his internal energy. The "True Scripture of a Hundred Schools" was so incomprehensible that everyone who read it vomited blood without exception. Naturally, no one dared to touch it again.

Since then, members of the Special Action Group who lacked superior internal energy all studied this Shaolin manual. It is said that the Shaolin monks were so furious they wanted to reclaim it, but they never could.

As for the blade techniques, they were the "Eight Directions Blood-Battle Blade." This set of techniques consisted of eight moves.

The first move, "Horizontal Slash," is a direct horizontal or vertical strike; relying on immense strength and the heavy, ferocious momentum of the blade, it overwhelms the enemy.

The second move, "Swift Blade," can instantly accelerate one's speed to strike the enemy.

The third move, "Scabbard Strike," uses the scabbard to parry the opponent's weapon, allowing one's own blade to strike through the opening.

The fourth move, "Dual Blade," is a technique where both the blade and the scabbard attack simultaneously.

The fifth move, "Defensive Blade," uses both the scabbard and the blade to parry and defend. Though it appears defensive, it contains within it a counter-attack; if the opponent is the least bit careless, they will be struck back.

The sixth move, "Eight Directions," involves continuous slashes in all directions, a technique for taking on multiple opponents at once.

The seventh move, "Explosive Blade," requires gripping the blade with both hands to unleash a strike of significantly greater power. However, it is difficult to master, and after each use, one must rest for a long time before being able to use it again; it is rarely used under normal circumstances.

The eighth move, "Blade Aura," generates an intangible aura from the blade that can injure people; it is the most terrifying move, but also the most difficult to learn.

Shen Ye had sparred with martial arts experts such as Lu the Beggar, the "Thunder and Lightning Dharma King" Yang Feikuang, the "Yang Dragon and Yin Phoenix," and the ruthless Du Sha. He knew deep down that if these martial arts were mastered, they were truly troublesome. For instance, he had neutralized Yang Feikuang's lightning using his insulated gauntlets, and he had only managed to break the Kunlun Sword Array of the Yang Dragon and Yin Phoenix by using spider silk to bind them.

Therefore, being able to learn these martial arts was certainly not a bad thing. Not to mention, the "Eight Directions Blood-Battle Blade" provided by the old man looked quite formidable.

"Take this internal energy manual and this blade technique back and practice them well," the handsome old man said, puffing on a cigarette. "By the way, there is one more thing. Since you are now an operative, you are entitled to an operative's benefits."

"In a moment, I will have someone deliver a good blade to you. You can't practice blade techniques without a good weapon."

"Also, here is a key." The handsome old man tossed a key to Shen Ye. "This is for a unit in the Nan'an Residential Complex, on the top floor—the sixth floor. It’s 150 square meters. It belongs to you now. You can go register the property title when you have time."

Although property prices in Yangcheng were not as high as in the imperial capital or the magic city, they were not cheap, with an average price of over 20,000 per square meter. In better locations, it could be 40,000 to 50,000. Essentially, he had just gifted Shen Ye several million.

However, since it was a benefit that all official operatives were entitled to, Shen Ye did not refuse and accepted it.

"Additionally, the police officers who came with me today are led by a man named Lu Yi. You can call him 'Little Lu.' Every official operative has eight police officers assigned to assist them. You can delegate all tasks to them; they function as your logistics and criminal investigation team. However, when you truly encounter martial arts skirmishes in the world of chivalry, you will have to handle those yourself. By the way, your position as an operative is equivalent to a deputy department-level rank."

Shen Ye couldn't help but laugh and cry; after all that, he had ended up with a deputy department-level position.

After settling these matters, the handsome old man waved his hand. "The reports say your cooking is excellent. Now that I’ve finished what I had to say, you can make a meal for your grandfather, can't you?"

Shen Ye shrugged. "Sure."

After all, by lineage, this man was indeed his grandfather.

The handsome old man relaxed completely and looked at the menu. "Your menu is a bit sparse—only ten dishes. Let's start with a lobster, then a steak, a serving of cod, and finally, clam chowder. Tell me, kid, this is all American food. Why don't you make Chinese food? You should be patriotic."

"I make American food simply because it's simpler. Chinese food is too complex, and it’s very greasy. You’re overthinking it, old man," Shen Ye replied with a helpless smile while he began to cook. "Now that this is settled, can I let my waiter in?"

"No problem." The handsome old man snapped his fingers, and Wen Xiuting immediately entered. She looked at Shen Ye with concern, and he gave her a look that said, "Don't worry."

Only then did Wen Xiuting feel at ease.

Soon, the meal was ready.

After the first bite, the handsome old man went completely still. He had tasted countless delicacies and had been served by famous chefs from all over the world, even those with international acclaim. Yet, he could be certain of one thing: none of those chefs could compare to the deliciousness of Shen Ye's cooking.

He began to eat without any regard for his image.

"Kid," he said between bites, "your cooking is absolutely the best in the world. Fine, from now on, I’m coming to your restaurant to mooch meals whenever I have free time."

"As you wish," Shen Ye shrugged nonchalantly.

The handsome old man left only after he was fully satisfied. As he departed, he was all smiles and in an excellent mood.

This left Lin Weitian, Wang Yunfang, and Yang Yuanqing, who had been waiting nearby for the outcome, in deep shock. It appeared that the relationship between the handsome old man and Shen Ye was truly extraordinary. They were filled with regret for having offended him.

(The second chapter is served. This book is about chivalry, and it will remain so. Joining the Special Action Group will not change that. Furthermore, the handsome old man has made it clear that if the opponent has a powerful background, he will tell the protagonist to act directly under his 'Chopstick Hero' persona to kill them.)