Gong Xiaohua ran all the way to the Ministry of Justice and arrived just in time for the changing of the guard shift.
Today was her first time doing patrol duty. She found Sun Daqiang and explained why she was there. Without hesitation, Sun Daqiang gave Gong Xiaohua a big knife and told her to walk alongside his left side. He was joking around. Right now Gong Xiaohua was the pride of their prison, so bringing her along gave him some face.
The patrol duty encompassed not only the prison area, but also some of the surrounding environment.
During regular outside patrols, it was inevitable they would encounter patrols from other departments. Usually the others would automatically make way, then walk past them with eyes averted, leaving behind gritted teeth.
But today he wanted to see just how those arrogant Inspector Bureau fellows would be able to strut past them with their noses in the air.
Of course Gong Xiaohua didn't know about the little schemes running through Sun Daqiang's mind.
Due to the occupational disease of her previous life, as she walked she observed her surroundings, quickly memorizing all possible routes leading to the prison in her mind, analyzing the pros and cons of each route.
For example, which routes had the lowest risk of detection.
And which were death routes - for instance, the one they were currently taking was patrolled not only by their prison guards, but also by the Inspector Bureau.
The current patrol leader from the Inspector Bureau was Gong Xiaohua's old acquaintance, Leader Yang.
Seeing Leader Yang approaching from the opposite direction, Gong Xiaohua nodded at him in greeting.
Upon seeing it was Gong Xiaohua, Leader Yang automatically led his team to make way.
He could only watch as Gong Xiaohua and the others directly walked past them until disappearing from sight.
It wasn't until they returned to the prison that raucous laughter erupted from Sun Daqiang and his colleagues.
"That was so damn satisfying!"
"I know, did you see Leader Yang's face? He turned blue from anger."
"I've been holding it in this whole time. I can't stand it anymore, I need to laugh first. Hahaha..."
Seeing Gong Xiaohua's bewildered expression as she watched them, Sun Daqiang explained:
"Little Hua, with you here we brothers got our face back today. Worth it! Keep up the good work for the upcoming competition. Do your best to get first place for the Ministry of Justice and piss them off good!"
What a bunch of childish idiots, why make such a big deal over face when it can't give you promotions or raises?
In the afternoon, Gong Xiaohua went straight to the Martial Arts Hall. She didn't bother going to the competition grounds, she truly didn't find any substantive value in spectating.
When she arrived, there were already quite a few people waiting there, all eagerly anticipating her appearance.
Clearly there hadn't been nearly so many people here yesterday night. How did so many suddenly show up after one evening? Even Staff Officer Li came.
She couldn't have imagined that after agreeing yesterday to teach them martial arts free of charge, those who were acquainted with people from other departments had privately spread the word. Basically everyone who wasn't out on official business and had free time had shown up.
If they had publicly advertised, the Martial Arts Hall probably couldn't even fit everyone who would have come.
"Sir Li, you came as well?"
"I heard this place was teaching martial arts for free so I came to take a look."
"If you have any questions later please instruct me."
"Mm."
He had been out on official duties yesterday when he overheard his subordinates discussing how someone was teaching free martial arts lessons at the Martial Arts Hall. His curiosity was piqued so he came along to observe.
Gong Xiaohua had considered last night what she should teach them.
In this cold weapon era, whenever it came time to draw blades against each other it was a life or death battle.
After thinking it over for a long time she finally decided to teach them the famous modern Yongchun Fist style Ba Zhan DaoJiaQi, the most direct battle blade technique for killing enemies.
Ba Zhan Dao was a battle blade technique tempered through life and death on the battlefield, suited for close quarters combat.
With only eight basic moves, the bladework was simple and swift but still extremely lethal. It had the reputation that "the blade strikes twice and kills with one hit", making it perfect for short term instruction.
"Today I will teach everyone my master's self-created Yongchun Fist Ba Zhan blade technique. This technique uses twin blades. It only has eight basic moves and is simple to learn, but still has decent killing power."
"First I will demonstrate it to everyone."
Wielding twin blades, Gong Xiaohua swiftly demonstrated the technique before them - blocking, plowing blade, killing, stabbing, continuous stabs, horizontal slash, direct stab...
The entire set of moves could be described as fatal at every turn, leaving the spectators swallowing mouthfuls of saliva.
It could be said that with this blade technique performed, who would dare contend against it?
Everyone's gazes towards Gong Xiaohua changed. Aside from admiration for her, there was also a kind of fear from feeling their own strength completely crushed.
Staff Officer Li put aside his curiosity and instead felt that even if it were him on the receiving end of this technique, he probably wouldn't last more than a few moves.
If this blade technique were unleashed for assassinations on the battlefield, it would be unstoppable.
And she was generously imparting such an outstanding technique. They had to know that once they learned this technique, even those who used to rank in the competitions could instantly be reduced to fodder.
If the Ministry of Justice's people started learning this blade technique from Gong Xiaohua, how long would it take for them to dominate the other departments?
It seemed he would have to report this matter up the chain of command, no longer lingering here as he directly went to find the Ministry of Justice's highest authority, his uncle Minister Li, to discuss this matter.
Meanwhile Gong Xiaohua remained unaware of the tremendous impact stirred up by her demonstration of this blade technique.
To her, it couldn't be considered a remarkable blade technique. She was more adept with short blade release techniques and ancient sword techniques.
After Gong Xiaohua finished her demonstration, a deathly silence filled the Martial Arts Hall as all continued to gaze dumbfounded at her.
She assumed they weren't interested in the blade technique and tentatively asked:
"Do you guys still want to learn it? Find it too ordinary? Not practical enough for actual combat? I agree, but no worries. I still have better blade techniques."
Ordinary? Not practical enough? There's even better ones? Heavens...In their eyes this was already a top tier technique, yet she was calling it ordinary? They were at a complete loss over how else they could describe their current feelings.
Only now were they realizing that their past taunting of her was them prodding at death's door.
From now on Gong Xiaohua would have the label of Number One Person Not To Provoke stamped on her in their minds.
"I wish to learn this technique. Master, please accept me, your disciple!" A youth suddenly burst out from the crowd, charging fervently in front of Gong Xiaohua and kneeling down.
His sincere request to officially become her disciple jolted everyone from their daze. They scrambled frantically towards Gong Xiaohua, one after another loudly requesting to formally become her disciples.
In the end Gong Xiaohua still chose no one as personal disciple. Ever since the events of her past life, aside from her own family she no longer easily placed trust in others in this world.
