With the matter of the donation silver concluded for the day, and with no patrols scheduled, Chen Ping’an could have left work early. However, to be on the safe side and prevent Constable Zheng from using this as an excuse to cause trouble, Chen Ping’an stayed at the Garrison Commandant’s Office until the official end of his shift.

During the afternoon, Chen Ping’an and Zeng Jihe chatted idly. At some point, he spotted Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu. Their expressions were grim; they had clearly heard about him receiving the donation silver.

However, as the workday was about to end, he saw them again. He had no idea where they’d been, but both of them seemed much more relaxed.

"Master Chen, are you okay?" After all the recent incidents, Xiaozeng had grown quite perceptive. He noticed their strange behavior and immediately reported it to Chen Ping’an.

"It’s fine," Chen Ping’an said with a calm smile. "They’re just a couple of petty fools."

"Right." Zeng Jihe nodded emphatically. If he hadn’t witnessed Chen Ping’an’s performance at the Tiger Run Gambling Square, he would have thought Chen Ping’an was just talking big. But now, he was utterly and sincerely convinced.

When it was time to get off duty, Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Mr. Qin returned to the Garrison Commandant’s Office together. Mr. Qin had some family matters to attend to around noon, so he hadn’t been at the office.

Chen Ping’an smiled and arranged with them to get together for a meal on him once this whole affair was over.

They all readily agreed with smiles.

When he got home from work, Chen Erya already had a fragrant meal waiting for him. It was a rich and hearty spread, with plenty of meat.

Ever since Chen Ping’an had been promoted to official constable, their family’s meals had gotten better and better.

After a satisfying meal, Chen Ping’an was waiting for his food to digest so he could begin practicing with his Flying Locust Stone and the Public Door Thirteen Sabers, when an unexpected guest arrived at his courtyard gate.

A knock echoed from the gate. Chen Ping’an went to open it.

"Hello, excuse me. Is this the residence of Chen Ping’an?"

Standing before his gate was a constable in the uniform of the Garrison Commandant’s Office, a saber at his waist and a smile on his face.

"And you are?" Chen Ping’an asked, looking at the man in confusion.

He was supposed to know all thirty-something official constables of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. Based on the uniform, this man was clearly an official constable from the Garrison Commandant’s Office, yet Chen Ping’an had never seen him before.

"You’re Chen Ping’an, I presume? My name is Chang Zheng. I’m a constable from the South Town Garrison Command." The constable’s gaze was soft as he smiled at Chen Ping’an. His smile was so amiable, he hardly seemed like an official constable from the South City District Garrison.

"I’ve come on orders to escort you to the South Town Garrison Command. A lord wants to see you!"

Chen Ping’an’s expression froze for a second before wild joy surged through him.

’Just as I planned!’

"Greetings, Lord Chang." Chen Ping’an bowed with cupped fists, his mind crystal clear. "If I may ask, which lord is it?"

"None of that ’Lord’ talk, brother. Just call me Chang Zheng. I’m a bit older than you, so if you’d like, you can call me Brother Chang. As for which lord has summoned you, you’ll find out when we get there," Chang Zheng replied with a wide grin.

’He didn’t know how this young man had managed to catch that lord’s eye, but he knew one thing: if all went well, the boy before him was about to soar to new heights.’

"Brother Chang, why not come in for a cup of tea before we go?" Chen Ping’an said, readily taking the offered olive branch. ’Even though he’s just a regular constable,’ he thought, ’he has the prestige of the South Town Garrison Command behind him. If he were to come to our Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, his status wouldn’t be much lower than a Constable’s.’

"Brother Chen, the lord is waiting. We’ll have plenty of chances for tea next time," Chang Zheng replied, smiling as he politely declined.

"You have a point. Brother Chang, please wait just a moment."

With that, Chen Ping’an went back into the courtyard to say goodbye to Chen Erya.

"Nannan, your big brother is heading out for a bit. I should be back by nine tonight!"

"Let’s go, Brother Chang."

After hearing Chen Erya call out in acknowledgment, Chen Ping’an walked out of the courtyard with a smile.

"Alright, let’s go," Chang Zheng responded with a smile.

The South Town Garrison Command was some distance from Nanquan Lane, separated by two other lane districts. It was a considerable walk, but the two of them were so engrossed in conversation that the time flew by.

Along the way, Chen Ping’an astutely observed that although Chang Zheng was only an official constable, he possessed a Martial Arts Realm of Qi Blood Second Realm Perfection. This came as quite a surprise.

’The South Town Garrison Command truly lives up to its name as the city’s main command center!’

’If this is the caliber of their official constables, then wouldn’t the Constables at the South Town Garrison Command be, at a minimum, at the same realm as Constable Zheng?’

Compared to the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, the South Town Garrison Command was far more imposing. Though it was well past the end of the workday, constables were still coming and going as dusk settled, passing through the entrance from time to time.

These constables wore solemn, dignified expressions, unlike the ones at the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office who were prone to whispering and furtive glances. The constables of the South Town Garrison Command were clearly a much more elite force.

With just a cursory glance, Chen Ping’an was surprised to see that nearly every constable had been initiated into the Martial Dao. While not many were at Chang Zheng’s level, he still spotted a few.

With Chang Zheng leading, Chen Ping’an wasn’t stopped or questioned at all, entering the South Town Garrison Command without a hitch.

The two of them continued deeper inside, entering a particularly splendid building.

Chang Zheng led Chen Ping’an to the second floor, where he stopped and cupped his fists. "Brother Chen, the lord is upstairs. This is as far as I can take you. You’ll have to go up the rest of the way on your own."

"My thanks, Brother Chang," Chen Ping’an said with a smile, returning the formal gesture.

He glanced around, then headed for the third floor.

He had just reached the top of the stairs when he was met by a woman in specially made Tough Clothing. Chen Ping’an was about to offer a greeting when her voice cut through the air. "You’re Chen Ping’an? Follow me."

Chen Ping’an nodded and followed the woman deeper into the building. A Waist Token hung from her hip, and as he walked behind her, he got a clear look at the insignia engraved on it.

’A Constable Token! This woman is a Constable!’

A jolt went through Chen Ping’an.

’To become a Constable in the South Town Garrison Command, and a trusted confidante of the lord, no less... A person like that is anything but ordinary!’

Observing her closely, Chen Ping’an realized that even with his Martial Arts Realm at the Qi Blood Fourth Layer, he couldn’t gauge the woman’s cultivation level at all.

’She’s above the Qi Blood Fourth Layer!’

’Could she be... at the Qi Blood Fifth Layer?!’

Chen Ping’an wondered inwardly.

Lost in his speculation, he was led by the woman into a room. Seated at its head was a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in Fish Scale Armor. It was none other than Mu Wanjun, the very person he had a chance encounter with that night.

"Lord Chief of the Patrol Office," the woman said, greeting Mu Wanjun respectfully.

Mu Wanjun lifted her head slightly, her gaze landing on Chen Ping’an. She looked him up and down before speaking. "So, you’ve arrived. I hadn’t expected we would meet a second time."

"Lord Chief of the Patrol Office." Chen Ping’an bowed with cupped fists, letting an appropriate look of awe and surprise cross his face.

’The woman before him held the highest authority in the South Town Garrison Command, deciding the fates of over a thousand constables across more than ten districts of the South District. And not just that—she was a true master who had transcended the Qi Blood realm!’

’This meeting today was the result of his own careful planning, but it was also a consequence of her taking an interest in him.’