"Chen Ping’an, your father is Chen Tian’an, a veteran constable from the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. He was injured in the line of duty during a raid on the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. After his grievous injuries, he pulled every string he had to secure an unlisted position for you as a temporary constable. You’ve been at the Garrison Commandant’s Office for over half a year now, and in that time, there has been no sign of you even achieving a Martial Arts Introduction.

"When we met that night, you had no trace of Qi Blood, clear proof you knew nothing of the Martial Dao. But today, you took a temporary constable into the Tiger Head Gang’s Tiger Run Gambling Square to collect donation silver, and you revealed a Martial Arts Realm at the Qi Blood Second Layer! In the process, you also demonstrated an extremely proficient Public Door Thirteen Sabers!

"It has only been a few days since you became an official constable and received the Public Door Thirteen Sabers! To reach such a level of proficiency with the Public Door Thirteen Sabers in just a few short days is a feat even ordinary martial arts geniuses would find difficult! It seems you are a martial arts prodigy whose talent went undiscovered! Especially your talent in the Sword Dao!"

Mu Wanjun looked at Chen Ping’an. In just a few sentences, she had made it clear that she had investigated him thoroughly.

"You flatter me, Lord Chief of the Patrol Office," Chen Ping’an said, lowering his head at just the right moment.

Mu Wanjun sized up Chen Ping’an, then suddenly stood up. In a few flashes of movement, she appeared before him. She reached out and pressed her palm against his lower abdomen.

Instantly, Chen Ping’an felt a warm current flowing into his body.

’This is...’

Inner Qi!

Above the Qi Blood Realm was the Inner Qi Realm. At the beginning of the Inner Qi Realm, the Initial Qi Sea Transformation occurs, and Inner Qi gathers within the body. Compared to the Qi Blood Realm, the Inner Qi Realm was far more profound and even granted the ability to attack from a distance!

Of course, Chen Ping’an had only heard snippets about it; he wasn’t really clear on the specific details.

After just a few breaths, Mu Wanjun withdrew her hand and looked at Chen Ping’an, her expression perfectly natural.

"Qi Blood Second Layer. Just as I thought!"

’The panel is incredible!’

Chen Ping’an praised it in his heart. Even a great master like Mu Wanjun couldn’t discover his true Martial Arts Realm, even with a close-up inspection.

This Qi Blood Second Layer was merely the Realm he had deliberately revealed through his panel!

After all, breaking through so quickly in just a few days was unbelievably shocking. If he had a powerful background, it wouldn’t matter. But since he was all alone with no backing, he had to avoid it, proceeding step by step and revealing his true strength bit by bit.

’However, reaching the Qi Blood Second Layer in a few days and practicing the Public Door Thirteen Sabers to Minor Achievement... this level of talent should be enough of a bargaining chip to gain sufficient support from Mu Wanjun.’

"Demonstrate the Public Door Thirteen Sabers for me," Mu Wanjun said coolly.

"Lord Chief of the Patrol Office, right here?"

"Mm."

After receiving Mu Wanjun’s affirmative reply, Chen Ping’an drew the saber from his waist and began to perform the Public Door Thirteen Sabers.

Just as he did during his daily practice, Chen Ping’an performed the Sword Skill and Saber Forms of the Public Door Thirteen Sabers one by one. The wind from his blade kicked up, and he didn’t look at all like a novice who had only been practicing for a few days; instead, he seemed like a veteran who had been immersed in it for a long time.

+1.

As an experience symbol flashed in Chen Ping’an’s vision, he stopped his movements.

’Just showing off my Sword Skill level, and I still get to practice and increase my proficiency. Sweet!’

Chen Ping’an was inwardly delighted.

At this moment, a trace of pleasant surprise flashed across Mu Wanjun’s face, but it vanished in an instant.

’Judging by Chen Ping’an’s performance, he is undoubtedly a martial arts prodigy. To be able to perform the Public Door Thirteen Sabers so skillfully after only a few days... This kind of talent is only a couple of notches below my own. If he had been discovered earlier and received careful guidance, he would surely be a martial arts prospect capable of breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm.’

’But now... what a pity!’

’He’s almost twenty, yet he’s only just begun his Martial Dao journey. Even with his natural talent, he started too late. His future achievements will likely be limited.’

’Then again, "limited" is only relative to someone like me. With proper nurturing, breaking through to the Refining the Organs or even the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm shouldn’t be difficult for him!’

’Such a talent is worth bringing into my inner circle and cultivating.’

With this in mind, Mu Wanjun glanced at the woman beside her and nodded slightly.

Seeing this, the woman walked over to a nearby table, picked up a wooden box, and brought it before Chen Ping’an.

"Take a look," Mu Wanjun gestured lightly.

’Here it comes!’

Chen Ping’an’s heart skipped a beat. He knew the main event was about to begin!

He took the wooden box from the woman, opened it, and found an iron Token, a contract, and a sheet of white paper inside.

"Lord Chief, this is..."

Chen Ping’an hesitated slightly.

In reality, he already had a few guesses. But in front of a superior, being too quick-witted wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Before he understood the Chief of the Patrol Office’s methods, it was better not to appear too sharp.

Mu Wanjun looked at Chen Ping’an with a calm expression. "That night, I was ambushed by members of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. If your loud gongs hadn’t startled them into retreating, I’m afraid I would have had to use a life-or-death technique to escape safely. For that, I owe you a favor. Seeing you again today... we can consider it fate.

"There are three items in this box. You can choose any one of them as my way of repaying you."

"My Lord, I owe my position as an official constable entirely to your patronage. The repayment you speak of has already been given, and then some. I am unworthy of accepting these items," Chen Ping’an said, trying to decline.

"My repayment was more than just the position of official constable. I’m telling you to choose, so choose!" Mu Wanjun said quietly, her words filled with an authority that could not be questioned. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

As a superior, she naturally possessed such an aura.

At this point, Chen Ping’an knew exactly what to say. "Thank you for your guidance, My Lord. I will remember your great kindness and never forget it for the rest of my life. If you have any orders in the future, I am willing to serve you!"

"Very good!" Mu Wanjun nodded slightly, very pleased with Chen Ping’an’s response. "Go on, choose."

"Yes, My Lord." Chen Ping’an nodded and looked at the three items in the wooden box.

The first item was a Token. Chen Ping’an was all too familiar with this particular Token. The five Constables of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office each carried one just like it. This was a Constable Token. In this situation, choosing it would mean Chen Ping’an could immediately be promoted from constable to Constable.

To be honest, this item was quite tempting.

If he became a Constable, the problems he’d been facing during the day would probably be resolved instantly. Even Constable Zheng wouldn’t dare give him any trouble. Besides, the likes of the Tiger Head Gang’s Young Master Xiao Hu and Big Steel Fang were just common thugs. How would they dare to provoke him in the slightest!

The second item was a contract—or more specifically, a land deed. Chen Ping’an picked it up and saw that it was a deed for a property in South City Lane, the most central lane in the South District. It was for a residence that included several single-story rooms and a courtyard. In terms of size, it was more than double that of the house he currently shared with Chen Erya.

Moreover, this was a house in South City Lane! Its value was many times greater than his current residence.

The third item was a sheet of white paper, a simple, plain sheet. But there was writing on it that made it seem less than ordinary. A variety of things, about twenty-odd items, were listed. There were weapons, Cultivation Techniques, favors, Major Medicines, silver coins... and so on. These were all items from the South Town Garrison Command’s Merit Treasure Vault, things that could be exchanged for Merit.

If he chose this sheet of paper, Chen Ping’an could pick any one of the items written on it.

Chen Ping’an pondered for a moment, then made his choice.