Chen Yi unleashed his terrifying power, flames surging around him, tearing apart the Dragon-Man tribe’s formation.

[Simulation Task Progress: Destroy Dragon-Man Stronghold Progress (2/6)]

Hu Chacha: “Bastard! Who the hell are you! Who’s ordering you to do this! The Central Plains Emperor? The Great Khan of the Northern Frontier? The Hundred Kingdoms of the South? The Shen Family of the Starry Domains? Overseas Holy Lands? Or the human Guardians?!”

Ten Thousand Souls Banner: “Ah, buddy! This is the important business you were talking about, isn’t it? Aren’t you meddling in things that aren’t your business? Go find the Earth Vein already, man, I beg you!”

Demon Refining Pot: “Oh my! Master, this combat power is so fierce, it’s genui— genui— genui— genuinely ferocious!”

Nine Provinces Cauldron: “Hehe, the peaches taste really good.”

…

In midwinter at Baiyun County, heavy snow fell.

Thousands of households greeted the bright, dawning day, always replacing old charms with new peach-wood talismans.

With the Spring Festival approaching, the whole county was thick with holiday spirit, and ordinary people’s faces glowed with celebration.

In the past, even during the New Year, everyone wore worried frowns, thinking only about how to survive the long winter.

Now things were different.

This newly appointed Magistrate Chen hadn’t exactly achieved grand political feats, but he had canceled many unreasonable policies left by his predecessor.

Chen Cang was fairly honest, refusing to shield the wealthy or martial artists from crimes and wrongdoing.

In no time, Baiyun County burst with new vitality, and the common people’s lives improved considerably.

Magistrate Chen was still just a mortal, so where did he get the nerve to enforce the law against the powerful?

Before leaving Baiyun County, Chen Yi had, in front of Chen Cang, crushed a two-meter-tall solid iron ox into a lump like dough and then restored it to its original form.

Then he told him, “Be a good official.”

And so Baiyun County came to be like this.

On the street outside the Chen residence gate, Chen Yun held little Shen Jia’s hand as they stepped through the snow.

The house servants recognized them and hurried forward to greet them.

“Madam, with such heavy snow, why didn’t you tell us you were coming? We could have arranged a sedan chair to pick you up!”

Chen Yun smiled.

“I’m not eighty years old. A bit of snow is nothing. Jia’er loves playing in the snow… Has my fourth brother still not come back?”

A servant replied helplessly.

“Our mister is elusive as a dragon, Madam. You’ve come by so many times these past months. Shouldn’t we station a brother at your gate to wait?”

“No need to trouble yourselves. If he hasn’t returned, then fine. I only wanted to invite him to the New Year’s Eve dinner — a family should at least reunite for the festival.”

“Don’t worry, Madam. If the master returns we will surely tell him!”

Just as Chen Yun prepared to leave, a simple sedan chair creaked into view.

When it stopped, Chen Cang stepped down.

Chen Cang wore his official robes, likely just released from the yamen, passing by the Chen residence.

Upon seeing Chen Yun, Chen Cang treated her with courtesy.

“Sister of the Chen family, your servant salutes.”

Chen Yun hurriedly returned the courtesy.

“Honorable Blue-Sky Magistrate, you bow to a commoner and embarrass us.”

Seeing Chen Yun move to bow, the scholar Chen Cang quickly stepped forward and steadied her.

“No need for bows. No need. I’m off duty; I’m also an ordinary citizen and cannot accept such formality.”

Chen Cang wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

Good thing he had steadied her.

“Honorable Blue-Sky Magistrate, did you also come looking for my fourth brother?”

“Yes. I thought if Young Master Chen had no New Year plans he might join my household’s New Year’s Eve dinner to liven things up.”

“Then your timing is unfortunate. Even I, as his sister, haven’t seen him.”

Before her words finished, Chen Yi appeared beside them as if by no one’s notice.

“No need to trouble yourselves. New Year’s Eve dinner will be at my residence. Everyone come! I’ll hire the head chef from Yuelai Inn and guarantee every dish will be top quality!”

Chen Cang smiled very happily.

“Then your servant will dutifully accept. My salary is meager; the Yuelai Inn’s food is rarely something I can enjoy.”

Chen Yun said she would go home to consult Shen Qingshan — after all, he was the man of the house and should decide.

Just as the three were about to part ways, ruckus arose further down the street.

They turned to look.

“County Magistrate Chen, look, there’s an honor guard ahead. Is someone important coming?” 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Chen Cang squinted, and then his face showed astonishment; he scrambled to lift his robes and clambered, rolling in the snow, to greet them.

“Your servant Chen Cang respectfully greets the arriving Commandery Prince! Forgive my failure to welcome you properly!”

Chen Cang’s voice cracked from shouting.

The prince’s heir who would succeed the duke’s title was generally called a young prince or heir apparent; sons other than the heir were addressed as commandery princes.

Although many princes’ illegitimate sons did not actually receive a principality, they were still sons of a duke, and outsiders did not bother to distinguish — they were all called commandery princes.

Chen Yi sent out his divine sense and already knew who was coming.

“Li Chengqian puts on such a spectacle to bolster his status for my sake. This future emperor sure has a genuine streak — not bad when it comes to repaying favors.”

To Li Chengqian’s knowledge, Chen Yi was a martial artist at the Golden Body realm.

Though not a top-tier martial artist, compared to the royal family it was worlds apart; Li Chengqian believed his identity could help Chen Yi.

Li Chengqian’s retinue had an honor guard opening the way, light cavalry escorting on both sides, and carts behind carrying gifts with red covers and celebratory firework boxes.

Commoners might not know who the visitor was, but the scale of the procession made his status obvious.

Then they saw the county magistrate, the Honorable Blue-Sky Magistrate Chen Cang, scrambling to greet him.

Did anyone still have doubts?

With a swish, the crowd fell to their knees.

Technically, Great Qian’s etiquette rules did not require commoners to kneel before royals who held no title, but who dared to be that precise?

If he happened to be someone important, kneeling would certainly be safe. Not kneeling might be dangerous.

Chen Cang came forward to greet, and Li Chengqian had to stop his sedan chair and step down.

“Magistrate Chen, I’ve come only to visit a friend today. It’s not official business or a courtesy on my father’s behalf. No need for formal salutes — carry on as usual. Please rise.”

“Your servant obeys.”

Chen Cang stood, and in the sedan chair behind stepped down a gorgeously dressed little girl.

The girl looked about six or seven years old, large bright eyes lively as can be, skin whiter than snow, flawless.

She stomped out of the sedan chair pouting angrily.

“Li Chengqian! This place is no fun at all. Not even a single street performer. Everything’s so bare and shabby!”

Li Chengqian forced a wry smile.

“I told you, cousin, it wasn’t my idea to bring you. If you hadn’t wanted to stay in Qian Province’s city, you wouldn’t have had to come with me.”

“I regret this. Send me back now!”

“Impossible. I owe Benefactor a feast. Benefactor couldn’t come find me, so I personally came to pay my respects. There’s no backing out now.”

Chen Cang carefully asked, “May I ask, Commandery Prince, who is this…”

“The Flower Princess, Li Lingyue.”

With a thud, Chen Cang dropped to his knees again, this time more solidly.

“Princess, forgive me! I did not receive a dispatch from the Ministry of Rites. I suppose bandits or roaming demons delayed it, thus failing to arrange proper reception — I will arrange it immediately!”