Daqian Martial Saint

After leaving the small courtyard, Chen Ping’an and the little girl began to walk through Pear Blossom Lane.

The sights that greeted them were all stirringly familiar memories.

As they walked, some of the neighbors recognized them. But they hesitated, not daring to come forward and say hello for a long time.

These days, Chen Ping’an’s status was a world away from what it used to be. In Pear Blossom Lane, he had long since become a legend.

To the common folk, a Constable was already an imposing local figure. The Inspectorate, in their eyes, was an even more exalted existence. And as for Chen Ping’an...

To them, his position was simply unimaginable.

Rumor had it that even the great Lord Commander of the Outer City Garrison Command could only treat Brother Chen... oh, no, Lord Chen, as an equal!

...

Chen Ping’an didn’t stay long in Pear Blossom Lane. After reminiscing a little about the old days with the young girl, he left the alley. As for what kind of commotion he caused in his wake, he had no way of knowing.

’I wonder how Monkey Head and the others are doing?’ Chen Ping’an thought, his mind turning to his old friends.

The original patrol trio had long since disbanded, but memories from that time still echoed in his mind. It was a friendship forged when he was a nobody, completely different from any other relationship.

With the thought, Chen Ping’an turned and headed for the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.

He hadn’t even reached the gate of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office when Tian Fuliang hurried over with a group of men.

As it turned out, Tian Fuliang had already received word of his return from the patrolling constables.

"Lord Commander Chen, your presence graces us! This humble one has failed to welcome you properly, I beg for your forgiveness..." Tian Fuliang approached Chen Ping’an with a beaming smile and the most effusive posture imaginable.

Several men followed behind Tian Fuliang, all of them Constables from the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. They too wore ingratiating smiles.

A Commander-in-Chief!

A truly supreme figure! Even the head of the Outer City Garrison Command could only be treated as an equal in his presence.

Meeting such a figure was an immense stroke of luck. If they could leave a good impression, it would be of great benefit to their future prospects.

"Tian Fuliang," Chen Ping’an said calmly.

"My Lord, I am here," Tian Fuliang said, bowing his head and stooping his back.

Seeing him again, his attitude was even more humble than before. His gaze toward Chen Ping’an was filled with a hidden awe.

Chen Erya stood beside Chen Ping’an, quietly observing the scene. These important figures, whom they once had to look up to, now stood humbly and respectfully, their every move deferring to Chen Ping’an.

She gained a much clearer understanding of her brother’s power and prestige.

The deference and awe from Tian Fuliang and his men somewhat dampened Chen Ping’an’s spirits. Nevertheless, he still went to the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office to meet with Monkey Head, Da Shan, and Mr. Qin.

Seeing him, they were all naturally overjoyed. But amid the excitement, a subtle barrier, a sense of distance, had formed.

When the gap in status between two people becomes too vast, it’s nearly impossible to go back to the way things were, unless they are father and son.

With their connection to Chen Ping’an, Monkey Head and Da Shan had enjoyed very smooth careers as constables.

They had even been on rotation at the South Town Garrison Command for a time. After burnishing their records there, both had long since become registered senior constables.

Monkey Head, in particular, was quite savvy, and his application for promotion to Preparatory Constable had already been submitted. It wouldn’t be long before he became a Preparatory Constable in charge of three shifts of constables.

Mr. Qin’s life continued as usual, only now he had much more to talk about when chatting with others. More than half of what he said, directly or indirectly, revolved around Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an was very happy to see them again. After chatting for over an hour and offering a few words of encouragement, he left the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.

"Lord Commander, take care!" Tian Fuliang trotted eagerly behind Chen Ping’an.

"Yes, you can go back now." Chen Ping’an waved his hand.

After leaving Nanquan Lane, Chen Ping’an paid a visit to the South Town Garrison Command, only to learn that the Chief of the Patrol Office, Mu Wanjun, was not in.

’Did she return to the Inner City?’

Chen Ping’an wasn’t too concerned and decided to stop by the South City Prison to see Zeng Jihe.

Speaking of Xiaozeng, he was probably the most promising of the old crew, having now become a Constable in the South City Prison. Upon seeing Chen Ping’an, Xiaozeng was the very picture of reverence.

Chen Ping’an smiled and offered a word of encouragement before touring the South City Prison, accompanied by the new Prison Chief. The prison was as dark and damp as ever, and the cries of the prisoners grew more wretched the deeper they descended.

When one prisoner saw Chen Ping’an and reached out to grab him, his hands were instantly broken by an ever-watchful guard.

"How dare you act so brazenly in the presence of a distinguished guest!"

Chen Ping’an just smiled and said nothing.

Chen Erya, who was following beside him, found it hard to watch. Chen Ping’an offered her a few comforting words, and they left the South City Prison amid the deferential farewells of the crowd.

With Chen Ping’an’s current status, this was the treatment he received whenever he visited the lower-level offices. Everyone was on pins and needles, hanging on his every step.

After leaving the South City Prison, aside from having missed Mu Wanjun, he had done everything else he’d set out to do. Chen Ping’an decided he would head back to his residence in the Inner City.

However, he hadn’t gone far from the South City Prison when he saw a troop of men hurrying toward him.

"Is that Commander Chen in person?" a powerful voice boomed.

Chen Ping’an looked up and saw that the leader of the group was dressed in black Tough Clothing, with thick brows, a square jaw, and several short spears strapped to his back.

It was an acquaintance!

"I am!"

"Commander Chen, I am Yan Wu, Vice Commander of the Outer City Garrison. I heard you had come to the Outer City and came specifically to welcome you." The man walked briskly up to Chen Ping’an and gave a cupped-fist salute.

"Lord Yan." Chen Ping’an returned the salute.

Yan Wu’s position was Vice Commander of the Outer City Garrison. Although his rank was technically lower than Chen Ping’an’s, he was still considered to be in the same echelon. Given that the man had come out of his way to welcome him, it was only right for Chen Ping’an to show his respect.

Speaking of Yan Wu, they had met once before, back when Chen Ping’an was still the South City Prison Chief. At that time, Yan Wu had seemed like an impossibly high-ranking figure to Chen Ping’an.

But now, in the blink of an eye, less than a year later, Chen Ping’an outranked him. The reversal of their fortunes was truly something to behold.

Though Yan Wu’s face was impassive as he looked at Chen Ping’an, his heart was filled with a thousand emotions.

’Young. So very young!’

’To hold such a high rank at his age... he had to be the only one in all of Weishui County City!’

’Come to think of it, I saw him back during the Ten Thousand Demons Sect uprising. He was just a minor Prison Chief then, but now his status is far above my own!’

Despite these thoughts, Yan Wu didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect.

The name of Mang Blade Chen Ping’an was famous throughout Weishui County City. Anyone who was anyone within the system knew of him.

Defeating a Profound Light Realm expert while only at the Inner Qi Realm, felling a Profound Light Pride, leading the siege on a Celestial Net Sect stronghold, being appointed Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy, presiding over the Five Peaks Mountain Residence...

His many deeds commanded respect.

With their previous brief meeting as a foundation, the two men exchanged a few pleasantries with smiles and quickly warmed up to each other. Yan Wu mentioned that with the Long’an Trade Route about to open, the Commander-in-Chief of the Outer City Garrison Command had been deployed elsewhere to serve in a joint defense role. That was why he, Yan Wu, was here to welcome Chen Ping’an on behalf of the Outer City Garrison Command.

He said he had long admired Chen Ping’an’s past accomplishments, and since he happened to be free today, perhaps the two of them could share a drink.