The Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office methodically pushed forward its investigation into the Spring Rain Tower affair. All personnel from the tower, except for those already dead, were interrogated one by one.

During the interrogations, a number of clues were uncovered. When these clues were combined with prior intelligence from the South Town Garrison Command, the investigators painstakingly unraveled the conspiracy and successfully rooted out many of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s inside agents.

Several days later, a commendation report personally written by Shen Shikang was delivered to the Chief of the Patrol Office of the South Town Garrison Command.

According to the list of merits, Shen Shikang, Inspectorate of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, had planned meticulously and commanded aptly. The successful annihilation of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s hidden stronghold earned him the highest commendation.

Chen Ping’an, a Constable of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, was bold yet meticulous and highly effective, even capturing a minor leader of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect alive. This earned him the second-highest commendation.

The Vice Inspector of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office commanded well, setting up multiple encirclements and successfully intercepting several remnants of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. This earned him the third-highest commendation.

Constable Li of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office...

In truth, Shen Shikang had deliberated on this commendation report for a long time. The main point of contention was between Chen Ping’an and Tian Fuliang.

Logically speaking, as the second-in-command of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, Tian Fuliang should have received the second-highest commendation without question, regardless of how effective his subordinates were.

After all, no matter how effective the subordinates were, it was only because they had been well-led by their superiors!

However...

Chen Ping’an’s background, after all, was not ordinary.

In Shen Shikang’s eyes, the man was a confidant of the Chief of the Patrol Office of the South Town Garrison Command!

Furthermore, Chen Ping’an had indeed been effective this time, and his capture of the Madam was a tangible achievement. Therefore, after some deliberation, Shen Shikang awarded the second-highest commendation to Chen Ping’an.

This was his way of going with the flow and indirectly currying favor with the Chief of the Patrol Office.

...

One day, Chen Ping’an was stealing a moment of leisure in his office to practice his Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training. He had already reached Great Success with the technique, and the next stage was Horizontal Training Perfection.

Once he achieved Thirteen Grand Protectors Cross Training Perfect, his Martial Arts Realm would also smoothly advance to the Qi Blood Sixth Layer!

The Qi Blood Sixth Layer—the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm!

At that stage, one’s Qi Blood would be endless and vitality would flourish. One could truly be called a powerful expert of the Martial Dao.

An existence like that would be renowned not just in Nanquan Lane, but throughout the entire South District. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The supervisors of the various Task Rooms under the South Town Garrison Command were at this level of strength. Aside from the supervisors of the South Town Garrison Command’s Task Rooms, the Inspectorates of a few key alleys, such as the core South City Lane, were also at this Martial Dao level.

Of course, this was only within the Garrison Commandant’s Office.

The power structure of the South District was far more complex than that of Nanquan Lane. Besides the gangs and merchant guilds, there were also some families with distinguished lineages. Among these families, there was no shortage of powerful Martial Dao experts at the Qi Blood Sixth Layer.

+1.

An experience symbol floated past.

Chen Ping’an’s mood lifted.

Feeling himself change with every passing moment—this kind of instant, positive feedback was truly addictive.

Just as Chen Ping’an was immersed in the feeling, a knock came from the door.

"Come in,"

Chen Ping’an said in a deep voice.

The office door opened, and a young constable walked in.

"Chief! Someone’s here to see you."

Zeng Jihe looked respectfully at Chen Ping’an, who was seated in the large chair.

Since taking charge of the five squads of constables, Chen Ping’an had made some efforts to promote his trusted aides. He had placed Zeng Jihe by his side to handle various tasks, seeing it as a way of mentoring him.

"Who is it?"

"Chief, the visitor claims to be a constable from the South Town Garrison Command named Chang Zheng."

’Just as I thought!’ Chen Ping’an understood immediately, a look of realization flashing across his face. "Let him in."

"Yes, sir."

Zeng Jihe replied.

...

"Chen Constable, long time no see!"

Chang Zheng smiled as he looked at Chen Ping’an sitting behind the long table. He felt a sense of disbelief, as if the man had transformed completely in the short time since they’d last met.

"Indeed, Brother Chang, long time no see."

Chen Ping’an beamed and poured Chang Zheng a cup of tea.

"Why call me Constable? That’s too formal. Just call me by my name."

Hearing this, a hint of a smile flashed in Chang Zheng’s eyes, but he still demurred, "I appreciate Chen Constable’s good intentions. However, on official business, it’s better to address each other by our titles."

If they had met some time ago, Chang Zheng would have definitely addressed him as Brother Chen.

Back then, he had seen that Chen Ping’an was summoned by the Chief of the Patrol Office and believed he was destined for a meteoric rise, so he had deliberately forged a good relationship early on. But Chen Ping’an’s promotion speed was a bit too fast. So fast that he found it incredible.

How long had it even been?

He went from official constable to Preparatory Constable, and then from Preparatory Constable to a full Constable.

The opportunity for each promotion came after a summons from the Chief of the Patrol Office, Mu Wanjun.

The first summons, a promotion to Preparatory Constable.

The second summons, a promotion to Constable.

Now this was the third summons. Who knew if he would be promoted again?

How could he dare to address him casually? Should he call him Brother Chen like before? ’Impossible!’

After a few more pleasantries, Chang Zheng stated his purpose.

"Chen Constable, the Chief of the Patrol Office wants to see you."

Chen Ping’an was not at all surprised by this.

In the Spring Rain Tower battle, he had managed to capture Madam Ruchun, who was at the Qi Blood Third Layer, which meant his Martial Dao strength had clearly advanced. Furthermore, Shen Shikang had recommended him for the second-highest commendation in the report.

With all this, it was only natural that Mu Wanjun would want to summon him.

"Greetings, Chen Constable."

"Chief."

"..."

Amid the greetings of the constables, Chen Ping’an left the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office with Chang Zheng and headed toward the South Town Garrison Command.

...

"Are you sure it was someone from the South Town Garrison Command?"

Shen Shikang asked the constable before him, his face a mask of surprise.

"Reporting to the Lord Chief, yes. This little one saw the Token in his hand from the side. It’s absolutely certain, he’s from the South Town Garrison Command."

The constable said respectfully, his head bowed.

"To the South Town Garrison Command at a time like this!"

Shen Shikang paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, muttering to himself.

"The Lord Chief of the Patrol Office values him even more than I thought!"

It seemed Chen Ping’an’s standing with the Chief of the Patrol Office surpassed even his own imagination.

...

The fact that someone from the South Town Garrison Command had come to escort Chen Ping’an away wasn’t just known to Shen Shikang; people like Tian Fuliang, Constable Li, and Constable Yan also learned of it immediately.

The speculation that Chen Ping’an had connections in the South Town Garrison Command was once again confirmed.

’We must stay on this young man’s good side. We absolutely cannot afford to provoke him.’

...

Chen Ping’an and Chang Zheng walked quickly, reaching the South Town Garrison Command without much delay. It wasn’t Chen Ping’an’s first visit, so he knew his way around. Just as he and Chang Zheng stepped through the main gate, they saw a group of people walking toward them.

At the head of the group was a handsome and spirited young man, followed by a large entourage.

Fish Scale Armor!

Chen Ping’an recognized the man’s attire with a single glance.

’And judging by its style, this isn’t just any ordinary Fish Scale Armor!’

"Greetings, Lord Fu!"

Upon seeing the approaching man, Chang Zheng pulled Chen Ping’an aside, quickly clearing the path and bowing in greeting.