Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts-Chapter 475

Mo Peinan stepped through the gates of the Jinyi Bureau and was immediately met with the sight of young men dressed in flying fish robes moving about.

They carried themselves with an air of confidence and vigor, each one exuding a youthful energy that even someone like Mo Peinan, an old veteran, could keenly sense.

For a moment, he couldn’t help but reminisce about his own youth—those days when he and his comrades fought side by side to establish their place in the world.

“This is indeed quite an impressive place,” Mo Peinan remarked, sighing with emotion.

He had heard about it before.

No one over the age of thirty was allowed to enter the Jinyi Bureau.

Furthermore, if anyone within the Jinyiwei reached forty, they were required to leave—whether through retirement or reassignment elsewhere. Under no circumstances could they remain in the Jinyi Bureau, not even in administrative or logistical roles.

This rule had a critical flaw.

It meant that no one could rein in this colossal machine.

Because it was composed entirely of young men, they were easily carried away by their emotions.

In other words, the Jinyi Bureau was like a runaway carriage, recklessly charging forward without regard for anything in its path—even if it meant crashing headlong into ruin.

However, this very trait also gave the Jinyiwei an advantage that no other institution possessed.

There were no old men among them. These young warriors did not overthink things; they were impulsive, yes, but they were also idealistic. They were unshackled by old, decaying traditions. Most of them were willing to shed blood and sacrifice themselves for their cause.

And when these hot-blooded youths banded together, wielding real power, they became a force to be reckoned with.

Many feared them because they understood one thing—these young men would not engage in debates or negotiations. They followed only their own sense of justice.

The Jinyiwei were just like the blades at their waists.

Straight.

Unyielding.

They would rather break than bend.

As for whether this institution would break and when that might happen, no one could say.

But at the very least, Mo Peinan was certain of one thing—it would continue to exist for as long as he lived.

“Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner, Grand Pillar,” a voice interrupted his thoughts.

A man had stepped forward, clasping his hands in a respectful bow before him.

“You jest, Lord Commander,” Mo Peinan replied, returning the courtesy with a cupped fist salute. “It was my son who made the mistake, and as his father, I have come to offer my apologies. How could I possibly let you be the one to welcome me?”

He studied the young officer standing before him—a true son of the Wu Kingdom.

Even without crossing blades, Mo Peinan could clearly sense the young man’s cultivated warrior’s aura and sharp sword intent.

This youth, Xu Ming, was not yet twenty, yet he had already reached such heights in both martial arts and swordsmanship. Mo Peinan had fought countless battles against formidable opponents in his lifetime, yet he had never encountered a prodigy like this before.

Looking at this outstanding young warrior, Mo Peinan couldn’t help but admire him.

Xu Ming chuckled lightly. “Grand Pillar, please take a seat in the main hall. Let us discuss this matter at length over tea.”

Although Xu Ming’s tone was polite, devoid of any arrogance, he saw through Mo Peinan’s intentions.

This so-called “Grand Pillar” had no intention of letting his son face legal punishment.

It was obvious from his choice of words—”I have come to offer my apologies.”

The implication was clear: “Since I have apologized, this matter should be settled. Soon, I will take my son and leave.”

Not once had he even mentioned his son’s legal repercussions.

Xu Ming, however, did not acknowledge this unspoken assumption.

He did not immediately agree to release the prisoner.

He did not even hint at doing so.

His stance was clear—”I do not intend to let this matter end so easily.”

And Mo Peinan, of course, understood that as well.

If Xu Ming were to simply let his son go, Mo Peinan might actually look down on him for it.

Just as Xu Ming was leading Mo Peinan a few steps forward, he saw Wu Yanhan and Tang Ningzhi walking toward them.

“I greet the Grand Pillar,” Wu Yanhan said, offering a respectful bow to the old general.

“I greet Your Highness,” Mo Peinan replied with a cupped-fist salute.

Wu Yanhan possessed the Martial God Physique and had a unique understanding of martial arts. If nothing unexpected happened, she was destined to become the second Limit Realm Martial Artist of the Wu Kingdom.

She and Mo Peinan exchanged a courteous bow.

“Allow me to make introductions,” Xu Ming said, gesturing toward them. “Lord Mo, this is Princess Tang of the Chu Kingdom—one of the key figures involved in the teahouse incident. Lady Tang, this is our esteemed Grand Pillar, Mo Peinan.”

“I have long heard of your great name, General,” Tang Ningzhi said gracefully, bowing slightly, exuding an air of quiet elegance.

Mo Peinan smiled. “I pay my respects to Your Highness. It is said that the Eldest Princess of Chu is both beautiful and accomplished in both literature and martial arts. Now that I have met you in person, I see that the rumors are indeed true. My son has caused trouble for Your Highness, and I will ensure he offers a proper apology.”

Tang Ningzhi smiled gently. “An apology to me would hardly be of any use. I am, after all, merely a foreigner in this land. Moreover, I was not the true victim in this incident.”

“Haha,” Mo Peinan chuckled at her response but chose not to say more.

“Let us all take a seat in the main hall,” Xu Ming suggested as the host.

He led everyone inside and signaled for two Jinyiwei officers to boil water and prepare tea.

“The letter we sent to Lord Mo earlier should have explained everything clearly, correct?”

As Xu Ming spoke, he poured a cup of tea for Mo Peinan.

“The son of the Grand Justice, Zheng Qiu, harassed a respectable woman in a teahouse. When she resisted, he even attempted to abduct her and take her back to his residence.

We, the Jinyiwei, were acting within the law to arrest him. But then, Young Master Mo descended from the upper floor, obstructed our law enforcement, and even injured two of my fellow officers.

Lady Tang can testify to all of this.”

Mo Peinan let out a sigh. “This is all my fault for failing to discipline my son properly. Rest assured, Lord Xu, I will see to it that the two injured Jinyiwei Guards are given proper compensation. And I will also ensure my son personally apologizes to them face-to-face!”

Seated nearby, Tang Ningzhi quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

She never truly believed Mo Yuanshan would face real legal consequences—his father’s status was simply too extraordinary.

But now, hearing Mo Peinan lower himself like this and offer such a humble stance, it was clear he was giving Xu Ming a way to step down from this conflict gracefully.

All Xu Ming needed to do was take the offer.

Even if the Jinyiwei’ prestige took a slight hit, it wouldn’t be anything irreparable. They could easily restore their authority later by cracking down on a few corrupt officials.

However, just as Tang Ningzhi thought Xu Ming would choose to reconcile with Mo Peinan, he suddenly chuckled, took a slow sip of tea, and said calmly:

“Lord Mo, if an apology were enough… then what need would there be for the Jinyiwei?”

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