Academy

"Old man, one bowl of tofu brain, two fried dough sticks, and a wheat cake scramble!"

"Right away, sir."

"Sir, it's you!"

"Sir, do you live nearby? I haven't seen you for so long. This old man has been hoping you'd come by these days!"

"I've been busy handling some matters lately and haven't come out much!"

Old Man Hao stared blankly at Chen Ping'an, scenes flashing through his mind one after another.

He suddenly remembered that when he had first met Chen Ping'an, it had happened to be the very day the Deputy Commander took office in White Stone City!

So... he was the Commander?

Old Man Hao felt dizzy all over. No matter how he thought about it, he could never have expected that the head of the White Stone Town Pacification Office would eat breakfast at his inconspicuous tofu pudding stall and chat with an old man who already had one foot in the grave.

This was simply...

Chen Ping'an rode atop a tall horse, laughing and chatting with the subordinates around him. Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly. He spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. His gaze fell upon her, and he saw that she was looking at him as well. Their eyes met, and a bright smile appeared on his face.

"Long time no see!"

The enthusiasm of White Stone City's people somewhat exceeded Chen Ping'an's expectations. Even when they reached the entrance of the Town Pacification Office, citizens were still following closely behind.

"My lord, you've been gone for so long. Everyone has been looking forward to your return!" Shan Qiwang said with a flattering smile.

"That's right, my lord. You are deeply beloved by the people. Everyone is showing it through their actions!"

"Well said."

The people around them echoed one another, expressing how important Commander Chen was to everyone, their flattering praise practically overflowing.

Chen Ping'an merely smiled without speaking.

At his current position, there would naturally be more than one or two bootlickers surrounding him. Knowing which words to take seriously and which to let pass by his ears was a lesson he needed to learn.

"Welcome back, Commander!" The constables at the entrance of the White Stone Town Pacification Office shouted in unison, their faces full of admiration as they welcomed Chen Ping'an home.

"Good!" Chen Ping'an raised a hand in a casual gesture, then swung down from his horse. Amid his subordinates' welcome, he stepped through the gates of the White Stone Town Pacification Office.

The Town Pacification Office was still the same Town Pacification Office, but returning this time, his state of mind was entirely different!

When he had left here in the past, he had only just been promoted to Patrol Deputy Envoy at the Deputy Commander level and needed to go to Wei River County City to complete the procedures. Yet when he returned this time, he alone held the authority over the outer patrols of the trade routes. He was a bona fide Commander-level official and had even been placed on the assessment list for Vice Commander Candidate.

A figure like this, even across all of Wei River County, was red hot!

"Brother~"

Not long after Chen Ping'an stepped through the gates of the Town Pacification Office, his expression shifted. Then he heard an incomparably familiar voice.

Looking at the girl rushing toward him, a long-lost warmth appeared on Chen Ping'an's face.

After Chen Ping'an had completed his promotion procedures and been transferred to the outer patrols of the trade routes, it had become certain that he would not be able to return within a short period of time. He had sent a letter to White Stone City, instructing them to protect Chen Er'ya well.

He had never forgotten the lesson of the Blood Oath Alliance.

If she stayed in the residence, even if he constantly assigned experts to guard her, their protection would still be limited. Just right, the Town Pacification Office had a rear courtyard intended for a Commander to reside in. After going back and forth over the matter, he had Little Girl and Peony move into the Town Pacification Office.

Looking across White Stone City, what place could possibly be safer than this?

Who could have imagined that Commander Chen, who had killed until heads rolled through White Stone City and was ruthless and merciless, also had such tender moments?

Shan Qiwang, Cheng Renjing, and the others stood far away in the back, not daring to disturb the Commander's mood in the slightest.

"Brother~ You're back!"

Little Girl blinked her eyes, carefully examining the brother she had not seen for so long.

"Mm, I'm back!" Chen Ping'an said with a smile. "Oh, it's been so long. Er Ya has grown taller!"

"No, I haven't!"

"."

They had not seen each other for several months, yet there was not the slightest unfamiliarity between the siblings as they shared their recent circumstances.

"Brother, I was too absorbed in my studies, and they didn't dare disturb me, so I didn't come to the gate to welcome you." Little Girl playfully stuck out her tongue.

How could Chen Ping'an blame Little Girl over something so minor? He simply said, "It's fine!"

Afterward, though, he became interested in Little Girl's studies and casually asked what books she was reading now.

Little Girl casually listed several books for him. To his surprise, Chen Ping'an discovered that he could not understand any of them. These were no longer common books found on the market, but works that had already delved into profound depths. After asking around a little, he learned that the teacher responsible for Little Girl's education happened to be present. He simply sent someone to call her over.

This teacher had been found by someone Chen Ping'an sent in the past. She possessed great renown in White Stone City and did not ordinarily teach with ease. But no matter how unwilling she might be to give lessons, when the head of the White Stone Town Pacification Office wanted something done, those beneath him would naturally rack their brains to handle it properly.

This teacher came to the Town Pacification Office every day to teach Chen Er'ya. Every ten days, she took one day off.

In the main hall of the Town Pacification Office, Chen Ping'an met Chen Er'ya's teacher.

She was called a teacher, but in truth she was a female teacher. Her appearance showed that she was somewhat advanced in years, yet she was dressed with exceptional propriety, and she carried an air of scholarship that seemed to rush toward one's face.

"I pay my respects, Commander." Upon seeing Chen Ping'an, the female instructor appeared somewhat restrained.

No matter how talented and learned she was, before a Commander, she did not dare behave with the slightest presumption!

To put it bluntly, her life and property, as well as every aspect of her family's livelihood, were in truth all within a single thought of Chen Ping'an.

If she offended this lord, there would likely be no peaceful days in her household!

She had heard of this Commander's methods. He was said to be brutal and ruthless, having killed until everyone in White Stone City trembled in fear.

Before someone like that, she naturally had to be careful, careful, and careful again.

What she had not expected was that this lord was far gentler than she had imagined.

"Hahaha, no need for formalities! No need for formalities! You are Er Ya's teacher, which makes you an honored guest here as well!"

Chen Ping'an's attitude made the female teacher relax slightly. Her responses afterward became far more natural.

Through their questions and answers, Chen Ping'an came to understand Chen Er'ya's current academic progress. With Little Girl's present learning, she was already no inferior to an adult who had studied diligently through ten cold years.

Chen Ping'an had not expected that after only several months apart, Little Girl's studies would have advanced so quickly!

It seemed Little Girl's talent in academics was far more astonishing than he had imagined.

With such talent, he could not let it go to waste in his hands. Chen Ping'an could not help putting even more thought into Little Girl's education.

The Great Qian Dynasty had been founded through martial strength, but it also governed through literature! Even among those Great Families, aside from retaining martial experts, they would also retain literary guests to serve as advisers and strategists.

It was said that the dynasty's two great academies, Jixia Academy and Yin Yang Academy, studied everything from forging alliances and splitting them apart to celestial phenomena and star divination. If one could attain the learning of a Celestial and comprehend heaven, earth, and nature, there would even be guardians of the Way willing to follow unto death and protect them with their lives!