Old Friends, Unchanged

After seeing off the family representatives who had come to win him over, it was only just morning. Looking out the window, Chen Ping'an pondered briefly.

"Since I'm back in Wei River, I should go see Wanjun."

Dressed in plain clothes and without anyone accompanying him, Chen Ping'an left the inn alone.

Constables stood guard at the entrance to the South City Pacification Office, while people constantly came and went to submit official business.

"I'm here!"

Chen Ping'an stopped before the gates of the South City Pacification Office, a faint sense of nostalgia stirring within him.

When he had left this place, he had only been a Constable Director Candidate, a sacrifice beneath the Family Squeeze. Yet now, setting foot here once more, he had already become a Deputy Commander!

Chen Ping'an did not linger long and headed straight for the gates.

The gates of the South City Pacification Office had not changed in the slightest; they were just as they had always been.

Come to think of it, only a few months had passed since he left. Naturally, there would not have been much change.

"This is an important office of the Pacification Office. Whoever is there, halt!" Before Chen Ping'an could approach, a constable shouted a challenge and blocked his way.

Chen Ping'an looked up and found that the speaking constable was an unfamiliar face. He looked extremely young, his face still carrying a trace of boyishness. Just as Chen Ping'an was about to speak, he saw the constable behind him reveal an incredulous expression.

"L-Lord Chen."

"That's me." Chen Ping'an remained composed and gave a slight nod.

"It really is you, Lord Chen. You've returned!" The speaking constable immediately brightened with delight. "Xiao Quan, hurry up and move aside! This is Lord Chen!"

"Huh?" The constable called Xiao Quan looked confused, unable to grasp the situation for the moment.

The speaking constable paid no attention to Xiao Quan's reaction. He stepped past him at once and ushered Chen Ping'an inside.

"Lord Chen, do you remember me? Back when you first came to the Pacification Office, I was the one guarding the gate too."

Chen Ping'an glanced at Zhang Zhong, a solidly built man with a flattering look on his face.

As it happened, Chen Ping'an did have a vague impression of him.

"Zhang Zhong," Chen Ping'an said.

Hearing Lord Chen call him by name, the smile on Zhang Zhong's face bloomed completely.

"Yes, yes, yes, Lord Chen, it's me, Zhang Zhong." Zhang Zhong was overjoyed.

During their brief exchange, Chen Ping'an had already stepped through the gates of the Pacification Office. More and more constables noticed the scene as well.

"Lord Chen! Lord Chen has returned!"

"Lord Chen? Which Lord Chen?"

"Are you stupid? Who else could it be? The youngest Deputy Commander in our Wei River Town Pacification Office system!"

"..."

Listening to the heated discussion around him, Xiao Quan, the constable who had initially blocked Chen Ping'an's path, was a little dazed.

"He... he blocked Lord Chen?"

Chen Ping'an paid little attention to the stir his visit caused within the South City Pacification Office. Led by a constable, he smoothly arrived at the pavilion where Mu Wanjun worked.

As soon as he went upstairs, Chen Ping'an saw a familiar figure.

"Miss Xiao Die, we meet again," Chen Ping'an said with a smile.

"Lord Chen." Looking at the incomparably handsome young man before her, Xiao Die hurriedly dipped into a curtsy.

Meeting again today, he had already become a figure of blazing prominence within the Pacification Office! Not only in the South City Pacification Office—even in the Outer Town Pacification Office, he was a first-rate titan.

"Hahaha, Miss Xiao Die, no need to be so polite. Just call me Ping'an."

"Xiao Die wouldn't dare."

"It's fine, it's fine." Chen Ping'an smiled and walked toward Mu Wanjun's office.

Xiao Die watched Chen Ping'an's back, straight and steadfast, just as it had been in the past, as though not a thing had changed.

Upon entering the office, the first thing Chen Ping'an saw was Mu Wanjun's graceful figure.

"Greetings, Lord Mu!" Chen Ping'an clasped his hands in salute.

"Ping'an."

Seeing Chen Ping'an enter, Mu Wanjun's face filled with delight, a gentle smile resting on her lips. But when she suddenly saw him acting like this, she could not help rolling her eyes.

"Lord Chen certainly knows how to joke. You're the lord now."

He was already a Deputy Commander, yet he still called her Lord Mu. She was merely the Chief Constable of the South District—who was supposed to be the lord here!?

"Hahaha, in my heart, Wanjun will always be Lord Mu." Chen Ping'an walked in with a smile and, without much ceremony, sat down directly.

At those words, Mu Wanjun rolled her eyes again.

Xiao Die, standing nearby, was exceedingly tactful. After serving them tea, she closed the door and left.

"Ping'an, congratulations on your promotion to Patrol Deputy Envoy for the outer perimeter of the Dragon Peace Trade Route! Your rank has already pulled ahead of mine."

"Luck, nothing but luck," Chen Ping'an said with a faint smile.

"Breaking into the Inner Energy Third Stage and making it onto the New Talent Rankings—was that luck too?" Mu Wanjun was a bit speechless.

"Of course it was luck. I only made the rankings by sheer chance." Chen Ping'an lifted his teacup and took a light sip.

"Oh? Ninety-first on the New Talent Rankings—Reckless Saber!" Mu Wanjun looked at him with a beaming smile.

Reckless Saber!??? She really had to bring up the one pot that refused to boil!

Chen Ping'an nearly cracked. With an irritated look, he said, "I'm clearly a refined and jade-like handsome young man. How am I Reckless Saber!? Whoever came up with titles for the New Talent Rankings is blind. They've got no standards whatsoever."

"When you first arrived in White Stone City, you killed a Quicksand Gang elder over a disagreement. After that, you wiped out two major gangs in succession, and then personally paid a visit to the Chu Family. One thing after another—if you ask me, this nickname couldn't be more fitting." Mu Wanjun teased.

"..."

Though they had not seen each other for several months, their conversation flowed easily and warmly, without the slightest awkwardness.

Chen Ping'an and Mu Wanjun spoke for a long while. They mostly discussed the situation in Wei River County City, recent events, and various matters concerning martial arts. During this time, Chen Ping'an also asked Mu Wanjun about Da Shan, Monkey Head, and the others.

Mu Wanjun remained somewhat curious about Chen Ping'an's successive breakthroughs. His cultivation had clearly been far weaker than hers at first, yet in the blink of an eye, he had surpassed her. It was simply unbelievable.

Chen Ping'an did not explain much in response to Mu Wanjun's doubts. He merely laughed it off, saying that he was a true Martial Dao Prodigy, that his Martial Path Progress was Progressing a Thousand Miles a Day, and that breakthroughs were as easy as eating and drinking.

The two had not met for a long time and had much to talk about. They even had lunch together midway through. However, Mu Wanjun had official duties to attend to after all, so Chen Ping'an did not choose to continue disturbing her after lunch.

"Oh, right. Don't forget about tonight's banquet," Mu Wanjun reminded him before they parted. She had mentioned it in her letter before; as the Mu Family's representative, she was inviting him to the banquet.

"I know. I remember." Chen Ping'an nodded slightly. Mu Wanjun had put in a great deal of effort for his transfer to White Stone City. Since she had personally invited him, he naturally would not refuse her face.