Supreme Status

Since ancient times, commoners had never fought officials.

And these Black Armor Guards under the Chen Family were true iron-blooded elites who had been on the battlefield. They carried an aggressive aura that ordinary people simply could not bear.

"Ah, sir, my apologies. Everything is fine now. Sorry to have made you come all this way."

Upon seeing the Black Armor Guards, the shopkeeper hurriedly went to greet them, his face wreathed in smiles.

The Black Armor Commander's expression immediately changed upon hearing the shopkeeper's words. It was as though he felt they had been toyed with.

However, having received a report, they had to respond and enforce the law.

The shopkeeper noticed the change in the Black Armor Commander's expression, and his heart skipped a beat. If he were accused of mocking officials, it was not something a mere teahouse shopkeeper like him could bear.

"Sir, I truly wasn't trying to toy with you! Even if I had a hundred times the courage, I wouldn't dare mock you, sir! They really were arguing just now, but they made up again. It truly has nothing to do with me!" the shopkeeper said anxiously, terrified that the Black Armored Soldier would misunderstand him.

Hearing this, the Black Armor Commander's expression eased somewhat.

The City Guard answered directly to the Chen Family. In this city, no merchant would dare use the City Guard for amusement.

The Black Armored Soldier was not an unreasonable man, so he was willing to give the shopkeeper a chance to explain himself.

Seeing this, the worry in the shopkeeper's heart gradually faded. He recounted everything that had just happened to the Black Armored Soldier in full detail.

After hearing the shopkeeper's account, the Black Armored Soldier turned his gaze toward the main hall.

At that moment, all those who had been speaking so boastfully earlier were standing obediently in the hall after the Black Armor Guards appeared. Feng Ruoxue, too, had risen while using others to conceal herself.

Han Jingya, standing beside Feng Ruoxue, sensed a trace of panic in her. She assumed Feng Ruoxue had been intimidated by the Black Armor Guards' imposing presence and felt that her chance to shine had arrived.

Han Jingya whispered to Feng Ruoxue, "Young Master Feng, please put your mind at ease. I know their captain as well. They handle matters impartially, so there won't be any trouble."

Hearing Han Jingya's voice, Feng Ruoxue gave a polite smile and said, "Thank you."

At that moment, Feng Ruoxue unexpectedly felt that Han Jingya, despite being a vain girl, was actually rather nice.

"Everyone, stand properly. Take out your Identity Tokens for inspection, one by one," the Black Armored Soldier said to the crowd.

An Identity Token was something akin to an identification card. Made from special metal, every person had a unique Identity Token that was difficult to forge.

Since the Black Armored Soldiers had come, they had to do something. Otherwise, when they returned, people would really think they were being paid for nothing.

Upon hearing the Black Armor Commander's words, everyone began taking things from their robes and pockets. Yet the Black Armor Commander's gaze fell upon Chen Cheng.

Throughout the entire teahouse, everyone obediently stood to one side and took out their Identity Tokens. Only Chen Cheng's table remained seated in utter leisure, as though the matter had nothing to do with them.

That table was right beside the entrance, so conspicuous that it was impossible not to notice.

Only then did everyone turn their eyes toward the only people still sitting at that table, and it was also then that they truly noticed Yan Lingji's appearance.

The crowd stood dumbstruck, and the hands that had been reaching for their Identity Tokens froze.

"She's so beautiful. She truly resembles the fairy maidens described by storytellers," a young nobleman praised.

"Before such peerless beauty, all women in the world seem to lose their radiance. If I were fortunate enough to marry her, I would have no regrets for the rest of my life," a scholar sighed.

"Can someone in this world truly be so beautiful? Only after meeting her did I realize how shallow my understanding had been." Han Jingya felt a deep sense of defeat, and for the first time, she lost confidence in her own appearance.

Yet Han Jingya could not summon even the slightest jealousy toward Yan Lingji. It was a very strange feeling.

The Black Armored Soldier was also captivated by Yan Lingji's beauty, and his heart stirred for a moment. Yet the sense of duty on his shoulders made him cast aside such distracting thoughts at this time.

"Sir, ladies, please present your Identity Tokens." Perhaps because of Yan Lingji, the Black Armored Soldier's tone was not as stiff as it had been with the others.

In truth, they had not intended to force everyone in the shop to stand; they were not so overbearing. But while everyone else had risen, Chen Cheng's table remained seated, which inevitably seemed rather strange. That was why he inspected Chen Cheng's table first.

Chen Cheng raised his head and looked at the Black Armor Commander who had approached.

He had an ordinary face and somewhat dark skin, but his eyes held a resilience that ordinary people lacked—a bearing unique to soldiers.

The Black Armor Commander was a Dou Shi. Within the entire cultivation system, that could only be considered a very low level. Yet in the military, someone like him was qualified to hold an official post.

After all, in a place like the Izumo Empire, there were not many Dou Shi. In some smaller towns, there might be only one Dou Shi in the entire town.

"I haven't had time to apply for an Identity Token. Will this do instead?" Purple-black energy surged from Chen Cheng's hand, slowly gathering into the shape of a token. He then handed the token to the Black Armor Commander.

Chen Cheng indeed did not have an Identity Token. As for whether Chen Yuan had arranged for someone to get one for him, Chen Cheng did not know. In any case, he had never received one.

The purple-black token in Chen Cheng's hand was a symbol of his identity within the Chen Family.

The Black Armored Soldier accepted the purple-black token. A large character for "Chen" was engraved upon it, along with intricate patterns that displayed boundless majesty.

The Black Armored Soldier's expression tightened. He hurriedly dropped to one knee, raised the token above his head with both hands, and returned it.

"I did not know the Young Family Head had arrived. This subordinate has been disrespectful. Please punish me, Young Family Head!" The Black Armor Commander lowered his head and called out loudly.

The other Black Armored Soldiers, upon seeing the token and hearing their commander's words, also knelt neatly before Chen Cheng.

The token in Chen Cheng's hand was the Supreme Calamity Origin Token, representing his status as one of the Chen Family's highest decision-makers. Only three people in the entire Chen Family possessed tokens of this rank: Chen Ye, Chen Yuan, and Chen Cheng.

Those who held this token possessed the authority to mobilize all forces under the Chen Family, as well as the forces of every sect affiliated with the Chen Family.

"Get up," Chen Cheng said calmly as he took back the token.

Upon hearing Chen Cheng's words, the Black Armored Soldiers rose to their feet. They stood respectfully at his side, not daring to act rashly.

"By the way, you said you were checking Identity Tokens. Then handle things according to procedure. There's no need to mind me," Chen Cheng said.

"Yes." The Black Armor Commander hurriedly replied, then quietly gave instructions to the other Black Armored Soldiers.

After giving his subordinates their orders, the Black Armor Commander beckoned to the tea house owner.

Seeing the Black Armor Commander's gesture, the owner hurried over eagerly.

Just now, the Black Armored Soldiers had made quite a commotion. They had all knelt before a young man, calling him "Young Family Head."

There were quite a few people in Anyang City who could be called "Young Family Head." The Lin Family, Chu Family, Ye Family, and Qin Family all had their own young family heads.

But in the eyes of the Black Armored Soldiers, those people were nothing. Whoever needed arresting was arrested, and whoever needed killing was killed.

There was only one "Young Family Head" worthy of such respect from the Black Armored Soldiers—the Chen Family's Young Family Head.

Chen Cheng had been in Anyang City for over a month, and the people in the city had more or less heard some rumors.

Chen Cheng's status was extremely noble throughout the entire Izumo Empire.

Higher than princes and princesses, higher than emperors and kings.

In terms of status, only several Dou Emperors and one Dou Zong ranked above Chen Cheng.

"This is the Chen Family's Young Family Head. Serve him well," the Black Armor Commander said forcefully.

He did not dare act tough before Chen Cheng, but before ordinary people, he was still full of confidence.

"Yes, yes, yes." The owner replied with a fawning grin, then hurried over to Chen Cheng and attended to him with utmost deference.

Chen Cheng had little interest in the tea house's tea. If he wanted good tea, he naturally had his own means of obtaining it. He had only come here to entertain himself.

Chen Cheng sat in his seat, watching as though enjoying a show while the Black Armored Soldiers checked each person's identity mark.

Until the Black Armored Soldiers reached Feng Ruoxue.

Chen Cheng was not close to Feng Ruoxue, yet he could still see a trace of panic on her face.