Sī Nanyue

He arrived at the Wei Dao Si headquarters.

When the gatekeeper saw Xia Qi'an striding over with an air of confidence, he failed to recognize him at first.

He simply assumed that some important figure from the Wei Dao Si had arrived.

It was not until Xia Qi'an casually greeted him that he realized who it was.

The gatekeeper stood rooted to the spot, utterly dumbfounded and at a loss for what to do.

A month ago, Xia Qi'an had still been a commoner, looking every inch a beggar.

In the blink of an eye, he had become an important figure in the Wei Dao Si.

The sudden change in status left him completely out of his depth.

In the inner hall, the old Chief Clerk, who diligently handled affairs every day, reacted exactly like the gatekeeper.

The old Chief Clerk sat in his grand chair, craning his neck forward as far as it would go while squinting up and down at Xia Qi'an.

After confirming that his eyes were not playing tricks on him, he smacked his lips and said, "Who would have thought that in just over a month, you'd actually join the Wei Dao Si? Now even I have to call you Lord! Your future is boundless... boundless indeed..."

Xia Qi'an had a favorable impression of this old man, who was busy with official business from dawn to dusk. "It was only a stroke of luck! In the future, I'll be counting on your guidance, Chief Clerk."

The old Chief Clerk hurriedly waved his hands. "That won't do at all! You're a member of the Wei Dao Si now. I should be the one calling you Lord!"

The old Chief Clerk had been assigned by the Jinling City authorities to sit in this office.

His only purpose was to keep the yamen running day to day.

As for the internal affairs of the Wei Dao Si, he knew absolutely nothing.

Just as Xia Qi'an was chatting with the old Chief Clerk,

a cold, stern woman dressed in the Wei Dao Si's standard black official robes walked in.

The woman possessed an elegant bearing, as aloof and proud as a plum blossom standing against the snow.

Her face was like a piece of jade meticulously carved by a master, beautiful yet severe. She was tall and slender, and even the slightly loose official robes could not conceal her curvaceous, full and captivating figure.

Xia Qi'an's eyes suddenly lit up.

Based on his experience in his previous life, a mature beauty with this kind of figure was like a magnet, radiating irresistible charm and making it impossible to tear one's eyes away.

Judging from the style of her official robes alone, it was obvious that this woman was an important figure in the Wei Dao Si.

Seeing that Xia Qi'an, already dressed in official robes, had been waiting there, the woman gave a slight nod and asked softly, "You're Xia Qi'an?"

"Reporting to Lord, this subordinate is indeed Xia Qi'an!"

Si Nanyue's first impression of Xia Qi'an was quite favorable. The corners of her lips lifted slightly. "Very good! The Hound Guards are currently short-handed. You've arrived at exactly the right time."

Then Si Nanyue introduced herself. "I'm Si Nanyue, acting commander of the Jinling City Hound Guards."

"Commander Lord Wang is currently devoting himself to cultivation. Therefore, I'm temporarily assuming the commander's duties."

"From now on, you may report all matters, great or small, concerning the Wei Dao Si directly to me. I'll also be responsible for your routine evaluations, task assignments, and other related matters."

Xia Qi'an cupped his fists and saluted. "This subordinate understands!"

Si Nanyue was decisive and swift in her actions. While she was explaining the basic matters to Xia Qi'an,

the other Hound Guards of the Wei Dao Si also arrived one after another.

After all, they would be colleagues from now on, and they would inevitably need to cooperate during missions. It was therefore quite necessary for them to get acquainted at this time.

Besides, the addition of a new member was a major event in its own right.

Xia Qi'an took a rough look. There were more than twenty of them. Men and women alike, every one of them was an experienced martial expert.

Even the weakest among them was in the early Bone Forging Realm. As for Xia Qi'an, who was in the early Blood Refining Realm, he was utterly outclassed in their presence.

"I'm Xia Qi'an, from Lishan County. I'm turning sixteen this year! Greetings, seniors!" Xia Qi'an gave a brief self-introduction before all the Hound Guards.

"Hey!... What seniors? Once we pass through this door, we're all colleagues—brothers and sisters."

"Little Brother Xia, to become a member of the Wei Dao Si at such a young age, you're destined for greatness in the future..."

"That's right! Little Brother Qi'an, you're being too modest. To seize first place in the newcomer training camp at fifteen and defeat so many scions of noble families—your future is truly limitless! Instructor Lin thinks very highly of you!"

The Instructor Lin they mentioned was naturally Lin Beihai, Instructor Lin.

"You're all too kind." Xia Qi'an felt a headache coming on. With so many people talking at once, he could barely keep up.

Xia Qi'an had not expected these people to look fierce and menacing, yet actually be so amiable.

After everyone had talked over one another, Si Nanyue cut in. "All right! Everyone has met the new member. If there's nothing else to report, you may all disperse!"

After the others had left, Si Nanyue said to Xia Qi'an, "I summoned you today mainly so you could become familiar with your fellow colleagues. If you encounter any difficulties while carrying out missions in the future, feel free to ask them for help."

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Sinan!" Xia Qi'an knew that Si Nanyue meant well and spoke sincerely.

"When we Hound Guards carry out missions, we often find ourselves in perilous situations where survival is a matter of nine deaths and one life. Casualties are also as common as eating and drinking. Therefore, you must be mentally prepared."

"When there are no missions, you may cultivate at home and need not report to the yamen!"

"If a mission is assigned, I'll send someone to notify you!"

"This subordinate understands." Xia Qi'an nodded in reply.

Perhaps because she saw that Xia Qi'an was still young, Si Nanyue could not help adding a few more words. "You're still young, and you have a great deal of potential ahead of you. I don't want you to die before your time!"

"However, Jinling's territory is vast. It lies on the frontier of You Province and borders the Burial Ridge Mountains. The manpower of Jinling City alone is nowhere near enough to govern it."

"It's hard to say what great disaster you may encounter in the future. Therefore, while doing your own job well, I hope you'll humbly seek advice from your colleagues and learn how to preserve your own life!"

Seeing how sincerely Si Nanyue cared about him, Xia Qi'an's favorable impression of her increased several times over. After all, ever since he had transmigrated here, there had been very few people who truly cared about him.

Moreover, he had only known Si Nanyue for a short time, which made this camaraderie between colleagues all the more precious.

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Sinan! Ever since joining the Wei Dao Si, I've already made every possible mental preparation."

"Besides, I'm determined to become an unparalleled expert. If I don't weather wind and rain, how could I ever climb to the summit?"

Seeing that Si Nanyue was not as unfathomable as Chu Shiqing and seemed like someone worth befriending, Xia Qi'an set aside his guardedness and took the initiative to reveal his true thoughts.

"An unparalleled expert?"

"...You're not very old, but your words are certainly bold... Are you really only sixteen?"

Si Nanyue truly had not expected Xia Qi'an to be so young yet speak with such an old-fashioned air, and she could not help finding it amusing.

That smile was a vision of countless charms, her bearing graceful in a thousand ways.

A ripple instantly spread through Xia Qi'an's heart.

Immediately afterward, Xia Qi'an could not help glancing at Si Nanyue's chest. He inwardly cried out in alarm, Truly magnificent!

That single glance was like a stone tossed into a tranquil lake, stirring up wave after wave. Even his little brother began to stir restlessly.

In his previous life, Xia Qi'an had been an old hand at romance. He knew all too well how charming a tall woman skilled in martial arts like Si Nanyue could be.

Moreover, Si Nanyue possessed a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. Though her bearing was somewhat aloof, a closer look would reveal that she was actually overflowing with charm and femininity.

So he had lost control for a moment and reacted somewhat.

Seeing that Si Nanyue was clearly making fun of him, Xia Qi'an could only helplessly purse his lips. He thought to himself:

You'll find out how formidable I am in the future!