A New Road

Yang Wenqing walked out of the director's office, lowered his head to look at the key in his hand, and once again felt the turning of fate.

"Police Sergeant Yang, congratulations." The half-open door of the secretary's office suddenly swung open, and the secretary offered Yang Wenqing sincere congratulations.

"Too kind, Secretary Zhao." Yang Wenqing replied with a smile. He put away the key and continued outside. There were already people in the reception room, gathered around a small stove and stamping their feet back and forth. Most of them were managers from nearby factories.

As he stepped out through the doors of the director's office area, the biting wind rushing at him made Yang Wenqing narrow his eyes instinctively. Then he heard Ye Yong's familiar voice. "Wen Qing!"

He turned toward the sound. The members of the Second Patrol Squad were all there, including Captain Xiao Liang. Normally, the Second Squad was always the first to hand over shifts, yet they had waited until now today. Clearly, they had stayed specifically for him.

"Congratulations, Wen Qing!"

Ye Yong jogged over, his voice booming. All the members of the First Squad and Third Squad on the morning shift were still in the courtyard, and his shout immediately drew their attention.

"You're something else. You broke through to the Qi Refining Stage without making a sound. Unlike some people, who brag every day about whom their family hired to guide them and what Spirit-Gathering Formation they set up, yet not even a fart has come out of them to this day."

As Ye Yong spoke, he looked toward Zhao Qin of the First Squad.

Zhao Qin was plainly furious. The two senior guards beside him immediately pulled him behind them, while their captain, Wang Ze'en, walked over with a genial smile. "You're Yang Wenqing, right? I've heard them mention you all along. Sure enough, heaven does not shortchange the diligent. Congratulations."

The captain of the Third Squad also came over to exchange a few polite words. Then, after greeting Xiao Liang, he took his subordinates away to hand over their shift.

Li Ming stepped forward at that moment and extended his hand. "Congratulations, Wen Qing."

Yang Wenqing extended his hand as well. As he shook Li Ming's hand, he smiled. Then Zhu Lin, Wang Yuanfeng, and Zhou Kun came forward one after another to congratulate him. Their eyes were full of surprise and envy, but there was little jealousy. After all, they had seen Yang Wenqing's diligence more clearly than anyone.

"I've decided. From now on, I'll go home and cultivate after work every day!"

Ye Yong loudly announced his decision.

Zhou Kun, who was close with him, immediately replied, "Fine. I'll keep an eye on you. If you fail to do it, I'll whip you with a leather lash."

Everyone smiled at that. Captain Xiao Liang looked at Zhu Lin and said, "Take them to hand over the shift first. I'll come later."

Zhu Lin nodded. After telling Yang Wenqing, "We'll talk when we get the chance," he left with the others.

Xiao Liang smiled as he gave Yang Wenqing a once-over. "Not bad. Come with me." As he spoke, he headed toward the Second Squad's office area.

Naturally, Yang Wenqing did not refuse. He followed Xiao Liang into the office area, and his gaze was immediately drawn to the Communication Formation Liu-jie had set up.

The formation had been built upon a smoothly polished spiritwood root. Complex rune circuits had been engraved into it with silver, while a water screen the size of a bronze mirror floated at its center. Pale golden characters occasionally drifted across the screen—brief messages sent from nearby districts.

"Wen Qing, congratulations!"

The moment Liu-jie saw Yang Wenqing, a delicate smile blossomed on her face. "When you strike it rich in the future, don't forget your Liu-jie."

Yang Wenqing immediately replied, "I might forget anyone else, but I'd never dare forget Liu-jie."

After the two had exchanged pleasantries, Xiao Liang said, "Book a private room at Fengtai Building tonight. The squad will cover the cost. Family members can come too."

Liu-jie nodded. "All right, leave it to me!"

Xiao Liang turned to Yang Wenqing. "It's an old custom. If you have friends tonight, you can invite them over to make things lively." He paused, then added, "After tonight, if we want to gather again, it really will be up to fate."

Yang Wenqing nodded. He truly had not given those matters much thought. Until now, all he had thought about was advancing as quickly as possible.

After saying that, Xiao Liang headed for the changing room, with Yang Wenqing following close behind.

Watching Yang Wenqing's retreating figure, Liu-jie secretly lamented that the matter with her niece had fallen through.

Inside the changing room, Xiao Liang walked to Yang Wenqing's locker and said, "You can take the gun with you. At your current rank, you're allowed to carry firearms outside. When you go to the branch office for tactical training, you can exchange it for a Type-1 Pistol. You can keep this one as a memento."

Yang Wenqing nodded. He stepped forward, opened the locker, took out the pistol and his personal belongings, then handed the key to Xiao Liang.

Xiao Liang accepted the key and said, "The branch office has better long and short swords. Don't hold back when the time comes. At the Qi Refining Stage, aside from firearms, the best offensive spell is Sword-Controlling Art. Also, give me your badge."

Yang Wenqing removed the badge from his chest.

Xiao Liang took the badge with his right hand and formed several hand seals with his left. After erasing the Second Squad's communication signal from the badge, he handed it back to Yang Wenqing.

"Seven tonight. Don't be late."

Xiao Liang smiled. "Also, I forgot to say it. Congratulations, Wen Qing."

Yang Wenqing parted from Captain Xiao Liang at the entrance to the Public Security Office. Winter sunlight slanted across the bluestone pavement, stretching out the shadow of his solitary departing figure.

He did not linger. His steps were somewhat lighter than usual. After crossing two familiar streets, the mottled gray exterior wall of the dormitory building came into view. It was working hours, and the entire building was especially quiet, making his footsteps ring loudly through the empty corridor.

After returning to his room, he went straight to the wooden table, took writing paper from beneath the bed, pulled a fountain pen from his shirt pocket, and began writing:

"Father, Mother:"

"May this letter find you as though we were face to face. Your son is well in the county town, so please do not worry. I write today because there are two important matters I must report to the family. First, a few days ago, your son was fortunate enough to break through the bottleneck of cultivation and formally enter the Qi Refining Stage..."

He needed to move, and his work assignment was changing as well. He had to inform his family at once, lest they come looking for him later and fail to find him.

After writing the letter and checking that there were no mistakes, he took an envelope from beneath the bed, sealed the letter inside, and went to the post station at the street corner to drop the family letter into the mail tube marked "Express."

Upon returning to the dormitory, Yang Wenqing began preparing to move.

Fortunately, he did not have much luggage. Apart from several changes of clothes and his guard uniform, the most important things were his cultivation-related books and notes.

He carefully packed those items and placed them in a half-worn rattan trunk.

Once everything was ready, Yang Wenqing stood at the door and looked around the small room he had lived in for more than a year. He did not feel much attachment. Lifting the not-too-heavy rattan trunk, he gave the tiny space one last look, then turned decisively and shut the door behind him.

With a soft click, it was as though a period had been placed at the end of one chapter of his life.

As he walked out of the dormitory building, the afternoon sunlight was just right. It shone warmly over him, scattering the last lingering trace of winter chill.

Yang Wenqing paused at the entrance, took a deep breath of the crisp air, then slowly let it out. His chest felt wide and open. Carrying all his worldly belongings, he set off with firm, steady strides toward his new home in Dongning Community.

Dongning Community lay in the center of the county town, right beside the main road leading into it.

The gateposts on either side of the community entrance were thick enough for two people to wrap their arms around. The guards at the entrance were no ordinary security personnel either, but two guards in formal uniforms. They were likely guards from the County Armed Unit. When they saw Yang Wenqing approach, one of them stepped forward without wasting words and directly held out his hand.

Yang Wenqing took out the key. The guard accepted it, then produced a palm-sized Bronze Mirror and held it over the key. A flash of cyan light flickered across the mirror's surface and vanished.

"Building Three. Follow the main road to the end. It's the second building on your right." The guard returned his things, his gaze sweeping over Yang Wenqing's shoulder insignia. His voice was as flat as a stone.

Yang Wenqing nodded in acknowledgment and stepped through the gates.