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.

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

"Thank you, Secretary Zhao." Yang Wenqing smiled in response, pocketed the key, and continued outside. There were already people in the reception room, gathered around a small stove and stamping their feet. Most of them were managers from nearby factories.

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

He looked over. The members of the Second Patrol Squad, including their captain Xiao Liang, were all there. The Second Squad had always been the earliest to change shifts, yet they had waited until now today. They had clearly stayed for him.

"Congratulations, Wenqing!"

Ye Yong jogged over, his voice loud. The entire First and Third Squads, who were on the morning shift, were also in the courtyard. His shout immediately drew the attention of the other two squads.

"It had to be you. You broke through to the Qi Refining Stage without making a sound. Unlike some people who brag every day about who their family hired to teach them and what Spirit-Gathering Array they set up, yet still haven't produced so much as a fart."

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

Zhao Qin was clearly furious. The two senior guards beside him immediately pulled him behind them, while their captain Wang Ze'en approached with a genial smile. "You must be Yang Wenqing. I've heard them mention you often. Heaven truly does not mistreat the diligent. Congratulations."

The captain of the Third Squad also came over and exchanged a few polite words. Then, after greeting Xiao Liang, he led his subordinates off to change shifts.

Li Ming stepped forward and held out his hand. "Congratulations, Wenqing."

Yang Wenqing extended his hand as well. He smiled as he shook Li Ming's hand. Then Zhu Lin, Wang Yuanfeng, and Zhou Kun came forward in turn 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 it. From now on, I'll go home and cultivate after work every day!"

Ye Yong loudly announced his decision.

Zhou Kun, who was close to him, immediately replied, "Fine. I'll supervise 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 change shifts first. I'll come over later."

Zhu Lin nodded. After saying, "We'll talk when we get the chance," to Yang Wenqing, he led the others away.

Xiao Liang looked Yang Wenqing over with a smile. "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 attention was immediately drawn to the communication formation Sister Liu had set up.

The formation had been built atop 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 surface—the brief messages transmitted from the surrounding districts.

"Wenqing, congratulations!"

The moment Sister Liu saw Yang Wenqing, a warm smile appeared on her face. "Don't forget your Sister Liu if you make it big someday."

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

After the two had exchanged pleasantries, Xiao Liang said, "Book a private room at Fengtai Building for tonight. The squad will cover the cost. You can bring your family."

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

Xiao Liang turned to Yang Wenqing. "This is an old custom. If you have friends tonight, you can invite them along to liven things up." He paused, then added, "After tonight, whether we ever get another chance to gather like this will truly depend on fate."

Yang Wenqing nodded. He had not really given these matters much thought before, because all he had been thinking 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 back, Sister Liu silently regretted that matters with her niece had fallen through.

Inside the changing room, Xiao Liang walked over to Yang Wenqing's locker and said, "You can take the gun with you. Your current rank allows you to carry firearms off duty. When you undergo tactical training at the branch bureau, you can exchange it for a Type-1 Pistol. You can keep this one as a memento."

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

Taking the key, Xiao Liang said, "The branch bureau has better long and short swords, so don't hold back when the time comes. At the Qi Refining Stage, aside from firearms, the best offensive spell is the 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. "And one more thing—I forgot to say it. Congratulations, Wenqing."

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

He did not linger. His steps were somewhat lighter than usual as he crossed two familiar streets, and the mottled gray exterior 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.

Upon returning to his room, he went straight to the wooden table, took out 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 if 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, your son was fortunate enough to break through his cultivation bottleneck a few days ago and officially enter the Qi Refining Stage..."

He was moving and being reassigned at work, so he needed to notify his family at once, lest they come looking for him later and fail to find him.

After finishing the letter and checking it over to make sure there were no mistakes, he took an envelope from beneath the bed, sealed the letter inside, and went to the postal station at the street corner to drop the family letter into a mail tube marked "Express."

Back at the dormitory, Yang Wenqing began preparing to move.

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

He carefully packed these items and placed them in a half-worn wicker trunk.

Once everything was ready, Yang Wenqing stood at the doorway and looked around the small room where he had lived for more than a year. He did not feel much attachment. Lifting the not-too-heavy wicker trunk, he gave the small space one last look before decisively turning around and closing the door behind him.

With a soft click, it seemed to place a full stop on one chapter of his life.

When he walked out of the dormitory building, the afternoon sun was just right, shining warmly over him and dispelling the last trace of winter's lingering chill.

Yang Wenqing paused at the entrance, took a deep breath of the crisp air, and slowly let it out. His chest felt wide open. Then, carrying all his worldly possessions, he set off with steady, resolute steps toward his new home in Dongning Community.

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

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 not ordinary security personnel either, but two guards in formal uniforms. They were likely from the County Armed Unit. When they saw Yang Wenqing approaching, one of them stepped forward without a word and held out his hand.

Yang Wenqing took out his key. The guard accepted it, produced a palm-sized bronze mirror, and held it over the key. A flash of green 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 handed back his things, his gaze sweeping over Yang Wenqing's shoulder insignia. His voice was as flat as stone.

Yang Wenqing nodded and stepped through the gate.