Lord Fu?
Chen Pingâan froze for a moment.
However, from Chang Zhengâs expression, it was clear that this young manâs status was extraordinary.
Chen Pingâan followed Chang Zhengâs example and cupped his fist in a salute to the newcomer.
The young man paid no mind to their salute, walking past them and heading straight for the door.
"That was close!"
Chang Zheng straightened up.
Just as Chen Pingâan, filled with curiosity, was about to ask a question, he saw the young man who had passed them suddenly turn back. His gaze fell directly on Chen Pingâan.
"Who are you? I donât believe Iâve seen you before."
The young man stopped, and the crowd of people surrounding him halted in unison, their gazes all turning to lock onto Chen Pingâan.
Chen Pingâan was just about to speak when Chang Zheng, at his side, quickly answered for him.
"Replying to Lord Fu, Chen Constable is stationed down in Nanquan Lane. Itâs normal that you havenât seen him."
"Oh?"
Fu Yuanming sized up Chen Pingâan.
"Is Lord Mu the one who wants to see him?"
"Replying to Lord Fu, yes, that is correct."
Chang Zheng replied respectfully, his head lowered, his expression unreadable.
After receiving the affirmative answer, Fu Yuanming let out a soft chuckle and left with his entourage.
From beginning to end, Chen Pingâan hadnât said a single word.
Chang Zheng also remained silent with his head bowed. Only after Fu Yuanming had walked out of the Garrison Commandantâs Office did he look up and pull Chen Pingâan inside.
"Brother Chang, who was that man just now?"
"Lord Fu is the Vice Chief of the Patrol for the South Town Garrison Command. His position is second only to the Lord Chief of the Patrol Office!"
"Vice Chief of the Patrol?"
Chen Pingâan glanced back, but Fu Yuanmingâs figure was long gone.
"Lord Fu and the Chief of the Patrol Office donât get along. Chen Constable, if you run into Lord Fu alone, be careful."
Chang Zheng had revealed a crucial piece of information.
âDonât get along?â
Chen Pingâan wanted to learn more, but they had already arrived at their destination.
"Chen Constable, this is as far as I go."
"My thanks, Brother Chang." Chen Pingâan cupped his fist in salute before heading upstairs.
On the third floor, the one who led him was the same woman named Xiaodie, dressed in custom-made Tough Clothing. But unlike last time, Chen Pingâan, who had now reached Qi Blood Fifth Layer Perfection, could finally discern her Martial Arts Realm.
Qi Blood Fifth Layer Perfection!
This woman before him, who seemed like a maid, was actually a master at the Qi Blood Fifth Layer Perfection!
She was just one step away from breaking through to the Qi Blood Sixth Layer! She could become a supervisor in one of the South Town Garrison Commandâs inspectorate offices.
This Miss Xiaodie led Chen Pingâan into a room where Mu Wanjun was seated in the hostâs chair, carefully leafing through a booklet.
"Lord Chief of the Patrol Office."
Chen Pingâan bowed in greeting.
"Mm."
Mu Wanjun nodded lightly, showing no intention of putting down the booklet in her hands.
Chen Pingâan wasnât in a hurry either, so he stood quietly and waited.
His eyesight was excellent. Despite the distance between them, he could clearly make out the title on the booklet.
On the cover of the booklet, several large characters were written in a flourish, like dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing.
Canglong Province, Rising Star Chart.
âRising Star Chart?â
A flicker of doubt crossed Chen Pingâanâs mind.
Mu Wanjun did not keep Chen Pingâan waiting for long. She put down the booklet, her gaze falling upon him.
âHere it comes!â
A hint of nervousness appropriately flickered across Chen Pingâanâs face, but inwardly, he was completely calm.
With the help of his Golden Finger Panel, he had long since adjusted his outwardly displayed Martial Arts Realm, controlling it at the level of Qi Blood Third Layer Perfection.
"Qi Blood Third Layer Perfection."
Mu Wanjun quickly confirmed Chen Pingâanâs current Martial Arts Realm.
"To what level have you cultivated your saber skill?"
"Replying to you, My Lord, just recently, my Public Door Thirteen Sabers has reached the Perfection Realm!"
"Perfection Realm!?"
A look of astonishment flashed across Mu Wanjunâs face.
Although the Public Door Thirteen Sabers was just the standard-issue saber skill for constables of the Garrison Commandantâs Office, cultivating it to the level of Perfection was not so easy.
A person of average talent would find it difficult to practice the saber skill to Perfection, even with decades of diligent training.
How long had Chen Pingâan been practicing the saber skill to have already reached Perfection?
Mu Wanjun was rather surprised.
"Demonstrate it for me!"
Hearing this, Chen Pingâan didnât hesitate in the slightest. He drew the saber from his waist and began performing the saber forms on the spot.
His Public Door Thirteen Sabers was genuinely at the Perfection Level. While his performance contained no flashy moves, every strike was lethal and incredibly sharp.
"Good! Very good! It truly is a saber skill at the Perfection Level. Chen Pingâan! You are quite impressive. Your Martial Dao talent is excellent, even better than I had anticipated! It might even be on par with my own."
Mu Wanjun stood up, sizing up Chen Pingâan with a pleased expression in her eyes.
In Weishui County City, there was no shortage of so-called geniuses. But even so, among the younger generation of Weishui County City, Mu Wanjunâs talent was firmly ranked in the top ten!
To say his future achievements wouldnât be beneath hers meant that Chen Pingâan had earned Mu Wanjunâs high approval and received a very high evaluation from her.
"If you had been exposed to the Martial Dao earlier, your future achievements would likely not be beneath my own. But now... you started too late. Your future potential is probably greatly diminished. What a pity, a pity..."
As she spoke, Mu Wanjun couldnât help but sound regretful.
Chen Pingâanâs talent far exceeded her initial expectations.
If he hadnât been born into poverty, with talent like his, any major family in the Inner City would have surely cultivated him with the utmost care.
By his current age, he would have probably already broken through to the Inner Qi Realm!
But, what a pity!
However, even so, he should still have a very high chance of breaking through the Qi and Blood Pass and stepping into the Inner Qi Realm!
"My Lord, I am already content in this life to have been able to step onto the Martial Dao and walk the path of cultivation. As for future achievements, the future itself will tell the tale. Rather than worrying for nothing or blaming fate, itâs better to focus on the present and proceed steadily. You need not feel regret on my behalf, My Lord."
Chen Pingâanâs demeanor was quite serene.
âWhat spirit!â
Mu Wanjunâs estimation of Chen Pingâan rose even higher.
"Well said. âRather than worrying for nothing or blaming fate, itâs better to focus on the present and proceed steadily.â Letâs not talk about the future, but the present. Chen Pingâan, you have truly given me a surprise. Qi Blood Third Layer Perfection, and Public Door Thirteen Sabers at Perfection! In terms of overall strength, you could probably even match a Qi Blood Fourth Layer."
Indeed, the Public Door Thirteen Sabers at the Perfection Level was quite rare. Even Constable Zheng, who had been at the Qi Blood Fourth Layer, was still a hairâs breadth away from achieving Perfection with his Public Door Thirteen Sabers.
"You performed meritorious service by wiping out the Ten Thousand Demons Sect stronghold, and you should be rewarded according to regulations. I called you here this time because I wanted to hear your thoughts. But now, it seems thatâs unnecessary."
Mu Wanjun slowly walked over to stand before Chen Pingâan.
"Your saber skill is at Perfection, and your Martial Arts Realm is at Qi Blood Third Layer Perfection! Your talent and comprehension are both top-notch. Although youâre still a bit lacking in seniority, itâs more than enough for you to be a Candidate for Deputy!"
"For your contribution this time, I will promote you to Candidate for Deputy of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office!"
Mu Wanjun stopped in front of Chen Pingâan, her beautiful eyes fixed on him.
"Chen Pingâan, what do you think?"
"I am entirely at your command, My Lord."
Chen Pingâan was full of vigor, his face beaming, as he cupped his fist and declared loudly.