"Brother Cheng, look! The scenery at Jishui Lake is as beautiful as they say!"

Mu Xiaowan gazed at the view of Jishui Lake, her voice filled with delighted admiration.

"Yes, it certainly is." Chen Cheng nodded slightly, squeezing Mu Xiaowan’s hand tightly.

"Sigh..." Shen Junmo sighed again. "Young Master Chen, you two don’t have to be so conspicuous. Everyone is staring at you."

Chen Cheng smiled faintly. "We are husband and wife. It’s only natural for us to walk hand in hand."

The passersby were indeed paying close attention to Chen Cheng’s group of three. Before, most eyes were on Shen Junmo, but after Mu Xiaowan appeared, their gazes shifted to her.

This was unavoidable. Although Shen Junmo was a woman disguised as a man, he did nothing to hide his stunning looks, so it was only natural that people would be curious.

Mu Xiaowan, on the other hand, was breathtakingly beautiful—a vision of purity and grace—and it was inevitable that passersby would cast looks of amazement her way.

Fortunately, there were many young masters and misses from prominent families at the pier at that moment. So while Shen Junmo and Mu Xiaowan were stunning, they didn’t stand out too much.

Chen Cheng scanned his surroundings and spotted an acquaintance. The man was dressed in a black, cloud-patterned uniform with a longsword at his waist. He was tall and carried himself with an extraordinary air.

Beside him was a rather beautiful young woman in a pale red dress, also with a longsword at her waist.

Chen Cheng knew them both: Yan Jian and Wu Tingting, the daughter of Wu Qingcheng, the Gang Leader of the Qingcheng Gang.

Chen Cheng had seen Wu Tingting a few times, but they had never spoken and were not well acquainted.

Judging by their appearance, they also seemed to be on an outing together.

"Mr. Chen." Yan Jian had also spotted Chen Cheng and strode over, greeting him with considerable enthusiasm.

Ever since coming to Lishui District, this fellow had been quite warm toward Chen Cheng. Especially after the Wang Family annihilation case, he had started treating Chen Cheng like a confidant who had weathered a storm with him. His enthusiasm was a bit excessive. He had even mentioned more than once that he wanted to become sworn brothers with Chen Cheng so they could face all matters together.

Of course, in Yan Jian’s mind, he would naturally be the elder brother and Chen Cheng the younger. In his eyes, whether in terms of age or Martial Arts Power, it was only right and proper for him to be the elder.

Chen Cheng had politely refused every time. On one hand, he wasn’t in the habit of being anyone’s subordinate. On the other, he simply didn’t think much of a character like Yan Jian; he wouldn’t even trust the man as his own subordinate.

In Lishui District, when Chen Cheng wasn’t on duty, he was focused solely on cultivating the Martial Dao.

Yan Jian was different. Although he also cultivated the Martial Dao diligently, he seemed to be busy managing the Yan Family’s influence as well.

The Yan Family had originally been a family of country gentry in the cloth trade. After Yan Jian moved the entire family to Lishui District, the Yan Family’s shops also relocated there, right near Lotus Pier, which was under Yan Jian’s jurisdiction.

In addition to the Yan Family’s original cloth business, Yan Jian had also used the convenience of his position as a Chief Constable to acquire some other businesses. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

He hired many Hospital Martial Artists, befriended various figures from the Jianghu, and cultivated his own power base. He clearly wanted to make the Yan Family bigger and stronger.

Recently, he had grown very close to the Qingcheng Gang, which controlled the Qingshui Pier territory. Many of the Yan Family’s Hospital Martial Artists were hired from among the disciples of the Qingcheng Gang’s Martial Arts Hall. Furthermore, the fellow had his eye on Wu Tingting, the daughter of the Qingcheng Gang Leader, Wu Qingcheng, and seemed to intend to form a marriage alliance with him.

Chen Cheng nodded slightly. "Mr. Yan, you’re in uniform. Are you still on duty today?"

Yan Jian chuckled. "I am. Just taking advantage of the midday break to grab a quick meal at the Drunken Immortal Tower."

The Chief Constables of the City Guard Department were actually quite free, as long as they didn’t leave their assigned jurisdiction while on duty. At the Lishui Sub-Department, although Chief Constable Ji Jingbei was very strict, it was impossible for him to monitor the whereabouts of his subordinate Chief Constables every day.

Yan Jian claimed he was just taking a lunch break, but Chen Cheng guessed that after eating, he would take Wu Tingting sightseeing around Lishui District.

"Oh, I see." Chen Cheng didn’t expose his lie.

"And these two are...?" Yan Jian looked at Mu Xiaowan and Shen Junmo, a flash of astonishment in his eyes.

Chen Cheng made the introductions. "This is my wife, Mu Xiaowan. This is Young Master Shen, Shen Junmo. And this is Chief Yan, a fellow Chief Constable from Lishui District."

Just then, Shen Qingpeng called over a boatman with a ferry. Since everyone was headed for the Drunken Immortal Tower Ship, they all boarded the ferry together.

On the boat, Yan Jian was busy trying to cozy up to Shen Junmo. Upon learning that Shen Junmo was a disciple of the Shen Family and also a Martial Artist at the Muscle Strengthening Realm, Yan Jian was immediately intent on befriending him.

He mentioned to Shen Junmo that he was a subordinate being personally cultivated by Miss Shen Qingshuang, the direct heir of the Shen Family, and that this practically made him and Shen Junmo family.

Shen Junmo had actually heard of Yan Jian and was somewhat interested in him. However, after a brief conversation, he was left slightly disappointed. He offered a few polite remarks and then ignored him, turning instead to chat with Mu Xiaowan.

Before long, the ferry arrived at the Drunken Immortal Tower Ship.

It was a massive, three-story ship, over ten zhang high and twenty zhang long, capable of holding several hundred people. A giant sail stood erect on the deck, bearing the three gilded words "Drunken Immortal Tower," a truly magnificent sight.

As the ferry drew near, a gangplank was lowered from the ship, and everyone climbed aboard.

The main hall on the first floor was bustling with noise and activity, already filled with many diners.

On the deck stood several dozen men in black, holding long sabers. Their cuffs were embroidered with the pattern of a giant shark.

On the other side was a three-story pavilion. The private rooms within the pavilion were arranged in an orderly fashion, and they too held many diners.

Shen Qingpeng, familiar with the place, went straight to the counter and had a word with the shopkeeper, booking a private room on the second floor.

Led by an attendant, the group went up to the second-story pavilion, entered a private room, and took their seats.

"Cousin, you should sit by the window; the view is most open there. Young Master Chen, Miss Mu, please, have a seat over here as well."

Shen Qingpeng’s Cultivation of the Martial Dao was nothing to speak of, but he was an expert when it came to eating, drinking, and making merry. He was even well-versed in the art of flattery and getting along with people.