The weather grew gradually cooler, and the people of Nanquan Lane traded their short sleeves for long ones. Soon, a single long-sleeved shirt was not enough, and they began to add outer garments.

The cooling weather had no effect on Chen Ping’an whatsoever.

His Qi Blood was now like a dragon, his might like a tiger or an elephant. An endless stream of heat surged from within his body, driving the cold far away. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The Golden Bell Shield required both Inner and Outer Cultivation, making it exceedingly difficult to master.

At this stage, Chen Ping’an was still somewhat clumsy with it, especially when it came to circulating his qi. He could only practice the Golden Bell Shield three times a day.

Even so, after six or seven days, Chen Ping’an successfully achieved Golden Bell.

After achieving Golden Bell, whenever Chen Ping’an held his breath and focused, an extremely faint current of qi would stir within him. This current, combined with his tempered physique, increased his overall defensive strength by thirty percent.

It was safe to say that among those at the Qi Blood Sixth Layer, Chen Ping’an was now a powerhouse.

Take the two Stewards, one fat and one thin, who had followed Grand Steward Wu Haihua of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect to besiege Mu Wanjun in Jiming Lane. If Chen Ping’an were to face either of them one-on-one now, he was thirty to forty percent confident he could take them down for good.

The panel had granted him more than just a Martial Arts Realm; it had also bestowed upon him a wealth of flawless combat experience and mastery over his techniques and tactics.

After reaching the Qi Blood Sixth Layer, Chen Ping’an didn’t slacken his Martial Dao Cultivation in the slightest. He trained arduously every night after his shift, earning the quiet admiration of even Peony.

’No wonder Lord Chen reached such a high position at such a young age. Who could see all the hard work he puts in?’

With Peony for company, Chen Erya’s life had become much more fulfilling. She spent her days tending to flowers, reading books, and enjoying pleasant conversation—she was utterly at ease.

To Chen Erya, it felt as though she were living in a dream.

Just a few months prior, she would never have dared to imagine living such a life.

And it was all thanks to her brother.

A few more days passed, and Chen Ping’an ushered in his twentieth birthday. He had come of age.

On his birthday, the acting head of the Nanquan Lane Inspectorate, Tian Fuliang, organized a celebration for Chen Ping’an’s capping ceremony, together with the Constables of the Town Patrol Office. In addition, all the notable gangs in Nanquan Lane sent high-ranking members—with some Gang Leaders even coming personally—to present Chen Ping’an with lavish gifts.

"Congratulations on your birthday, Lord Chen!"

"Lord Chen, you are so young and promising! To achieve such a high station before even coming of age is astounding. You are truly a paragon for our generation, an example we strive to learn from!"

"Lord Chen, this is just a small token of our appreciation. We hope you will accept it."

"Lord Chen, you shoulder heavy responsibilities for the sake of the people; your station is noble indeed. A birthday is a time for celebration, so it is only natural that we, on behalf of the people, offer a small token of our gratitude."

"..."

At the banquet, cups were raised and toasts were made. The air was thick with words of flattery.

As he looked upon the smiling, fawning faces at the feast, Chen Ping’an, for some reason, found his thoughts turning to Old Chen.

He pictured Old Chen, half-reclined on his sickbed, his spirits still relatively high at the time.

"What are you worried about, you brat? I’m Old Chen! I’ve weathered every storm, walked through mountains of blades and seas of fire. A little wound like this? It’s nothing! Don’t you worry. I’ll definitely live long enough to see you come of age! Who knows, I might even get to hold my grand-kid! HAHAHAHA..."

The image of Old Chen’s smiling face and the sound of his voice were as vivid as if he were right there.

’You promised you’d wait for my coming-of-age, that you’d be the one to cap me. Old Chen... why did you have to go?’

Chen Ping’an silently drained his cup of wine.

He had barely drained his cup before someone at his side refilled it with a respectful expression. Chen Ping’an lifted the cup again, his gaze sweeping across the room. Everywhere he looked, he was met with ingratiating smiles.

These were the influential figures of Nanquan Lane. In his presence, they offered only smiles, not daring to show even the slightest hint of a frown, terrified he might take it the wrong way.

’What a shame, Old Chen. You aren’t here to see me in all my glory.’

He downed another cup of wine, his heart filled with silent reflection.

Old Chen had carved out a life for himself from nothing in the Weishui County City Outer City. His greatest ambition in life had been to become a Constable in the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. Now, Chen Ping’an had long since surpassed that dream for him.

Toasts were exchanged, and time slipped by. As the banquet began to wind down, Chen Ping’an bid farewell to Tian Fuliang and rose from his seat.

"Ping’an, don’t you want to stay a little longer? Today is a rare occasion. There’s more entertainment planned for later," Tian Fuliang said with a smile.

"Lord Tian, it’s getting late. I really must be going," Chen Ping’an replied with a smile. "I am deeply grateful for all your arrangements today, Lord Tian. I will never forget your kindness."

Hearing this, the smile on Tian Fuliang’s face grew even wider. After all he had done, these were the very words he had been hoping to hear from Chen Ping’an.

His position as head of the Inspectorate wasn’t yet secure, and he needed Chen Ping’an’s support and cooperation.

So he didn’t press the matter.

"Lord Chen has drunk quite a bit tonight. Arrange for someone to escort him," Tian Fuliang said to a trusted subordinate behind him.

Chen Ping’an didn’t refuse. He cupped his fist in a salute and walked out.

Tian Fuliang had arranged quite the spectacle. To celebrate his coming-of-age, the hall was filled with tables. In attendance from the Town Patrol Office were not only the Constables, but also many official and senior constables.

"Take care, Lord Chen."

"Lord Chen."

"..."

At a banquet, arriving the latest and leaving the earliest are both markers of status. Chen Ping’an’s early departure was a testament to his authority.

As Chen Ping’an walked out, one by one, the high-ranking members and core figures of the gangs stood up to see him off, their faces full of smiles.

Chen Ping’an nodded slightly, returning their smiles.

When one Gang Leader saw Chen Ping’an smile back at him, his spirits soared, and his own smile blossomed even more broadly on his face.

After Chen Ping’an had gone, a core member of that gang, seeing his leader’s reaction, was puzzled and whispered a question.

"Gang Leader, he’s just a kid who’s barely come of age. A little respect is one thing, but do we really need to be so deferential? If we’re going to suck up to someone, shouldn’t it be Lord Tian?"

This core member’s thinking was simple: Lord Tian was the top man in the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. No matter how you looked at it, this Young Lord Chen was just the second-in-command, a subordinate. So why was their Gang Leader being so deferential to him?

"Shh, quieter! You got a death wish?"

The Gang Leader shot him a fierce glare.

"With so many people around to hear, are you trying to get us killed?"

Although the subordinate didn’t understand, seeing his leader’s extreme reaction, he didn’t dare speak another word.

The Gang Leader glanced around. Everyone nearby still had smiles plastered on their faces, their attention fixed on the departing figure of Lord Chen. Seeing that no one had overheard their conversation, he finally relaxed.

Their gang was a small-time operation, nothing compared to the likes of the Flying Sand Gang or the Wild Wolf Gang.

This Lord Chen from the Town Patrol Office might look young, but he was a ruthless man.

How did the Tiger Head Gang fall? Everyone knew the story!

It was all because someone in their gang offended Lord Chen, and in a fit of rage, he annihilated the entire Tiger Head Gang.

Their gang wasn’t even half the size of the Tiger Head Gang. You’d have to have a death wish to offend Lord Chen.

It was laughable to even consider it.

The Gang Leader made a mental note. After the banquet, he would have to make sure this subordinate properly felt his "concern," so that he could gain a much deeper appreciation for Lord Chen of the Town Patrol Office.

No!

Not just him. He needed to lay down the law for the whole gang and teach his men not to go around offending people who shouldn’t be offended.

Otherwise, they might end up just like the Tiger Head Gang—sitting at home one day, only to find the Town Patrol Office has surrounded the building.