The Public Security Office was the same as ever, with the usual people coming and going. But today, as Yang Wenqing stepped inside, something felt different. It was the innate pride of human nature rearing its head.

Fortunately, Yang Wenqing had memories of a past life, which allowed him to easily keep these unnecessary emotions in check. He had just entered the back courtyard when he saw the director’s secretary, dressed in a senior officer’s uniform, walking toward him from outside the director’s office.

"Yang Wenqing!"

The secretary spoke to Yang Wenqing politely. "The director’s aide made a special trip to my house last night to instruct me to come to the office first thing in the morning and wait for you. He said the director has something to discuss with you."

He made an inviting gesture as he spoke.

Yang Wenqing nodded silently. He had only been inside the director’s suite of offices once before, back when he was first assigned to the East City Public Security Office. It was just as he remembered: a reception area upon entry, leading to a set of double wooden doors at the far end. To the left was the secretary’s office, and to the right was a meeting room that connected to the director’s personal office. The director had met him in that very meeting room when he first reported for duty.

This time, the secretary again led Yang Wenqing to the meeting room. As soon as he stepped inside, he felt a wave of warmth that was pleasant and not at all dry.

"The director might be a little while longer. Please wait here."

The secretary casually pointed to an armchair. "Have a seat," he said, then backed away toward the door. Reaching the doorway, he turned back and pointed at a water cooler. "If you want a drink of water, there are cups beside it."

Yang Wenqing simply nodded again.

Perhaps noticing Yang Wenqing’s composure, the secretary couldn’t help but study him for an extra moment, but that was all.

He waited for no more than five minutes before the sound of footsteps echoed from outside, followed by Wang Ren’s sharp voice. Then, the meeting room door was pushed open.

Wang Ren walked in, dressed in a white uniform. He was accompanied by an officer with the rank of a senior sergeant.

Yang Wenqing quickly rose to his feet as Wang Ren said with a hearty laugh, "My mistake for not making it clear last night. Let’s talk in my office. The light tea my classmate brought back from his business trip in Xiajiang Province just arrived yesterday."

As he spoke, he pushed open the door connecting the meeting room to his office and warmly invited Yang Wenqing to enter. The secretary at the doorway felt his eyelid twitch, his gaze involuntarily shifting to the senior sergeant beside the director, as if he was starting to understand something.

Yang Wenqing followed him into the office. The first thing that met his eyes was a large, heavy, solid-wood desk. On its surface, besides the usual file racks and pen holders, sat a jade paperweight carved with an auspicious, evil-warding beast, as well as a purple bronze incense burner from which thin wisps of smoke curled upwards.

Behind the desk was an enormous water wall. Faint, koi-like glimmers of Spiritual Light could be seen swimming within it. This feature made the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the office noticeably higher than outside, yet it didn’t raise the humidity.

A row of bookshelves stood against the left wall, neatly lined with various case files and some leather-bound books. To the right was a sofa and coffee table for receiving guests. A rustic Zisha clay tea set was already arranged on the table.

Wang Ren walked straight to the coffee table. After inviting Yang Wenqing and the senior sergeant to sit down, he looked at Yang Wenqing, gestured toward the sergeant, and made the introduction. "Wenqing, this is Deputy Section Chief Qin Feng, from the county bureau’s archives section. He’s here specifically on your account."

Yang Wenqing quickly stood up and greeted him, "Section Chief Qin, a pleasure."

Qin Feng corrected him with a grin. "Deputy Section Chief." With that out of the way, he got straight to the point. "My purpose in coming here is to verify your personnel file."

As he spoke, he opened the file folder he was holding, glanced at its contents, and asked, "You’re from the Yang Family Village in Sanhe Town, correct?"

Yang Wenqing nodded. "I am."

Qin Feng then began to ask probing questions, going as far back as three generations of Yang Wenqing’s ancestors. Unfortunately, Yang Wenqing himself wasn’t very clear on the details of his lineage that far back and could only provide information about the Yang Family Village.

By then, Wang Ren had finished preparing the tea. After the three of them had each taken a sip, Qin Feng said with a chuckle, "The archives department will send someone to the Yang Family Village to confirm these details. It should all be sorted out in about half a month."

He delivered this line with a serious expression before breaking into a smile and changing the subject. "According to the City Defense Bureau’s internal regulations, any officer who advances to the Qi Cultivation Stage is granted the rank of senior sergeant and is entitled to the corresponding stipend and housing benefits."

Yang Wenqing nodded. He knew the base stipend for a senior sergeant was five thousand, but the actual salary also factored in seniority, of which he had almost none. The housing benefit was a studio apartment.

"The housing is already available—Apartment 305 in Building 3 of the Dongning Community. Your stipend will start next month. As for your rank insignia..." Qin Feng glanced at Wang Ren.

Wang Ren quickly rose, walked over to his desk, and picked up a blue box. He opened it to reveal a pair of senior sergeant’s rank insignias. "Come on over!" he called to Yang Wenqing. Seeing how formally Yang Wenqing was standing, he added with a laugh, "No need to be so stiff, there are no outsiders here. I’ll present you with your new rank first. Section Chief Qin will take your file back to the county bureau, and it’ll be updated in the City Defense System within two days."

Yang Wenqing remained standing ramrod straight. After his old shoulder boards were swapped for the new ones, he said politely, "Thank you, Director, and thank you, Section Chief Qin."

"Back to the tea!"

Wang Ren said with a hearty laugh, inviting Yang Wenqing to sit back down.

Qin Feng took a sip of his tea and continued instructing Yang Wenqing. "Once your personnel file is confirmed, you will be able to systematically study all the Spells for the Qi Cultivation Stage. You will also be taught the Secret Techniques for this stage. During that time, you’ll be transferred to the branch bureau’s operations department for short-term tactical training."

Yang Wenqing nodded throughout the explanation. When Qin Feng was done, he asked, "Any questions?"

"No questions. I’ll follow the bureau’s arrangements completely."

Yang Wenqing’s tone was decisive.

At that, Qin Feng took out a key and handed it to Yang Wenqing. "This is for your apartment. You can go ahead and move in today. You have to report to the operations team first thing tomorrow morning, so you probably won’t have much free time after this."

Wang Ren also added with a laugh, "It’ll be busy for a while. Once you’re settled, we should get together."

Hearing this, Yang Wenqing’s gaze quickly swept over the two men. He immediately set down his teacup and announced his departure.

Wang Ren rose and saw him to the door. Returning to the coffee table, he remarked, "So young. It’s been a long time since the branch bureau has seen a Qi Cultivator this young, hasn’t it? How about we get him assigned to our office after his tactical training is done?"

Qin Feng smiled. "I don’t have that kind of pull. You’d have to ask the bureau leadership about that." He paused for a moment before adding, "He’ll most likely be transferred to the Major Case Team."

Wang Ren frowned. "The Major Case Team?"

Qin Feng raised his teacup and smiled. "A service record is only considered perfect if it includes a stint in the Major Case Team while at the officer level. For a Qi Cultivator this young, the bureau will have a long-term plan. If he doesn’t pan out, well, that’s a different story."

At this, Wang Ren also began to laugh. "Do you think someone like me still has a chance to get into the Major Case Team?"

"Your best path is to get into the branch bureau’s General Affairs Department first, then look for an opportunity to become deputy director!"

"Me, in General Affairs? Do you really think that’s possible?"

"Success depends on the person!"