Behind Sun Peng was a line of constables. Among them, a clean-shaven, pale-faced middle-aged man was frowning at him.

Seeing Sun Peng bow, the pale-faced man’s expression was calm as he said with a frown, "Abandoning your post during your shift... Is this how you always neglect your duties?"

Sun Peng’s mouth worked a few times, but no words came out. He cursed his luck inwardly... This Chief An, newly appointed as the City Gate Guard Chief, was not an easy man to deal with.

They say a new official lights three fires upon taking office. Since his appointment this month, this man had already punished several colleagues for abandoning their posts during their shifts...

The words most often on his lips were: "Today, True Martial County faces troubles from within and without, incidents are frequent, and the people know no peace. The Origin of this is the lax security at the city gates and the breakdown of inspections, allowing treacherous and unruly elements to mingle among the common folk; even the displaced population has not been fully registered. Now that I humbly occupy the position of Guard, I must rectify the administration and purge this decadent trend. Those who serve as gatekeepers must be especially dedicated to their duties, strictly guarding the entrances to fortify the city’s defenses, bring peace to the common people, and preserve the tranquility of True Martial."

He had dealt with a good number of people with a heavy hand.

...The city gates had just closed. Normally, the man wouldn’t have started his patrol yet, which was why Sun Peng had dared to leave his post... Earning two taels of silver so easily was certainly a pleasant prospect.

But he never expected to be so unlucky as to run right into him...

Seeing Sun Peng stand there speechless, An Changyu’s brow furrowed deeper, and his gaze turned cold. "Unwilling to speak? Or unable to speak?"

The moment he heard An Changyu’s words, Sun Peng knew that if he didn’t confess everything in detail, he was probably done for.

...’Unable to speak?’

Those words carried far too much weight!

’But if I do this, I’m afraid I’ll have to betray Chief Zhou...’

As thoughts raced through his mind, he began to speak in a low voice.

An Changyu listened with a blank expression at first, but when he heard the name Zhou Xing, his eyes flickered. He didn’t interrupt, however.

He let the man finish his confession.

Beads of sweat formed on Sun Peng’s forehead. "Please, Chief An, give me another chance. I’ll go back to my post right now. From now on, I’ll be completely devoted to my duty and never dare to abandon my post again..."

A glint appeared in An Changyu’s eyes before he slowly said, "So that’s how it is... I understand. You may go."

Sun Peng was shocked. ’Chief An is being this lenient?’

A look of joy spread across his face as he quickly said, "Yes! I’ll take my leave!"

He hastily turned to leave...

"Wrong direction."

But he had just taken a step when the other man’s voice sounded faintly.

"Huh?" Sun Peng turned his head in astonishment to look at An Changyu.

An Changyu said calmly, "Weren’t you here to deliver a message to Zhou Xing? ...Since you’ve taken the silver, you should see the job through, shouldn’t you?"

Sun Peng was stunned, but he quickly understood An Changyu’s meaning. A layer of cold sweat broke out on his back. He stammered, unable to speak.

An Changyu said flatly, "However, I didn’t run into you today. When you see Zhou Xing... you say whatever it is you were going to say... Understand what I mean?"

Sun Peng’s feet suddenly felt as heavy as lead. His mouth worked for a long while, but under An Changyu’s cold, piercing gaze, he finally caved.

"...Yes, I understand."

"Go on."

Sun Peng turned and walked with heavy steps toward the Government Office Entrance.

An Changyu’s eyes glinted.

...’Looking for Zhou Xing? But instead of entering the city, they have a guard deliver a message?’

He narrowed his eyes.

"Get someone to keep an eye on Sun Peng and Zhou Xing."

He gave the order calmly.

Someone behind him respectfully acknowledged the order and quickly departed.

An Changyu watched Sun Peng’s retreating back... his eyes flashing.

Sun Peng walked all the way to the Government Office Entrance, only snapping out of his daze when he heard the laughter of his colleagues.

He pressed his lips together but ultimately headed into the Government Office.

"Huh? Sun Peng, aren’t you on gate duty today? What are you doing back here? Aren’t you afraid of Chief An?"

A colleague he knew happened to run into him and asked with a surprised look.

Sun Peng forced a laugh and didn’t answer, asking instead, "Have you seen Chief Zhou?"

"Chief Zhou?" The man was puzzled. "What do you need Chief Zhou for? ...He should still be in the Zhi Lu."

Sun Peng grunted in acknowledgment, nodded, mumbled a thank you, and headed for the Zhi Lu.

The colleague looked puzzled. "Acting all weird and secretive..."

But he didn’t give it much thought and went out on his own business.

Sun Peng arrived at the Zhi Lu, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door. A response came quickly from within, and someone opened it.

Seeing Sun Peng, the constable inside paused for a moment, then smiled. "Brother Peng? What brings you to our neck of the woods today?"

He was another familiar colleague. Sun Peng forced another smile, greeted him, and then asked, "Is Chief Zhou inside?"

Zhou Xing, who was inside the Zhi Lu looking through a scroll, heard the voice and looked up. "I’m here. Brother Peng, do you need something?"

"Chief Zhou, a word in private."

Sun Peng said.

Zhou Xing raised an eyebrow, but didn’t overthink it. He nodded and walked out.

The constable in the Zhi Lu was tactful. After Zhou Xing stepped out, he closed the door, showing no intention of eavesdropping.

After the two had walked a short distance from the Zhi Lu, Sun Peng took a deep breath and said to the slightly puzzled Zhou Xing, "Chief Zhou, there’s someone outside the city who specifically asked to see you."

Zhou Xing was stunned at first, but then his eyes immediately lit up.

...’Outside the city... who else would have a city guard pass a message to find him?’

’It must be my junior brother!’

So many days had passed. Besides the message from Fishermen’s that day confirming his senior brother was fine, there had been no other news.

To be honest, he had been worried sick.

’To think he would show up today!’

"Where is he?" Zhou Xing asked quickly in a low voice.

"Just at the South Gate..." Sun Peng whispered.

Realization dawned on Zhou Xing, and he became even more certain it was Qin Fang.

Because he had indeed instructed his junior brother last time to go to the South Gate and have someone find him if anything urgent happened.