Daqian Martial Saint

Deputy Commander!

After he had demonstrated his worth, the Weishui Garrison Commandant’s Office rewarded Chen Ping’an with a double promotion!

Chief of the Patrol Office, Candidate for Commander, Deputy Commander!

For Chen Ping’an, this was excellent progress and a cause for celebration.

A Deputy Commander was definitely a mid-level position within the hierarchy of the Weishui Garrison Commandant’s Office. And considering Chen Ping’an’s current age...

A Deputy Commander who wasn’t even twenty-one!?

The mere mention of it was enough to leave one breathless!

His future achievements seemed truly limitless!

”I suppose it’s time to head back to Weishui County City!”

Chen Ping’an put away the letter, muttering to himself.

The appointment to Deputy Commander wasn’t a simple matter. It required him to return to Weishui County City and report for duty at the Weishui Garrison Commandant’s Office. Only then would all the official procedures be complete.

So, Chen Ping’an had to prepare to return to Weishui County City within the next few days.

The day after receiving the official appointment notice, Chen Ping’an also received a second letter in reply from Mu Wanjun.

He had received her first reply seven or eight days ago.

The letter wasn’t long, but every word conveyed Mu Wanjun’s shock and amazement that he had broken through to the Third Stage of Inner Qi. In addition to her shock, she also offered Chen Ping’an her heartfelt congratulations.

”Ping’an, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. You’ve surpassed me, and far sooner than I ever expected.”

This was one of the lines from Mu Wanjun’s letter.

Whatever the case, to Chen Ping’an, Mu Wanjun was the one who had discovered his potential.

As he opened Mu Wanjun’s second letter and read its contents, Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but be taken aback.

’She’s inviting me to the Mu Family’s home for a meal?’

...

At a small stall in White Stone City, a wrinkled old man with loose, sagging skin was bustling about his work. Business seemed to be decent, with five or six tables occupied by customers.

”Sir, one bowl of soft tofu pudding, two fried dough sticks, and a toasted wheat pancake!”

A handsome young man walked up to the stall, casually found a seat, and sat down.

”Coming right up, sir,” the old man answered. But as he looked up, he froze for a second.

”Sir, it’s you!”

Old Man Hao recognized Chen Ping’an. He quickly wiped his hands and rushed over to him.

”Sir, you must not live around here. I haven’t seen you in so long! I’ve been hoping you would come by!”

Chen Ping’an looked at Old Man Hao with a gentle smile. ”I’ve been busy handling a few things lately, so I haven’t been out much!”

Old Man Hao beamed as he told Chen Ping’an what had been happening lately. He said that if it hadn’t been for the silver taels Chen Ping’an had given him before, he feared he wouldn’t have been able to get by.

”Have things been difficult recently?” Chen Ping’an asked.

”A while back, the fighting between the Garrison Commandant’s Office and the city’s gangs and families was fierce. I couldn’t even run my business. But things have settled down recently, and the stall’s business is slowly picking up again.”

”I see.” Chen Ping’an nodded. ”It’s good that things have stabilized!”

”Yes, one must cherish these peaceful days! It’s all thanks to the new Lord Commander!” Old Man Hao said with a constant smile.

”Oh?”

”Sir, you probably haven’t been in White Stone City for very long, so you might not feel it the same way I do. Let me tell you, White Stone City was a real mess before.

Every single faction in the city was more tyrannical than the Garrison Commandant’s Office. Even if the Garrison wanted to impose order, they couldn’t manage them all. Those factions were used to doing whatever they pleased. And when they ran rampant, life for us common folk became unbearable!

That’s how things were in the city, and being an old man, I’d gotten used to it. But I couldn’t stop worrying about my little grandson. How was he supposed to make a life for himself in the future? I thought that’s just how things would be from then on.

But who could have imagined it? The new Deputy Commander—now the new Commander-in-Chief—in such a short amount of time, he brought all the factions in the city to heel.

Life for all of us has started to become peaceful and stable. I even hear there are new policies on the way to reduce the exorbitant taxes and fees.”

”We all say it—this new Lord Commander must be some kind of divine being!”

Old Man Hao rambled on, heaping praise upon the new Commander-in-Chief.

Chen Ping’an hadn’t expected to be held in such high regard by Old Man Hao.

”Oh, dear, Sir! I got so caught up in talking that I haven’t even made your food! Please wait just a moment, I’ll get right on it.”

Old Man Hao slapped his thigh, shot Chen Ping’an an apologetic smile, and immediately hurried back to the front of his stall to prepare the order.

Old Man Hao’s hands were skilled, and he quickly brought the bowl of soft tofu pudding, two fried dough sticks, and a toasted wheat pancake to Chen Ping’an’s table. He also brought over several extra meat buns.

”Sir, I picked out the meat for the filling myself, and I wrapped these buns by hand. The skin is thin, the meat is fragrant—they’re absolutely delicious. Please, have a taste,” Old Man Hao said with a smile.

Chen Ping’an didn’t refuse. He picked up his chopsticks and tasted the food.

”Take your time and enjoy, Sir,” Old Man Hao said before returning to his work at the front of the stall.

As he ate, Chen Ping’an noticed that no one dared to dine and dash; everyone dutifully paid their bill before leaving.

Chen Ping’an was quite satisfied with this.

Although he couldn’t claim to have brought prosperity to the whole region since arriving in White Stone City, he felt he had at least done some good.

The two tables around him were filled with customers chatting amongst themselves, occasionally mentioning recent events in the city.

They discussed topics like the destruction of the Crocodile Gang and the Quicksand Gang, and how the Blood Oath Alliance had led a provocation against the Garrison Commandant’s Office only to be brutally suppressed. They also talked about how the Commander-in-Chief of the Garrison had put down the Gang Leaders, Alliance Leader, and Patriarchs of several major powers.

Chen Ping’an listened with half an ear, not particularly interested in the gossip.

”Sir, how much do I owe you?” Chen Ping’an asked after finishing his breakfast, preparing to pay.

”Sir, don’t worry about money! This one’s on the house!” Old Man Hao said with a simple, honest smile.

”Sir, you’re running a business. There’s no reason not to accept payment!” As he spoke, Chen Ping’an reached for the silver coins in his robes.

Seeing this, Old Man Hao immediately stepped forward to stop him. ”Sir, you’ve already helped me so much. I absolutely cannot take your money! My conscience wouldn’t allow it.”

It would have been effortless for Chen Ping’an to brush Old Man Hao’s hands aside. But seeing how sincere the old man was in his repeated refusals, Chen Ping’an ultimately decided not to press the issue.

”In that case, thank you for the breakfast, Sir.”

Chen Ping’an gave Old Man Hao a bow.

”It’s the least I could do, Sir,” Old Man Hao said, hastily bowing in return.

Chen Ping’an gave a small smile, bid him farewell, and turned to leave.

”That customer is such a good man. I wonder whose family that young man belongs to!”

Old Man Hao watched Chen Ping’an’s retreating figure until a new customer arrived. After calling out a greeting, Old Man Hao finally turned back to his bustling stall.