Chen Ping’an’s voice boomed in Old Pan’s ear like a clap of thunder. Old Pan couldn’t help but shudder.

"Uncle Pan, you seemed to have a lot to say just now. Why don’t you share your thoughts? I’m all ears." Chen Ping’an’s face was devoid of any smile as he quietly watched Old Pan and Aunt Pan.

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s cold expression, Old Pan instinctively recoiled.

"Ping’an, I..."

Before Old Pan could finish, Aunt Pan shot him a fierce glare from the side.

"Ping’an, we’re all neighbors here. What do you think you’re doing!"

She was trying to use public opinion to pressure Chen Ping’an. It was a tactic she had used for decades, and it had never failed!

"What’s going on?"

"I don’t know! I just saw Ping’an walk over."

"It’s the Pan family!"

"..."

The neighbors on the sidelines began to point and whisper.

Hearing the voices of the neighbors around them, Aunt Pan’s expression grew even more composed. She was sure that with so many people watching, Chen Ping’an wouldn’t dare do anything to them.

"So, Aunt Pan, you *do* know we’re all neighbors!"

Chen Ping’an’s gaze was cold. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Since we’re all neighbors, then what exactly were your intentions with what you and Uncle Pan were saying just now? Were you trying to paint me as a heartless and unjust person?"

Chen Ping’an’s voice wasn’t loud, but he exuded an imposing aura, as majestic as a mountain.

Aunt Pan was just a common woman; she had never witnessed such a scene. Her composed expression crumbled instantly.

"What does Brother Chen mean by that? What happened just now?"

"No idea! Old Pan’s family must have said something!"

"I know all about Old Pan’s wife’s mouth. She never stops running it! She must have offended Ping’an!"

"Does anyone know what happened!?"

"I do! A moment ago, while Young Master Xiao Hu was still here, the Pan family was making snide remarks about Brother Chen. They were saying things like, ’And he calls himself a constable from the Garrison Commandant’s Office! Just a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong!’"

"So that’s what happened! We’re all neighbors, that’s just going too far!"

"..."

The growing chatter from the crowd reached the ears of Old Pan and his wife, making them feel even more unnerved.

Aunt Pan wanted to argue, to put up some resistance, but then she saw Chen Ping’an draw a dagger from his waist. He pulled it from its sheath, revealing its cold, sharp glint.

The sight made Old Pan’s knees go weak.

"Ping’an... oh, no, Lord Chen! We were foolish, so foolish! Please, spare us!"

Aunt Pan tried to hold her ground, but fear instantly gripped her heart as she watched Chen Ping’an approach with the dagger in hand.

"Brother Ch— Lord Chen, I was wrong, I was wrong. Please let us go! I was wrong, I was really wrong!"

As Chen Ping’an advanced, Aunt Pan tried to run, but she was no match for his speed. Chen Ping’an closed the distance in a single stride, and the dagger in his hand plunged down viciously.

"AHH!"

Aunt Pan screamed and squeezed her eyes shut instinctively.

"Don’t!"

Old Pan, standing nearby, was so startled he collapsed to the ground in a heap.

Aunt Pan kept her eyes tightly shut. After a moment, the expected pain never came. Trembling, she slowly opened her eyes.

She found the dagger, glinting coldly, hovering just above her head, ready to plunge down at any second.

"AHH!"

Letting out another terrified scream, Aunt Pan scrambled back two steps, lost her footing, and collapsed to the ground.

Chen Ping’an held the dagger, his eyes filled with Killing Intent as he stared straight ahead.

The sight made Aunt Pan’s body tremble uncontrollably. Overcome with panic, she began to wail.

"Ping’an, Ping’an, I was wrong... I was wrong. I was really wrong... You’re a bigger person than me, please, just spare me..."

"Mercy! Mercy, Lord Chen...!" Old Pan knelt beside her, kowtowing repeatedly.

In this situation, the old couple looked utterly pathetic.

But... pathetic people often have their own hateful qualities.

Chen Ping’an watched them calmly. He waited until Old Pan’s forehead was bleeding from kowtowing and Aunt Pan’s voice had grown hoarse. Only then did he sheathe his dagger.

"This was just a small lesson. If I ever hear you saying things like that again, you will be responsible for the consequences!"

With that, Chen Ping’an turned and left.

’Nannan is still waiting for me at home!’

Only after Chen Ping’an was long gone did the old couple’s nerves finally begin to settle.

They exchanged a look, feeling as if they had been given a new lease on life.

"I almost don’t recognize the Chen Family’s kid anymore! He was like a different person just now. That aura... it was terrifying!"

"An official constable..."

"That Chen Family’s kid... he’s really made something of himself!"

"..."

After Chen Ping’an left, the onlooking neighbors were deeply stirred.

By becoming a registered official constable of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office and gaining an official status, Chen Ping’an had, in the truest sense, begun his climb out of the lowest rungs of society.

...

"Brother~ you’re back~! Is everything okay outside?"

Chen Ping’an had just stepped inside when Chen Erya asked curiously.

"Mm, it had nothing to do with us. It was just that Uncle Gao’s family had borrowed silver from the Tiger Head Gang. Young Master Xiao Hu and his men came over to return the money!"

Seeing Chen Erya’s curious face, Chen Ping’an smiled and gave her a brief, simplified version of events.

"That Tiger Head Gang is so despicable!" The little girl patted her chest and said resentfully.

"Yes, they’re despicable." Chen Ping’an nodded in agreement.

He knew, however, that as long as the world stayed the same, even without the Tiger Head Gang, an Axe Gang or Tiger Gang would appear in its place. People at the bottom would always be exploited.

’If I want to change things, there’s only one way: climb higher and become someone who stands above the rest!’

Just over twenty days ago, he was a mere temporary constable with no knowledge of the Martial Dao. When faced with Young Master Xiao Hu, he had to be cautious, watch his every word, and read the atmosphere carefully, terrified of causing trouble. But today, he no longer needed to fear Young Master Xiao Hu; he could face him with composure.

’This is the change that comes with strength, with status!’

At this thought, a fire ignited in Chen Ping’an’s heart, and he picked up his saber from the side.

’Time to practice my Sword Skill!’

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

In the small courtyard, the sound of rushing air echoed with each change of his Sword Skill.

+1!

...

The next day, after finishing his morning Cultivation, Chen Ping’an headed to the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office to report for duty. Unlike before, as he entered the Garrison Commandant’s Office, a few constables would give him a slight nod, a silent greeting.

That day, Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu were their usual selves, giving him the cold shoulder. When it was time for lunch, they didn’t return to the Garrison Commandant’s Office to eat with him. The two of them just left on their own, disappearing to who knows where. Before leaving, they called out to Zeng Jihe.

"Hey, Xiaozeng, want to grab a bite with us?"

However, Xiaozeng glanced at Chen Ping’an, hesitated, and ultimately decided not to go with them.

Chen Ping’an took note of the exchange.

"Master Chen, they’re..." Zeng Jihe said, a little embarrassed.

"It’s fine," Chen Ping’an said calmly, while internally giving Cheng Yuan and Zhao Hu a silent thumbs-up.

’Excellent! Keep it up, just like that!’