A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Only when that figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, around the corner, and could no longer be seen, did they turn their gaze away and exchange a meaningful look, a look that contained envy, jealousy, and an indescribable complexity.

Upon entering the Zhenfu Division, Xing Huai'an summoned him again.

Su Bai walked through the long corridor and arrived at the office of Xing Huai'an.

Moss, dark green patches, covered the walls on both sides of the corridor. A faint dampness filled the air, mixed with the smell of old wood.

The door was ajar, revealing a crack about two fingers wide. Through the crack, one could see shadowy figures moving inside.

He raised his hand and gently knocked three times. The sound of his knuckles tapping on the wooden door was particularly crisp in the quiet corridor, and the echo lingered.

"Lord Xing."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xing Huai'an looked up and saw Su Bai outside the door. A smile immediately appeared on his face. He put down the file in his hand, which landed on the table with a soft thud, kicking up a small cloud of dust.

He stood up, walked around the desk, and hurried to the door, his boots pounding rapidly on the floor. He reached out and pulled open the door; the hinges creaked open, a sound that was particularly jarring in the quiet room.

"Lord Su has arrived! Come in, come in quickly."

Xing Huai'an's reaction was clearly more extreme than his attitude toward his usual subordinates.

His tone was warm and almost intimate as he spoke, his voice tinged with laughter. He stepped aside and gestured for Su Bai to come in, his hand gently resting on Su Bai's arm, guiding him inside. His hand was warm and strong, and you could feel the warmth even through the sleeve of his clothes.

However, considering that Su Bai had just returned from the General Garrison Command, Xing Huai'an's attitude became quite normal.

After all, to be honest, he, as the deputy chief inspector, probably hasn't seen his superiors as many times as Su Bai has.

Xing Huai'an could only see such a big shot as the Chief Constable a few times a year, and it had to be for official business.

Su Bai, on the other hand, is frequently summoned, which clearly indicates he is being chosen as a trusted confidant.

Unfortunately, Xing Huai'an belonged to neither side, and he was already old.

Many families no longer even consider him worthy of their attention.

This time, he only had a chance to be promoted because of Su Bai's influence.

"Lord Su, you are truly a lucky charm for our Southern Garrison." Xing Huai'an praised Su Bai with a smile, gesturing for him to sit down in the chair. He then went around to the desk and sat down again, the chair creaking slightly, the sound particularly clear in the quiet.

"An Wuyu has been a ruthless fugitive for many years, fleeing from the prefectural capital all the way, but in the end he still fell into your hands!"

As he spoke, his smile grew even brighter, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkling together like two open folding fans, dense and deep, revealing a set of white teeth, with a bit of tea dust stuck between them, bluish-black and particularly noticeable.

Although Su Bai single-handedly defeated An Wuyu, the Southern Garrison Command was still in Xing Huai'an's hands.

No matter what, more or less, Xing Huai'an will benefit from it.

If this achievement is reported, he, as the head of the Southern Garrison Command, will surely receive a share of the credit.

Those in power would think that the emergence of such talent demonstrates Xing Huai'an's effective governance, his ability to utilize and cultivate talent. Those high-ranking officials don't care about details; they only look at results, numbers, and names on the merit list.

He was supposed to be promoted because of the previous crackdown on the Reincarnation Cult.

That incident had already put him on the list, and a promotion order could come down at any time. He had even packed his luggage, and the trunks were all tied up, just waiting for someone to come and carry them.

Unexpectedly, Su Bai offered another credit.

This is truly a double celebration!

How could Xing Huai'an not be happy? He was so happy that his eyebrows almost flew off, the ends of his eyebrows were raised high, almost reaching his hairline, several horizontal lines squeezed out on his forehead, and his whole face was flushed, as if he were drunk.

"It's all thanks to Lord Xing's excellent teaching."

Su Bai said modestly, bowing his head slightly, his face showing just the right amount of respect.

His voice was neither loud nor soft, but steady and calm, like a still pond without any ripples.

He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the edge of the table, not looking directly at Xing Huai'an, his eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Xing Huai'an's smile widened, his mouth stretching almost to his ears, revealing two rows of neat teeth and even a bit of his gums.

He reached up and stroked his short beard, which was neatly trimmed, each hair separate. He ran his fingertips from root to tip with a leisurely and contented motion, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. Su Bai's small figure was reflected in his pupils.

"To be honest, it's not that Mr. Xing is being talkative; he's just very curious."

Xing Huai'an leaned forward, his upper body almost reaching over the table. He placed his hands on the table, the veins on the back of his hands slightly bulging, like small blue snakes. His gaze was intense as he looked at Su Bai, his eyes like two hooks, as if he wanted to hook out all of Su Bai's thoughts and uncover all his secrets.

"What level is Lord Su at now? Even if An Wuyu is seriously injured, he's not so easy to defeat, is he? Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. A True Qi Realm expert, no matter how injured, still has his foundation."

As he spoke, his tone carried a hint of inquiry, curiosity, and a subtle probing. He squinted, a sharp glint in his eyes, as keen as needles, his gaze sweeping across Su Bai's face like two fine combs, trying to discern something from that calm expression, to find some clue, not even the slightest change in expression.

"Lord Xing, when we fought last night, An Wuyu was actually only at the third level of martial arts, or even weaker." Su Bai raised his head to meet Xing Huai'an's gaze, his expression calm, his eyes clear as a mountain spring, without the slightest evasion or guilt. "As for me, I had already broken through to the third level during the last siege of the Reincarnation Sect. With this shift in power, I was able to get the upper hand by sheer luck."

"Is that so?" Xing Huai'an frowned slightly, his brows furrowing into a shallow "川" character, the lines as sharp as if carved by a knife. His fingers unconsciously tapped the table, producing a soft, rhythmic sound that was exceptionally clear in the quiet room, each tap like the beat of a heartbeat.

"How could his strength have dropped so much from the True Qi Realm? No matter how badly he was injured, it shouldn't have fallen to the third realm, right? There are several thresholds between the True Qi Realm and the third realm, and each threshold represents a whole new level."

His tone carried a hint of doubt, his brows furrowed, and the wrinkles on his forehead deepened, resembling ravines.

His fingers, which were tapping the table, stopped and hovered in mid-air. His fingers were frozen there, and his gaze was fixed on Su Bai, motionless, as if trying to see right through him.

"Lord Xing, don't forget," Su Bai reminded him, leaning slightly forward, elbows resting on his knees, his voice low and mysterious.

"That guy killed five hooligans back then, and one of them even escaped. The one who escaped even went to the Zhenfu Division to report the news. Saying he had three realms is a bit of an exaggeration... His true energy has collapsed like this, so it's probably damaged his foundation. He probably used some kind of secret technique that damages his foundation while being chased. I've heard of that kind of secret technique. It hurts the enemy a thousand but also hurts yourself eight hundred. After using it, your realm will plummet."

After hearing Su Bai's words, Xing Huai'an nodded, his brows gradually relaxed, and the frown line between his brows slowly smoothed out, as if it had been ironed.

But then, a fleeting look of regret crossed his face—a look so fleeting it was almost imperceptible, just a slight twitch in the corner of his eye, like being pricked by a needle, so subtle it was barely noticeable.

He pursed his lips, making them a thin line until they turned slightly white. A hint of annoyance flashed in his eyes, but it was like a ripple on the surface of water, spreading out and disappearing into the depths of his eyes.

The third realm!

With his strength, he had every chance of stopping the other party. Xing Huai'an was a genuine fifth-realm cultivator, two whole major realms higher than the third realm. His internal energy was like mercury, flowing like a rushing river. He could kill a bull with a single punch and shatter a piece of bluestone with a single palm strike. If he had encountered An Wuyu back then, this tremendous achievement would have fallen on his shoulders.

Pity!

In the end, it was all for naught.

Why is Su Bai so lucky?!

He easily wiped out the Reincarnation Sect without any danger; those remnants of the demonic sect were like a bunch of idiots. This time, An Wuyu delivered himself to his doorstep, and he was lucky enough to catch him again. It was as if God was chasing after him to feed him and rushing to give him credit.

Is this person God's favorite son? Or did his ancestral graves emit auspicious smoke?

However, regret is only a fleeting moment.

Having weathered many ups and downs over the years, Xing Huai'an's composure was naturally remarkable. That hint of annoyance flashed in his eyes and disappeared in an instant, as if it had never appeared.

A smile returned to his face, his brows relaxed, and the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes smoothed out like chrysanthemum petals. He stroked his beard and chuckled, "I never expected that Lord Su would be such a hidden martial arts genius. He's already at the third level of martial arts in the blink of an eye. At this rate, it probably won't be long before he catches up with me."

As he spoke, he laughed twice, the laughter echoing in the room and causing the window paper to tremble slightly.

Xing Huai'an was still somewhat surprised by Su Bai's progress in martial arts.

After all, as far as he knew, Su Bai had never practiced before.

Just a few months ago, he was running errands on the streets, wearing a faded brown shorts. People would bow their heads and walk close to the wall when they saw him. In the blink of an eye, he has reached the third realm and can now stand in front of him as an equal, with his back straight.

This speed is unparalleled in the entire Fenjiang County; it's simply unheard of.

If he hadn't personally witnessed Su Bai's journey to where he is today, from a lowly errand boy to the high-ranking official he is now, he would have thought that this man was some kind of genius from a prestigious family who had come out to gain experience. Those scions of noble families, who were raised on medicinal herbs and guided by famous teachers, were nothing special.

"Not at all, Lord Xing, you flatter me." Su Bai waved his hand with a smile, his face displaying humility. His smile was just right, neither arrogant nor obsequious, with a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth revealing a hint of his teeth.

"Compared to you, sir, I am still far behind. You are a master of the Qi and Blood Realm, with your Qi and Blood flowing like a rainbow. When you circulate it, the entire room can probably feel the pressure. I still have several thresholds to cross in my three realms. I need your guidance and instruction."

"Congratulations anyway." Xing Huai'an stood up, walked around the table to Su Bai's side, and patted his shoulder. His hand landed on Su Bai's shoulder with just the right amount of pressure—warm and firm, making him feel comfortable without feeling awkward.

"I'm also benefiting from your connections. This time, I'm afraid I'll have to move up with you. Maybe I can even get transferred to a better place thanks to your influence."

As he spoke, his smile was genuine, but deep in his eyes lay a complex emotion that was hard to describe. There was envy, relief, and a hint of jealousy—suppressed so deeply that he himself was unwilling to admit it, like an undercurrent beneath the surface of water, unseen yet present, occasionally surging before sinking again.

The two chatted for a while longer, and the atmosphere during their conversation was excellent.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting long, slanted shadows on the floor. The shadows shifted slowly as the sun moved, creating distinct squares of light and shadow.

The room was filled with the aroma of tea, and the white steam rising from the teacups drifted slowly in the light, like wisps of smoke, rising and finally dissipating into the air.

Laughter filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Xing Huai'an shared a few amusing anecdotes about officialdom: who was impeached for what, and who got promoted through connections. Su Bai chuckled along, occasionally chiming in with a few words about trivial matters within the Zhenfu Division. The two seemed like old friends, chatting about everything.

Finally, when Su Bai was about to leave...

Xing Huai'an also inquired about his subsequent appointment, whether he would succeed him as the Deputy Commissioner of the South.

As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, placed his hands on the table, the veins on the back of his hands were slightly bulging, and there were some rough calluses on his knuckles.

His gaze held a mixture of inquiry, curiosity, and a hint of concern, like two thin threads wrapped around Su Bai.

The sunlight streaming in through the window shone on his face, illuminating the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. These wrinkles, spread like a spiderweb, each one a testament to the years of experience, recording stories of welcoming and sending off guests, promotions and demotions. His lips were slightly parted, revealing a glimpse of his front teeth, as if he had even softened his breathing while awaiting an answer.

This time, having received a clear answer from Ning Yuechan, Su Bai naturally had no need to hide anything.

He stopped, his boots tapping lightly on the ground with a soft scraping sound. He turned around, his clothes swaying gently with the movement, and met Xing Huai'an's gaze. He calmly shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Not the Deputy Chief of the Southern Division, but the head of the county jail, temporarily taking over the position of jailer."

His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, like water droplets falling on a stone slab, each word making a small echo.

Xing Huai'an was somewhat surprised, his eyebrows slightly raised, like two startled insects arching upwards.

The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened, forming deep furrows. But he didn't think much of it, just nodded slightly, and stroked his short beard, which was neatly trimmed, each hair separate and slightly grayish-white.

The fingertips glided from the base to the tip, the movement gentle and slow, as if caressing something precious.

He opened his mouth, his lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. Only a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes, like a ripple on the surface of water, fleeting and quickly sinking into the depths of his gaze.