Chen Yuan gave Wang Ping a strange look, noticing a trace of regret on his face.

"What are you thinking about?"

"N-Nothing." Wang Ping shook his head.

Chen Yuan's strength had always been greater than his own. They used to spar, and he had suffered quite a bit. If Chen Yuan knew he was gossiping about him in his mind, he would surely find some excuse to spar again.

Now that he had just recovered from his injuries, Wang Ping didn't want to spend another few days in bed.

These past two weeks had been stifling for his 'brother'.

"Ahem... Yuan-ge." Wang Ping leaned in slightly.

"What?"

"I heard from my dad that a decent girl arrived at the Misty Rain Pavilion in the south of the city. She used to be the courtesan of the prefectural city, but now she's older and business has been slow, so she's come to our Ping'an County."

"How about tonight..." Wang Ping grinned.

"Even if she's fallen from grace, she used to be a courtesan. Do you have that much silver?"

Wang Ping's family was well-off, but only relatively. His father was a merchant with a few shops, but he was nothing special in Ping'an County. Otherwise, there would have been no need to send Wang Ping to the yamen.

The truly wealthy families sent their children to martial arts academies from a young age, or to Jianghu sects in Nanling Prefecture.

"Not overnight, just listen to a song. It won't cost much. I received a lot of silver from the yamen because of my injuries, and I haven't spent it yet. It's my treat..."

A flash of pain crossed Wang Ping's eyes.

Chen Yuan shook his head and said:

"Too old, not interested."

Besides, she was a courtesan. To be honest, Chen Yuan wasn't that interested.

Although he hadn't gotten laid in over a month, Chen Yuan wanted high-quality. He couldn't just settle for anything, could he?

He was no longer the eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy with lust-filled eyes and an empty head.

Wang Ping quickly said:

"Yuan-ge, although that woman is older, you can't tell at all. She doesn't have any wrinkles, as if time hasn't left any marks on her face."

A look of longing appeared in Wang Ping's eyes.

"The marks of time aren't necessarily on the face..." Chen Yuan said softly.

"Huh? Where are they then?"

"In the place where the peach blossoms bloom."

"???"

......

......

Ping'an County, County Yamen.

The county yamen was unusually quiet today. All the yamen runners were at their posts, without the usual hustle and bustle. After Chen Yuan and Wang Ping arrived, someone looked up at them and then lowered their head, pretending to be reading the dossiers in their hands.

Chen Yuan and Wang Ping exchanged glances, not breaking the strange silence. They randomly picked up two dossiers and stood in an inconspicuous place.

"Yuan-ge, this..."

Wang Ping gestured with his eyes.

"Probably for the Constable's position. Don't say anything out of line." Chen Yuan whispered.

The position of Constable of the First Division had completely entered the realm of 'officialdom', which was completely different from ordinary yamen runners. The status and power were incomparable, so naturally many people coveted it.

Like Huang Xing, it was enough to support a sizable family.

The major and minor forces in Ping'an County treated the most powerful constable in the county yamen with great respect.

This opportunity for ordinary yamen runners was like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.

Although the position of constable was generally held by Refined Bone experts, there were precedents for Blood Refining martial artists holding the position. Otherwise, Chen Yuan wouldn't have subtly hinted at those words to Wang Ping earlier.

If he could become a constable, Chen Yuan could easily obtain resources or anything else he wanted in the future.

These veteran yamen runners had the same idea.

Besides Tie Xuan and Huang Xing, there were only two or three Refined Bone experts in the Ping'an County Yamen, and they all had their own duties. It wasn't like they had no chance.

Whether they could succeed or not, they had to fight for it.

As the two were quietly talking, a middle-aged man with a smiling face approached:

"Wang Ping, you've recovered from your injuries?"

"Constable Wu, I'm pretty much fine."

Wang Ping quickly said.

"Don't be so formal. I'm the one who helped you get into the county yamen in the first place." Wu Yushan said with a smile, a glint in his eyes.

"Hehe, I still have to thank Brother Wu. How about this, I'll treat you to a special banquet another day, Brother Wu?"

Wang Ping cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he was still somewhat respectful.

He had entered the county yamen through Wu Yushan's connections, but he had given him a lot of silver. In the past year or so, he hadn't seen any favors from him. That bit of affection had long faded.

"How could I let you treat me? How about this, when I, Lao Wu, become the constable, I'll treat you and Chen Yuan," Wu Yushan said with a squint, nodding at Chen Yuan.

"Then congratulations to Brother Wu in advance."

Wu Yushan waved his hand and said:

"It's still too early. I'm here, hoping that you two can support me. Don't worry, when I become the constable, you'll definitely get your share of the benefits."

"Chen Yuan, what do you think?"

Having seen Chen Yuan's strength before, Wu Yushan and a group of veteran yamen runners had begun to pay attention to him. If he could support him, it would save a lot of trouble. As for Wang Ping, who was only at the Skin Refining stage, he was just an extra.

This time, he wasn't the only one eyeing the position of constable. There were even experts from other divisions, so naturally, he had to win over some capable people.

Chen Yuan exchanged glances with Wu Yushan:

"It would naturally be good if Brother Wu could sit in that position."

"Good, with those words from you, I'm relieved. To be honest, I have high hopes for you. After I step down, you can take over."

Wu Yushan whispered his promise.

Chen Yuan looked at him with a smile and whispered:

"It still depends on what County Commandant Li has to say."

Wu Yushan frowned as he stared at Chen Yuan. Just as he was about to continue speaking, County Commandant Li Mingqi walked into the Constable Division with a stiff face.

All the yamen runners stood up and bowed, saying:

"Greetings, Lord."

"Greetings, Lord."

Li Mingqi, with a stern face, swept his gaze over the nearly thirty yamen runners present and said loudly:

"I know that all of you here, including the yamen runners from other divisions, want to be promoted to constable, but the position of constable has always been held by Refined Bone experts with great merit."

"You are far from qualified..."

"Originally, County Magistrate Wu intended to transfer an expert from the prefectural city to serve as the constable, in order to deal with the pressure from the Unborn Lord’s followers. However, this official refused. The position of constable must be selected from within Ping'an County.

"This official is willing to give you a chance, even if your strength is insufficient. There is always hope to step into the Refined Bone stage in the future."

The yamen runners below looked at each other, and no one spoke.

"Historically, the person who takes office as constable must be respected by the public. Those without merit cannot take office, and the position of constable is determined by qualifications and strength. But this time, this official has decided to change the method of selection. Tomorrow, this official will be stationed at the East Training Ground..."