Chen Ping'an left the restaurant, a large group of people already following him.
This banquet was organized by Tian Fuliang, and naturally, it was considered official business for the Zhenfu Division.
"Lord, it's windy outside. Would you like a cloak?"
Zeng Jihe followed behind Chen Ping'an, holding a cloak. Zeng Jihe was now Chen Ping'an's attendant, and he also managed two people under him.
When he met Chen Ping'an alone, he called him 'Head,' but in a crowd, he called him 'Lord.'
"No need."
Chen Ping'an waved his hand.
He had achieved success in the martial arts, so a little chill was nothing.
"Yes."
Zeng Jihe respectfully said.
He followed behind Chen Ping'an, looking at his back, a hint of fanaticism and gratitude in his eyes.
If it were years ago, Xiao Zeng would never have imagined he would have this day.
Now, he followed Lord Chen, and not to mention being a formal Yamen Runner, even the Chief Constable often smiled when he saw him. Not only that, his future was bright.
Lord Chen was still young, yet he had already secured the position of Petty Officer Candidate.
In the future, Deputy Squad Leader? Squad Leader? Or even higher...
Anything was possible!
What could be more joyful than following such a Lord?
Chen Ping'an walked on the street; night had already fallen, and tonight's moonlight was dim, barely visible. But his surroundings were bright. There were special Yamen Runners holding torches for him, illuminating the path ahead.
As Chen Ping'an walked, he thought of Old Chen, remembered when he first arrived in this world, and recalled many, many things. His thoughts turned, and as he looked at the surrounding lanes, a notion suddenly arose.
"Let's go to the black market and take a look."
As soon as the thought emerged, Chen Ping'an made a decision.
At a fork in the road not far ahead, he made a turn and walked onto another lane.
"Lord, this is..."
Zeng Jihe followed behind, a hint of doubt flashing in his heart.
However, as an attendant, he naturally wouldn't question it. He simply followed obediently behind Chen Ping'an.
If Zeng Jihe was like this, the other Yamen Runners were even more so.
Ah, people!
The higher his position, every decision he made would affect the honor and decline of many.
...
The black market was still in the old location. For so many years, it had barely changed.
Its existence was tacitly acknowledged by the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office and various other forces.
Transactions inside the black market were guaranteed safe. But outside, one had to bear the risks oneself.
Here, Chen Ping'an once needed to prepare for a full ten days, only daring to come alone after his martial arts Realm entered Qi Blood Level One Perfection.
Now, he didn't need to.
He could come anytime, but Chen Ping'an no longer cared for the items traded in the black market.
At the entrance of the black market, a brawny man still stood.
Chen Ping'an looked from afar, clearly seeing the man's appearance.
Hey, it's an old acquaintance.
He had been to the black market several times, and this man was always standing outside.
His Qi Blood Second Realm cultivation was considered diligent and responsible.
"Entry fee of two small coins. No fighting inside, or you bear the consequences!"
"Outside the black market, safety is not guaranteed, and risks are your own."
Every time he entered or exited, this man would expressionlessly remind them with these two sentences.
But tonight, there was an expression on the man's face; he looked solemn, his hand already on the hilt of his great saber, ready to draw it at any moment.
"No need to be nervous, we're just here to look."
Chen Ping'an said with a smile, looking at the man.
Hearing this, the expression on the man's face relaxed slightly.
He had thought these people were here to cause trouble.
He glanced at the large group of people behind the speaker, each with a saber at their waist. The words about paying two small coins for entry, he ultimately didn't dare to say.
"Relax a bit." Chen Ping'an glanced at Zeng Jihe: "Xiao Zeng."
"Yes, Lord."
Zeng Jihe pulled out a cloth bag from his Arms and took out some silver coins.
"The others wait outside; you just accompany me inside."
Chen Ping'an said, then stepped into the black market.
"Yes." Zeng Jihe responded, took out four small coins, and handed them to the man.
"Lord is benevolent, please accept it."
With that, without waiting for the man's reaction, Zeng Jihe entered the black market and followed Chen Ping'an's steps.
The man took the small coins and looked at the large group of people standing around, somewhat dazed.
These people around him had surging Qi and were incredibly vibrant; clearly, each of them had entered the martial arts.
Some of them had martial arts Realms no less than his own.
Who was that young man?
The man felt bewildered.
...
Although night had already fallen, the black market was still quite lively. Many people were coming and going, most of them masked, or wearing hoods and Dou Li.
Chen Ping'an entered the black market completely unmasked, which attracted quite a bit of attention.
"Who is this person?"
"So bold, not even wearing a hood!"
"Doesn't look old, must be a rookie."
"Hahaha, young man, just too stubborn."
"He'll understand after he suffers a loss! What a pity, it'll be too late then."
"Yeah, let's watch, maybe there'll be a good show."
"..."
People in the black market whispered.
Chen Ping'an had astonishing hearing, so he naturally heard many of their conversations.
However, it didn't matter.
He smiled freely and walked through the black market. In the black market, there were many stalls. Basically, they just laid out a cloth, put some items and trinkets on it, and that was considered a stall.
There were many things sold at the stalls, such as swords, spears, leather armor, soft armor, great medicines, ginseng...
Ginseng.
Chen Ping'an's gaze fell on a small ginseng root full of fibrous roots.
He still remembered when Old Chen was still alive, he had brought him to the black market once.
At that time, he had brought him to buy ginseng.
Initially, Old Chen had planned to teach him martial arts. But his martial arts aptitude was extremely poor, he couldn't even do the prerequisite work for practicing martial arts. Old Chen thought of buying him some great medicine to supplement him.
In the city's regular medicine shops and Treasure Pavilions, the price of these great medicines was extremely high. However, in the black market, some herb gatherers directly set up stalls, and the prices were much cheaper.
That time, Old Chen brought him back a ginseng root.
As it turned out, after buying it, he couldn't absorb the supplement. Eating ginseng even made his nose bleed.
The remaining large part of the ginseng was wasted, and Old Chen ended up eating it himself.
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Chen Ping'an's face.
He walked aimlessly through the black market. The black market wasn't big, and in a short while, he had browsed all the stalls. At the last stall, Chen Ping'an lingered for a while longer.
The owner of the stall was a Gray-robed man wearing a Dou Li. Chen Ping'an subtly sensed that he was actually a martial artist who had entered the Realm.
On the stall, there were mostly small trinkets, but one item did catch Chen Ping'an's eye.