In Lihua Lane, there were several public water fetching points.
However, the closest one to Chen Ping'an's home was under the large mulberry tree to the east.
Next to the large mulberry tree was a small stream, where women from the lane often came to wash clothes.
There was also a small open space nearby, where children who came with their mothers often played happily.
In the open space, there was a well, which was where the surrounding households drew water.
Chen Ping'an walked very quickly and soon arrived under the large mulberry tree.
Indeed, there were many people here.
Children ran around, playing joyfully.
"Did you hear?!
Old Gao's wife in the southeast corner, her family seems to be doing well lately."
"What happened?"
"A few days ago, when I went visiting, I happened to catch them eating, and I found they were actually eating braised pork!"
"Braised pork?!
Old Gao's husband has no skills and no strength, what's going on?
Did he get rich?"
"I don't know!
Isn't that strange!"
"It is strange!
Let's go inquire another day and see if they found some opportunity to get rich!"
"..."
By the small stream, several women were washing clothes, chatting about household matters.
Chen Ping'an ignored them.
He walked straight to the well and began to draw water.
There was a wooden bucket specifically for drawing water by the well, and Chen Ping'an immediately threw it into the well.
Clear water splashed.
Chen Ping'an skillfully swung the rope, and the wooden bucket tilted, beginning to fill with the clear water from the well.
Chen Ping'an peered into the well, and once the water overflowed, he lifted the wooden bucket.
Hmm!?
Chen Ping'an was slightly startled.
He found that the bucket full of water seemed a bit light, completely different from what he remembered.
Chen Ping'an lifted the wooden bucket out of the well and poured it into the bucket he brought, which was exactly one full bucket.
Repeating the same action, he filled another bucket with water.
"Has my strength increased so much?"
The second time he lifted the wooden bucket, it still felt light.
Chen Ping'an secretly guessed.
Picking up the two buckets of water, Chen Ping'an walked towards his home.
Along the way, his steps were light, completely unlike his previous experiences of fetching water.
Before, although he could carry two full buckets of water, he would sway along the way, and by the time he reached home, about half a bucket of water would have splashed out.
Two buckets of water meant that half a bucket was wasted on the road.
This was not only exhausting but also inefficient.
Therefore, Chen Ping'an usually only filled the buckets about halfway.
But today...
Chen Ping'an carried the buckets steadily, looking completely at ease.
Even after pouring the water into the water vat, he remained calm and composed, not feeling tired at all.
"Is this the change brought by Qi Blood First Realm!"
Chen Ping'an felt nothing but pleasant surprise.
It was the first time he had so clearly felt the changes happening in his body.
"Again!"
Chen Ping'an excitedly rushed out of his home.
He repeated this process until the water in the vat reached the brim.
Normally, it would take ten trips to fill the water vat, but today he only made seven or eight trips.
This was because each time he filled the buckets completely, unlike before when he intentionally filled them only halfway.
"My strength is more than half greater than before!"
After a good experience, Chen Ping'an began to practice Iron Cloth.
Half an hour later, the familiar +1 experience value appeared.
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Qi Blood First Realm
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Entry (3/15)
...
In the following days, Chen Ping'an's life became extremely regular.
Every morning, he would wake up early, practice Iron Cloth once, and then head to Nanquan Lane Garrison Office to clock in on time.
According to the Zhenfu Division's assignment, he would patrol the various streets and lanes in Nanquan Lane, deterring petty criminals.
After getting off duty each day, he would have dinner with Chen Er'ya, and then practice Iron Cloth again.
Over several days, he also saw Qin Tou once.
Qin Tou's hair was gray, and his smile was kind.
Nearing sixty, he was almost at the age of wisdom.
He no longer had the aggressive, daring, and murderous demeanor of his youth.
If he weren't wearing the formal black uniform of a Yamen Runner, he would look like a short, elderly neighbor walking in a crowd.
Only the occasional sharp glint in his eyes revealed his Qi Blood Second Realm martial arts cultivation.
To have become a formal Yamen Runner of the Nanquan Lane Garrison Office without any background or wealth, how could this Qin Tou not have some tricks up his sleeve?
Old Chen was like that back then, and Qin Tou was naturally the same.
On this day, Qin Tou, uncharacteristically, didn't slack off and patrolled the streets with them once.
Having not seen them for a long time, Qin Tou was generous and even paid out of his own pocket to treat them to tea.
During their conversation, Qin Tou also spoke of Chen Ping'an's father, Old Chen, with a hint of nostalgia in his words.
"Old Chen was quite a figure back then!
If it weren't for that operation to encircle and suppress the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, where he was severely wounded by a Devil deacon.
Given Old Chen's situation, he probably would have been able to enter Qi Blood Third Stage in another two years!
At that time, he would have definitely become a Chief Constable!"
Qi Blood First Realm, Skin Refining!
Qi Blood Second Realm, Flesh Refining!
Qi Blood Third Stage, Muscle Changing!
As long as a Yamen Runner could successfully enter Qi Blood Third Stage and had no particularly obvious misdeeds, generally speaking, the Nancheng Suppression Office would grant him the status of a Chief Constable.
Once granted the Chief Constable status, that was truly a leap in social class.
Chen Ping'an was silent.
Images of Old Chen's voice and smile came to his mind.
Ten Thousand Demons Sect...
"A Chief Constable!
In our Nanquan Lane, they interact with important figures!"
Qin Tou took a sip of tea and sighed.
"Qin Tou, you're not bad either.
With your Qi Blood Second Realm martial arts cultivation and your superb mastery of Gongmen Thirteen Blades, you're also a well-known figure in Nanquan Lane!"
Monkey Head complimented from the side.
"Isn't that right, Dashan?"
Dashan giggled and nodded in agreement.
Out of the more than thirty formal Yamen Runners in Nanquan Lane, at least half had not yet entered Qi Blood Second Realm, still remaining at Qi Blood Level One Perfection.
"I'm getting old, I'm getting old!
On the Dao of martial arts, one's strength wanes with age, vitality drains, and Qi and blood decline!
I am now fifty-nine years old.
Despite having Qi Blood Second Realm cultivation, if I were to truly fight, I'd probably only be at the level of Qi Blood Level One Perfection."
Qin Tou looked at the saber at his waist, as if remembering something.
"One can't deny getting old!"
"Old ginger is still spicier, you're still formidable!"
"Hahahaha..."
Qin Tou burst into laughter.
Seeing this, Monkey Head and Dashan also gave two dry laughs.
Although they had not embarked on martial arts cultivation, they knew a thing or two about martial arts common sense.
Qi Blood Sixth Stage, each Realm stronger than the last!
Except for the last two stages, the first four stages cannot avoid the natural law of waning strength with age and declining Qi and blood.
Once past fifty, one gradually begins to decline.
Only by nourishing the body with various great medicines and treasures can the onset of decline be delayed by several years or even more than ten years.