After his morning practice, Jiang Wang went out to buy breakfast as usual.

The fried dough cakes near Qingmu Avenue and the tofu pudding across from Du Dewang’s were Jiang An’an’s favorites recently.

Pushing open the courtyard door, he saw an unexpected person.

This person had a simple and honest face, a sturdy body, and carried a large bundle. Upon seeing Jiang Wang, he began to bow, “Mr. Jiang!”

It was Tang Dun, the constable he had met in Tangshe Town. His simplicity and honesty had left a deep impression on Jiang Wang back then.

However, the bow was awkward, and the title was also strange.

Jiang Wang remembered that Tang Dun had been taught by a wandering Confucian disciple when he was young. Perhaps, to him, “Mr.” was the highest form of respect.

“Constable Tang, did you come to Maple Forest City for the outer sect assessment of the Dao Academy?” Jiang Wang asked doubtfully, “Isn’t it too early to come now?”

The outer sect assessment of the Dao Academy was held every year in March, but it was only November now, and there was still a year to go.

“I’m not a constable anymore, I quit.” Tang Dun said with a simple smile, “It’s not early. The Dao Academy exam is so difficult, I have to prepare in advance, right? I’ve thought about it, this time I’m going to break the ax to sink the boat, I must succeed!”

“… Burn the boats?”

“Yes, yes, yes! That’s it! That’s why I say Mr. Jiang’s realm is high!” Tang Dun flattered him happily, then rubbed his hands and awkwardly transitioned, “Among the people I know, only Mr. Jiang is capable. I was thinking, I want to ask Mr. Jiang to guide me for a while…”

“It’s not for free, not for free!” As he spoke, he took out a cloth bag from his arms, unwrapped it layer by layer, revealing a bright silver ingot, weighing about ten taels.

He stared at Jiang Wang with wide eyes: “Mr…”

He probably wanted to show sincerity, but he looked more like a constable staring at a wanted criminal.

“Have you found a place to stay yet? The Dao Academy assessment is still a few months away.” Jiang Wang asked.

In such matters, one should either agree directly or refuse decisively. Hesitation is the most hurtful.

“Not yet, not yet. As soon as I entered the city, I asked around for you. You’re quite famous in the city!” Tang Dun gave a thumbs up, said a few words happily, and then said, “I’ll go find one right away, right away!”

He handed the silver to Jiang Wang, “Please accept it first.”

Jiang Wang patiently helped him cover the layers of cloth back, “Keep it for yourself, renting a house in Maple Forest City is not cheap. It just so happens that I’m going to teach my sister martial arts starting today, you can come and listen together. It won’t take much effort.”

He casually closed the courtyard door, “I’m going to buy breakfast now, shall we go together? I’ll also ask the neighbors if there are any suitable places to live.”

“Okay!” Tang Dun carried his large bundle and followed excitedly.

This person was honest and down-to-earth, with some of the cunningness unique to honest people, but it was not unpleasant. Jiang Wang’s impression of him was not bad. Of course, perhaps there was also some reason because of the little girl whose bones and paintings he had only seen.

In fact, there were empty rooms in the courtyard, so it wasn’t that Tang Dun couldn’t stay. But firstly, their relationship wasn’t that good, and secondly, this home didn’t belong to Jiang Wang alone, An’an’s feelings were also important. He couldn’t just let another person move in without asking An’an’s feelings.

This had nothing to do with the other person’s morality or character, it was only related to the feeling of “home” that Jiang Wang carefully maintained.

……

Wangyue Tower.

The best dishes and wine were laid out, and even the several courtesans that Fang Zehou had raised at great expense were singing and dancing in front.

Fang Heling was hosting a banquet for Shen Nanqi today, and he did everything to make it as grand as possible.

Fang Heling smiled brightly and frequently proposed toasts, but Shen Nanqi always looked like he hadn’t woken up.

“Come, Senior Brother Shen! I’ll toast you with this cup of wine, wishing you a steady rise, rapid progress in cultivation, and to become one of the top three in this city soon!”

“I won’t drink anymore.” Shen Nanqi reached out and pressed down on Fang Heling’s wine glass, smiling noncommittally, “It’ll be soon.”

Fang Heling was stunned for a moment before he realized what Shen Nanqi was referring to, and then he smiled and said, “That’s natural! With Senior Brother Shen’s talent, how could it not be soon?”

“Zhu Weiwo is about to go to the National Dao Academy, and Wei Yan has killed so many heretics and cults recently, he should be promoted too.” Shen Nanqi swirled his wine glass and squinted, “Won’t I be soon?”

This was a difficult question to answer.

“If you ask me, even now, Senior Brother, you have the strength of the Dao Academy’s top three!”

Fang Heling’s expression was sincere, “Others haven’t seen your might in killing ferocious beasts in the Three Mountains Region, but I saw it with my own eyes. If you ask me, Senior Brother Shen, you’re just too low-key, otherwise, among the five-year students in the Three Cities Tournament, you should have been there in addition to Senior Brother Zhang Linchuan!

You didn’t play, and what happened? Lin Zhengren didn’t even make a move, and the senior brother who played was defeated by Fu Baosong. Tell me, what’s that!”

“Junior Brother Heling, just say what you want.” Shen Nanqi looked at Fang Heling with a smile, “If you keep praising me like this, I won’t be able to take it.”

“I really don’t have anything to ask of Senior Brother.” Fang Heling sat closer and said seriously, “Everything I said is from the bottom of my heart. I invited Senior Brother here today just to admire Senior Brother and thank you for taking care of me in the Three Mountains Region.”

“I received benefits for that time in the Three Mountains, there’s nothing to thank.” Shen Nanqi slightly raised his eyelids, “You’re suddenly so attentive and don’t ask anything of me. Could it be that you want to be friends with me?”

“If Senior Brother thinks highly of me, that would be Heling’s honor!” Fang Heling looked very surprised, “Although Heling is not talented, the Fang family is one of the three major surnames in Maple Forest City, so we certainly have the ability to support Senior Brother Shen’s cultivation!”

Shen Nanqi smiled, “Heling, you speak directly, so I’ll be direct too.”

He leaned back in his chair, “I definitely wouldn’t bother to be friends with you in the past.”

Fang Heling nodded and smiled, “I was indeed ignorant in the past.”

“But the current you…” Shen Nanqi said, “I don’t dare to be friends with you.”

Fang Heling’s smile froze.

Shen Nanqi asked, “Do you know who you look like now?”

“Who?”

“To be precise, you’re just trying to imitate some external things.” Shen Nanqi stood up and patted him on the shoulder, “Fang Pengju.”

After saying that, he walked out on his own. “Forget about friends. You can still come to me for deals.”

Back in the outer sect, Shen Nanqi was one of the senior brothers who was more optimistic about Fang Pengju. This was also the reason why the Fang family was able to get in touch with him.

“Senior Brother Shen, walk slowly!” Fang Heling still squeezed out a smile at his back.

Thump thump thump.

The sound of going downstairs faded away.

The singing and dancing had stopped at some point.

The expression on Fang Heling’s face slowly disappeared. He suddenly stood up and overturned the entire table!

He thought he had torn off some of the shadows that shrouded his head long ago.

He put in countless efforts, tearing off layer after layer.

In the end, he realized that it was a whole night.

It couldn’t be torn off.