Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start Chapter 28: Chapter 26 Return1

Ning City.

The next day, early in the morning, Gu Chen opened his eyes, washed up, and began his morning training for the new day.

Nearing noon, Zhou Rang suddenly visited, which surprised Gu Chen sowhat.

"Please have a seat, Elder Zhou. May I ask what brings you here this ti?" Gu Chen clasped his hands together in greeting.

After a night's rest, Zhou Rang looked much better. He chuckled as he stroked his white beard and said, "This visit is primarily to express my gratitude to Lord Gu. If not for you, Lord Gu, Ning City might have faced the threat of collapse, and the lives of all 150,000 citizens might have perished."

"Elder Zhou, you're too kind. It was all just part of my duties. If Ning City had really fallen, the Jing Tian Departnt would certainly not have let off," Gu Chen replied.

Indeed, that was the case. If Ning City had truly fallen, the Jing Tian Departnt would have undoubtedly held Gu Chen responsible.

"Even so, Lord Gu, you still saved the lives of 150,000 citizens of Ning City. On behalf of all the citizens, I extend my deepest thanks to you, Lord Gu."

As he spoke, Zhou Rang stood up, bent over, and bowed deeply to Gu Chen.

"Please, Elder Zhou, rise quickly," Gu Chen hurriedly helped Zhou Rang to stand.

Once on his feet, Zhou Rang smiled and said, "There is another matter I must discuss with Lord Gu. My tenure as the temporary Prefect of Ning City should be coming to an end. Tiandu has already learned of Ning City's situation, and the new Prefect is on his way. It won't be long before he arrives in Ning City."

Gu Chen nodded; he was naturally aware of this. He said, "Having soone like Elder Zhou in Ning City is a blessing for us all. Without your support, things might not have gone so smoothly."

Gu Chen ant every word. Without Zhou Rang's help, those citizens might not have trusted him, and the search throughout the city would not have been so easy.

Zhou Rang's aged face showed a rich smile as he said, "The truth is, the third matter I'm here for today is the most important one. Of course, it's also a personal affair of mine."

"Please speak freely, Elder Zhou," Gu Chen gestured to Zhou Rang.

"Alright," Zhou Rang nodded and said, "Here's the situation: my eldest son holds a position in Tiandu. I'm getting on in years, and the journey there is difficult for to endure; it has been a long ti since I last saw him. I have a letter here that I'd like to trouble you, Lord Gu, to deliver when you return to Tiandu. Would you be willing to do this favor for ?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen smiled faintly and replied, "Of course, it's a small matter. You needn't ntion any trouble, Elder Zhou—it's easily done."

"Good, Lord Gu is refreshing straightforward. I thank you in advance," Zhou Rang said.

He then took a letter from his bosom and handed it to Gu Chen.

Gu Chen took it and glanced at the address on the envelope, his eyebrows imdiately raising.

"This is... If I am not mistaken, your son resides in the inner city?" Gu Chen looked up and asked Zhou Rang.

"Correct," Zhou Rang stroked his beard with a smile and nodded, "He is a First-Rank Mirror Holder in the Mingjing Departnt of Da Xia."

"What?!"

Hearing this, Gu Chen was taken aback, not expecting Zhou Rang's son to have such a status.

The Mingjing Departnt was on equal footing with the Jing Tian Departnt to which Gu Chen belonged, but the internal ranks of the Mingjing Departnt were not as detailed as those of the Jing Tian Departnt.

Within the Mingjing Departnt, apart from the four great Surveillance Envoys, there were the Mirror Holders, divided into First-Rank, Second-Rank, and Third-Rank Mirror Holders.

Among these, the First-Rank was the highest, and the Third-Rank, the lowest.

Although the divisions were straightforward, even a Third-Rank Mirror Holder had a status equivalent to that of a Circuit Inspector in the Jing Tian Departnt.

A Second-Rank Mirror Holder was equivalent to a tropolitan Procurator within the Jing Tian Departnt, while a First-Rank Mirror Holder's status was as esteed as that of a Commandant within the Jing Tian Departnt.

One must know that within the Jing Tian Departnt, even the lowest-ranking commander has a status equivalent to, or even half a step higher than, a third-rank official of Da Xia. From this, one can see the lofty status and imnse power held by a first-grade Mirror Holder.

Essentially, the whole operation of the Mingjing Departnt was handled by these first-grade Mirror Holders. Unless it was a matter of great importance, it wouldn't stir the Departnt's four great Supervising Censors.

Now, with Zhou Rang sending Gu Chen to deliver a letter to a first-grade Mirror Holder—who was also his son—it was clear that Zhou Rang was laying the groundwork for Gu Chen.

No wonder people had often said that the Prefect of Qingyang County, Zhou Rang, was excellent at ntoring juniors. Many officials in Qingyang County were either his disciples or had received his favor.

Based on what Gu Chen had learned thus far, this elder indeed served the country and its people without any personal agenda.

Gu Chen looked at Zhou Rang with deep respect, and with a formal bow, he said, "Thank you very much, Elder Zhou."

Zhou Rang, gently stroking his beard, replied with a kind and approachable smile, "Where does this co from, Lord Gu is too courteous."

After that, he stood up and said, "I believe we've covered everything. I won't disturb you from resting any longer. Oh, when do you plan to start back to Tiandu, Lord Gu?"

Gu Chen replied, "Today."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Rang nodded and said, "In that case, I wish Lord Gu a smooth journey and hope we have the opportunity to et again."

"Certainly," Gu Chen nodded solemnly, personally escorting Zhou Rang downstairs and watched as the old man boarded his carriage and gradually disappeared into the distance.

After that, Gu Chen packed up and set off imdiately, arriving in Tiandu the following afternoon.

The city of Tiandu was as bustling as ever, with never-ending streams of people on the streets, flowing like water and horses like dragons, and the hawkers' cries were incessant, creating a rich atmosphere of life and culture.

Tiandu, the capital of Da Xia, spanned an imnse area. From the city gate, one could not see the end at a glance, as if it were a boundless mountain range standing upon the earth, grand and vast.

This city had witnessed the rise and fall of countless dynasties. Its walls were thick and dark gray in color. In so places, one could still see scars from swords and holes from arrows, all marks of the passage of ti, giving one a sense of historical depth.

Tiandu is divided into four parts, organized from the periphery to the center as the Outer City, Inner City, Imperial City, and Palace City.

Each of these parts could stand alone as an imnsely vast city. Combined, these four cities form the vast expanse of Tiandu.

The Outer City is where the common folk or lower-rank officials reside. The Inner City is the domain of dignitaries and the powerful elite of the current regi. Commoners need a permit to enter the Inner City and even then, their stay is limited, as they cannot linger indefinitely.

Compared to the Outer City, the Inner City's defenses were much stricter, and it also had a curfew, aid at ensuring the personal safety of the distinguished residents.

As for the Imperial City and Palace City, those were related to the royal family and nobility and were beyond the reach of soone at Gu Chen's level.

Upon his return to Tiandu, Gu Chen first went ho to change his clothes. Having traveled for a day and night, it was inevitable that he would be coated in dust. Afterward, he hired a carriage and set off for the Inner City.

The distance between the Outer and Inner City was vast, taking around one to two hours to traverse by foot for soone with Gu Chen's capabilities.

Soon, the carriage reached the juncture between the Inner and Outer City. Gu Chen disembarked, presented his token, and the guards allowed him through.

It is worth ntioning that, as a Patrol Commander of the Jing Tian Departnt, entering the Inner City did not require an additional identity token or proof. The token of the Jing Tian Departnt was the best pass.

Of course, if he needed to spend the night in the Inner City, he would have to choose the Jing Tian Departnt and could not stay anywhere else.

After paying for the carriage, Gu Chen entered the Inner City and imdiately felt a difference. In contrast to the Outer City, the buildings here were more sophisticated, in various styles, and the streets wider and crisscrossed, with lush trees and verdant greenery everywhere. Each person walking the streets was well-dressed, clearly of considerable ans.

The prosperity of the Inner City was beyond comparison to the Outer City. The streets were paved with bluestone, and there was an abundance of food, clothing, and more. Even for soone like Gu Chen, who ca from an era of information explosion, the bustling Inner City was overwhelming, much like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, curious about everything around her.

Yet Gu Chen did not forget the main purpose of his visit to the Inner City. Following the address in the letter, it took so ti, but he eventually reached his destination.