Daqian Martial Saint

CLIP-CLOP, CLIP-CLOP!

Chen Ping’an galloped along the road on his horse. Not much time had passed since he left Five Peaks Mountain City; he had only traveled a few miles.

Hmm?

Chen Ping’an’s brow furrowed slightly. He saw a figure standing under a tree in the distance.

’A traveler?’

’Resting?’

’Waiting for someone?’

’Or...’

In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Chen Ping’an’s mind.

As his horse drew closer, Chen Ping’an got a clearer view. From the man’s posture, he wasn’t resting under the tree at all—he seemed to be waiting for someone.

Just as Chen Ping’an looked at him, the man’s gaze met his without hesitation.

’He’s an expert!’

The moment their eyes met, Chen Ping’an instantly gauged the man’s Martial Arts Realm.

’The Profound Light Realm!’

The man’s aura was scorching, like a furnace of Qi Blood. The spot between his eyebrows glowed brightly, like a star.

In the span of a single breath, Chen Ping’an quickly compared the man to Fang Qixian, the only Profound Light Realm expert he had ever fought to the death.

His conclusion: although the man had not yet broken into the Profound Light Middle Realm, his Martial Arts Realm was on the verge of reaching Initial Realm Perfection. In a one-on-one comparison, Fang Qixian was no match for him!

’Did Liu Yuanhua send him to kill me?’

Profound Light Realm experts weren’t a dime a dozen. For such a master to be waiting so calmly on his path, Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but overthink it.

In those few breaths, the distance between Chen Ping’an and the man shortened. Just as Chen Ping’an was hesitating, wondering if he should strike first, the man spoke.

"Commander Chen, why not dismount and have a chat?"

’He’s not here to kill me?’

He couldn’t detect a hint of malice in the man’s tone; in fact, he sensed a trace of goodwill.

’Still, this could be a ploy for an assassination. I must be on my guard!’

’Let’s see what he has to say first!’

"WHOA!"

Chen Ping’an pulled on the reins. With a loud whinny, his horse reared up, its front hooves high in the air.

With a slight exertion of force, Chen Ping’an leaped off his horse.

"You know me?" Chen Ping’an’s gaze swept over the man, sizing him up.

He had a well-proportioned build and wore a bamboo hat and a coarse linen shirt. A broad long-bladed sword was slung across his back.

"A prodigy from the Rising Star Chart, whose fame as the Mang Blade is known to all!" The man’s voice was deep and resonant. Beneath the bamboo hat, a chiseled face could be vaguely seen.

Upon hearing this, the corner of Chen Ping’an’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

’Mang Blade!’

’What part of me looks like the "Mang Blade"?!’

Before Chen Ping’an’s irritation could fester, the man’s voice rang out again. "Let me introduce myself. I am Zhao Zhiteng, a Qiankun Guard of the Canglong State Qiankun Bureau!"

’Qiankun Bureau! A Qiankun Guard!?’

Chen Ping’an’s pupils contracted slightly.

To the common folk, the Qiankun Bureau was far less renowned than the Garrison Commandant’s Office. But anyone with any real knowledge would understand the Qiankun Bureau’s true weight.

If the Garrison Commandant’s Office was a conventional law enforcement agency, then the Qiankun Bureau was a truly elite institution.

To join the Qiankun Guard, one not only had to pass multiple background checks to ensure a clean family history but also possess Martial Arts Cultivation of at least the Inner Qi Realm. Moreover, most in the Inner Qi Realm were merely unofficial, temporary Qiankun Guards within the Qiankun Bureau.

The requirements to become an official Qiankun Guard were numerous and exceedingly high.

It could be said that every Qiankun Guard was the best of the best, possessing an extremely comprehensive set of skills.

Although the Qiankun Bureau was smaller in scale than the Garrison Commandant’s Office, it was subtly a cut above it.

"Lord Zhao, what business brings you here, waiting specifically for me?" Chen Ping’an’s gaze remained fixed on Zhao Zhiteng, not relaxing in the slightest.

Seeing that Chen Ping’an was still suspicious of his identity, Zhao Zhiteng immediately took a token from his robes.

The token had an exquisite design of the sun, moon, heaven, and earth. Written in flamboyant, elegant script were two large words: Qiankun Guard! Above them, three seals were imprinted.

A Three-Seal Qiankun Guard!

The official ranks within the Qiankun Guard were a bit different from those in the Garrison Commandant’s Office.

One-Seal Qiankun Guard, Two-Seal Qiankun Guard, Three-Seal Qiankun Guard, Silver Gong Qiankun Envoy, Golden Bell Qiankun Envoy... and so on.

The Three-Seal Qiankun Guard was the most senior rank among the Qiankun Guards. Besides requiring a Martial Arts Realm that had reached the Profound Light Realm, there were other additional requirements.

Within the Garrison Commandant’s Office system, a Three-Seal Qiankun Guard was equivalent in rank to a Candidate for Commander-in-Chief and was fully capable of governing a region independently.

Even after seeing the token, Chen Ping’an did not completely let his guard down and remained vigilant. Zhao Zhiteng didn’t mind this and directly stated the reason he had been waiting here.

Zhao Zhiteng stated bluntly that he was here to help Chen Ping’an.

"Help me? As for that one word, ’help,’ I’m not sure where Lord Zhao is coming from." For a moment, Chen Ping’an couldn’t figure out what this Zhao Zhiteng was plotting.

Zhao Zhiteng smiled faintly. "Commander Chen, I know you are troubled by the matter of Feng Shixian. In this, my Qiankun Bureau can offer some small assistance."

"Oh?" Chen Ping’an looked at Zhao Zhiteng with great interest. "Lord Zhao, what is your motive for this?"

"Nothing much. I simply wish to befriend Commander Chen, the prodigy of the Rising Star Chart!"

As Zhao Zhiteng spoke, he flicked his wrist, and with a WHOOSH, an envelope flew toward Chen Ping’an.

SHIMMER~

Chen Ping’an gently raised a hand, and a surge of True Qi made the envelope float in mid-air.

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s caution, a strange glint flashed in Zhao Zhiteng’s eyes.

’It seems this Mang Blade is far less simple than I imagined!’

"Commander Chen, we’ll meet again! If you need to contact me about anything later, you can reach me through the method provided."

Zhao Zhiteng clasped his fist in salute, and with a single movement, his figure shot off into the distance.

Chen Ping’an watched Zhao Zhiteng leave, his True Qi still enveloping the letter floating in mid-air. A thoughtful expression crossed his face.

’What exactly is the Qiankun Bureau planning?’

Chen Ping’an glanced around, carefully inspected the envelope in front of him, and after confirming it hadn’t been tampered with, he vaulted onto his horse and galloped away.

...

「Five Peaks Mountain Residence, a wooden cabin in the mountains.」

Inside the wooden cabin, there was not a sound. Chen Ping’an sat quietly in his seat. His eyes were slightly closed, thoughts churning in his mind.

The envelope Zhao Zhiteng had given him contained several important pieces of information.

First, it specified the location where Feng Shixian had died and some details about his injuries. This information was extremely important to Chen Ping’an. For the past few days, he had tried to learn about it from others at the residence, but the answers he received were all vague. He still hadn’t managed to find out the specific details.

This intelligence was exactly what he needed, right when he needed it.

Second, it briefly described the current situation of Inspection Envoy Guan Yu Ping: he had been staying in Five Peaks Mountain City for a long time, neglecting his official duties and indulging in sensual pleasures. Finally, it subtly hinted that Guan Yu Ping might be colluding with the Wei Family.

Third, it told Chen Ping’an how to contact him specifically, explaining his situation: he was fully authorized to represent the Canglong State Qiankun Bureau in handling matters peripheral to the trade route.

At the very end of the letter, it was specially emphasized that if anything came up later, Chen Ping’an could perhaps seek him out, and he might be able to help.