Daqian Martial Saint

Carrying two heads, Shan Qiwang was full of verve, moving as if no one could stand in his way.

Only he knew the tempest raging in his heart.

How exhilarating this was!

He appeared gentle and agreeable, able to get along with anyone. In reality, he looked down on the vast majority of these people.

The reason he’d initially come to admire Chen Ping’an was because he had been won over by his commander’s decisiveness and daring methods. To annihilate two major gangs in succession—what a display of sheer power!

Afterward, news of Feng Shixian’s death had arrived, shaking the entire city. From top to bottom, the Garrison Commandant’s Office was in a state of panic. Shan Qiwang had naturally been flustered as well. The mainstay he had relied on for so long had suddenly died—anyone would have felt the same.

Just as he began to collect himself, then came the news that the new Commander-in-Chief had been assassinated en route!

The authority of the Garrison Commandant’s Office was challenged time and again.

It was at that moment that Chen Ping’an stepped forward, assuming the position of Commander-in-Chief of the White Stone Town Pacification Bureau. Shan Qiwang naturally had faith in Chen Ping’an’s character. But just when he thought Lord Chen was about to restore the Garrison Commandant’s Office to its former glory, who could have expected that in the face of one provocation after another from the city’s gangs, Chen Ping’an would act with such extreme restraint.

The major factions grew even more audacious, yet Chen Ping’an went so far as to order the Garrison Commandant’s Office to pull back completely and assume a defensive posture.

This caused Shan Qiwang’s faith in him to waver.

’Had I misjudged him?’

Just as disappointment began to creep in, Lord Chen had summoned him to his office and given him this very mission.

Even now, Shan Qiwang still hadn’t recovered from the shock of seeing the two heads.

The Alliance Leader of the Blood Oath Alliance, Luan Xiong!

And the Vice Alliance Leader, Lu Hongxian!

’They were actually dead?’

Their expressions were twisted in terror!

’Who killed them?’

Suppressing the excitement surging within him, Shan Qiwang had asked Chen Ping’an.

After receiving confirmation from Chen Ping’an’s own lips, Shan Qiwang was so ecstatic he felt his spirits could soar through the heavens.

’It’s true, then. I completely misunderstood the Lord. His mind is a labyrinth of strategy, his plans his own. His power is unfathomable, far beyond my ability to comprehend.’

The Blood Oath Alliance.

Shan Qiwang’s uninvited arrival infuriated the members of the Blood Oath Alliance, who quickly surrounded him.

A core member of the Blood Oath Alliance stared at Shan Qiwang, who stood encircled by the crowd, his face a mask of cold fury.

’Things have come to this, yet this dog from the Garrison Commandant’s Office still dares to show his face here!’

Shan Qiwang raised the heads in his hands, displaying them for all to see.

"Anyone who defies the authority of the Garrison Commandant’s Office will share the fate of these two—death without mercy!"

’Is that... the Alliance Leader?’

Once the core member recognized the face, his legs gave out from under him, and he nearly collapsed.

AH!

The Alliance Leader is dead!

That’s Vice Alliance Leader Lu! He’s dead too!

A wave of terror washed over the crowd...

Similar scenes also played out at the Iron Fist Gang, the Commerce Alliance, the Song Family, and the He Family.

In a matter of days, the insurrections of the Blood Oath Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang were utterly crushed. Furthermore, the core members of both gangs were arrested and interrogated by the Garrison Commandant’s Office in succession.

This fate was not limited to the two major gangs; the Commerce Alliance, the He Family, the Song Family, and other powers faced the same treatment. There were some who resisted with force, but under the coordinated efforts of the Garrison Commandant’s Office and the Chu Family, they were all suppressed.

Through the successive interrogations, Chen Ping’an learned that it was the Blood Oath Alliance who had planned to kidnap his sister to escalate the situation. In response, Chen Ping’an showed no mercy. For anyone even remotely involved: death without pardon!

Luan Xiong and Lu Hongxian of the Blood Oath Alliance; Li Ding of the Iron Fist Gang; Song Hujie of the Song Family; He Xuan of the He Family; Hong Wenfei of the Commerce Alliance...

With the Garrison Commandant’s Office fanning the flames, news of the deaths of the top leaders of these major factions began to spread like wildfire through White Stone City, reaching the ears of the remaining small and mid-sized powers.

"The leaders of several factions are all dead? That’s impossible. Could it be just a rumor?"

"Investigate! Go find out what the hell is going on!"

"The Garrison Commandant’s Office did it?!"

"’Anyone who defies the authority of the Garrison Commandant’s Office will share the fate of these two—death without mercy!’ Shan Qiwang really went to their doors and said that himself?"

"Shan Qiwang has real nerve!"

"Don’t get it twisted. Shan Qiwang is just the one carrying out the orders. The real master... is the one pulling the strings!"

"You mean... Commander Chen!"

"Pass down the order: starting today and for the next month, tell all our people to lay low. Stay home as much as possible and don’t wander around. The last thing we need is to provoke someone we can’t afford to and not even realize it!"

"The winds have changed in White Stone City! It seems... we need to reconsider our stance toward the Garrison Commandant’s Office."

"..."

...

While rumors spread like wildfire through the outside world, Chen Ping’an focused on two main tasks.

First, he was, of course, diligently training in his Martial Arts Techniques and deepening his understanding of them.

Second, he wrote a letter to Mu Wanjun, detailing the recent events. Mu Wanjun had gone to great lengths to secure his transfer to White Stone City. Chen Ping’an was indebted to her for recognizing his abilities, and they had maintained a correspondence over the past few days.

With such major events having transpired, it was only natural for him to explain the situation.

In addition to the letter to Mu Wanjun, Chen Ping’an also had an official report on the situation in White Stone City drafted and sent to the Weishui Garrison.

In the report, he mentioned the deaths of the various faction leaders, his thoughts on the future political landscape of White Stone City, and the subsequent division of spoils...

The report detailed these matters and more.

Although Chen Ping’an didn’t state it explicitly in the report, anyone who read it carefully could clearly deduce his current Martial Arts Realm.

The Third Stage of Inner Qi. Proficient in several superior cultivation methods, rich in practical combat experience, and possessing astounding fighting strength!

The Third Stage of Inner Qi represented the pinnacle of the Inner Qi Realm. A talent like that was a rare find, even within the Weishui Garrison.

For such a talent to accomplish such a great feat, the Weishui Garrison would surely not fail to reward him.

But the most crucial piece of information was Chen Ping’an’s age: he wasn’t even twenty-one yet.

The Third Stage of Inner Qi before the age of twenty-one—what an unparalleled prodigy!

In terms of raw talent, not even the famed Liu Ziming of yesteryear could necessarily compare!

Chen Ping’an refused to believe that the Weishui Garrison would fail to recognize the value of such a Martial Dao prodigy!

Previously, Chen Ping’an had thought his position as Commander-in-Chief carried enough weight to make people take notice and would be sufficient to protect his family. This time, however, the Blood Oath Alliance had taught him a harsh lesson.

’If the title of Commander-in-Chief of White Stone City isn’t enough, then what if I aim higher!?’

’If political power alone isn’t enough, then what if I add the reputation of a Martial Dao prodigy to the mix...’

His current authority, combined with his boundless future potential—he believed that combination would make the vast majority of people hesitate to act against him, fearing the consequences.

As for the small fraction who still wouldn’t be deterred...

A dangerous glint flashed in Chen Ping’an’s eyes as an indescribably vast aura emanated from his body.

VMM... VMM... VMM...

A golden light flared from between Chen Ping’an’s brows, instantly enveloping his entire body and rendering him like a man cast in gold.