Daqian Martial Saint

Out on the road, no one dawdled over their meals. After making short work of the food, they were led to their rooms by an inn servant.

As a Commander-in-Chief, Chen Ping’an naturally got his own room, and it was the best one in the inn.

"Hmph! Just a bunch of posers. All show and no substance."

Seeing Chen Ping’an and his group leave, three burly, fleshy-faced men sneered.

"That’s right, they just look intimidating! I wouldn’t have given up my seat!"

"Probably some young master from a rich family out seeing the world! Look at him, all pale and delicate, looks like a gust of wind could knock him over! I guess it’s understandable he’d bring a few extra guards when traveling!"

The three men chatted amongst themselves, occasionally shooting glances at the two men who had just given up their table.

"A pair of cowards! Giving up their seats just like that."

The two men who had given up their seats were now sitting in a corner of the inn. Hearing the trio’s discussion, they cursed inwardly.

’Three idiots!’

Those three looked fierce and seemed like trouble. In reality, they were just burly and had some brute strength, but hadn’t truly stepped onto the Martial Dao. That was why they felt no awe for the group from before.

It could be considered the fearlessness of the ignorant!

But the two of them had begun their Martial Dao Cultivation. Their Qi Blood was abundant and their senses were sharp. They had clearly sensed that the guards surrounding the young man had all, at a minimum, reached the Qi Blood Third Layer, the Muscle Strengthening Realm!

The Qi Blood Third Layer!

Forget so many of them; any single one could have casually crushed those three thugs.

So many Martial Arts Masters of the Qi Blood Third Layer, willingly acting as guards, and with such respectful attitudes. That young man’s identity was definitely not what the others had guessed—some young master of a wealthy family!

A person like that was absolutely not someone they could afford to provoke.

’Wish them luck!’

The two glanced at the trio, who were still preening over there as if they were the kings of the world, but had no intention of warning them.

Everyone has their own fate. What happened next would depend entirely on their own fortune!

...

’At this rate, we’ll reach Weishui County City by sunset tomorrow.’

Inside his guest room, Chen Ping’an sat cross-legged on the bed.

This trip back to Weishui County City was mainly to report for duty at the Weishui Garrison, complete the necessary paperwork, and formally assume the post of Outer Trade Road Patrol Deputy Envoy for the Long’an Trade Route.

’The Long’an Trade Route!’

A faint light glinted in Chen Ping’an’s eyes.

Ever since being transferred to White Stone City, he had been hearing about the Long’an Trade Route much more frequently than before. In the process, he had come to understand a fair bit about it.

Now that the Weishui Garrison had issued his appointment and he was about to become the Outer Trade Road Patrol Deputy Envoy for the Long’an Trade Route, he had naturally taken the time to learn more about it.

South of the Canglong Mountain Range lay the lands of Cyan Spirit Province. Canglong Province and Cyan Spirit Province often engaged in commerce, trading for what the other lacked. Because of the Canglong Mountain Range, trade between the two provinces required a massive detour, which was extremely inconvenient and made the cost of trade exceedingly high.

In recent years, as trade between the two provinces grew more frequent, so did the friction over profits.

The concept of the Long’an Trade Route was proposed against this very backdrop.

The so-called Long’an Trade Route was to be a safe, stable, and permanent trade route carved through the Canglong Mountain Range.

The Canglong Mountain Range was overrun with wild beasts, its mountain paths were treacherous, and Demon Beasts even appeared from time to time.

Solving these problems would require an immense investment of manpower, resources, and energy.

More than a decade had passed since the Long’an Trade Route was first proposed. As of now, its construction had reached the final stages, and it was estimated to begin trial operations within the next few months.

The trade route involved commerce between two provinces and held immense potential for profit. Although the route was not yet fully completed, it was already possible to traverse it and conduct trade between the two provinces, provided one was willing to accept a certain level of risk.

The creation of the Long’an Trade Route was, on one hand, to promote flourishing trade between the two provinces, and on the other, to create a stable, continuous source of revenue from trade and route taxes.

For instance, some merchant caravans, families, or other factions, blinded by greed and driven by profit, were taking advantage of the currently lax management of the route to take risks and engage in smuggling.

Such incidents were rampant despite repeated prohibitions, greatly damaging the interests of the various powers involved in the trade route’s creation.

To put a stop to this, the Weishui Garrison specially established the position of Long’an Trade Route Patrol Envoy. The patrols were divided into two parts: one for internal patrols of the route and one for external patrols of its periphery.

Between the two, the internal route patrols were more difficult and also carried a certain degree of danger. Therefore, the status of the internal patrol was higher than that of the outer patrol.

’The chief and deputy Inspection Envoys for the internal patrols are all masters of the Profound Light Realm! Meanwhile, the Weishui Garrison originally didn’t pay much attention to the outer patrols. The position of Outer Patrol Envoy was held concurrently by Feng Shixian.

’But with the death of Feng Shixian, followed by Fu Wanyu dying on the way to his post, the Weishui Garrison has started taking the outer patrols more seriously. They’ve made an exception and raised the rank of the Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy, adjusting it to be a position for a Candidate for Commander-in-Chief.

’Not long ago, Commander Guan Yu Ping, who had been transferred to assist in the defense during the trade route’s development, was appointed as the Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy.

’And that man is my immediate superior!’

Chen Ping’an lowered his head, deep in thought. Information about Guan Yu Ping surfaced in his mind.

Guan Yu Ping was a true Martial Arts Master who had stepped into the Profound Light Realm. He had been famous for thirty years and was skilled with dual blades, one long and one short. Moreover, he had cultivated the Yuan Yang Saber Technique—originally a combined attack technique—to a state of perfection.

Beneath his dual blades, his might was boundless!

He had a record of defeating a Profound Light Realm master in a head-on battle!

Among those in the Profound Light Initial Realm, he was considered one of the most formidable!

Chen Ping’an was about to become the Outer Trade Road Patrol Deputy Envoy, so it was inevitable that he would have to deal with Guan Yu Ping. Therefore, Chen Ping’an had gathered quite detailed information about him.

’The outer patrols are responsible for more than just manning the checkpoints on the route’s periphery and cracking down on smuggling; they also have to manage the surrounding market towns. The interests involved are likely substantial!

’Furthermore, the two previous Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoys, Feng Shixian and Fu Wanyu, both died one after the other. There must be some power scheming in the shadows, fanning the flames from behind the scenes.

’In the games played by such powers, someone at the Third Stage of Inner Qi is nothing more than a slightly stronger ant, easily crushed between warring factions without even knowing how they died.

’Even a Martial Arts Master at the Profound Light Initial Realm would likely find it extremely difficult to protect themselves, forced to just go with the flow.

’Accepting a high-ranking position naturally means accepting the corresponding risks.

’Fortunately, I have now stepped into the Profound Light Middle Realm. No matter what storms are brewing on this trade route, I have some ability to protect myself.’

Chen Ping’an felt a little fortunate.

However, his relief didn’t last long.

’Hmm... On second thought, maybe the Profound Light Middle Realm isn’t particularly safe either! I still need to get stronger!’