Daqian Martial Saint

The other person in the room was an old man with a full head of white hair, a face full of wrinkles, and sagging skin.

Though he stood plainly to the side, one would unconsciously overlook him.

Previously, with Chen Ping’an seated in the place of honor, Meng Yude had merely glanced at the old man once and subconsciously ignored him. But now that the man had spoken, Meng Yude’s attention was drawn to him, and he sensed an unusual aura.

"Profound Light Realm!"

Meng Yude’s eyes trembled with shock as he finally sensed the other man’s Martial Arts Realm.

This old man was also a Cultivator of the Profound Light Realm. What shocked Meng Yude wasn’t just this, but the fact that the old man had been standing ever since he’d walked in.

Chen Ping’an, by contrast, sat composedly in the main seat, showing no extra courtesy simply because the old man was of the Profound Light Realm.

’What was going on?’

A trace of uncertainty sprouted in Meng Yude’s heart.

He had been quite confident when he arrived. But now...

It seemed that being in the Profound Light Realm didn’t carry the weight he’d imagined in front of this prodigy from the Rising Star Chart, Mang Blade Mang Vajra.

’Wouldn’t that make my so-called "first great offering"—what I saw as me graciously deigning to visit—a complete joke!?’

"Dare I ask, my friend, who you are?" Meng Yude asked, cupping his fist in a salute as his gaze fixed on the old man.

"Wei Zhixing," the old man replied with a faint smile, returning the salute.

Meng Yude was stunned once more upon hearing the name.

The old ancestor of the Wei Family, Wei Zhixing! ’What is he doing here!?’

Having come to Five Peaks Mountain City, he was certainly no stranger to the name Wei Zhixing. The Wei Family’s current prosperity was entirely built on the reputation Wei Zhixing had forged in real, bloody battles back in his day!

In his prime, Wei Zhixing had been a first-tier combatant just below the Profound Light Middle Realm, able to hold his own for a few rounds even against masters of that level. In recent years, his age had caused his strength and prestige to decline somewhat, but his overall combat strength was by no means inferior to Meng Yude’s own!

Furthermore, as the old ancestor of the Wei Family, Wei Zhixing’s strength and status both thoroughly eclipsed his own.

Yet such a figure could only stand before Chen Ping’an, with not the slightest hint of resentment on his face. In fact, Meng Yude thought he could faintly detect the posture of a subordinate in Wei Zhixing’s bearing.

When Chen Ping’an hadn’t offered him a seat upon his arrival, Meng Yude had been resentful, but he’d held it back because of the matter he was there to discuss. But now, he found himself lost in deep thought.

At this point, no matter how slow-witted Meng Yude might be, he could sense that something was out of the ordinary.

A trace of caution crept into his gaze as he looked at Chen Ping’an.

’What in the world is going on?’

"Meng Yude, did you come looking for me specifically just to say those things? If there’s nothing else, you may leave!"

Chen Ping’an’s tone was mild enough, but his words were anything but courteous; it was a clear dismissal.

Though Meng Yude was shaken and still unsure of the situation, since Chen Ping’an had spoken so directly, he could no longer beat around the bush.

"To be frank with you, Lord Chen, I have come today to plead for leniency. Wu Tianqi violated the strict orders of the Garrison Commandant’s Office. This concerns him alone, and whatever punishment you deem fit, my lord, would not be excessive.

"But if Wu Tianqi is truly hung from the city walls for all to see, to display the authority of the Garrison Commandant’s Office’s laws, then this matter will no longer concern Wu Tianqi alone! It will concern the honor of the Wu Family! As a member of the Wu Family’s Direct Lineage, he may not be well-liked, but if he receives such treatment in Five Peaks Mountain City, the Wu Family will absolutely not let this matter rest!

"In all of this, I have not the slightest intention of threatening you. I am merely stating the facts. These words come from the bottom of my heart, and I pray you see the situation for what it is, my lord!"

As he spoke, Meng Yude kept his hands cupped in a salute and slightly bowed his head.

From the moment he saw Wei Zhixing in the room, Meng Yude had guessed his original plan might not work. But having navigated the world for half his life, his experience was seasoned; he knew what to say and when. So, on the spot, he decided to add that last part.

His posture was such that he might as well have been one of Chen Ping’an’s own subordinates.

Anyone else present would have found it hard to imagine that the fearsome Meng Yude, master of the Eagle Claw Technique, had such a side to him.

But people are complicated creatures; they act completely differently depending on the scene and who they’re with.

That’s just how people are.

This was something Chen Ping’an had come to understand deeply ever since his promotion to Constable.

As Meng Yude finished speaking, Chen Ping’an’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he felt something was off. Meng Yude’s attitude was surprising. ’Shouldn’t he be arrogantly barging in here to start trouble? Why is he explaining himself now?’

’"In all of this, I have not the slightest intention of threatening you?"’

’A threat? I need you to threaten me!’

’If you don’t threaten me, how am I supposed to make an example of you to establish my authority!?’

’And I’m not the kind of person to just forcibly establish my authority!’

"Meng Yude, if you only came for this matter, then you may as well leave. This matter is non-negotiable!"

Chen Ping’an said firmly. He decided to push Meng Yude a little harder. ’Come on, argue back!’

Meng Yude glanced at Chen Ping’an, then at Wei Zhixing, and took a deep breath.

"Since my lord has made up his mind, I will say no more. Lord Chen, Patriarch Wei, farewell!"

Meng Yude cupped his fist in a salute, turned, and left the room.

’Huh?’

Chen Ping’an was stunned.

’He’s leaving? Just like that?!’

’This isn’t how it’s supposed to go according to all the popular novels and travelogues!’

’Shouldn’t Meng Yude be saying something like, "You’ll regret offending the Wu Family," before attacking me?’

’Why the change in script?’

’Could it be...’

’...that I’m not the protagonist of those novels and travelogues at all?’

’Oh, no!’

Watching Meng Yude leave, Chen Ping’an’s thoughts began to wander. He had thought a good opportunity to establish his authority had arrived, but he didn’t expect it to end so anticlimactically.

’A lost opportunity to establish my authority!’

Chen Ping’an glanced at the respectful expression on Wei Zhixing’s face and vaguely guessed at Meng Yude’s reasoning and concerns.

Wei Zhixing’s demeanor had undoubtedly led Meng Yude to wildly overestimate his strength. ’For someone to make the Wei Family’s old ancestor, Wei Zhixing, act like this, Chen Ping’an must be even more unfathomable than he had imagined.’

Ultimately, after weighing the situation, Meng Yude had decisively chosen to leave.

Chen Ping’an watched Meng Yude go and sighed inwardly.

’It’s true. Whether in the Garrison Commandant’s Office or out in the world, no one who manages to get ahead is a fool.’

To be willing to swallow his pride and leave so decisively, all based on a few speculations... Meng Yude was no simple man.

It’s one thing to know something, but it’s another thing entirely to be willing to sacrifice for that knowledge. That’s not an easy thing to do.

’This Meng Yude... I suppose he deserved to get away this time.’

Chen Ping’an raised his hand, opened his palm, and studied the lines etched into it, a glint in his eyes.

As his own standing rose, the people he encountered grew increasingly complex. Beyond their Martial Arts Realm, these people had different personalities, different ways of thinking, and different mental faculties.

Forget different environments—even in the exact same circumstances, everyone made vastly different decisions. These choices were based on unique lines of thought and judgment, all dependent on an individual’s emotions and awareness in that moment.

This meant that people would never act exactly as Chen Ping’an predicted. Though his Martial Arts Realm was extraordinary, he was far from omniscient. His judgment could still be, and often was, wrong.

The human heart cannot be observed, much less fathomed.

Even with the help of his Golden Finger, it would be no easy feat for him to reach the pinnacle in a world like this.

When the power gap between him and an opponent was vast, a mistake in judgment wasn’t a major problem; his strength afforded him a high margin for error. But if their strengths were comparable, a single mistake could mean the difference between life and death.

His Cultivation had been smooth sailing so far, but that didn’t mean it would always be so.

He had to assess his gains and losses, and in all things, consider failure before success. Only then could he create a greater margin for error.

The road ahead was long and fraught with obstacles. He must remain ever cautious and proceed with steady steps.