Daqian Martial Saint

"This is sovereign ground of the Garrison Commandant’s Office! Leave at once!"

Meng Yude had just come to a stop before the gates of the Five Peaks Mountain City’s Garrison Commandant’s Office when a constable on guard duty stepped forward to drive him away.

After the great victory at the Red Mill, where Commander Chen had showcased his awesome might, the morale of everyone in the Garrison Commandant’s Office, from top to bottom, had soared inexplicably.

Furthermore, all the powers within the city, large and small, led by the Wei Family, had contributed money and manpower to wholeheartedly support the Garrison Commandant’s Office’s new initiative to form patrol teams. Not one of them dared utter a word of opposition. This elevated Commander Chen’s prestige to a new level, and by extension, the reputation of the Five Peaks Mountain City’s Garrison Commandant’s Office soared to its zenith.

Seeing a man lingering before the gates, even though he didn’t look like an ordinary person, the constable’s confidence was sky-high thanks to the recent victory. He fearlessly stepped forward to drive the man away.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Meng Yude’s eyes. As a Profound Light Realm master, he had never been treated with such disrespect. But he was here to ask for a favor and had already decided on a strategy, so it wouldn’t do to escalate the situation from the very beginning.

He suppressed his anger and took a Profound Iron Token from his robes.

"I am a Tributor for the Wu Family Trading Team," Meng Yude announced, "and I have come specifically to visit Commander Chen—Lord Chen—regarding the matter of our steward, Wu Tianqi!"

Once Meng Yude revealed his identity, the constable naturally stopped trying to shoo him away. However, to be allowed inside, he would still need to be announced.

"One moment," the constable said, then ran inside.

Meng Yude’s expression was sullen. He had condescended to come in person, never imagining he would be treated this way. But for the sake of his important objective, he ultimately swallowed his pride.

While he waited, an official from the Inspectorate came out to greet him.

"So it’s Elder Meng!" The official from the Inspectorate greeted him with a cupped fist salute, a smile on his face. His attitude was certainly much better than the constable’s.

The lower-ranking constable may not have recognized Meng Yude, but this Inspectorate official recognized his status as a Profound Light Realm master. However, his reception was not as fervent as Meng Yude had imagined; it was only a slight improvement.

After stating the purpose of his visit, Meng Yude was led into the Garrison Commandant’s Office and shown to a seat in a side hall.

He had expected to see Chen Ping’an shortly, but to his surprise, he waited a full ten minutes, and still, no one came.

"That insolent whelp!" Meng Yude slammed his hand on the table, almost losing his temper. ’This is going too far!’

He was a dignified Profound Light Realm master! He hadn’t expected a grand reception from Chen Ping’an, but there should at least be some basic courtesy. Who would have thought the man would be so arrogant?

"Where is Chen Ping’an? Why isn’t he coming to see me?" Meng Yude stormed out of the side hall and demanded of the Inspectorate official who had shown him in.

The official’s smile never wavered. He remained perfectly composed, neither servile nor overbearing, and said in a mild tone, "Elder Meng, Lord Chen is currently entertaining a guest and is not yet free. I must ask you to wait a little longer."

"Entertaining a guest? Who?" Meng Yude’s brow furrowed. He refused to believe there was any guest more important than himself.

"As a subordinate, it is not my place to inquire into the Commander’s affairs. Please, Elder Meng, just wait patiently," the official said mildly.

The exchange yielded no results. If this were any other time, Meng Yude’s temper would have driven him to kill this infuriatingly obstinate official just to vent his frustration. But this was the Garrison Commandant’s Office, and he was here on behalf of Wu Tianqi. He could only swallow his anger for now.

’A moment of impatience can ruin a grand plan!’ With a flick of his sleeve, Meng Yude returned to the side hall once more.

His wait stretched on for nearly a full hour. Several times during that period, he was tempted to rise, flick his sleeves, and leave, but each time he forced himself to endure it.

Just as he was about to be overwhelmed by his simmering rage, the Inspectorate official walked in through the door.

"Elder Meng, Lord Chen has concluded his business. I’ll take you to him now."

"Fine." Meng Yude rose from his seat, his face devoid of expression, and followed the official out.

...

Meng Yude followed the official through a labyrinth of corridors until they arrived at a particular building. They entered and climbed all the way to the third floor.

The official stopped before a door and knocked lightly.

"My lord, I’ve brought him."

His tone was a world away from how he had spoken to Meng Yude; the official’s voice was now laced with caution and reverence.

"Come in," a voice called from within the room.

"Yes, sir," the official responded in a low voice, then gently pushed the door open.

"My lord." The official bowed respectfully, then took his leave.

There were two people in the room: one sitting, and one standing.

Meng Yude’s gaze immediately fell on the figure seated in the host’s chair. As he took in the man’s ridiculously young face, his heart skipped a beat.

’He’s so young?’

Although he had been prepared for it, seeing him in person for the first time, Meng Yude was still astonished by his youth.

Only twenty-one years old, yet already holding the high position of a city’s Commander-in-Chief!

Most importantly, the post of this city’s Commander-in-Chief was merely a concurrent appointment. His true identity was the Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy for the Long’an Trade Route!

A prodigy on the Rising Star Chart, Mang Blade, Mang Vajra...

All sorts of information about him flooded Meng Yude’s mind.

"Meng Yude! You should be at your trading team’s encampment. What business brings you to my Garrison Commandant’s Office?"

Chen Ping’an sat enthroned in the host’s chair, his scrutinizing gaze fixed on Meng Yude, a round-faced, middle-aged man.

’Initial Profound Light Realm! His aura is potent, verging on the peak of the Initial Realm. Barring any hidden techniques, his strength should be on par with Fang Qixian’s. Still, he’s not as strong as the former Mandarin Duck Saber Official, Guan Yu Ping!’

Chen Ping’an had gauged the man’s fundamental strength the moment he saw him.

He could have swatted a fighter of this level dead long ago, to say nothing of his current power.

’Hmm, he’d make a perfect stepping stone for me to establish my authority,’ a trace of satisfaction showed in Chen Ping’an’s eyes. ’I just wonder if his performance will give me the opportunity I’m hoping for!’

If Meng Yude behaved himself, Chen Ping’an wouldn’t make an example of him for no reason. But if the man made a fuss, it would be exactly what Chen Ping’an wanted, giving him the perfect opportunity to reveal his own Profound Light Realm strength.

"Lord Chen, I have come today on behalf of our trading team’s steward, Wu Tianqi!"

Meng Yude said with a smile, offering a cupped fist salute.

For a Profound Light Realm master like himself to adopt such a posture was giving Chen Ping’an an immense amount of face. He had expected that even if Chen Ping’an didn’t stand, he would at least make some kind of gesture in return.

But to his surprise, Chen Ping’an remained seated, perfectly still.

’This kid... he’s so full of himself!’

Meng Yude was seething with humiliation, but he kept the smile fixed on his face.

"Wu Tianqi disregarded Lord Chen’s strict orders by fighting within the city and causing a disturbance. It is only right and proper that he be punished for it," Meng Yude began, first affirming and showing understanding for Chen Ping’an’s actions.

If he wanted to negotiate in good faith, this kind of groundwork was essential. He was here to ask for a favor, so he obviously couldn’t start by claiming the Garrison Commandant’s Office had acted unreasonably. The correct choice was to first align with the other party’s perspective, thereby lowering Chen Ping’an’s psychological defenses and creating a positive atmosphere for communication. When the time was right, he would make his next move.

Having said his piece, Meng Yude looked at Chen Ping’an, awaiting his response. Just then, another voice spoke up in the room.

"Well said! As expected of a Tributor for the Wu Family. You certainly have a broad perspective!"

Hm?

Meng Yude frowned, his gaze shifting to the other person in the room. He had noticed him upon entering, but since his business was with Chen Ping’an, he hadn’t paid any mind to someone he assumed was irrelevant.

But as his eyes fell on the man now, he sensed an extraordinary aura.

"This..." Meng Yude’s pupils constricted slightly.