Daqian Martial Saint

Among these sacrificed bandits from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, some might have been willing. But to ensure the plan was executed with one hundred percent certainty, the Elders of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect in the upper echelons had stripped them of even their most basic right to know.

It appeared they had died at the hands of the Red Maple Market’s Guards, but in reality, they died because of the decision made by the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s Elders.

They were muddle-headed to the very end, dying without ever knowing the real reason!

They died in utter confusion!

How tragic!

This is the tragedy of those at the bottom! And the tragedy of this world!

’Regardless of their allegiance, it’s the same for anyone at the bottom! Muddle-headed and confused, every action seems voluntary, but in reality, they are nothing more than puppets on a string, manipulated at will!’

Chen Ping’an even wondered if Old Chen’s serious injuries from the campaign to encircle the Ten Thousand Demons Sect were also the result of a scheme by the higher-ups. ’His grave injuries might have been avoidable!’

A chill ran down Chen Ping’an’s spine as he considered the possibility.

’Ever since I began my Cultivation—from Martial Arts Introduction, to mastering my Qi Blood, entering the Inner Qi realm, condensing the Profound Light, and now reaching Profound Light Perfection—my goal has been to escape the bottom. To climb step by step. To go from being a pawn at the mercy of others, to being forced into situations against my will, to enjoying a moment of tranquility, to achieving an unrestrained heart, and finally, to becoming one of the players, not a piece. To attain that great freedom, that ultimate liberation!’

’As things stand now, I seem to hold a high position, overseeing a territory with immense prestige. But in the grand scheme of the Dynasty, I’ve only just escaped the bottom and am taking my first steps into the middle tier.’

’Step by step, I will ascend to the absolute peak! I can already see the path forward!’

A heroic passion surged within Chen Ping’an, his heart pounding like crashing waves.

At the entrance to Red Maple Market, You Yongming was burning with anxiety, pacing back and forth as he gazed into the distance. The situation inside the market had calmed down, but the Lord Commander was still not back!

A long time had passed since the Lord Commander had given chase to the bandits, but there was still no sign of him.

You Yongming waited and waited, but Chen Ping’an’s figure did not appear. ’Logically, even if he pursued the enemy deep into their territory, he should be back by now! Why isn’t he? Could it be that the Lord Commander...’

A terrible premonition bloomed in You Yongming’s heart. He cursed the fact that he hadn’t been by the Lord Commander’s side when the bandits attacked. If he had been there, he would have followed the Lord Commander without hesitation, no matter how limited his own strength was, unlike now, where all he could do was wait helplessly in the market.

’No! It can’t be. He must have just been delayed by something!’ You Yongming immediately quashed that dreadful thought.

’The Lord Commander is stunningly talented and has even entered the Profound Light Realm. There’s no way mere bandits could harm a single hair on his head!’

Just as You Yongming’s imagination was running wild, a figure came flying along the main road in the distance.

"Is that the Lord Commander!?" You Yongming strained his eyes to see, but the figure was too far away to make out clearly.

As the distance between them gradually closed, delight spread across You Yongming’s face. "It’s definitely the Lord Commander!"

SWOOSH!

Chen Ping’an’s figure flew through the air and landed steadily in front of You Yongming.

"Lord Commander!" You Yongming exclaimed, his expression fervent as he dropped to one knee.

"Rise," Chen Ping’an said. The Profound Light at the center of his brow flickered before dimming. He looked at You Yongming. "What’s the situation in the market?"

"Yes, Lord Commander!" You Yongming rose respectfully, bowing his waist slightly as a sign of reverence. "Reporting to the Lord Commander, the situation in the market is under control, and proper arrangements are being made. The three major powers—the Red Maple Huang Family, the Iron Fence Gang, and the merchant alliance—are leading the effort to assess the market’s losses..."

You Yongming respectfully explained the situation as he followed Chen Ping’an into Red Maple Market.

Chen Ping’an learned from You Yongming that aside from a few who were seriously injured and escaped, all the other attacking bandits had been killed. No one was taken alive. They had a chance to capture two of them, but the men acted with no fear of death, committing suicide by shattering their own heart meridians.

Additionally, You Yongming had also handled the matter Chen Ping’an had previously instructed him on. When the bandits attacked, the man he had been ordered to watch began acting suspiciously, so he immediately moved to capture him. The man was currently being interrogated, and a report would be made to Chen Ping’an as soon as there were results.

"Lord Commander!"

"We wish the Lord Commander peace!"

As Chen Ping’an entered, people from Red Maple Market would periodically appear on both sides to greet him respectfully.

’At my current status, I’m already a high-ranking official rarely seen by those beneath me. But that’s people for you; everything is relative.’

’For most temporary constables, just being officially registered is their lifelong dream, to say nothing of becoming a Constable. That’s a position they can only aspire to!’

’But to the Inspectorate, or even the Chief of the Patrol Office, a mere Constable is nothing! The ones they truly look up to are the Candidate for Commander, the Deputy Commander, or even the Lord Commander himself!’

’It’s a chain of command, like a social class, with layer upon layer stretching upward!’

By the time Chen Ping’an reached the core building within the market, several figures rushed out from inside. The man in the lead was a hale and hearty-looking elderly man of medium build.

"This humble old man, Huang Zhishu, pays his respects to the Lord Commander! I wish you endless peace!"

"We pay our respects to the Lord Commander!"

The crowd welcomed him in unison. They had rushed out the moment they heard news of Chen Ping’an’s return, not expecting to run right into him.

"There’s no need for such ceremony," Chen Ping’an said, raising a hand.

"Thank you, Lord Commander! Your Lordship is merciful!"

Red Maple Market had been attacked, and the business of making proper arrangements was quite hectic. But for them, the most urgent matter at hand wasn’t these trivial affairs; it was tending to the mood of this Lord Commander.

Other matters could be handled anytime, but missing this opportunity with the Lord Commander meant it was gone for good. If they inadvertently earned his resentment over this, they would truly regret it for the rest of their lives.

"Patriarch Huang, have someone prepare a study. I have urgent business to attend to," Chen Ping’an said.

"Yes, Lord Commander. I’ll have someone see to it immediately. Please wait just a moment," Huang Zhishu said, his face lighting up with pleasure.

For people like them, they weren’t afraid of doing things for their superiors; they were afraid their superiors wouldn’t ask them to do anything at all.

Without needing detailed instructions from Huang Zhishu, one of the people following behind understood immediately and went to handle the matter.

Seizing the opportunity during this brief interval, Huang Zhishu sidled up and said, "Lord Commander, for these bandits to have offended Your Lordship’s dignity is truly the fault of our Red Maple Market. I beg you to forgive our transgression!"

"Oh?" Chen Ping’an found Huang Zhishu’s reaction amusing.

’Red Maple Market suffers an unexpected disaster out of nowhere, yet in the end, they still have to apologize to me just to placate my mood. No wonder so many people want to be at the top. Everything you can think of, and even things you can’t, your subordinates have already considered it all for you. You don’t even need to worry about your own affairs. Your subordinates are more worried about them than you are!’

Seeing that Chen Ping’an didn’t speak, Huang Zhishu thought he was angry and immediately put on an apologetic smile. "Lord Commander, you are the Garrison Commander of this region. Your great name spreads far and wide, deterring villains from all directions to ensure the peace of the Fourth Realm. We have long benefited from your care, yet we have never shown our gratitude. Such an oversight is truly unbecoming! Now that Your Lordship’s esteemed self is present, the timing is perfect. This is just a small token of our appreciation..."

As he spoke, Huang Zhishu took out a Jade Box and, bowing low, respectfully presented it to Chen Ping’an.

"I implore the Lord Commander to accept it!"

Huang Zhishu remained bowed, but Chen Ping’an didn’t respond.

With Chen Ping’an silent, no one else dared to speak, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense.

A storm was raging in Huang Zhishu’s heart, but his body remained perfectly still, holding his bow as he respectfully offered the Jade Box.

Chen Ping’an gave Huang Zhishu a look that was not quite a smile, and finally took the Jade Box.

Chen Ping’an could clearly feel that the moment he accepted the Jade Box, Huang Zhishu seemed to let out a huge sigh of relief. And it wasn’t just Huang Zhishu; several others nearby had the same reaction.

If Chen Ping’an hadn’t accepted this gift, these people probably would have lost sleep over it. They would have tossed and turned all night, wondering why Chen Ping’an had refused their offering.

Sometimes, the one giving the gift is happier when it’s accepted than the one receiving it.

After this brief interlude, Chen Ping’an gave You Yongming a few instructions and was then led into a study arranged by Huang Zhishu and the others. The study’s decor wasn’t extravagantly luxurious, but it was clear that care had been put into its furnishings and arrangement.

On the desk, a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone were all laid out. The ink was already ground and ready to use. A perfectly sized sheet of paper was spread out, neatly held in place by a paperweight.

It seemed his subordinates had already anticipated what he wanted to do.

Chen Ping’an glanced at the desk, his heart calm and undisturbed. His ambitions lay elsewhere. These matters could serve as a mild diversion, but they were not the ultimate goal of his Martial Dao Cultivation.

Chen Ping’an sat upright at the desk, picked up the brush, and began to write an official document.