Daqian Martial Saint

At this thought, Zhao Zhiteng said no more.

"Zhao Zhiteng, don’t tell me you intend to speak up for Chen Ping’an?" Cao Yingxiong’s gaze, heavy with pressure, fell upon him.

"My Lord, I wouldn’t dare!" Cao Yingxiong’s words sent a chill down Zhao Zhiteng’s spine, and he quickly dropped to his knees. "I was merely analyzing the pros and cons, weighing the gains and losses. I have no such intention."

"Since you don’t, then just do as I say. Get up," Cao Yingxiong said flatly.

"Yes! Thank you, My Lord." Zhao Zhiteng rose to his feet, picked up his brush, and resumed writing.

Seeing Zhao Zhiteng writing obediently, a look of satisfaction appeared on Cao Yingxiong’s face. ’Confidants,’ he thought, ’must be tempered through repeated beatings to grow. Only by testing them again and again can you discover just how much they are willing to do for you.’

’By constantly pushing their boundaries, by tempering and teaching them time and time again, they will one day become my unswervingly loyal followers.’

Watching the scene unfold, Lin Wanying and Lu Shengyang stood to the side and exchanged a knowing smile.

They had thought Zhao Zhiteng was one of them, but now it seemed he was a long way off. ’If he wants to join our circle, he’ll need a lot more tempering!’

"Alright, you needn’t have so many reservations. None of us witnessed the scene, so who can guarantee that those two from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect were killed by Chen Ping’an? Our actions don’t really count as stealing his credit!" Cao Yingxiong said in a placating tone.

’If you want to cultivate a loyal follower, you can’t just keep applying pressure. You have to offer a few words of comfort now and then.’

"Yes, I understand," Zhao Zhiteng replied, lowering his head.

Cao Yingxiong smiled faintly. He could tell that Zhao Zhiteng still seemed to have his own ideas. ’But, it doesn’t matter,’ he thought. ’People always need a bit of friction to grow.’

After Zhao Zhiteng finished drafting the report, Cao Yingxiong inspected it. Once he confirmed there were no errors, he ordered Zhao Zhiteng to deliver it to the Canglong State Qiankun Bureau.

Normally, there would be no need for Zhao Zhiteng to make a special trip. The report could simply be sent to the Qiankun Bureau Weishui Branch, from where a dedicated courier would deliver it to the State Qiankun Bureau.

But this was a lesson! Of course, it had to come with a bit of punishment.

Making Zhao Zhiteng deliver the report to the Canglong State Qiankun Bureau meant he would miss the grand event in Beicang Town. This was Cao Yingxiong’s small punishment for him.

"My Lord, I will take my leave!"

"Mm, go on."

Zhao Zhiteng cupped his fist, then took the report and departed.

Lin Wanying, standing beside Cao Yingxiong, watched Zhao Zhiteng depart before turning and saying with cupped hands, "My Lord, it seems Zhao Zhiteng still has reservations about this. He’s harboring other thoughts."

"It’s of no concern." Cao Yingxiong waved his hand dismissively.

’Making Zhao Zhiteng deliver this report served two purposes. One was the lesson, and the other was to implicate him.’

’After all, Zhao Zhiteng drafted the report, and he was the one who delivered it. This means that, no matter what, he’s now inextricably linked to this affair.’

’In the future, should a similar situation arise, how could he possibly stand firm now that he’s been compromised?’

’Once a person does something the first time, a second time is sure to follow.’

’No rush, no rush. There’s still plenty of time.’

Cao Yingxiong’s expression was relaxed; it was the look of a man who had left nothing to chance.

For so many years, he had held his position securely, not just through his absolute strength, but also through his schemes and cunning.

Take this matter, for instance. He hadn’t claimed all the credit for himself. Instead, he had taken a portion and distributed it appropriately among his subordinates.

People like Lin Wanying had all reaped their share of the rewards.

Only by ensuring his subordinates stood to gain could he make his little clique truly unshakable.

"Alright, we should get going as well! The auction is only a few days away! Arriving in Beicang Town early will give us a chance to experience the convergence of powerful figures!" Cao Yingxiong maneuvered his corpulent frame, stooping to enter the carriage.

The carriage was custom-built, twice the size of an ordinary one. The horses pulling it were no common beasts, either; they were all magnificent Flame Horses.

"Hiyah!" Lin Wanying sat at the front, driving the carriage.

Lu Shengyang rode on horseback, scouting the path ahead.

For a man of Cao Yingxiong’s status, such an escort was far too modest.

However, this trip to Beicang Town was a private affair, and he had his own reasons for keeping a low profile.

Inside the carriage, Cao Yingxiong lifted the window curtain to look outside, a cascade of thoughts flowing through his mind.

Though his reputation was great, allowing him to suppress an entire region and make countless villains bow their heads, his power was far from invincible in the current climate of Beicang Town.

Others might not know, but as the man in charge of the Weishui Qiankun Bureau, he was aware that the Beicang Auction had already attracted Grandmasters.

And more than just one of them!

In addition to the Grandmasters, there were a great number of Absolute Masters gathering in Beicang Town as well.

He wasn’t confident he could defeat all of them. In fact, there were some he feared immensely.

The Beicang Auction was a grand affair, where Heavy Treasures appeared one after another.

’I wonder,’ he thought, ’if this trip will bring a satisfactory harvest, if I can achieve Perfection.’

Just as he was lost in thought, a sudden premonition of danger struck Cao Yingxiong. The fat on his body quaked as his True Qi surged, and he instantly dodged to the side.

CRASH!

With a tremendous bang, a powerful figure descended from the sky, instantly shattering the carriage meticulously crafted by the Qiankun Bureau.

"Who’s there!"

Shouts rang out from outside the ruined carriage.

PS: To all you Lord Governors, Ping’an’s alternate identity is about to make its debut. This persona needs a nickname. I thought of one, but it feels like it’s missing something. Key information: Golden Body Unbreakable, Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger, a powerful physique, broad and sturdy build, a Little Giant.

I wonder if you Lord Governors have any good suggestions. If you have any ideas, feel free to leave a comment. If it’s a good fit, heh heh...