Daqian Martial Saint

"This young man’s impressive presence is just beginning to take shape, and he’s already showing signs of his exceptional nature. If he receives the backing of a powerful patron, his future achievements will likely be limitless.

Brother Liu, you are a dear friend of many years, so I am sharing this news with you the moment I received it. I sincerely hope you will do your utmost to befriend him and forge a positive connection early on. This young man could become a powerful ally to you in the future! As his direct superior, you are in the perfect position to benefit from your proximity. I implore you to take these matters seriously, Brother Liu! Also, I wish you success on your Martial Dao and hope you attain the Grandmaster realm!"

This news came from a friend from his own cohort, who now held a key position at the State Garrison Command. Liu Yuanhua had no reason to doubt it.

Chen Ping’an had performed a great service, catching the attention of the State Garrison Command’s upper echelons. Liu Yuanhua had been able to deduce that much, even without concrete proof. But he had never expected the high-ranking officials to place such importance on him—especially Director Gu, who was apparently preparing to select a junior member of his own family with the intent of roping Chen Ping’an in through marriage.

For Director Gu to value Chen Ping’an to this extent... it was far beyond what Liu Yuanhua had anticipated.

Candidate for Chief of the State Garrison Command, Gu Haoqing. Director Gu!

Having been in the Garrison system for many years, Liu Yuanhua was perfectly clear on the background of this Director Gu.

Besides being a Candidate for Chief, Director Gu was also a Clan Elder with real power in the Gu Family of Canglong State City!

The Gu Family... this was the Gu Family they were talking about!

The number one Noble Family in Canglong Province, their power and influence radiated out to several surrounding provinces. Within the thirty-seven counties of Canglong Province, every single one contained the interests of the Gu Family.

As for Weishui County City, there was no need to look far for an example. The Long’an Trade Route, a venture tied to the interests of countless people throughout the city, had the shadow of the Gu Family behind it.

When such a behemoth was involved, how could Liu Yuanhua not take it seriously!?

If Director Gu truly favored Chen Ping’an and arranged for a junior family member to marry him, then once it was done, Chen Ping’an would no longer represent only himself. To a certain degree, he would represent the honor of the Gu Family!

Even the slightest possibility of this was enough to make Liu Yuanhua swallow his pride and take the initiative to mend his relationship with Chen Ping’an.

Director Gu’s high regard and favor were the true reasons Liu Yuanhua was sitting here today, face wreathed in smiles and words full of warmth, engaging in a light and lively conversation with Chen Ping’an.

The truths of this world were always so stark and simple.

With Liu Yuanhua deliberately trying to curry favor and ease the tension, their conversation went very smoothly. After a while, Chen Ping’an took his leave.

Liu Yuanhua watched Chen Ping’an depart, a thoughtful expression on his face.

’If the Gu Family is truly willing to proceed with a marriage alliance, I wonder if they will choose someone from the direct lineage or a collateral branch? Still, even if it’s just a collateral branch, with the Gu Family’s vast resources, it would be enough to save Chen Ping’an half a lifetime of struggle! But if it’s the direct lineage...’

At this thought, Liu Yuanhua’s gaze wavered, and a ripple of emotion stirred in his eyes.

’A daughter from the Gu Family’s direct lineage—a true blue-blood. What a supremely noble status!’

’Even if the patriarch of my Liu Family were to personally go to the State City and promise immense benefits to seek her hand for our family’s prodigy, Liu Ziming, it would be an almost impossible task. It would most likely end in failure.’

...

’This Liu Yuanhua is really something else. With just a few words, he’s managed to sweep all our past unpleasantness under the rug!’

Leaving Liu Yuanhua’s office, Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but reflect on the situation.

This Liu Yuanhua was a shrewd man indeed; he didn’t stubbornly stick to one path. The moment he saw the situation was turning against him, he was willing to cast aside his pride and take the initiative to de-escalate.

He was truly pragmatic, possessing some impressive methods.

Reaching Liu Yuanhua’s level of pragmatism sounded simple, but actually doing it was another matter entirely.

For a man who had long held a high position to be willing to drop his airs and humble himself to resolve a past conflict with a subordinate—that wasn’t something just anyone could do.

Faced with such a situation, many others would have thought:

’This upstart won’t be swayed by my attempts to recruit him, so he deserves to be suppressed! If I don’t suppress him, I’ll be the one who suffers in the future! My actions aren’t wrong—he’s the one who’s wrong!’

’So what if he’s accomplished something now? Continuing to suppress him is the Orthodox Dao! His cultivation is far inferior to mine. I refuse to believe he can defy the heavens!’

Ah, people always find ways to justify their words and actions, to make excuses for their mistakes.

To be able to do what he did without coming off as repulsive... this Liu Yuanhua was a formidable man indeed.

’Still, it’s not a total loss. I did get something out of it.’

Chen Ping’an felt the wooden box tucked in his clothes, which contained a three-hundred-year-old Xuan Can. Since the other party had bowed his head and yielded, Chen Ping’an was willing to let the matter go, so long as his own core interests weren’t at stake.

He was in a rather good mood, partly because of Liu Yuanhua’s attitude, and partly because of the Xuan Can he now possessed.

With the help of his Golden Finger Panel, he didn’t actually have a strong desire for such Major Medicines or Secret Medicines. However, this Xuan Can gave him an excellent excuse for his next Breaking Realm.

When he breaks through to the Profound Light Realm in the future and reveals his extraordinary combat prowess, this Xuan Can can take all the credit!

’Yes, Liu Yuanhua’s gift today serves as excellent foreshadowing!’

’As for whether this Xuan Can is actually effective enough to produce such a dramatic result... who’s to say?’

’As the one who consumed the Xuan Can, if I say it’s that effective, then it’s that effective!’

’What’s that?’

’You’re saying your three-hundred-year-old Xuan Can didn’t have such a dramatic effect? Well, sorry to say, but mine is obviously different from yours!’

Speaking of which, Liu Yuanhua’s initiative to mend fences did rob him of the future pleasure of a satisfying showdown.

It was just like in those epic tales where the protagonist is bullied and suppressed. He tries to endure it, but his enemies only escalate their efforts until the protagonist can finally take no more, explodes with power, and slaughters them all! It leaves the readers feeling utterly thrilled and satisfied.

It’s strange, really. The villains in those tales are always the same: you beat the junior, and the senior shows up; you beat the senior, and the ancestor arrives. A villain might be set up as a peerless strategist, but the moment they meet the protagonist, they seem to lose their minds. They clearly see the protagonist’s overwhelming power, yet they still blindly rush forward to their doom, ending up dead and their clan annihilated.

As expected, reality isn’t like those epic tales. The situations they describe are a rarity. Anyone who reaches a high position is a shrewd operator. Unless you threaten their most fundamental interests, who would be willing to fight you to the death?

Lost in his turning thoughts, Chen Ping’an walked out the main gate of the Garrison Commandant’s Office.

His trip to the Weishui Garrison could be called a resounding success. Not only had he exchanged for a Fine Treasure Artifact, the Earth Crocodile Golden Flame Saber, but he had also resolved the potential threat of Liu Yuanhua. Of course, he would still need to remain vigilant and take precautions, but for the time being, he could mostly rest easy.

Next, he just had to wait for the Earth Crocodile Golden Flame Saber to be transferred from the State Garrison Treasure Vault. Once the Fine Treasure Artifact was in his hands, Chen Ping’an planned to leave Weishui County City.

The trial run of the Trade Route was imminent, so he needed to return to his post as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements.

In the few days he had while waiting for the Earth Crocodile Golden Flame Saber to arrive, he could finally settle his little sister in Weishui County City.

When it came to settling her in, Chen Ping’an was mainly concerned about three things.

First, his little sister’s safety; second, her living situation; and third, her education.

Chen Ping’an already had a rough plan for all three.

He was now a distinguished Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy, a Standard Commander Level official. Naturally, he couldn’t possibly settle his only sister in the Weishui Outer City. Her new home was already decided: it would be in the Inner City district. And not just anywhere in the Inner City, but in its core, where her safety would be absolutely guaranteed.

Furthermore, regarding his little sister’s education, Chen Ping’an planned to enroll her in the Weishui Academy.

As the most prestigious and highest-ranking institution in Weishui County City, Weishui Academy boasted an incredibly strong faculty. By going there, his little sister would surely be able to gain a much broader education.