Daqian Martial Saint

Over the next few days in Weishui County City, Chen Ping’an’s life was quite full. He took Chen Erya and Peony around to see many places in the Inner City.

After careful consideration, he finally settled on a residence. It was centrally located; just a short walk from the estate would bring them to one of the Inner City’s most bustling streets.

The owners of the neighboring estates were either rich or noble, and every household employed guards. Plus, it wasn’t too far from the Weishui Garrison, so security was assured. No short-sighted petty thief would dare cause trouble here! And even if one did, they would likely be arrested on the spot.

When Chen Ping’an bought the property, he considered that it would mainly be Chen Erya and Peony living there, with a few cleaning maids and servants at most. Therefore, the estate wasn’t massive; it was a residence with two courtyards.

However, the overall layout and design were exquisite, and it came fully furnished with all necessary items. They would hardly need to add a thing and could move in right away.

The back courtyard also had a lush jujube tree. Placing a rattan chair beneath it would make for a very pleasant and relaxing pastime. Though the estate was in a bustling, central location, the tranquility found under the jujube tree offered a delightful sense of finding peace amidst the chaos.

Although the residence was quite expensive, Chen Ping’an had acquired a significant amount of silver notes previously. His personal wealth was substantial, so the purchase was not a strain on his finances.

Back then, Old Chen had arrived with nothing to his name but his own strength. He ventured into Weishui County City alone and, after half a lifetime of struggle, finally established a foothold and acquired property in Nanquan Lane of the Outer City.

And now, standing on Old Chen’s shoulders, Chen Ping’an had gone a step further, purchasing a two-courtyard residence in the Weishui Inner City.

From the Weishui Outer City to the Weishui Inner City—this was the fruit of two generations of effort!

If Old Chen’s spirit were watching from the heavens, he would surely be proud of his son now!

Once the residence was settled, Chen Ping’an turned all his attention to matters concerning the academy.

The Weishui Academy was renowned, and admission was no easy feat for the average student. Even those from immensely wealthy families had to undergo a rigorous selection and review process, passing through intense deliberations before they could be considered eligible.

And this was just for the regular admissions process; a mid-term transfer through special channels was even more difficult.

However...

The difficulty, however, was for ordinary people. For the current Chen Ping’an, a veritable Giant in his own right, arranging this was not a difficult task. It would simply take some procedural effort and time to grease the necessary wheels.

After all, his power base was at the Five Peaks Mountain Residence; he wasn’t the superior official directly in charge of this area, so he still had to follow protocol to some extent.

Within a few days, he had made headway on the matter of the Weishui Academy. Now, all that was left to do was wait.

Chen Erya’s admission to the Weishui Academy was all but guaranteed. Given his current influence, it was unlikely that anyone foolish enough to stand in his way would appear.

With his affairs mostly in order, Chen Ping’an found himself with some time and leisure. He made a special trip with Chen Erya back to their little courtyard in Nanquan Lane.

This was the place where the two of them, brother and sister, had once relied on each other to survive.

Thanks to Chen Ping’an’s reputation, the small courtyard had been well-maintained. The layout was almost unchanged; everything was just as it had been.

Returning to her old home, the little girl was very excited, darting in and out and looking all around.

"Brother, look! This is where I used to plant the vegetables."

"Hahaha, Brother, look! The graffiti you drew on the wall is still here!"

"This big water urn... it was so much trouble to fill it up! Hehe, but luckily I had you, Brother!"

"This pot, and this stove, are all so familiar."

"Huh, this firewood is still here!"

"..."

A smile appeared on Chen Ping’an’s face as he watched the little girl’s excitement. His gaze swept across their surroundings.

A small courtyard, one bedroom, and half a kitchen—that was the entire layout.

Through Chen Ping’an’s current eyes, the place was undeniably crude. Never mind his new estate; even his former residence at the South City Prison was far superior to this.

But... it was this very place that held his earliest memories.

After Old Chen passed away, this courtyard had become a safe harbor for him and his sister.

Most of the commoners in Nanquan Lane lived with several families sharing a single courtyard. Some families of six or seven, old and young alike, were even squeezed into half a room facing the street.

Compared to them, his and his sister’s home was leisurely and comfortable—so much so that it made many people envious, even green with jealousy.

On his deathbed, Old Chen was already mentally exhausted, his life force spent, yet he could not stop thinking about his two children. Casting aside a lifetime of pride, he dragged his dying body to secure a position for Chen Ping’an as a temporary constable.

It was because of that veneer of official status that they were able to live securely in this courtyard, despite the jealous glares of others.

Old Chen’s love, the siblings’ reliance on each other, the life they took for granted, the home that held all their memories...

All of this... this is what makes a home.

Chen Ping’an tilted his head up, spread his arms, and slowly closed his eyes.

One by one... scenes flashed through his mind like a spinning lantern.

’These are my most precious treasures, the provisions for my Cultivation path, my... source of strength!’

A Martial Artist cultivates power, but more importantly, the mind!

The further one walks the path of Cultivation, the more one understands this truth.

With his eyes closed, Chen Ping’an quietly felt everything—the joy, the sorrow, the anticipation, the disappointment... He felt every moment of his life, every trace of his existence.

Watching Chen Ping’an standing in the middle of the courtyard, arms spread and motionless, Chen Erya also gradually quieted down and stopped making a fuss.

A gentle breeze caressed his face.

An unknown amount of time passed. When Chen Ping’an opened his eyes again, for a single moment, he felt as if the entire world had changed.

’No!’

’It wasn’t the world that changed, but me!’

The sensation was like a thin film that had been covering him was suddenly peeled away. Observing the world from this new perspective, even it seemed much more pleasing to the eye.

At that moment, his mind achieved a state of perfect clarity and harmony. The Seed of Profound Light between his brows became covered in cracks, and from one minuscule, almost invisible fissure, a tender sprout of Spiritual Energy faintly emerged.

The Seed of Profound Light had shattered, giving rise to a new sprout.

This was a necessary step one must take before entering the Grandmaster Realm and giving birth to the Spiritual Flower.

On his Golden Finger Panel, Chen Ping’an’s accumulated Cultivation Experience remained unchanged, yet his Martial Arts Realm had faintly touched upon a higher plane.