Daqian Martial Saint

"Lord Commander, about the Crocodile Gang..."

Inside the main hall, the messenger kept his head bowed, respectfully recounting the Crocodile Gang’s reaction. In the process, he even repeated the exact words of the Crocodile Gang’s leader, Guan Baxian.

"Bear the consequences yourselves!? To hell with that! Get the fuck out of my sight! If you don’t scram, I’ll just kill you all right here, and the Garrison Commandant’s Office won’t be able to do a damn thing about it!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall felt their chests swell with fury. Even Shan Qiwang, who usually seemed extremely good-natured, had his expression change.

’He’d just kill us!’

’And we wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing!?’

’The nerve of this Guan Baxian!’

Cheng Renjing was so angry his hands were trembling faintly.

These gangs were used to running rampant on a daily basis, and he knew they had never respected the Garrison Commandant’s Office. But he had never imagined they could be so brazenly arrogant!

After finishing his report, the messenger remained bowed, waiting cautiously for Chen Ping’an’s response. There was no thunderous rage as expected; Chen Ping’an had simply listened to the report in silence, his face expressionless.

"It seems I haven’t been here long enough. People still don’t understand my character."

Chen Ping’an lowered his head and adjusted his cuffs.

All eyes in the hall fell upon him, waiting for his reaction.

"My lord, what should we do?" Shan Qiwang asked.

Chen Ping’an glanced at him, a slight smile appearing on his face. "Since Guan Baxian has said as much and holds my Garrison Commandant’s Office in contempt, then I..."

"...won’t mind wiping out another gang!"

What!

Hearing this, everyone was abruptly stunned.

...

Inside the Crocodile Gang’s headquarters, Duan Peng felt a faint sense of worry when he heard that people from the Garrison Commandant’s Office had arrived. ’It doesn’t matter how friendly Guan Baxian seems; our relationship is built entirely on mutual benefit. If my presence hinders the Crocodile Gang’s development, I believe he’d discard me in a heartbeat.’

Thus, ever since Guan Baxian had stepped out, Duan Peng had been feeling uneasy.

’White Stone City is full of checkpoints and heavily guarded. If the Crocodile Gang won’t shelter me, it’ll be quite troublesome to escape on my own.’

’Unless it’s an absolute last resort, I don’t want to give up this life of luxury in the city!’

Just as Duan Peng was growing anxious, he saw Guan Baxian quickly return from outside.

"Brother Guan, how are you back so soon?" Duan Peng couldn’t help but ask. "Did the men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office leave?"

Brother Guan’s face was full of disdain. "Hmph... A few nobodies, daring to come and swagger in front of my Crocodile Gang! I went out, said a few words, and they ran off with their tails between their legs!"

"They ran off?" Duan Peng sounded a little disbelieving.

"Hahaha..." Guan Baxian roared with laughter and briefly described what had happened.

Seeing that Duan Peng was still uncertain and suspicious, he offered a few more words of reassurance. "Little Brother Duan, rest assured. With your Brother Guan here, the Garrison Commandant’s Office won’t dare to lay a hand on you!"

Seeing Guan Baxian’s firm stance, Duan Peng felt a bit more at ease and immediately expressed his gratitude, "Brother Guan, I, Duan, will never forget this great kindness for the rest of my life!"

"What are you talking about? We’re all brothers here!" Guan Baxian was very pleased with Duan Peng’s attitude. ’It seems my Crocodile Gang is about to gain another Inner Qi Realm expert to hold down the fort!’

At this thought, Guan Baxian’s mood grew even more cheerful.

"Enough of that. Come, come, Little Brother Duan, let’s drink!"

"To drinking! Brother Guan, I’ll toast to you!"

...

Guan Baxian and Duan Peng were drinking heartily, but before they could fully enjoy themselves, another subordinate came to report, interrupting them.

"What is it now?" Guan Baxian asked, his face full of displeasure.

"Gang Leader, the people from the Garrison Commandant’s Office are back!"

"They’re back again!" Guan Baxian’s eyes widened like saucers. With a THUD, he slammed his cup down and shot to his feet.

"Little Brother Duan, I’ll go take care of this again!"

"Brother Guan, I’ll go with you!" said Duan Peng.

"No need, I am more than enough. Little Brother Duan, you just stay here and drink in peace. I’ll be right back!"

With that said, Guan Baxian followed his subordinate and walked outside.

Watching Guan Baxian’s departing figure, the feeling of unease resurfaced in Duan Peng’s heart.

’It seems the Garrison Commandant’s Office isn’t going to let this go so easily. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have come back a second time in such a short period.’

’However...’

’With Guan Baxian handling it personally, there shouldn’t be any problems!’

...

Guan Baxian had originally thought the Garrison Commandant’s Office would send just a few people like before, and that he could easily send them away with a few sharp words. But to his surprise, when he reached the entrance, he found it surrounded by a dense crowd of Garrison Commandant’s Office constables.

His Crocodile Gang members were gathered at the entrance, locked in a standoff with the constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office.

"Son of a bitch!" Seeing this, a flash of anger crossed Guan Baxian’s eyes. "Good, good! You actually dare to cause trouble for my Crocodile Gang! You’ve all got a death wish!"

’Honestly, if the Garrison Commandant’s Office had shown up like this the first time, I would have been a little unnerved. But since they’re pulling this on their second visit, I’m much more confident.’

’This move from the Garrison Commandant’s Office looks like a bluff, no matter how you look at it. As long as I act tough, a fight probably won’t break out.’

’And taking a step back, even if a fight does break out, I, Guan Baxian, am not afraid!’

’Because...’

’Just a moment ago, I sent men to the Blood Oath Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang. We reached a temporary verbal agreement to help each other out in matters involving the Garrison Commandant’s Office.’

’If a real fight breaks out, as long as I can hold out for a while until the men from the Blood Oath Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang arrive, the Garrison Commandant’s Office will be the one in an untenable position.’

’This is the perfect chance to make them spit out the Quicksand Gang’s assets for me!’

With this in mind, Guan Baxian felt completely assured.

As he stepped out, his eyes immediately fell on the young man in Fish Scale Armor standing at the very front. The moment he saw him, the young man’s gaze also landed on him.

Guan Baxian took the initiative, leading his men forward and shouting, "Who goes there, and why do you surround my Crocodile Gang!?"

Wielding a Fine Iron Long Saber, Guan Baxian had a burly frame, and the aura rippling from him at that moment was terrifying.

Chen Ping’an watched Guan Baxian quietly, unmoved.

"Insolent! The Deputy Commander of the White Stone Town Pacification Bureau, Lord Chen, is here! How dare you act so presumptuously!" Cheng Renjing stepped forward, glaring angrily at Guan Baxian.

Guan Baxian sneered. "What Lord Chen? Lord Dog? I don’t know him!"

Chen Ping’an took a step forward and spoke lightly.

"Boss Guan, this is our first meeting. I didn’t expect it to be under such circumstances. I originally thought you were a smart man who would know what to do. But unfortunately, I was wrong. In fact, I was dead wrong."

As he walked, Chen Ping’an slowly drew the Yanling Saber from his waist. Its snow-white blade flashed with a cold light.

"I thought the destruction of the Quicksand Gang would be enough to make you all understand my character. But I didn’t expect you to still not get it. It seems the weight of the Quicksand Gang alone wasn’t enough. In that case..."

"...let’s add your Crocodile Gang to the mix, and help you recognize reality!"

The light of the blade flared, like a half moon leaping from a sea of clouds—cold, and yet, crystal clear.