Daqian Martial Saint

”Zuo Wumei is dead? You killed him?”

Mu Wanjun was somewhat surprised by Chen Ping’an’s report.

Zuo Wumei, no matter how you put it, had been a Martial Arts Master at the Second Stage of Inner Qi. And now he was just... dead? Killed by an unknown youth.

”Yes, Ma’am,” Chen Ping’an said, neither servile nor overbearing.

”Did your Martial Arts Realm break through?”

No matter how severely injured Zuo Wumei was, he was by no means someone a typical warrior at Qi Blood Three Realms Perfection could kill.

Mu Wanjun’s beautiful eyes landed on Chen Ping’an as if trying to see right through him. Her hand suddenly shot out and grabbed his wrist. A torrent of heat surged forth.

”Qi Blood Fifth Layer!”

Only at this moment did Mu Wanjun clearly sense Chen Ping’an’s true Martial Arts Realm.

’The Golden Finger Panel’s ability to hide my Realm is really not bad,’

Chen Ping’an silently gave the Golden Finger Panel a thumbs-up.

”Replying to Ma’am, I had an epiphany a few days ago while practicing my Horizontal Training Method. I successfully reached Perfection, which allowed me to break through to the Qi Blood Fifth Layer Realm.”

Chen Ping’an said honestly.

Hearing this, a strange light flickered in Mu Wanjun’s beautiful eyes.

’Horizontal Training Perfection!? Qi Blood Fifth Layer!?’

’In just a few days, he jumped directly from Qi Blood Three Realms Perfection to the Qi Blood Fifth Layer?’

’What kind of Martial Dao genius is this?’

’With this level of talent...’

’Even if he started a little late, as long as he’s carefully nurtured and maintains this momentum of fearless advancement, he’ll have a real chance at the Rising Star Chart!’

Mu Wanjun placed both hands on Chen Ping’an’s shoulders, her expression slightly agitated.

”Chen Ping’an, you’re a Martial Dao genius, a true genius! Your talent is far beyond my expectations! Given time, you might even have a chance to try for the Rising Star Chart!”

The Rising Star Chart!

Everyone on the chart was a prominent figure among the younger generation of Canglong Province. Their every move was watched by countless people, and those at the top of the list even had biographies written about them.

Mu Wanjun was a good person, possessing a genuine tolerance for others.

This was why Chen Ping’an dared to appropriately reveal some of his progress in the Martial Dao to her.

In response to Mu Wanjun’s excitement, Chen Ping’an also showed a fitting hint of excitement.

”According to the Garrison Commandant’s Office bounty, the person who kills Zuo Wumei receives a two-rank promotion and a thousand taels of reward silver. You are already a Candidate for Deputy. If you were promoted two more ranks, you would become an Inspectorate in charge of a district. On this matter, I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

Mu Wanjun calmed herself, hiding the eagerness in her eyes as she questioned Chen Ping’an.

’I’ve been waiting for you to say that.’

Chen Ping’an’s heart warmed, and without hesitation, he expressed his loyalty to Mu Wanjun.

”I will follow your arrangements completely, Ma’am.”

He hadn’t come to see Mu Wanjun this time for no reason, of course.

The thousand taels of reward silver was one thing, but a two-rank promotion was too great a prize. Without support from above, trying to claim it all for himself would be risky.

If things went wrong, he would re-enact Zheng Shiyong’s past misfortune, where his accomplishments were unjustly divided up and given to others.

To claim all the credit without any trouble, having support from a superior was crucial.

For him, Mu Wanjun was the best possible backer.

With her support, he was confident he could secure this achievement.

Mu Wanjun was quite satisfied with Chen Ping’an’s reaction. She gave a slight nod of her elegant head and said, ”There was something else that has been troubling me lately. But now that you’re here, and with this achievement of yours being so timely, that problem has been readily solved.”

”Ma’am?” Chen Ping’an showed a timely hint of confusion.

Mu Wanjun smiled slightly and explained the situation to Chen Ping’an.

As Chen Ping’an listened, he finally understood what had been troubling Mu Wanjun.

Just a few days ago, the Prison Chief of the South City Prison had honorably retired due to old age, returning home to live out his years in peace. While this might have been a good thing for the Prison Chief, it wasn’t necessarily so for Mu Wanjun.

Although Mu Wanjun was the prestigious Chief of the Patrol Office for the South Town Garrison Command, she didn’t wield absolute power or act without restraint. Like most places, the South Town Garrison Command had its own factions, each with different allegiances.

Within the South Town Garrison Command, besides Mu Wanjun’s own faction, there was another one powerful enough to threaten her.

The Vice Chief of the Patrol, Fu Yuanming.

Chen Ping’an had met this man before.

He had run into him at the South Town Garrison Command when Chang Zheng first brought him to see Mu Wanjun.

Chen Ping’an remembered him as a handsome and spirited young man.

Although Mu Wanjun was young, she had an impressive background, backed by the Weishui Mu Family.

In terms of status and background, Fu Yuanming was equally impressive, with the Weishui Fu Family behind him.

The Liu Family, the Mu Family, the Fu Family, and the Fang Family—these four were collectively known as the Four Great Noble Families of Weishui.

Fu Yuanming and Mu Wanjun had never gotten along, engaging in constant struggles, both overt and covert, that touched upon all sorts of matters. As the Chief of the Patrol Office, Mu Wanjun held legitimate authority and thus had the upper hand in their conflicts.

But the recent honorable retirement of the South City Prison’s Prison Chief had exposed a weakness on her side.

The retired Prison Chief had been one of Mu Wanjun’s people. The South City Prison had originally been under her control. But with the Prison Chief’s retirement, Fu Yuanming’s subordinates began to make trouble.

The Vice Prison Chief of the South City Prison was one of Fu Yuanming’s men. With the former Prison Chief retired and Fu Yuanming pulling strings from behind the scenes, this Vice Prison Chief was next in line for the position.

If he succeeded, the South City Prison would gradually slip from Mu Wanjun’s grasp. At the very least, she would lose her dominant influence over it. This would be extremely disadvantageous for her faction.

The Vice Prison Chief had no black marks on his record and even had merits to his name. Having served in the South City Prison for many years, his succession was perfectly justifiable. If she were to reject his promotion, it would not only be against the rules but would also cause her to lose face.

Fortunately, while Mu Wanjun couldn’t reject it outright, she could at least delay the matter for a while. However, despite stalling for several days, she hadn’t found a better solution. She had many trusted confidants in the South Town Garrison Command, but without exception, all who were qualified already held significant power. Those she could potentially promote, on the other hand, weren’t qualified.

For a time, Mu Wanjun had been at a loss, knitting her brows in frustration.

Unexpectedly, Chen Ping’an’s arrival was a godsend, providing the perfect solution to her predicament.

”Ma’am, are you saying you want me to be the Prison Chief of the South City Prison?”

”That’s right.” Mu Wanjun looked at Chen Ping’an and said, ”You have merit for killing Zuo Wumei, so a two-rank promotion is justified. You currently hold the position of Candidate for Deputy; a two-rank promotion is sufficient to qualify you for the position of Prison Chief.”

”Of course, if you are unwilling and would rather be promoted to an Inspectorate in charge of a district, I won’t blame you.”

Mu Wanjun stared into Chen Ping’an’s eyes.

”As long as it benefits you, Ma’am, I will go anywhere. I am at your disposal.”

Chen Ping’an cupped his fist in a salute.

”Very good.”

Mu Wanjun was gratified.

If Chen Ping’an had chosen the promotion to an Inspectorate in charge of a district, she truly wouldn’t have blamed him. However, in the days to come, she would have kept a closer eye on him, observing him with more scrutiny.

It was always disappointing when someone you carefully nurtured couldn’t be of use at a critical moment.

”You may go back for now and await your orders.”

With a wave of her hand, Mu Wanjun dismissed him.

The opportunity to turn the situation at the South City Prison around had arrived, but to actually make it happen, she had a lot of work ahead of her.

”Yes.”

Chen Ping’an bowed with his hands clasped and turned to leave.

A district Inspectorate and the Prison Chief of the South City Prison were both at the Inspectorate level; both were the top figures of their respective institutions.

However, the former’s scope was broader, with more people under its jurisdiction. The latter’s scope was singular, but it had the advantage of being a registered position directly under the South Town Garrison Command.

Both were excellent options.

But if one had to compare, the district Inspectorate was undoubtedly the better choice, especially for someone with a desire for power and control.

But to Chen Ping’an, it really didn’t matter.

His thoughts were very clear.

At this stage, his most important task was to focus on his Cultivation of the Martial Dao.

A mere Inspectorate was far from his final destination. A much wider world awaited him in the future.

’After all, I managed to loot some pretty good things from Zuo Wumei’s body.’