Daqian Martial Saint

”Join the Fang Family?”

Chen Ping’an froze for a moment at those words.

’It seems the Martial Dao aptitude I’ve displayed is enough to make the Fang Family try and recruit me.’

Fang Shicheng was here as a Steward of the Fang Family, tasked with persuading him to join them.

The Fang Family was one of the Four Great Noble Families of Weishui County City. Their power was immense, and their heritage was long. Joining such a Noble Family could indeed be considered a wonderful opportunity.

However, since Chen Ping’an was already in the Garrison Commandant’s Office and had received considerable care from Mu Wanjun, the Mu Family would be his first choice if he were to pledge allegiance to any Noble Family.

Furthermore, while the recruitment terms Fang Shicheng offered were decent, they came with many restrictions.

For example, Chen Ping’an would be required to serve the Fang Family for at least thirty years.

It was called ”joining the Fang Family,” but in reality, it was more like becoming one of their outer followers, with a status not much higher than a servant’s.

None of this was acceptable to Chen Ping’an.

”Greetings, Steward Fang. I am doing well at the Garrison Commandant’s Office and have no plans to join a family clan for the time being.”

Chen Ping’an refused tactfully.

”Young Master Chen, you may not be aware. Joining the Fang Family will not hinder your development in the Garrison Commandant’s Office in the slightest. On the contrary, the Fang Family will be your greatest support, helping you establish yourself and even climb higher within the office.”

Fang Shicheng explained with a beaming smile.

”I am used to my freedom. Thirty years is too long, and I truly have no desire to join a faction and be at someone else’s beck and call. I appreciate your kind offer, Steward Fang, but I must decline.”

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands in a slight bow, a smile on his face, but his refusal was firm.

His future was bound to be brilliant. Why would he choose to live under someone else’s roof for such a paltry gain?

”Young Master Chen, joining a faction does indeed mean sacrificing a certain degree of freedom. But the benefits are also plain to see. For example...”

Fang Shicheng droned on, listing the advantages of joining the Fang Family.

”Our Fang Family has a thousand-year heritage, and others have been absorbed into the clan before. Among them, one performed so exceptionally that he caught the eye of the current Patriarch. He was promoted repeatedly and eventually married a Noble Daughter of the Fang Family, becoming one of our Fang Family Elders.”

Marrying a Noble Daughter of the Fang Family, becoming a live-in son-in-law! And later, one of the family’s leaders!

The gap between a Noble Family with a thousand-year legacy and a commoner’s family was an unbridgeable chasm.

But a story of someone rising up from the bottom, making careful moves, and ultimately marrying a Noble Daughter—such a tale was enough to make one’s heart race with excitement. This was especially true for inexperienced youths who had seen little of the world.

But...

Such an example was surely an exception among exceptions.

’In the Fang Family’s thousand-year history, how many people like that could there have been?’

What Fang Shicheng said might not be false. But for the vast majority of people, it was just a story.

Chen Ping’an merely smiled in response to Fang Shicheng’s words, saying nothing.

’I have the Golden Finger Panel. Why would I care about becoming a live-in son-in-law for some Noble Family?’

Never mind being a live-in son-in-law; even if the opportunity to marry a Noble Daughter was placed right before him, he would likely hesitate.

”Young Master Chen, what I’ve said is absolutely true. The benefits are all real and genuine.”

Fang Shicheng wore a smile as he looked at Chen Ping’an, awaiting his answer.

’If the young man before me agrees, he can avoid years of struggle. With such a temptation laid out, not just anyone can refuse.’

He was confident Chen Ping’an would agree.

”Thank you for the detailed explanation, Steward Fang, but my ambitions do not lie here. Please understand.”

Chen Ping’an rejected him outright, a faint smile on his face.

”Young Master Chen, sometimes, once an opportunity passes, it never comes again.”

Fang Shicheng said, his expression turning slightly cold.

’He refused!’

He hadn’t expected Chen Ping’an to actually refuse.

”I understand.”

Chen Ping’an said with a faint smile.

”Hmph.”

Fang Shicheng snorted lightly.

With the negotiations failed and the recruitment unsuccessful, Fang Shicheng’s attitude turned cold. He took out a booklet he had prepared earlier and handed it to Chen Ping’an.

”The treasures on the first floor of the inner vault are all recorded in here. Take a look for yourself.”

’How pragmatic!’

Chen Ping’an took the booklet, finding the situation amusing.

Fang Shicheng’s current attitude was a world of difference from how he had been just moments ago.

Chen Ping’an flipped through the booklet in his hands, which recorded various treasures one by one.

Well, they were called treasures.

In reality, that was a bit of an exaggeration.

The most valuable item among them was only on par with the Sharp Blade Hundred Pattern Saber he already possessed.

For a great Noble Family like the Fang Family, the word ”treasure” was undoubtedly a bit laughable for these items!

Watching Chen Ping’an flip through the booklet, a mocking glint flashed in Fang Shicheng’s eyes.

He actually had two booklets on him, both listing treasures from the first floor of the inner vault. The difference was that one listed valuable items, while the other listed ordinary ones.

If Chen Ping’an had been successfully recruited, he would have been given the valuable one. The treasures recorded inside would have served as a welcome gift from the Fang Family.

Since the recruitment had failed, he had given him this one instead.

The world believed that the top echelon of power and wealth was generous and didn’t fuss over gains and losses.

But in reality, the more powerful one was, the more they focused on the gains and losses of every single matter.

What the world believed was just that—an assumption.

When a lucky person appeared, who by chance gained the favor of the elite and soared to the heavens...

...that too was a message the elite wished to send, setting an example to make the masses yearn for it.

Of course, in a situation like Chen Ping’an’s, there was another possibility under different circumstances.

Even if he wasn’t successfully recruited, if he had a powerful background, the Fang Family could use this opportunity to go with the flow, show goodwill, and use Chen Ping’an as a pretext to build a relationship with the power behind him.

That was the true way of survival for the great Noble Families!

Although the items in the booklet weren’t particularly precious, they weren’t too shabby either.

After all, the Fang Family’s reputation was at stake.

In the end, Chen Ping’an chose a pair of boots.

The Black Cloud Brocade Boots!

The Black Cloud Brocade Boots were meticulously crafted by a skilled Craftsman using the finest materials, making them sturdy and durable.

In terms of value, they were no less than the Sharp Blade Hundred Pattern Saber!

Chen Ping’an chose them for his own reasons, of course. He had recently acquired the Superior Lightweight Skill, Eight Steps Chasing Cicada, and naturally wanted to equip himself accordingly.

Ordinary boots would work, but they were ultimately lacking.

Fang Shicheng was a little surprised by Chen Ping’an’s choice, but he didn’t say much.

’He’s just a country bumpkin from the Outer City after all, hasn’t seen any real treasures.’

The booklet was just a record; the Fang Family’s inner vault didn’t actually contain a finished pair of Black Cloud Brocade Boots. The family would later arrange for a Craftsman to custom-make them for Chen Ping’an.

After Chen Ping’an had chosen his treasure, Fang Shicheng didn’t waste any more words on him and simply showed him out.

Chen Ping’an left the Treasure Pavilion and followed a winding path that twisted and turned, passing by a pavilion next to a pond.

In the pavilion, several lavishly dressed young boys and girls were laughing and playing together, full of cheer.

Maids stood waiting behind them, and the stone table in the center was laden with an opulent spread of pastries and delicacies.

Fang Shicheng bowed his waist and respectfully greeted the youths in the pavilion.

”Greetings, young masters and young misses.”

The young boys and girls were engrossed in their game and paid him no mind.

Fang Shicheng didn’t seem embarrassed, simply chuckling as he led Chen Ping’an away. Chen Ping’an glanced at the group in the pavilion and noticed that the youngest among them looked to be about Nannan’s age.

The sons and daughters of Noble Families were pampered and privileged, free from the hardships of life. The children of common folk, however, had to shoulder life’s burdens from an early age, weathering storm after storm.

Born as humans, yet so vastly different.

Ah, humanity!