Daqian Martial Saint

Chen Ping’an occasionally caught wind of the discussions among the people at the residence. It wasn’t that he heard them with his own ears—they weren’t that bold. He learned about it by questioning the elite constables he had brought with him.

While waiting for a reply from the Weishui Garrison, Chen Ping’an continued his Cultivation at the Five Peaks Mountain Residence as usual, undisturbed by the commotions of the outside world.

Over the next few days, in addition to his Cultivation, he made a special trip to Five Peaks Mountain City. He once again visited Guan Yu Ping’s mansion.

Guan Yu Ping was reclining on a long chair, enjoying a gentle massage from a Maid. Wan Yuanze stood before him, reporting on the situation outside.

”Lord Guan, Chen Ping’an is outside the gate. He says he needs to see you.”

”Oh?” A mocking expression appeared on Guan Yu Ping’s face. ”He really can’t sit still, can he? Never mind the frequent letters a few days ago, but now, after just a short while, he’s come running to my door himself?”

”Perhaps because you have not returned to the residence, and he is under a three-month deadline, he’s getting restless and impatient,” Wan Yuanze said quietly, cupping his fist.

”Restless? He’s still too young, after all! How can someone so impulsive and impatient ever accomplish anything great!” Guan Yu Ping’s expression was playful. ”As for the three-month deadline, that’s not what his letters from the past few days said. Didn’t he claim he’s made progress in the investigation concerning Feng Shixian and hoped I would return to the residence soon to receive his report in person?”

”It’s likely just an excuse. He’s trying to trick you, Lord, into returning first to clarify his duties!”

”Haha, true enough!” Guan Yu Ping raised a hand, signaling the Maid behind him to stop. ”It seems he can’t stand it at the residence any longer. He’s desperate for me to go back, clarify his responsibilities, and let him proceed with his work. Well, I’m going to do the exact opposite of what he wants! Go, tell him I have not yet come out of seclusion. He is to wait for my return to discuss anything.”

”Yes, Lord!” Wan Yuanze saluted with a cupped fist and departed.

”Hmph! What an idiot!” Guan Yu Ping sneered. ”As long as your duties are unclear, I can control you however I please. If I clarify them for you, how could I keep you in my grasp? To think he’d rush over so rashly without thinking it through!

”The world of adults is about the exchange of benefits, not playing house like children, acting on whims. If you want to break this stalemate, Chen Ping’an, you should ask yourself: what can you offer me?”

As the Inspection Envoy, the gap between him and Chen Ping’an, the Vice Envoy, wasn’t actually that exaggerated. The reason he held the upper hand in every situation was primarily because he was bullying Chen Ping’an for being a newcomer whose duties had not yet been defined. He had no foundation here to begin with, and now he was a man with a title but no real authority.

This was the perfect time for Guan Yu Ping to suppress him. If he clarified Chen Ping’an’s responsibilities this early, he would still have an advantage in dealing with him, but it would be nothing like the absolute control he had now.

The news that Chen Ping’an had been turned away at Guan Yu Ping’s door for a second time quickly spread among the various powers in Five Peaks Mountain City.

The Wei Family.

The Wei Family Patriarch, Wei Zhenheng, sat behind a long table, analyzing the latest news he had just received.

”Chen Ping’an was thoroughly snubbed. What little prestige he had is probably gone for good now!”

”Being a Deputy Inspection Envoy must be so frustrating for this Chen Ping’an! But what can he do? Guan Yu Ping has already entered the Profound Light Realm! The gap between them is too great, not just in terms of power and status, but also in their Martial Arts Realm. No matter how stifled Chen Ping’an feels, he can only swallow his pride and accept it!”

”However, this matter has little to do with our Wei Family. We are on good terms with Guan Yu Ping, and his dominance is in our best interest!”

”Even if Chen Ping’an has the reputation of a prodigy, he’s probably helpless when faced with the politics of the system! From the looks of it, he won’t be holding onto his position as Vice Envoy for long! Perhaps our Wei Family doesn’t need to bet on him by trying to build a good relationship.”

”We should discuss this matter with Third Great-Uncle before making a final decision.”

”...”

...

As he was, after all, the Outer Trade Road Patrol Deputy Envoy, quite a few people were paying attention to Chen Ping’an’s movements. After being turned away, Chen Ping’an seemed to be in a bad mood. He wandered around Five Peaks Mountain City for a while, even going into several shops to buy a few things.

Only then did he leave Five Peaks Mountain City at an unhurried pace.

’This Deputy Inspection Envoy got an earful from Guan Yu Ping and can only vent his frustrations this way!’

’But then again, the way a prodigy’s mind works is really different from ours. To think he’d relieve stress by shopping.’

A spy mused silently.

...

After returning to the residence from Five Peaks Mountain City, Chen Ping’an resumed his regular Cultivation of the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill.

However, the chatter about him within the residence grew even louder.

The new Deputy Inspection Envoy had been snubbed on his second visit. The animosity Lord Guan Yu Ping felt for the newcomer was probably even greater than they had imagined.

After returning to the residence, Chen Ping’an waited for several days, but no reply came from the Weishui Garrison.

He didn’t seem to mind, however. At this stage, whether the Weishui Garrison replied or not was of little consequence.

The only exception would be if the Weishui Garrison acted with extreme efficiency and dispatched a Special Envoy specifically to coordinate and resolve the matter.

But that was basically impossible. With Liu Yuanhua there, he would be more than happy to see Chen Ping’an fail. When the three-month deadline arrived, Liu Yuanhua would be able to hold him directly accountable.

With no reply from the Weishui Garrison, Chen Ping’an showed no signs of impatience. He remained secluded, burying himself in his practice day after day. In the last few days, he had begun attempting to complete 15 Circulations daily.

In stark contrast to Chen Ping’an’s tranquility, public opinion at the residence was in an uproar, with discussions swirling everywhere.

Among them, Niu Lianggong’s reaction was the most vehement.

”Everyone get ready! A new Deputy Inspection Envoy will be here soon! I’m afraid our current one won’t be staying for long!”

”I told you so! The Martial Dao isn’t everything. Having talent without understanding the rules of the system is just useless!”

”Hmph! Just you all watch. The day he leaves in disgrace, I’ll be sure to get on my horse and give our ’Lord’ a proper send-off. I wonder if he’ll still have the nerve to ask, ’Why do you not dismount upon seeing this envoy!?’”

”Pah! What a wet-behind-the-ears punk! Who does he think he is!”

”...”

It is human nature to bully the weak and fear the strong.

A powerhouse draws their blade against one who is stronger, but the weak land their fists upon those who are even weaker.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of people in this world are weak.

The unconcealed animosity and suppression from his superior, Guan Yu Ping, combined with Chen Ping’an’s low-key, secluded Cultivation, led many to misjudge the situation.

This was also why so many new officials were always keen to ”light three fires” upon taking office.

The so-called ”three fires” were merely the surface. Their essence was threefold: first, to establish authority; second, to test their subordinates; and third, to make a declaration.

Another five or six days passed, and the reply from the Weishui Garrison finally arrived, long overdue.

As Chen Ping’an had expected, the Weishui Garrison did not address the matter directly. The letter merely stated that they would inquire into the reason for Guan Yu Ping’s prolonged absence from the residence and would communicate further after clarifying the cause of the incident.

The Weishui Garrison’s perfunctory, evasive, and equivocal attitude could not have been more obvious!

”Excellent!”

After reading the letter from the Weishui Garrison, Chen Ping’an did not fly into a rage and destroy it. Instead, he carefully stored it away.

’With this, all the links in the chain are now complete!’ A chill glint appeared on Chen Ping’an’s face.

’Next, it all depends on Zhao Zhiteng’s response!’

His actions in Five Peaks Mountain City over the past few days, including his second visit to Guan Yu Ping, were not what the outside world had guessed. It had all been a cover for him to contact the Qiankun Bureau.

’He couldn’t take down a Celestial Net Sect stronghold all by himself!’