Daqian Martial Saint

On the road outside Five Peaks Mountain City, hooves thundered and dust billowed, kicking up fallen leaves and sand from the roadside. A group of several riders swept across the land like a gale, charging straight for the city.

”Halt! Galloping is forbidden within Five Peaks Mountain City!”

At the city gate, a constable on guard saw the swift horses approaching in the distance. He filled his lungs and bellowed.

The riders, their expressions cold and indifferent, ignored the constable’s warning. Their powerful mounts galloped on as they charged straight into Five Peaks Mountain City.

SHING! SHING! SHING!

Seeing things take a bad turn, the constables at the gate drew the sabers from their waists, intending to block the riders’ path.

”Make way! The Qiankun Bureau is on official business! Everyone, get out of the way!”

”Hmph!” The leader, a Command Flag strapped to his back, snorted coldly.

BOOM!

As a Profound Light flashed between his brows, an invisible aura rippled outward. The constables blocking the gate were tossed into the air like burlap sacks before crashing heavily to the ground.

”Courting death.” The leader’s gaze was scornful as he scanned the scene, his face a mask of contempt.

’Mere grunts, daring to stand in my way!’

CLIP-CLOP! CLIP-CLOP! CLIP-CLOP!

Amidst a flurry of urgent hoofbeats, the riders charged straight into Five Peaks Mountain City.

The riders stormed into Five Peaks Mountain City, galloping recklessly through the streets and causing passersby to stare in shock. Their horses weaved through the crowds, brushing past pedestrians and triggering waves of terrified screams. People scattered in panic. Some fell to the ground, others shrieked in terror. The scene was pure chaos.

”You madmen, stop!” an old man on the roadside shouted angrily, pointing a trembling hand at the riders.

However, the old man’s furious shout had no effect. It only earned him a cold, indifferent glare.

AH!

The old man cried out and collapsed, groaning in pain.

”Make way! Make way!”

”That was too close! Just a little bit more and I’d have been a goner!”

”...”

The entire route from the city gate to the Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau descended into chaos. Patrolling constables saw the commotion and tried to intervene, but they all failed. In the face of such an absolute disparity in power, their efforts were futile.

’Just a bunch of peasants from a small city!’ Hearing the surrounding cries of alarm and pain, Tong Jin felt not a shred of pity, only exhilaration.

Even within the Qiankun Bureau, personalities varied wildly. Some despised evil as if it were a personal foe, others were incorruptibly impartial, and some fawned on their superiors while bullying those beneath them. Then there were those like Tong Jin, who insisted on class distinctions and held commoners in utter contempt.

Back in the State City, Noble Families were everywhere, surrounded by the great and powerful. Naturally, he wouldn’t dare act so outrageously there. But now he had a rare chance to come down to the provinces, and arriving with the authority of the Qiankun Bureau to hold someone accountable, he certainly wasn’t going to restrain himself.

’It’s just a small city, not even a County City. It wouldn’t matter if a few of them died!’

...

The riders headed straight for the Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau, drawing the attention of numerous constables. Zhong Shanyong, having just received the news, rushed out from the bureau to greet them.

”May I ask what business brings you gentlemen here?” Zhong Shanyong asked, suppressing his anger as he offered a cupped-fist salute.

From their attire, he had already recognized them: they were from the Qiankun Bureau, and by the looks of it, not low-ranking members either.

”And who are you?” Tong Jin demanded, pulling on his reins and looking down from atop his horse. ”Where is Chen Ping’an?”

The Qiankun Bureau had always held authority over the Garrison Commandant’s Office. Though indignant, Zhong Shanyong considered the bigger picture and held his temper. But since the matter concerned his commander, his voice boomed.

”I am Zhong Shanyong, Deputy Commander of the Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau! I ask you, sir, for what reason do you seek our commander?”

”What reason?” Tong Jin sneered. ”I’m here to take Chen Ping’an into custody! What reason do *you* think?”

WHAT!?

Zhong Shanyong’s face fell, but he forced a smile. ”Sir, you must be joking. Our commander governs this region, bringing fortune to its people for a hundred li around. How can you speak of taking him into custody?”

”Joking?” A sinister chill crept into Tong Jin’s narrow eyes. ”Does the Qiankun Bureau joke when conducting an investigation? A month ago, our Silver Gong Qiankun Envoy, Lord Cao Yingxiong, died near Red Maple Mountain. The only person he met before his death was Chen Ping’an, and a conflict had arisen between them! If Chen Ping’an isn’t a suspect in Lord Cao’s death, then you tell me, who is?”

Zhong Shanyong had been apprehensive, but upon hearing this, a mocking smile crept onto his face. ”And do you have any evidence for that claim, sir?”

”Are you questioning me?” Tong Jin’s eyes filled with a bone-chilling cold, and the Profound Light between his brows began to flicker.

Zhong Shanyong offered a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. ”I wouldn’t dare. It’s just... Lord Cao was famous throughout the Weishui region, a man whose combat prowess was said to rival that of a dragon or a tiger! Whoever could kill a man like that must be an infamous villain of great renown. Our commander, on the other hand, is as gentle as jade and kind to all. Don’t you find your own words absurd, sir?”

BOOM!

Before Zhong Shanyong could finish speaking, a torrential aura erupted from Tong Jin, stirring up what felt like an invisible shockwave in the courtyard.

Zhong Shanyong clutched his chest and let out a stifled grunt. Under the pressure of Tong Jin’s aura, he felt his own Qi Blood roil within him, threatening to surge up his throat.

”Mang Blade Chen Ping’an is reckless and arrogant in his conduct. Since when was he ’gentle as jade’ or ’kind to all’? Or are you referring to when he hung Wu Tianqi, the Steward of the Wu Family Trading Team, from the city wall?”

Tong Jin’s expression was glacial. He pulled on his reins and urged his horse forward at a slow walk, closing the distance.

At this, Zhong Shanyong’s defiance hardened. He dropped all pretense and glared coldly at Tong Jin.