Daqian Martial Saint

Chen Ping’an got off his shift early and returned home, where he enjoyed a delicious meal with Chen Erya.

The housekeeper had cooked dinner. It was delicious and quite sumptuous.

With his current income, affording such a lavish meal was no trouble at all for Chen Ping’an.

Only an ample diet could sustain his Martial Dao cultivation.

The siblings chatted for a while, as they always did, before Chen Ping’an began cultivating the Golden Bell Shield.

The Golden Bell Shield was a technique of Inner and Outer Cultivation, and each session required his complete and unwavering focus.

+1.

+1.

+1.

...

During his cultivation, streams of Cultivation Experience flowed through him.

Finally, having reached a certain point, Chen Ping’an slowly concluded his practice.

After finishing his Golden Bell Shield practice, he didn’t go inside as usual. Instead, he changed into a set of black martial arts robes and went straight out the door.

He had already told Chen Erya his plans when she called him for dinner, so there was no need to say anything more.

The Flower Thief, Zuo Wumei!

A dangerous glint flashed in Chen Ping’an’s eyes.

’As long as Zuo Wumei lives, he remains a threat. He’s in the shadows, while I’m out in the open.’

Chen Ping’an hated this feeling.

Tonight, he would go out and lie in wait for his prey.

’It’d be for the best if Zuo Wumei didn’t show up. But if he does... hmph...’

If his guess was correct, Zuo Wumei would almost certainly appear tonight.

There were two possibilities: he would either go back to Tian Fuliang’s house, or he would come here, to his.

During the day, he had gathered a good deal of information on Zuo Wumei, gaining some insight into his personality. There were two reasons Zuo Wumei hadn’t yet left Weishui County City. One was the lockdown at the city gates, but the other, he feared, was a desire to make a name for himself.

And to make a name for himself in Nanquan Lane, targeting either him or Tian Fuliang was the best way to do it.

Compared to Tian Fuliang, he probably seemed like the softer, easier target on the surface.

Dressed in black, Chen Ping’an lay prone on a corner of the roof, observing his surroundings.

From his vantage point, he had a crystal-clear view of the area around his own courtyard. If Zuo Wumei came, he would definitely appear within his line of sight.

The moonlight was dim. Chen Ping’an controlled his breathing, his body pressed flat against the roof tiles, hidden in the shadows. A casual glance wouldn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary.

Time passed, bit by bit, and the night deepened.

Chen Ping’an was very patient, waiting quietly for his target to arrive.

He waited, and waited, all the way until dawn.

’Zuo Wumei... didn’t come?’

A thread of doubt rose in Chen Ping’an’s mind as he vaulted down from the eaves.

”Could he have gone to Tian Fuliang’s house?”

...

After going on duty, Chen Ping’an asked around and discovered there had been no sign of Zuo Wumei last night.

’Did I guess wrong?’

Chen Ping’an grew doubtful.

But no matter what, Zuo Wumei had to die. Otherwise, he would never be at ease.

For the entire day, Chen Ping’an left the Garrison Commandant’s Office and moved about Nanquan Lane, searching for any trace of Zuo Wumei.

The constables of Nanquan Lane weren’t idle either, searching the area house by house.

But by the time his shift ended, there was still no news.

’Where could Zuo Wumei be hiding?’

’Could he have left already?’

Chen Ping’an was uncertain.

Still, with no definitive news, he couldn’t relax. That night, he once again hid on the roof, secretly observing his surroundings.

His Qi Blood was abundant and his energy was high; going a day or two without sleep was no great issue.

The night deepened.

Just as Chen Ping’an was beginning to think Zuo Wumei wouldn’t come this night either, he spotted a dark figure flitting across the rooftops in the distance.

’He’s here!’

Chen Ping’an’s expression tightened.

The figure was extremely fast, its movements fluid and graceful.

’Impressive Lightweight Skill.’

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but feel a flicker of admiration.

The dark figure drew closer and closer to his position, apparently heading straight for his courtyard.

’Courting death!’

Chen Ping’an was already prepared. As soon as the figure was close enough, he would strike without hesitation and kill him on the spot.

At the Perfection Level of the Qi Blood Sixth Layer, he had more than enough confidence.

A Flying Locust Stone was already in Chen Ping’an’s hand.

WHOOSH!

But the figure’s trajectory suddenly changed, not moving as Chen Ping’an had anticipated.

’He spotted me!’

Reacting on pure instinct, Chen Ping’an’s body sprang up from his position like a taut bowstring released.

BANG!

The roof beneath where Chen Ping’an had been just a moment ago exploded, sending tiles flying.

’A technique similar to the Flying Locust Stone!’

Chen Ping’an identified the figure’s technique in a single glance.

”Well now, your reactions aren’t slow.”

The dark figure sounded slightly surprised.

His attack had been incredibly subtle; an ordinary Qi Blood Realm cultivator would never have been able to react in time.

”Who are you?”

”I should be the one asking you that!”

Chen Ping’an stood on the roof, staring at the dark figure from a distance.

”Who is this skulking villain? State your name!”

The dark figure laughed. He was no Jianghu novice. The man was ostensibly asking for his name, but he was really just making noise to attract attention.

”Petty tricks! It’s pointless.”

The figure snorted coldly, and with a flick of his body, leaped down toward the courtyard below.

The newcomer was none other than Zuo Wumei.

Because he had already alerted his prey, he had taken a night to rest and recuperate. After he struck tonight, once he succeeded, he would flee far away.

He never imagined someone would be lying in wait for him. And from the looks of it, this person had some real skill.

But what did it matter?

He would just abduct Chen Ping’an’s little sister. What could the man possibly do to him then?

”Get out of my way!”

Chen Ping’an hadn’t cultivated any Light Body Technique. Seeing Zuo Wumei heading for his home, he leaped from the roof like a Vajra, the wind howling as he crashed heavily to the ground.

’So fierce?’

Zuo Wumei was startled.

He judged in an instant that this was a warrior with an impressive Martial Arts Realm.

But Zuo Wumei had made his way by licking blood from the edge of a blade. In just a flash, he reacted, his saber instantly drawn from his waist. Its momentum was focused as it slashed directly at Chen Ping’an.

At almost the exact same moment, Chen Ping’an’s Sharp Blade Hundred Pattern Saber was also unsheathed.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Blades flashed as the two clashed.

’Such a fast saber!’

Chen Ping’an was slightly astonished.

The speed of his opponent’s saber skill was actually far superior to his own Perfection Level Public Door Thirteen Sabers.

’Qi Blood Sixth Layer!’

It wasn’t just Chen Ping’an who was shocked; Zuo Wumei was as well. He never expected some random man to pop up who was actually a Martial Arts Master at the Qi Blood Sixth Layer!

’There’s a skilled martial artist of the Qi Blood Sixth Layer in Nanquan Lane?’

A trace of doubt flashed through Zuo Wumei’s mind.

But this was clearly not the time for doubt. His opponent’s blade flashed, the shifts in his Saber Momentum fluid and seamless. Although it was still inferior to his own saber skill, it was clearly backed by profound mastery.

Zuo Wumei quickly made his judgment.

He wouldn’t be able to defeat this opponent in a short time.

’Can’t drag this out. I have to go!’

Zuo Wumei’s figure flickered as he made an instant decision.

Their battle had already caused a commotion. If the fight dragged on, the situation would turn against him. Zuo Wumei chose to retreat with extreme decisiveness.

There was a reason Zuo Wumei had managed to live this long.

It was just a damn shame...

Two failures in a row! Who the hell had he pissed off?

The first time, against a Qi Blood Fifth Layer, he could understand it. After all, that was at the home of someone from the Inspectorate. But this second time, some Qi Blood Sixth Layer master just popped out of nowhere! Who was he supposed to complain to about this absurdity?

DAMN IT...

”Where do you think you’re going!”

Zuo Wumei wanted to leave, but Chen Ping’an obviously wasn’t going to let him escape.

WHOOSH!

Zuo Wumei’s Lightweight Skill was impressive; with just a few leaps, he covered a great distance.

Fortunately, although Chen Ping’an knew no Lightweight Skill, he had his Flying Locust Stones. By throwing them from time to time to interfere with his opponent, he was just barely able to keep up.

With one fleeing and one chasing, the two of them quickly crossed two streets.

Upon reaching a corner of an alley, Zuo Wumei suddenly stopped.

He slowly turned around, a cold sneer appearing on his lips as he looked at Chen Ping’an, who had caught up to him.

”What do you think? Satisfied with the Tomb Digger’s Land I found for you?”

The alley was secluded. It was a nearly perfect place to destroy a body and eliminate all traces.

As a former Inner Qi Master, Zuo Wumei naturally had a few trump cards up his sleeve.

As it happened, the day of rest he took yesterday had allowed his injuries to recover just enough for him to use one of his ultimate techniques.

Against this move, anyone below the Inner Qi Realm had only a sliver of a chance of survival!

His opponent was a dead man!