Daqian Martial Saint

The Chu Family of White Stone City.

”The new Deputy Commander killed a Protector from the Quicksand Gang on the spot?”

”Yes, Patriarch.”

”What was the Quicksand Gang’s reaction?”

”According to our inside sources, the Quicksand Gang’s Vice Gang Leader is furious. It’s not yet clear what they’ll do next.”

”How exciting.”

”...”

The White Stone City Commerce Alliance.

Representatives from the various merchant guilds within the alliance were listening to the latest news.

”This new Deputy Commander sure has guts!”

”He’s young and impulsive, which is normal! But I didn’t expect the Quicksand Gang’s probing to be so aggressive this time.”

”Aggressive is good. With the Quicksand Gang sticking their necks out for us, we can just sit back and reap the benefits.”

”Hahaha, that’s true.”

”...”

The Blood Oath Alliance of White Stone City.

Inside the Alliance’s Yiqi Hall stood nine grand chairs. Seven figures were seated upon them.

”The Quicksand Gang went too far with their probing this time, and they lost a Protector. They won’t let this go. I’m afraid they’ll demand an explanation from the Garrison Commandant’s Office.”

”An explanation? I doubt it. Yin Zisheng is no fool. He won’t be that rash!”

”Alliance Leader, are you saying Yin Zisheng will just swallow this?”

”He won’t just swallow it, but he’ll likely try to bargain for some benefits to recoup his losses.”

”Yin Zisheng is quite the schemer.”

”Now, let’s see how this young Deputy Commander reacts. Was it a moment of impulse, or will he stand his ground to the very end?”

”...”

The Crocodile Gang of White Stone City.

”If the Quicksand Gang pushes forward, the Garrison Commandant’s Office will lose all prestige. If the Garrison Commandant’s Office pushes back, both sides will suffer heavy losses! Either way, the situation is to our advantage! We will not get involved with either side in this matter. We’ll just wait and see!”

”Yes, Gang Leader.”

”...”

...

Scenes like these played out among all the major powers in White Stone City. An incident like this occurring at Chen Ping’an’s own welcome banquet undoubtedly made it the focus of everyone’s attention.

They were also curious whether Chen Ping’an’s sudden outburst was an act of impulse or a well-calculated, premeditated move. The Garrison Commandant’s Office’s next move would largely reveal the new Deputy Commander Chen Ping’an’s true intentions.

However, the vast majority of the powers believed that in the ensuing negotiations, the Garrison Commandant’s Office would most likely make some concessions and offer the Quicksand Gang appropriate compensation.

After all, if the situation escalated, it would be disadvantageous for Chen Ping’an! He had just arrived and taken office. If his relationship with the Quicksand Gang soured, it would hinder his future duties.

Furthermore, Feng Shixian was not in White Stone City. The current White Stone City Garrison Commandant’s Office had no decent experts to back them up.

The Quicksand Gang Leader, Yin Zisheng, was at the Inner Qi First Level Perfection. He had also cultivated two superior cultivation methods, both of which he had practiced to a remarkable realm. He was considered to be at the pinnacle of the First Stage of Inner Qi.

In the current White Stone City Garrison Commandant’s Office—including the Chiefs of the Patrol Offices from the five major districts and all the Inner Qi Tributors—there was not a single person who had reached the Second Stage of Inner Qi.

Under such circumstances, it would be difficult for the Garrison Commandant’s Office to effectively suppress the Quicksand Gang in a small-scale confrontation.

Everyone was curious to see how this incident would unfold.

The next day, everyone in the Garrison Commandant’s Office, from top to bottom, was focused on what had happened the previous night.

Inside the Task Room, many Constables were excitedly discussing the events of the previous night.

”You should have seen it! That Protector from the Quicksand Gang was so arrogant. Not only was he late, but he acted as if Lord Chen was beneath his notice, showing no respect whatsoever! He even had the audacity to present a single folding fan as a tribute gift!”

”So arrogant! He was completely looking down on our Garrison Commandant’s Office.”

”Yeah, and you think Lord Chen would stand for that? He killed the Quicksand Gang Protector right on the spot!”

”Satisfying! So satisfying! It was incredibly satisfying!”

”Hell yeah!”

”Mmm... It was satisfying, alright, but what happens now?”

”What do you mean, ’what happens now’?”

”The Quicksand Gang has already sent an invitation for Lord Chen to meet them again tonight at the Drunken Immortal Tower. This matter is not going to end well.”

”So what if it doesn’t end well? You think our Garrison Commandant’s Office is afraid of them?!”

”We’re certainly not afraid of the Quicksand Gang on its own, but here in White Stone City, there are also...”

The Constable who said this trailed off, saying no more.

The other Constables all fell silent, having clearly understood the current situation as well.

The Quicksand Gang by itself was not to be feared. In a one-on-one confrontation, the Garrison Commandant’s Office had the strength to crush them. But that wasn’t the problem. Besides the Quicksand Gang, other powers in White Stone City were eyeing them like hungry tigers. If relations with the Quicksand Gang were to break down, the other powers wouldn’t get involved openly, but they would certainly cause plenty of trouble behind the scenes.

At that point, the Garrison Commandant’s Office would be run ragged, only growing weaker.

But if they didn’t take a hard line against the Quicksand Gang, what little prestige the Garrison Commandant’s Office had left would suffer a major blow.

Regarding the Quicksand Gang, whether the Garrison Commandant’s Office acted or not, the situation was unfavorable! It was a true dilemma!

And the reason they had ended up in this position was precisely because of Lord Chen’s actions last night.

It was satisfying, yes! But the bigger picture... what could be done about it!

Sigh. In the end, Lord Chen was just too impulsive.

The few Constables exchanged glances and sighed.

’Patience brings calm waters; a step back reveals a broader sky!’

’Sometimes, strategic execution requires tactical retreat! We’ve ended up in such a passive position because he lacked self-control!’

’I wonder if Lord Chen...’

’...regrets it?’

...

The moon rose above the treetops, and the area outside the Drunken Immortal Tower was bustling with activity.

Men from the Quicksand Gang crowded the street outside, and the row of men standing at the very front all looked menacing.

”The Gang Leader has been waiting inside for so long. Why aren’t the people from the Garrison Commandant’s Office here yet?”

”Who knows? Right? I heard this new Deputy Commander is just a kid, barely a man grown. Seeing our whole crew swarming here, how would he dare show up? Wouldn’t be surprised if he pissed his pants in fear.”

”Pissed his pants!? Hahaha, you think so?”

”It’s perfectly normal for a little kid to piss his pants!”

”That’s true!”

”Hahahaha...”

A group of Quicksand Gang members were shooting their mouths off, exchanging glances and bursting into laughter at the exciting parts.

”They’re here! They’re here!”

A sharp-eyed member of the Quicksand Gang spotted a group of people approaching in the distance.

”It’s the men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office, no doubt about it!”

”Looks like he hasn’t pissed himself completely yet! See, he’s here!”

”Good that he came, we’ll make him piss his pants on the spot! How dare he kill a Protector of my Quicksand Gang! The nerve!”

”That’s right!”

”...”

On the street not far from the Drunken Immortal Tower, Chen Ping’an approached, dressed in black Fish Scale Armor with a saber on his left and a sword on his right. A large contingent from the Garrison Commandant’s Office followed behind him.

Cheng Renjing followed behind Chen Ping’an, his expression nervous as he took in the scene in front of the Drunken Immortal Tower.

”My lord, is it really alright for us to just show up like this?”

”It’s fine,” Chen Ping’an said, waving his hand dismissively.