Daqian Martial Saint

”Oh? In that case, I will not press the matter. I’m sure Your Excellency wouldn’t deceive us. But...” Niu Lianggong’s gaze grew cold. ”For this mission, does Your Excellency have an order from Lord Guan?”

”Lord Guan is in seclusion in Five Peaks Mountain City and has been unable to return to his post as Garrison Commander. Desperate times call for desperate measures! I shall have full authority over this matter!” Chen Ping’an said lightly.

No order!

Niu Lianggong was inwardly ecstatic. ’In that case, this is the perfect opportunity to make trouble!’

To be honest, when he had first stepped forward, he had been afraid Chen Ping’an truly possessed an order from Guan Yu Ping. If that had been the case, no matter how much he disliked it, he would have had to just grit his teeth and accept it.

’But now... since Chen Ping’an has no order, heh heh...’

’Then don’t blame me for being disrespectful!’

”Since Your Excellency doesn’t have an order from Lord Guan, then forgive me, but I find it difficult to obey!” Niu Lianggong puffed out his chest, his face devoid of any apology.

”As the Deputy Inspection Envoy, I assist Lord Guan and have the authority to oversee all matters of the garrison! Now, with Lord Guan’s prolonged absence, it is only natural that I oversee the garrison’s affairs in his stead. Niu Zongqi, do you have any objections?”

Niu Lianggong sneered. ”What Your Excellency says is true. However, the handover of your official duties is not yet complete, and your specific responsibilities have not been clearly defined by Lord Guan. You do not, as you claim, possess this so-called ’authority to oversee’!”

Chen Ping’an rose from the head seat and slowly walked toward Niu Lianggong. ”In other words, Niu Zongqi, you disagree?”

Niu Lianggong glanced at the Standard-Bearers present and saw that aside from You Yongming and a few others, the rest all looked like they were just there to watch a good show. His confidence immediately swelled.

’See? Most of the people here don’t support you! You have an empty title, no real power, and no authority. What can you do to me?’

Watching Chen Ping’an approach, Niu Lianggong drew himself up to his full height and cupped his fists. ”Forgive me, but I cannot obey!”

”Fine.” Chen Ping’an nodded slightly.

SHIING!

The Yanling Saber was drawn, its edge flaring with light.

WHOOSH~

The blade moved like a gale, whistling as it descended upon Niu Lianggong’s head.

What!

Niu Lianggong was aghast.

He never imagined that Chen Ping’an would erupt with such sudden violence in a place like this.

’Fine! Fine! Fine!’

’Chen Ping’an, you are audacious! Once this is over, I’ll go straight to Lord Guan and report you for assault!’

Thoughts raced through Niu Lianggong’s mind, but his hands moved without the slightest delay, snatching for the saber at his waist. Inner Qi surged through his body as he instantly erupted with his full power.

’Once I block this strike, I’ll dodge outside with everything I have. The barracks are out there, full of constables. I refuse to believe Chen Ping’an would dare to attack me again in front of everyone!’

’Besides, with so many colleagues present, they’ll never let Chen Ping’an continue to act so recklessly.’

Most importantly, Niu Lianggong had absolute confidence in himself. His Martial Arts Realm wasn’t achieved through isolated training; it was forged in the crucible of life and death.

’Even if Chen Ping’an is known as the Mang Blade, there’s no way he can take me down in just two or three moves.’

By now, the saber at Niu Lianggong’s waist was already drawn, moving to parry Chen Ping’an’s blade.

But he would never get the chance.

To his senses, Chen Ping’an’s blade was still in the distance, but it had, in fact, already fallen upon his neck.

SPLURT!

A head flew into the air and rolled across the floor, the look of astonishment still frozen on its face.

Even at the moment of his death, Niu Lianggong could not believe that Chen Ping’an could kill him in a single strike.

The garrison’s Standard-Bearer, Niu Lianggong, was dead.

His saber clattered to the floor.

The room fell into absolute silence.

All the Standard-Bearers present, You Yongming included, stood rooted to the spot as if their feet were nailed to the floor. An indescribable chill shot up their spines.

”Just one strike! Niu Lianggong... is dead?”

One Standard-Bearer stared at Niu Lianggong’s lifeless body, his face a mask of disbelief.

Chen Ping’an slowly sheathed his Yanling Saber, then bent down and picked up the saber Niu Lianggong had dropped. He flicked it lightly with his finger, and the blade hummed with a clear, crisp ring.

”Each Standard-Bearer present will lead a squad. Assemble at the garrison gate in fifteen minutes. Anyone who is late will face military justice!”

Chen Ping’an’s expression was placid as his gaze swept over the crowd. ”Does anyone else have any objections? If you do, you can step forward and say so now!”

...

Fifteen minutes later, led by their respective Standard-Bearers, squads of men were assembled at the garrison gate.

Per Chen Ping’an’s instructions, the contingent was an elite force. Each of the ten Standard-Bearers led five or six elite men, making a total of sixty to seventy people.

Chen Ping’an wasted no more words. With a single order, the troop marched out of the Five Peaks Mountain Residence in a great procession.

At the very moment Chen Ping’an led his troops away, spies planted within the garrison also departed, heading for Five Peaks Mountain City to report to Guan Yu Ping.

Standard-Bearer Niu Lianggong was dead!

Chen Ping’an had led the Standard-Bearers from the garrison. Their destination was unknown.

Chen Ping’an was naturally unaware that an informant had sent a message after his departure. His mind was now completely focused on the coming raid.

By his calculations, Zhao Zhiteng should already be waiting for him at the rendezvous point.

Chen Ping’an felt a faint sense of worry about the operation ahead. All of his plans had been formulated assuming the stronghold was on the level of a Celestial Net Church Entrance.

If the true nature of that underground hall wasn’t a Church Entrance but a Branch... then...

Things would be very troublesome.

They would just be lambs to the slaughter.

Forget a Branch of the Celestial Net Sect; even a Branch of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was far beyond what they could handle. Even with the Qiankun Bureau backing them, it wouldn’t be nearly enough.

Fortunately, Chen Ping’an had now achieved Great Success in the Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill, his Cultivation Realm having entered the Profound Light High Realm. Even in the worst-case scenario, he had enough power to protect himself.

This was precisely why Chen Ping’an had deliberately scheduled the mission for today.

It was one part of his plan, a failsafe for himself.

If things went south, he could rely on his Great Success Level Vajra Unbreakable Divine Skill to carve a bloody path and escape.

Of course, the idea that the underground hall beneath White Cloud Temple was a Celestial Net Sect Branch was merely a conjecture on Chen Ping’an’s part.

A comprehensive analysis of all the factors suggested it was absolutely impossible.

His expectations for this raid were as follows: if the underground hall was merely a stronghold of the Celestial Net Sect, they had to wipe it out completely. If it was a Celestial Net Church, then succeeding in wiping out the majority of them would be considered a success.

Normally, a matter involving a Celestial Net Church Entrance would require the Weishui Garrison to intervene, striking with overwhelming force only after thorough preparations.

But that was the ideal scenario. In reality, due to tangled interests and factional strife, the principle of prioritizing the Dynasty’s interests was rarely followed. People first looked after their own benefits, causing the final outcome to deviate.

Thus, power struggles and internal attrition affected the final outcome. Such situations occurred throughout the Dynasty, constantly hollowing out its flesh and blood, its sinews and spirit.

The Daqian Dynasty was a sun setting in the west, its decline evident for all to see.

Throughout the ride, Chen Ping’an was silent, contemplating his next moves. Since he said nothing, the other Standard-Bearers naturally dared not speak, following him in trepidation.

However, they occasionally stole glances at Chen Ping’an, who rode at the very front.

He looked so clean-cut and handsome, a youth as fine as jade. But his style of conduct was so...

Tyrant Dao! Reckless!

Only today did they truly understand how Chen Ping’an earned the moniker of Mang Blade.

’His Sword Skill is unparalleled; the name Mang Blade is indeed well-deserved! What a shame...’ one Standard-Bearer thought, shaking his head. ’Suppressing all dissent is satisfying in the moment, but how will he deal with the aftermath?’

To kill a Standard-Bearer so openly—even as the Deputy Inspection Envoy responsible for disciplining his subordinates, the punishment he would face would be anything but light.

In the best-case scenario, he would probably lose his position as Outer Trade Road Patrol Deputy Envoy.

A harsher punishment would mean unavoidable prison time.

A delay of several years would severely impact his future prospects.

The group continued on their way, soon arriving at a valley at the foot of Five Peaks Mountain.