Daqian Martial Saint

Thankfully, Gu Qingchan didn’t seem to mind. Chen Ping’an breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed Gu Qingchan was genuinely fond of the little girl.

As her older brother, that put his mind at ease.

The residence they were staying in wasn’t large, so the little girl finished her tour quickly. Gu Qingchan didn’t stay long. After confirming they would depart from Weishui County City early the next morning, she left alone.

It was already late, but with her cultivation at the Grandmaster Realm, returning to the Treasure Pavilion without a sound would be a simple matter.

Not long after Gu Qingchan left, the little girl turned to Chen Ping’an, her eyes sparkling.

“Brother, you still haven’t answered my question. Is Sister Gu going to be my future sister-in-law?”

Chen Ping’an shot his sister a speechless look. The Spiritual Energy nestled deep between his brows flickered, and only after confirming that Gu Qingchan was truly gone did he speak. “No! She’s the senior from the Gu Family who’s taking you to Canglong State City, not some future sister-in-law! Have you forgotten what I told you?”

“I haven’t forgotten! But it’s not like the two are mutually exclusive!”

“How are they not?”

“A senior from the Gu Family can also be my sister-in-law! I’ve heard people say that a family wanted to arrange a marriage with you. It must be the Gu Family, right?”

Chen Ping’an was at a loss for words at his sister’s logic. Trying to explain would only make things worse, so he decided not to argue. Instead, he changed the subject to what had just happened.

“That little secret you whispered just now, you don’t actually think your Sister Gu couldn’t hear it, do you?” Chen Ping’an decided to take this opportunity to teach his sister a lesson about the incredible abilities of a Martial Arts Master.

‘Some think that success in the Martial Dao is merely being able to fight ten or a hundred men! But once you reach the Grandmaster Realm, fighting a thousand is nothing special! With no one of equal or similar strength to oppose them, it’s no exaggeration to say they could take an enemy general’s head from within an army of ten thousand.’

‘Of course, military formations possess their own incredible armaments. In a true war, even a Grandmaster Expert couldn’t just waltz through enemy lines unopposed.’

‘But there was no need to explain that to his sister. The important thing was to make her understand just how formidable Martial Arts Masters were!’

Chen Ping’an was all fired up, ready to use this as a teachable moment, but he never expected his sister’s response.

“I know!”

“You knew, and you still said it?!” Chen Ping’an’s eyes widened.

“I said it *because* I knew,” the little girl said with a sly smile. “Brother, I whispered that to you because I wanted Sister Gu to overhear. I had to see her reaction! How else would I know what she thinks of you?”

Staring at the clever, mischievous girl before him, Chen Ping’an was stunned.

‘A Demon Fiend! Is this… one of those legendary Demon Fiends?! How old is she?! She’s already plotting against a Grandmaster Expert?’

“So, what’s your conclusion?”

“Sister Gu didn’t react when she heard, which means she likes you, Brother!”

“What kind of conclusion is that?! She didn’t react because she’s fond of a precocious little imp like you, not because she likes me!”

“It *is* because she likes you, Brother! If not for you, Sister Gu wouldn’t like me nearly as much. Her liking me is just a bonus that comes with liking you!”

“You little rascal…” Chen Ping’an didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry. This girl’s imagination was truly unrivaled.

“Brother, I want her to be my sister-in-law~ You should marry Sister Gu!”

“Sister Gu! Sister Gu! Do you have any idea how old she is?!”

“I don’t care! I just want her as my sister-in-law!”

“Impossible!”

“Brother~”

“Go to sleep. You can have whatever you want in your dreams!”

“…”

The sounds of the siblings’ bickering echoed through the small courtyard like a warm, familiar melody.

Tomorrow, the siblings would part ways. This was their last night together in Weishui County City. Perhaps tonight’s bickering would become a special memory, sealed away for them to look back on.

…

Early the next morning, the magnificent carriage of Gu Qingchan, the Ice Soul Divine Needle, slowly departed from Weishui County City, seen off by a respectful crowd. Leaving with her was Chen Ping’an’s sister, Chen Erya.

Chen Ping’an had prepared a great deal for his sister, not to mention a considerable sum of money. Peony also accompanied her as her maid. With Peony there to look after her, Chen Ping’an felt a little more at ease.

It wasn’t a matter of safety, but with Peony accompanying her, his sister would at least have some emotional support. When you’re in a strange land, that small bit of comfort is sometimes all you need.

As they parted, his sister wore the bracelet Chen Ping’an had given her—the one woven from colorful silk threads and adorned with a small, exquisitely carved golden charm.

With this bracelet, whenever she missed her brother, she could look at it and think of him, easing her longing.

Chen Ping’an stood with the crowd outside Weishui County City, watching the procession recede into the distance. He squinted, his thoughts unreadable.

The journey to Canglong State City was long; who knew when the siblings would see each other again.

‘Erya, wait for me! Wait for your brother to come to the State City!’ Chen Ping’an silently made a vow.

With his connection to the Gu Family, as long as he accumulated enough merits and his Martial Arts Realm continued to advance, it was only a matter of time before he could go to Canglong State City.

His sister was never bullied in Weishui County City, and he would make sure she wouldn’t be bullied in Canglong State City either.

He wouldn’t just go; he would go in glory.

The crowd remained in front of Weishui County City, maintaining their respectful posture even long after the carriage had disappeared from sight.

No one at their level was a fool. They knew what a Grandmaster was capable of, so they naturally had to make a full show of seeing her off respectfully.

Only when the carriage vanished at the end of the road did the crowd finally, completely relax.

“Lord Feng, it’s rare for you to visit Weishui County City. Why don’t we sit down for a few drinks together?” Fan Zheng Heng said with a smile, turning to Feng Chengxiu beside him.

“I appreciate the kind offer, Lord Fan. However, I have urgent business to attend to and must be on my way. We can get together next time I have the chance!” Feng Chengxiu declined Fan Zheng Heng’s invitation, preparing to depart.

“Lord Chen, I have long heard of your youthful prowess. I am unfortunately occupied today and unable to witness it firsthand. Next time you have the opportunity, please visit me at the Qiankun Bureau! Allow me to properly experience your skills then,” Feng Chengxiu said, turning to Chen Ping’an with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“I certainly will,” Chen Ping’an replied with a faint smile, his expression unreadable.

Feng Chengxiu gave a perfunctory salute, then turned and left.

‘He doesn’t know his own limits!’ The moment he turned away, a vicious glint flashed in Feng Chengxiu’s eyes.

Just moments before, under the pretext of conversation, he had probed Chen Ping’an’s Martial Arts Realm again, confirming without a doubt that he was at the Profound Light Middle Realm Perfection.

Given his own Martial Arts Realm, he wasn’t worried about Chen Ping’an detecting his probe.

‘A junior who hasn’t even reached the pinnacle realm dares to be this arrogant after provoking our Qiankun Bureau!’

‘If he thinks the Gu Family will protect him, he’s gravely mistaken!’

Chen Ping’an’s sister leaving for Canglong State City with Gu Qingchan today was a bit unexpected.

However, it was still within the realm of reason. After all, Chen Ping’an was someone the Gu Family was trying to recruit. Helping take his sister to Canglong State City was a trivial favor, so it was logical for Gu Qingchan to agree.

After a night of consideration, Feng Chengxiu found himself tempted by the proposal in Tong Guan’s letter.

Tong Guan’s promises, the prestige of the Qiankun Bureau, his own personal feelings… all of it was tipping the scales in his mind.

Most importantly, after yesterday’s audience, he had realized that the weight the Gu Family placed on the other side of the scale was far lighter than he had imagined.

Being recruited by the Gu Family could mean many things. Being courted by the entire family was one level of recruitment; being courted by a single member was another. The difference in effort and significance between the two was night and day.

The biggest reason for his prior hesitation and indecisiveness had been the Gu Family. But now…

‘Chen Ping’an! Your good days are numbered!’ Feng Chengxiu sneered inwardly. With the men from the Qiankun Bureau, he swung himself onto his horse and rode off without a backward glance.