Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Harboring Malicious Intent
Zeng Jihe was efficient. Despite being a newcomer himself, he used Chen Ping’an’s name to sort out Chen Erya’s schooling in just two days.
Aside from the private schools run by the great families, Cangsong Academy was considered the best in South City Lane.
Xiaozeng got things done, so Chen Ping’an picked a few sharp and capable Prison Guards and placed them under Zeng Jihe’s command.
These men had passed Chen Ping’an’s initial screening, but only time would tell if they were truly trustworthy.
After getting off work and returning home, Chen Ping’an told Chen Erya the news.
"Thank you, Brother!"
The little girl was absolutely ecstatic when she heard the news.
The little girl had a real talent for studying.
After less than two months, Peony was already struggling to keep up with her instruction.
Now that she could go to school—and the best one in South City Lane, no less—you couldn’t imagine how happy the girl was.
Chen Erya was happy, which made Chen Ping’an happy too.
It had taken him several months, but he had finally achieved the goal he’d set of sending her to school.
This was more than just a matter of attending school; it was a symbol of Chen Ping’an’s current power and status.
Cangsong Academy wasn’t a place where children of common families could enroll just by wishing it.
His spirits soaring, Chen Ping’an began practicing his saber techniques in his courtyard.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
His saber technique was swift, like a howling gale.
+1.
+1.
+1.
...
Golden Bell Shield, Gale Saber Technique, and Eight Steps Chasing Cicada.
Of these three superior cultivation methods, Chen Ping’an practiced the Gale Saber Technique with the most enthusiasm and skill. Consequently, his progress with it was also the fastest.
With the appearance of the final wisp of Cultivation Experience, his Gale Saber Technique experience on the status panel reached 60 points.
’Breakthrough!’
With a mental command from Chen Ping’an, the Experience Points began to churn, transforming into motes of starlight.
Gale Saber, Minor Achievement!
An understanding of the Eighty-one Paths of Gale Saber filled Chen Ping’an’s mind. In actual combat, he could now execute its moves and adapt his saber technique at will.
He was no longer bound by the forms, but had grasped their very essence.
With the Gale Saber Technique reaching Minor Achievement, the Inner Qi in his Dantian Qi Sea swelled from two-thirds to a full four-fifths.
"Incredible!"
Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but let out a long, triumphant shout.
Merely a dozen days after breaking into the Inner Qi Realm, his power already stood at the pinnacle of its first stage.
His numerous Martial Arts Skills, combined with his near-perfect combat experience, had elevated him beyond his peers, making him one of the top combatants of the first stage.
’Fu Yuanming!? Hmph!’
Chen Ping’an narrowed his eyes.
’If he really wants to make things difficult, what’s stopping me from fighting him?’
A wave of heroic pride washed over him, and the feeling was utterly exhilarating.
...
In the heart of South City Lane stood a sprawling, three-courtyard mansion. Its grounds were complete with lush greenery, vibrant flowers, artificial mountains, and flowing streams.
This was the residence of Zhu Qirong, the Vice Prison Chief of South City Prison.
After all, Zhu Qirong was ranked among the top fifty members of the South Town Garrison Command. To the common folk, he was a man who stood upon a mountaintop.
Combined with his many years of service in the South City Prison, Zhu Qirong’s personal fortune was, naturally, immense.
In a side hall of the mansion, Zhu Qirong reclined on a lounge chair while a beautiful maidservant attended to him, massaging his body to help him relax.
As the beautiful maid massaged him, she would occasionally bend and lean over, trying to arouse Zhu Qirong. But at this moment, his mind was entirely elsewhere.
His mind was replaying the words Lord Fu Yuanming had spoken to him several days prior.
"Chen Ping’an has a weak foundation and lacks seniority. The only reason he was able to secure the position of Prison Chief, with his meager Martial Arts Realm of the Qi Blood Fifth Layer, is entirely due to Mu Wanjun’s support."
"Zhu Qirong, what you need to do is actually very simple: stir up some trouble in the South City Prison. As long as chaos erupts there, he, as the South City Prison Chief, cannot escape responsibility. When the time comes, I will have people in place to impeach him and demand accountability. Chen Ping’an’s promotion was shaky to begin with. Once he’s held accountable, he’s certain to lose his position as Prison Chief."
"His Cultivation is inferior to yours, you’re a long-standing veteran of the South City Prison, and with my full-throated recommendation, your promotion will be perfectly legitimate."
"Remember, don’t rush. First, let him lower his guard. Wait until everything is in place, and then strike suddenly. He won’t be able to defend against it."
"..."
Zhu Qirong kept replaying Fu Yuanming’s words, thinking about how he had dutifully maintained a low-key, submissive attitude recently.
’How infuriating!’
The mere thought of Chen Ping’an’s face filled Zhu Qirong with resentment.
’Logically, I should be patient and endure this for a while longer. It would be better to let him lower his guard even more.’
’But...’
Over the past few days, he had come to a realization. Though young, Chen Ping’an’s methods were those of a seasoned veteran. Through a series of minor incidents, he was steadily chipping away at Zhu Qirong’s power base. In contrast, Chen Ping’an’s own authority grew daily. He worried that if he didn’t act soon, the fence-sitters would fall in line completely with Chen Ping’an.
’Once he consolidates all the power, I’ll be completely on the defensive. If I want to make a move then, it won’t go as smoothly as it would now.’
At this thought, Zhu Qirong could no longer remain calm.
He shot up from the lounge chair and pinched the maid’s rear, eliciting a coy squeal.
’I can’t delay any longer.’
’I’ll make my move tomorrow night!’
...
「The next morning.」
Chen Ping’an arrived at the South City Prison early, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
The previous night, after his breakthrough in the Gale Saber Technique, he had practiced Eight Steps Chasing Cicada and Golden Bell Shield for quite a while. All told, he had slept for less than six hours.
But as an accomplished martial artist, he was still brimming with an inexplicable energy.
"Morning, Lord Chen."
"Lord Prison Chief."
"Greetings, Lord Chen."
...
All along the way, Prison Guards greeted Chen Ping’an.
After these past few days, Chen Ping’an had firmly established himself. Even Zhu Qirong’s most loyal cronies had to greet him with a smile.
Zhu Qirong might get away with giving him a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. But if anyone else dared to be so openly disrespectful!
’They must be joking!’
’They’d get a taste of the Killing Rod, straight away!’
Speaking of which, unlike the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, the South City Prison had no daily briefings. There were only periodic monthly assemblies, and the overall management was quite lax.
Chen Ping’an was considering whether to import the "glorious tradition" of daily briefings from Nanquan Lane.
On duty that day, Chen Ping’an still had plenty of free time. No large batches of prisoners were being transferred in, so the workload at the South City Prison remained relatively light.
Taking advantage of the free time during the day, Chen Ping’an practiced his Golden Bell Shield again.
The Golden Bell Shield provided both Inner and Outer Cultivation, granting extremely powerful defensive capabilities. If he could cultivate it to the Perfection realm, especially when combined with his Inner Qi, Chen Ping’an was confident he wouldn’t have to fear an Inner Qi Master of the Second Stage.
This powerful life-saving ability was his greatest source of confidence.
