Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Prelude
In the small courtyard, Chen Ping’an’s figure flashed continuously.
Though the courtyard was small, Chen Ping’an made full use of it. Tapping his feet lightly, he maneuvered in mid-air.
A series of mid-air kicks produced a staccato of sharp cracks.
Eight Steps Chasing Cicada wasn’t just a Lightweight Skill—it was a Leg Technique!
+1!
As his figure flickered, a symbol for experience flashed before Chen Ping’an’s eyes.
Name: Chen Ping’an
Realm: Inner Qi - Purification and Rejuvenation
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Perfection, Public Door Thirteen Blades Perfect, Thirteen Grand Protectors Cross Training Perfect, Great Success in Golden Bell Shield (342/400), Gale Sword Technique Great Success (47/400), Eight Steps Chasing Cicada Minor Achievement (160/160)
...
"Success!"
Chen Ping’an looked pleased as he saw that the Cultivation Experience for his Eight Steps Chasing Cicada had finally reached the threshold.
After several days, his Eight Steps Chasing Cicada had finally accumulated enough experience!
’Breakthrough!’
With a command from Chen Ping’an’s mind, a surging power churned on the panel.
RUSH~
Starlight, like flowing water, poured into the space between Chen Ping’an’s eyebrows.
A vast amount of martial arts insight flooded his mind. It wasn’t just insight; the Inner Qi within Chen Ping’an’s Dantian Qi Sea felt as if it had undergone another round of purification.
The Second Stage of Inner Qi: Purification and Rejuvenation.
The purity of one’s Inner Qi determined the upper limit of its might.
This new round of purification meant that Chen Ping’an had taken another great stride forward in his Martial Arts Realm.
Eight Steps Chasing Cicada, Great Success!
This breakthrough allowed Chen Ping’an to fully consolidate his Martial Arts Realm at the Second Stage of Inner Qi, instantly making him a veteran expert among those in the same realm.
’That’s one more layer of security for myself!’
Chen Ping’an reflected with a sigh.
For the past few days, he had sensed faint, elusive auras on his way to and from his post, leaving him feeling deeply unsettled.
Logically, with his current Martial Arts Realm, he should be unrivaled in the Weishui South District. However, when it came to the conflict between the Outer City Garrison Command and the local branch of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, he still couldn’t feel truly secure.
Fortunately, this breakthrough gave him some much-needed assurance.
He now had the Gale Sword Technique for unparalleled offense, the Eight Steps Chasing Cicada for nimble footwork, and the Golden Bell Shield, which cultivated both internally and externally, as his fallback.
With such combat prowess, and given that he was operating from the shadows, he was confident he could escape even a Martial Arts Master at the Third Stage of Inner Qi, as long as he wasn’t deliberately targeted.
...
The next day, when Chen Ping’an reported for duty, he unexpectedly ran into Fu Yuanming.
Fu Yuanming was dressed in the Fish Scale Armor of the Garrison Commandant’s Office, which only served to accentuate his handsome and elegant features. He had a group of people with him and appeared to be inspecting the South City Prison.
Upon seeing the Vice Chief of the Patrol Office, Chen Ping’an naturally smiled and offered a greeting. Fu Yuanming, not to be outdone in propriety, responded with a smile of his own.
As for what the two were truly thinking, only they themselves knew.
Fu Yuanming appeared courteous, but his gaze was as cold as ice.
First, Chen Ping’an had foiled his plans, then he had gone so far as to cripple Zhu Qirong. Whether Chen Ping’an had intended to or not, in everyone else’s eyes, he was slapping Fu Yuanming in the face.
Combined with their several verbal spars and conflicting interests, the animosity between him and Chen Ping’an had reached an irreconcilable point.
"The Ten Thousand Demons Sect has been making frequent moves, Prison Chief Chen. You had better watch this little domain of yours very carefully! If anything goes wrong, you’ll be the first one I make an example of!"
Fu Yuanming tossed this sentence over his shoulder with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes as he was about to leave.
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Fu. I will certainly not disappoint you!"
Without turning back, Fu Yuanming walked straight away.
As a high-ranking official in the South Town Garrison Command, he knew far more of the inside story than Chen Ping’an did.
This time, what seemed to be the mere detention of a Grand Steward from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was actually a catalyst. The Outer City Garrison Command was preparing to have a real, head-on confrontation with this branch of the sect.
From the perspective of the Outer City Garrison Command, the recent activities of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s branch had gone too far.
...
In his office, Zeng Jihe was reporting to Chen Ping’an on the prison’s defensive arrangements.
"Chief, we’ve arranged for three shifts of Prison Guards to patrol the inner sections at fixed points."
"The guard posts on the first basement level are also being watched by two shifts each."
"Especially around the second basement level, where Wu Haihua is being held..."
"..."
Chen Ping’an listened to Zeng Jihe’s report, interrupting from time to time with questions.
Because of Wu Haihua, security at the South City Prison had been far stricter than usual these past few days. Some Prison Guards who should have been on leave had their days off canceled and were ordered back to their posts.
The number of Prison Guards on the night shift had more than doubled, and Chen Ping’an had personally assigned several Constables to key positions.
In addition to the South City Prison’s own staff, the South Town Garrison Command had also dispatched numerous elites to be placed under Chen Ping’an’s temporary command.
Judging by the South Town Garrison Command’s reaction, they were all but certain the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was going to make a move.
The only question was how.
"Yes, I understand. You’re dismissed for now."
After dismissing Zeng Jihe, Chen Ping’an began tapping on his desk, lost in thought.
’If I were the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, what would I do?’
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind. Ideas clashed, possibilities flashed, and then, one by one, they all dissipated.
All his thoughts and considerations ultimately dissolved into a single sigh.
’I just wanted to do my job in peace. Then Wu Haihua showed up and stirred up all this trouble.’
’If the Ten Thousand Demons Sect is going to strike, I hope they wait a few more days.’
Chen Ping’an crossed his arms, a determined glint in his eyes.
He was not far from achieving Golden Bell Shield Perfection!
If his Golden Bell Shield reached the Perfection Realm, he would stand at the absolute pinnacle of the Second Stage of Inner Qi! At that point, he could even trade a few blows with an expert at the Third Stage of Inner Qi.
’I still have some time. I’ll practice the Golden Bell Shield!’
Seeing that he still had some time before his shift ended, Chen Ping’an circulated his Inner Qi, composed himself, and began practicing the Golden Bell Shield.
The Golden Bell Shield was particularly convenient to practice. It primarily involved flexing the skin and membranes, conditioning the muscles and bones, and regulating one’s Inner Qi.
Just as Chen Ping’an was engrossed in his Golden Bell Shield practice, a sudden uproar broke out outside.
Inside the office, Chen Ping’an’s eyes snapped open.
"What’s going on?"
...
By the time Chen Ping’an got outside, a crowd had already formed in the open yard of the South City Prison.
In the center of the crowd stood a burly man dressed in tight-fitting black martial arts attire. With his thick hair and powerful build, he resembled a large black bear.
This man was one of the elites temporarily dispatched from the South Town Garrison Command. His Cultivation had already reached the Qi Blood Fifth Layer.
"Constable Shi, what’s going on?"
Seeing Chen Ping’an approach, the surrounding crowd respectfully parted to clear a path for him.
"Lord Chen, those Ten Thousand Demons Sect fiends are cunning. To prevent them from trying any unexpected tricks, I thought I’d do one last check for any oversights before the shift change. I didn’t expect to actually find something."
The bear-like Constable Shi first cupped his fist in greeting when he saw Chen Ping’an approach, then began to explain his discovery.
