Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Beyond Inner Qi
Chen Ping’an couldn’t very well refuse Mu Wanjun’s invitation. After all, she had only mentioned appreciating tea, and he felt it would be disrespectful to decline.
Seeing that Chen Ping’an agreed, Mu Wanjun was visibly pleased.
"Ping’an, then let’s meet at noon tomorrow at Cui Liu Pavilion. I’ll see you there."
Cui Liu Pavilion was not in the South District, but in the Weishui Inner City—an exceedingly elegant place.
’Looks like I guessed right. This must be about the Mu Family’s marriage alliance.’
Still, Chen Ping’an didn’t dwell on it. ’It’s just one meeting. I’ll find an excuse to refuse her afterward.’
...
The following day at noon, Chen Ping’an arrived as scheduled at Cui Liu Pavilion in the Weishui Inner City. The pavilion was surrounded by a small, crescent-shaped lake, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
A maid led Chen Ping’an to a private room on the second floor, where two women were already waiting quietly.
One was, of course, Mu Wanjun, whom Chen Ping’an knew very well. The other was dressed in red, with willow-leaf brows, almond eyes, and fair skin. She was exceptionally beautiful.
’A true beauty, no doubt about it.’
With Mu Wanjun’s introductions, the two quickly became acquainted.
Mu Zhixuan, a daughter of the Mu Family born to a concubine. However, her father was a powerful Steward in the family, and her grandfather was one of the Clan Elders. Though born of a concubine, she effectively held the status of a legitimate daughter.
’It had to be said, by finding such a woman for him, Mu Wanjun was showing incredible sincerity.’
It was just that...
This Mu Zhixuan, however, seemed to have her own ideas. Though her conversation with Chen Ping’an was smooth, she carried the subtle arrogance of a girl from a Noble Family, scrutinizing his every word and deed.
It was less a mutual introduction and more a one-sided evaluation.
In response, Chen Ping’an simply smiled without saying a word, maintaining his composure.
After chatting for over an hour, Chen Ping’an took his leave, leaving Mu Wanjun and Mu Zhixuan alone.
"Zhi Xuan, what did you think?"
Mu Wanjun asked with a smile.
Mu Wanjun was a legitimate daughter of the Mu Family, so Mu Zhixuan naturally wouldn’t dare put on airs before her.
"Sister, Young Master Chen carries himself well and has a graceful demeanor. He seems like a good match. It’s just... this isn’t a case of him marrying into our family, but rather..."
Mu Zhixuan didn’t finish her sentence, but Mu Wanjun understood what she meant.
After all, the arrangement was for Mu Zhixuan to marry out. Since she would be joining her husband’s household, her standards for his family were naturally high. And Chen Ping’an’s greatest weakness was his family background.
For one thing, his family’s wealth was far from comparable.
She didn’t want to marry into a life of hardship.
Fortunately, however, as a Candidate for Chief Constable, Chen Ping’an had his own ways of making a fortune, provided he was willing to put in the effort.
All things considered, he had just barely met her standards.
After their discussion, Mu Wanjun had a clear picture: they had passed Mu Zhixuan’s hurdle.
The next step was to ascertain Chen Ping’an’s thoughts. If he agreed, they could finalize the engagement as soon as possible, which would, in turn, convince the family to increase their investment in him.
With time, they might witness the rise of a young prodigy!
...
Mu Wanjun acted quickly, summoning Chen Ping’an early the next morning to hear his thoughts on the previous day’s meeting.
"Miss Zhi Xuan is a fine person, of course. It’s just that my Martial Dao is still far from complete, so I truly have no intention of starting a family right now."
Chen Ping’an stated his true feelings.
In truth, he felt nothing for Mu Zhixuan.
"Ping’an, you know the saying: first a family, then a career. Marriage doesn’t conflict with the Martial Dao."
Mu Wanjun coaxed.
Chen Ping’an simply responded with a faint smile.
No matter how Mu Wanjun tried to persuade him, he politely refused.
Mu Wanjun felt rather helpless about this.
She had thought that with her family’s approval, the marriage alliance would proceed smoothly. She never expected to be flatly rejected by Chen Ping’an.
She had to admire Chen Ping’an. Anyone else, upon hearing that a Noble Family was willing to marry off one of its precious daughters, would have been scrambling to agree. Marrying a woman from a Noble Family could save a man years of struggle.
’He really is a young talent with great ambition. What impressive spirit!’
Mu Wanjun praised him inwardly as she looked at Chen Ping’an.
From her perspective, this arrangement was all upside for Chen Ping’an. If it came to pass, it would be a great asset for his future. She was determined to make it happen. However, given the circumstances, she knew she couldn’t rush things, lest she stir his rebellious streak.
’For now, I’ll let it be. I’ll have to plan this out slowly over time.’
...
In the following days, Chen Ping’an disguised himself and made a special trip to the Ruyi Treasure Pavilion, where he purchased two superior cultivation methods.
Flying Star Swordsmanship! Great Vajra Palm!
He chose to go at night. Using his Golden Finger Panel, he disguised himself as an Inner Qi Realm expert passing through Weishui County City. He changed his disguise several times before slipping back to his residence unnoticed.
’Two more superior cultivation methods!’ Chen Ping’an was ecstatic.
Now, all he had to do was achieve Perfection in his Gale Sword Technique. Then, he could break through to the Third Stage of Inner Qi: Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown. When that time came, the world would be his oyster!
With a Martial Arts Cultivation at the Third Stage of Inner Qi, backed by his numerous cultivation techniques and the combat experience granted by the Golden Finger Panel, there would be few people left in the vast Weishui Outer City for him to fear.
As his status rose, his understanding of the world deepened and evolved.
Though there were many powers in the Weishui Outer City, their foundations, at best, only reached the Third Stage of Inner Qi. Even the Commander-in-Chief of the Outer City Garrison Command, the one with the highest cultivation, was merely at the Perfection stage of the Celestial Rain Descending Realm.
The factions that had truly produced experts beyond the Inner Qi Realm had long ago relocated to the Weishui Inner City, where they engaged in a higher echelon of power struggles and tangled interests.
Since his promotion to Candidate for Chief Constable, Chen Ping’an had also learned a few things about the realm above Inner Qi.
Above the Inner Qi Realm was the Profound Light Realm!
After achieving Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown, one condenses a Seed of Profound Light to gather Spiritual Clarity Divine Intent.
Based on his understanding from his past life, if the Inner Qi Realm was still dawdling at the level of low-fantasy martial arts, then stepping into the Profound Light Realm was a step toward the mid-fantasy tier.
In the Profound Light Realm, every single move unleashed a power suffused with profound mystery. If one’s Spiritual Clarity Divine Intent was fully developed, they could achieve the ability of Profound Light Penetrating Objects. By using Spiritual Clarity Divine Intent to interfere with reality, they could create all sorts of divine wonders.
’The Profound Light Realm!’
A look of yearning flashed in Chen Ping’an’s eyes.
If he could step into the Profound Light Realm, he could become a true mover and shaker in Weishui County City.
The Profound Light Realm was the true foundation upon which the great Noble Families of the Inner City were built.
’No need to rush. One step at a time.’
Chen Ping’an calmed his mind and began practicing the Gale Sword Technique in his small courtyard.
’You eat a meal one bite at a time, and you walk a path one step at a time.’
At his current pace, he should be able to smoothly enter the Celestial Rain Falling Realm in another seven or eight days.
...
Before Chen Ping’an could successfully enter the Celestial Rain Falling Realm, a special prisoner arrived at the South City Prison.
He was special because his arrival at the prison was a major spectacle.
Apart from the Garrison Commandant’s Office constables escorting him to the South City Prison, he was accompanied by his family’s servants and guards—dozens of them. With grim faces and chilling glares, they stared daggers at the constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office.
The constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office, men feared like tigers by the common folk, looked flustered and uneasy under the guards’ intense scrutiny.
These servants and guards were from the Inner City. They were men from the Fang Family, one of Weishui’s four great Noble Families!
The reason they were here was that the man being escorted to the South City Prison today was none other than the legitimate son of their Fang Family, Fang Rui!
These guards had come to make a show of force!
Fang Rui had committed a crime. He had galloped his horse through the streets, whipping more than a dozen commoners. Three of them later died from their injuries. He was arrested on the spot by the Outer City Garrison Command but was, for some unknown reason, transferred to the South City Prison.
