Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Retainer
When Chen Ping’an returned to the South City Prison, Wang Changxu was leading an inspection team, auditing their detailed accounts.
Seeing Chen Ping’an return, Wang Changxu let out a cold laugh, but ultimately refrained from stepping forward to taunt him.
Their investigation was nearing its end. In another two or three days, they would compile all the old, unsettled accounts into a report and submit it to the Outer City Garrison Command.
At that time, even if Chen Ping’an wasn’t dead, he’d be done for!
Sooner or later, he would be stripped of his position as South City Prison Chief!
"Supervisor Wang, I was late today. How come I didn’t hear any dogs barking? Did you hear anything just now? Did the dog go mute, or did someone kill it?"
Chen Ping’an walked forward with a smile playing on his lips.
Wang Changxu hadn’t expected this. He had decided not to mock Chen Ping’an, yet Chen Ping’an had come looking for trouble himself.
"You!"
Wang Changxu’s face turned ashen.
Chen Ping’an’s words were loaded, a veiled insult cursing him out!
"Lord Chen, as a high-ranking official yourself, how can you utter such foul language?"
Chen Ping’an glanced at Wang Changxu, shook his head faintly, and lost interest. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked away.
If Chen Ping’an had talked back, Wang Changxu would have been angry. But with Chen Ping’an ignoring him, Wang Changxu was even angrier!
He stared at Chen Ping’an’s retreating back, suppressing the urge to stop him. A vicious look crossed his face. ’We’ll see how many more days you can prance around!’
’Once the ledgers are submitted, the Outer City Garrison Command will be furious. With a single order, they’ll throw you in prison. If they don’t, I’ll renounce my surname, Wang!’
"Lord Wang, please calm your anger."
A subordinate at his side tried to console him.
"There’s no need to get worked up over him. In a few more days, we’ll see what he can do then!"
"Hmph!"
Wang Changxu flicked his sleeve and continued his work of embellishing the report.
Half-truths and half-lies. ’Let’s see how you deal with this, Chen Ping’an!’
With the Fang Family backing him, he refused to believe Chen Ping’an could break out of this situation!
...
In his cultivation of the Martial Dao, Chen Ping’an never sought to be meek and subservient; he only sought to follow his heart. Before, when his strength was lacking, he had to endure the prevailing circumstances.
But now, his wings had gradually grown. To a certain extent, he no longer needed to endure and restrain himself!
This Wang Changxu had insulted him time and again. It was only after his forceful counterattack that Wang had restrained himself on the surface, not daring to act out. But just because he didn’t act out openly didn’t mean he wasn’t scheming in the shadows.
As a special inspector, it would be all too easy for him to pin some crime on Chen Ping’an!
’Right now, that investigation report must be almost finished!’
’I hope everything goes smoothly on Wan Jun’s end! Otherwise... going on a killing spree is not something I want!’
Chen Ping’an looked up at the ceiling of the prison. The gray-white stone was incredibly thick, as if it wanted to press down and bury him here for good.
’Fang Rui!’
...
"Dead?"
Fang Rui shot up from his chair, a look of stunned disbelief on his face.
Fang Shicheng, who stood bowed before him, also had a lingering look of shock on his face.
The hired assassin, Shadowless Leg, was no ordinary Martial Arts Master. He was a Lightweight Skill expert who had stepped into the Inner Qi Realm many years ago!
Even if an expert like that failed the assassination, he should have been able to escape.
Fang Rui was furious and exasperated. "Who did it?"
The family’s retaliation was proceeding step-by-step, causing Chen Ping’an immense trouble. As long as things continued this way, and the Mu Family didn’t intervene, Chen Ping’an was doomed to a terrible end. But Fang Rui felt the pace was too slow; he was dissatisfied with the family’s rhythm of revenge.
So...
He had sent Shadowless Leg to assassinate him!
A direct, once-and-for-all solution. Killing Chen Ping’an would have quenched the hatred in his heart and avenged the shame he had suffered in prison.
"It’s unclear. We’re still investigating the details. However, Young Master, on the morning of the day after the assassination attempt, Chen Ping’an had someone wheel Shadowless Leg’s corpse over to the South Town Garrison Command! Mu Wanjun, the Chief of the Patrol Office for the South Town Garrison Command, even came out to investigate!"
Fang Shicheng also found it puzzling.
’Logically, killing someone with Shadowless Leg’s abilities would require a veteran of the First Stage of the Inner Qi Realm, at minimum. Factoring in Shadowless Leg’s mastery of Lightweight Skill, only a Martial Arts Master at the Perfection level of the First Stage of the Inner Qi Realm could guarantee success!’
’And that was assuming Shadowless Leg underestimated his opponent!’
Listening to Fang Shicheng’s report, the angry expression on Fang Rui’s face remained.
Shadowless Leg was a retainer of the Fang Family! Among their retainers, he wasn’t particularly famous. After all, the Fang Family was powerful; an ordinary Inner Qi Realm expert was nothing special to them.
However, even if he wasn’t famous, people still knew of him.
Chen Ping’an was a mere Qi Blood Realm cultivator, so what if he was at Sixth Realm Perfection? An assassination attempt by an Inner Qi Realm expert should have been a sure thing!
That’s why, when he sent Shadowless Leg, he never even considered the possibility of failure!
But now, with Shadowless Leg dead, this blunder had occurred.
Deducing from Shadowless Leg’s identity, even a fool would know the Fang Family was behind this!
Dammit!
However, after calming down for a moment, Fang Rui’s mood gradually stabilized.
’So what if they know he was behind it!’
’Do they really have the guts to retaliate?’
"Are you saying Mu Wanjun did this?"
Fang Shicheng said respectfully, "Young Master, it’s a possibility! According to the latest news, Mu Wanjun has already broken through to the Second Stage of Inner Qi. If she made a move, she could indeed have taken down Shadowless Leg! But... there’s no proof of this."
"The Second Stage of Inner Qi!"
Fang Rui was astonished!
"Isn’t Mu Wanjun younger than twenty-five?!"
"That’s right, Young Master."
"The Mu Family really is producing one talent after another! First Mu Feiyu, now Mu Wanjun! But..."
A smug look appeared on Fang Rui’s face.
"They’re still getting crushed by my Fang Family! Hmph, hmph..."
Seeing Fang Rui’s self-satisfied expression, Fang Shicheng said nothing.
’In truth, if the Liu Family hadn’t been willing to help, not wanting to see the Mu Family become too powerful, this round of the game probably would have ended in a disastrous defeat for the Fang Family.’
"Report any movements from Chen Ping’an to me immediately. Also, find me a suitable retainer. I refuse to believe Mu Wanjun can protect him around the clock. This isn’t over!"
"Yes, Young Master."
...
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
In the small courtyard, Chen Ping’an practiced his swordsmanship, his movements incomparably sharp and fierce.
The Flying Star Swordsmanship was truly worthy of being a Top Level, Superior Martial Art; every move and stance held immense power.
The "Flying Star" in its name meant its speed was like a meteor, impossible to dodge.
+1!
A line of Experience Points flashed by.
However, Chen Ping’an didn’t stop his movements, choosing instead to continue practicing.
Now, with his strong physique and abundant Inner Qi, practicing the swordsmanship set a dozen or so times in one go was no problem at all.
+1!
+1!
+1!
...
A continuous stream of Experience Points flashed through Chen Ping’an’s vision.
+1!
After another line of Experience Points flashed by, Chen Ping’an finally sheathed his sword and stood still. Looking at the numbers that had appeared on the void-like panel, which were several points higher than before, Chen Ping’an felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
’I never thought Wan Jun would be so efficient! It’s only been a few days, and the matter of the Deputy Commander position has already been settled!’
...
PS: I checked the fan rankings today and saw I have a Disciple-level fan. I’m tearing up!
