Daqian Martial Saint

’Chu Mingwei is inviting me to discuss important matters?’

He Xuan, Patriarch of the He Family, frowned slightly. Just a moment ago, someone from the Chu Family had arrived, delivering a letter from Chu Mingwei.

The letter’s message was exceedingly simple, inviting him to discuss matters of great importance and urging him to arrive as soon as possible, as the situation would affect White Stone City’s future for years to come.

’So mysterious! What is that old fox Chu Mingwei plotting?’ He Xuan was puzzled. Still, the letter’s words had piqued his curiosity.

’I’ll have to see for myself what this is all about!’

...

Song Hujie, Patriarch of the Song Family, looked plump and exceedingly amiable. But anyone who knew him was aware that he was the most ruthless of the three great families.

’Discuss important matters?’ Song Hujie mused, looking over the letter.

The letter had been delivered by someone from the Chu Family; the messenger’s identity had been verified, confirming he was indeed one of theirs. As the Patriarch of the Song Family, he naturally had his own sources of intelligence.

No sooner had he received news that men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office had stormed the Chu Family estate, than he received this letter from the Chu Family themselves.

’Could it be that Chu Mingwei has captured the men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office? Since this concerns our stance toward the Garrison Commandant’s Office, is that why he’s inviting us to discuss how to handle them?’ Song Hujie guessed inwardly.

’I’ll go take a look. I’ll know once I’m there! If it’s really as I guessed, this will be interesting!’ A cryptic smile appeared on Song Hujie’s face.

...

Luan Xiong, Alliance Leader of the Blood Oath Alliance, also received a letter from the Chu Family.

"Alliance Leader, what’s going on with the Chu Family?" Lu Hongxian asked, growing restless as he watched Luan Xiong close his eyes in silence after finishing the letter.

Luan Xiong didn’t speak, simply handing the letter to Lu Hongxian.

Lu Hongxian took the letter and began reading it eagerly.

"Have the scouts we just sent out reported back yet?" Luan Xiong asked, looking to the men at his side.

For some reason, a vague sense of unease settled in his heart.

"Alliance Leader, no word yet. From the looks of it, they must have failed," an Elder of the Blood Oath Alliance replied.

They had previously devised a plan to abduct Chen Ping’an’s sister and use her as a bargaining chip in the struggles to come. Even if the abduction failed, it didn’t matter; it would escalate the conflict with the Garrison Commandant’s Office, thereby helping them achieve their goal of a gradual takeover.

Given how long it had been since their men were dispatched, they should have brought the girl back by now if the mission had been successful. The lack of news clearly meant they had failed.

Lu Hongxian finished the letter and, seeing Luan Xiong’s silence, said boisterously, "Alliance Leader, it’s good that they failed. All the more reason to end this quickly! Still, it looks like the Garrison Commandant’s Office went after the wrong people. The last report said that Chen Ping’an led his men straight to the Chu Family!

"For the Chu Family to invite us at a time like this, does that mean they’ve already captured Chen Ping’an? They want us all to show up and figure out how to resolve this?"

"Heh heh, that Chen Ping’an is so useless. I haven’t even made a move, and he’s already been captured!" Lu Hongxian’s face was full of contempt. "Alliance Leader, can I go with you? I want to see for myself what a coward that Chen Ping’an is!"

"Then let’s go together," Luan Xiong said with a nod.

...

Besides the two great families and the Blood Oath Alliance, the Chu Family’s invitations were also sent to the Iron Fist Gang and the Commerce Alliance. Considering the invitation and the Garrison Commandant’s Office’s recent actions, everyone began to speculate.

A rather common theory was that Chen Ping’an of the Garrison Commandant’s Office had been captured by Chu Mingwei, the Chu Family Patriarch.

In their minds, while Chen Ping’an’s methods were impressive, he was no match for Chu Mingwei. Furthermore, the Garrison Commandant’s Office hadn’t dispatched many men this time, so the loser couldn’t possibly be the Chu Family—it could only be the Garrison Commandant’s Office.

"He’s young, after all. So reckless!"

"He must think everyone is like the Quicksand Gang or the Crocodile Gang! He really hit a brick wall this time!"

"Come on, let’s go see! Looks like the Chu Family got the first bite this time."

...

The He Family, the Song Family, the Blood Oath Alliance, and the other factions each led a contingent of men toward the Chu Family estate.

"The He Family’s men! And... that’s the Song Family! What’s going on today? Why are so many forces on the move?"

"Look! The Blood Oath Alliance and the Iron Fist Gang, too! Let’s go, get away from here! If we’re too slow, we’ll get caught up in the trouble for no reason!"

"I just saw men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office, and now all these gangs and families. Is a fight about to break out?"

"Looks like they’re all heading toward the Chu Family’s place."

From the residences inside White Stone City, some of the bolder citizens secretly watched the situation outside. The sight of one contingent after another passing by had clearly made them uneasy.

"Can’t we have a little peace! These times we live in..."

"What’s there to sigh about? It’s good enough just to be alive. What more could you want?"

"..."

...

The representatives of the various factions soon gathered at the Chu Family estate. Luan Xiong and Lu Hongxian of the Blood Oath Alliance had come from the farthest away, so naturally, they were the last to arrive.

As they stepped down from their carriage, they saw many people standing with solemn expressions at the entrance to the Chu estate.

Besides members of the Chu Family, there were also constables from the Garrison Commandant’s Office.

"Why are the men from the Garrison Commandant’s Office still here?" Lu Hongxian grumbled, annoyed.

"They probably haven’t completely dropped all pretenses yet. The Chu Family is still exercising restraint," Luan Xiong said.

"What about Chen Ping’an? He hasn’t been put down yet?" Lu Hongxian’s eyes lit up.

Luan Xiong glanced at him. "We’ll know once we’re inside."

Unable to contain his impatience, Lu Hongxian followed Luan Xiong through the main gates of the Chu estate. Inside, a dedicated Steward met them and quickly led them to a hall.

By now, the hall was already filled with people. Representatives from the Song Family, the He Family, the Iron Fist Gang, and the Commerce Alliance had all arrived.

"Alliance Leader Luan!"

"Vice Alliance Leader Lu."

Seeing the two enter, the representatives of the major factions greeted them one by one.

Luan Xiong and Lu Hongxian clasped their fists and returned the greetings.

"Where’s Chu Mingwei?" Luan Xiong asked curiously, looking around the room and not seeing any sign of him.

"Who knows? He’s being so mysterious. We haven’t seen a trace of him yet," said He Xuan, Patriarch of the He Family.

"He summons us all here and then disappears? That old coot." The speaker was Hong Wenfei, the head of the Commerce Alliance. His expression was grim.

"Heh heh, no rush. He’s the one who called us here; he’ll show up eventually," said Song Hujie, who remained unhurried as he nibbled on the fruit and pastries before him.

Luan Xiong and Lu Hongxian took their seats, and the representatives of the major factions began to chat. The conversation was mostly about the purpose of their gathering, and before long, it turned to the topic of Chen Ping’an.

At this, Lu Hongxian’s face filled with displeasure. He slammed a hand on the table and stood up. "Fucking hell, I rushed over here all excited. So where is that spineless coward Chen Ping’an? Don’t tell me Chu Mingwei already killed him! What a fucking letdown!"

"Vice Alliance Leader Lu, are your hands getting itchy?"

"’Spineless coward’... that’s quite the description!"

"He *is* a spineless coward! If I ever saw him, I’d beat him until he was on the ground begging for mercy!" Lu Hongxian’s words dripped with contempt.

"HAHAHA..."

The hall filled with uproarious laughter.

Just as the laughter echoed through the hall, a calm voice, devoid of any emotion, came from outside.

"Is that so?"

The laughter in the hall died abruptly. Chen Ping’an’s figure appeared before them. The young man stood tall and straight, his black Fish Scale Armor giving him a heroic and extraordinary air.

And Chu Mingwei, the Patriarch of the Chu Family, followed behind Chen Ping’an like a servant, mimicking his every step.

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