The night was deep. Thirty li outside Rising Origin City, within an abandoned temple.
The abandoned temple's tiles and rubble were mottled, weathered by wind and frost. Though the temple was dilapidated, hidden sentries were scattered densely around it, and its defenses were tight enough that even flying insects found it difficult to cross. A row of corpses lay neatly along the side of the temple, proclaiming that this place was far from ordinary.
Inside the abandoned temple, Chen Ping'an rested a hand on his knee and leaned against the stone wall at an angle, looking rather languid.
Hurried footsteps came from outside the abandoned temple. Immediately afterward, a burly Town Pacification Office elite entered, approached Chen Ping'an with a respectful expression, and presented a sealed letter with both hands.
"Report! Lord Chen, an urgent letter from Wei River!"
Chen Ping'an opened his eyes and said calmly, "Read it."
"Yes, my lord." The burly man's expression turned solemn. He opened the letter and read it aloud line by line.
"Reporting to Deputy Brigade Commander Lord Chen: Northern Lands Saber Guan Dongxiang has rushed to Wei River and issued a challenge before the Town Pacification Office gates. We ask that my lord return to Wei River as soon as possible to take charge of the situation."
The letter was not long. It took merely a dozen breaths to read it all. After reading the secret letter, the burly man looked at Chen Ping'an uneasily.
"Northern Lands Saber Guan Dongxiang issued a challenge to me at Wei River?"
Chen Ping'an's expression remained calm, his gaze deep, revealing not the slightest emotion.
"Replying to my lord, according to the secret letter, that is indeed the case." The burly man stood to one side and answered respectfully.
"I had barely left the city when someone came to challenge me. That is rather interesting indeed." There was not the slightest smile on Chen Ping'an's face.
"My lord, the remnants of the Heavenly Lotus Sect have already been purged. Should we return to the city at once and settle this matter?"
"No need." Chen Ping'an said blandly, "We will return according to the original schedule."
"Yes, I understand." The burly man responded respectfully. Seeing that Chen Ping'an said nothing further, he withdrew, moving carefully for fear of disturbing him in the slightest.
Outside the abandoned temple stood quite a few Town Pacification Office elites. The burly man emerged from within and gave a slight nod in greeting.
Northern Lands Saber Guan Dongxiang? Challenging Lord Chen? He truly dared!
Had they heard of this a few days ago, they would likely have felt considerable worry. But today, every one of them was at ease, filled with confidence in Lord Chen.
Northern Lands Saber Guan Dongxiang had quite a reputation, an expert on the Dragon and Tiger Rankings. But at the end of the day, he only ranked among the dregs of the Dragon and Tiger Rankings. Before their lord, he was nothing but chickens and dogs, something that could be wiped out with one hand!
A mere Dragon and Tiger Rankings dreg dared challenge their lord. His nerve truly was not small!
Their faces were full of reverence, and their hearts stirred faintly. Recalling the scene from not long ago, many among them still felt as though they were dreaming.
"Not good! A top expert!"
"No, something is wrong—Falling Flowers and Leaves! It is the Heavenly Lotus Sect's Protector Elder, Thousand Leaf Phantom Hand!"
"Hehehe, since you have discovered me, then none of you should leave. Stay here!"
"Run fast!"
The Heavenly Lotus Sect elder, Thousand Leaf Phantom Hand, ranked one hundred ninety-third on the Dragon and Tiger Rankings. Before Thousand Leaf Phantom Hand, even top experts had only death awaiting them, let alone people like them.
Thousand Leaf Phantom Hand was most skilled at group battles!
Falling Flowers and Leaves, Thousand Leaf Phantoms, seemed to come from every direction, leaving people nowhere to flee.
Just as everyone was terrified and despairing, a grayish-white radiance streaked with deep blue flashed past, utterly breaking apart the Falling Flowers and Leaves.
"Who is it? Who dares ruin my plans!?"
"Hm!? Hehehe, I recognize you now—the New Talent Rankings' prodigy! Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an! Chen Ping'an, your reputation is not small. Among Canglong's younger generation, you rank in the top three! But do you think that alone is enough to do anything to me!? Ridiculous!"
"Will you die yourself, or shall I send you to your death?" An incomparably indifferent voice sounded in the field.
"Chen Ping'an, what a big mouth you have!"
Boom!
A vast aura erupted. Whirlwinds swept through the area, fallen leaves fluttered, and amid the surging True Qi, muffled booms could faintly be heard.
"There is a road to heaven, yet you refuse to take it; hell has no gate, yet you throw yourself in! Die!"
Whoosh!
A dazzling Saber Light, like dawn breaking over the horizon, suddenly slashed across the sky and filled everyone's vision.
What a breathtaking saber strike! It seemed to gather all the sharp edge between heaven and earth, inspiring reverence and making it impossible to forget!
Within the abandoned temple, dim yellow candlelight swayed gently in the breeze, casting mottled, shifting shadows. Chen Ping'an sat with his eyes closed in concentration, leaning against the stone wall, his entire being exuding an indescribable calmness and composure. At his side stood an old wooden table missing one corner. Upon it rested a square wooden box with its lid half closed, exposing an ominous slit that drew the eye.
Inside the wooden box lay a head in silence. Its face was savage, its eyes wide open, its expression frozen in profound terror and disbelief. In its final moments, the head's owner seemed to have witnessed the most inconceivable thing in the world.
A fine head—who had severed it!?
The one who severed the head was Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an!
Azure Dragon Province City, State Universe Control Division.
As one of the dynasty's foremost violent institutions, the Universe Control Division naturally presented an imposing scene of strict security. Its gate stood towering and upright, covered in mottled iron studs and set with bronze beast-head door knockers, exuding a deep sense of solemnity.
Within the Universe Control Division, towering buildings stood in rows. Their roofs were covered in blue-gray tiles, their upturned eaves like gray eagles spreading their wings to take flight, grand and imposing.
Inside a broad, solemn room, a vigorous elder with white hair and beard held a wolf-hair brush. Its tip lightly touched the inkstone before winding across the sheet of xuan paper spread over the desk.
As the final stroke fell, the elder gently lifted the brush and examined his work. He nodded in satisfaction.
"By my reckoning, Guan Dongxiang should have reached Wei River by now." The elder gently set down the wolf-hair brush and walked to the window. He slightly closed his eyes as scenes surfaced in his mind.
These were among the few memories he had of meeting Tong Jin.
Back then, before he had mastered his divine arts, his entire family had been slaughtered by enemies. Tong Jin was a man without great ambition, nothing but a good-for-nothing. Yet Tong Jin was his only surviving junior. Under his care, although Tong Jin's abilities were mediocre, his promotions had not been slow in the slightest.
The Wei River investigation had been thought a gilded journey, yet in the end, Tong Jin had met his death in a foreign land.
"Jin, my boy..." The elder slowly opened his eyes. A trace of nearly imperceptible tenderness flashed within them, but it vanished in an instant, swiftly replaced by coldness.
"After this matter, regardless of the outcome, this old master will have avenged you. If you know this in the underworld, you can rest in peace."
Previously, he had intended to have Feng Chengxiu act and kill Chen Ping'an in one stroke. But Feng Chengxiu was far too cautious, forever looking ahead and behind, delaying his decision until he missed the best opportunity.
This Chen Ping'an was a rising star of the Town Pacification Office, a prodigy on the New Talent Rankings, and the focus of much attention. If he wanted revenge, he had only one chance to strike.
If he made too many attempts, firstly it would violate the rules, and secondly it would expose his tracks, inviting the Town Pacification Office's countermeasures.
Even as a Grandmaster, he had his concerns. Unless, at all costs, he insisted on putting Chen Ping'an to death. But if he did that, he would undoubtedly enter a struggle where neither side could rest until the other died.
Though Tong Jin was his junior, he was not his direct blood relative. He had lived for over two hundred years, and familial affection had long grown thin. So-called juniors were merely something to remember. Tong Jin's death was still far from enough to make him fight to the death and cast everything aside.
This time, he had already placed his piece. Borrowing the Xue Family's influence, he had laid out a ruthless scheme that forced Chen Ping'an into a dilemma where he could neither advance nor retreat. Whether Chen Ping'an fought or avoided the battle, his days ahead would not be easy!
If Chen Ping'an fought, he would die and his Dao would vanish. If he did not fight, his spirit and resolve would be utterly lost.
Under his calculations, the overt scheme had taken shape. Chen Ping'an had nowhere to evade!
Tong Jin's grudge could thus be considered avenged!
"I hope Chen Ping'an acts foolishly and accepts this battle. Then it can be settled once and for all!" The elder slowly turned around, his gaze falling upon the xuan paper atop the desk.
Upon that ancient sheet of xuan paper, several large characters leaped from the page. Written with vigorous, forceful strokes, they seemed to carry a weight of a thousand jun, striking straight at the heart.
Kill the man, strike the heart!
PS: I originally wanted to take the day off today, and had even submitted my leave request. But after thinking it over, I still had to update. Today's word count is a little lower, so please make do. The plot is clearly all in my head, but when I write it out, it falls a little short. Tomorrow is New Year's Day—it is time to properly adjust my state.
Before you continue