The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 646 Public Opinion Reversal, Fu Si Takes His Leave (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

"Did you hear that?"

"what's up?"

"Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman!"

"You mean, Mang Dao spent the night at the Gu family's house, under the covers?"

"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you!"

"I know! Hehe, this is interesting! That's a stunningly beautiful fairy!"

"Of course! I really don't know, that night..."

"Haha, that's exciting!"

"What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing."

"."

In just a few days, the news about Mang Dao spending the night at the Gu family's house instantly ignited public opinion throughout Canglong Prefecture.

The speed is astonishing.

The impact of this news was somewhat overshadowed by the news of the fierce battle in the night sky of the state capital.

Gossiping is a human instinct, but many people can suppress it. However, for those who are passionate about it, it's a different story.

For them, the higher the status and the greater the influence of the gossip, the more intense the gossip becomes.

This is especially true for those pure, noble, and aloof individuals.

For example, like.
Chen Ping'an, a ruthless swordsman; Gu Qingcheng, a woman of noble character.

The former is a powerful figure in a state, wielding great authority; the latter is the pride of the Gu family, a stunning beauty.

These kinds of secrets are truly fascinating when they are unearthed.

The sheer thrill of imagining how the alluring fairy would react in front of the ruthless Chen Ping'an was indescribable.

Actually, there has been a lot of news about Chen Ping'an, the "Mangdao," recently, and there are several similar stories circulating.

For example, when a warrior with a powerful sword participates in a celebration, he uses top-tier divine weapons as a gift.

While top-tier divine weapons are indeed awe-inspiring, they are too far removed from the lives of most ordinary people, who lack a clear reference point for their value. They tend to remember the emotions associated with them rather than having a genuine, personal understanding of their worth.

As a result of these effects, things like staying overnight at Gu's house have actually attracted more attention from the general public.

Especially the rumors that followed, some true and some false, such as their deep affection and sleeping together, completely ignited everyone's gossip-loving hearts.

These rumors, a mix of truth and falsehood, have completely ignited a frenzy of discussion.

The reason why such news can circulate is not only because of the news itself, but also because of the behind-the-scenes hype and promotion.

The forces that had previously used the controversy surrounding the swordsmanship to manipulate Chen Ping'an, the "Mangdao," were fully aware of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

However, by the time they wanted to retaliate, they had missed their best opportunity.

Who would have thought the Gu family would be so patient? They held back for over a month, and when they finally acted, their strategy was remarkably shrewd. Their timing and opportunity were impeccably precise.

Most importantly, the timing and circumstances were perfect; the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command desperately needed a new public opinion campaign to shift public focus. The Gu family, having planned this for a long time, launched a decisive counterattack in public opinion, completely overturning the established narrative.

The Gu family and the Canglong Prefecture Garrison had already reached a tacit agreement and were cooperating with each other, making it impossible for any other force to intervene. Any force capable of intervening would need to be eager to get involved and would have to consider the impact of the previous assassination attempt.

Due to a combination of factors, the public opinion surrounding the conflict between swords and knives has completely reversed.

"What's the point of talking about a war of swords now!"

"What knives and swords? Aren't they all for cultivation?"

"You're saying swordsmen are stronger?! That's interesting. Whether someone is stronger or not depends on the individual!"

"Who's stronger, the Savage Blade or the Fairy of Allure? Do you even know what you're talking about?! It's their business, why are you interfering?!"

"Even their own family isn't worried, so why are you, an outsider, so anxious?!"

"Whether you're strong or not, you'll never know after a fight in bed! Ah, big brother, big brother, I was wrong, please don't hit me. I apologize, I apologize."

"."

Similar remarks were heard frequently.

In this atmosphere, the nighttime attack in Canglong Prefecture City mysteriously disappeared from public view.

In this process, the efforts made by the State Garrison Command and the tacit understanding reached with the Gu family were crucial.

When things turn out badly, public opinion will step in to salvage the situation!

hum~
Inside the room, Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged, a pale blue light flowing in front of him, enveloping a pair of jet-black jade rings, constantly cleansing and purifying them.

He obtained these rings from Li Wusheng.

The ring was engraved with Li Wusheng's true essence mark. Now that Chen Ping'an had obtained it, he naturally wanted to cleanse and refine it.

This step is also a prerequisite for refining divine weapons.

After an unknown amount of time, the pale blue light gradually faded, and the pair of rings ended up in Chen Ping'an's hands.

"It's done!"

Chen Ping'an looked calmly at the ring in his hand.

These rings are no ordinary items; they are genuine treasures.

Each ring possesses a quality approaching that of a top-tier divine weapon, surpassing even ordinary powerful divine weapons. When two rings are combined, their power and grade are in no way inferior to a typical top-tier divine weapon!

In the past two days, although Chen Ping'an has not yet truly refined it, he has roughly figured out some of its functions.

Under the ring's mysterious activation, it should have the effect of disrupting spiritual energy and confusing the senses. In addition, it can also provide buffs and enhance palm power.

It is considered an extremely good auxiliary weapon.

Besides the black jade ring, Chen Ping'an also obtained a gold-threaded belt from Li Wusheng, and all the true essence marks on it had been removed.

The Golden Silk Belt is a binding divine weapon, possessing the finest quality among powerful divine weapons, and is extremely valuable.

It has to be said that Li Wusheng has accumulated a considerable fortune over the years.

These few treasures alone are worth tens of thousands of yuan.

Especially the Azure Lightning Pearl, which could be considered a trump card, even for Chen Ping'an.

Triggering this effect during combat might produce surprising results.

"Everything is done, it's time to go!"

Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed, a glint of light appearing within them.

Judging by the timeline, it's been almost two months since he left Leiming. This is completely different from what he said back then.

Having spent so much time in the capital, and now that everything is settled, it's time for him to go back.

On the other hand, Gu Qingcheng's promotion celebration was over, and he had no reason to stay in Canglong Prefecture City.

"Let's go to the Prefectural Garrison Command! Several days have passed; it's time to check on the situation!"

Since the attack that night, news of Li Wusheng's death has not spread. Clearly, the Canglong Prefecture's Garrison Command has completely suppressed information about the matter.

When he killed Li Wusheng that night, it was within the confinement area, and there were indeed no eyewitnesses.

Aside from Old Man Qingfan, it's probably just a guess for everyone else.

"have a look."

Chen Pingan slowly got up and walked out of the room.

"Prepare the car! We're heading to the Prefectural Garrison!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Going back?"

“Yes, Lord Ning, we’ve been here for so long, it’s time to return to Leiming.” Chen Ping’an said calmly, looking at Ning Zhengyue, the Five Thunder Transformation Master, in front of him.

As his nominal direct superior, he naturally had to inform the other party before leaving.

After not seeing him for many days, a hint of weariness appeared between Ning Zhengyue's dignified brows.

It's not physical fatigue, but the feeling of mental exhaustion.

Clearly, as the deputy head of the State Garrison Command, responsible for handling daily official duties, Ning Zhengyue had quite a few things to worry about.

Especially now, with the aftermath of the Long'an unrest, the coordination among various counties and regions, and the overt maintenance of stability, etc.

In addition, there was the recent night battle in the state capital.

Each of these tasks requires a great deal of effort.

“Well, it’s good to go back. Leiming has had a lot of trouble lately, so we should go back and deal with it properly! Ask Wu Benqing for me what he’s really doing as the top leader of Leiming.” Ning Zhengyue’s brows furrowed deeply, a hint of annoyance appearing on his face.

"Did something happen to Lei Ming?"

Chen Pingan found it somewhat strange.

When he arrived, everything was fine; the demons blocked his way, everything went smoothly, and he even gained a lot of credit.

Has the situation changed now?

Chen Ping'an had doubts in his heart, and without hiding them, he asked directly.

"Lord Ning, what happened to Lei Ming?"

Given his current influence, although Ning Zhengyue is his superior, the difference in their status is not that significant. Appropriate communication and inquiry are still quite normal.

"Take a look for yourself," Ning Zhengyue said, pointing to a pile of documents beside him.

"Hmm." Chen Ping'an didn't stand on ceremony and started reading right away.

He read ten lines at a glance, flipping through the pages extremely quickly, and in no time he had read most of it.

"A remnant of the evil-level forces, a horrific robbery and murder?"

Chen Ping'an was taken aback, a hint of surprise showing on his face.

Chen Ping'an stayed in Ning Zhengyue's official residence for a while before taking his leave.

Even after Chen Ping'an left, Ning Zhengyue's expression remained unchanged.

"A multitude of things to do."

Ning Zhengyue slowly got up and walked to a window on one side. His official residence was located in the main building of the Zhenfu Division. From this side, one could see a row of imposing buildings.

Behind the building is the inner treasury of the Zhenfu Division.

Ning Zhengyue's gaze was solemn as he stared at one of the buildings for a long time.

That was the building where Li Wusheng worked.

He never saw Li Wusheng again after that night.

It's normal for a powerful figure like Li Wusheng to occasionally go into seclusion. But to do so so quietly, and for the timing to coincide with a midnight attack, makes things rather unusual.

A few nights ago, the Grand Elder personally took action, his streak of light tearing through the sky as he rushed from the State Garrison to provide support. The location of his support was none other than the Li family residence.

Ning Zhengyue's gaze trembled slightly as he stood silently.

Although the Grand Master didn't say anything after returning that day, judging from the reactions of the State Garrison in the past few days, he had already guessed the outcome.

I believe that besides him, a small number of other people also guessed a similar answer.

Looking at the public buildings in the distance, Ning Zhengyue felt a sense of shared sorrow, like a rabbit mourning the death of another.

His relationship with Li Wusheng wasn't exactly friendly, but having known each other for two hundred years made it impossible for him to remain indifferent to this news.

It has nothing to do with stance; it's simply a matter of feeling sorry for someone of the same kind.

Even at their level, in the heart of a state, they still cannot guarantee 100% safety.

Such feelings are enough to leave one bewildered.

Li Wusheng's combat strength far surpassed his, yet he fell so easily, so what about him?

perhaps
Only by truly reaching the level of a Grandmaster can one enjoy true peace in this world.

Harmony between man and nature, the martial arts path to harmony between man and nature!
Ning Zhengyue stood there with a deep gaze, and it was unclear how long he had been standing there.

"They really are blocking the news." Stepping out of Ning Zhengyue's residence, Chen Ping'an was now certain of his suspicions.

During their conversation, he mentioned the fierce battle in the night sky to Ning Zhengyue. Ning Zhengyue also shared a lot of information with him, but made no mention of Li Wusheng's death.

Clearly, whether or not the people in the state garrison knew about this matter, on the surface, no one knew about it.

Otherwise, given Ning Zhengyue's position in the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, if this matter were already confirmed, Chen Ping'an would surely have informed him of such information upon inquiry.

After all, the fall of the deputy commander is no small matter; this was a true top-level giant in the state!

"It seems that the State Garrison Command wants to minimize the impact, is it because of the Long'an turmoil?" Chen Ping'an wondered to himself.

The unrest in Long'an had already severely damaged the reputation and prestige of the two prefectural garrisons. The situation in Long'an hadn't even been resolved yet; if a similar unrest were to occur in Canglong Prefecture at this critical juncture, the impact would be truly enormous.

Furthermore, chasing each other in the night sky and the fall of a giant are two completely different concepts.

The former depends entirely on how you put it.

It could be described as timely discovery and intervention to drive them away. Or it could be described as the opponent making a fatal mistake and suffering a crushing defeat.

Public opinion is controlled by the provincial garrison command; how it is said depends entirely on their tone and strategy.

However, the latter means something completely different.

With solid evidence in hand, no matter what the Canglong Prefecture Garrison says, it will be difficult to clear their name.

Even if appropriate measures are taken afterward, it will be difficult to recover the lost prestige and declining reputation.

Even if the thief surrenders, it might only salvage some public opinion. But it's impossible to pretend nothing happened.

Unless the results are several times, or even ten times, greater, it is possible to achieve a draw or eliminate the threat.

just
Is that possible?

Clearly, old man Qingfan is a sensible person.

In the worst-case scenario, the right choice was made: to remain calm, suppress information, and minimize the impact of the incident as quickly as possible.

This has sparked another wave of public opinion, which has been heavily hyped and used to divert public attention.

It must be said that, considering the overall situation, this step was the most appropriate one.

Of course, there are better options than this.

That is, to suppress on the spot as a model, and then to use public opinion to praise the tyranny of the prefectural garrison, downplaying the losses, emphasizing the gains, and rebuilding the prestige previously lost.

Unfortunately, old man Qingfan's strength was limited, and he was unable to achieve this!
Chen Ping'an pondered for a moment, then walked out of the main building. Before he had gone far, he felt a very subtle gaze sweep over him.

"It's Old Man Qingfan!"

In an instant, Chen Ping'an determined the source of the aura.

"They're really cautious! But I guess that's understandable."

Despite the change in Chen Ping'an's thoughts, his face remained calm as he walked along the corridor with an ordinary expression.

Old Man Qingfan's scan didn't linger on him for long; he seemed to have found nothing and quickly shifted his gaze.

Chen Ping'an remained calm, his heart undisturbed.

The atmosphere inside the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command seemed to be no different from usual.

It seemed as if they were unaffected by the fierce chase and battle of the previous nights.

But Chen Ping'an still sensed a hint of tension beneath the surface.

Clearly, the situation in Canglong Prefecture's Zhenfu Division is not as it appears to the outside world.

And this feeling becomes more pronounced the higher one goes.

Before leaving the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, Chen Ping'an sought out Zhong Zeyu. Currently, Zhong Zeyu's status was considerably lower than his own.

However, they were all colleagues who had gone through battles together at Sanqishan, and could be considered to have experienced life and death together.

Now that we're leaving the city and heading back to Leiming, it's only right that we say goodbye.

Chen Ping'an's visit flattered Zhong Zeyu, who repeatedly said, "I have seen Lord Chen before."

Mang Dao is now a very popular figure, with immense power and influence. Not to mention someone of his rank, even those who are candidates for the position of commander might not be able to catch Chen Ping'an's eye.

Furthermore, the recent widespread rumors have made Chen Ping'an, the "Reckless Blade," an object of admiration, awe, and envy for many.

In terms of power, Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, is someone to be admired.

When it comes to killing, Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, commands respect.

His natural talent and wit are the envy of everyone.

And then there's the newly appointed grandmaster of the Gu family, a female swordswoman, a beauty of unparalleled charm—such a romantic affair is truly the envy of others.

Even Zhong Zeyu felt this envy.

First there was Master Gu, the master of the Ice Soul Divine Needle, and now there is the stunningly beautiful Gu Tianjiao. Such life encounters are simply beyond words.

Zhong Zeyu's mind was in turmoil, but Chen Ping'an was unaware of it.

After explaining his purpose and exchanging a few pleasantries, he left.

Although Chen Ping'an didn't say much, this one move greatly enhanced Zhong Zeyu's status among his colleagues.

With this backing, Zhong Zeyu's position in the prefectural garrison was as stable as Mount Tai.

"Lord Chen, please take care on your journey. I sincerely wish you a bright future and everlasting success in your martial arts!"

Before leaving, Zhong Zeyu spoke earnestly, revealing his true feelings.

"No need to see me off, Lao Zhong, go back."

Chen Pingan waved his hand slightly and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Yes, sir." Zhong Zeyu responded, but he remained bowed and sullen for a long time until Chen Ping'an left and his figure disappeared into the distance.

The road of life is rugged and difficult; if one can receive help from a benefactor, it is a great blessing.

If you don't know how to be grateful, how are you any different from an animal?
This time, Chen Ping'an didn't encounter Fang Zhengyu, the retainer of the State Garrison Office's Pavilion, like he did last time.

Previously, Fang Zhengyu, either taking advantage of Li Wusheng's influence or receiving instructions from Li Wusheng, intended to set the stage and provoke conflict between him and Bi Cang Wangsun.

In response, Chen Ping'an erupted on the spot, displaying his power and teaching the other party a lesson.

Having met him before, Chen Ping'an ignored him.

The other party was eager to get on Li Wusheng's side, but now that they know Li Wusheng is dead, I wonder what they will think?

Chen Pingan smiled.

An ordinary master is not worth his time and effort.

As soon as they stepped out of the gate of the prefectural garrison, they were greeted by a chorus of respectful shouts from numerous elite soldiers.

Chen Ping'an's expression was calm, and his demeanor was dignified.

"grown ups!"

Outside the gate of the prefectural garrison, Xiong Sanrang came forward, respectfully lifted the carriage curtain, and helped Chen Ping'an board the carriage.

Chen Ping'an glanced at Xiong Sanrang and the thought of bestowing upon him a breakthrough pill came to mind.

He had seen Xiong Sanrang's tireless and attentive service over the past few days.

It's time for a reward.

After returning to the courtyard, Chen Ping'an began his cultivation as usual.

Although he went to the Canglong Prefecture Garrison to say goodbye, there were still two days before he actually left the city.

He's about to leave, and who knows when he'll be back. I'll take advantage of these last two days before he departs to have a good chat with the little girl.

The brother and sister haven't had a long talk all night long in a while.

In addition, before officially leaving, he needs to visit the Gu family to say a formal goodbye.

The Gu family gained a great deal from this trip, including a prototype of a powerful treasure, the Heavenly Meteor Frost Star Blade, cultivation artifacts, and Snow Spirit Leaves.

Since he is leaving, he should have a formal farewell.

and also
It was time for Gu Qingcheng to see him one last time.

Once you leave, it may take more than a month or two to return.

According to the information he learned from Ning Zhengyue, Lei Ming's matter probably cannot be resolved in the short term.

Just as Chen Ping'an was cultivating and preparing to leave Canglong, Zhang Tianyuan, the powerful deputy head of the Canglong Prefecture Garrison, who had received an urgent message from the Canglong Prefecture Garrison Command, finally returned to Canglong Prefecture City.

(End of this chapter)