The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 653 Return to Thunderous Roar, The Thunderous Situation (Seeking monthly votes~)

"The Mangdao have entered the city?"

In the back courtyard of the Leiming Valley family, an elderly man with white hair lay on a large chair, calmly asking the person beside him.

"Reporting to Elder, we've already entered the city! Judging from the direction, we should have gone to the Thunderous Garrison Command." A middle-aged man in a long robe beside him replied respectfully.

As someone close to the elders, he naturally kept abreast of all sorts of matters. Not to mention such important matters involving the ruthless Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman and the chief inspector of the Thunderous Garrison, is a true top-level figure in the Thunderous region.

In terms of sheer power and threat, even the Grand Elder of the Thunderous Garrison is no match for Feng Wuhen.

The old man had a lean and refined face, and wore a light blue robe with crane patterns, giving him an ethereal and otherworldly air. Even in this state, his graceful demeanor remained unaffected.

He lay on the large chair and pondered for a while, then a voice gave the order.

"Tell Lu Ping to perform well and not slack off. Any extra time spent is just a way to make money."

"Yes, Elder." The middle-aged man in the long robe bowed respectfully and then jogged away.

Gu Baixuan looked up at the sky and saw that it was clear and bright, with a vast expanse of blue sky.

"Berserk Blade!"

Gu Baixuan narrowed his eyes, a strange look appearing on his thin face.

"I've already given you a way out. I hope you understand the situation, know your limits, and don't ruin Lei Ming's overall plan!"

"Has the Mangdao already entered the city?"

Wu Benqing sat high on the chair and casually asked a question to the shadows to one side.

"He's in. Judging by the time, he should be here soon." A hoarse voice sounded from one side of the communal room.

"He did want to come back. He asked for a month's leave, but actually took more than two months off. He had only been in office for a short time, and not only did he take leave and leave the city, but the prefectural governor's office actually agreed to the extension! It really is true that it's easy to be an official if you have connections in the court!" Wu Benqing said with a playful expression, with a hint of disdain.

"Given the current situation, it's advantageous for us if Lei Ming returns later. The later he returns, the greater the benefit."

"That being said, the system of the prefectural garrison is becoming increasingly arbitrary." Wu Benqing chuckled, his smile deepening. "After less than two months in office, one can take a vacation of more than two months. With such arbitrariness, it's no wonder that the garrison has run into such a mess."

In the shadows, the figure in black robes remained silent, knowing that Wu Benqing was referring to the recent nighttime attack on Canglong Prefecture.

This incident led to an update to the Grandmaster Ranking, which became known throughout the Great Qian Dynasty, and the Canglong Prefecture's Garrison Command lost all face.

"Lei Ming, how do you plan to explain the current situation to Mang Dao?"

"Confess? Confess what?" Wu Benqing sneered, "I'm the one in charge of Leiming, not Mangdao!"

"That's true, but he's now the Inspector General. With so many intricacies involved, aren't you afraid he'll find out? Besides, given the current situation, while what you're doing is clever, the result is too obvious. With a little thought, you can skip the steps and work backward from the result to see the situation clearly."

Wu Benqing sneered, "He's a smart man; he knows what to do. He won't miss out on his share of the profits, but he shouldn't interfere in my affairs! This Thunder Charter is a consensus among all parties; I'm just acting as a go-between! If he really wanted to interfere, he might not be able to!"

The shadows fell silent, and no more words were spoken.

Yes, Lei Ming's current situation is not solely in Wu Benqing's interest, but a consensus among various forces and industries. Wu Benqing is merely a representative who is acting in accordance with the prevailing circumstances.

Using the fleeing evil forces as a starting point, they consolidated the interests of some factions within Thunder City, and annexed and suppressed some weaker industries.

The obvious benefits were taken by the evil forces. The hidden profits were reaped by various factions within the city.

And within this chain, there are also traces of various forces within the Thunder Mountains.

Smuggling is involved, and without their support, this chain wouldn't be able to operate. Furthermore, judging from previous incidents, it's highly likely that the various factions within the Thunder Mountain Range have reached a certain consensus with the fleeing evil forces, or rather, with some of them.

Both sides have reached a tacit understanding to keep to themselves in areas where their interests are at stake.

Most importantly, although Wu Benqing didn't say it, he had already realized that some key members of the Qiankun Division were also involved in this matter!
Otherwise, the Qiankun Division, which bears the responsibility of supervision, would not have been so indifferent to this matter.

Previously, although they were involved in smuggling together, their interests were not as strongly intertwined as they are now.

By using evil forces and raising the screening threshold, they can, in a sense, increase their market share.

All they need to do is control the public opinion atmosphere, cause some panic, and create unfavorable news during certain key blocking and encirclement operations.

In other words, it's a case of inaction during a critical time, or even malicious manipulation of the atmosphere to maximize profits at the expense of peace and tranquility.

Most importantly, all the links have been established, so there's no fear of this being exposed. With the Qiankun Division involved, if it were to be exposed, it would be a problem for the various factions in the Thunder Mountain Range, and would have nothing to do with the Thunder Town Pacification Division.

At most, it would be an admission of incompetence and a condemnation of mediocrity.

The investment and the returns are disproportionately large and completely disproportionate, which explains why so many people participate.

However, the only slight deviation is that Chen Ping'an, the ruthless swordsman, has returned.

The Qiankun Division bears the responsibility of oversight, but its personnel have already become part of the chain. Therefore, there is no need to worry about this matter. However, Mangdao, as the chief inspector within the system, also shoulders the responsibility of oversight.

If he were to step forward and oversee this matter, then things would really get out of hand.

Judging from Wu Benqing's expression, he was clearly confident. He had already figured out Mang Dao's situation and there was nothing to worry about.

Just as the man in black robes was pondering, a report came from outside the door from Wu Benqing's trusted subordinate.

"My lord, Lord Chen requests an audience."

"They've arrived!" Wu Benqing glanced at the man in black robes, cleared his throat, and ordered, "Quickly, invite Lord Chen in!"

"Yes, my lord."

"Ping An, did things go smoothly?"

Wu Benqing sat in the large chair and spoke with a gentle expression.

"Thanks to your great fortune, everything is going smoothly." Chen Ping'an's expression was calm, revealing nothing.

As soon as he entered the office, he sensed the presence from the shadows. Although the other party's concealment technique was excellent, it was as dazzling as daylight in his eyes.

Wu Benqing's face was somewhat pale, and he looked like he was seriously injured.

"Ping An, I heard you were back and I was thinking of coming out to meet you. But my injuries are really giving me a headache. And then there's Lei Ming's matter. One thing after another, they're all causing me a lot of worry. I just couldn't get away. I'm sorry, Ping An."

Wu Benqing spoke with heartfelt sincerity, and coupled with his pale complexion, he truly looked like someone still recovering from serious injuries.

"I understand," Chen Pingan said calmly.

According to the information he learned from Ning Zhengyue, the Five Thunder Transformation Master, Wu Benqing had personally gone to the front line during a previous siege by remnants of the enemy, but he was accidentally tricked and poisoned by spiritual poison, which greatly reduced his combat power. He is still in the recovery stage.

“Lord Wu is busy with countless affairs of state, so you should take care of your injuries and rest assured that your health is not good.” Chen Ping’an said calmly, but Wu Benqing had a strange feeling about it.

You figured it out?
impossible!

Wu Benqing glanced at Chen Ping'an but didn't see anything unusual on his face.

His condition was not only disguised, but he also took a secret medicine. Not to mention Chen Ping'an, even a grandmaster would not be able to see through it.

Speaking of
Wu Benqing couldn't help but glance at Chen Ping'an a few times.

During this meeting, he sensed that Chen Ping'an was shrouded in a thin veil. His martial arts level, which he had previously been able to discern at a glance, was now impossible to see through.

While it's not that he can't figure it out, given the current situation, his attempt to investigate will inevitably attract Chen Ping'an's attention.

"It seems this trip back to Canglong has been quite fruitful; he even obtained a treasure that can conceal one's cultivation level." Wu Benqing felt a pang of jealousy, but his expression remained unchanged.

A prodigy is indeed a prodigy, the son-in-law of the Gu family. This time when he returned to Canglong, he must have gained a lot of benefits from the Gu family.

As for breakthroughs in martial arts cultivation, Wu Benqing didn't think about it. Firstly, the time was too short. Even though Mang Dao was incredibly talented, he was still at a bottleneck in his cultivation level, and it wouldn't be possible to break through it so quickly.

Secondly, although he was in Leiming, he paid close attention to the affairs of Canglong and had never heard of Mangdao Chen Ping'an breaking through the realm before.

"Indeed, you should take care of your health, but it is hateful that this villain has been rampaging through Leiming, acting with utter lawlessness! He has caused panic among the people of Leiming, which truly pains me!" Wu Benqing said indignantly.

Since the topic came up, he took the opportunity to talk about Lei Ming's current situation. The initial blocking and encirclement went smoothly, but then a group of remnants appeared out of nowhere, and the combination of the two put them in a very passive position.

In addition, the forces in the Thunder Mountains are not very peaceful. Although they haven't done anything directly, they have caused a lot of trouble, consuming a lot of the Thunder Town Administration's energy.

That would have been fine, as they were under orders from the Canglong Prefecture's Garrison Command to quickly eliminate the influence of this place. They had hoped to seize an opportunity to annihilate these evil forces in one fell swoop. However, they hadn't expected to be tricked; a single misstep led them into the enemy's scheme.

In this battle, not only did he fall into the trap of these evil remnants and be poisoned by their spiritual energy, greatly weakening his combat power, but Gu Luping also suffered extremely serious injuries.

He was struck hard by a palm strike from a remnant of the Evil Path.

Although he miraculously survived and is out of danger, a full recovery in the short term is unlikely. Even after nearly a month of recuperation, he currently possesses at most one-tenth of his peak fighting strength.

Feng Wuhen was in a better position, but he was the only one in good condition in the Thunderous Town Command, so he was struggling to carry the load and was constantly on the go.

After the previous battle, many of the remnants of the evil forces escaped, but some remained, breaking up into smaller groups and appearing and disappearing unpredictably.

They come out to cause trouble from time to time, disrupting Leiming's peace.

"Ping An, it's good that you're back! With your help, the situation in Leiming will definitely improve and gradually get back on track. Those remnants, hearing of your reputation, probably won't dare to make any more rash moves." Wu Benqing's expression was joyful, revealing his excitement, and he flattered Chen Ping An.

Chen Ping'an did not respond to his words.

"Breaking down the group into smaller units, where are those thieves hiding?"

Wu Benqing hadn't expected Chen Ping'an to ask this question, and without much thought, replied, "It should be the Thunder Mountain Range! The Thunder Mountain Range has a complex terrain, towering peaks, and endless dense forests. If it's determined to hide, it won't be easy for us to find it." "Coming out to ambush and kill from time to time, didn't you make any noise beforehand?" Chen Ping'an glanced at Wu Benqing.

Wu Benqing paused for a moment, then smiled. "Oh, Ping An, you mean this? Most of the remaining demons who managed to escape here are quite strong, and they all follow the elite route. They operate in small, scattered groups, and if they are prepared, they really can't cause much of a stir. By the time we find out about the raids, they're almost over. The most recent one was just a cleanup, and we barely managed to save half of the caravan."

"If we can't know in advance, can't those forces within the Thunder Mountain Range know either?" Chen Ping'an said calmly.

Seeing Chen Ping'an's expression, Wu Benqing had a bad feeling. He really hadn't expected that Chen Ping'an, the "Reckless Blade," would be so serious, and that his questions would all get straight to the heart of the matter.

When Mang Dao asked that question, he couldn't give a vague answer anymore.

"It should be something they know, but I don't know the specifics."

Wu Benqing wanted to answer that he couldn't know, but the various factions within the Thunder Mountain Range had been operating there for many years, and their control over the mountain range was far beyond what the Thunder Town Command could match. It would be unrealistic for him to answer that he couldn't.

"In other words, the various factions in the Thunder Mountain Range are protecting these remnants of evil." Chen Ping'an's voice was calm, but his words went straight to the heart of the matter, simple and clear.

"It was because of their cover-up that these tragedies occurred one after another."

“That’s not wrong, but,” Wu Benqing tried to smooth things over, “it’s just speculation, and we don’t have any evidence. Besides, we’ve never gotten along well with the various factions in Leiming. It’s in line with their position to give us a hard time at this time.”

"Lord Wu."

Chen Ping'an's voice rose slightly: "Empathizing with the enemy and switching sides is not our duty. Maintaining peace and stability in this region and ensuring the safety of Leiming are our responsibilities. All our thoughts and actions stem from this. Since the various factions in Leiming Mountain Range are an obstacle to the overall situation, we should find ways to deal with and eliminate them, rather than empathizing with them and assuming their motives are justified!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Benqing's expression turned cold.

"Lord Chen, what do you mean?!"

Chen Ping'an's actions were somewhat disrespectful to him. As the head of Lei Ming, if he were to speak politely to him again, it would truly be going against the natural order.

"We solemnly warn all parties that those who harbor evil and aid and abet tyranny will be punished as equals! We will act with thunderous force and lightning speed! We will sweep away all filth and impurity and restore a bright and clear world to Leiming!"

Chen Ping'an's words were forceful, but his voice was utterly calm. There was no hysterical arrogance, but rather a quiet strength.

"Lord Chen, what a spirit you have!" Wu Benqing laughed, but his voice was a little cold: "However, I would like to ask, how can my Thunderous Garrison Command carry out such swift and decisive actions? How can my Garrison Command alone support this? If my Garrison Command had such power, the situation in the Thunderous Mountains would not have had to wait until today."

Have you considered these questions, Lord Chen?

"Lord Wu," Chen Ping'an said, his face expressionless, "some things are only possible if you do them. If you don't do them, you'll never have a chance. How can you handle this critical situation if you're always afraid of difficulties?"

The Long'an region was in turmoil, with demons running rampant and all sides suffering heavy losses. The Northern Garrison Command intervened, using ruthless methods to reverse the tide and restore order to the region. The Northern Garrison Command even personally dispatched a special envoy to oversee the matter. After several months, the strongmen surrendered, the evil forces were annihilated, and the remaining rebels fled. This act has brought merit to the present and benefit future generations. The Northern Garrison Command, we should act accordingly! Slaying demons is an ironclad rule! How can we tolerate harboring demons?

"Lord Chen, you make it sound so easy. But have you dealt with the various factions in the Thunderous Mountains? If, despite warnings, they still act as they please, banding together and refusing to listen, what should we do? The factions in the mountains are quite powerful, and if they band together, their influence is even more formidable. In that case, how should our Thunderous Garrison Command position itself?"
"If we let this go unchecked, the prestige of my Thunderous Garrison will be greatly damaged. If we are determined to carry it out, then I would like to ask Lord Chen, where should we begin?" Wu Benqing coldly questioned.

"How is it?" A smile appeared on Chen Ping'an's face for the first time: "I think Lord Wu, in his assessment of the situation and his pursuit of moderation, has forgotten! Who is the true master of this Thunderous Land!?"

No matter how loud the thunder is, can it be louder than the laws of the dynasty? Can it be louder than my great and mighty Qian Dynasty?

If that is truly the case, then they shall be punished according to the law! Those who refuse to cooperate shall have their clans destroyed, their lands exterminated, and their mountains and valleys filled.

Chen Ping'an's words were resounding and carried a powerful momentum.

Wu Benqing fell silent.

His silence wasn't because he agreed with Chen Ping'an, but because Chen Ping'an's words were from a superior position, leaving him no room for rebuttal. Or perhaps, Chen Ping'an's attitude was clear, making rebuttal futile.

So Wu Benqing smiled.

"Lord Chen, there's no need to speak so righteously. If you truly have such a sincere heart, then please take charge of handling this matter!"

"Since Lord Wu is so willing, then I, Chen, will accept this offer," Chen Ping'an said calmly.

"Alright! Then I'll trouble you, Lord Chen," Wu Benqing said with a forced smile.

"I am busy with official duties and cannot continue this conversation. Lord Chen, if there is nothing else, please proceed!"

The conversation ended unhappily.

After Chen Ping'an left, the public housing returned to calm.

Wu Benqing sat upright in a large chair, his expression shifting between light and dark.

If it weren't for Chen Ping'an's identity, he probably would have already exploded.

Although he was in charge of Thunderclap, Chen Ping'an held a special position as the Chief Inspector of Thunderclap, belonging to the supervisory system of the Canglong Prefecture's Garrison Command. In name, he had the power to supervise him.

Especially considering the other party's astonishing talent, earning the reputation of a hidden dragon prodigy. Although he was a level higher than the other party, their presence and influence were essentially equal.

Furthermore, Mang Dao had previously achieved some success when he went to Canglong. According to what he knew, although the Evil Duo were injured, Mang Dao was able to kill them both, so his combat strength should not be underestimated.

Previously, the Hidden Dragon Ranking mentioned that the Mang Dao's combat power, when unleashed, could possess the strength of a top-tier grandmaster.

But now he thinks that the combat power of this brute is probably even above that of a top grandmaster. If he were to unleash his full power, he wouldn't be surprised if it even reached the threshold of a grandmaster.

Talent, combat prowess, reputation, and status—these factors combined to give Chen Ping'an the confidence to challenge him.

Although he was unwilling, he ultimately endured it.

However, even a clay figure has some temper, let alone him. This conversation completely broke off all pretense of civility between the two.

The only difference is that thin film in the middle.

Once this thin film disappears, the two will truly be irreconcilable enemies.

"How does it feel to have been taught a lesson by the little guy?" Wu Benqing was still pondering when a slightly teasing voice sounded from the side.

Wu Benqing turned his head, his gaze icy, staring coldly at the shadows beside him.

"you are happy?"

"Haha, it's rare to see you get the short end of the stick, especially from a little kid."

The man in black robes, hidden in the shadows, made a few teasing remarks. However, he didn't dare to go too far and quickly changed the subject.

You've misjudged.

According to their previous discussion, Mang Dao would most likely remain on the sidelines or stay out of it, as if it were none of his business. But unexpectedly, Mang Dao had only just returned and his words were so intense, and his actions so aggressive, as if he wanted to get involved.

This attitude is completely different from before, utterly different.

“Yes, I misjudged.” Wu Benqing’s expression was icy as he lay back on the large chair. “This brute is not only stupid, but also naive! The power of thunder is complex, far beyond his comprehension! Getting involved in this matter is destined to end badly.”

"Aren't you going to stop him? If this reckless man really does it, it could have a negative impact on the situation."

"Stop him? Why should I stop him?! Not only will I not stop him, I'll help him! If he's going to do it, let him do it cleanly. By taking on so much, he's making enemies of everyone! With such radical methods, he won't even know how he dies!"

"If Mang Dao dies here, it won't do you any good. He's the only hidden genius in the surrounding provinces, and your Zhenfu Division must be very grateful to him."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Going into the mud alone might be a good idea, but the outcome might not be ideal. In the end, he'll be covered in filth and have no redeeming qualities. Even if I don't intervene, he'll have no choice but to slink away. If he's unwilling to accept his fate and is determined to die, with me doing my best to dissuade him, and the evil spirits make their move and he dies here, even if the Zhenfu Division blames me, they won't blame me."

"It seems you've already made up your mind."

Wu Benqing lay on the large chair, his face cold, remaining silent.

Mangdao
If you stop in time, you can still save your life. But if you persist down this path and become an enemy of everyone, then you can only blame yourself for your demise.

Since Mangdao has gotten involved in this matter, the best way to deal with it is to let him go into the mire alone and get tainted by its filth.

Having weathered many storms over the years, he deeply understands human nature and thus comprehends the underlying principles.

If Mang Dao refuses to accept the challenge and holds firm to his position as inspector, launching repeated attacks from the sidelines under the guise of inspectorship, then even if he has prepared a countermeasure, he will still find it difficult to cope under the pressure of running around.

But it’s different now!

Mang Dao is in charge of this matter. By taking on this task, he has essentially given up the natural authority of supervision and the opportunity to be high above and give orders.

Without such a sense of righteousness, it would be much easier for him to deal with the situation.

Father, like son.

Sometimes, those involved are not necessarily confused, and bystanders are not necessarily clear-headed. The difference between being confused and clear-headed lies more in their state of mind under different circumstances.

If it doesn't concern you, you can simply stay out of it. Use the most comprehensive perspective and the calmest mind to assess the situation and analyze the circumstances.

However, if one is in the middle, even with a clear mind, it may be difficult to make a decision when the matter involves crucial issues.

If you don't want people to point fingers and criticize you, the best way is not to argue or confront them, but to let them demonstrate and watch them do it.

Unexpectedly, a simple provocation was enough to entice Mang Dao to personally participate in the situation.

It's really unexpected.

It seems that, regardless of his usual behavior, when it comes to something crucial, this mangy knife is indeed as rumored: he acts recklessly and is beyond redemption!

"He acts rashly, and although he has talent, he will never be able to achieve great things."

"Let's see how you handle this, you brute!"

Wu Benqing's smile was cold and stern, chilling to the bone.

Outside the main building of the Zhenfu Division, Chen Ping'an's eyes were deep, and a smile appeared on his lips.

(End of this chapter)