The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 775 A Small Trading Meeting, Everyone Enjoys Themselves (Today's Update, sigh, what a sweet guy!)
"As expected, they were holding back."

Chen Ping'an used his spiritual senses to lock onto the figure in the distance.

After not seeing him for many days, Lan Yingjun had actually become a Grandmaster of Martial Arts. His cultivation level was high, his aura was calm, and he appeared extremely stable.

Not long ago, he had seen Lan Yingjun's information on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, which recorded her cultivation level as only the mid-stage of the Jade Balance Realm. Now, upon meeting her, he discovered that she had already reached the late-stage of the Jade Balance Realm.

"This Hidden Dragon Ranking is indeed unreliable," Chen Ping'an thought to himself with a smile.

It has to be said that Lan Yingjun's talent is somewhat beyond his imagination. Her current demeanor is completely unimaginable; back then, she was just a little girl with bells on her hands and bright, lively eyes.

Lan Yingjun was draped in a black robe, the large robe concealing her petite figure. Her face beneath the robe was disguised, and her aura was somewhat concealed, but all of this clearly could not escape Chen Ping'an's eyes.

Lan Yingjun moved extremely fast and was very careful throughout the process, but it was all in vain in front of Chen Ping'an.

After turning through several streets and alleys and passing through dense crowds, Lan Yingjun entered an elegant park and stopped in front of a mansion.

She knocked on the door, and a person came out, checked her credentials, and then let her in.

This scene naturally fell into Chen Ping'an's eyes.

"A secret gathering? Interesting." Chen Ping'an smiled.

Chen Ping'an only walked to the door after Lan Yingjun went inside. He sensed his surroundings and was about to knock when two people approached from a distance.

"Them?" This world is really small.

The two people walking towards him from a distance were acquaintances; he had just met them not long ago.

"Fellow Daoist Chen." Shortly after he noticed him, the other person also noticed him.

Luo Pingchuan greeted him with a smile: "Are you here for the trade fair too?"

Although Luo Pingchuan's face was smiling, his tone carried a hint of surprise.

He had previously invited Fellow Daoist Chen to attend the trade fair, but Fellow Daoist Chen had firmly refused. How come he's here now, less than half a day later?

Could it be that they just happened to collide?

Compared to Luo Pingchuan's surprise and doubt, Fang Yiqing's reaction was much more direct.

She glanced at Chen Ping'an, and although she didn't laugh, the meaning in her expression was quite clear.

"I just happened to be passing by," Chen Ping'an said with a smile. "Could this be the trade fair that Fellow Daoist Luo mentioned?"

Fang Yiqing almost laughed at Chen Ping'an's words. She raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, saying, "Don't you know whether it's a trade fair or not? If you want to participate, just say so. Why make things so complicated, going through all this trouble and playing this 'chance encounter' act? Is it really that interesting?"

Fang Yiqing's words were extremely direct, leaving no room for sentimentality.

Startled, Luo Pingchuan quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Fellow Daoist Chen, Fellow Daoist Chen, why don't you join us?"

"Okay." Chen Ping'an replied, not even glancing at Fang Yiqing, completely ignoring her, and walked up on his own.

Fang Yiqing snorted lightly, a hint of disdain appearing in her slender eyebrows. She had seen too many people like this; most of them were self-important, but their methods were so clumsy that they could be seen through at a glance.

"Junior Sister Fang." Seeing that Fang Yiqing seemed to be about to say something more, Luo Pingchuan couldn't help but call out, his tone carrying a hint of pleading.

Fang Yiqing glanced down at him, feeling rather bored.

He seemed like a man at first, but after a while, I started to find him a bit boring. And now, he's completely and utterly boring.

Are all men in this world like this?
Either they are begging for mercy and obsequious, or they are self-righteous and showing off their tricks.

Is there really no such extraordinary man in this world?

Or is it that you simply can't meet a man like that in real life?

At this thought, Fang Yiqing couldn't help but feel a sense of despondency. Looking at the man in front of her, she lost all interest in saying what she had wanted to say earlier. She glanced at Luo Pingchuan and said, "Let's go."

"Okay, Junior Sister Fang." Luo Pingchuan looked grateful, his heart filled with excitement.

Junior Sister Fang really cares about me; otherwise, given her personality, she would never have let this matter go so easily.

It's strange, really. Before, when he met Junior Sister Fang, he had been quite courteous, and his conversations were appropriate and polite. But after a few days, he couldn't help but want to talk to her more.

I hadn't noticed it before, but looking back now, I realize that my way of doing things has indeed changed somewhat.

However, it's good that things have changed, especially in front of Junior Sister Fang.

Previously, he was always polite and courteous, and Junior Sister Fang was indifferent to him. But now he has become attentive, and although Junior Sister Fang is still the same, she has clearly changed.

It seems this method is effective. Keep it up, no, we need to put in even more effort.

Luo Pingchuan thought to himself.

He hadn't thought much of it before, but the longer he spent with her, the more he realized that Fang was the perfect match for him.

Whether it's their social background or their natural beauty.

Both he and Junior Sister Fang have the opportunity to reach the realm of celestial beings in their lifetime.

His chances are slimmer, but Fang's chances are much better.

If they can both get together, they will surely become a perfect couple that everyone envies.

Upon realizing this, Luo Pingchuan felt a surge of excitement. His previous discomfort completely subsided, replaced by anticipation and hope for the future.

He must seize this opportunity.

Looking at the woman walking ahead, Luo Pingchuan made up his mind.

"Do you have proof to attend this meeting?" Fang Yiqing stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with arrogance, her tone filled with displeasure: "Get out of the way."

Chen Pingan glanced at Fang Yiqing, ignored her, and knocked on the mansion door.

To be honest, I don't know how this woman cultivated herself to this level. Judging from her tone, she still sounds like a child.

To say that the environment is simple would be an exaggeration.

Or is it that he has a special temperament, supplemented by special techniques?
Compared to the average person, Chen Ping'an considered things more deeply. Some experiences take ten years to accumulate. But ten years' worth of experience might not take ten years; it can be accumulated in a year. The rest depends on reviewing past experiences and making strategic plans.

To be honest, if he weren't currently cultivating the Void Wind-Riding Step, which emphasizes humility, a tranquil mind, and the serene state of mind of riding the wind, given his personality, he probably would have already...
How can we allow this woman to commit such acts again and again?
However, the way things turned out was quite a coincidence, and not entirely due to the other party's imagination. Besides, Chen Ping'an's focus was on Lan Yingjun; he had no interest in involving others. Escalating from a verbal exchange to a physical confrontation was rather pointless.

However, he didn't care about the stranger, so he let it go. If the stranger took advantage of him, he would slap him across the face.

"you!"

Although Chen Ping'an did not respond, for some reason, Fang Yiqing became even more annoyed.

Especially that one glance from him, cold and devoid of any emotion, indifferent like a god looking down upon the world, made her feel as if she were being looked down upon and nothing more than an ant.

To be honest, for a moment, she was genuinely taken aback.

But then he realized what was happening and felt genuine anger and shame.

It felt like someone she looked down on had momentarily intimidated her. This gave her the illusion that she was even worse off than him. The stark contrast was disheartening and frustrating. The rise and fall were marked by intense emotional fluctuations.

Just then, the mansion gate opened, and a person peeked out. He had a plain face, and his expression was unreadable.

"Take it out." Chen Ping'an turned and glanced at Fang Yiqing.

"What?" Fang Yiqing was furious and didn't react for a moment.

"certificate."

Chen Ping'an's expression remained calm and undisturbed. But perhaps it was just her imagination, but Fang Yiqing sensed in his eyes that he was looking at a fool.

"you!"

Chen Ping'an remained silent, simply watching Fang Yiqing quietly.

Fang Yiqing wanted to scold him sternly, but for some reason, she couldn't say the words. The other person's eyes were like an abyss, seemingly capable of making one sink into it. As if possessed, she shamelessly took out her conference certificate.

After taking a look and confirming that it was correct, the other party returned it and opened the door to let them in.

Chen Ping'an's eyes darkened, and he walked in calmly.

Fang Yiqing snapped out of her daze, her bright eyes wide with surprise. Before she could think further, she looked at the figure striding towards her, and a surge of anger, shame, and resentment welled up in her heart.

"Have you no manners at all!" she snapped. When the other person ignored her, she became annoyed, her flowing skirt billowing as she quickly followed after him.

Luo Pingchuan followed behind, smiling apologetically at the person in front of the door, but his heart was burning with excitement.

If it were up to Fang Shimei's previous temperament, she would never have so easily produced her participation certificate. She would have been determined to argue and debate with Fellow Daoist Chen. But now she is so considerate of the overall situation. Isn't it because she is taking care of my feelings?

My junior sister really understands me!

Luo Pingchuan was moved, and looking at Fang Yiqing's figure in front of him, a hint of eagerness appeared in his eyes.

After spending only a few days together, he unknowingly fell completely in love.

The mansion doesn't look big from the outside, but it's a hidden gem inside. The back garden is filled with pavilions, waterside terraces, rockeries, and flowers, making for a beautiful scene.

A considerable number of people, both men and women, had already gathered there, situated in various parts of the back garden. At a glance, it was clear that they were all martial arts grandmasters. Most of them did not conceal their identities, but a small number of them did so appropriately.

The surrounding area is engraved with restrictive symbols, concealing its spirituality and hiding its fluctuations, which adds a touch of mysticism to this inner garden.

When Chen Ping'an arrived, the atmosphere in the venue was quite good. It seemed that many of the people there knew each other and were chatting with one another, unlike a typical trade fair.

With just one glance, Chen Ping'an located Lan Yingjun. She was sitting alone in a corner, with an artificial hill beside her. A large black robe almost completely concealed her figure.

Chen Ping'an's arrival attracted a lot of attention. Many people in the room looked up and stared at him, but after glancing at him and realizing he was a stranger, most of them looked away and went back to talking amongst themselves.

There happened to be an unused pavilion not far away, and Chen Ping'an, without hesitation, swiftly landed on it.

"It's him!"

Chen Ping'an made no attempt to conceal himself. The moment he stepped into the back garden, Lan Yingjun recognized him immediately, recognizing him as an old friend from Beicang.

"Why is he here?"

Lan Yingjun was puzzled, and a hint of wariness and vigilance flashed in her bright eyes beneath her black robe.

Chen Ping'an, the valiant swordsman.

She had met him once before in Beicang. Years ago, she entered a major town in Beicang and challenged the rising star of Canglong, betting heavily on herself.

Among her contemporaries, if anyone can defeat her and win her heart's respect, and if the person is female, she will serve them as a servant, doing their bidding like a dog or a horse. If the person is male, she will marry him, offering him a generous dowry with both hands!
These declarations of challenge swept across Northern Cang, reaching every major town. It was under these circumstances that she encountered Chen Ping'an within one of these major towns.

Back then, although he already had the nickname "Brutal Blade," he was more often referred to as "Brutal Vajra."

In the past, when she was practicing the Five Poisons Earthly Fiend Palm, she was still in the preliminary adjustment stage. Only after she had fully mastered it could she use it as a framework to practice the five supreme poison palm techniques. By defining the framework and filling in the details, she cultivated in reverse, thus proving that her mother's martial arts theory was never wrong.

The problem lies with her, not with her martial arts theory.

She failed, not because her mother's theory was ineffective!
Back then, she was in a period of honing her skills, needing to verify her abilities through real combat. Seeing Tianjiao present, she was eager to challenge him and immediately challenged Mangdao Mangjingang.

He had thought he would finally have a chance to fight, but to his surprise, the other party politely declined, saying that Miss Lan's fighting strength was at its peak, and he admitted his inferiority and conceded defeat.

After that, he used injury as an excuse to completely refuse her challenge.

What the other party didn't know was that she was always extremely sensitive to the scent of medicine and stones, and she didn't smell any healing medicine on the other party.

Her fear of battle was so obvious that she couldn't help but feel a little bored and left.

As she was leaving, she said to her mother, “You are clearly a martial arts prodigy, but you lack the courage and ambition to forge ahead. Are most men in this world just like this, who are so petty and scheming?”

The mother chuckled and remarked, "Yes, most men in this world are like that. And not just men, women are the same."

She smiled brightly, her expression cheerful, and said she would never do such a thing. Her mother's laughter still echoed in my ears, yet six years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Lan Yingjun's emotions shifted. She concealed her gaze, circulated her internal energy, and maintained her adjusted aura.

In the past, he was cowardly and refused to fight, readily admitting defeat. He even used injury as an excuse, which made her question his character. She felt that men in the world were so boring.

Looking back now, it seems that the judgment made back then was quite flawed. Especially considering the immense reputation the other party subsequently built, a reputation that remains at its peak to this day.

How can you say they lack ambition and a spirit of forging ahead?
Since that day, the other party has overcome numerous obstacles, starting as a newcomer and eventually rising to the ranks of a hidden dragon, reaching the realm of a martial arts grandmaster.

This progress was even faster than her cultivation, which started with difficulties and then became easier.

Such a gifted genius cannot be judged so arbitrarily.

Furthermore, based on the timeline, the person who defeated her in Bei Cang back then was very likely...
Lan Yingjun lowered her eyes slightly and caught sight of a figure in the distant pavilion. Her gaze trembled slightly, her expression complex, and her heart seemed uneasy.

There's no such thing as admitting defeat or feeling inferior; those are just empty words.

There are many things that lack direct evidence, but subsequent events all point to that initial answer. Explanations and excuses can be made, but a premonition subtly points to that one person.

If that's the case, then so far, among all her contemporaries, he seems to be the only one who has truly won her over in her battles.

Upon realizing this, Lan Yingjun's previously calmed emotions became even more unstable.

She had always believed that she had lost to an older generation figure in that battle. But one day, when the ruthless swordsman Chen Ping'an ascended to the Hidden Dragon Ranking, she carefully deduced and combined his deeds with the facts, and discovered that the truth might not be so.

In that battle, even when she and her mother joined forces, they were no match for the enemy. If it weren't for that final bell, she probably would have been gone long ago.

Even though a long time has passed, she still feels a sense of humiliation when she thinks back to that time.

Logically speaking, she should hate it.

But ironically, this whole affair was caused by Mother. She was also the one who struck first in the previous battle. If we truly investigate, this outcome is probably entirely their own fault.

With such thoughts in mind, Lan Yingjun's emotions inevitably became even more complicated.

"I can't let him find out." Lan Yingjun circulated her internal energy.

These past few days, she had been searching for an elixir to prolong her mother's life. Hearing about the trading meeting today, she rushed to attend. Who would have thought that a business negotiation would lead to an encounter with her?

The events of that year are now unclear. What she thinks is still just speculation; there's no concrete evidence. Since the root of the problem lies with them, let's leave it at that.

Instead of dwelling on the past, let's look to the future.

The past is gone, carried away by the wind; look ahead.
That is the path we need to take.

Lan Yingjun's eyes gradually brightened, calming the turmoil in her heart.

"Do you recognize me?"

Although Lan Yingjun's gaze was subtle, Chen Ping'an's keen senses allowed him to see it clearly. That slight change in emotion, though fleeting, was extremely obvious to him.

"It's good that they recognized me. It'll save us trouble when we make contact later." Chen Ping'an smiled and stopped thinking about it.

They come, the security.

Although this was done for Lan Yingjun, there just happened to be a trade fair, and the level of the event was just about right, so participating wouldn't hurt.

The action just now, though seemingly lengthy, actually took only a moment. It was only now that Fang Yiqing had caught up.

It must be said that Fang Yiqing was indeed beautiful. Dressed in a flowing cloud-patterned dress, she arrived in a hurry, instantly attracting countless gazes. Compared to Chen Ping'an, although no one knew him, significantly fewer people looked away.

Fang Yiqing looked around and quickly found Chen Ping'an. Annoyed, she darted into the pavilion.

Why didn't you wait for me!?

Fang Yiqing's eyebrows furrowed, her bright eyes like two sharp knives piercing Chen Ping'an. The arrogance between her slender eyebrows intensified, and her tone revealed dissatisfaction and accusation.

"We are complete strangers, so why should we wait?" Chen Ping'an said coldly, not glancing at Fang Yiqing once.

"I gave you the conference pass!" Fang Yiqing wrinkled her nose and sat down at the stone table. "I don't know you. Get out now."

"Fellow Daoist, you'd better say less. If you do, I'm afraid I'll suspect you have ulterior motives and are trying to curry favor with me?"

Chen Pingan watched the scene quietly, his gaze calm and undisturbed.

"Climb the social ladder?" Fang Yiqing looked at Chen Ping'an with disbelief. "You mean I'm climbing the social ladder?"

Chen Pingan glanced at her, then indifferently looked away.

He said nothing, but he said everything.

His gaze was distant, conveying a sense of detachment.

Fang Yiqing was extremely ashamed and angry, feeling that she had been insulted.

Just then, greetings rang out from the audience.

"Fellow Daoist Luo."

"Fellow Daoist Luo, it's been a long time."

"."

Luo Pingchuan walked in from outside, and compared to Chen Ping'an, the crowd reacted to him with far greater enthusiasm. It seemed that many of them knew Luo Pingchuan.

"Fellow Daoist Lin."

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Han."

Luo Pingchuan greeted everyone with a gentle smile. He glanced up and spotted Fang Yiqing and Chen Ping'an.

His eyes lit up, and he darted up to the pavilion as well.

After ascending to the pavilion, he greeted everyone for a few moments, and only after the formalities were completed did he sit down.

"Junior Sister Fang," Luo Pingchuan called out to Fang Yiqing first.

Fang Yiqing ignored him, and Luo Pingchuan then bowed to Chen Ping'an.

"Fellow Daoist Chen."

"Why call him!" Fang Yiqing said, dissatisfied.

Luo Pingchuan gave her an apologetic look, then glanced at his junior sister Fang to the side.

Fang Yiqing's rosy lips were pursed into a thin line, her eyes filled with annoyance and dissatisfaction as she glared at Chen Ping'an beside her.

To be honest, it's really hard to imagine that Junior Sister Fang could have cultivated to the level of a Grandmaster. Her temperament doesn't seem like that of a martial arts practitioner; she's more like a young lady from a wealthy family.

But for some reason, Fang Yiqing seemed extremely charming to Luo Pingchuan at that moment, attracting his attention.

“Junior Sister Fang, Fellow Daoist Chen is my good friend.” He explained with a wry smile, “It is fate that we have met, so let’s have a good chat.”

"She's your friend, not mine," Fang Yiqing said, tilting her chin up in dissatisfaction.

She looked at Chen Ping'an beside her, especially at his indifferent, perpetually calm demeanor, as if nothing could affect him, which made her grit her teeth in hatred.

"Junior sister," Luo Pingchuan said patiently, trying to ease the tension.

However, it was clear that his persuasion had no effect whatsoever. Fortunately, the trade fair officially began shortly after their arrival.

The transaction proceeded, and something came up, but the atmosphere in the pavilion didn't become any more tense.

Luo Pingchuan took out some spirit wine and delicacies from his Thousand Machine Bag and placed them on the stone table.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, this is a rare spirit wine from our collection. Please try it," Luo Pingchuan warmly invited.

From an outsider's perspective, what the junior sister did was indeed a bit excessive. However, since she was new to the area and unfamiliar with everyone, he, as her senior brother, also bore responsibility for her actions and should have stood up to apologize on her behalf.

Chen Ping'an didn't refuse Luo Pingchuan's offer. At his level, while spiritual wine couldn't directly aid cultivation, it could still activate his true essence and spirituality. If the quality were higher, it could even stimulate his divine soul power.

Luo Pingchuan smiled apologetically and poured Chen Ping'an a glass of wine. Then he turned to Fang Yiqing, who was standing to the side.

"Junior sister, would you like to try some?"

As he spoke, Luo Pingchuan poured another glass of wine and handed it to Fang Yiqing.

Fang Yiqing didn't want to drink it at first, but seeing Chen Ping'an drink it so heartily, downing the spirit wine in one gulp, she also took the spirit wine and drank it down as if in a fit of pique.

"Junior sister, take your time, I still have some." Luo Pingchuan was in a good mood, feeling that his junior sister had finally given him, her senior brother, face.

Drinking the wine meant that he had heeded his previous advice.

and also
Luo Pingchuan was overjoyed and incredibly excited.

He addressed her just now without adding her surname, simply calling her "Junior Sister," and she didn't object. Given this tendency, wouldn't that mean...?
Upon realizing this, Luo Pingchuan's heart surged with emotion, feeling a bright and clear future ahead.

There is great potential, great potential indeed!

While pouring the wine, he secretly glanced at his junior sister and saw that her face was flushed, whether from embarrassment or drunkenness, he couldn't tell.

That moment of brilliance was truly captivating.

"Junior sister, this wine is too strong. I have some milder, treasured wines here. How about we try this?"

Fang Yiqing glanced at Chen Ping'an, who was drinking heartily in front of her, and said angrily, "No need, I'll just drink this."

"Alright, junior sister, then you should drink less, this liquor is very strong."

Luo Pingchuan's spirit wine is of considerable value and has a strong flavor; even a martial arts grandmaster might not be able to fully handle it.

"Good wine," Chen Ping'an said with a smile.

"I'm glad Fellow Daoist Chen likes it." As he spoke, Luo Pingchuan poured Chen Ping'an another glass of wine: "Fellow Daoist Chen, please have some more."

My junior sister has been quite impolite in the past. As her senior brother, he apologized with wine. Fellow Daoist Chen is magnanimous and should not take offense.

Fang Yiqing found Chen Ping'an's smile particularly irritating and wanted to pour him some wine, but Luo Pingchuan stopped her.

"Junior sister, I'll take care of it, I'll take care of it."

Luo Pingchuan carried the wine pot and quickly filled a cup with wine.

Fang Yiqing stared intently at Chen Ping'an with her bright eyes, then raised her wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Whether it was because she drank too fast, the liquor was too strong, or she was distracted, Fang Yiqing almost choked.

"Junior sister, are you alright?" Luo Pingchuan asked with concern.

Chen Ping'an raised his glass to drink, not glancing in their direction once, but Fang Yiqing felt that he was definitely mocking her.

"fine."

Looking at his junior sister's rosy lips, Luo Pingchuan felt a surge of excitement. He then glanced at Chen Ping'an beside him, noticing his calm expression as he continued drinking. He muttered to himself, "Fellow Daoist Chen truly doesn't understand women's hearts. I wonder if he has a Daoist partner. Judging from his demeanor, he probably doesn't."

Luo Pingchuan's emotions shifted. Seeing his junior sister's greeting, he happily poured her a glass of wine, then told Chen Ping'an not to be polite and to drink as much as he wanted.

Inside the pavilion, Chen Ping'an drank heartily, his emotions shifting, feeling quite exhilarated. Luo Pingchuan was filled with enthusiasm, secretly delighted, feeling that his relationship with his junior sister was growing closer, and his care for her was becoming more meticulous and warm as spring.

Fang Yiqing stared intently at the man in front of her with her bright eyes. She felt that the man in front of her was truly infuriating, and she wanted to punch him.

The atmosphere varied across the venues, and the trade fair was in progress.

　The "warm guy" rank after the "dog" (a derogatory term for a man who is overly affectionate and unfriendly), not because warm guys are bad, but because it depends on the level of the relationship. If someone is all warm and friendly from the start, why would she want to be your girlfriend? If you can enjoy this before the relationship is even established, why bother taking it any further?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)