Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

Chapter 196: Let them see your knife

Chapter 195: Let them see your knife

Chen Ping was taken aback.

Back in the Dan Hall of Qingkou Town, he was just a young man in the Body Refining Realm standing in the corner. He hadn't even exchanged a single word with this Miss Cui, only briefly glancing at her.

She remembered him?

Many people in the hall were drawn to Cui Qingyi's words.

When Miss Cui took the initiative to say to a student from Cangwu, "This is not our first meeting," everyone present understood the weight of those words.

On the edge of the crowd.

Wang Zhaoyao's hand holding the teacup tightened slightly.

He and Xue Fengsheng were standing by a pillar, talking in hushed tones, when they heard Cui Qingyi's words and both of them stopped talking at the same time.

They looked at each other.

In each other's shocked eyes, they saw a hint of undisguised horror and panic.

Wang Zhaoyao withdrew his gaze and looked at the tall figure standing face to face with Miss Cui in the distance, his brows slowly furrowing.

"How could Chen Ping possibly know Miss Cui?"

Xue Fengsheng's smile froze on his face. He held the teacup without drinking, his gaze shifting back and forth between Chen Ping and Cui Qingyi.

"I don't know."

He paused, lowering his voice even further.

"But no matter how well the two of them know each other, since Miss Cui dared to take the initiative to acknowledge this country bumpkin in the Yingwu Hall in front of hundreds of famous figures in the martial arts world of the Great Wei."

"That's already a courtesy we've given!"

Wang Zhaoyao remained silent for a moment.

He understood what Xue Fengsheng meant.

In the Yingwu Hall, in front of hundreds of people, Miss Cui reminisced with Chen Ping. Whether she mentioned it casually or with a deeper meaning, everyone present would only remember one thing: Miss Cui knew Chen Ping.

......

Meanwhile, in the center of the main hall, on Chen Ping's side...

Cui Qingyi turned to look at Cui Qingwei and said, "Have you forgotten when you went with me to Huai'an Prefecture to inspect the canal transport and were taken to the Pill Hall by that Qi Renwu?"

Cui Qingwei scratched his head, said "Oh," and then looked Chen Ping up and down twice.

"Are you...that...?"

Cui Qingyi smiled, ignored him, and looked at Chen Ping again.

"It's been several years since we last met. Brother Chen has become a rising star in Cangwu."

Her tone was light and cheerful, as if she were talking about something interesting.

"I remember back in Dantang, you were standing in a corner, wearing coarse clothes, with calluses on your hands. You looked like someone who worked hard all year round."

She tilted her head slightly.

"But when you were standing there, everyone around us was looking at us, except you."

She chuckled.

"At that moment, I thought, this person is interesting."

Chen Ping said, "Miss Cui has a good memory."

Cui Qingyi waved her hand: "Having a good memory is one thing, but having a good eye is another."

Her gaze lingered on Chen Ping for a moment.

"In less than two years, he went from being a canal worker to a master of the Yuan Gang realm, and killed four Yuan Gang masters in the city. He became a disciple of the Po Jun Spear."

She counted them one by one, her tone not so much praising as it was listing items.

"Brother Chen, with your resume, you'd probably rank high on the list of outstanding young talents."

Listening from the side, Cui Qingwei scratched his head and muttered under his breath, "Qingyi, when did you become so concerned about the students of Cangwu?"

Cui Qingyi glanced at him but ignored him.

She looked at Chen Ping, her smile fading slightly, replaced by a hint of seriousness.

"I'll do my best in the competition; I'm really looking forward to it."

Just then, footsteps came from deep within the main hall.

This is not a journey undertaken by one person alone.

The noisy voices inside the hall seemed to be suppressed by an invisible hand, gradually quieting down from the back of the hall, layer by layer, and quickly spreading to every corner of the entire hall.

Chen Ping looked up.

The side door at the back of the main hall was wide open.

Several people walked out side by side.

The three in the lead walked side by side, in unison.

The man on the left was tall and imposing, dressed in a crimson official robe. He had a square face, slightly graying temples, and walked with his eyes straight ahead. He exuded an aura of authority cultivated from years of issuing commands.

Provincial Governor.

The man in the middle was thin and capable, wearing a dark green official robe. His face was cold and aloof, with a short beard on his chin. His eyes were extremely bright, and when they swept across the hall, they looked like two knives cutting.

Press the chaser.

The man on the right was wearing a black military officer's armor. He was not tall, but extremely strong, with shoulders as broad as a wall.

He had several old knife scars on his face, and his nail plates clanged together as he walked, making a soft metallic sound. His murderous aura was so strong that it could not be suppressed and could be faintly seeped out.

Commander-in-Chief, Chang Wei.

Behind the three were a group of people, including civil officials, military officers, and instructors from Cangwu.

He Qingshan walked among them, his left arm still wrapped in bandages, his back ramrod straight, and his expression ten times more serious than usual.

Further on, an old man slowly strolled out.

He was not tall, wore a faded old Cangwu robe, had gray hair, an ordinary face, and walked with a slight hunchback.

Vice Dean.

He walked at the very back, taking the slowest steps, but all eyes eventually fell on him.

Chen Ping stood in the crowd, watching these people walk from the side door to the center of the main hall.

This was the first time he had seen someone from the highest echelon of power in Tianyan City.

With Governor Du Jianghe absent, Tianyan City was divided among these three individuals.

The Provincial Administration Commissioner was in charge of civil affairs, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner was in charge of judicial affairs, and the Military Commander Chang Wei was in charge of military affairs.

When the governor is in office, one person governs all three powers; when the governor is not in office, the three powers each act independently.

In addition, there's Vice Dean Cangwu.

Today, all the people who have the final say in Tianyan City are here.

The four people stood in the very center of the main hall.

The vice dean stood at the front, while the other three stepped back half a step and stood beside him.

There were hundreds of people in the hall, but not one of them made a sound.

The vice dean looked around and spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly audible in every corner of the hall.

"Gentlemen, I am deeply honored that you have come from afar. I am from Cangwu."

His tone was flat, as if he were talking about something very ordinary.

"The Outer Court Grand Competition will begin in two days. You may watch the ceremony from the viewing platform. All food and lodging in Cangwu have been arranged by the stewards. Please feel free to ask if you need anything."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the hall, lingering for a moment on a few people.

"but."

"Let me make this clear from the start."

"During this grand competition, all forms of private fights and revenge are strictly prohibited in Tianyan City."

"Anyone who disobeys will be killed without mercy."

With just a few simple opening remarks, the rules and bottom line were explained.

The old man then shut his mouth.

Chang Wei stood behind the vice dean, his hands clasped in front of his armor, his gaze sharp as a knife, slowly sweeping over the guests from various sects in the hall, as if memorizing each face.

The vice-president turned and walked back through the side door. The provincial governor and the provincial judge followed behind. Chang Wei was the last to turn around, glancing back into the hall before striding off.

Master Fushan followed an inner courtyard instructor and left through a side gate.

The figure in the gray Taoist robe disappeared behind the door, and the group of people surrounding him slowly dispersed, discussing something in twos and threes.

Cui Qingwei and Cui Qingyi also left under the guidance of another instructor. Before leaving, Cui Qingyi looked back at Chen Ping, smiled and nodded, without saying a word.

There were fewer people in the hall, but the atmosphere was more relaxed, and the conversations were louder than before.

Chen Ping was about to say something to Qin Ya.

Just then.

A middle-aged man dressed in extremely fine clothes, with a fifth-rank civil official emblem embroidered on his chest.

Suddenly, he pushed through the crowded throng.

With a gloomy expression, he strode quickly toward Chen Ping's location.

This man had a dignified appearance, slightly graying temples, and a composed demeanor. He wore a bronze plaque engraved with his official title at his waist.

Chen Ping recognized the style of the official robe he was wearing.

Councilor of the Governor's Office.

Liu Xiao's father.

Liu Yuanshan walked up to Chen Ping, ignoring Qin Ya beside him, looked directly at Chen Ping, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke in a polite but unquestionable tone.

"Chen Ping, right?"

"My son, Liu Xiao, took the liberty of visiting you late last night. The boy is young and impetuous, and his words may have contained many inappropriate and arrogant remarks."

"Today, I will swallow my pride and personally apologize to you, my junior, on behalf of that good-for-nothing son."

He paused.

Chen Ping wasn't given a chance to respond at all.

They lowered their voices so much that only the two of them could hear them.

"but."

"Privately, I feel that the deal my son proposed to you is actually quite open to discussion and compromise."

He looked into Chen Ping's eyes, and his tone became earnest and earnest.

"It is truly remarkable that someone from a humble background like you has achieved such remarkable success in Cangwu at such a young age. Your future prospects are limitless."

"Why would you, for the sake of a moment of anger, go against the Liu family and make things difficult for others on such a crucial matter that could determine your life for the rest of your days?"

He stepped forward, his tone now carrying a hint of the sincerity of someone in a superior bestowing favors.

"As long as you are willing to give up that spot in the competition, I can personally swallow my pride and go to the Ministry of War to give you a guarantee regarding your going to the Yangzhou front to join the Yunlin Army and take charge of the rear."

"I can absolutely guarantee that you'll stay there safely and secure a lucrative position where you can earn military merit."

"Young man, listen to my advice: in this world, you must know how to be flexible in order to live a long life. Never act impulsively."

Chen Ping did not respond to his words.

He tilted his head, his gaze sweeping around the hall, looking at the scattered groups of martial artists, then at the spot where the Taihua Sect members had been, before finally settling on Liu Yuanshan's face.

"Lord Liu, are you suffering from hysteria?"

This statement came out.

Liu Yuanshan was suddenly stunned.

The smile on his face.

In an instant, everything froze completely.

He could hardly believe his ears.

How dare a student humiliate a high-ranking official of the fifth rank in front of everyone?

"What...what did you say?!"

Chen Ping said, "Didn't you hear me? Let me say it again."

He looked into Liu Yuanshan's eyes and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Are you perhaps suffering from hysteria?"

Liu Yuanshan's well-maintained face instantly turned ashen.

A layer of iron-blue color spread rapidly.

He could no longer suppress the anger in his heart.

Pointing at Chen Ping's nose, he angrily rebuked him.

"Chen Ping! You're absolutely audacious!"

"You're nothing but a scholar from Cangwu! Where do you get the audacity to speak so disrespectfully to me?!"

The sound was a bit too loud.

The people chatting nearby stopped talking, turned around, and looked in their direction.

Qin Ya stood to the side, arms crossed, watching the scene without saying a word.

Ignoring Liu Yuanshan's anger, Chen Ping raised his hand and swept his gaze around the hall.

"Lord Liu, look at all these people in this hall."

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the quiet area could hear it clearly.

"Master Fushan of Taihua Sect has come in person, as have the direct descendants of the Cui family. Elders from various sects, veterans of the martial arts world, and seniors who have been famous for decades are all gathered together."

He withdrew his hand and looked at Liu Yuanshan.

"These people are here to see how the younger generation can truly prove themselves."

His tone was so calm, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"You're just going to buy a top-ten spot for your son right in front of them?"

He paused.

"Even if I wanted to give it to them, would you ask these senior colleagues here if they agree?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

A sneer came from the corner.

A middle-aged martial artist leaning against a pillar twirled a short knife in his hand and chuckled twice.

"Tsk, I never thought that the mighty Cangwu would have such a thing as manipulating the competition by abusing its power."

He clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"I think it's best not to include any officials from the imperial court on this list of outstanding talents. Who knows how much of it is fabricated?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of several other people in the hall, who were also dressed in official robes, immediately turned ashen.

One of them reacted the fastest, taking a few steps forward, grabbing Liu Yuanshan's arm, and saying in a low, urgent voice, "Old Liu! Did you forget to take your meds today?! Are you really crazy or do you have a death wish?!"

"Come with me now! Stop embarrassing the Governor's Mansion here!"

Liu Yuanshan staggered as he was pulled, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but the man had already half-pulled and half-dragged him out of the main hall.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiao, who had been hiding behind the crowd in the distance and had originally hoped that his father could use his official power to force Chen Ping to comply, was hiding behind the crowd.

He saw his father being dragged away in public like a piece of trash.

His face was already pale.

It instantly turned as white as paper.

He hunched his shoulders and followed behind.

The laughter inside the hall subsided, but those meaningful glances remained.

However, after a short while, the crowd stopped looking in their direction, as if what had just happened was nothing more than a trivial farce.

A hand reached out from the side and patted Chen Ping heavily on the shoulder.

He Qingshan walked over casually from the side, stood next to Chen Ping, looked in the direction Liu Yuanshan was being dragged away, and chuckled.

"Chen Ping, how's your cultivation going lately?"

Chen Ping cupped his hands in greeting: "Senior He."

He Qingshan looked him up and down and nodded.

"Not bad, your blood and energy are much stronger than last time."

He gestured with his lip in the direction Liu Yuanshan had left and chuckled.

"This Liu Yuanshan is really crazy. He still dares to covet a top ten spot in this situation."

He shook his head, his tone tinged with disdain.

"Now look what's happened. He's lost face in front of so many people, and it's likely he'll lose the official position he inherited from his father."

He reached up and scratched the stubble on his chin.

"The Liu family is truly getting worse with each generation. They are all stupid and foolish. Liu Yuanshan is stupid, and his third son is even more stupid."

He paused.

"Only his eldest son has some ability, but that's about it."

Qin Ya said calmly from the side, "Why bother arguing with him? He's just a fifth-rank advisor."

He Qingshan laughed and patted Chen Ping on the shoulder.

"Old Qin is right! Why waste words on this useless man whose head is full of power struggles? It only lowers the status of us warriors."

He looked at Chen Ping, his scar curving slightly, and his tone changed.

"Let's get down to business. How are your preparations for the competition going?"

Chen Ping said, "Everything is ready."

He Qingshan laughed heartily, glancing around at the guests from all sides still chatting in twos and threes in the hall, his smile tinged with a touch of emotion.

"I didn't expect so many people to come and watch this year's Foreign Languages Department competition."

He looked at Chen Ping, his scar curving into a crescent moon, and patted him on the shoulder with considerable force.

"Chen Ping, fight well."

His voice deepened.

"This is your chance to make a name for yourself."

Chen Ping looked at He Qingshan and nodded.

......

It was already dark when we came out of Yingwu Hall.

Qin Ya and Chen Ping walked side by side on the stone path. The surroundings became quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing on the bluestone pavement.

Qin Ya walked for a while, then suddenly spoke.

"I didn't expect that Miss Cui would actually recognize you."

Chen Ping said, "It's just that he has a good memory."

Qin Ya glanced at him, neither refuting nor agreeing.

The two walked for a while longer before Qin Ya stopped and looked at Chen Ping.

"Regardless of the circumstances, you have left an impression on these people today, and you will no longer be an unknown person when you travel outside in the future."

He paused.

"Although this reputation isn't as solid as one you earned yourself, it will make bad people think twice before acting."

Chen Ping nodded without saying anything more.

Qin Ya patted his shoulder and turned to walk towards his own courtyard.

He took two steps, then stopped without looking back.

"Chen Ping earned his reputation himself."

He walked with his hands behind his back, his voice coming from the night.

"Now that you are a top disciple of the Broken Army Spear, I hope to hear the name Chen Ping cleanly and clearly in the future."

He paused.

"Your fame will be made in the competition the day after tomorrow. Let them see your sword."

The footsteps faded into the distance and disappeared into the night.

Chen Ping stood on the stone path, watching Qin Ya's figure disappear around the corner.