In this chaotic world of martial arts, I'll become a god by adding skill points!

As Wang Anping gazed intently into Chen Chaoming's eyes, the turbulent emotions within him gradually subsided.

Chen Chaoming was insightful and his vision far surpassed that of ordinary martial artists. His words not only provided him with a way out but also left the martial arts school with a way out.

Furthermore, entrusting the safety of his family to him, the agreement was so compelling that he had no choice but to agree.

He bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, his voice deeper than before, less reserved, and more solemn:

"Master, rest assured, although I, Wang Anping, am not talented, I am grateful for your kindness."

Today you have protected my family, from now on the Chen Family Martial Arts School will be my second home.

If the martial arts school is ever attacked, even if I am thousands of miles away, I will rush back day and night.

This is no exaggeration. In chaotic times, it is an immense favor to have someone genuinely protect your family.

Chen Chaoming's actions relieved his worries, and he acknowledged this kindness.

Upon hearing this, the seriousness in Chen Chaoming's eyes vanished, replaced by a genuine smile.

He patted Wang Anping on the shoulder again, this time with more force, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Good! Anping! With your words, I, Chen Chaoming, have not wasted my life teaching martial arts!"

You don't need to worry about the martial arts school anymore. Just focus on practicing and find a master after spring.

Chen Chaoming paused, then took out a crumpled piece of letter paper from his pocket.

"This is information about the major sects in Liangzhou. There are martial arts sects as well as secluded martial villages. You can choose one to go to after the spring."

With your martial arts degree and your talent, entering any sect other than the top-tier ones shouldn't be difficult.

Wang Anping took the letter, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Master."

"No need to thank me. To be honest, I was blind before. I had such a good disciple like you, but I didn't take the time to train him properly."

Chen Chaoming waved his hand, his tone returning to its usual calm.

"Go back now. Focus on your martial arts training during this time. If anything happens, remember to let me know."

Wang Anping nodded in agreement, but hesitated when he thought about the Liu family's situation.

However, he couldn't explain what had happened to the people he had killed, and for a moment he couldn't think of a good reason.

Thinking of this, he turned and walked out of the backyard.

The Liu family won't take any action for now. Fei Tianyang's wedding isn't far off, so we should stay home as much as possible and postpone it until then.

Night had fallen, and the dim yellow lights in the martial arts school corridor cast shadows on the bluestone path.

All was quiet except for the soft rustling of the leaves in the wind.

-----------------

"Investigate! Investigate to the death!" Inside the Liu family manor, Liu Wanshan, the patriarch of the Liu clan, roared.

"Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we have to find this person!"

The butler beside him bowed and said:

"Clan chief, could it be Chen Chaoming who did it? Should we ask the county magistrate for help?"

Inside the main hall of the Liu family manor, the candlelight crackled and flickered wildly in the raging wind.

The celadon teacup on the table was shattered, and the shards mixed with tea water splashed all over the floor.

Liu Wanshan was dressed in a black outfit, and his aura of internal energy surged like a tide.

The oppressive aura was so overwhelming that the servants in the hall didn't dare to lift their heads; only his eyes were bloodshot.

He stared intently at the bowing butler below the steps, each word like a blade chilled to the bone:

"Chen Chaoming? How dare he, Chen Chaoming, touch anyone from my Liu family?"

The butler's legs went weak under his imposing presence, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Nevertheless, he braced himself and replied, "Clan leader, four hidden experts in the manor have been killed, and the young master is also missing."

In the entire Zhenyuan County, besides the Chen Family Martial Arts School, there is no one else who has the power to move against us quietly!

Moreover, Wang Anping appeared unharmed in West Alley today, while the young clan leader disappeared on his way to find him. There must be something fishy going on!

Hearing the butler's words, Liu Wanshan calmed down a little.

"Come with me to see the magistrate. This matter must be investigated thoroughly!"

"yes!"

The steward felt as if he had been granted a pardon; Liu Wanshan usually appeared gentle and refined.

But only those close to him know that when he gets angry, he's not human at all!

Liu Wanshan hurriedly left the Liu family manor with his steward. The hem of his black outfit swept across the bluestone road, leaving a gust of wind behind.

He exuded a murderous aura, and the soldiers patrolling the night along the way bowed and gave way upon seeing him.

The county government office is located in the center of the county town. At this moment, the main hall is still brightly lit, and the vermilion gate is wide open.

Two bailiffs, each wielding a fire-and-water stick, stood on either side, their expressions solemn.

Upon seeing Liu Wanshan arrive, the yamen runners dared not stop him and quickly informed the yamen.

Liu Wanshan, impatient to wait, strode straight in.

Inside the main hall, County Magistrate Chen Jinghua sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed and his expression grave.

Two people were sitting on the guest seats to his left and right.

An old man and a young girl were the grandfather and granddaughter working in the medical clinic of the Chen Family Martial Arts School.

"Wanshan, what brings you here so late?"

Chen Jinghua was somewhat puzzled when Liu Wanshan entered, but he did not stop him from coming in.

The four major families in the county intermarried, with the Liu and Chen families being the closest, and their relationship was extremely good.

Otherwise, Chen Jinghua wouldn't have given Liu Wanshan that hint back then.

Liu Wanshan noticed that there were people there, glanced at the old man and the young man, but did not speak directly.

Instead, he looked at Chen Jinghua with a questioning tone: "Magistrate Chen, may I ask who these two are?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man slowly opened his mouth. His voice was hoarse and his breath was weak, like that of a dying man.

"I am Li Kui, the Liangzhou branch officer of the Patrol and Military Command."

The old man raised his hand, revealing the black iron token at his waist, and tossed it into Liu Wanshan's hand.

Liu Wanshan was startled. The Martial Arts Bureau was a special agency of the Great Shun Dynasty that controlled martial arts forces.

The agency that suppresses evil spirits wields immense power, and even ordinary county and prefectural officials must show it deference.

Why would they suddenly appear in Zhenyuan County and keep an eye on the unusual movements of martial arts forces?

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said in a deep voice, "Greetings, Lord Li!"

On the other side, Chen Jinghua said, "Wanshan, these two have been hiding in our county for over ten years. Since you're here today, listen to their stories too."

After saying that, he looked at the old man and the young man again: "You two continue, Chief Liu and I are related by marriage, so he can listen."

Upon hearing this, Liu Wanshan, despite his anxiety, found a seat and sat down.

Now that there are people around, he can't bring up those things, and besides, what about the patrol officer?

He hadn't heard it in years, and he wanted to see what the other person was going to say.

"Hehe, Yao'er, please continue." Li Kui raised his hand to gesture to the girl beside him, his aged voice carrying a hint of composure.

The girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a simple cloth dress.

With delicate features and a calm demeanor, she was the young woman from the medical clinic who had invited Wang Anping to join the Patrol and Martial Arts Division.

She nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over Chen Jingming and Liu Wanshan, her voice clear yet steady:

Magistrate Chen and clan chief Liu.

My grandfather and I have been infiltrating Zhenyuan County for ten years, and recently we have noticed frequent unusual movements of martial arts forces within the county.

They also intercepted several encrypted emails. Although they couldn't fully decipher them, they gleaned phrases like "launching an uprising" and "taking advantage of someone's power."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the main hall suddenly became tense.

Chen Jingming's grip on the teacup tightened slightly, his brow furrowed, and he asked in a deep voice, "Is this true? Where is the letter? Are there any clues pointing to a specific force?"

He was somewhat flustered, never expecting that someone was preparing to rebel right under his nose!

The girl took out several crumpled letters from her bosom. The edges of the letters were yellowed, and the handwriting was messy and scribbled, clearly written in a hurry.

She handed the letter to Chen Jingming, adding, "The letter is here. Because the recipient is extremely cautious, the letter is mostly in code."

We can only deduce that someone intends to take advantage of the current chaos and unrest to stage a rebellion, but we cannot determine which specific force it is, nor do we know the exact time of its uprising.

Chen Jingming took the letter and quickly glanced through it, his heart heavy.

He looked up at Li Kui and said in a deep voice:

"Lord Li, the Patrol and Military Division has been lying low for ten years. Hasn't there been a single extra clue?"

Within Zhenyuan County, the only powerful groups capable of plotting rebellion are a few martial arts schools and prominent clans.

Li Kui slowly shook his head, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"What Chief Liu said is absolutely right. We have investigated all the powerful forces within our territory."

The Chen family martial arts school, the Sun family martial arts school, and even the Liu family are all within the scope of the investigation.

However, Chen Chaoming kept a low profile, and although he had many disciples in his martial arts school, he never overstepped his bounds.

The Sun family martial arts school was also operating normally, and the Liu family and other families had been rooted in Zhenyuan for generations, with no motive for rebellion.

He paused, his gaze falling on Chen Jingming, his tone becoming serious:

"Magistrate Chen, the reason we are asking for your assistance is to leverage the power of the county government."

They secretly checked the food and weapons reserves of various factions, as well as the movement of personnel.

A rebellion requires stockpiling grain and forging weapons, as well as contacting accomplices; these actions will inevitably leave traces.

The county government was in charge of household registration, land tax, and city defense; it was most convenient for them to investigate these matters.

When Chen Jinghua heard this, the corner of his mouth twitched. His Chen family had been rooted in this county for hundreds of years.

In his view, no matter what kind of rebels they were, and no matter who became emperor in the future, the Chen family would still have a place to stand in Zhenyuan.

However, it can still be investigated; if they are mere ants, they will be crushed.

If it were a behemoth, then Chen Jingming could only apologize to Da Shun.

"Rest assured, Lord Li, this county will do its utmost to assist you," Chen Jingming said in a deep voice.

"I will secretly arrange for people to check the supplies and weapons of each faction. I will closely monitor personnel movements and immediately report any leads to Lord Li."

Seeing this, Liu Wanshan also spoke up: "My Liu family is also willing to contribute. The Liu family has some understanding of the clandestine dealings between various forces within the territory."

I will have someone secretly investigate, and if anything unusual is found, I will immediately inform the magistrate and Lord Li.

only……"

He changed the subject:

"Five masters of internal strength from my Liu family have gone missing today, and my son is also nowhere to be found."

Is this matter related to any unusual movements of power? I urge Lord Li and the county magistrate to keep a close eye on this.

A hint of doubt flashed in Li Kui's eyes, and he pressed for details:

"Oh? Is that so?"

Were all the missing persons Liu's elite troops? Did they exhibit any unusual behavior before their disappearance?

"They were the Liu family's elite troops, three of whom went missing while patrolling the river."

Another person, led by my son, went to search for the evil spirit, and then disappeared without a trace.

Liu Wanshan did not mention anything about Wang Anping in his words; some things cannot be said openly.

Upon hearing his words, a hint of doubt flashed in Chen Jinghua's eyes, who was sitting in the superior position, but he quickly realized what he meant.

He knew what was going on, Wang Anping? But he didn't say it directly.

"Is that so? But this matter can only be entrusted to the magistrate."

Right now, there are only the two of us in Zhenyuan County, and we don't have much energy to assist.

"We will need Magistrate Chen to conduct thorough investigations during this period to prevent further bloodshed should war break out."

Upon hearing the old man's words, Liu Wanshan instantly lost all respect. Two people? And one old and one young?

He sighed inwardly, no wonder some people wanted to rebel, the Great Shun Dynasty was indeed doomed.

"Don't worry, I'll leave this matter to you. Thank you both for bringing the information today. How can I contact you if I have any further intelligence?"

Chen Jingming put on a respectful demeanor.

"Hmm... If there is any news, send someone to Bafang Laifu Inn and tell them to look for Li Si." The old man named Li Kui stood up, said this, and then clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Then we'll leave to you two. We'll be going now."

"Please take care, Lord Li."

"Thank you for informing me, Lord Li. I will need your assistance with the following matters."

Chen Jinghua and Liu Wanshan both stood up to see them off, and the old man and the young man slowly walked out of the county government office.

Only after the two figures disappeared did Liu Wanshan look at Chen Jingming with a puzzled expression:

"Brother Jingming, is what these two are saying true? Is it possible that someone in our county is planning a rebellion?"

"There's a high chance that the patrol and military command has been lurking here for so long."

They wouldn't have shown up if they weren't confident.

So, did your men really disappear while they were trying to kill Wang Anping? Is it possible that you were being targeted?

"We both know Wang Anping's martial arts skills, how could he possibly kill all five of them?"

Chen Jingming looked at Liu Wanshan, unable to understand why the other party would suspect Wang Anping.

How could someone at the mid-stage of Dark Force possibly kill five people?

"I don't think he killed him. I wonder if it could be Chen Chaoming?"

Liu Wanshan began to explain.

"Chen Chaoming? This guy was with us the whole time when we were chasing evil spirits, and his eldest disciple was with us too."

It could have been done by other members of the Chen family martial arts school, or it could have been done by those who, as the patrol and military command said, were preparing to rebel.

Chen Jinghua narrowed his eyes slightly as he spoke:

"It doesn't really matter who killed him; what matters is who we want him to be!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Wanshan immediately realized what was happening:

"Brother Jinghua is right! But now my missing son has probably met with misfortune, so even if I kill Wang Anping and get the documents, it won't be of any use."

Why don't we use that spot to bring in another company to cooperate?

"Haha, Brother Liu has such a broad vision. That's fine, but it shouldn't be limited to just one company."

I used to think about what we would do if Da Shun fell from power every day. But these two gave me a wake-up call today.

I think we can take this opportunity to investigate what forces are preparing to rebel.

If they are mere ants, we will take them down. Then we will control Zhenyuan County ourselves. Those who obey will prosper, and those who resist will perish.

In a few years, whether the Great Shun Dynasty continues its reign or a new dynasty emerges, our families will still be the rulers of Zhenyuan County!

If we're lucky, going even further isn't impossible!

If it's a major power that rebels, we'll cooperate.

No matter who rules the world, they will always need the support of our powerful clans!

After Chen Jingming finished speaking, he nodded in satisfaction.

It is indeed entirely beneficial!

As for those two from the Patrol Division? To be honest, he didn't take them seriously at all.

The Great Shun Dynasty is practically finished, and you expect me to risk my life for them? Think again!

"Brother Jingming's words have awakened me from my dream; I agree with this!"

I've bribed the second senior brother at Longyuan Martial Arts School. I plan to support him as the new school's head, and then they can bring him over.

However, Brother Jingming, you must find the murderer who killed my son as soon as possible. My heart is bleeding!

Meanwhile, on the streets.

An old man and a young girl strolled along. After a long while, the girl couldn't help but speak first: "Master, why don't you just say that it's the Chen Family Martial Arts School that's plotting a rebellion?"