Chen Pingâan left the Head of the Officeâs room with a blank expression. He had known from the very beginning how this would end. Yet, he still went to see Constable Zheng.
Now, he was completely sure.
Constable Zheng was definitely involved in this. Without him providing cover, stealing the credit would never have been this easy.
And... his greatest weakness, the biggest reason he couldnât prove his innocence, was that on the surface, he was just an ordinary person who knew nothing of the Martial Dao!
The Martial Arts Technique could be explained away, but without the requisite training process and medicinal supplements, he couldnât reveal his Martial Arts Cultivation. And if he couldnât reveal his cultivation, he couldnât prove he was the one who killed Hairy Fish.
He was undoubtedly trapped in a vicious cycle!
"Pingâan, congratulations! You really pulled off something big without making a sound, kid. Come on, tell me what really happened last night."
When Chen Pingâan reached the entrance of the Garrison Commandantâs Office, Monkey Head and Da Shan were already waiting for him. The moment they met, Monkey Head lightly punched him on the chest.
"HISSS!"
Chen Pingâan winced and gasped.
"Pingâan, youâve got to be kidding me! I barely touched you."
Monkey Head was startled.
"No! Thereâs a wound right here." Chen Pingâan lifted his shirt, revealing a chest covered in bruises.
"What happened?" Monkey Head asked with concern. Those injuries didnât look light.
"Itâs from the Hairy Fish incident! Letâs talk as we walk!"
"Yeah, okay."
After leaving the Garrison Commandantâs Office, Chen Pingâan told Monkey Head and Da Shan what had happened the previous night.
However, he didnât tell Monkey Head about killing Hairy Fish himself. He simply went along with Constable Zhengâs announcement, briefly explaining how heâd discovered the clue, only to get shafted in the end.
Monkey Head was extremely loyal. Chen Pingâan was afraid that if he told the truth, the impulsive Monkey Head would immediately go and stick up for him. Then, not only would he fail to resolve the matter, but heâd end up implicating Monkey Head as well.
While on patrol, Monkey Head and Da Shan were quite cheerful. Chen Pingâan had reported the clue, which earned him five taels of reward silver and a minor merit. They were genuinely happy for him. They ended up teasingly demanding that Chen Pingâan treat them to a meal.
"Alright, once the reward silver comes through, Iâll definitely treat you," Chen Pingâan readily agreed.
He cherished these two companions.
The entire day was filled with cheerful moments. It even caused the fire of anger in Chen Pingâanâs heart to subside a little.
However...
âThis matter isnât over!â
...
When he returned home, Chen Erya was in the middle of boiling dumplings. She was making quite a lotâa whole large pot.
"Brother~ Youâre back~ Weâre having dumplings tonight!"
Chen Eryaâs eyes curved into crescents, revealing a pair of small canine teeth.
"Great, dumplings are great!"
A smile spread across Chen Pingâanâs face. All the exhaustion from the day seemed to melt away in that instant.
Watching Chen Erya busy in the kitchen, Chen Pingâan suddenly had a change of heart.
âPerhaps my thoughts during the day were too radical! The risk is too great! If Iâm exposed, I canât bear the consequences!â
âYes, at least the current me canât bear them!â
âIf it were just me, it wouldnât matter. But I still have... my sister.â
During the day, Chen Pingâanâs plan had been simple.
âJust kill them!â
âZheng Shiyong and Tan Huacong dared to steal my credit, so they can just die! Tonight, Iâll let them know what it means to mess with the wrong person!â
âHmph!â
âMy daytime plan was too impulsive!â
Putting Zheng Shiyong aside for a moment, Tan Huacong was an official constable of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office. If he died, it wouldnât be treated as a mere disappearance; special investigators would definitely be assigned to the case.
The investigators wouldnât be just any Tom, Dick, or Harry. They would be professional law enforcement agents.
An investigation like that would inevitably lead to him. The risk would be immense!
Looking at Chen Erya, Chen Pingâan hesitated.
âMaybe...â
âSometimes, you have to endure being wronged! When you feel yourself about to lose control, ready to give up and act recklessly, you should think about the people who care about you.â
âWhen your strength is insufficient, you must first endure. Learn to make friends with time!â
âOne day, youâll finally be able to hold your head high and shove every last damn bit of this humiliation right back in their faces!â
"Brother, dinnerâs ready~"
Chen Erya came out with a wide grin, carrying a large plate of dumplings.
"Nannan is the best!" A smile appeared on Chen Pingâanâs face, and he hurried over to help.
...
Chen Pingâan had a huge appetite, and most of the dumplings Chen Erya had cooked that evening ended up in his stomach.
After dinner, Chen Pingâan warmed up and began his nightly Iron Cloth Shirt training.
But he had just taken off his shirt when Chen Erya noticed the bruises on his chest.
"Brother, what happened to your chest?"
That morning, Chen Erya had been busy with breakfast and hadnât noticed the injuries on Chen Pingâanâs chest. Now she saw them clearly, and her heart ached for him.
"Itâs nothing. I got hurt by accident while sparring at noon." Not wanting his sister to worry, Chen Pingâan made up a lie to placate her.
Bare-chested, he walked over to the pile of rocks and began to roll around in it.
As he rolled, the dayâs events flashed through his mind.
âYes!â
âI have the Golden Finger Panel; time is on my side. Unlike most people who have no hope, my future is full of it. Iâm destined to shine brightly! I absolutely cannot be so stupid as to bet my life on revenge while Iâm still weak.â
âRevenge must be taken! But my life is more important!â
âRight now, Iâm only at the Qi Blood Second Layer, the Muscle Training Stage! What if I were at the Qi Blood Third Layer, Yijin! Or the Qi Blood Fourth Layer, Bone Forging! What if... I were even higher!â
âThen these things wouldnât be issues. Theyâd be trivial! A mere spot as an official constable... Itâs not even worth mentioning!â
Chen Pingâan continued to practice his Iron Cloth Shirt.
âAs they say, patience brings peace, taking a step back...â
âThe more I think about it, the angrier I get!â
Chen Pingâan slammed his fist heavily onto a rock.
âFUCK...â
âA gentlemanâs revenge can wait ten years!â
âI am no gentleman. I will have my revenge in two months, tops!â
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Chen Pingâan rolled continuously in the pile of rocks, striking them repeatedly as he moved.
As time went on, experience symbols flashed one after another in his vision.
Name: Chen Pingâan
Realm: Qi Blood Second Layer
Martial Arts: Great Success in Iron Cloth Shirt (20/100)
...
Chen Pingâan climbed out of the pile of rocks. He wasnât sure if it was because he had made a vow in his heart or because he had vented his frustrations, but he actually felt somewhat relieved.
âMartial Dao Cultivation is called cultivation because itâs not just about practicing martial arts, but also about cultivating the mind! Having power without the right Heart Nature is ultimately meaningless! This is just a small bump on the road of cultivation. Looking back in the future, none of this will matter!â
âThe path of Martial Dao Cultivation is filled with countless twists, turns, and obstacles. If every little obstacle affects my state of mind, then that just shows my own limitations!â
âA martial artist must have both courage and strategy, an attitude that remains unfazed by favor or disgrace, as well as a heart that is decisive in action and eager to advance. I will remember what happened today. But in two months at most, there must be a resolution! Only then can I act with both tension and release, following my heartâs desires!â
"..."
With his thoughts clear and his mind unobstructed, Chen Pingâan felt as if his mental state had ascended to a higher level.
That night, Chen Pingâan slept exceptionally well.