Chapter 435 - 366: A Letter from Weishui, a Storm in the Commandery

In his office at the Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau, Chen Ping’an saw a letter sent from the Weishui Garrison.

The envelope was sealed with security wax and an official stamp, indicating its high level of importance.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Ping’an tore open the letter and began to read.

The letter was from Liu Yuanhua. It dispensed with pleasantries and got straight to the point, mentioning the Qiankun Bureau’s move to impeach him. The Qiankun Bureau had supervisory authority over the Garrison Commandant’s Office, and the one filing for impeachment this time was a special envoy from the State Qiankun Bureau. By all accounts, there was no room for maneuver in this matter.

As a matter of procedure, the Weishui Garrison would have to re-evaluate his position as Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy, and they hoped Chen Ping’an would understand.

Furthermore, Liu Yuanhua’s tone was largely comforting as he analyzed the pros and cons of the situation.

He directly revealed Tong Jin’s background, stating that a Grandmaster was likely backing him. Tong Jin’s death in Five Peaks Mountain City had caused extremely severe repercussions. Compared to some unknown retaliation from the Qiankun Bureau, resolving the matter through this official review wouldn’t be such a bad outcome.

Even if the review resulted in Chen Ping’an losing his position and being dismissed, with his talent, he would be sidelined for two years at most before making a comeback. After biding his time and building his strength, there was no reason he couldn’t soar to great heights in the future!

During the review, Liu Yuanhua advised Chen Ping’an to remain as silent as possible and cooperate with the proceedings, so as to avoid provoking the Qiankun Bureau and triggering even fiercer retaliation.

He should leave everything to the Garrison Commandant’s Office; they would handle the negotiations with the Qiankun Bureau.

As long as the Garrison Commandant’s Office approved Chen Ping’an’s dismissal, it would be a concession that allowed the Qiankun Bureau to get its way. After that, with a few more bargaining chips, the affair with Tong Jin could be smoothly resolved.

However, all of this was merely Liu Yuanhua’s personal advice. The final decision still rested with Chen Ping’an.

The repercussions were enormous; if handled poorly, his very life could be at risk. He hoped Chen Ping’an would not act rashly, and every line of the letter conveyed his wish for Chen Ping’an to think things through carefully.

Procedurally, once the Qiankun Bureau filed for impeachment, the Garrison Commandant’s Office should have immediately arranged for a review. However, considering the immense impact this would have on Chen Ping’an, they had deliberately delayed the proceedings, buying him a few extra days to consider his options.

In seven days, the Weishui Garrison would hold the official review of Chen Ping’an’s position as Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy. Members of the Qiankun Bureau would also be in attendance. Liu Yuanhua hoped Chen Ping’an would consider everything carefully, make his preparations, and be present for the review on time.

At the end of the letter, Liu Yuanhua offered Chen Ping’an a piece of advice from experience: "Do not fight for a moment’s victory, but for a lifetime of advantage."

After finishing the letter, he found Liu Yuanhua’s attitude was far beyond his expectations. He had initially assumed it would be a blessing if Liu Yuanhua didn’t kick him while he was down, let alone offer help.

But the facts proved him wrong. Liu Yuanhua was genuinely looking out for him. His words weren’t perfunctory; on the contrary, they were full of sincerity. He had offered sound advice while leaving the final choice to Chen Ping’an. Moreover, he had even managed to buy him some time by delaying the review!

Liu Yuanhua was right. With the talent he had displayed, his future was limitless. With the Garrison Commandant’s Office mediating, as long as he was willing to bow his head and lie low, once he got through this rough patch, the future would be his—as vast as the ocean for a fish to leap, as high as the sky for a bird to fly.

No matter the process, as long as he rose to power again one day, his past humiliations would be forgotten, and his future would be boundless.

"Do not fight for a moment’s victory, but for a lifetime of advantage."

Chen Ping’an folded the letter, muttering to himself.

’By any conventional measure, what Liu Yuanhua said is indeed the truth of the world. It’s just...’

Chen Ping’an slowly extended a hand. Streaks of Spiritual Light pulsed from his Brow Spiritual Platform as a cyan glow flickered around his body, faintly emitting an indescribable aura of power.

’So-called truths can’t be applied universally! I’m a Grandmaster now, powerful enough to transcend some of the old rules.’

’Now that I’ve cultivated to the Grandmaster Realm, if I back down again as I might have before, then what is the point of Cultivation?’

’They angered me!’

’That man, Tong Jin, should serve as a warning to others!’

Chen Ping’an suddenly clenched his fist, a surge of fierce pride welling up in his heart.

"Cultivation! Cultivation! Only Cultivation is the ultimate solution to everything!"

HUMMM—

Chen Ping’an’s Spiritual Clarity Divine Intent was crystal clear, and Spiritual Light flickered on his Spirit Platform. His True Essence flowed, completing a full Circulation as he began his Cultivation of the Three-Point Human Tribulation Finger.

As Chen Ping’an cultivated, streams of Cultivation Experience continuously surfaced in his mind. Now that he had reached the Grandmaster Realm, his Cultivation efficiency was much higher as he circulated his True Essence.

+1!

+1!

...

As the days went by, news of the upcoming review of Chen Ping’an’s position as Outer Patrol Envoy for the Long’an Trade Route continued to ferment and spread throughout Weishui County City.

Within the Weishui Garrison, there were differing opinions on the matter. Some were extremely dissatisfied with Chen Ping’an for provoking the Qiankun Bureau, believing he had brought trouble to the Garrison Commandant’s Office. ’If it weren’t for him, something like this would never have happened. To think he’d actually kill a special envoy from the State Qiankun Bureau!’

"That Chen Ping’an is a hopeless case! Even with all his talent, he’s nothing but a reckless brute in the end! Causing such a disaster and bringing endless trouble to our Garrison Commandant’s Office!"

"That’s right! He’s utterly reckless and never considers the consequences. From what happened in White Stone City to Five Peaks Mountain City, and now this... it’s just one thing after another, and he gets more outrageous every time. He was lucky before, but let’s see what happens to him this time."

"A reckless fool! An absolute fool! This time, his luck has finally run out. I’m afraid not even the Lord Governor himself will be able to protect him!"