Chapter 543: Chapter 410: A Welcome Feast and an Urgent Letter from the State City

"We welcome Lord Chen’s triumphant return!"

Before Weishui County City, banners waved and fluttered in the wind. A large crowd stood in neat formation. Commander-in-Chief Fan Zheng Heng stood at the very front. Half a step behind him was the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Liu Yuanhua. The rest of the Weishui Garrison’s upper echelon were arrayed behind them, all gathered to congratulate the returning hero.

"Lord Fan!" Chen Ping’an dismounted, clasping his hands in a fist-and-palm salute, looking exceptionally heroic. Behind him were the elites from this encirclement campaign, their faces grim and expressions solemn.

"Lord Liu!" After greeting Fan Zheng Heng, Chen Ping’an greeted Liu Yuanhua as well. As for the rest of the Garrison Commandant’s Office members, he simply offered a slight smile and a nod in acknowledgment.

"Lord Chen, this campaign was perilous. Your triumphant return today is truly a blessing for our Weishui!" Fan Zheng Heng walked forward with heartfelt sincerity and clapped Chen Ping’an on the shoulder. On an occasion like this, he gave Chen Ping’an plenty of face, addressing him as Lord Chen. "I have already arranged a banquet in the city to welcome you and the brothers back and wash away the dust of your journey."

"Thank you, Lord Fan," Chen Ping’an replied humbly and courteously.

Liu Yuanhua watched Chen Ping’an conversing with Fan Zheng Heng, and couldn’t help but feel a surge of complex emotions.

’I’ve already heard the reports from the front lines,’ he thought. ’In this campaign against the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, Chen Ping’an achieved great merit. A smooth road to success probably lies ahead of him.’

The members of the Garrison Commandant’s Office looked at Chen Ping’an from a distance, all with smiles on their faces, not daring to show the slightest disrespect. Lord Chen had returned with the momentum of a great victory, his prestige unmatched for the moment. In terms of power and influence, he had likely surpassed even Lord Liu.

A great roc rises with the wind in a single day, soaring ninety thousand li into the sky!

...

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Weishui Garrison, Fan Zheng Heng naturally had his own channels to receive numerous frontline reports during this encirclement campaign against the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. Although the final merits had not yet been officially assigned, from a logical standpoint, they were basically set in stone.

These past few days, the more he learned, the more stunned he became.

Mang Blade Chen Ping’an killed Blood Demon Hammer Shi Tianpo near Luohua Ridge... and this was just a merit he earned on his way to provide reinforcements. This was to say nothing of the great deeds he performed during the official encirclement.

He killed over thirty Inner Qi Realm members and more than ten Profound Light Elders of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect... In addition, there was also a Top Level expert of the Peak Realm from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, Blood Demon Battleaxe.

After Fan Zheng Heng heard this news, who knew how long the shock remained on his face?

During this reinforcement mission, Chen Ping’an broke through to the Peak Realm. Although this was incredibly astonishing, it was still somewhat plausible when considering his unparalleled talent. The problem was that as soon as Chen Ping’an achieved his breakthrough, he displayed immense strength, killing the veteran Peak Realm expert, Blood Demon Hammer Shi Tianpo. Not to mention, he later went on to slay the Top Level Peak Realm expert, Blood Demon Battleaxe.

No matter what the circumstances were at the time—even if Blood Demon Battleaxe had been fighting for a long time and wasn’t in peak condition—the fact that Chen Ping’an could kill him in the chaos of battle meant his combat prowess was, at the very least, approaching the level of the Dragon and Tiger Chart.

If that were all, it would have been one thing. But the frontline reports also mentioned that during a battle between Grandmasters at the Mid-Jade Balance Stage, Chen Ping’an had played a minor supporting role.

Grandmasters! This was a battle between Grandmasters!

Even if it was only a minor supporting role, to them, it was an incredibly significant achievement. This matter would be recorded in his official file, becoming a plus point for him in all future considerations.

Not to mention the future, right now in Fan Zheng Heng’s eyes, Chen Ping’an was at the very least a peak expert whose combat power neared the level of the Dragon and Tiger Chart. Although such a person was nominally Fan Zheng Heng’s subordinate, he naturally treated him with the utmost respect.

Throughout the entire welcome banquet, Fan Zheng Heng showed great concern for Chen Ping’an, and following his lead, the members of the Garrison Commandant’s Office repeatedly toasted him.

"Lord Chen, you’ve worked hard on this campaign. This humble subordinate toasts you."

"My lord, during this encirclement campaign, you killed many experts from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, bolstering the prestige of our Garrison Commandant’s Office. This humble subordinate is filled with admiration."

"My lord, this humble subordinate will drain his cup. You may drink as you please."

"..."

"Lord Chen, it’s been a long journey. This toast is to welcome you back." Liu Yuanhua also walked up to Chen Ping’an with a cup of wine and respectfully offered a toast.

"Lord Liu, you’re too kind." Chen Ping’an raised his cup and gestured in return.

’Who could have imagined,’ Chen Ping’an mused, ’that my former direct superior, a core Clan Elder of the Liu Family, would now stand before me with such a subservient posture?’

Xiong Sanrang sat at a side table, enjoying the flattery of his colleagues. Amid the clinking of cups, he too felt a sense of contentment. He glanced at Chen Ping’an, who was seated at the main table, and a flicker of respect crossed his face.

The entire welcome banquet was lively and harmonious. As the evening drew to a close, Fan Zheng Heng had originally made other arrangements, but Chen Ping’an politely declined them.

If anyone else had refused him like that, it would have been seen as disrespecting a superior, and Fan Zheng Heng would likely have shown his displeasure immediately. But the one who refused was Chen Ping’an, so Fan Zheng Heng naturally couldn’t treat him as he would others. He raised his wine cup and said with a hearty laugh, "If that’s the case, then we’ll do as Ping’an says. Come, Ping’an, let’s have another drink!"

...

The banquet ended, and amidst the respectful farewells of the crowd, Chen Ping’an returned to his own residence. This was the residence he had bought for the little girl to live in. Now that the little girl had gone to the State City, the residence felt a bit more deserted.

"My lord." Seeing Chen Ping’an return, the maids and servant women in the courtyard all knelt on the ground.

"Rise," Chen Ping’an said faintly.

With his current status, it was only natural for his residence to be attended by maids and servants. After Chen Erya had left, the great Noble Families of Weishui, out of goodwill, had sent over some more staff. Chen Ping’an had not refused this gesture.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.