Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

He paced over to the table and picked up a cup of clear tea that had long since grown cool.

"Gather our men."

Liu Han’s voice suddenly turned cold, his tone resolute. "All available elite guards in the mansion, our very best Weapons and top-grade Elixirs from the storeroom—bring them all! Also, contact the Escort Agencies and Martial Arts Halls on good terms with us. Tell them the Liu Family is taking the lead in a grand undertaking: to annihilate the Nine Waves Island Water Bandits and capture the remnants of the Zheng Family!"

A glint flashed in Liu Fu’s eyes as he immediately grasped Liu Han’s true intentions.

This wasn’t just about answering the call of the two sects; it was a heaven-sent opportunity for the Liu Family to establish a new order and seize complete control over the merchant association!

’Annihilating bandits is the pretext, but dividing the spoils is the real goal!’

’The Zheng Family has been in business for a century. Zheng Yuankui must have taken their core wealth with him to Nine Waves Island. Add that to the accumulated plunder from the island’s years of piracy... What an astonishing fortune that would be! The Liu Family must claim the largest slice of the pie!’

"As you command, Young Master!" Liu Fu bowed and accepted the order.

Liu Han turned again, gazing out the window into the distance.

"The Zheng Family... Hmph. I’ll personally see you off on your final journey."

He muttered to himself. He raised his cup and drained the cool tea in one gulp, his eyes like ice.

.....

Inside a room at the Nanzhe No. 7 Fishery.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged, engrossed in his Cultivation of the Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique.

Just then, a burst of hushed but noisy discussion drifted in from the courtyard.

Chen Qing’s brow furrowed slightly. He began Finishing the Practice and reined in his breath.

He pushed the door open and stepped out to see several of the Fishery’s disciples gathered around Old Zhao, their faces a mixture of excitement and horror.

"Steward!"

The sharp-eyed Wang Shuosheng immediately stood up straight, unable to hide the excitement on his face. "Something big happened in the Prefecture City! The Zheng Family... The Zheng Family is finished!"

"The Zheng Family was colluding with the Nine Waves Island Water Bandits—the evidence is ironclad! Second Master He of Qixia Manor and our own Li Fire Institute’s Dean Hong personally led a team to raid the Zheng Family’s ancestral home last night!"

Sun Xiaomiao jumped in, speaking so excitedly that spit flew from his mouth. "I heard they found the forbidden Demon Sect elixir, the Blood Marrow Pill! Zheng Tong was captured on the spot, but that old fox Zheng Yuankui escaped beforehand with his core disciples and the family fortune. They say he fled to Nine Waves Island!"

"The Four Great Sects were furious and jointly issued a ’Bandit Extermination Decree’!"

Old Zhao added, his voice trembling slightly, "The bounties are terrifyingly high! One hundred thousand taels of Gold plus a Top-Grade Treasure Artifact for capturing or killing Zheng Yuankui! Breach Nine Waves Island, and you can take whatever riches you find! The entire Yunlin Prefecture has gone mad! The Weapon Shops and Elixir Medicine Squares in the Prefecture City have been bought out, and all the boats at the docks are nearly rented out. Everyone is rushing to Nine Waves Island!"

Chen Qing was inwardly reeling, but his expression remained impassive.

’So the Zheng Family’s collusion with Nine Waves Island has been confirmed?’

’And a forbidden Demon Sect elixir is involved? This turn of events is far beyond what I anticipated.’

’Qixia Manor and the Wutai Sect have made their move... It’s clear Cold Jade Valley and the Xuanjia Sect either tacitly approved or also participated in this operation.’

’The Infinite Demon Sect has been rampant, but the leaders of the Four Great Sects weren’t just sitting back and watching. They’ve been plotting in secret all along.’

"I understand. All of you, be extra careful during this time. Don’t let any mistakes happen."

Chen Qing nodded.

Just then, Jiang Feng’s voice came from outside the courtyard. "Steward, Madam Wu of the Wu Family is here to see you!"

Chen Qing said, "Let her in."

Wu Manqing looked travel-worn, her face etched with undisguised anxiety and exhaustion.

"Brother Chen!"

The moment she saw Chen Qing, she got straight to the point, her tone urgent. "Manqing has come to ask a favor, one that concerns the very survival of my Wu Family!"

"Please speak, Madam." Chen Qing led her into the guest hall.

"In a branch of my Wu Family, there is a disciple named Wu Feng. He has a Six Forms Root Bone and is the most promising of the Wu Family’s younger generation to break through to the Embracing Pill Force. I have high hopes for him and have been personally grooming him."

Wu Manqing sighed. "A few days ago, he was accompanying a convoy of ships transporting medicinal herbs to Lin Mansion by waterway. When they passed through the waters near Nine Waves Island... he was captured by the island’s Water Bandits!"

Chen Qing’s eyes narrowed.

’Nine Waves Island is a powder keg right now. Seizing ships and taking hostages... it’s clearly a desperate move by the Zheng Family remnants and the bandit leaders on the island. They want to use the hostages as bargaining chips or to create chaos.’

"The waters around Nine Waves Island are a chaotic mess right now! All sorts of powers have gathered there—a jumble of saints and sinners. My Wu Family is too weak and isolated. We’ve sent several groups to try and negotiate a ransom, but they either couldn’t even get close to the island or were attacked by other bloodthirsty parties who mistook them for allies of the Water Bandits. Our losses have been devastating!"

Wu Manqing’s voice was tinged with bitterness. "Wu Feng’s fate is unknown. Brother Chen, can you... can you think of something? At the very least, could you try to find out what’s happened to him? If you can rescue him, the Wu Family will reward you generously."

As she spoke, she took an object from a brocade pouch with a trembling hand.

Unfolding it, she revealed a piece of Inner Armor, as light and thin as silk!

"This is a replica of the ’Ice Silkworm Snow Silk Armor.’ Although it’s a far cry from the original in Cold Jade Valley’s possession, it has reached the Lower-Grade Treasure Level."

Wu Manqing presented the Inner Armor with both hands, her eyes pleading. "Worn against the skin, it can resist ordinary slashes from swords and sabers, and it can even weaken the impact of some True Qi attacks. It might save your life at a critical moment. I dare not ask that Brother Chen will definitely rescue Wu Feng... I only ask that if you have the opportunity, you lend a hand if it’s convenient. Please consider this Inner Armor as a small token of Manqing’s sincerity, paid in advance. I implore you to accept it!"

Chen Qing gazed at the silver-gray Inner Armor, his mind racing.

’An Inner Armor on par with Lower-Grade Treasure Artifacts! It’s worth at least fifty thousand taels of silver, and it’s the kind of item you can’t buy even if you have the money!’

’This token from Wu Manqing is truly significant.’

Chen Qing reached out and took the Inner Armor. As his hands closed around it, he found it was as light as air.

"Madam Wu,"

Chen Qing’s voice was steady and deliberate. "I am very sorry to hear about your nephew. This Inner Armor... I will accept it for now, not as payment, but as a token of your sincerity, which I will remember. As for rescuing him..."

He continued, "I will pay close attention to the situation on Nine Waves Island. If an opportunity arises to learn of your nephew’s whereabouts, I will certainly do my best. But you must understand, Madam, I cannot promise that I can rescue him. I hope you will... manage your expectations."

The light in Wu Manqing’s eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly forced herself to rally.

’Chen Qing hadn’t refused outright, and he had even accepted the Inner Armor. This was already the best response she could have hoped for.’

’At least there was a sliver of hope.’

"Manqing understands! Thank you, Brother Chen! Regardless of the outcome, the Wu Family will be forever grateful!" She gave a deep curtsy, and without lingering, hurried away.

Chen Qing put away the Inner Armor and returned to his room.

By evening, Chen Qing and the others at the Fishery had just finished dinner.

Song Ming arrived in a frantic hurry.

"Junior Brother Chen! There’s an urgent deployment order from the Sect!"

He wore a complex expression of excitement and nervousness, waving a reddish-yellow order in his hand.

"Junior Brother Chen, it’s a mobilization order signed by Dean Hong Yuandong and Master Peng Zhen!"

Song Ming took a deep breath, a sharp glint in his eyes. "We’re being mobilized to go to Nine Waves Island to participate in the operation to annihilate the Water Bandits and capture the remnants of the Zheng Family! You’re on the list, so am I, and... Junior Sister Lin Wei from the No. 5 Fishery! This is a heaven-sent opportunity to win glory and make a fortune!"

His voice was filled with excitement. Right now, Nine Waves Island was a veritable Treasure Island, overflowing with opportunity.