Daqian Martial Saint

"This is definitely no ordinary branch of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect!"

Fan Zheng Heng glanced at Chen Ping’an and understood the meaning in his eyes.

If the location caught in the Garrison Commandant’s Office’s encirclement was merely an ordinary branch, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect would never have been forced into making such a desperate move.

They even went so far as to assassinate the Commander-in-Chief of the Li Yang Town Guard Office!

The Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s actions in the rear didn’t stop there. Assassinations of key officials from the Garrison Commandant’s Office were happening frequently in various regions. Although they weren’t as high-profile as the assassination of the Commander-in-Chief of the Li Yang Town Guard Office, the skill of the assassins and the frequency of the attacks were already horrifying.

"The Ten Thousand Demons Sect is willing to sacrifice so many of its sleeper agents and pull experts from all over just to create chaos and relieve the pressure on their besieged forces. It’s a clear signal that this stronghold is anything but ordinary!"

Chen Ping’an nodded slightly at his words.

If it were just an ordinary branch, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect would have no reason to go to such lengths! To assassinate the Commander-in-Chief of the Li Yang Town Guard Office, the sect had sacrificed several of its top-level experts!

Experts of that caliber are an invaluable asset to any power. And that’s not even mentioning the numerous sleeper agents they abandoned to pull those experts from their posts.

To make all these moves for a mere branch was clearly not worth the cost. Especially since these actions couldn’t actually solve the problem of the Garrison Commandant’s Office’s encirclement. They went to these lengths just to alleviate the pressure.

The importance of this stronghold... must be far beyond that of a mere branch!

The Ten Thousand Demons Sect was clearly prepared for a fight to the death. They were pulling experts from all over to create chaos in the rear, hoping to turn the tables.

"The State Garrison Command has issued a directive, ordering us to dispatch elites for immediate reinforcement!" Fan Zheng Heng looked into Chen Ping’an’s eyes and asked gravely, "Ping’an, what are your thoughts?"

Although Fan Zheng Heng didn’t say it explicitly, his meaning was very clear. He wanted Chen Ping’an to lead the elites to reinforce the front line.

The Weishui Garrison had already dispatched a significant number of personnel for this operation against the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. Based on the initial assessment, their numbers should have been more than sufficient.

But now, it was clear that with the new intelligence, the upgraded importance of the stronghold, and the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s frequent activities outside the encirclement, their forces were spread too thin. The personnel they had planned for were no longer enough.

"Lord Fan, I am willing to go," Chen Ping’an said, cupping his hands in a solemn gesture.

The operation against the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was taking place at the border of three counties: Li Yang, Earth Fire, and Weishui. As the Weishui Patrol, his jurisdiction covered the entirety of Weishui County. It was both his duty and his responsibility to go.

Besides, Chen Ping’an had his own agenda. This was a perfect opportunity to openly display his abilities.

For ordinary top-level experts, the very best among them, and even for masters at the Pseudo-Grandmaster level, this operation against the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was fraught with unimaginable danger. The slightest mistake could be fatal.

But to Chen Ping’an, as long as this stronghold wasn’t the main headquarters of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, the danger was manageable. ’With my current strength, I can protect myself even if I come face-to-face with a Top Grandmaster!’

Fan Zheng Heng hadn’t expected Chen Ping’an to take on the responsibility so readily. He had agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Judging from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s reaction, this stronghold was no ordinary place. To participate in this encirclement meant facing their desperate breakout attempts and their willingness to fight to the last man.

The dangers involved were immense. Even he couldn’t be one hundred percent certain he would return alive if he went, let alone Chen Ping’an, who had not yet even reached the Peak Realm.

For Chen Ping’an to go with his current level of strength, the risks would be enormous.

"Good! Good! Excellent!" Fan Zheng Heng couldn’t help but say in succession.

"You are truly a credit to our Garrison Commandant’s Office. Such sharp decisiveness is admirable!" Fan Zheng Heng praised Chen Ping’an, and his words were mostly sincere, not just empty platitudes.

"This reinforcement order from the State Garrison Command isn’t just for our Weishui County, but for all the other counties involved in the original encirclement. The number of elites being sent as reinforcements is considerable. When combined with the forces already there, it’s a massive contingent. During the operation, Ping’an, you must be careful, but your basic safety should be guaranteed."

After settling the matter of the reinforcements, Fan Zheng Heng went over some more details with Chen Ping’an, explaining the situation and what he needed to be aware of.

"Alright, Ping’an, that’s the gist of it. When it comes to reinforcements, the sooner the better. As soon as the elites are assembled, you are to depart immediately!"

"Understood," Chen Ping’an nodded.

Since the Weishui Garrison had already sent one batch of elites, assembling another would take some time.

Some of the Garrison Commandant’s Office’s elites, for instance, were not stationed in Weishui County City, but at garrisons in various mountain passes. Chen Ping’an estimated that mustering them would take about three days.

’I thought this operation against the Ten Thousand Demons Sect would go smoothly and I wouldn’t be involved. I never expected things to take such a turn, to the point that even the Commander-in-Chief of the Li Yang Town Guard Office was killed. And now, I’m getting involved after all!’

"Old Chen..." After leaving Fan Zheng Heng’s office, Chen Ping’an paused, looked up at the azure sky, and muttered to himself.

’Since the opportunity has presented itself, how can I not avenge the grudge from all those years ago!’