Overdraw the future and become a peerless martial god

Chapter 54 Being sealed
Just then, a deafening drumbeat suddenly resounded outside the martial arts hall.

"Boom-thump-"

The drumbeats were deep and powerful, as if a thunderous beast were stomping across the earth, causing the copper bells on the eaves to shatter and the glass lamps to fall to the ground.

The night in Qingyang County was instantly torn apart as three hundred black-armored guards surged into the courtyard like an iron tide. Their heavy iron boots shattered the blue bricks, stirring up a fierce dust storm. The warriors did not even draw their swords; their killing intent alone was already tangible, like an inky storm sweeping in all directions, making the disciples in the martial arts school's hair stand on end and sending chills down their spines.

"The Marquis of Wu's order has arrived!"

A scarlet cloak ripped through the black armor array, and the messenger, holding a gilded scroll, strode down from the void, each step accompanied by lightning. Golden radiance emanated from his body, and a crimson edict slowly appeared beneath the dome, its golden flames blazing, burning the night into a dazzling spectacle.

Inside the martial arts school, there was a deathly silence.

The Marquis Wu's Mansion is a colossal beast that commands 300,000 troops in the northern border. When its military orders are issued, they are like thunderbolts!
"Chu Ning, accept the order!"

Chu Ning walked slowly to the front of the hall. His golden eyes reflected the imperial edict, his gaze indifferent, except for the faint crackling of lightning on his fingertips hanging at his side.

"Effective immediately, the Inspector of the Chu Ning Garrison is hereby appointed, with the power of life and death over Qingyang County. Anyone involved in evil spirits, blood sacrifices, or treason shall be executed first and reported later!"

"what?!"

"Even the Marquis of Wu's mansion has made a move..."

Zhou Lin was struck dumb, his knees buckled, and the Rending Wind Blade slipped from his hand and fell to the ground with a piercing metallic clang.

A wave of fearful gazes fell upon Chu Ning.

The messenger put away the imperial edict, knelt on one knee, and lowered his voice: "Your Excellency, the young lady has something to say—'After you've finished dealing with the affairs of Qingyang County, don't forget to come home as soon as possible.'"

Inside the martial arts school, everyone held their breath.

"Miss?"

"The young lady of the Marquis of Wu's mansion?!"

Only now did he finally understand what Xie Mingli meant when she threw that frost-patterned jade pendant to him.

It was not a chance act of kindness, nor a simple exchange of affection between teenagers, but a silent act of support—a solemn gesture that used identity, background, and even destiny as bargaining chips.

She knew all along that she would step into the heart of the storm and face the cruelest rules of this world.

She had laid a solid protective barrier for him in advance within this deadly trap.

Chu Ning's gaze was calm, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rusty knife at his waist, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. He recalled Xie Mingli's figure standing on the sword-testing platform that day, her back cool and resolute, her eyes indifferent yet seemingly able to see through everything.

"She's younger than me, but she understands this world better than I do," Chu Ning thought to herself.

This world is not a place where you can get away with anything just by using your fists.

Strength is certainly the foundation, the capital for protection and revenge. But what truly makes people submit is never just a sharp blade.

It is the "prefecture" after the name, the mountain-like protective power behind it, the pressure that is enough to make all the officials in Qingyang County bow their heads and make fierce soldiers like Zhou Lin collapse.

Above the rules, there are those invisible hands that can control the course of life and death.

Chu Ning was not afraid of death, but he knew that if he only had courage, even if he could kill ten or a hundred people, in the end he would only be crushed by a greater force.

He wanted revenge, he wanted to protect his sister, and he wanted to seek justice for those who had died—but the world was too vast, and an individual's will ultimately need to have enough weight to break through this impenetrable wall.

And Xie Mingli, without a sound, added this weight to him.

He never wanted to depend on others, but at this moment, he had to admit that no matter how abrupt and unconventional the means of this power grab were, they were exactly what he needed.

Power is not the goal, but the vessel that leads him to justice.

Chu Ning slightly raised his eyes, his eyes flashing with golden light, his expression indifferent: "I understand."

Just then, another commotion arose outside the martial arts school, with hurried footsteps echoing from the stone steps.

"The magistrate of Qingyang County has arrived!"

A disheveled figure stumbled into the hall, his wide official robe getting caught. He abandoned all dignity and scrambled into the hall, while his clerk crawled on his hands and knees behind him, his face ashen.

"Your humble servant greets Your Excellency the Inspector!"

The magistrate suddenly knelt down, his forehead slamming onto the blue brick floor, blood immediately seeping out and splashing up a few drops of gravel dust.

Half a month ago, in court, he regarded Chu Ning as a madman who had impersonated someone and indiscriminately killed innocent people. Now, Chu Ning holds great power in the Marquis of Wu's mansion, with the power of life and death, and even the Lord of the Northern Border has to personally issue decrees to him.

His legs went weak, and cold sweat poured down his forehead. He couldn't tell if it was from fear or the urge to urinate.

Chu Ning walked slowly toward him with an indifferent expression.

The footsteps were neither hurried nor slow, yet they resonated like thunder, striking the hearts of everyone present.

The air seemed to tremble slightly at his footsteps, making way for him to walk a straight path.

Chu Ning lowered her eyes, scrutinizing the magistrate's trembling official hat, and suddenly chuckled, "Magistrate, what are you trembling about?"

"This humble official...this humble official was blind..."

"Get up."

Chu Ning flicked his finger, causing the void to tremble. An invisible force of lightning supported the magistrate and forcibly pulled him up.

Where is Constable Li Jing'an?

The magistrate was taken aback, then blurted out, "Li Jing'an? That brute took leave the other day to investigate the Wang family's warehouse. Could it be that he offended you, sir? I will send troops to arrest him immediately!"

"arrest?"

Chu Ning's eyes were slightly cold.

The next instant, the black-armored guards simultaneously drew their swords half an inch, the gleaming blades gleaming with a chilling light, and a sinister aura swept across the entire area.

The magistrate's breath hitched, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Chu Ning said calmly, "Li Jing'an was my mentor in the constable camp. You want to... arrest him?"

The magistrate's face turned deathly pale, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground once again.

"It's all over, it's all over..." he muttered to himself, "The Inspector General was actually tricked by Li Jing'an into working as a constable in the police force, and he didn't even know it..."

"quick!"

The clerk awoke with a start and screamed at the top of his lungs, "Prepare a sedan chair carried by eight men! No... prepare a dragon steed! Prepare a dragon steed!"

Suddenly, the snow fox on the eaves leaped onto the magistrate's head. His body stiffened like an ice sculpture, and cold sweat dripped from his hair, freezing into icicles that hung half an inch in front of his eyes.

At this moment, Chu Ning stepped onto the main seat, casually inserting his rusty knife into the bluestone ground.

With a deafening roar, arcs of lightning scattered, and cracks spread like a spider web.

"Who else is dissatisfied?"

A dead silence.

The martial arts school members knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Zhou Lin, who had been the most vocal in his clamor, trembled like a stray dog ​​as he picked up the master's golden seal, raising his hands high, his knees buckling, almost kneeling on the ground.

Chu Ning didn't even glance at him, but simply slowly extended her hand.

The golden seal fell into his palm, and lightning instantly danced across it, as if responding to its true master.

From this point on, Benlei Martial Arts School was completely renamed and now belongs to the Chu family!
Chu Ning stood before the main seat of the martial arts hall, his black combat boots treading on the bluestone, a snow fox perched on his shoulder, its icy blue pupils reflecting the torrent of black iron. Three hundred black-armored guards stood with swords drawn; the clash of their heavy armor created a palpable killing intent in the air, like a thousand troops pressing down on a city.

The elders and disciples inside the martial arts school held their breath, and no one dared to make a move.

"From this moment forward, the Black Armor Guards of the Marquis of Wu's Mansion will take over the Benlei Martial Arts School." Chu Ning's voice was as cold as ice, each word like a knife, making the copper bells on the eaves jingle.

"Anyone who colludes with evil spirits or the royal family—will be executed without mercy!"

These words sent shockwaves through the martial arts hall, leaving everyone reeling. The elders' faces turned ashen, and several students trembled as they took a half-step back, fearing they might be caught in the crossfire.

"Immediately seal off all city gates of Qingyang County from the outside world." Chu Ning spoke again, his voice steady and unyielding. "All businesses, shops, and secret strongholds of the Wang family must be eradicated! Anyone who dares to harbor them will be killed without exception!"

Before the words were even finished, the black-armored guards exploded like thunder, splitting into several teams to swiftly carry out the orders. The dull thud of their armor rubbing together sounded like the drums of death.

(End of this chapter)