I Am Unaware That I Am the Peerless Martial God Chapter 1344: The Lords Cunning

The sun had barely risen the following dawn.

As always, Qinghe Town buzzed with activity. Folks rose at first light to chase their daily bread. Street vendors scurried about, while farmers dotted the nearby fields.

The little town brimmed with that warm, serene vibe of routine existence.

With the initial rays of sunlight breaking through, eateries and tea shops along the road flung open their doors. Hawkers' calls and merchants' shouts blended together, filling the air with vibrant energy.

Whatever horrors from the day before, they were just fleeting scares. Over a bite or a sip, people would cluck their tongues in wonder, then move on. Life pressed forward; for Qinghe Town's residents, it was all about that solid, hectic, everyday grind.

Yet.

Soon after the main thoroughfare stirred back to life, a heavier thunder of horse hooves rolled in from beyond the town limits!

Clop-clop! Clop-clop!

All at once.

The bustling street went utterly still. An innate sense of awe stirred in everyone, compelling them to halt and glance over their shoulders. Panic gripped the whole of Qinghe Town in a vise.

The mayor, still nursing his wounds, paled in terror and shuffled out to stand in deferential wait.

Beneath the staring eyes of the throng.

Just the growing, sharper rhythm of hooves resounded from the hushed town entrance. It approached relentlessly, carrying a wave of dreadful pressure!

When the lead horse—a towering ten-foot steed with a black mane—burst through the gates.

All eyes locked onto the rider without fail!

He sported a flowing beard and brows sharp as blades. His face, appearing middle-aged, radiated commanding presence. Clad in fine cloud boots and opulent robes, he exuded an air of supreme nobility right away. Even Miss Chen, who had visited the day prior, trailed right after him on her mount, her usual haughtiness tempered, behaving with utmost propriety!

Beholding such an imposing personage, the townsfolk gaped in shock, ducking their heads and whispering, their gazes brimming with astonishment.

The mayor quaked even more, his complexion ashen. He stumbled ahead on shaky legs to prostrate himself.

"I am Xu Daan, Mayor of Qinghe Town. Greetings, Lord City Master!"

Hiss...

Gasps rippled through the assembly!

To imagine the fabled City Master gracing them personally. Small wonder Miss Chen hung back so submissively!

The regular people froze in fear, heads bowed low in obeisance, dropping to their knees. The atmosphere turned tomb-like, every face etched with anxiety and fear.

Members of the demon-hunting squad also lowered themselves reverently, their expressions grave. Rumors painted the Lord City Master as a mythic Martial King powerhouse, far beyond what their old patriarch could rival.

With this fearsome powerhouse honoring Qinghe Town with his presence, calamity loomed large!

They scarcely dared ponder the fallout. In silence, they beseeched the gods for the town's safety and a smooth passage through the looming storm!

This instant.

Qinghe Town's long street drowned in utter hush. All felt peril closing in, falling as mute as crickets in winter!

Eying the humbly attired mayor prostrated on the pavement, Chen Yuxin spared him little thought and barked her command with haste.

"Enough chit-chat!"

"Hurry and guide us to that schoolteacher from yesterday!"

Her voice rang sharp and commanding, true to her no-nonsense nature.

In her quest for the Martial Emperor powerhouse, she had no leisure for others. Toward mere insects, politeness was wasted effort. It made sense, yet to bystanders, it smacked of the mighty lording over the meek.

The elderly mayor seethed inwardly but held his tongue. Before deeper rumination, he moved to assent and grovel.

But City Master Chen Cangyun barked a sharp rebuke, scolding his daughter publicly.

"Insolent!"

"Mayor Xu serves faithfully under Ye City's domain. His years of toil and deeds merit respect. He counts as your senior. How dare you show such discourtesy!"

"Stand down!"

His icy tone prompted the crowd to lift their heads stealthily in astonishment.

Even the old mayor hadn't foreseen the storied Lord City Master recalling his name and valuing decorum so highly.

Before anyone could process it.

Chen Cangyun had swung down from his horse and advanced to assist the mayor to his feet.

"Mayor Xu, rise at once, please."

"I beg your pardon. My daughter has been indulged excessively and acts with undue pride. It's my failing in guidance. We've embarrassed ourselves."

Propped up amid profound unease, the old mayor hastened a shaky return salute.

"Lord City Master, you overstate it, truly."

These remarks stirred greater curiosity and confusion among the commoners. Bit by bit, some dared peek up, catching sight of the City Master supporting the mayor with a serene grin.

Abruptly.

Reverence flickered in many eyes, as they inwardly praised the Lord City Master's bearing.

The prior heavy tension eased notably. The Lord City Master had swiftly garnered much favor.

Sensing the converging stares.

City Master Chen Cangyun pressed on with a genial smile, his words growing warmer.

"Mayor Xu, no cause for alarm."

"This journey holds no formal duty. Word reached me of a schoolteacher in Qinghe Town blessed with remarkable erudition, so I've come expressly to call upon him. Might you kindly make the introduction?"

These statements left the mayor thoroughly dazed, while the adjacent old patriarch questioned his very reality.

Good heavens...

This was the Lord City Master before them! A titan whose utterance could seal fates for multitudes, a fabled Martial King master—no less—and he conducted himself with such civility?

Aware of Mr. Yi Feng's scholarship, he employed the term "call upon." Wasn't that excessively deferential?

By rights, a mere decree would compel compliance from all!

Even more astonishing, the Lord City Master arrived himself, his manner consultative, devoid of any overbearing air?

This level of courtesy was unprecedented.

What merit did he hold to warrant such treatment!

A figure of stature, yet so modest and courteous.

This defined a genuine heavyweight.

Suddenly.

The mayor brimmed with flattered overwhelm. His hands shook in a fearful salute, unsure if from thrill or jitters!

"L-Lord City Master, you honor me too much."

"I shall guide you forthwith. I shall guide you forthwith!"

As the mayor forged ahead, the City Master and his offspring paced steadily in tow. Spectators lining the street reeled in disbelief, murmuring in profound awe at the day's spectacle, their looks now laced with esteem.

"Heavens above..."

"Indeed, the Lord City Master. His poise is unparalleled!"

"Tsk, tsk, that's the stature of a true power!"

...

Soft murmurs of acclaim wafted from the sidelines. With mere surface grace, he had captured innumerable loyalties. At this, Chen Yuxin's gaze betrayed remorse, grasping at last the chasm between her and her father in managing affairs and relations.

Mastering just this art of endearing the masses would occupy her for ages.

These unremarkable souls meant nothing, but should tales spread, her father's prestige would soar. It promised boundless gains for Ye City with zero downsides. Surely the Martial Emperor had observed it. Earning favor pre-meeting—an astute strategy!

Her father leading this endeavor all but guaranteed triumph.

Amid the hopeful grins of father and daughter.

The mayor halted before the humble thatched hut at the mountain's base, pivoting to offer a respectful bow.

"City Master, Eldest Miss."

"Here stands Mr. Yi Feng's modest abode."