Chapter 280: Chapter 246: What’s Wrong with Lord Xiao Chen? (Request for Monthly Ticket)
Qingshan County.
One thousand and eight hundred miles outside the White Emperor City’s gate, located in the northeast corner of Shu, it stands in a secluded spot.
This day, in the early dawn, as the darkness of night was fading, a dark blue sky lay overhead, and the cold mist from the mountains drifted down, enveloping the entire town in a quiet hush.
In the distance, to the east, along with a streak of golden light breaking the dawn, the mountains were dyed all around.
“Cluck, cluck, cluck”
The sound of a rooster’s crow rang out loud and clear.
In that instant, the whole of Qingshan County suddenly beca noisy, bustling with life.
On the docks outside the town, nurous boats were moored densely; figures bustled about, hurrying into the town.
Inside the town, peddlers carrying their loads walked with a swing, their robust voices calling out along the alleys,
“Selling pancakes, fresh off the griddle, one cent each.”
On both sides of the alley, the “clack clack clack” of doors opening.
People erged, bleary-eyed, dabbing their teeth with tooth powder on willow branches, gargling noisily.
As so doors opened, chickens fluttered and dogs jumped about; won’s voices yelling curses could be heard, cursing whose damned dog had no conscience, splashing water at their doorstep. Imdiately after, a plump woman from the opposite door charged out, hands on hips in response, beginning to shout back in anger.
So stopped the peddlers to chat idly for a bit, tossing out several coins, buying a few pancakes.
The peddler greeted them enthusiastically, pocketing the coins, then continued to sway and wobble through the alley, onto the main street.
Upon reaching the main street, a noisy din assaulted the ear.
The cries of rchants opening their shops, the surging crowd on the streets, turned the cool early morning into a seething hubbub of activity.
This vividly lively scene appeared to be just a typical morning in a county town, nothing unusual.
But who could have imagined that just a month ago, this place was a breeding ground for demon calamities, with the livelihood of the people withering away, and everyone suffering under tornt, living in terror day and night.
Now, it had turned into this bustling scene, all thanks to one na.
This na made all demons within the Eight Hundred Miles Langdang Mountain dare not reveal themselves.
So have tried, upon encountering demons in the desolate mountains, just by uttering this na, the demons would scare away.
Nowadays, nearly every household in Qingshan County, in addition to ancestor tablets, also enshrines a birthday tablet inscribed with the words “Lord Chen”, so even adding “Mountain Patrol Military Officer” – all with slight variations.
However, it is said that this lord has now been promoted to General!
The common folks don’t understand and simply say that the lord is powerful!
Everyone, after marveling at the hard-won peace, often prays, hoping that this lord will rise in rank and beco even more formidable, grateful for all he has done for Qingshan County – a debt of gratitude owed by all its citizens.
Since the calamity of the Human Demon was quelled, Qingshan County has beco even busier because of this lord, with several neighboring counties familiar with his na, many have chosen to move here to live, feeling secure; indeed, when Qingshan County took in refugees from various counties, it also ford a profound connection with them.
And in the eyes of all the people of Qingshan County, the “sacred ground” is a bamboo courtyard in Jiazi Lane.
That was where the revered Military Officer Captain once lived!
And just on this peaceful, bustling morning in the little town, out by the river outside the gate, a chorus of huffing and pounding resounded, approaching rapidly.
“Ja”
“Ja”
“Ja”
A small squad of Black-armored troops appearing on the river, each with double sabers slung at their waists, horses treading the river, splashing waves noisily.
From afar to near, they made land swiftly, startling the people entering the town with exclamations, hastening like the wind, they quickly arrived at the gates of Qingshan County.
At the gate, a few guards in light armor, recognizing the official Black Armor, showed shocked expressions and hastily knelt on one knee.
The leader of the Black Armor halted his horse, glanced at the gate, his expression grim, his voice deep, he ordered:
“Dismount!”
As he dismounted before the gate, he actually bowed deeply in respect, and seeing this, the rest of the Black-armored soldiers solemnly followed suit with their salutes.
The townspeople at the gate, unsure of what was happening, whispered among themselves.
“I recognize this armor; it belongs to the officers of the Sky Patrol Departnt. Back when the demons wreaked havoc, these officers spared no effort in their fight.”
“Strange, why are these officers paying respects to the town gate?”
“Could it be, Qingshan County has so major event happening?”
“…”
anwhile, after the Sky Patrol Departnt’s troops had paid their respects, they swiftly mounted again, rushing through the town gates.
The patter of hoofbeats, rapid as a downpour, completely disrupted the morning’s hustle and bustle.
The townspeople watched as the squad of Sky Patrol Departnt troops rushed into Jiazi Lane, noise erupting all around; many dropping their work, hurriedly following in a flurry.
Adjacent to Jiazi Lane, in the misty dawn at the end of another alley, there was a small tavern with a faint yellow glow from its hearth.
At the stove, an elderly stooped figure was busy at work.
Regular clients, early risers on their way to work, were drinking small amounts of alcohol, paired with so pickled vegetables.
Just then, a man finishing his night watch shift complained loudly, “Old Wu, the wine you’ve brewed recently has been tasting worse and worse, with a sour tang—ptui ptui—and there’s even sedint. What’s happened?”
The old man turned around with a wrinkled smile on his face, “This little old man has gotten old, my eyes have gone blurry, forgive . I won’t charge you for this table’s drinks.”
The night watchman was not pleased, “Old Wu, you’re belittling . I’ve been here eight hundred tis, when have I ever minded that? Despite being a good man, I still have my distinctions.”
After drinking his last sip of wine and standing up, he picked up his watchman’s clapper and gong, walked to the stove, and left five cents before sighing, “Old Wu, you have no children or family, and you still toil in your old age. I still want to drink your wine, so you better take care of your health.”
“Every ti I finish my shift, I see you waiting at the entrance, not sure who you’re waiting for.”
Shaking his head, he turned to leave.
At that mont, a commotion arose from the alley as people ca running in a huddle. The watchman quickly grabbed soone, his face showing alarm,
“What’s happened? What’s going on?”
The man he grabbed, wearing the hat of an inn’s errand boy, clapped his hand and said, “The officials from the Sky Patrol Departnt have arrived, rushing into Jiazi Lane towards the Mountain Patrol Military Officer’s residence. Everyone wants to see what’s happened.”
At the ntion of this, the old man at the stove’s cloudy eyes trembled, and he hastily left his stall and hurried out the door. Although his steps were unsteady, he quickly disappeared into the crowd.
“Hey, Old Wu…” The watchman saw this and thought the old man was acting recklessly, running so fast despite his frailty; he could be knocked down and lose his life.
However, he too was curious about why an official from the Sky Patrol Departnt had co and quickly followed.
…..
At the end of Jiazi Lane, in front of a small residence, a troop of Black Armored soldiers had co to a halt.
On either side of the residence gate, lush verdant bamboo leaves had pushed their way out from within.
One of the Armored Soldiers dismounted and approached to push open the gate but, with a forceful attempt, was violently repelled by a powerful force revealing a glimpse of white light, flinging the soldier away in an instant.
The leading Armored Soldier imdiately raised his hand to catch the hurled soldier, retreating seven or eight steps before stabilizing, leaving deep footprints on the green stone pavent.
“The gate has a Prohibition,” the repelled soldier said with a bit of a tight chest.
The commanding officer felt a tremor in his heart, “Fortunately, this Prohibition left by the lord wasn’t ant to harm anyone. Otherwise, we’d be in trouble.”
“Stand aside, this is an ergency, I will have to offend,” he declared.
As he spoke, the officer, at the Profound Body Peak of his ability, exuded an aura that caused his joints to swell, and with a shake of his body, he expanded to a height of three Zhang.
With True Qi surging from his fists and muscles bulging, he readied himself to forcefully break through the Prohibition.
Just then,
An ancient voice arose.
“Hold on, what are you trying to do?”
The elderly man, well known to the locals as one forever bustling around the tavern’s stove in the neighboring alley, stepped forward from the crowd of onlookers.
The officer, having morphed into a three-zhang giant, looked down at the frail old man and barked,
“This is Sky Patrol Departnt’s business, stand back, passersby!”
“This is Lord Xiao Chen’s residence, the old man cannot allow it,” the elder retorted, shaking his head against the ‘giant’ before him.
“Who are you?” the officer asked angrily, perplexed when he heard the old man addressing Chen as Lord Xiao Chen.
“The little old man once served Lord Chen, and before he left, he entrusted with the care of this residence,” Old Wu slowly replied.
Upon hearing this, the officer who had been fierce and threatening softened his expression, his huge body deflating like a balloon, quickly returning to his normal size.
Then, bowing to the old man, he said urgently.
“I’m in the middle of an urgent military affair. I apologize for disturbing you, sir. Please open the gate for us; we need to retrieve so personal belongings of Lord Chen for our General. You once served Lord Chen, perhaps you can assist us.”
Old Wu, undistracted by being called ‘sir’, seed to detect sothing amiss from the officer’s urgency. A sense of unease took hold, his voice trembling, “What happened to Lord Xiao Chen?”
Old Wu only knew that Lord Chen had gone off to command the troops against Demons, but in this remote and small county town, he was severely out of touch with the outside world.
The officer’s face darkened, holding back his words.
Seeing this expression, Old Wu began to tremble and pulled out a Jade Pendant from his chest, but his hands were unsteady, and it dropped to the ground with a clear clinking sound. Bending over to pick it up, he nearly fell.
“Sir.”
The officer quickly supported the old man whose Essence Qi was draining rapidly.
“Co in,” Old Wu invited, tossing the picked-up Jade Pendant toward the door, the green stone shooting forward revealing a pale white light screen on the gate, which then dissipated like ripples.
The gate of the residence creaked open without a breeze.
At this mont, from a distance, a red fiery silhouette flew towards them.
Within the light, was a handso and beautiful woman, dressed in a Red dress.
It was Lian Nichang, who succeeded Chen Yuan as the new Mountain Patrol Military Officer of Qingshan County!
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