Weeds

"Gather quickly!"

"What are you dawdling for!"

"Military orders are like mountains, are you trying to die!"

Under the urging of the herald, within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, all three hundred guards were assembled.

Chen Sanshi was naturally among them.

Leading the troops were Commander Xiong and Commander Liu; Commander Xiang Tingchun was nowhere to be seen.

"Move out!"

With a command, the entire army advanced.

"This is really sudden."

Chen Sanshi realized this was his first mission involving a direct confrontation with enemies: "Where's Commander Wang?"

"He's not here."

Commander Liu walked over and said, "This morning, Lord Thousand Households gathered the masters of the four major Martial Arts Schools at the Eight Treasures Restaurant under the guise of a banquet. Then, he ordered Commander Wang and Commander Luo to escort them with two hundred men. They haven't returned yet."

A banquet?

This was likely a way to detain the Martial Arts Schools, preventing them from interfering with this operation.

It seemed they had truly found the Witch God Cult's hiding place today, and Xiang Tingchun was determined to obtain the Immortal Treasure.

"It looks like I won't have time to improve my strength."

"We'll have to play it by ear!"

As he always said, Chen Sanshi wouldn't take excessive risks for treasure.

With Xiang Tingchun personally involved, this was already a battle between those at the Viscera Refining stage. He couldn't possibly get involved.

He would wait for an opportunity.

If a chance presented itself, he'd try; otherwise, he'd let it go.

"Lord Thousand Households arrests people, so why detain the Martial Arts Schools? Is it related to them bleeding?"

Commander Liu and Commander Xiong also felt something was amiss.

But if the higher-ups didn't explain the specific reasons, they wouldn't ask.

Some things were better left unknown.

"Sanshi."

Commander Liu patted his shoulder, "When we get there later, you don't need to charge forward. Just lead your men and stay at the rear to block the road."

"Fatty Wang is really good to you."

Commander Xiong, carrying his battle axe, added, "For this, he even broke his usual habit and promised to treat us to Chunman Tower later."

"Thank you, both Commanders."

Chen Sanshi stepped back to find his men.

"Haha!"

Zhu Tong seemed somewhat excited.

He had broken through to Blood Tempering a few days ago and was itching for a chance to prove himself: "Let me kill some barbarians too!"

Xu Wencai was visibly trembling. The long spear he used for formation felt more like a walking stick in his hands. He stammered, "Sir, I heard the Witch God Cult kills without batting an eye. I don't know any martial arts!"

"Useless! Why don't you just run away then?"

Zhu Tong cursed him as usual, "You coward!"

"I, Xu, am not afraid of death!"

Xu Wencai clutched his spear and shouted, "I'm just afraid of dying... dying unknown!"

"Tch!" Zhu Tong couldn't be bothered to reply.

Warrior Recruit Wang Li was calmer, "Officer, what should we do when we get there?"

"Follow the Commanders' orders."

Chen Sanshi looked at his men, "Don't be afraid, it's just a suppression operation. The real experts will be handled by Commander Xiang. We'll probably just be blocking the road at most. Besides, ever since you joined the army, you knew this day would come."

"What Sir says is right."

Wang Li agreed, "Instead of being helpless when we truly go to the battlefield, it's better to use this opportunity to train."

The group rejoined the formation.

Three hundred men marched mightily towards Poyang County.

However, their destination was not the county town itself.

Five li outside the south gate of Poyang County town stood a temple called Golden Bell Temple. The Witch God Cult members had been hiding there recently. It was only yesterday that a Hundred Household Commander, who had gone to worship, noticed something suspicious and reported it to the Thousand Households.

South of the south city gate, there was a small mountain.

At the foot of the mountain stood a bluestone monument, two zhang high, engraved with the three characters "Golden Bell Temple."

Beside the stone tablet, a winding staircase ascended step by step. Devout pilgrims lined up, heading towards the vermilion temple nestled halfway up the mountain. Though numerous, the crowd was exceptionally quiet. Only the occasional chime of a bell and wisps of faint incense smoke drifted from the buildings, hidden amidst ancient pines and cypresses.

Outside the temple, a tea stall served as a resting place for pilgrims.

Xiang Tingchun, dressed in plain clothes, sat on a long wooden bench, leisurely sipping his tea.

Beside him sat two Hundred Household Commanders, also in plain clothes.

One was named Feng, the other Zhao.

Commander Feng lowered his voice and reported, "Sir, the garrison soldiers will arrive within half an incense stick's time and will encircle Golden Bell Temple. However... do we not need to evacuate the civilians?"

"Evacuate?"

Xiang Tingchun, expressionless, played with his teacup. "If we evacuate them, wouldn't that be equivalent to tipping off the Witch God Cult followers?"

"But..."

Commander Feng's expression was pained. "There are over twenty Witch God Cult members. There will definitely be a significant commotion later. If we don't evacuate the people, I'm afraid there will be many innocent casualties."

Xiang Tingchun's voice was icy. "What do a few commoners' lives matter?"

"Lord Thousand Households... you..."

Commanders Feng and Zhao were momentarily speechless.

"To achieve something, doesn't one always have to pay a price?"

Xiang Tingchun gently set down his teacup and said in a deep voice, "A general's success is built upon ten thousand bones. The world has always been this way."

"But they are civilians," Commander Feng said, mustering his courage. "I think it's still better to..."

"Enough."

Xiang Tingchun interrupted. "Feng Yong, Zhao Kang, heed my orders!

"You two will lead an elite squad and disguise yourselves as pilgrims to infiltrate the temple. At the same time, you must ensure Liu Jinkui and Xiong Qiuan block every path leading down the mountain. If even one escapes, I will hold you responsible!"

"Yes!"

Commanders Feng and Zhao dared not say more. They leaped away to relay the orders.

After the three hundred garrison soldiers left the city, they dispersed under the command of their respective Hundred Household Commanders, surrounding the small mountain where Golden Bell Temple was located from all directions. The entire process was swift and silent.

Chen Sanshi and General Flag Fang, along with fifty others, were assigned to the mountain path intersection on the flank, lying in wait in the surrounding woods to intercept any escapees.

General Flag Fang issued his orders in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear:

"Spearmen will be responsible for blocking the paths. Archers will find vantage points on their own. Shield-and-sword wielders will cover the spearmen. Anyone who approaches will be cut down immediately!

"For each Witch God Cult follower's head, Warrior Recruits will be rewarded with a bowl of Blood Replenishing Soup, and Infantrymen with three taels of Silver Flakes! Those with higher cultivation levels will be rewarded accordingly!

"When someone on the mountain fires a warning arrow, it signifies the start of the battle!

"Lord Thousand Households' order is to not let a single living person escape!"

After the arrangements were made, nearly fifty men took their positions.

"L-Lord!"

Xu Wencai's red bamboo hat was askew, and he fumbled with his spear. "I really don't know any martial arts!"

"Brother Zhu,"

Chen Sanshi said, "When the fighting starts, keep an eye on him."

"Brother Chen, you just spoil this old fellow!"

Zhu Tong held a spear, and a long weapon, the Black Iron Hammer, was slung across his back – the accompanying weapon for his chosen martial art. However, he also held a standard-issue spear in his hand.

Before becoming military officers, Warrior Recruits still needed to integrate into the battle formation on the battlefield and could not disrupt the formation. Only military officers could direct and move freely as the situation dictated.

"Get over here!"

Zhu Tong grabbed Xu Wencai as if he were a chick and pulled him to his side.

Everyone fell silent; the forest was filled with a tense atmosphere.

Many of them had never truly fought in real combat, so it was natural for them to be apprehensive. Fortunately, there were enough of them that they weren't too scared.

"Chirp--"

After an unknown amount of time, a sharp cry broke the dead silence.