Chapter 374
"Last year, there were bandits in Shangshu, but how can those compare to the general's experience?"
Flattery, it's flattery again.
Although his words were impeccable, they were all talk and no action. Can the future of Jade Gate truly be entrusted to him?
"Then Lord Liang should understand that being a general requires the most on-the-spot decision-making, which is not the same as being an official governing the people. Sometimes the battlefield situation changes in an instant, and the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians depend on your single thought. Lord Liang, do you think that in such situations, you need more courage to make decisions or the shrewdness to weigh the pros and cons?"
Liang Xun understood the underlying meaning in the words and handled the situation with remarkable skill. He first acknowledged Zuo Xuanliao's achievements, then downplayed his own. This series of actions was flawless and impeccable.
"I am acting on the orders of the Grand Tutor and will do my utmost to assist the General in his affairs. However, the great Yan is now facing a problem with Great Beast, which is neither about fighting on the battlefield nor about governing the people. General Xin's decisiveness and ask the General to trust my judgment."
"Oh."
Zuo Xuanliao smiled meaningfully, then changed the subject and pointed to the target directly in front of him:
"I've long heard that Prefect Liang is not only accomplished in domestic affairs, but also skilled in swordsmanship and archery. Now that we're at the shooting range, how can I not show off my skills? But my bow from Jade Gate is heavy; I wonder if you can draw it?"
Liang Xun looked at the longbow and iron arrows offered by the soldier and politely made his request:
"Could you please get me a smaller bow?"
Soldiers receive a salary from the general and do not directly obey orders. He looked at Zuo Xuanliao, and only after seeing the other nod in agreement did he turn and leave the shooting range to get a smaller longbow.
Seeing that there were no outsiders present, Liang Xun took out a red brocade pouch from his pocket and respectfully presented it with both hands:
"The Grand Tutor instructed me to deliver this to the General when no one is around. I hope you will open it while that person is preventing the Catastrophe, and under no circumstances should a third person know its contents."
Liang Xun mentions the third point here, meaning that he himself had not seen the contents and was merely passing it on on behalf of others.
Zuo Xuanliao looked astonished, but still accepted the red brocade pouch. It felt very light in his hand, suggesting that there was only a single slip of paper inside. Yet, it also felt very heavy, for it carried the fate of the Great Yan Dynasty.
[Urge Update Sign-in]
445 Peach Blossoms 3K
Outside Jade Gate Pass, in an underground stone chamber.
A mysterious woman wearing exaggerated shoulder armor sat cross-legged in a sand and stone temple that resembled an altar.
Sensing a powerful force rushing past directly above her, she abruptly opened her eyes.
Um?
The mysterious woman picked up the wheel-shaped knife beside her, got up, and walked outside. Each step she took left a distinct footprint, indicating that the place hadn't been cleaned and that she hadn't left in a long time.
When the mysterious woman pushed open the heavy stone door, the rumbling sound immediately drew the attention of many people.
They were dressed in all sorts of costumes, and upon seeing the mysterious woman appear, they all knelt down on the ground.
There are landscape paintings and eyeball totems on the back of the clothes and on the stone wall, but I don't know their specific meaning.
The mysterious woman was dressed in gorgeous clothes, but her dress featured an open chest. Her indifferent expression complemented her striking, heroic features.
This transcendent beauty has nothing to do with sexiness, but rather a divine beauty that is close to genderlessness.
"Welcome the true God to the world!"
People knelt on the ground, their posture humble and devout.
"Welcome the true God to the world!"
"Welcome the true God to the world!"
The believers' voices grew louder and louder, echoing for a long time in the empty cave.
Although the Great Yan Dynasty hunted down gods a thousand years ago and slaughtered most of the Great Beast within its borders, some still managed to escape and were permanently expelled from the country.
Among them was Great Beast called 'Ya', which suffered an irreparable wound. It should have been slumbering in the borderlands, but it was awakened by someone unknown.
Knowing that the old wounds from a thousand years ago had left his body in ruins, Ya created a human agent to return to Yan to investigate the whereabouts of Sui in order to settle his old grudges with the Sui Beast before his death.
Upon arriving at Jade Gate, He encountered an organization that worshipped Great Beast. After displaying some of His power before them, He gained their worship.
These devout believers were the remnants of the Mountain Sea Cult that General Zuo Xuanliao had wiped out sixteen years ago.
Although their stronghold was completely wiped out, some followers managed to escape. Afterward, they became extremely low-profile, hiding among the cities. They endured humiliation and survived for sixteen years, finally growing their organization into a powerful force.
Excluding non-staff members, there are probably several hundred people. If you include them, the Mountain Sea Cult has several thousand members.
Ya was worshipped like a god by them, but he secretly hated these believers. If it weren't for the fact that they could gather intelligence, he would have wiped them out long ago.
No matter how humble and subservient these followers of the Mountain Sea Cult may be before him, Ya still despises every human being equally, without exception.
"God, did you hear our call and thus show mercy and descend upon this world?"
"God, you have finally come out of seclusion. This world is corrupt and waiting for you to save it."
The believers groveled over like lapdogs, completely forgetting their racial identity.
Ya had been in seclusion for a long time and knew little about the outside world. His expression was cold as he asked:
"Has anything important happened in Jade Gate recently?"
The believers looked at each other in bewilderment and hurriedly sent someone to summon members of the intelligence team to report to their leader.
Shortly after, a man named Feline hurried into the main hall. Upon seeing Ya appear, he knelt on one knee and said:
"Grandmaster Chongyue of Jade Gate has sealed his consciousness about the year into a sword. He is currently searching everywhere for a successor to safeguard this sword."
Furthermore, according to intelligence provided by informants, a Sandstorm Catastrophe will strike Jade Gate in the next two days. This sandstorm is extremely fast, and even if Jade Gate opens its highest movement speed, it will not be able to avoid it.
Moreover, Catastrophe of this scale puts immense pressure on the sand-draining canals. However, Catastrophe of this magnitude alone wouldn't be enough to destroy Jade Gate. The key is to significantly reduce the amount of sand within the city and disrupt the sand-control fortifications.
Ya was about 1.9 meters tall, and he looked down at the other person, giving people a strong sense of pressure.
Without needing to say a word more, the intelligence officer immediately understood and rephrased the description in plain language:
"My idea is that Jade Gate is just able to withstand this sandstorm. If we extensively damage the city walls and sand channels when the Catastrophe strikes, we can allow more sand to flow into the Jade Gate city area. In this way, we can attract the attention of the garrison commander and the patrol battalion."
After the intelligence officer finished speaking, the leader of the believers bowed slightly and added:
"Before you emerged from seclusion, we had already discussed the specific action plan. We will do everything in our power to help you seize the sword containing the spirit of the Sui Beast!"
Although these Mountain Sea Cult worship Great Beast, they worship the whole, not its fragments.
Given that the Sui Beast helped the Great Yan slaughter its own people, the believers regarded it as a traitor among the Great Beast. They also held a disgusted attitude towards the twelve fragments of consciousness that had split off from it.
After listening to the explanation from the believer who was acting as a tool, Ya walked straight out of the stone chamber.
This startled the leader of the believers, who hurriedly followed behind, asking somewhat fearfully:
Where are you going?
Ya glanced back dismissively, making no attempt to explain himself to the ant.
He stepped out of the stone chamber, leaving behind a group of believers kneeling devoutly to see the Great Beast off.
April 3, 2:40 pm
After flying for several miles through the desert, Shi Lei finally caught a glimpse of the Mobile Cities nestled in the yellow sand.
He maneuvered the Rock House to land in the distance, and the group of five walked to the city's entrance checkpoint. After a simple registration of their identities and a check of their luggage for contraband, the guards opened the gate and allowed them to pass.
As Shi Lei entered the city, he felt like he had stepped into a film set for an ancient martial arts drama. A more sensible explanation would be that the architecture possessed a classic charm, free from the hustle and bustle of big cities. A less sensible explanation would be that the local infrastructure was underdeveloped, resembling a remote, undeveloped town in Northwest China.
Occasionally, you could see a few swordsmen and burly men with headscarves hurrying by, as if they were going to attend a martial arts alliance meeting.
Having passed through Jade Gate that year, he led everyone to the best inn in the city center, 'You Jian Inn'. After booking several rooms, he voluntarily resigned from his post to Shi Lei.
"Zhongli, I'll go contact the people at the General's Mansion first to see if your Ling Jie has arrived at Jade Gate ahead of time. Once we've confirmed that, we'll come back and meet up with you."
Shi Lei was unfamiliar with the geography of Jade Gate and had no interest in exploring it, so he nodded in agreement:
"Okay, you can go ahead."
Nian then grabbed Xi and hurriedly left the inn.
Texas, sitting on a bamboo chair in the lobby, felt a little empty inside and politely greeted them:
"Please come over here for a moment to order."
Upon hearing this, the waiter tossed the faded towel over his shoulder and walked over with a beaming smile:
"Hey, you're here. What can I do for you, sir?"
Do you have any good food here?
"The famous dishes include Yumen Ramen, Tofu Pudding Beast Meat Paomo, and Hand Grabbed Rice. What would you three like to order?"
Texas looked over upon hearing this, wanting Shi Lei to help him make a decision. However, as a demon god, he didn't need to eat, so he could only use the "equal distribution of favors" technique:
"I don't know when I'll be back in Jade Gate. How about we order one of everything and see which one suits our taste better? We can take the leftovers home if we can't finish them."
Seeing that it was a big spender, the waiter's smile widened even more:
"Table number three, bring all the dishes!"
Early spring in Jade Gate is still hot.
Sunlight streamed onto the beams and paper windows of the inn, casting a golden glow.
Shi Lei sat by the window, basking in the warm sun, and couldn't help but stretch his arms and yawn.
He was not in a hurry to seal the Sui Beast.
The order states that the Sui Beast will awaken within fifty years, or perhaps ten or twenty years if luck is not on your side.
There is an old saying in the Yan: "Haste makes waste."
The more thorough the preparations now, the greater the chance of successfully sealing the Sui Beast. Being too hasty will only lead to losing one's composure; a steady and methodical approach is the right way.
A short while later, the waiter returned. He carried a tray and placed the dishes one by one on the table:
"Please enjoy your meal, sir. The meat skewers and meat chops are still grilling; they'll be served as soon as they're done."
Shi Lei nodded, picked up a spoon, and tried the Tofu Pudding first. It was white and looked very tempting.
Salty.
Just as he was about to eat his Hand Grabbed Rice, he suddenly smelled a floral fragrance.
"Um?"
Shi Lei stopped what he was doing and took a sniff. He felt that the fragrance was very similar to the scent of peach blossoms.
But it's only early spring, and the peach blossoms are already in bloom?
Not only Shi Lei, but also Texas and Mudrock could smell the faint fragrance of peach blossoms. A peach petal, as red as cinnabar, drifted to the front of the hall and slowly fell.
Ya, holding a single sword, stepped into the inn. His cold face carried an air of murderous intent.
It's 3 PM now, Shi Lei's table is the only customer in the lobby. It's quite clear who this man with the knife is looking for, so there's no need to elaborate.
The man wasn't averse to seeking revenge; in the martial world, one must live for swift justice and quick retribution.
I'm not afraid they'll fight in the inn, I'm afraid they'll run away afterward. If we can't find anyone to compensate for the damage to the tables and chairs, I'll have to deduct it from my wages.
"Friend, if you want to fight, go outside."
Ya Cai ignored the humans who were like ants, his gaze fixed on Shi Lei.
Although the opponent has a human appearance, he possesses strength beyond that of a human.
Sensing the faint Psychic Power, Ya took the initiative to ask:
"Who are you?"
Outside the inn, a group of followers from the Mountain Sea Cult, who had followed them there, slurred around like lackeys, shouting:
"The chief is asking you a question, are you mute?"
"If you three know what's good for you, you'd better answer the leader's question right away, or you'll be ungrateful!"
Seeing the newcomer's hostile intent, Texas instinctively drew her Rock Sword and stood up to shield her beloved. She sized up the androgynous stranger, her gaze wary.
"And who are you?"
Ya glanced at the Female Lupo, who had struck up a conversation with him out of the corner of his eye. How could such a weakling be sitting at the same table as that man? It was such a killjoy.
He had no obligation to answer mortals, and instantly slashed forward with the wheel-shaped blade in his hand! The blade carried a unique fragrance, like blooming peach blossoms descending.