At dawn, the chaos in Iron Wall City gradually subsided.
The fires at several locations were extinguished. Under their officers' direction, the soldiers cleared the streets and carried away the bodies of their comrades and enemies. Their faces were weary, yet tinged with relief at having survived the disaster and shock at last night's fierce battle.
The atmosphere in the General's Residence council hall was solemn and grim.
Old General Li Chongshan's face was livid as he listened to his subordinates' reports. Last night, not only had the armory been attacked, but the western granary and eastern camp stables had also been set ablaze. Though the fires were put out in time, the losses were still considerable.
Even more painful was that several mid-ranking officers had been assassinated amid the chaos. They had all been loyal, righteous men. The supposed "enemy attack" at the south gate had been nothing more than a disturbance staged by a small force from Beiwang, intended to divert their troops.
"Have you gotten to the bottom of it?" Old General Li asked, his voice low and laced with anger.
"Reporting to the general!" A trusted vice general clasped his fists, gritting his teeth. "We've captured and identified Vice General Zhao Kuo and his seven personal guards as enemy collaborators! They secretly guided the assassins and killed Lieutenant Colonel Wang and the others! When Zhao Kuo saw that his scheme had failed, he tried to poison himself, but we captured him. He awaits your judgment, General!"
"Good! What a Zhao Kuo! I treated him well, yet he dared to betray his country and collude with the enemy!" Li Chongshan slammed a fist down on the table, his eyes filled with anguish and fury. "Keep him under strict guard! Make him talk and uncover every detail of his dealings with the Third Prince and Shadow Kill Tower! Then, in accordance with military law, execute him publicly!"
"Yes, sir!"
Another officer reported, "The armory has been fully accounted for. Thanks to Young Hero Chen turning the tide, the Star Shattering Ore is completely unharmed. Forty-seven guards were killed, and more than a hundred were wounded. We slew thirty-nine of the black-clad attackers, including three leaders. One of them was the master of Shadow Kill Tower."
Only after hearing that the Star Shattering Ore had been saved and the tower master slain did Li Chongshan's expression ease slightly. But when he heard the casualty figures, his brow furrowed again.
He drew a deep breath and turned his gaze toward Chen Qing, who had stood silently to one side the entire time. His expression grew immeasurably complicated, full of gratitude and awe.
"Young Hero Chen..." Li Chongshan stepped forward and, in front of all the officers, bowed deeply once more. "Had it not been for you last night, Iron Wall City would have been in peril, the Star Shattering Ore would surely have been lost, and this old man might well have lost his head! This great kindness goes beyond personal gratitude. You saved our border army and safeguarded the northern frontier! Please accept another bow from me!"
This time, Chen Qing did not avoid him entirely. He merely turned slightly and accepted half the bow, then calmly replied, "There's no need for that, General. It was just a casual act."
Just a casual act? The officers exchanged glances, their hearts surging like storm-tossed seas. Countless people had seen Chen Qing's godlike figure with their own eyes last night as he slew powerful foes. Some had even caught a glimpse of that final, earth-shattering punch that summoned the power of the stars.
Such methods had long surpassed their understanding of "martial arts."
Before long, the name "Young Master Star Mark," along with incredible tales of "commanding a giant wolf," "divine finger techniques," and "fists that fell like stars," spread through every corner of Iron Wall City at astonishing speed. Carried by messengers, wanderers, and merchants, the stories swiftly reached the entire martial world of the northern lands and even the border army.
Men in the army revered the strong above all, especially those who had rescued them in their hour of peril. For a time, Chen Qing's standing in the hearts of Iron Wall City's defenders rose almost to the level of Old General Li's. They revered him as if he were a celestial being. Wherever he went, he was met with looks of awe, gratitude, and fervor.
That afternoon, Li Chongshan once again received Chen Qing with great formality in a secret chamber at his residence.
"Young Hero, great kindness needs no words of thanks, but I cannot leave it unrewarded." General Li pushed over a heavy wooden case. "Inside are ten taels of gold, along with some rare medicinal herbs I've collected over the years. They may aid your internal cultivation. I hope you won't refuse them."
Chen Qing glanced inside. Some of the herbs did indeed brim with spiritual energy and could slightly help nourish his Starforce, so he nodded. "Thank you, General."
Li Chongshan then took out a Mysterious Iron Token engraved with the words "Chongshan" and surrounded by tiger patterns. "This is my personal token. With it, in any town within the Northern Border Army's jurisdiction, you can command up to a hundred soldiers and receive any necessary assistance. It may make things more convenient for you when you travel the world."
This was a weighty gift indeed. Chen Qing hesitated briefly, but accepted it all the same. He knew the road through the martial world was long and that he would often have to deal with the government and the imperial court. This token would indeed save him a great deal of trouble.
"Furthermore," Li Chongshan continued, his expression turning extremely grave, "as for the Third Prince, Xuanyuan Yi, I wrote a secret memorial overnight and sent it straight to the capital by urgent courier, to be presented to His Majesty! The letter details his crimes of colluding with Shadow Kill Tower, seizing military supplies, and conspiring to wreak havoc on the frontier, along with part of Zhao Kuo's confession."
He sighed. "However, bringing down a prince so favored by His Majesty is as difficult as reaching the heavens. This evidence may earn him a reprimand at most; it's unlikely to strike at the root of his power. We must take our time and proceed gradually. But whatever happens, the entire border army now shares this grudge with you, Young Hero!"
Chen Qing nodded. He had no interest in the internal struggles of the Xia dynasty's royal family. He only hoped they would stop provoking him. If they tried again, he wouldn't mind making sure that Third Prince truly had his power "struck at the root."
"By the way, this is the token of the master of Shadow Kill Tower. Please hand it over to the general."
Li Chongshan took the patterned token, fell silent for two seconds, then sighed. "Thank you, Young Hero Chen!"
Chen Qing gave a slight nod. He had no need to thank him.
When Chen Qing left the secret chamber, he met Yan Yunxi, who was waiting outside.
She wore a pale blue dress, but it could not hide the heroic spirit in her brows or the trace of exhaustion in her face. As she looked at Chen Qing, her expression was incomparably complicated: concern, gratitude, relief that they had both survived, and shock at his strength. There also seemed to be a faint, hazy affection she could scarcely recognize, followed by a quiet sense of loss.
"Brother Chen, I'm just glad you're all right." In the end, a thousand words became nothing more than a soft greeting.
"Mm." Chen Qing acknowledged her. "When are you leaving?"
"I... my father wants me to stay in Iron Wall City to train, and Uncle Liu will stay behind to protect me." Yan Yunxi took a deep breath, pressing down her tangled emotions. She took out another token, engraved with the character "Yan." "Brother Chen, this is the Yan Family's guest token.
"My father sent a letter and repeatedly instructed me to hand it over to you. If you ever need anything, the Zhenyuan Escort Agency and the Yan Family will do everything in their power to help!"
She paused, her tone utterly earnest. "No matter where you are in the world."
Chen Qing looked into the young woman's clear, resolute eyes and accepted the token. "Take care."
"You too." Yan Yunxi smiled faintly. In that smile, a hint of affection quietly transformed into a steadfast friendship and respect, something worth treasuring.
Night fell over Iron Wall City once more, but the city was far more peaceful than before.
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