Three days had passed in the blink of an eye since Zhang Yuan had wiped out the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits in Illusionary Mist.
Qingyun Town lay at the southwesternmost edge of Northeast Province, the northwesternmost edge of Eastern Province, and bordered the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Though it was still officially classified as a town, its scale had long since matched that of a city. It was even slightly more prosperous than Wutan City, which had been built up by the Xiao Clan at its peak.
The reason it had not been reclassified as a city was because Jia Ma Empire law required every city to have a city lord stationed there. The town's greatest purpose was to house the empire's elite troops, which rotated every three years, and the commander had to concurrently assume the responsibilities of city lord.
Half a month had passed since the Black Armored Guard and the Dragon Guard completed their handover. All ten thousand elite soldiers had moved in and been stationed at key locations. Qingyun Town's highest authority was now the Black Armored Guard commander, Nine-star Dou Wang Qin Zhendong.
At that moment, in the study of the commander's residence's rear courtyard in Qingyun Town, a man sat behind a desk reading a book. He suddenly asked, "Jingyan, Teacher Zhang should be back soon, right?"
The man was around fifty. Unlike most soldiers, he resembled Zhang Yuan somewhat, carrying an air of refined elegance. At first glance, he looked like an ordinary middle-aged man, but a closer look revealed an unfathomable depth.
He was Qin Zhendong!
The person he addressed was a handsome young man in his early twenties. He had a gentle bearing and resembled Qin Zhendong by sixty or seventy percent.
"Father misses him?" Qin Jingyan caught the teasing in Qin Zhendong's words and smiled faintly.
The Teacher Zhang Qin Zhendong mentioned was Zhang Yuan.
Zhang Yuan had broken through to Dou Master at fourteen and joined the Black Armored Guard by stepping on Mu Zhan of the Mu family. With such dazzling talent, he naturally received special attention.
While carrying out a bandit-clearing mission in the empire's Southern Province, Zhang Yuan had faced a Three-star Da Dou Shi head-on and killed him despite being only a Nine-star Dou Master. This had prompted Qin Zhendong to decide to take him as a disciple and nurture him as one of his own.
Yet after seeking out Zhang Yuan for a private conversation that lasted several hours, Qin Zhendong had not taken him as a disciple. Instead, he had left wearing a disappointed expression.
Rumors thus arose in the army that Zhang Yuan had offended Qin Zhendong. Meng Xu, a company commander under the same centurion as Zhang Yuan and an ally of the Mu family, openly mocked him for it.
Zhang Yuan had said nothing at the time. However, when Meng Xu sought promotion to centurion, Zhang Yuan objected, arguing that Meng Xu lacked the strength to convince the men and should fight according to military rules.
In the end, the Six-star Da Dou Shi Meng Xu had actually been defeated by Zhang Yuan through the use of the rules, leaving countless people dumbfounded. That same day, Qin Zhendong gave Zhang Yuan a token that allowed him to see Qin Zhendong at any time.
Besides appreciating and recruiting talent, Qin Zhendong had done so because he wanted to learn military strategy from Zhang Yuan. He had a personal interest in the subject, and the disappointed expression he had shown that day was due to a strategic proposal from Zhang Yuan that had left him utterly astonished.
Later, Zhang Yuan often came to discuss matters with him—or, more bluntly, to instruct him in military strategy. The two became friends despite their age difference, and Qin Zhendong jokingly called him "Teacher Zhang."
It was also thanks to this connection with Qin Zhendong that Zhang Yuan had been able to request leave to return to Wutan City to visit his family on the very day the Black Armored Guard entered Qingyun Town.
"I do miss him a little."
Qin Zhendong set down his book, undisguised admiration in his eyes, and nodded. "Regarding that matter the empire has secretly asked me to handle, I want to hear what insights he might have."
"You mean Salt City and the Mo Family?" Qin Jingyan's expression turned serious.
"Yes." Qin Zhendong said solemnly, "Salt City is one of Jia Ma Empire's major cities. It can contend for first place in Eastern Province and serves as an essential route from the empire's interior to the eastern provinces. Its strategic location is excellent, and imperial heavy troops are stationed there year-round."
"But now, the Mo Family, Salt City's strongest family, has tyrannically monopolized sixty percent of the city's industries. Even after deducting the necessary taxes and the immense wealth spent greasing palms, it continues to grow fatter and fatter, yet shows no restraint."
"If not for the other three families in Eastern Province keeping it in check, as well as the existence of the Snake People Tribe, the Mo Family would have expanded its influence into other cities long ago. All because the Misty Cloud Sect stands behind it."
The words "Misty Cloud Sect" weighed heavily on Qin Jingyan's heart.
Jia Ma Empire had been beset by troubles in recent years. The emperor had died without leaving behind a male heir; one of the four meritorious Dou Wang families had diminished; the empire's guardian magical beast was rumored to have been injured and gone into hiding; and both princesses were still young. The imperial family's control over the regions had grown weaker and weaker.
If not for the Chuyun Empire's emperor also being in poor condition, with several factions in the court fighting among themselves, as well as Jia Ma Empire's formidable mountain passes, Chuyun Empire would likely have invaded long ago.
But Jia Ma Empire's internal situation was no better. The issue lay with the Misty Cloud Sect. Although rumors claimed that Yun Shan, the sect's previous leader, had already died, the current sect leader Yun Yun was also formidable and talented. She had further won over the Nalan family by taking in a disciple, and most importantly, she had recruited the Sixth-Rank Alchemist, Pill King Gu He.
"Zhang Yuan may understand military strategy, but his strength is ultimately limited. Let alone a colossal force like the Misty Cloud Sect, he likely won't have any good ideas for dealing with the Mo Family either," Qin Jingyan said.
He also admired Zhang Yuan's intellect, but he would not blindly place faith in him because of it.
"But there's no harm in asking." Qin Jingyan smiled again. "He said he would stay with his family for no more than five days, and the journey there and back would take ten days total. Counting fifteen days altogether, today is the final deadline. If he doesn't return, he'll face military law."
"Speaking of which, he has to pass through the Illusionary Mist Mountain Range on his way back to Wutan City. Father, why not ask whether he has a way to deal with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits?"
Hearing this, Qin Zhendong raised a hand and pointed at his son, shaking his head. "That idea is even less realistic than my asking him for advice on dealing with the Mo Family. Back then, Old Xu personally led men to wipe out the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, yet failed to completely eliminate them. If Zhang Yuan has a solution, I'd be willing to take him as my master."
Qin Jingyan immediately said, "Then I'll mention it to Zhang Yuan when I get the chance. Maybe, for the sake of taking a Dou Wang expert as his disciple, he'll put some real thought into it."
Father and son exchanged a glance and burst into knowing laughter.
Just then, a guard rushed in and said excitedly, "Commander, urgent military news!"
The Qin father and son immediately composed themselves. Qin Zhendong signaled for the man to explain.
"Commander, Zhang Yuan, company commander of the left division of the Xuan Character Camp, has led men to completely wipe out the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits and has returned to the city to report. Vice Commander Wang sent me to inform you."
Qin Zhendong:?
Qin Jingyan:??
At the same time, at the military camp outside Qingyun Town's west gate.
The Black Armored Guard had four camps—Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Yellow—stationed respectively at the east, south, west, and north gates.
The commander of the Xuan Character Camp was Qin Zhenming, Qin Zhendong's cousin from the same clan and a Nine-star Dou Ling.
He had just finished roll call and summoned the four centurions and five vice centurions under his command to the main tent to discuss how to clear out an approaching Small Beast Tide.
But before he could speak, one of the five vice centurions clasped his fists and said, "Reporting to the commander, I wish to be promoted to centurion. I ask that you report this to the commander."
At this, some of those present remained expressionless, some revealed mocking looks, while a tall bald man sneered. "Meng Xu, don't tell me you specifically chose to seek promotion while Zhang Yuan was away?"
The bald man was named Shi Jiu, a Five-Star Great Dou Shi. He had become acquainted with Zhang Yuan while carrying out military duties. He had a fiery temperament, liked straightforward people, and had never seen eye to eye with Meng Xu.
Meng Xu's gaze immediately darkened. Releasing his aura, he said coldly, "Shi Jiu, I was merely careless and knocked out of the ring back then. I wasn't truly defeated by Zhang Yuan, and I certainly won't be now."
Meng Xu's aura was powerful. He had already reached Seven-star Da Dou Shi.
The expressions of the centurions and vice centurions present shifted slightly, while Shi Jiu's smile froze.
Meng Xu felt thoroughly vindicated. He clasped his fists toward Qin Zhenming and said, "Commander, I should be qualified, correct? I chose this time only for the sake of efficiency, not because I fear anyone. If you believe a trial is still necessary, I am willing to fight Shi Jiu."
Seven stars against five stars—and his wind-attributed Dou Qi countered Shi Jiu's fire-attributed Dou Qi. He could absolutely suppress him.
Shi Jiu opened his mouth, about to curse.
But just then, a voice rang out from outside the tent. "By order of the commander."
Qin Zhenming's expression turned stern. He led the others outside the tent, clasped his fists, and said, "This subordinate awaits the order."
The messenger put away his token and said with a smile, "Commander Qin, the commander requests your presence at the commander's residence for a discussion."
"This is incredible. Zhang Yuan, a company commander under your command, led a team and destroyed the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits."
Everyone:???
(End of chapter)
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