Military Stronghold, Speak on Your Knees

In an instant!

He abruptly turned his head toward the city gate wall of Black River Town. A pale golden ballista, two zhang long, slowly rotated and aimed at Chu He and Yao Yuzhi.

"We've lingered outside the town a little too long." Remembering Hong Shou's warning, Chu He immediately called to Yao Yuzhi, "Let's get on the cableway first. Once we're on it, those ballistae won't be aimed at us."

Misty Forest lay on the edge of Tai Prefecture, bordering the Earth-Woe Fog Sea. A freak tide could invade at any time. Black River Town was an important border stronghold with formidable military strength, so the equipment atop its walls was naturally not to be underestimated.

Yao Yuzhi nodded. One before the other, they lightly tapped off with their toes and effortlessly crossed the several-dozen-meter suspension bridge. Several savage beasts lurked in the black water below, glaring greedily at the two figures skimming overhead.

Seeing the chains sway calmly without flinging the pair from the bridge, quite a few underwater beasts revealed disappointment in their eyes. Their tails swayed as they silently submerged and swam away, scattering in all directions.

Black River Town had been built against the water and mountains. Its black city walls rose dozens of zhang high. Besides the main gate in the city wall, there was also a passageway specifically for pedestrians.

A black iron door was set within the passageway, with a square peephole in its center, just large enough to inspect the scene outside.

A pair of old, scrutinizing eyes appeared in the peephole, staring at Chu He and Yao Yuzhi.

"Names?"

"Chu He."

"Where are you from?"

"Earthhead Village."

"Earthhead Village? The martial warrior stationed there only left a few days ago. Why has Earthhead Village sent people again?" The gate guard clearly remembered what had happened days ago and asked suspiciously, "Why hasn't your martial warrior come?"

Chu He's eyes dimmed, but they swiftly returned to normal.

"A great change occurred in Earthhead Village. The stationed martial warrior has passed away. I came here to report this matter. Any other questions?"

"He passed away?!"

The guard at the gate was startled and knew the matter was grave.

Just as he was about to open the iron door, he suddenly spotted Yao Yuzhi behind Chu He. His brows shot up as he ordered, "The rules state that everyone entering Black River Town from Misty Forest must have their identity verified. Miss, remove your veil and tell me where you came from. Only then can I let you in."

Chu He turned his head and said nothing.

He also wanted to see what Yao Yuzhi truly looked like.

Yao Yuzhi lifted her bamboo hat, but rather than raising the gauze curtain as he had hoped, she took out a dark red command token and casually waved it.

The guard's pupils immediately contracted at the sight.

Clack—

The grinding scrape of iron doors rang out. The heavy gate was immediately pushed open, and the sallow-faced guard bent at the waist as he respectfully came forward.

"My lord..."

"Mm."

Yao Yuzhi coolly acknowledged the guard, then turned to Chu He and said earnestly, "Chu He, until we meet again."

Surprise showed on Chu He's face. He clasped his hands and replied, "Until we meet again."

Yao Yuzhi then entered Black River Town. The guard at her side eagerly led the way, looking left and right like the very picture of a lackey.

"So she was an important figure after all."

Chu He smiled and paid it no mind as he stepped into Black River Town.

Rather than a town, Black River Town was more like a city. Neither its population density nor the scale of its garrison could compare to an ordinary township.

The town had also been built along the stone, its terrain rising bit by bit. At its center, where the ground stood highest, was the imperial court's Military Hall.

Crimson battle banners snapped in the wind, radiating an iron-blooded, heroic solemnity.

As an important border stronghold of Tai Prefecture, this place was mostly governed according to military camp methods. There were no magistrate's offices or county administrations; they considered them unnecessary.

On the broad road paved with black obsidian, traffic flowed ceaselessly. Peddlers and laborers filled the streets, their cries of trade and sale ringing without pause. The crowds milled about, making the place seem quite lively.

Chu He had never seen such a scene before. He wandered as he walked, craning his neck from side to side and looking about with curiosity, every bit the country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

Beneath a shady willow tree, two slovenly young men with toothpicks in their mouths exchanged a glance, then quietly followed after him.

Clang, clang, clang...

The successive sounds of hammering iron came from many shops. Chu He looked up and discovered that nearly half the stores here were blacksmith shops, capable of crafting everything from daily necessities to all kinds of weapons.

Though Black River Town was an important military stronghold, due to Misty Forest itself, freak tides struck only rarely—so few they could be counted on one hand.

Moreover, the town had been built around that nameless giant stone, and the surrounding area was rich in minerals. Thus, weapon refining naturally flourished in Black River Town.

Over time, it became an important pillar of the town's economy.

Not only did it produce and sell its wares locally, it also transported its forged weapons to other cities and towns, even Jianye City. Before anyone realized it, Black River Town's weapon-refining reputation had spread far and wide, becoming one of the town's defining marks.

After passing through the merchant district, Chu He went to a nearby Military Hall branch and reported everything that had happened in Earthhead Village. He also handed over Li Fang's research journal, that wicked book, to the person in charge of the Military Hall branch.

However, Chu He had secretly destroyed all content concerning the freak transformation that stitched one's body together with the uncanny. Though this stitched freak transformation had enormous drawbacks, the human heart could not withstand temptation. What if a second Li Fang appeared?

After all that busywork, Chu He let out a long breath.

Now that he had completed what he needed to hand over, his most urgent matters were, first, to find out as quickly as possible how to remove the freak soul threads within his body and escape the threat of the great fog freak; second, to find a job that could support him within the week and obtain the right to reside permanently in Black River Town.

Black River Town had limited land. Renting even a small courtyard required not only a large sum in rent, but proof of local employment. The requirements were even stricter for villagers like Chu He who had come out of Misty Forest; proof was absolutely mandatory.

This was to prevent villagers from abandoning the great formation outposts and flooding into Black River Town in large numbers, burdening it with pressure.

With Chu He's abilities, such matters were naturally no challenge. The only thing he needed to consider was whose employ he should enter and what sort of work he should do.

Chu He quickened his pace, looking for an inn where he could stay.

"Hmm?"

Abruptly, Chu He halted. Turning his head, he saw a slovenly young man behind him twirling a sharp dagger as he walked toward him.

Several meters ahead, another young man leaned crookedly against the wall, silently watching Chu He. He guarded against Chu He escaping and blocked the way ahead.

The dagger-twirling youth wore a ferocious grin. "Country bumpkin, do you know who I am? The road you're walking on now belongs to me—"

Slap!

Before he could finish, Chu He controlled his strength and gave him a slap across the face.

Even with his strength restrained, two teeth flew from the youth's left cheek, and his mouth swelled high as though rouge had been applied to his cheeks.

"You're courting death!"

The young man froze, then flew into a rage. The dagger in his hand slashed out viciously.

Chu He raised a hand and lightly pinched the sharp dagger between his fingers. Then, beneath the youth's astonished gaze, he twisted his fingers and gently snapped it in two.

Discarding the broken dagger, Chu He looked at the stunned youth before him and patted his shoulder. "Kneel down. I have some questions for you."