Divine Commandery Army

Divine Commandery Army

Zhang Yu struck true with a single sword. Both feet landed atop the Yao Salamander's head, and borrowing the momentum of his charge, he gripped the hilt with both hands and shoved forward, driving the blade deep inside!

He could feel the monster's muscles convulsing violently beneath him, so he clenched the hilt and refused to let go.

After a long bout of trembling, the monster finally fell still.

He waited for a while longer. No further motion arose; it seemed the matter was over.

But at that moment, tremendous force suddenly surged up from below. The monster's spine arched sharply, and its enormous body sprang into the sky!

Zhang Yu reacted with extreme speed. He immediately lowered his body and pressed down his center of gravity, while his grip on the sword tightened further.

After the Yao Salamander shot up three or four zhang into the air, it seemed to have finally expended every last shred of life force. Its entire body went slack, and it dropped helplessly from midair. With a thunderous boom, it crashed heavily between the waves and reefs.

With the Yao Salamander's body cushioning his fall, Zhang Yu suffered no impact when he came down. This time, he waited a long while again. Only after confirming that the monster was truly dead did his taut mind finally relax, and the sounds of the surrounding waves flooded into his ears all at once.

He stood up from the Yao Salamander's head and slowly exhaled a long breath.

By now, the dazzling seven-colored radiance that had flickered over the Yao Salamander's body had dimmed. As its life ebbed away, its spiritual outer shell also faded.

After considering it, he pressed a hand against its thick back and carefully sensed it, checking whether this monster possessed any source energy.

But the answer was no.

Nor did he feel disappointed. Having successfully passed through a life-and-death crisis and slain a spiritual creature in the body of an ordinary human was already an immense gain for him.

He drew out the Xia Sword, raised his head to look at the morning sun that had already risen, and pondered, If my guess is correct, the ones arriving shortly must be the Divine Commandery Army under the Protectorate Office.

His teacher had told him in detail of the Divine Commandery Army's origins. During the first century after Celestial Xia's arrival, in order to deal with the endless stream of gods and monsters emerging across the various regions, Old Cultivators stripped the powers from captured native gods and used secret methods to refine them into one Divine Robe after another. Even ordinary people, if they donned them and underwent sufficient training and discipline, could possess a portion of the native gods' abilities.

At first, these people had served as a supplement to Celestial Xia's lower and middle-tier forces. But as their role grew ever greater, they were eventually separated out and became an independent commandery army.

Yet as far as he knew, the Divine Commandery Army of the Eastern Court Protectorate had indeed been considered elite a century ago. Every commandery soldier had undergone strict selection, and both their origins and backgrounds were impeccably clean.

But after that great war sixty years ago, things had become vastly different. The sources of the commandery soldiers had grown complicated, and their discipline was already far inferior to before. He did not know what might happen when facing such a Divine Commandery Army, so he had to make preparations.

He first retrieved the cloak that had been flung away and draped it over himself again. Then he returned to where the small boat had previously landed. After a brief search, he carved a line of words into a nearby reef:

"At dawn on the third day of the second month of the Great Xuan Calendar, Yu slew a Yao Salamander here!"

This was not to flaunt his martial prowess, but to leave behind evidence.

He went to where his food and water had been stored, washed up simply, and drank some fresh water. He did not touch the dried provisions at all, merely taking a small porcelain bottle from his cloak, pouring out several pills, and swallowing them.

After recovering some strength, he found a high spot with a suitable view. From the inner lining of his cloak, he took out a small booklet and a charcoal pencil, carefully sketching the scenery around him and the Yao Salamander.

Only when the entire booklet was filled did he stop. After packing up his things, he found a spot that barely sheltered him from the wind and began training his breathing method again.

Near noon, he suddenly sensed something. In a few steps, he arrived atop the Yao Salamander's head and gazed eastward over the sea.

Three warships had appeared on the distant waters, arranged in a triangular formation as they sailed toward the reef cluster. Two kinds of flags hung from their towering masts: the Blazing Light Banner of the Divine Commandery Army of the Eastern Protectorate, and the Octagonal Starfish Banner of the Tenghai Maritime Patrol Association.

Rescue had finally arrived.

On the Might Horn, sailing at the front, a sailor on lookout pointed ahead and cried out, "Look over there!"

Because of the angle, many people had no idea what he had seen. It was only as the ships gradually drew near that expressions of shock involuntarily appeared on their faces.

A colossal monster lay sprawled across the island reef, half its tail sunk beneath the seawater. Its terrifying size could be seen at a glance.

And atop the monster's head stood a young man holding a sword. His cloak fluttered in the wind, and beneath the sun's rays, he was bathed in golden light, like a true immortal, his bearing utterly arresting.

The visual impact of such a scene was undoubtedly immense.

At the bow of the ship on the right stood an extraordinary middle-aged man dressed in casual clothes with a round collar and wide sleeves, a folded black cap upon his head. He unconsciously stepped forward a few paces, pointed ahead, and asked the person beside him, "Take a look. Could that be Young Master Zhang?"

The person beside him had excellent eyesight. After looking for a moment, he said, "In reply to the steward, it is him."

The middle-aged man said, "I recall that the Great Fortune's travel permit stated that he was a Celestial Xia man?"

The person beside him answered honestly, "That was how Shi Dongliang recorded it."

The middle-aged man stared at the figure atop the Yao Salamander and said, "Later, keep a close eye on things. Don't let the Divine Commandery Army men act recklessly."

The person beside him said, "Rest assured, Steward."

Zhang Yu watched the three ships slowly approach. Once they reached the vicinity of the reef island, someone leaped down from a ship's bow and flew over the sea toward him.

His eyesight surpassed that of ordinary people, and he could see that the man was actually supported by waves beneath his feet. He was not truly flying through the air.

Upon further examining the man's attire—the Victory Frontier Garb, the Qieliang Flying-Wing Crown, the Dust-Scent Pouch, and the Mountain-Treading Boots—he recognized them as the distinctive garments of the Divine Commandery Army.

The newcomer quickly arrived nearby. He first circled the Yao Salamander's enormous body once, then lightly tapped the waves with his toes and slowly rose into the air. Hanging there with his hands clasped behind his back, he looked at Zhang Yu and said, "I am Qiao Zhan, a squad leader of the Divine Commandery Army under the Eastern Court Protectorate. How did this Yao Salamander die?"

Zhang Yu met his gaze evenly. "I killed it."

Qiao Zhan stared at him for a long time, then shifted his gaze to the Xia Sword at his side. "Let me see your sword."

Neither servile nor overbearing, Zhang Yu said, "Squad Leader Qiao, forgive me. My teacher instructed me that a sword is something entrusted with one's life and cannot leave one's side even for an instant."

Qiao Zhan gave him a deep look, turned, and returned toward the warship.

Not long afterward, a small boat was lowered from the warship and rowed to the reef shore. A sturdy middle-aged man dressed like a servant came ashore. He cupped his hands to Zhang Yu and said, "Are you Young Master Zhang? I am Ming Yi. Captain Shi specially instructed me to come receive you."

Zhang Yu returned the gesture. "Thank you for the trouble."

Ming Yi hurriedly said, "Not at all, not at all. Young Master, you give me too much credit. Please board the boat first. There is an honored guest aboard who wishes to see you."

Qiao Zhan returned to the main ship by treading the waves. Just as he was about to return to his cabin, a handsome, agile young man blocked his way. Excitement gleamed in his eyes as he said, "Squad Leader, this Yao Salamander is a tremendous merit. As long as we kill the troublesome person..."

Qiao Zhan frowned and warned him, "Su Kuang, do not cause trouble. It is currently the period of the Protectorate Office's Scholars' Deliberation. Who knows how many pairs of eyes are watching us? I will not permit you to act recklessly."

Su Kuang said indifferently, "But he is alone, and we are out at sea. If we kill him, who would know?"

Qiao Zhan said coldly, "There is more than one person aboard this ship."

"Then kill them all." Su Kuang spoke as if discussing the most ordinary matter in the world. At the same time, he started walking out. "If Squad Leader finds it troublesome, then I will do it."

Qiao Zhan reached out, shoved him back, and barked, "Calm down! Ordinary people cannot kill spiritual creatures, and how could someone like this possibly have no backing?"

"So what?" Su Kuang spread his arms, a trace of warped frenzy on his face. "In the Eastern Protectorate, who would oppose our Divine Commandery Army for the sake of a dead man?"

Qiao Zhan said gravely, "Zhao Xiangcheng came along this time as well. He will not be without protection at his side. Do you want him to seize evidence against us? Even if I spare you then, the military marquises will not!"

Su Kuang's gaze flickered several times. In the end, he seemed to give up. "Fine, I will listen to you this time." After taking a few steps away, he suddenly seemed to remember something. Turning back, he grinned and said, "Squad Leader, I can tell you want to do it too. Why endure so bitterly? How wonderful it would be to follow your own heart."

Qiao Zhan watched him leave and remained silent the entire time.

He admitted that when Su Kuang had made the proposal, he had initially felt somewhat stirred. But he had suppressed it again. After all, he had properly tested into the Divine Commandery Army and possessed his own principles. He was not the same as people like Su Kuang.

He muttered to the empty cabin, "You do not understand. Everyone must have their own convictions. Yielding to power will only make you its slave." After saying this, he left.

After he departed, the shadows in the cabin stirred. Su Kuang emerged from them, leaning against the cabin wall with his arms folded as he stroked his chin, seemingly mulling something over.

Thank you all for your recommendations and rewards!

There will be another chapter around six or seven in the evening. Since chapters now need to be reviewed after upload, it is difficult to say exactly when; I can only give an approximate time.