Azure Sun Stronghold

Lu Chenyang waved a broad hand. "If you can injure him, that's your own ability. Whatever happens between you two, let your abilities decide."

At those words, Chen Shi'an's heart bloomed with joy, but his expression remained solemn. "Rest assured, Dean Lu. While misleading Fu Qingyang, I'll try to avoid conflict with Song Yuming as much as possible. I'll endure whatever I can."

Lu Chenyang patted Chen Shi'an's shoulder again. "With such an understanding attitude, Squad Leader Chen, you're sure to please the City Lord and Steward Song."

Just after Chen Shi'an left, a thin, middle-aged man appeared in the study.

"That brat doesn't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is! My son is at the Eighth Acquired Stage, yet he dares boast about injuring him!"

"Chen Shi'an is nothing more than an insufferably arrogant junior. Give him a little sunshine and he blooms. He isn't worth so much attention from the City Lord."

The man was none other than Song Yuming's father, Song Yuan, steward of Windrise Stronghold's Internal Affairs Office.

Lu Chenyang smiled faintly. "There's no need to be angry, Steward Song. Didn't I make myself clear just now? Yuming can continue taking action against Chen Shi'an.

"If Chen Shi'an can't even get past Yuming, the City Lord will see what he's truly made of and naturally make the right choice."

Song Yuan looked disgruntled. "Giving Chen Shi'an three Marrow-Washing Pills is a criminal waste. If Yuming had them, he'd have a much better chance of becoming a Ranked Martial Artist."

Lu Chenyang's smile remained unchanged. "Didn't the City Lord give Yuming six Marrow-Washing Pills?"

Song Yuan added, "Wouldn't three more be even better?"

Lu Chenyang laughed. "Steward Song, with your wealth and strength, obtaining three Marrow-Washing Pills shouldn't be too difficult, should it?"

Song Yuan snorted softly. "If the City Lord could bestow them on us, why spend such an enormous sum ourselves?

"Those pills should all have belonged to Yuming. That detestable brat Chen Shi'an interfered and ruined my son's good fortune."

Lu Chenyang's brows furrowed slightly. "Steward Song, Chen Shi'an is someone the City Lord specifically wishes to cultivate and win over. Don't act rashly.

"If you ruin the City Lord's plans... we both know his temper."

Song Yuan's gaze turned cold. "Yuming is more than enough to deal with an ant like him. Why would I need to act?"

..................Elder Fu, the old man with the word "prisoner" tattooed on his face, led Chen Shi'an slowly toward the gates of the Martial Academy. When they reached a secluded spot, he suddenly stopped and did something that caught Chen Shi'an completely off guard and chilled him to the bone.

He lifted his clothes, exposing his muscular abdomen, then took out a dagger and, without hesitation, dragged it hard across his belly.

A long, deep, bloody gash immediately opened across his abdomen.

Elder Fu's hand moved like lightning. Hooking his fingers into the wound and tugging, he actually pulled out a jade pendant an inch long and an inch wide.

The jade pendant was covered in crimson blood and bits of flesh, obscuring its appearance.

Before Chen Shi'an could get a good look, Elder Fu quickly produced two pieces of cloth.

He wrapped the jade pendant in the smaller piece, then quickly wiped the dagger clean with the larger one before deftly binding it over his wound.

The entire process took fewer than ten breaths.

From beginning to end, Elder Fu's expression never changed, as though the dagger had cut someone else's body.

"Chen Shi'an, now that you've joined the Demon Hunting Team, you'll often be traveling in and out of Windrise Stronghold.

"If the opportunity arises, please deliver this jade to the Hundred Miasma Forest." Elder Fu thrust the jade pendant into Chen Shi'an's hand, then quickly turned and continued slowly forward.

The Hundred Miasma Forest!

Chen Shi'an finally realized who the old man was.

Roughly a thousand li from Windrise Stronghold lay a forest spanning over a hundred li, shrouded year-round in dense mist. It was called the Hundred Miasma Forest.

The thick mist was filled with poisonous gases produced by decaying plants and animals. The particular environment trapped those gases within the forest, preventing them from dispersing and forming miasma poison.

Anyone who accidentally wandered into the Hundred Miasma Forest and inhaled enough miasma poison would hallucinate, lose their way, and eventually become a corpse, adding yet more miasma poison to the forest.

Over time, the Hundred Miasma Forest became a perilous place in the Desolate Ruins, one people kept a respectful distance from.

Yet more than ten years earlier, a group of people driven into a corner by their pursuing enemies had been forced to flee into the Hundred Miasma Forest.

Everyone had thought those who fled into the Hundred Miasma Forest were certain to die.

Who could have imagined that, roughly half a year later, they would emerge from the Hundred Miasma Forest and use every means available to exact revenge on the enemies who had hunted them?

And whenever those enemies gathered their forces to hunt them down again, they hid in the Hundred Miasma Forest.

The Hundred Miasma Forest had not poisoned them to death; instead, it had become a refuge where they could settle and survive.

People therefore speculated that there must be somewhere within the Hundred Miasma Forest suitable for human habitation, along with a safe route in and out.

Many tried searching for it. Not only did they fail to find it, they lost their lives instead.

The people who had fled into the Hundred Miasma Forest were survivors of Azure Sun Stronghold.

More than ten years earlier, there had been four strongholds in the region surrounding Windrise Stronghold:

Azure Sun Stronghold, Windrise Stronghold, Flowing Stone Stronghold, and Blackwater Stronghold.

Of the four, Azure Sun Stronghold had been founded most recently.

Fewer than thirty years passed between its establishment and its destruction.

Yet in those brief thirty years, it had risen from nothing and ultimately surpassed all three other strongholds.

Azure Sun Stronghold operated completely differently from the others.

It imposed no construction tax on its residents. Regardless of their background, anyone willing to join Azure Sun Stronghold received its protection.

Nor did it maintain a rigid hierarchy. Everyone within the stronghold could obtain equal opportunities.

As long as they had ability and were willing to put in the effort, they could reap rewards most of the time...

For that very reason, Azure Sun Stronghold drew more and more people to it like a great lodestone.

It even prompted residents of Windrise Stronghold, Flowing Stone Stronghold, and Blackwater Stronghold to leave and join Azure Sun Stronghold instead.

Thus, faced with a common crisis, Windrise Stronghold, Flowing Stone Stronghold, and Blackwater Stronghold-rivals that had competed with one another-joined forces and launched an attack on Azure Sun Stronghold.

In the end, Azure Sun Stronghold could not withstand them and was reduced to ruins.

When the stronghold fell, nearly half its people died beneath the butchers' blades, their corpses strewn across the land.

Most of the rest scattered and fled, becoming helpless refugees in the Desolate Ruins; a smaller number were captured and enslaved by the other three strongholds.

Before the stronghold fell, however, Azure Sun Stronghold had organized an elite force of over a thousand to preserve a spark for the future, escorting many women and children as they fought their way out of the encirclement.

These were the survivors who had fled into the Hundred Miasma Forest.

...............Clearly, Elder Fu must have been from Azure Sun Stronghold.

From the original owner's memories, Chen Shi'an knew that Azure Sun Stronghold's City Lord had also been surnamed Fu.

A thought immediately took root in his mind.

So he asked softly, "Sir, are you the City Lord of Azure Sun Stronghold?"

"Indeed. I am Fu Nantian." The old man in black did not turn around, continuing forward at the same unhurried pace.

Chen Shi'an's heart jolted.

He had never expected that this old man with the word "slave" tattooed on his face really was Fu Nantian, City Lord of Azure Sun Stronghold.

Still less had he expected that Fu Nantian, whose might had once cowed an entire region, would become Lu Chenyang's slave, ordered about and repeatedly cursed as Old Dog Fu.

Judging by how Fu Nantian had sliced open his own belly without his expression changing, Chen Shi'an knew he was certainly no man who clung to life and feared death.

There must have been some unknown reason why he served as Lu Chenyang's slave.

After steadying himself slightly, Chen Shi'an followed closely behind Fu Nantian and said quietly, "You're remarkably well informed, City Lord Fu. I've only just joined the Demon Hunting Team, yet you already know. Issues where some versions of Safari Browser on iPhone freeze have been optimized on this site. If you still encounter anything similar, you can try another browser, such as Google Chrome, or switch back to the default font (yes, the font is the cause), and contact us. We'll do our best to improve it!"

Fu Nantian answered quickly, "You defeated disciples of the Windrise Martial Academy at the Demon Hunting Team's Martial Practice Grounds. Your name is being repeated all over the academy now. Naturally, I heard."

Chen Shi'an paused briefly. "Aren't you afraid I'll report you to Lu Chenyang?"

Fu Nantian kept his answer short. "I trust you."

"Why?" Chen Shi'an pressed.

"Instinct!"

Fu Nantian answered at once.

Chen Shi'an raised his voice slightly. "The Hundred Miasma Forest is dangerous. Delivering your jade pendant would put me at risk. Why do you think I'll definitely help you?"

"Instinct!"

Fu Nantian repeated his previous answer.

"..." Chen Shi'an was speechless.

Fu Nantian added, "The leader in the Hundred Miasma Forest is my son, Fu Qianfan.

"This jade pendant is very important to our Fu family. If you deliver it safely into his hands, he'll certainly reward you generously.

"Before Azure Sun Stronghold fell, my son took away much of its wealth, along with a considerable amount of cultivation resources."

Chen Shi'an cleared his throat. "Rest assured, City Lord Fu. If an opportunity arises, I'll personally deliver the jade pendant into the Hundred Miasma Forest."

Then he asked, "City Lord Fu, I can tell that you're quite strong, and certainly no man who clings to life and fears death. Why do you remain at Lu Chenyang's side?"

But Fu Nantian offered no further response. He lowered his head and noticeably quickened his steps.

Chen Shi'an knew when to stop. He asked no more questions and followed silently behind.

Soon, Fu Nantian led Chen Shi'an to the gates of the Windrise Martial Academy.

Just then, a dozen or so Martial Academy disciples happened to be coming in from outside.

At their center was a woman in a fitted black martial outfit, surrounded like the moon amid a host of stars. It was Xu Yun.

The Martial Academy disciples beside her also looked familiar. They had all visited the Demon Hunting Team that morning.

Now, Xu Yun and the other Martial Academy disciples all had flushed faces, and the strong smell of alcohol hung about them.

After leaving the Demon Hunting Team, they had not returned directly to the Martial Academy. Instead, they had first gone to make offerings to the temple of their stomachs, celebrating Xu Yun's appointment as a squad leader in the Demon Hunting Team.

Chen Shi'an quickly glanced over Xu Yun and the others but saw no sign of Song Yuming.

At that moment, one of the Martial Academy disciples spotted Chen Shi'an. Half his drunkenness instantly vanished, and he exclaimed, "Chen Shi'an!"

The disciples all raised their heads, fixing their gazes on Chen Shi'an:

"Chen Shi'an, you've got some nerve! You injured our senior brother, yet you still dare come to our Martial Academy!"

"You bastard Chen, we were just about to settle accounts with you, and now you've delivered yourself to our doorstep. Saves us the trouble of looking!"

"Senior brothers, junior brothers, let's get him together! We have to teach this arrogant scoundrel a proper lesson!"

At once, angry shouts and curses rose one after another outside the Windrise Martial Academy's gates.

Yet although the Martial Academy disciples shouted fiercely, not one dared make a move.

Chen Shi'an's earlier performance at the Demon Hunting Grounds had already instilled fear and respect in them.

They only dared bark so loudly because they were on their own doorstep and had drunk some alcohol-liquid courage for cowards.

Looking at these Martial Academy disciples, all talk and no action, Chen Shi'an gave a contemptuous smile and patted the Demon Hunting Team Squad Leader's Token at his waist.

"Stop standing there shouting. If you're going to attack, hurry up.

"I'd certainly like to see what happens when you attack a Demon Hunting Team squad leader without cause."

At those words, all the Martial Academy disciples promptly shut their mouths.

Ye Xicheng's actions at the Demon Hunting Team not long ago had already left a shadow over their hearts.

Xu Yun stepped forward slowly and snorted. "You've only just hung that token on your waist, and already you're flaunting your authority at the Martial Academy.

"Chen Shi'an, you're a squad leader, but so am I.

"Others may not dare touch you, but I'm not afraid."

"You?"

Chen Shi'an curled his lip. "You're not even as strong as Wang Teng. Do you want to follow in his footsteps?"

Xu Yun flushed and snapped, "Junior brothers, let's get him together! We must teach this arrogant scoundrel a proper lesson.

"Don't worry. I'm a Demon Hunting Team squad leader now. Whatever happens, I'll take responsibility!"

Spurred on by alcohol, the dozen or so Martial Academy disciples finally mustered some fighting spirit at her words.

They rolled up their sleeves, ready for a brawl.

Chen Shi'an narrowed his eyes and gripped the horizontal saber at his waist.

He had long since grown sick of these Martial Academy disciples. With such a perfect opportunity to strike, he naturally would not refuse.

He was now a proper squad leader of the Demon Hunting Team. Even Xiang Chuxiong was secretly trying to win him over, making him something of a backer.

With a tiger's skin to fly as his banner of authority, why should he keep as low a profile as before?

These Martial Academy disciples were eagerly delivering themselves to his doorstep. They would make perfect sacrifices to christen his banner.

Along the way, he could kill a chicken to frighten the monkeys, bolster his prestige, and make his name known.

Just as a fierce fight was about to break out, Fu Nantian said quietly, "Squad Leader Chen is an honored guest invited by Dean Lu."

At those words, Xu Yun and the dozen or so Martial Academy disciples froze on the spot, as though a basin of cold water had been poured over them.

Chen Shi'an inwardly sighed at the lost opportunity.

He glanced at Fu Nantian, then stepped forward and headed straight for the Windrise Martial Academy's gates.

The Martial Academy disciples hurriedly moved aside, opening a path for him.

Head held high and chest out, Chen Shi'an swaggered across the threshold. Then he turned back, fixed his gaze on Xu Yun, and curled the corner of his mouth.

"Squad Leader Xu, we're comrades in the Demon Hunting Team now. We'll have plenty of opportunities to get close in the future. There's no need to insist on this one."

Xu Yun's mouth twitched as she angrily retorted, "Chen Shi'an, don't get so smug! Senior Brother Song will deal with you before long!

"A single taste of success, and you've already forgotten yourself. Just you wait..."

Before she could finish, Chen Shi'an coldly shot back, "All talk, no action! Spineless, gutless cowards!"

With that, he strode off without looking back.

Xu Yun and the other Martial Academy disciples ground their teeth in hatred, but there was nothing they could do. They could only watch Chen Shi'an leave.

When he returned home, the Chen Family's courtyard was no longer noisy. The neighbors must all have dispersed.

Yet when Chen Shi'an entered, he saw that two guests remained in the courtyard.

One was an elderly woman dressed respectably, and the other was a noticeably plump young woman.

Chen Shi'an remembered the plump young woman. She was Cheng Qiaogu, the only daughter of Shopkeeper Cheng, who ran the steamed bun shop at the end of the street.

This is bad!

The instant he saw Cheng Qiaogu, Chen Shi'an inwardly cried out in alarm.