A Foot Soldier of Chentang Pass

At the third quarter of the hour of Xu (7:45 PM), the sound of the wooden clapper, carrying the chill of spring, swept over the city walls of Chentang Pass.

Zhao Sanmazi leaned his long spear against the wall, took out a millet cake, broke it in half, and tossed one half to Qian the Cripple, who was squatting under the arrow emplacement. "I heard that the General's wife has hired another tutor for that scoundrel. This is the seventh tutor he's ever hired!"

A burst of laughter immediately erupted from the arrow tower on the city wall.

Old soldier Qian the Cripple spat a mouthful of bread crumbs into the brazier, his missing front tooth letting out a whistling sound, "Last time, that Whitebeard old scholar was hung on a reef in the East China Sea by that little devil and left to dry for three days. When he was pulled out, his book was pickled into a scrambled egg roll!"

New recruit Wang Sanpao warmed his hands by the charcoal fire, his chapped fingers turning red like shrimp. "My mother says the general's third son is a demon reincarnated, he'll be..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Sanmazi stuffed a pancake into his mouth. "Are you courting death! Last month, Ma Laoliu from the East Gate was gossiping, and Madam Yin happened to overhear him while she was passing by. She punished him by making him sweep the outhouse for half a month!"

Fang Yu silently sharpened the arrowhead, the sparks from the friction on the bluestone flickering.

The draft blowing through the crenellations of the city wall swirled around Qian the Cripple's pipe, making Wang Sanpao cough.

"You have to admit, Brother Fang is really lucky." Qian the Cripple tapped Fang Yu's leather armor with his pipe. "He got hit by that devilish kid's shuttlecock the other day. Anyone else would be on their way to the Hall of Yama by now!"

Fang Yu didn't even look up. "The shuttlecock is wrapped in sheepskin, so no hidden force was used."

"Stop pretending to be so mature!" Zhao Sanmazi suddenly lowered his voice. "Did you see that yesterday at noon? That Widow Hu at the fish stall in the East Market stuffed some meat into your bag!"

A chorus of boos erupted from inside the arrow tower.

Wang Sanpao clicked his tongue enviously. "Brother Fang, can you teach me? Last time I carried a fish basket for Lady Hu, she kicked me three times."

"Carrying a fish basket?" Qian the Cripple laughed so hard his pipe trembled. "You poured live fish into the pickle jar, I'm doing you a favor by not whipping you with a carrying pole!"

Amidst the commotion, the sound of galloping hooves could suddenly be heard from below the city walls.

Everyone hurriedly grabbed their weapons and swords, only to see that it was a scout from the Sea Patrol Camp carrying a flag and sweeping through the streets.

"The weather's about to change again." Qian the Cripple squinted at the rising sea fog at Dongmen. "The seafood we caught yesterday all had black blood vessels in their cheeks."

Zhao Sanmazi tossed the crumbs to the tabby cat dozing under the eaves. "I heard that General Li has invited a hermit from Qianyuan Mountain to Sea Gazing Platform."

The conversation was abruptly cut off by the sound of a bugle call.

Several soldiers walked over and shouted to the crowd, "Shift change! You're going to patrol the western suburbs!"

Fang Yu pressed down on his newly issued leather armor and followed Squad Leader Zhao Sanmazi and several soldiers towards the wheat fields in the western suburbs.

The twelve-man team carried torches, their light and shadows scattering like fireflies across the ridges of the fields. The night wind carried the scent of green wheat, mixed with the smell of incense ash from a distant shrine, making the new recruits rub their noses.

Wang Sanpao tightened his coat. "Tonight's a bit eerie! Why does it feel like a cold wind is blowing?"

As they walked around the crooked Old Scholar Tree, Zhao Sanmazi suddenly raised his hand and stopped.

Beyond the torchlight, a rustling sound came from the depths of the dark wheat fields, like a dull knife scraping against bone.

"Get your weapon!" Zhao Sanmazi drew his ring-pommel sword with a backhand motion, the copper ring on the back of the blade jingling and vibrating.

Fang Yu gripped the standard-issue spear and followed the veterans, forming a semi-circle.

Three torches were thrown at the source of the sound in unison—the instant the sparks exploded, a two-zhang-tall black figure stood upright, its eerie green beastly eyes flickering among the wheat ears, and half a piece of blood-stained coarse cloth still dangling from between its fangs.

"West Mountain Dog Demon!" Zhao Sanmazi spat, the tip of his knife drawing a semicircle in the mud. "Five to flank and lock their legs, six to block their retreat!"

The dog demon let out a low growl like muffled thunder from its throat, its mane standing on end like steel needles.

The two veterans had just cast their lassos when the beast pounced like a stench.

Zhao Sanmazi parried the claw with his sword, sparks flying as he roared, "Poke its waist!"

Fang Yu thrust out his spear at that very moment, the Tomoe in his eyes flashing and disappearing in an instant.

The spear tip just grazed the dog demon's rump, forcing it to twist and dodge, only to be met with Zhao Sanmazi's counter-attack blade.

As the blade wedged into the monster's shoulder blade, Fang Yu used the shaft of his spear to pin its hind leg, and the two of them managed to overturn the enormous creature to the ground with brute force!

"Good lad!" Zhao Sanmazi was surprised by the strength of the New Recruit Fang Yu, while simultaneously suppressing the dog demon.

"My father is the Dog Demon King! My sworn brother, the Crow Immortal Lord, commands three thousand demon soldiers!"

Even as the beast was bound by iron chains, it was still howling, its spittle spitting onto the torches with a sizzling sound, "If you don't release me, I'll massacre Chentang Pass within three days!"

Zhao Sanmazi kicked it in the nose. "Shut up! Take it back and let the General interrogate you!"

The fog thickened on the way back to the city.

The clanging of chains dragging across the bluestone slabs mingled with the laughter of the guards. Zhao Sanmazi, carrying a half-empty jug of strong liquor, breathed the stench of alcohol onto the dog demon's drooping ears. "You beast! The Branding Iron from the Commander-in-Chief's Manor later will be more powerful than Laozi fists!"

Fang Yu walked at the back of the group, his boots intentionally or unintentionally crushing the black blood dripping from the dog demon.

'If the Earth Grudge Fear eats monsters, can I...'

As we passed the dilapidated shrine and broken stele, the fog suddenly thickened.

Zhao Sanmazi slammed his wine jug against the edge of the monument. "You rotten thing! Let Laozi take a piss to ward off the evil spirits!"

Before the words were even finished, the dog demon's tail suddenly contracted, exploding into a cloud of foul-smelling yellow smoke!

"Cough cough. Chains! Chains!" Wang Sanpao covered his eyes and ran around, knocking over three torches.

Amidst the thick smoke came the crunching sound of sharp teeth gnawing on iron; Zhao Sanmazi swung his knife but struck the hitching post instead.

Although New Recruit Fang Yu could pinpoint the dog demon's location using his Observation Haki, he couldn't reveal his abilities directly with everyone around him.

If such inexplicable and bizarre abilities Ghoul, Earth Grudge Fear, and Heaven Curse Mark were exposed, then even jumping into the Ganges River wouldn't clear my name.

He secretly noted the dog demon's aura and let it escape.

The crowd was choked and dizzy. When the smoke cleared, the iron chain had broken into several pieces, with only half of the mane hanging on the thorn bushes.

"Damn it!" Zhao Sanmazi cursed, pounding the tombstone. "This beast's asshole should have been plugged with a dung plug long ago!"

Wang Sanpao: "This is terrible! This beast ate a person and ran away! The farmers around here are going to suffer!"

Zhao Sanmazi sighed, "Sigh! It was Laozi carelessness! Damn it! I'm going to go and apologize to the general!"

During the daytime when the dog demon fled, a light rain began to fall on Chentang Pass.

Two shallow pits were carved into the Kitsuchi in front of the Li Jing's Mansion by kneeling. Old Zhang's Wife was holding the mangled body wrapped in a straw mat, while his five-year-old child was clutching half a grasshopper woven from straw, staring blankly at the gate in front of him, completely unaware of what had happened.

"Give me back my man's whole body!"

Zhao Sanmazi squatted by the hitching post at the gate of the mansion, slapping his face with his palms, which were as big as palm fans, left finger marks that were more glaring than the red paint on the Li Manor.

"My fault! I should have just chopped that beast up!" Veins bulged on his neck, and sparks flew as he sharpened his ring-pommel sword on the stone slab. "He deserves to die!"

Hearing the mournful sounds coming from his doorstep, Nezha, who was already bored out of his mind, suddenly became interested. With his hands still in his pockets, he swaggered to the door with his unruly gait.

Through the barrier, he saw Old Zhang's Wife and the bewildered child, and a sense of curiosity arose in his heart.

Nezha tilted his head and leaned against the gate of the Commander-in-Chief's Manor. The Universe Ring spun loudly on his fingertips. After listening for a while, he finally understood the reason for the matter.

His eyes lit up instantly, and he yanked his hand out of his pocket. "Hey!" he suddenly kicked the bronze Barrier Beast on his left. "Let me out and kill that dog demon!"

Upon hearing this, the two Barrier Beast shook their heads vigorously, one of them shrilly saying, "Little ancestor, that won't do! General Li specifically instructed that you can't be let out. Last time you sneaked out, you almost kicked a new recruit to death with a shuttlecock. Luckily, he was born with superhuman strength, otherwise, it would have been a disaster!"

Upon hearing this, Nezha's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of anger. He put his hands on his hips and shouted, "I'm going out to catch monsters, not to cause trouble! I promise I won't cause any unforeseen problems! Hurry up and open the barrier, don't delay my monster-catching!"

Nezha's palm erupted with Samadhi True Fire, reflecting the Demonic Markings that crawled up his neck. "I won't kick Laozi this time!" The flames suddenly surged three inches, startling the bronze scales of the Barrier Beast, causing them to rattle. "I'll just chop off that beast's dog head!"

"No! No way!" The two Barrier Beast were unusually resolute, their staffs radiating Golden Light, yet the barrier still rippled.

Nezha was so anxious that he stomped his feet. He spun around twice, his eyes darting around, and suddenly an idea came to him.

He approached the Barrier Beast with a fawning expression and said, "You two iron lumps, how about this? When I go out to catch demons, just pretend you didn't see me. When I come back, I'll bring you delicious food, I guarantee it's something you've never tasted before, how about that?"

The Barrier Beast exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, but still firmly shook their heads. "No, no, Young Master Nezha, this is no joke."

Nezha completely lost his patience. He took a few steps back and shouted, "If you don't open the barrier, don't blame me for being impolite!" As he spoke, a layer of Kakkō faintly appeared on his body, and he began to gather magic power in his hands.

Just then, Yin Shiniang's voice came from inside the mansion. "Nezha, don't be silly!"

Yin Shiniang strode out, looked at Nezha, and frowned slightly, "You child, you want to cause trouble again."

When Nezha saw his mother arrive, his momentum weakened a bit, but he still said unwillingly, "I really want to catch the monster and rid Chentang Pass of this scourge. I won't do anything reckless."

Yin Shiniang looked at Nezha with eyes full of helplessness and love. "It's good that you have this intention, but you are too naughty and so strong. I really can't help but worry about you."

Nezha frowned. "Hmph! This won't work, that won't work, they just won't let me go out! Fine, fine! I'll go rest! Let the monsters eat all the people of Chentang Pass!"

Yin Shiniang watched Nezha's departing figure and sighed silently.

Under the cover of night, the streets and alleys of Chentang Pass seem to be soaked in ink, thick and tranquil.

The dog demon ate people in Chentang Pass and then escaped. According to normal judgment, a man-eating demon is very angry and will usually commit crimes again, so there are many more soldiers patrolling.

Fang Yu, holding a spear, stood on the street, his aura subdued.

The Sharingan quietly opened, the golden Tomoe slowly swirling, its cold gaze like a sharp blade, cutting through the night inch by inch, not missing any detail in the shadows.

At the same time, his Observation Haki spread outwards in all directions from himself like invisible ripples, subtly capturing every trace of life and emotional fluctuation.

The mysterious power of Asgard magic also flowed around him, searching in the air for the unique traces of magic belonging to the dog demon.

Fang Yu followed the direction of the scent and turned into a secluded alley.

A faint, fishy stench permeated the alley; that pungent smell, like a guide in the darkness, only strengthened his conviction in his judgment.

However, the footprints abruptly disappeared in front of an abandoned house.

Fang Yu remained calm. He closed his eyes slightly, his aura becoming increasingly composed, and he fully activated his Observation Haki.

In an instant, he sensed a strong malice and fear surging from not far away.

The malice surged like a tidal wave, emanating from a strange and powerful aura, which he determined was that of the dog demon.

Fear, like a faint candle flame, flickers in the wind, emanating from a human being whose breath is weak and feeble, clearly suffering immense pain.

Fang Yu's heart tightened, and he lightly touched the ground with his feet, rushing towards the source of the aura.

Before long, a slightly dilapidated granary came into view.

He approached quietly, and through the cracks in the granary, the scene inside instantly chilled his eyes.

Old Man Li was guarding the granary, had his neck bitten tightly by the dog demon, and blood gushed out, pooling on the ground into a glaring pool of blood.

Old Man Li's eyes were filled with despair and pain, and his body was already motionless from the dog demon's bites.

"Still eating? I'm coming to arrest you!" Fang Yu roared, kicking open the granary door, his aura suddenly surging.

He clenched his right fist, Armament Haki, like black flames, instantly enveloped his fist. He leaped forward, carrying boundless rage, and unleashed a punch containing immense power!

A dull thud resounded, like a heavy hammer striking one's heartstrings.

The dog demon's head was struck head-on by the punch, its massive body swayed violently, its eyes filled with shock and pain, and it staggered back several steps, nearly falling to the ground.

Fang Yu felt the hardness of the fist and muttered to himself, "This little dog demon's strength has actually reached the Second Order Genetic Lock level. The creatures of the Investiture of the Gods World are truly more powerful than imagined!"

But he showed no sign of backing down; the power within him surged and churned through his Meridians like a raging torrent.

He clenched his fist again, his domineering Haki growing stronger, every muscle taut as a string, and with an indomitable momentum, he delivered a heavy punch to the dog demon's side!

The dog demon let out a shrill howl, and its massive body crashed heavily to the ground like a kite with a broken string.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Flames engulfed the dog demon. Fang Yu swung the Ukaku that had emerged from his body, combining it with the False Darkness of the Lightning Release: Earth Grudge Fear, unleashing his ultimate move! "Lightning Release: False Dark Feather!"

Lightning struck the dog demon, and the lightning feather, imbued with lightning-attribute chakra, pierced the dog demon's lower back!

After his limbs twitched a few times, the guy lost his ability to resist.

"My father is the Dog Demon King! My uncle is the Crow Demon King! My master is..."

New Recruit Fang Yu interrupted the dog demon, saying, "I am from the Uchiha Clan."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Mangekyō Sharingan activated, the golden Tomoe spun, the dog demon whimpered, closed its eyes, and fainted.

Fang Yu stood in front of the unconscious dog demon. A thought struck him, and the dormant Earth Grudge Fear within him seemed to receive a summons. With a strange fluctuation, four Earth Grudge Fear snaked out from his sleeves, collar, and other places.

As soon as the Earth Grudge Fear appeared, they eagerly swam toward the dog demon.

The first Water Release: Earth Grudge Fear pounced on the dog demon, opening its mouth covered with black veins and biting hard into the dog demon's hind leg.

The dog demon cried out in pain, letting out a muffled roar in its unconscious state. It tried to shake off Earth Grudge Fear, but Earth Grudge Fear held on tightly, its sharp teeth digging deep into the dog demon's flesh.

Immediately afterwards, the other three Earth Grudge Fear also found their positions and bit the dog demon's abdomen, shoulder, and neck respectively.

Like a swarm of crazed little devils, they tore and ripped at the dog demon's fur, causing blood to gush out and pool on the ground in dark red.

Fang Yu observed the changes in Earth Grudge Fear with great concentration, his heart filled with anticipation.

"This dog demon has reached the Second Order Genetic Lock level. If the Earth Grudge Fear Earth Grudge Fear devour and absorb its power, it might be able to evolve and thus enhance its own strength."

However, as time went on, Fang Yu's expression gradually turned disappointed.

Although the four Earth Grudge Fear bit the dog demon until it bled profusely, they themselves remained unchanged. Their blood vessels did not become darker, their size did not increase at all, and even their aura did not strengthen in the slightest.

"Is that not allowed?"

After a while, Fang Yu Earth Grudge Fear had indeed not gained any benefit from the dog demon, and could only sigh helplessly.

He raised his hand and waved, Earth Grudge Fear twisted their bodies and returned to Fang Yu's side, crawling up his arm and into his sleeve, becoming masks again and hiding inside Fang Yu's body.

"It seems that we'll have to refine this monster into a pill before it will be of any use."

Since things have come to this point, we can only give up.

He hoisted the dog demon onto his shoulder and walked heavily toward the Li Jing's Mansion.

The moonlight shone on him, casting a long shadow.

When he arrived at the gate of the Li Jing's Mansion, Old Zhang's Wife was still kneeling there, crying mournfully.

Li Jing and Yin Shiniang's comforting words to Old Zhang's Wife, along with the rain shelter they built and the quilts they provided, did not stop Zhang from crying. On the contrary, her son, whom she had late in life, was fast asleep, sleeping soundly.

Fang Yu threw the dog demon on the ground, his voice slowly drifting back. "I've caught the demon, stop crying."

Old Zhang's Wife raised her head, her face streaked with tears, and looked at the dog demon on the ground. A look of disbelief flashed in her eyes at first, and then they were filled with endless hatred and grief.

She knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly to Fang Yu, saying, "Thank you, brave warrior! Thank you for standing up for my man!"

The soldiers patrolling around were initially attracted by the noise at the entrance and gathered around out of curiosity.

But when they saw the dog demon on the ground, no longer majestic, and tightly bound by iron chains, everyone was so shocked they couldn't close their mouths.

"My God!" A soldier's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice rising several decibels involuntarily. "Did Fang Yu really do this all by himself? When that dog demon ran away, so many of us couldn't stop it, yet he managed to capture it alive?"

"That's right!" another soldier said, casting an admiring glance at Fang Yu. "I heard that after the dog demon escaped, Fang Yu has been searching for its whereabouts tirelessly, day and night. I didn't expect him to actually succeed!"

"My goodness, what incredible skill that is!" someone exclaimed in amazement. "The entire Sixth Team almost perished at the hands of the dog demon, but he single-handedly took care of this menace. From now on, Chen Chentang Pass has gained another formidable warrior!"

The murmurs of the crowd grew louder and louder, engulfing Fang Yu like a tidal wave.

Among the crowd, Wang Sanpao was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped to the ground. He stood there with his mouth agape, speechless for a long time.

Recalling the perilous encounter with the dog demon while patrolling with Fang Yu, he still felt lingering fear. But now, Fang Yu had captured the ferocious monster on his own, a stark contrast that he found hard to accept.

"Brother Fang... Brother Fang, you're amazing!" Wang Sanpao finally managed to find his voice and stammered, "I thought we were helpless against this dog demon, but I never expected you to..."

Zhao Sanmazi, who had been blaming himself for letting the dog demon escape, finally felt a Taiseki lifted from his heart when he saw Fang Yu capture the dog demon.

He pushed through the crowd and strode up to Fang Yu, his eyes slightly red. He gripped Fang Yu's hands tightly, his voice trembling, "Brother, thank you so much! If you hadn't caught that dog demon, I'm afraid I would never be able to shake off this guilt for the rest of my life. You really helped me a lot!"

Fang Yu nodded slightly. "No problem, no problem, just treat me to a drink."

Just then, Li Jing and Yin Shiniang hurriedly came out of the mansion.

Li Jing immediately spotted the dog demon lying on the ground, looking defiant, while Yin Shiniang beside him also showed a look of surprise.

After the dog demon escaped, they had been keeping a close eye on the matter, knowing how troublesome it was. They never expected that it would be solved by a mere soldier.

"Fang Yu, did you capture this dog demon?" Li Jing's voice was deep yet powerful, carrying a hint of scrutiny and inquiry.

Fang Yu stepped forward and said, "Reporting to the General, it is I."

Li Jing nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. "Good, good! You have rendered meritorious service in capturing the demon. Tomorrow, the entire Chentang Pass will be notified, and you will be rewarded!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers around Fang Yu looked at him with even greater envy.

To receive public praise from Li Jing and have it reported throughout the city—what an honor for a lowly soldier!

Their future prospects are limitless.

Fang Yu maintained a calm demeanor on the surface, but inwardly he was thinking...

If I can become a familiar face to Li Jing, it might really open up another way out in this perilous Investiture of the Gods World.

Li Jing shifted his gaze from Fang Yu to the woman kneeling on the ground. "Zhang Shi, remember to go to the official document office tomorrow to collect your pension. No matter what, you still have to raise the child."

Zhang quickly kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, General Li!"

"Alright, everyone, you can all leave now!"

The group left the Li Manor chatting and laughing. Just as Li Jing and Yin Shiniang turned around, Fang Yu's Observation Haki overheard their conversation.

"Can Nezha's birthday banquet attract so many people?"

"Hmph, I am the dignified General of Chentang Pass. Even if I have to beg on my knees, these people will still come to celebrate with Nezha!"

Fang Yu's nostrils twitched slightly. He gritted his teeth and complained, "Damn it! At least Ninja World Fang Yu has ten months of growth period. How come I'm expected to have a birthday banquet and Heavenly Tribulation right from the start, flooding Chentang Pass?"

Stephen Fang: "What's the difference between this and opening your eyes to see Nick Fury turn to ashes and the space communicator fall to the ground?"

"There's a huge difference! I can't Reboot the Timeline here!"

Bruce Yu: "No way, let's get rid of this!"

Pirate World Fang Yu: "I also think it's better to run away."

New Recruit Fang Yu thought it over and over, then shook his head. "Running away directly is no different from leaving Konoha at the start of the game. I might as well take a gamble and usher in my moment of glory!"