Entering the City Again

Hearing Li Yan state his intentions so clearly, Strategist Ji felt greatly relieved. Perhaps after I recuperate, I truly won't need to venture deep into that dangerous place again. Let this boy reach the peak of the first layer of the Qi Condensation Realm as soon as possible. Once I break through to the fourth layer, I may still have to investigate the place marked on that map.

With that settled, Strategist Ji rose to his feet, preparing to return and recuperate in peace. But as soon as he stood up, he saw Li Yan looking as though he wanted to speak but hesitated. Smiling, he asked, "Is there anything else?"

Li Yan gathered his courage and said, "Teacher, this disciple wishes to enter the city."

The faint smile on Strategist Ji's face froze. Then his brows rose. "For what?"

Li Yan hurriedly replied, "Please do not blame me, Teacher. This disciple merely wishes to give some silver to fellow villagers in the city and have them take it back to my parents. Also... also, this disciple wishes to go out and take a walk. I have been cultivating in the valley all this time, and lately I have felt that my state of mind is unstable. My progress has slowed somewhat, so I thought going out for a stroll might help my state of mind."

Strategist Ji fell silent. In his heart, he thought it would be best if Li Yan spent all twelve shichen of every day cultivating. Even then, he would still find Li Yan's cultivation too slow. Yet what Li Yan said now was well-founded. If he truly refused, the boy would inevitably harbor resentment, and his cultivation would likely yield twice the effort for half the result.

Seeing Li Yan's uneasy expression, Strategist Ji broke into a smile. "Mm, that is reasonable. Go, then. But have Chen An and Li Yin accompany you. The two of them are familiar with matters in the city, while you have been cultivating here all this time and do not know many of its people or things. With them along, your errands will be easier to handle."

Li Yan's unease was genuine. He truly had no idea what the outcome would be if he made such a request. If this teacher of his became suspicious now, then any hope of escaping afterward would be vanishingly slim. When he heard that he was permitted to leave, joy rose in his heart. Yet Strategist Ji's following words made his heart sink.

By the time he had heard it all, how could he fail to understand? This was not consideration for him at all. It was plainly an arrangement for the two men to watch him at every moment. If he wished to flee, it would be exceedingly difficult. Chen An and Li Yin had surely been instructed not to leave his side for even half a step. He had originally planned to circle around the city after going out, then find a chance to hide and escape. But now, that idea seemed painfully naïve.

"Thank you, Teacher!" Li Yan showed a delighted expression and bowed.

"Mm. Go pack your things. I'll go give Chen An and Li Yin their instructions. Whatever you need done, have the two of them handle it directly." With that, he turned and left the room.

Li Yan stood where he was in silence for a while, then turned and took out the silver from his chest. I can only take one step at a time. If there is an opportunity, I must leave. But no matter what, I have to bring this silver first. If I can escape, it will serve me in the days to come. If I cannot, then I will give it all to Li Shan or Li Yu and have someone from the village deliver it to Father and Mother.

When Li Yan arrived at the mouth of the valley, Chen An and Li Yin were already standing there with their hands lowered respectfully. The stone door to Strategist Ji's residence on the inner side of the valley entrance had closed, and a black wooden plaque hung from the handle outside the door. Yet he knew full well that if he tried to flee the valley now, Strategist Ji inside would certainly

appear before him at the very first moment.

"Young master, shall we enter the city now?"

Li Yan's thoughts were interrupted. He looked up to see Chen An gazing at him with a flattering smile, and he could not help sighing inwardly. Of the two men before him, one was slick and worldly, while the other was meticulous to a fault. How could it be easy to slip beyond their sight?

"Let's go." With that, he lifted his leg and headed toward the square outside the valley entrance.

"Young master, shall we ride horses, or walk there?" Chen An caught up from behind and asked.

Li Yan stopped and turned around. "Oh? We can ride horses? Then why did Teacher walk?"

"Of course we can. My lord simply prefers it that way. Besides, a distance of around two li is not very far to begin with," Chen An replied.

"Good. Then let's ride," Li Yan said after a brief pause.

"Yes, Young Master," the two replied with bows.

When Li Yan stood in the square outside the valley, he turned back and looked at the three large words, "Strategist's Residence," above the entrance. A feeling rose within him as though he had returned to the human world. Though this square was still the same square, the two rows of stone houses remained as before, and the soldiers standing guard or resting were still the same, along with the few women permitted to enter the valley every day, it felt like two different worlds, two different kinds of air. At the same time, he could sense that once outside the valley, the spiritual energy here was nearly nonexistent. That refreshing feeling with every breath had also vanished. Yet he still preferred the air here, because it carried the scent of freedom.

The soldiers outside the stone houses watched Li Yan standing in the middle of the square. Although this was already their third time meeting him, they still felt that he was shrouded in mystery.

Chen An and Li Yin had by then led three fine horses from the woods behind the stone houses. Each was sleek, well-fed, and sturdy, clearly an excellent military steed.

On the winding mountain path, lush trees lined both sides. It was late autumn, and dark green interwove with golden yellow as far as the eye could see. Sunlight scattered down through the towering, broad canopies, shining upon the three riders moving slowly below. The clip-clop of hooves echoed through the mountain forest.

Though only two months had passed in the valley, his thoughts had changed greatly. He had long regarded the world outside the valley as a vast blue sky. As for whether he could henceforth soar like a bird through it, his heart remained lost in a fog.

Before long, they passed through the forest path. Turning right, they reached the official road.

The three rode toward the north gate of Green Mountain Pass. Along the way, Li Yan deliberately tried several times to pull ahead of Chen An and Li Yin, sometimes speeding up and sometimes slowing down. Yet with his three-legged-cat horsemanship learned in the village, he could not shake them no matter what he did. One glance was enough to tell that both men had once been fierce, elite soldiers in the army.

Although Li Yan was now at the first layer of the Qi Condensation Realm, he had never learned any immortal arts. Even his martial skills amounted to nothing more than a few crude village tricks. Though he felt that using spiritual power to drive those simple moves might

possibly allow him to kill the two men, this was broad daylight, and fighting two imperial soldiers dressed in military uniforms here would bring nothing but more soldiers. Secondly, he merely imagined that spiritual power might greatly increase the might of those village tricks. He had never tried practicing them in the valley. If Strategist Ji learned that he had been secretly practicing mortal martial arts for no reason, he would inevitably grow wary of him. Thirdly, these two clearly looked like hardened soldiers tempered by the slaughter of the battlefield. Even against one of them, Li Yan had no confidence. Against both at once, his chances of victory were truly not great.

After secretly observing them several times, Li Yan could only give up on the idea of escaping outside the city in frustration.

A journey of around two li passed in the blink of an eye on horseback. They overtook pedestrians, merchants, and carts also heading toward the city gate, and soon the north gate came into view in the distance. At that moment, two rows of soldiers were inspecting merchants, travelers, and pedestrians entering and leaving Green Mountain Pass.

Though their three fine horses were not charging at full speed, they were still moving rather quickly and drew some attention. Soldiers guarding the gate had already gathered with weapons in hand, watching them.

Li Yan had not intended this. He was simply sandwiched between Chen An and Li Yin, and the two had unconsciously driven the pace much faster. By his nature, the more inconspicuous he could be, the more it suited him. He began pulling on the reins to slow down, but even so, they still galloped quickly up to the city gate.

"Who goes there? Riding so recklessly—are you not afraid of violating military law?" One of the gate guards drew his saber with a clang and leaped before the others. The soldiers behind him instantly leveled their spears, several icy spearheads aimed directly at the three horses' necks and bellies.

Li Yan saw cold flashes of steel blaze before his eyes. If his horse had rushed two more steps forward, a spear could have pierced through its neck and skewered him into a candied hawthorn skewer along with it. Just then, a hand suddenly reached over from beside him and yanked hard on his reins. The three warhorses reared up on their hind legs, whinnying several times before retreating a few paces and coming to a stop.

"Old Liu, your inner fire is burning a little too fiercely, isn't it? Hahaha!" Chen An laughed as he leaped down from his horse. Only then did Li Yan see clearly that Li Yin held the reins of one horse in one hand and Li Yan's reins in the other, bringing both horses to a stop at the same time.

"Oh, I was wondering who it was. So it was Steward Chen, promoted to the Strategist's Residence. Are you trying to force your way through the city gate?" the man who had leaped out said darkly.

"Old Liu, I've gone from being the leader of a squad to an ordinary soldier in the residence, and you're still nagging me? I'm accompanying Lord Li into the city on business. Lord Li did not handle his horse's speed properly. Please forgive us, please forgive us! Heh heh."

"Lord Li? Which Lord Li? Eh?"

Li Yan had already dismounted, ashamed beyond measure. His riding skills were truly too terrible; he had nearly charged through the gate. He tossed aside the reins and looked up at the officer standing in the road, preparing to apologize. Yet when he saw the man's face clearly, he too froze.

The officer on guard was none other than Liu Chengyong, whom he had met during his first entry into the city. Liu Chengyong also seemed to recognize him, but he did not dare be certain. After all, they had met only once.

"Here, this is Lord Li's badge." Chen An held the reins in one hand while taking a badge from his person with the other and tossing it over.

Liu Chengyong reached out and caught the badge. Looking down, he saw that it was the badge of a Deputy Defender Lieutenant. This rank was several grades above his own ninth-rank position. He could not help being startled, and hurriedly looked back up at Li Yan, whose face was full of apology.

Seeing Liu Chengyong look toward him, Li Yan hastily cupped his fists in salute. "Greetings, Captain Liu. My riding skills were poor just now, and I startled everyone. I offer my apologies."

"You are? You're that boy from Li Family Village on Great Green Mountain—" The moment the words left his mouth, Liu Chengyong realized that he had lost his composure and caused trouble. He hurriedly clasped his hands in salute. "This subordinate was rash. This subordinate knows his offense. Please punish me, my lord."

This left Li Yan dumbfounded. After a moment, he hesitantly looked toward Chen An and Li Yin. Li Yin held a horse's reins in each hand, his expression solemn and his mouth shut as ever. Chen An gave the bowed Liu Chengyong, who was waiting to receive punishment, a surprised glance before stepping forward and bowing. "Young Master, please forgive Captain Liu for his verbal offense. Did you two know each other before?"

"We did. The first time I came to Green Mountain Pass to enlist, Captain Liu was the one who inspected and let me through. But why is Captain Liu acting this way?"

Chen An was highly versed in the ways of the world, and after a brief thought, he understood Li Yan's confusion. He came to Li Yan's side and said in a low voice, "Young Master, you now hold the position of Deputy Defender Lieutenant. You are Captain Liu's superior. The badge shown to him just now is yours. It is only that after it was issued, you rarely went out, so it had been kept with Lord Ji. Lord Ji only gave it to this subordinate when we left today, so it would be easier to conduct business in the city. As for Captain Liu's slip of the tongue just now, that is why..." Chen An looked at Li Yan with some difficulty. Recently, he had suffered greatly under this young master's temper. Who knew whether he might suddenly erupt today? He could not help worrying somewhat for Liu Chengyong.

The twenty soldiers stationed at the Strategist's Residence had all been selected from different battalions. Chen An himself had once served in the second squad of the War C Battalion, so he and Liu Chengyong could be considered old acquaintances. They had worked together many times on the battlefield and had rolled through life and death together. It was only that Liu Chengyong now remained loyal to Marshal Hong, while Chen An leaned more toward Strategist Ji.

After hearing this, Li Yan's face showed sudden understanding. He knew that he held some military position, but he knew nothing of what he actually did or how high his rank was. Now it appeared that his position was higher than this city gate captain's. What he did not know was that it was far more than merely a little higher—his rank was actually two or three grades above Liu Chengyong's. Marshal Hong had granted him this post only as an empty title, knowing that he would later walk another path. It was merely a favor granted in passing to give Strategist Ji more face. Strategist Ji also had his own plans. Not to mention an eighth-rank lower post—even if Li Yan were given the position of strategist, as long as Hong Linying had the ability to arrange it, he would have no objection. Whether Li Yan would live long enough to enjoy that position, however, was another matter entirely.