Meeting Commander Zha

Xiao Changlin and his companions pushed their wheelbarrow along the official road to Sunset City.

The closer they got to Sunset City, the more travelers they encountered. They went in groups of three or five, driving horse-drawn carriages, and most were merchants.

The journey passed without incident, and none of them stopped to rest. Before noon, they finally reached Sunset City.

Inspections at the city gate were as strict as ever. They paid it no mind and joined the line to wait for inspection.

"Xiao Fan, Xiao Fan, come on! Let's see what's posted at the gate." Xiao Feng held the wheelbarrow with one hand and pointed at the enormous notice by the gate with the other.

The line was still very long and moving slowly. With nothing else to do anyway, Ye Fan went along.

The two had just reached the notice and had yet to look up at it when they heard several people gathered around it talking.

"Have you heard? Our Sunset City garrison set out for Wuling City last night! Something big must have happened, right?"

"Wuling City? That's Qian Kingdom's gateway to Wu Kingdom. Could Wu Kingdom be about to attack again?"

"No way. How long has it been since the ceasefire? Wu Kingdom can't hold itself back already? Looks like the Battle of Cloud Mountain last time didn't teach those Wu Kingdom bastards a lesson!"

"It's not impossible. The old emperor has just passed away, and the new emperor hasn't secured his footing! Wu Kingdom wants to take advantage of the instability in our kingdom and throw stones down the well while we're in it!"

"Those Wu Kingdom bastards! I hope the new emperor teaches them a harsh lesson this time, so they'll never dare stir up wind and waves again!"

The two read through the notice. It was a recruitment notice. From what they'd heard the others say, they got a rough idea of what was happening.

There was going to be a war!

They squeezed out of the crowd and returned to the line.

"Xiao Fan, Xiao Feng, what's posted at the gate? Why are so many people gathered around it?"

"Oh, it's a recruitment notice issued by Sunset City. The people there were saying there might be a war at Wuling City soon!"

"Wuling City? Where's that? Is it far from here?"

That question stumped them both. Who knew exactly where Wuling City was?

"Wuling City is north of Sunset City. Once you pass beyond Sunset City's territory, you reach Wuling City. The two cities face each other across a river," said Xiao Changlin, who had been silent the whole journey.

"Then it's not far from us. Could Wu Kingdom fight its way here? We haven't even finished building our village!"

"Judging from the previous battles, that's unlikely! But Qian Kingdom has a new emperor on the throne, so it's hard to say how this war will turn out!"

"So that means it's still possible the fighting could reach Sunset City?"

"Don't worry about things that aren't ours to worry about! Let's do what we're supposed to do!"

"Mm, exactly. At worst, we can just go back to the mountains. We were all driven into the mountains by war in the first place. There's no shame in going back." It was Chen Yunye who spoke. He was a little older than Ye Fan and the others, and he'd heard plenty from the older generation about how they had fled to the mountains!

"Come on. Once we're through the inspection, let's hurry and buy what we need! We'll try to get back before sunset."

When they reached the checkpoint, the soldiers didn't inspect them very closely. They gave them a cursory search and let them through.

"(⊙o⊙) Wow, it's so bustling inside Sunset City! People are coming and going in a constant stream, and even the road is paved with bluestone bricks! They clack when you step on them."

"These streets are so wide and clean! If only our Phoenix Cry Village could be built like this!" Xiao Feng said enviously.

The others ignored him!

Comparing a village to a city-you were the first to do that.

"Uncle Xiao, where do we go to buy grain and seeds? There are so many shops here."

"The Ever-Normal Granary. Every city has one! Great kingdoms build them to ensure supplies. They normally stockpile all kinds of provisions and open to supply them during wartime. Now the Ever-Normal Granary has another function: selling seeds for crops in season!"

"The Ever-Normal Granary? Sunset City is so big. How are we supposed to find it?"

"...If you don't know, can't you ask?" Chen Yunye immediately shot back.

"...Oh, right! You really are the one to ask, Brother Chen. You're older, so your brain works better." Xiao Feng refused to be outdone.

"All right, let's go on ahead and find someone to ask!"

"Excuse me, sir, which way is Sunset City's Ever-Normal Granary?" Xiao Changlin approached a middle-aged man and cupped his hands as he asked.

"The Ever-Normal Granary is on the street north of the city defense camp. Go straight from here, and when you reach the city lord's residence, turn left. You'll see the city defense camp," the man said to Xiao Changlin, pointing the way.

Sunset City had two major military installations, one on either side of the city lord's residence: the city defense camp to the west and the three camps to the east. The city defense camp mainly housed troops dispatched from the national capital, while the three camps housed locally recruited soldiers. The two forces defended the city together, maintaining the peace in Sunset City.

"Thank you, sir. Farewell!"

They headed in the direction the man had indicated.

The Ever-Normal Granary was a strategic location in a city, packed with wartime supplies and equipment. As such, it was always heavily guarded, with constant patrols and guards stationed both openly and in secret.

They had only just entered the street when a patrol came to question them. Only after everything had been verified were they allowed through.

The Ever-Normal Granary!

The three large characters were bold and powerful! A wooden palisade covered in iron spikes surrounded the massive gate and walls. The place was heavily guarded.

They had just started forward to ask when a guard at the granary gate raised a hand to stop them. "This is a major granary of Qian Kingdom. Unauthorized persons are not allowed near!"

"Sir soldier, we're here to buy grain seeds!"

"If you're buying grain seeds, go to the side granary. The main granary and the normal granary aren't open to the public! Go on ahead. There's a sign up, so find it yourselves!" With that, he stood at his post and paid them no further attention.

"Thank you."

After thanking him, they continued farther in.

Several people were lined up outside the side granary, apparently there to buy grain seeds as well. The group pushed their wheelbarrow into line behind them.

A man wearing an official's hat and robes, with a large character for "granary" on the back, was checking the people in line ahead. He seemed to be the person in charge here.

They were standing in line when the granary official called out loudly, "The commander is here!"

Several men emerged from the storeroom and formed two lines, gripping spears in their hands!

The official with "granary" on his back immediately stepped forward and saluted.

"No need for a big fuss. I'm only here for a routine inspection today. Get back to your work!"

"Yes, Commander!" The two lines of officials stood at attention and withdrew in neat strides, returning to the storeroom and standing ramrod straight.

"It's Commander Zha!" Xiao Changlin said quietly after turning around and getting a good look at him.

"Father, do you know him?" Xiao Feng asked curiously.

"Yes. The last time I came to Sunset City with the old village chief to arrange the village's relocation, he was the one who handled it!"

"In that case, this Commander Zha must be a pretty good man, then!" Xiao Feng continued.

"Yes. He holds a high position but isn't arrogant, and he treats people with courtesy. He's a good official!"

"Oh, I see..."

"Commander, over here, over here! Do you still remember my father?" The unfilial Xiao Feng waved and shouted, heedless of the danger.

Xiao Changlin???

What a little bastard!!!

"How dare you! Back away at once!" The official with "granary" on his back immediately shouted to stop him.

"No matter!" Commander Zha waved a hand at his subordinate.

"Young friend, you said your father..." Commander Zha said, puzzled.

"Commander Zha, please forgive him. My son doesn't know any better. We met last time, at Bright Virtue Academy!" Xiao Changlin said helplessly. This little brat really is a blockhead. Ke'er is much better.

"I remember now. It was about relocating the village! How is your old village chief's health now?"

"Sorry for troubling you to ask, Commander. The old village chief is in good health!"

"Then have you come back to Sunset City today because you've run into some difficulty?" Commander Zha looked over each of them in turn.

"Hmm, this boy has such powerful protective Gang Qi! Spiritual Qi fills his body and emerges through it. He's being so conspicuous. Could he be from some higher sect?"

"And who is this young friend?" Commander Zha asked cautiously.

Hmm? Me?

"I'm Ye Fan. Greetings, Commander!"

"Young Friend Ye, you have a remarkable bearing! May I ask which sect you come from?"

Ye Fan panicked inwardly. Could the commander have noticed something?

Xiao Changlin was also a little surprised. Could Ye Fan be hiding some secret?