Jing Hongchen Took His Whole Family and Ran Off

The Soul Tool vehicle traveled along the imperial road for four full days. At last, on the evening of the fourth day, it stopped outside a small border town at the foot of the Ming Dou Mountain Range.

It was called a town, but really, it was little more than a large supply station.

Low walls of gray stone surrounded a few dozen scattered households. Several old soldiers squatted at the street corner, basking in the sun, while the smell of horse dung and rust mingled in the air.

This was already the westernmost edge of the Sun Moon Empire's territory. One step farther lay the Ming Dou Mountain Range, stretching across the border between the two empires, and beyond it, the defensive line of the Star Luo Empire's Western Army Group.

Jing Hongchen wasted no time. He found a reasonably clean inn for travelers and took the three children there to rest for the night.

Early the next morning, after the three had finished their steaming meat buns, Jing Hongchen led them toward the military camp in the Ming Dou Mountain Range.

As they walked, Bao Liang stuffed the last half of an osmanthus cake into his mouth and asked indistinctly, "Grandpa Jing, aren't we going straight over the mountains? Why are we heading to the military camp?"

Jing Hongchen chuckled and tapped him on the head. "Do you really think this is a sightseeing trip?"

He slowed his pace and lowered his voice to explain to the three children-

This place bordered the Star Luo Empire and was a vital military defense line for both empires.

Aside from the troops stationed here, the only people who came were those delivering supplies to the front. Who else would dare wander up to the border for no reason?

What, were they trying to cross the border illegally? Or sell state secrets?

Besides, he, Jing Hongchen, wasn't alone now.

The esteemed Duke Hongchen of the Sun Moon Empire, the master of Mingde Hall, was heading to the Douluo Continent with his whole family in tow. If he slipped across without so much as a word to the military...

Take a guess: would the man on the throne be so nervous he'd lose his mind?

A Level 9 Soul Engineer and the master of Mingde Hall was taking his entire family to an enemy country, without a single explanation or report, and the emperor couldn't even find out why he was doing it.

If he really did that, everyone from top to bottom in the Sun Moon Empire, guilty or innocent, would be put through the wringer.

"So," Jing Hongchen said, spreading his hands, "we have to report to the military camp first.

Rules are rules. Even Grandpa can't be an exception."

Before long, the group arrived at the outskirts of the military camp.

The main defense line in the Ming Dou Mountain Range was a colossal wall built along the mountains. More than thirty meters high and nearly fifty meters wide, it was reinforced with black ironstone and Soul Tool runes. From a distance, it looked like an iron-gray dragon sprawled across the ridgeline.

Military camps were densely distributed along the eastern foothills, arranged in staggered layers stretching deep into the rear. At night, patrols carried torches, Soul Tool detection arrays overlapped layer upon layer, and guards kept watch both openly and in secret. The security was strict enough to make one's scalp tingle.

The moment Jing Hongchen stepped into the camp's perimeter, a vast surge of Soul Power swept toward him from the direction of the central command tent-

The next instant, the tent flap flew open, and a towering, iron-tower-like figure strode out. Soul Power surged around him, and his presence was unmistakably that of a Titled Douluo.

The newcomer wore the standard heavy Soul Engineer armor of the Sun Moon Empire's military, with the fearsome emblem of the Evil Lord Soul Engineer Corps engraved on his shoulder plates.

His gaze swept over the group and landed on Jing Hongchen. He froze, utterly dumbfounded.

He was Mad Bull Douluo Wang Yiheng, commander of the Evil Lord Soul Engineer Corps and the Sun Moon Empire's highest military officer on the Ming Dou Mountain Range front. What was he seeing?

He was seeing the master of Mingde Hall, traveling light with his entire family, showing up at the border?!

Was this some kind of joke?!

"Um, Hall Master Hongchen..." Wang Yiheng opened his mouth and stammered, "What brings you...?"

Jing Hongchen saw at a glance why he was stuttering. The fellow most likely thought he was about to defect to the Douluo Continent.

"Rest assured, Commander Wang." Jing Hongchen waved a hand, calm and composed. "I, Jing Hongchen, have no desire for the primitive life of those humanlike beings gathered over on the Douluo Continent.

I came today to head to the Star Dou Great Forest and hunt for the second soul ring and Third Soul Ring for my grandson and grandson-in-law. At the same time, I'll give the children some practical experience, let them broaden their horizons and face real, living Soul Beasts."

Hearing that, Wang Yiheng finally breathed a small sigh of relief.

Why Jing Hongchen was leaving was none of his business, and he couldn't do anything about it anyway.

But if he really let the master of Mingde Hall leave without reporting a word to his superiors, he'd be in for a world of pain.

"These must be your grandchildren." Wang Yiheng turned his gaze to Bao Liang and the other two, a rare hint of a smile appearing on his face. "What fine young people they are."

The three children stood obediently in a row.

Meng Hongchen smiled sweetly, Bao Liang held his tongue for once, and Xiao Hongchen gave a slight nod, looking like a little adult.

"All right, then." Wang Yiheng waved a hand. "Please take care, Hall Master Hongchen. The border hasn't been very safe lately, so please come back early as well."

"Mm, I will," Jing Hongchen replied. He then turned and led Bao Liang and the others into the shadow of the mountains.

The route they took was a hidden trail through the Ming Dou Mountain Range, used for crossing the border illegally. It led straight to the Star Dou Great Forest on the other side.

As for why such a trail existed...

Ah, that couldn't be spoken of, couldn't be spoken of.

But as Jing Hongchen and the others left, Wang Yiheng's gaze settled on Bao Liang, about whom even he had little detailed information.

Before long, Jing Hongchen had led the three children past the defensive line of the Star Luo Empire's Western Army Group, commanded by the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao.

It was an iron wall stretching a thousand miles, with five hundred thousand troops stationed along the mountains. A distant glimpse of that colossal wall and the densely packed camps was enough to make one's throat tighten.

The moment they crossed the defense line, Xiao Hongchen suddenly stopped. His face full of excitement, he looked back longingly in the direction of the Evil Lord Soul Engineer Corps.

Bao Liang followed his gaze and asked in puzzlement, "Xiao, what are you looking back for? Commander Wang isn't going to chase after you and give you candy."

"What do you know?" For once, Xiao Hongchen didn't snap back at him. Instead, his eyes shone. "My Martial Soul is the Three-Legged Golden Toad. Aside from a metal environment, a battlefield is the most suitable Mimicry Cultivation Environment for it.

"Besides..."

He paused, a longing he hadn't even noticed himself entering his voice. "I've always liked the atmosphere and feel of the military."

Bao Liang and Meng Hongchen exchanged a glance and didn't disturb him further.

After crossing the defense line, the group finally entered the territory of the Star Dou Great Forest.

A boundless sea of trees stretched before them, ancient trunks towering into the sky. The scent of damp earth, mixed with the distinctly bloody breeze of Soul Beasts, hit them in the face.

The farther in they went, the dimmer the light became. Even the air seemed to grow thicker.

At the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Jing Hongchen stopped and turned to Bao Liang and the others.

"All right, children, we've reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Just as I told Mad Bull Douluo, another reason I brought you along this time was to let you get a taste of blood early."

His gaze swept over the three, and his tone grew more serious. "You usually train together, so now we'll put that training to an early test. We'll start with ten-year and hundred-year Soul Beasts.

"Are you confident?"

"Yes!" Bao Liang and the other two answered in unison.

Aside from cultivating together, the three of them often sparred with one another and fought as a team. They had long since developed the tacit understanding needed to work together. Now it was time to test the results of their training.

Jing Hongchen nodded in satisfaction and raised a hand, patting Bao Liang, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen each a few times. Silently, he placed several Level 3 trigger-activated Defensive Soul Tools on them. Then, with a flicker, he vanished into the shadows among the trees.

He left the scene to the children.

Xiao Hongchen promptly took the position of captain. He poured a heap of ranged Soul Tools out of his Storage Soul Tool and began assigning tasks.

"Bao Liang, you have the hardest job. Take point, get your bombs ready, and use your second bomb to watch for any dangers that might appear."

"Meng, you're responsible for guarding the flanks. Be ready to provide support at any time.

"I'll hold the rear and be ready to deliver firepower whenever it's needed."

Xiao Hongchen looked up at Bao Liang. "Bao Liang, can you do it?"

"Leave it to me," Bao Liang replied without hesitation. Meng Hongchen nodded firmly as well.

Then Bao Liang and the other two advanced slowly into the depths of the forest, maintaining a triangular formation.