Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 66 - 66 58 Purchasing Weapons

66: Chapter 58 Purchasing Weapons 66: Chapter 58 Purchasing Weapons Jiang Fugui was stupefied for a long time.

He was not deaf, and he could hear every word clearly, yet he didn’t understand why he couldn’t comprehend them when strung together.

“Sir, how could Ze County possibly be lost?

Although Ze County is vast and conducive to cavalry, all those barbarians are the grandsons of horseback.

If they roam around and fail to return, isn’t that seeking death?”

Barbarians often plundered south, but they could hardly stay for long, nearly lacking logistics support.

Their southward ventures were solely to rob, and after looting, each one of them would be jingling with a large load of items, making them essentially incapable of combat.

Sometimes, there was no need for Daqian to send troops, as the heavily fortified cities alone could deter them from staying long.

Once the Daqian army arrived on the scene, they would undoubtedly perish.

Beside him, Qin Mian said, “I fear it’s not as simple as just barbarian cavalry.

Some local powers are colluding with the barbarians to rebel, and I’ve heard that the court is already preparing to recall the Great General.”

“That’s why, Fugui, you should head south first, leaving me a way out.”

Gu Wen turned to Qin Mian and said, “I appreciate your efforts, Ten Generals Qin.

Here are fifty taels of silver as a token of gratitude.

If you ever wish to head south to find refuge, you may join me.”

Qin Mian’s face lit up with joy, knowing he was now half under Gu Wen’s command.

He quickly bowed and said, “Mr.

Wen, you’re too kind.”

However, Gu Wen didn’t trust him.

Sending Jiang Fugui to the south was inevitable and also served as a means to gauge the attitude of the Zhao family.

Could he leave if his subordinates couldn’t?

The next day, Gu Wen received news that Jiang Fugui’s attempt to leave had failed; he was stopped by the Shipping Bureau, which withheld his travel permit.

Then, through some connections, he successfully helped Jiang Fugui and his family escape.

From this, Gu Wen was certain that the Zhao family never intended to let him leave.

It probably wasn’t because they detected his cultivation; his clue was that he could facilitate escape through his connections.

Orders have their effective periods.

Initially, they were extremely strict, but if there were no further developments, they gradually relaxed.

Thus, there must be spies around the house—trusted aides, servants, or guards could all be problematic.

Gu Wen called Qin Mian for a private meeting and straightforwardly asked, “Ten Generals Qin, what do you think about the current state of Daqian?”

At present, he was the least suspicious because if he had been a spy, Jiang Fugui wouldn’t have been able to leave Bianjing.

Qin Mian hesitated for a moment, not answering immediately, instead observing Gu Wen’s expression.

Gu Wen continued, “I feel that Bianjing is no longer safe.

Barbarians have clashed with the border forces for years, and now barbarian cavalry has occupied a county’s worth of land.

In my early years, I acquired some farmland in Nanshui and considering temporarily leaving Bianjing, I’d like to hear your advice, Ten Generals Qin.”

With such clear intentions, Qin Mian no longer concealed his thoughts and said, “To be honest with you, Mr.

Wen, the border military situation has been tense.

Now that the Great General and some elites have been recalled to suppress the rebellion, the frontier is bound to be lost.”

“But the court has no choice but to do so.

If they allow the barbarians to secure a foothold in Ze County, Divine Capital’s lands will be utterly exposed to the enemy’s iron hooves.

So, the court must suppress the rebellion, and Mr.

Wen need not worry.”

Gu Wen said, “It’s only temporary.

It might be better to first stabilize our footing in Nanshui and live a peaceful life thereafter.”

His desire to leave was normal, and outsiders couldn’t fault him for it.

A merchant thinking of escape in troubled times was hardly strange.

“What do you mean, Mr.

Wen?”

“I have a task for you to handle a postal station permit.

If you wish, you may accompany me to Nanshui.”

A postal station permit was akin to a Daqian all-access pass, typically impossible to buy.

However, trafficking official items had become rampant in both Bianjing and broader Daqian.

With the right connections and money, nearly anything could be purchased.

A gleeful expression crossed Qin Mian’s face as he responded, “Yes.”

Originally, he was just a minor soldier in the imperial guard, and owing his promotion to Ten Generals to Gu Wen’s favor.

As a man of the military camps, Qin Mian was even more pessimistic about Daqian’s prospects; he was acutely aware of how corrupt the Daqian army was.

The border troops were an exception, firmly led by Great General Wenren Wu, whose combat strength was undoubtable.

But aside from the border troops, the rest of Daqian’s forces, including those in Bianjing, were nearly crippled.

If he could flee, he definitely would, and he recognized Gu Wen’s capability; following him would at least ensure a full belly.

Another day passed, and the permit was bought.

Gu Wen confirmed that Qin Mian was reliable, and the Zhao family’s surveillance of him had neither weakened nor unexpectedly intensified.

‘The Zhao family still doesn’t know I possess cultivation, or the imperial guard would have surrounded this place long ago.’

He didn’t plan to run, because Bianjing still allowed him rapid access to Heavenly Marrow and Emperor Jelly.

Moreover, as his strength continually increased, like a snowball growing larger, Gu Wen’s speed in acquiring resources would only become faster.

Acting rashly now would only startle the enemy; better to first refine the medicinal fruits.

With strength, all the Zhao family’s moves would be in vain.

On that same afternoon, Gu Wen received a letter from the leader of the guard in front of the hall, brought by Qin Mian, who was unaware of the grudge between Gu and Zhao, entering the room with a joyous face.

“Mr.

Wen, the Ninth Prince isn’t dead!”

While eating, Gu Wen’s eyes turned slightly cold; he gently put down his chopsticks, took the letter, and glanced through it.

The gist of it was that Zhao Feng was not dead; he was currently recuperating in the Imperial Hospital.

He genuinely smiled and said, “It’s good he’s not dead.

I was actually afraid he might be.”

If Zhao Feng had died, he wouldn’t know what other reason he had to stay in Bianjing besides collecting Heavenly Marrow.

[Twenty Years of Heavenly Marrow]

Gu Wen looked at the sack of medicinal fruits, which had already decreased greatly.

Due to consuming too many medicinal fruits, he felt nauseated at the sight of the red fruits.

But life for the most part was like eating crap, no matter if one needed it or not, it had to be swallowed.

He closed his eyes and continued to refine the medicinal properties.

His Qi Sea had already expanded from a bucket to a large tub, and after breaking through to the Third Level, it should become a pool.

In the middle of the night, Gu Wen opened his eyes, dressed in nocturnal attire, and carried the Dragon Tiger Pills and Condensing Dao Pills with him.

Today was the appointed time to buy a Magic Artifact; the seller was the second heir of Qianlong Manor.

Gu Wen intended to buy a Spiritual Treasure from him to fill the void of not having a weapon and to further increase his strength.

—————–

Beneath the moonlit Dragon Bridge.

Hee Huan and a strong man stood under the bridge, the river water reflecting the moonlight, the moon following the river’s flow.

Lately, the Dragon Bridge was heavily guarded; their lingering here should soon attract the attention of the imperial guard, but an invisible film concealed their forms.

From a distance, Gu Wen used Mana to concentrate his vision to see the two men.

He activated the Moonset Step, moving ghost-like, reaching ten steps away from Hee Huan in three motions.

Hee Huan and the strong man turned their heads and looked over, seeing a figure in black cloak approaching.

The former met him with a smile; Hee Huan slightly revealed his aura and smiled, “Brother Red Dust, I wonder how the Condensing Dao Pill has improved your Dao foundation.

Although I haven’t taken the Condensing Dao Pill, I’ve fortunately broken through to the Second Level of Dao foundation.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a subtle aura emanated from Gu Wen’s body, barely discernible like a coiling red dragon.

An incomparably robust and full aura, the peak of the Second Level of Dao foundation stepping into fulfilled, indistinguishable from the Third Level.

In Hee Huan’s eyes, this was clearly a Third Level Dao foundation, and not just freshly broken through with depleted Mana.

Hee Huan’s smile abruptly stopped.

Gu Wen’s voice was low, “I’ve also, fortunately, made a breakthrough.”

Out in the world, one’s face is self-earned.

Cultivators judge by cultivation level.

Concealing skills is for protection, while showcasing them makes others try to please and enhances one’s own value.

Negotiating the same business, at the same prices, Jiang Fugui’s versus Gu Wen’s discussions would typically yield different outcomes.

Jiang Fugui would need to haggle, whereas Gu Wen would unilaterally set demands.

No need for Gu Wen to speak, the strong man who had come up behind him already stepped forward, bowing:

“Eighth on the Earth List, Murong Suyue from Qianlong Manor greets Brother Dao.”

Her voice was gentle, like the soft blossoms of spring.

Gu Wen looked puzzled; he took another look at the person before him, suddenly recalling what Yu Hua had said about being nine feet six, foreseeing that this person was likely ten feet tall.

The moonlight happened to shine on the person’s face, the features seemed quite gentle, like a woman’s.

No Adam’s apple was visible on the neck, only robust muscles, which seemed cast from copper and iron.

Gu Wen was left staring, taken aback.