Mountain Patrol Military Officer
Chapter 280 - 246: What’s Wrong with Lord Xiao Chen? (Request for Monthly Ticket)

Chapter 280: Chapter 246: What’s Wrong with Lord Xiao Chen? (Request for Monthly Ticket)

Qingshan County.

One thousand and eight hundred miles outside the White Emperor City’s gate, located in the northeast corner of Shu, it stands in a secluded spot.

This day, in the early dawn, as the darkness of night was fading, a dark blue sky lay overhead, and the cold mist from the mountains drifted down, enveloping the entire town in a quiet hush.

In the distance, to the east, along with a streak of golden light breaking the dawn, the mountains were dyed all around.

"Cluck, cluck, cluck"

The sound of a rooster’s crow rang out loud and clear.

In that instant, the whole of Qingshan County suddenly became noisy, bustling with life.

On the docks outside the town, numerous boats were moored densely; figures bustled about, hurrying into the town.

Inside the town, peddlers carrying their loads walked with a swing, their robust voices calling out along the alleys,

"Selling pancakes, fresh off the griddle, one cent each."

On both sides of the alley, the "clack clack clack" of doors opening.

People emerged, bleary-eyed, dabbing their teeth with tooth powder on willow branches, gargling noisily.

As some doors opened, chickens fluttered and dogs jumped about; women’s voices yelling curses could be heard, cursing whose damned dog had no conscience, splashing water at their doorstep. Immediately after, a plump woman from the opposite door charged out, hands on hips in response, beginning to shout back in anger.

Some stopped the peddlers to chat idly for a bit, tossing out several coins, buying a few pancakes.

The peddler greeted them enthusiastically, pocketing the coins, then continued to sway and wobble through the alley, onto the main street.

Upon reaching the main street, a noisy din assaulted the ear.

The cries of merchants opening their shops, the surging crowd on the streets, turned the cool early morning into a seething hubbub of activity.

This vividly lively scene appeared to be just a typical morning in a county town, nothing unusual.

But who could have imagined that just a month ago, this place was a breeding ground for demon calamities, with the livelihood of the people withering away, and everyone suffering under torment, living in terror day and night.

Now, it had turned into this bustling scene, all thanks to one name.

This name made all demons within the Eight Hundred Miles Langdang Mountain dare not reveal themselves.

Some have tried, upon encountering demons in the desolate mountains, just by uttering this name, the demons would scare away.

Nowadays, nearly every household in Qingshan County, in addition to ancestor tablets, also enshrines a birthday tablet inscribed with the words "Lord Chen", some even adding "Mountain Patrol Military Officer" – all with slight variations.

However, it is said that this lord has now been promoted to General!

The common folks don’t understand and simply say that the lord is powerful!

Everyone, after marveling at the hard-won peace, often prays, hoping that this lord will rise in rank and become even more formidable, grateful for all he has done for Qingshan County – a debt of gratitude owed by all its citizens.

Since the calamity of the Human Demon was quelled, Qingshan County has become even busier because of this lord, with several neighboring counties familiar with his name, many have chosen to move here to live, feeling secure; indeed, when Qingshan County took in refugees from various counties, it also formed a profound connection with them.

And in the eyes of all the people of Qingshan County, the "sacred ground" is a bamboo courtyard in Jiazi Lane.

That was where the revered Military Officer Captain once lived!

And just on this peaceful, bustling morning in the little town, out by the river outside the gate, a chorus of huffing and pounding resounded, approaching rapidly.

"Ja"

"Ja"

"Ja"

A small squad of Black-armored troops appearing on the river, each with double sabers slung at their waists, horses treading the river, splashing waves noisily.

From afar to near, they made land swiftly, startling the people entering the town with exclamations, hastening like the wind, they quickly arrived at the gates of Qingshan County.

At the gate, a few guards in light armor, recognizing the official Black Armor, showed shocked expressions and hastily knelt on one knee.

The leader of the Black Armor halted his horse, glanced at the gate, his expression grim, his voice deep, he ordered:

"Dismount!"

As he dismounted before the gate, he actually bowed deeply in respect, and seeing this, the rest of the Black-armored soldiers solemnly followed suit with their salutes.

The townspeople at the gate, unsure of what was happening, whispered among themselves.

"I recognize this armor; it belongs to the officers of the Sky Patrol Department. Back when the demons wreaked havoc, these officers spared no effort in their fight."

"Strange, why are these officers paying respects to the town gate?"

"Could it be, Qingshan County has some major event happening?"

"..."

Meanwhile, after the Sky Patrol Department’s troops had paid their respects, they swiftly mounted again, rushing through the town gates.

The patter of hoofbeats, rapid as a downpour, completely disrupted the morning’s hustle and bustle.

The townspeople watched as the squad of Sky Patrol Department troops rushed into Jiazi Lane, noise erupting all around; many dropping their work, hurriedly following in a flurry.

Adjacent to Jiazi Lane, in the misty dawn at the end of another alley, there was a small tavern with a faint yellow glow from its hearth.

At the stove, an elderly stooped figure was busy at work.

Regular clients, early risers on their way to work, were drinking small amounts of alcohol, paired with some pickled vegetables.

Just then, a man finishing his night watch shift complained loudly, "Old Wu, the wine you’ve brewed recently has been tasting worse and worse, with a sour tang—ptui ptui—and there’s even sediment. What’s happened?"

The old man turned around with a wrinkled smile on his face, "This little old man has gotten old, my eyes have gone blurry, forgive me. I won’t charge you for this table’s drinks."

The night watchman was not pleased, "Old Wu, you’re belittling me. I’ve been here eight hundred times, when have I ever minded that? Despite being a good man, I still have my distinctions."

After drinking his last sip of wine and standing up, he picked up his watchman’s clapper and gong, walked to the stove, and left five cents before sighing, "Old Wu, you have no children or family, and you still toil in your old age. I still want to drink your wine, so you better take care of your health."

"Every time I finish my shift, I see you waiting at the entrance, not sure who you’re waiting for."

Shaking his head, he turned to leave.

At that moment, a commotion arose from the alley as people came running in a huddle. The watchman quickly grabbed someone, his face showing alarm,

"What’s happened? What’s going on?"

The man he grabbed, wearing the hat of an inn’s errand boy, clapped his hand and said, "The officials from the Sky Patrol Department have arrived, rushing into Jiazi Lane towards the Mountain Patrol Military Officer’s residence. Everyone wants to see what’s happened."

At the mention of this, the old man at the stove’s cloudy eyes trembled, and he hastily left his stall and hurried out the door. Although his steps were unsteady, he quickly disappeared into the crowd.

"Hey, Old Wu..." The watchman saw this and thought the old man was acting recklessly, running so fast despite his frailty; he could be knocked down and lose his life.

However, he too was curious about why an official from the Sky Patrol Department had come and quickly followed.

.....

At the end of Jiazi Lane, in front of a small residence, a troop of Black Armored soldiers had come to a halt.

On either side of the residence gate, lush verdant bamboo leaves had pushed their way out from within.

One of the Armored Soldiers dismounted and approached to push open the gate but, with a forceful attempt, was violently repelled by a powerful force revealing a glimpse of white light, flinging the soldier away in an instant.

The leading Armored Soldier immediately raised his hand to catch the hurled soldier, retreating seven or eight steps before stabilizing, leaving deep footprints on the green stone pavement.

"The gate has a Prohibition," the repelled soldier said with a bit of a tight chest.

The commanding officer felt a tremor in his heart, "Fortunately, this Prohibition left by the lord wasn’t meant to harm anyone. Otherwise, we’d be in trouble."

"Stand aside, this is an emergency, I will have to offend," he declared.

As he spoke, the officer, at the Profound Body Peak of his ability, exuded an aura that caused his joints to swell, and with a shake of his body, he expanded to a height of three Zhang.

With True Qi surging from his fists and muscles bulging, he readied himself to forcefully break through the Prohibition.

Just then,

An ancient voice arose.

"Hold on, what are you trying to do?"

The elderly man, well known to the locals as one forever bustling around the tavern’s stove in the neighboring alley, stepped forward from the crowd of onlookers.

The officer, having morphed into a three-zhang giant, looked down at the frail old man and barked,

"This is Sky Patrol Department’s business, stand back, passersby!"

"This is Lord Xiao Chen’s residence, the old man cannot allow it," the elder retorted, shaking his head against the ’giant’ before him.

"Who are you?" the officer asked angrily, perplexed when he heard the old man addressing Chen as Lord Xiao Chen.

"The little old man once served Lord Chen, and before he left, he entrusted me with the care of this residence," Old Wu slowly replied.

Upon hearing this, the officer who had been fierce and threatening softened his expression, his huge body deflating like a balloon, quickly returning to his normal size.

Then, bowing to the old man, he said urgently.

"I’m in the middle of an urgent military affair. I apologize for disturbing you, sir. Please open the gate for us; we need to retrieve some personal belongings of Lord Chen for our General. You once served Lord Chen, perhaps you can assist us."

Old Wu, undistracted by being called ’sir’, seemed to detect something amiss from the officer’s urgency. A sense of unease took hold, his voice trembling, "What happened to Lord Xiao Chen?"

Old Wu only knew that Lord Chen had gone off to command the troops against Demons, but in this remote and small county town, he was severely out of touch with the outside world.

The officer’s face darkened, holding back his words.

Seeing this expression, Old Wu began to tremble and pulled out a Jade Pendant from his chest, but his hands were unsteady, and it dropped to the ground with a clear clinking sound. Bending over to pick it up, he nearly fell.

"Sir."

The officer quickly supported the old man whose Essence Qi was draining rapidly.

"Come in," Old Wu invited, tossing the picked-up Jade Pendant toward the door, the green stone shooting forward revealing a pale white light screen on the gate, which then dissipated like ripples.

The gate of the residence creaked open without a breeze.

At this moment, from a distance, a red fiery silhouette flew towards them.

Within the light, was a handsome and beautiful woman, dressed in a Red dress.

It was Lian Nichang, who succeeded Chen Yuan as the new Mountain Patrol Military Officer of Qingshan County!

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