Mountain Patrol Military Officer
Chapter 294 - 256: I Will Take You Home! (Seeking Monthly Ticket)

Chapter 294: Chapter 256: I Will Take You Home! (Seeking Monthly Ticket)

Chapter 255: A Gentleman Does Not Stand Beneath a Dangerous Wall

In the northern part of Fulong Mountain, in the outer mountain forests of the Mist Sea, a middle-aged man clad in brocade robes, with a mustache shaped like the number eight, glanced back in terror and desperately urged on his yellow escape light beneath his feet.

In his disarray, he pulled out an array plate the size of a palm from his sleeve. Upon activation, three small earth-yellow flags expanded in the wind to about ten feet tall and circled the man, who then plunged towards the ground below and, with a whoosh, a flash of earthy yellow light, and he burrowed into the ground.

But the next second, an earth-yellow Thunder Snake struck down like lightning.

"Boom!"

A loud explosion.

Followed by a piercing scream.

Dirt and rocks tumbled, a large pit emerged, and smoke rose as the scorched pit’s only remnants were fragments of the shattered Array Flags.

At this time, in this stretch of forest, such scenes were unfolding.

In the sky, thunder rumbled as one bolt after another chased fleeing figures. Whether they tried to escape to the heavens or into the earth, they could not evade the disaster.

Pitiful screams echoed through the forest.

A dozen breaths later, the ravaged forest became dead silent, the wind carrying faint bloodshed and strong burnt smells.

On the edge of a cliff extending from a hillside within the forest, two people had "miraculously survived," using spells to conceal themselves.

A master and his disciple watched the rampant slaughter, and as they raised their heads to see the majestic Dharma Image among the rolling clouds and thunder, their hearts quaked, unable to suppress a chill.

This Ninth Mountain’s Colonel has killed too many!

He killed Demons, and he killed humans, leaving none alive.

The master and his disciple were none other than Ling Yunzi and his disciple, Zhao Quanzhen, who had been following this path!

Zhao Quanzhen felt inspired and heated by the Ninth Mountain’s Colonel Demon Slaying projections previously, but now fear unwittingly seeped into his heart.

So many powerful men from Jingguan City, dispatched by Heavenly Pass, were being killed. Such ruthless ferocity, even cruelty, because in his view, those being killed had not even contested for the Luck Spirit Root.

His throat parched, he questioned, "Master, I am somewhat perplexed."

Ling Yunzi’s old eyes gleamed with sharpness as he gazed at the Great Sun Dharma Image and shook his head, knowing what his disciple meant, "It seems your heart still needs much tempering. Having a compassionate nature is good, but from a different standpoint, we know best what these people are here to do. They’ve crossed thousands of miles, surely not just as onlookers. Some have gone to battlefields, some have come here, trailing the Colonel’s traces all the way to this place."

"Some may not have acted, but would cause trouble. With Six Mountain Demons looking for the Nine Colonels, and people searching as well, we’re now amidst a Demon uprising. If it were you, how would you choose?"

"Don’t dwell on it; everyone has their way of handling things. If I were in your place, I might hesitate out of kindness, but that would lead to endless trouble. These people are nuisances, most with power behind them. You let one go, and if news leaks out, if our whereabouts are exposed, it can lead to countless harms. You must understand this. Those who achieve great deeds cannot be preoccupied with trivialities. This Colonel is a man of great mettle!"

As Ling Yunzi spoke, he caught glimpses of those giant, stark gold eyes looking towards them. His mustache twitched, and his eyelids twitched.

Despite his words, upon seeing the Colonel single-handedly kill four Martial Vaults, including two Great Martial Vault Demons that had obviously claimed a temple for themselves, he still harbored doubts since he had not encountered them directly.

It was clear that the other side had noticed them early on, yet did not act.

Composing himself, he then said, "Let us go meet this Nine Colonel."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Quanzhen’s expression shifted slightly. Wasn’t his master’s analysis a perfect description of their own situation? They had personally witnessed this Colonel slaughtering so many powerful men from the Central Plains pursuing Heavenly Pass.

Although the thought felt somewhat dishonorable, it was inevitable to feel nervous.

But then, Ling Yunzi wrapped them in a gust of smoke and shot towards the huge Dharma Image standing among the thunder. Within a few breaths, the clouds moved ten miles, and they appeared a hundred meters in front of the giant Dharma Image.

"I am Ling Yunzi from Enlightenment Mountain, and I have come to meet the Nine Colonels!" Ling Yunzi adjusted his hands briefly before lowering them, "And this is my disciple, Quanzhen."

Zhao Quanzhen, with downcast eyes, dared not look directly into those sharp, sun-like giant eyes, despite feeling an oppressive aura that took one’s breath away. Still maintaining his composure, he greeted with folded hands, "Junior Zhao Quanzhen, I have come to meet General Chen!"

Chen Yuan’s Dharma Image’s golden eyes fell upon the master and disciple. The golden light swirled, and then he spoke, his voice like muffled thunder, "Fellow Daoist Ling Yunzi, you need not be wary; you and your disciple have shown kindness and assisted me. Of course, I will not trouble you!"

In Aiku Mountain and during the subsequent pursuit, the master-disciple duo had shown goodwill and rendered assistance; he was aware of this.

"I have some matters I wish to discuss with you, fellow Daoist. My soldiers and I are tending to our wounds here, cut off from the outside world. I am unaware of the current situation; how did these people find their way here?"

Saying thus, the pair of golden eyes glanced dispassionately over the forest below.

With those words, the thunder dissipated, and the giant Dharma Image rapidly contracted, transforming into General Chen wearing green clothes.

Chen Yuan then gestured with a sweep of his sleeve, gathering fog into a stone table with two stone stools. With another sleeve, he blew the mist to submerge the area.

Chen Yuan extended a hand,

"Sit!"

Then he himself sat down on a stool.

Seeing this, Ling Yunzi also took a seat, while Zhao Quanzhen stood by.

"Whatever General Chen wishes to inquire about, I am aware of some details and will not waste words," said Ling Yunzi.

"Actually, this matter is somewhat related to me. I am here to assist you, General. You might laugh at me for having such a thick face, hehe." Ling Yunzi stroked his beard, shook his head with a self-deprecating smile, then opened his eyes and focused, continuing:

"This all started with a military report!"

"Five days ago, the news of the frontline’s defeat caused panic throughout Jingguan City. That day, at the Southern City Gate, some remnants of defeated soldiers retreated to Jingguan City..."

Starting with the urgent report of recapturing Weiyuan Pass from the Ninth Mountain, he spoke of the "Qingshan Demon-Slaying Chronicles" and his realization that the serial novel was written by a Novelist, who, riding this rising trend, transformed it. He thus lent a hand and consequently, the Incense Fire Projection of Chen Yuan coalesced, replaying the entire process of Chen Yuan facing the Six Mountain Demons at Weiyuan Pass, killing the Tao Fruit, and slaying the Great Demon, until everyone in the city witnessed his Dharma Image shattering and vanishing into the heaven and earth, bringing the spectacle to an end.

"It was in this projection, General, that you released that... tree, which many experts from the Central Plains detected. Therefore, these people flocked here hoping to try their luck," Ling Yunzi voiced, pausing slightly when mentioning the Luck Spirit Root, with a discreet gesture, implying there was no need to elaborate further.

Hearing the ins and outs of the matter, Chen Yuan found it unexpectedly convoluted; everything became clear to him. Then, raising his eyebrows with a cold laugh he said, "It seems these people indeed hoped I had not died, yet it’s they who have met their demise."

"How ironic!"

Saying this, he placed an arm on the table, leaned forward, and his eyes blazed with golden light as he looked at Ling Yunzi, "Fellow Daoist, wouldn’t you agree?"

Ling Yunzi and his disciple suddenly felt a terrifying murderous intent surge through them, their expressions flinched, and fear arose in their hearts. At Zhao Quanzhen’s side, the Taoist Soldier within him buzzed, ready to erupt, but at that moment, it was suppressed by a hand.

Teacher Ling Yunzi had restrained him, then turned to face Chen Yuan with a serious demeanor: "General, please forgive us. My disciple and I came here to offer some help, but with the General’s divine skills, we were not of much assistance."

With these words spoken, the dreadful killing intent receded like a tide.

Chen Yuan glanced at Zhao Quanzhen, then turned his attention to Ling Yunzi, straightened up, and his voice softened significantly, "Nothing is certain in life. The exposure of the Luck Spirit Root is indeed a trouble, but I will not blame you, Fellow Daoist. Even if you had not intervened, this would still have happened."

"Just that," he said in a more somber tone,

"The two of you, master and disciple, will need to stay by my side until we return to Jingguan City."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yunzi immediately understood the meaning of the Nine Colonels. He wanted to ensure that the master and disciple did not leak any information or expose their whereabouts.

However, he was not irritated but instead felt reassured, perceiving that the Nine Colonels recognized their good intentions.

"Certainly."

Ling Yunzi nodded, "When my disciple and I watched the projection that day, we grew to respect the General and his soldiers. Traveling together this time should be beneficial for him."

Then he turned to Zhao Quanzhen and said:

"Quanzhen, have you not thanked the General yet?"

Zhao Quanzhen was about to act, but Chen Yuan, with an indifferent expression, interrupted, "No need for such words."

"Follow me!"

Chen Yuan stood up, and his body erupted with golden light, transforming into a golden streak shooting into the mist, diving down into it.

Ling Yunzi and his disciple exchanged glances, spurred their feet, and clouds of Qi burst into the sea of mist, instantly becoming two streaks of light following after.

Within seven or eight breaths, the party arrived at Fulong Mountain, hidden beneath the sea of mist, where a red-hot giant spear stood tall like a small hill, emitting splendid auroras and radiance from the Fire Tomb, separating the surging mist and wind blades from the sea of mist, protecting the formation of the Ninth Mountain’s Troops.

A streak of golden light descended in front of the troops, revealing Chen Yuan in his usual attire.

With his appearance, there was a sudden hustle and bustle; many armored soldiers dismounted, their expressions electrified, and they hurried to salute, falling to their knees en masse.

"Congratulations, General, on leaving seclusion!"

"General, you have finally awakened."

"...."

Chen Yuan strode forward, assisted an armored soldier in the front line with only one leg remaining, pulled him up, and then looking at the faces smeared with blood, dust, indistinguishably darkened, felt a lump in his throat.

Before the expedition, there were over two thousand troops; now, only a little more than a thousand remained. Some had eventually stayed in foreign lands, without even a grave to be buried in.

"Everyone, stand up!"

"I will take you all home!"

Behind him, Ling Yunzi and his disciple witnessed this scene; all their doubts, tensions, upon seeing this, all disappeared, feeling somewhat unbearable.