Mountain Patrol Military Officer
Chapter 444 - 353: Chen Yuan’s Confidence! (4K+ Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 444: Chapter 353: Chen Yuan’s Confidence! (4K+ Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The next morning, as the sky brightened, a thin layer of cold mist drifted down from the distant mountains and forests.

After the torrential rain stopped last night, snowflakes were still dancing in the air, fluttering and falling nonstop.

Early in the morning, in Jiazi Lane,

"Chit"

"Chit"

These kinds of sounds echoed continuously in the alley.

At the head and tail of the streets, in front of the entrances of various households, a row of figures got up early with shovels, clearing away the snow that had accumulated overnight, each sweeping the snow in front of their own doors.

The night before had brought freezing rain, turning the snow and water into a thick layer of ice. People found it slippery and difficult to stand on, and shoveling it up was extremely strenuous.

"Heave-ho"

"Heave-ho"

At the end of the lane, in front of a small courtyard surrounded by bamboo, a little boy wearing a thick cotton-padded jacket and a tiger head hat was prying at the hard chunks of snow on the ground with fire tongs from the kitchen. His two little hands gripping the handle were bright red, and his face was red from the cold. Even with his nose running like a ’dragon emerging from the sea,’ he still played joyously.

Meanwhile, his mother, Sister Hua, was busy shoveling the slushy snow-water away from the front of the small courtyard with an iron hoe, steam rising from her headscarf after probably half an hour before the path in front of the courtyard was tidied up.

"I don’t know how that old master is doing, it’s the fourth day today."

After finishing her work, Sister Hua leaned on her shovel, recalling Military Officer Lian’s inquiry from yesterday without worry. However, as a civilian woman with no remarkable abilities, she felt helpless and could only do so much.

After shoveling a few more loads of snow, she then took her son, Huwa, back to their own courtyard.

At this time, what the mother and son didn’t know was that, within the bamboo courtyard, the sound "sqeak-ya" of a door or window being opened was heard.

The scene shifted to the inside of the bamboo courtyard, where the door of the inner room opened, and Chen Yuan walked out.

A figure in a red dress swiftly rose from the main hall and greeted him.

"Brother, how is Old Wu doing?"

"His vital energy is depleted, cold qi has attacked his heart and invaded his Heart Sutra, and because Old Wu’s martial foundation had been destroyed years earlier, he is left with only a breath of willpower holding on. Fortunately, he was saved in time, and now he is out of danger; the rest is just recovery."

Chen Yuan spoke slowly, seemingly casually, but Lian Nichang noticed his eyes were rather dark.

The situation with Old Wu was actually worse than he described. The old man had suffered inner injuries from slaying demons at the Sky Patrol Department in his younger days. This time, forcibly exhausting his energy almost drained him dry. Now he was using the essence qi from a dragon tree to nourish and extend Old Wu’s life.

"Brother, do you know yesterday’s Martial Vault expert? It seems that he bears a grudge against you?" Lian Nichang asked a crucial question.

She remembered that Martial Vault expert, saying that Chen Yuan had offended too many people, and many wanted to deal with him, which made her worry.

"Hmph!"

Chen Yuan flung his sleeve with a swish, his eyes glancing sharply outward, "This person wears a dark jade hairpin and had been skulking in Jingguan City, spreading rumors, and inciting some rabble to kill me. It’s a pity that I didn’t catch him at that time. Now it seems he had been plotting meticulously."

"Now that he’s fallen into the hands of this general, last night I interrogated him about his identity and accomplices, but this fellow’s lips are still tightly sealed."

Speaking of this, Chen Yuan looked out to the window, his eyes lifting towards the rime forming on the trees, his voice filled with murderous intent,

"Let’s see how long this fellow can hold out."

Now, Li Boya is in his Demon Suppression Tower, being tormented day and night with golden True Fire, his Mud Ball filled with the screams of the antagonist.

"An accomplice? Could it be the Human Demon?" Lian Nichang’s eyes turned sharp. She was about to bring this up as the matter was urgent, she spoke quickly, "Ni Chang has received news that the water source in Qingshan County has been poisoned with Demon Gu, reportedly a scheme of the Human Demon, not something ordinary people can detect. The villagers are probably already ensnared."

As she spoke, Lian Nichang’s face dulled slightly, "Ni Chang is not skilled enough, failing to take care of Elder Wu, and not detecting the signs, I feel guilty for not living up to the trust you placed in me, Brother."

Chen Yuan shook his head slowly, glanced at the girl whose nature was as fierce as fire, then turned his head away, his voice bearing an indescribable enlightenment,

"Ni Chang, ever since I stepped out of Qingshan County, have killed many people and saved many. Outside the border, Demons slaughter wantonly, and inside the border, people’s hearts harbor Evil Spirits. Endless battles and iron horses — everything bears its own weight, and no one can blame anyone else."

"It’s just that I killed others, and now others want to kill me and those close to me."

"You are close to me; are you afraid?"

When Lian Nichang heard Chen Yuan say this, she boldly raised her head, her beautiful eyes sparkling with an exceptionally bright light. Then, her red lips smiled brilliantly,

"I have watched Brother slay Demons and vanquish evil, face adversity. Have you ever been afraid, Brother? Don’t underestimate Ni Chang."

Her smile, like a light touch moving a heavy object, pierced through the somber atmosphere.

Chen Yuan slowly curved his lips into a smile, which then grew louder and louder.

"Ha ha...."

.....

Not long after, in Jiazifang, near a well that was pressed down with heavy stones, a governmental official, along with a few Village soldiers from within the lane, stood guard.

With the city’s water sources being numerous, and the government office’s personnel were naturally stretched too thin to watch over all, but due to the severity of the situation, despite the cold weather, heavy stones were placed to seal the well. Still, people remained nearby to guard. With not enough staff, the local officials asked the residents for assistance in documentation.

"Huff..."

"When do we switch shifts? It’s too cold."

"After the rain last night, the snow got dissolved, naturally, it’s colder, just bear with it,"

"Damn it, who has the guts to poison the well? I don’t know when the government office will catch this guy. Each of us could probably drown this guy with just one spit."

"Thank goodness it’s snowing every day, water isn’t in short supply, we can just boil the melted snow if needs must. Otherwise, everyone would be in panic since we all need water to live."