317: Chen Yuan goes north (asking for monthly ticket)

The leading dancer, adorned in golden gauze, took a delicate step forward, curtsying gracefully to Xu Xiangdong, who was seated at the side.

Her eyes, the only part of her Face visible, shimmered like flowing mist as she spoke in a clear voice, “What the Commandant said is correct!”

“This humble one has been secluded for days.”

“However, following my employer’s instructions, we have distinguished guests today.

The people in the house accidentally offended this This General, so I was specially asked to come out and perform a dance to apologize to you military gentlemen.”

As she spoke, Miyi’s graceful body turned, and she curtsied again to the Scarlet Armor General, who was seated at the head of the table.

Her beautiful eyes were like water, soft and gentle, adding an exotic charm to her foreign features.

Her graceful figure, provocative gauze dress, and alluring modesty made the eyes of the blue-armored soldiers seated on both sides, their companions, light up.

Their deliberately displayed cold arrogance and solemnity now shed their disguise, and they laughed heartily, openly scrutinizing these Western Region dancers with amusement and a playful glint in their eyes.

“Haha!”

Xu Xiangdong burst into laughter, turning to Deputy General Hu and complimenting him subtly, “Deputy General Hu truly has great Face.

The owner of Tianxiang Pavilion rarely gives Face to others.

Today, I, too, am basking in the This General’s glory.”

“Come!”

“I, Xu, will offer the first toast.”

With that, he picked up the small white footed cup from the small table in front of him, holding it with one hand and supporting the bottom with the other, offering it to the Scarlet Armor General named Hu, drinking first as a sign of respect.

The young Deputy This General from the Imperial Capital, seated at the head of the table, finally revealed a smile on his Face.

He picked up the wine cup from the table, not even looking at Xu Xiangdong, but merely gazing at the beautiful and alluring Western Region dancer before him with a cool, detached look, as if appraising an object, and took a small sip.

“Not bad, then let This General see!”

After speaking, he placed the cup on the table.

Xu Xiangdong understood, waving his hand at Miyi, “Begin!”

Miyi smiled faintly, her smooth, fair jade feet taking small steps back, then she spread her arms, one toe lightly rising, and then the melodious sound of the Huqin began to play, drawing the atmosphere of the room into the vast, sandy expanse beyond the Great Wall.

Soon, the unique Western Region dance began gracefully in the room, with melodious tunes flowing through it.

The soldiers at the banquet gradually began to sway their heads, talking and laughing.

Xu Xiangdong, seated among them, played host, trying to lower his posture and make the blue-armored soldiers happy, gradually enlivening the atmosphere at the banquet, with constant toasting and drinking, creating a jovial mood.

Although these blue-armored soldiers were of the same rank as him, they carried an inherent arrogance, looking down on the local armored soldiers.

Xu Xiangdong knew that it was easier to provoke the King of Hell than to deal with the little devils, so he tried every means to get along with these people.

Of course, his main purpose for coming today was to properly entertain the Deputy This General surnamed Hu by his side.

This Deputy This General, named Hu Jinquan, was rumored to be a Family scion from the Imperial Capital, and he was the Deputy This General, a favored person, beside the Vanguard Army’s main This General who had recently taken command of Tianxiong Pass.

Xu Xiangdong knew that the situation in Shu Land was about to change.

The Imperial Court’s dispatch of a new Town Demon Envoy and an army of 150,000 clearly indicated dissatisfaction with the current situation in Shu Land, and a desire for a major overhaul.

For Xu Xiangdong, this Vanguard Army, which had arrived first to take command of Tianxiong Pass, was an opportunity, a chance to climb higher and avoid being affected by this upheaval.

What upheaval?

Naturally, it was the upheaval between the Town Demon Envoy sent by the Imperial Court and that Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General!

He knew that as soon as the Vanguard Army’s main This General arrived at Tianxiong Pass, he ordered General Wei, explicitly naming the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General to come to Tianxiong Pass and personally welcome him outside the Pass!

He was present at the time and could hear the cold sneer in the Vanguard Army’s main This General’s tone when he said this.

The other party’s attitude didn’t need to be guessed; it clearly represented the attitude of the new Town Demon Envoy!

And coincidentally, the Tianxiong Pass Sky Patrol Division had a significant connection with that Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General.

When the Demons attacked the city and the three Families rebelled, Ninth Zhonglang led his troops to help them suppress the rebellion, establishing a formidable reputation and leaving a deep impression on the people of Tianxiong Pass.

Their own Zhonglang General Wei thus forged a connection with this esteemed adult, and many in the local Sky Patrol Division held this adult in high regard.

Not long ago, amidst the This General defeat of the various Fa Shan Army forces, this Ninth Zhonglang returned victorious from the Demon Battlefield, achieved a Breakthrough in martial arts, and took command of Jinguancheng, which greatly boosted morale.

Everyone naturally assumed that this Zhonglang General would be the next Town Demon Envoy of Jiannan Road.

The result…

Xu Xiangdong believed that no matter how renowned this adult was, he ultimately could not resist the will of the Imperial Court and would inevitably be suppressed by the new Town Demon Envoy.

Either he would bow his head, or… that outcome would surely be a sea of blood and corpses, and he dared not think deeper.

And his own This General had a connection with this adult; although it wasn’t a deep friendship, his This General’s admiration for Ninth Zhonglang was evident to his subordinates.

From the situation over the past two days, it seemed that the Vanguard Army’s main This General knew all of this, and using the frequent fighting within the city and the Sky Patrol Division’s ineffective handling of affairs as reasons, he gradually stripped his This General of power, seizing control of Tianxiong Pass.

His This General’s predicament was grim, and as a subordinate, he naturally clearly smelled the coming storm, so he thought of finding a way out for himself, which led to today’s banquet.

As he entertained the other party’s subordinates, he repeatedly toasted them, constantly offering compliments.

The young Deputy This General, facing this local Commandant’s respectful and almost fawning attitude, naturally enjoyed it.

While slowly drinking, he watched the graceful figures on the stage, and his attitude softened.

Just as the drinking was in full swing, Xu Xiangdong felt the time was right, raised his cup, and whispered, “This General Hu is young and promising, already at the Heavenly Gate at such a young age.

I truly envy you.

I imagine that when Town Demon Envoy takes command of Jinguancheng, This General will surely rise through the ranks.”

“I have an impertinent request, and I hope This General Hu can help me!”

He spoke, his eyes filled with eagerness.

Beside him, Deputy General Hu, who was watching the Western Region dancers sing and dance, curled his lips into a smile.

He didn’t turn his head, but merely nodded and picked up his cup:

“Speak!”

Seeing the other party’s attitude, Xu Xiangdong sensed an opportunity and felt a slight joy in his heart.

Then, his eyebrows moved, and he raised a hand to signal, preparing to move the folded screen on the side to separate the dancers from their group, creating a space for conversation.

Unexpectedly, Deputy General Hu spoke, his voice carrying a hint of nonchalance, as if he had guessed the Commandant’s intention, “No need to bother, it’s not a big deal.

This General thinks this dance is good.”

Xu Xiangdong retracted his hand, giving a slightly embarrassed laugh.

“Haha!”

“I almost disturbed This General Hu’s enjoyment.”

As he spoke, he leaned his body towards the other party, his eyes shifting, and stated his purpose,

“To be honest, I heard that Town Demon Envoy is about to take office, and I feel excited.”

“The Imperial Court sending a Heavenly Army to support Shu Land is a blessing for Shu Land, and I yearn for it.”

“I ask This General Hu to speak well of me to This General Gongyang when the time comes.

I also wish to join everyone in making achievements!”

He spoke with fervor and sincerity.

And the This General Gongyang he referred to was the Vanguard Army’s main This General who had taken command of Tianxiong Pass.

The young Deputy General Hu Jinquan heard these words, and the curve of his lips widened.

He turned his head slightly, saying with a half-smile,

“Commandant Xu wants to join our Vanguard Army?

Aren’t you afraid your General Wei will be displeased?”

Hearing the other party mention his This General, Xu Xiangdong’s Face flushed slightly; he was already betraying his master.

However, people strive for higher positions, and water flows downwards; everyone has selfish motives.

So, he shamelessly said,

“We are all one Family, so I imagine the This General won’t say anything.”

But his words revealed a hint of guilt.

The young Deputy General Hu Jinquan watched the other party’s Face with a playful look, his eyes askance, the arrogance in them never fading.

“You are a smart person, abandoning darkness for light.”

“Even if your General Wei knows, what then?

His closeness to that Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General means he is destined not to be used again by Town Demon Envoy, and his demotion is only a matter of time.”

“Heh, among the 150,000 Heavenly Army, there are countless strong individuals.

There are plenty of people who can hold the position of Zhonglang General, and it’s not for this General Wei to have an opinion.”

As he spoke, he finally looked directly at Xu Xiangdong, the smile on his lips carrying appreciation.

“You did well today.

Don’t worry, I will speak well of you to This General Gongyang and ensure your official career is smooth sailing!”

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiangdong displayed a perfectly appropriate look of joy.

“Then many thanks, Deputy General Hu!”

“Come, I’ll toast you a cup!”

Saying that, he happily filled a cup of wine for the other party, holding his own cup with both hands.

“Hmm!”

The young Deputy This General nodded.

Though he showed no outward emotion, he greatly enjoyed being flattered.

This time, he finally drained the cup, which was considered an acknowledgment of Xu Xiangdong, this local Commandant.

Xu Xiangdong was overjoyed, but unexpectedly, after the young Deputy This General finished drinking, he suddenly asked him, “What do you think of that Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General?”

Xu Xiangdong’s Face stiffened slightly.

He was afraid of being asked this question by these people.

That adult was immensely prestigious, having slain Demons and suppressed rebellions, revered by so many.

He naturally held him in awe.

What was his status?

How could he be qualified to judge?

He could only bite the bullet and say,

“That adult is renowned in Shu Land, having achieved great military exploits on the Demon Battlefield.

At that time, the Fa Shan Army was largely defeated by the Demons, and the situation was on the verge of collapse, but then…”

He spoke of news familiar throughout Shu Land, but as he did, he noticed the smile on the young Deputy This General’s lips slowly disappearing.

He immediately realized something was wrong and quickly stopped speaking.

Hu Jinquan, with a hint of sarcasm, cast a sidelong glance, “Listening to you, this Zhonglang General is indeed formidable.

I heard that people in your Sky Patrol Division all thought he would be the next Town Demon Envoy?”

Xu Xiangdong’s Face changed slightly, and he quickly forced an awkward smile, “No such thing.

The Imperial Court has its own arrangements.”

Only then did the young Deputy This General sneer, his gaze carrying a hint of mockery and disdain, “Better not!

I heard from the Imperial Court that those Demons haven’t fully broken through the Seal; only some remnants escaped, yet they managed to defeat Shu Land’s army so thoroughly, with cities falling one after another.

A war fought like that, what sort of prestige is there to speak of?

I imagine this Zhonglang General is merely the tallest among the short ones.”

“When this Ninth Zhonglang comes to welcome the Town Demon Envoy and the Heavenly Army, you’ll realize how ridiculous your thoughts are!”

Xu Xiangdong remained silent.

He did not agree.

Months ago, he had seen the Demons that had escaped from the Ten Thousand Mountains; they were exceptionally ferocious and brutal, and just a few of them had thrown Tianxiong Pass into chaos.

This young Deputy This General from the Imperial Capital, with a casual remark, dismissed everything.

He hoped that when the other party truly faced them on the battlefield, he would still think the same way!

And just as the four directions stirred within Tianxiong Pass, eight thousand li to the south, a dazzling silver light pierced into the snowy northern land, where blizzards raged.

Behind the silver light, a gigantic city nestled in the ice and snow rapidly receded!

And that dazzling silver light, moving at extreme speed, transformed into a streak of light in the snowstorm.

That silver light was, astonishingly, a ferocious giant Gǔdiāo!

It was over forty zhang long, its entire body appearing to be cast from silver iron, each feather shimmering with a chilling glow, like sharp swords, making it exceptionally ferocious.

This Gǔdiāo had a human Face and a bird’s body, and astonishingly, it had two long silver horns on its head.

It was a Dao Fruit Realm Gǔdiāo, one of the Ten Fiends!

Between the Gǔdiāo’s two horns, a figure in green robes stood upon it, his clothes flapping, his hair disheveled, and his black eyes gleaming with a faint golden light, gazing at the vast snowstorm between heaven and earth.

At this moment, a drunken snort and a hiccup sounded from behind him.