337: Who cares if there is a flood? (asking for monthly tickets)

The Zhenmo General made the final decision.

The 150,000 strong army led by the three families would follow him to the western battlefield to guard the Magic Kingdom Border.

Chen Yuan would continue to be stationed in Jinguancheng, but with added responsibilities, commanding the southern front.

Although it was called a punishment, it gave Chen Yuan greater authority.

The people sent by the court were directly 'exiled' to the border, which was considered making the best use of them. Chen Yuan was rid of their troublesome matters, and with the imperial sword given by the This General, his power to mobilize was no longer limited to Jinguancheng.

The meaning was clear.

As for today's events, he acted recklessly, and he had to accept it, because that's what the This General said.

"This General is willing to accept the punishment!"

Chen Yuan "confessed his crime."

When the three families' martial artists heard these words, they were both angry and anxious. The Zhenmo General's casual remark not only foiled all their plans but also allowed the villain to triumph.

This "villain" was, of course, Chen Yuan, who had killed many of their people.

The favoritism was too obvious.

This left them feeling both shocked and furious, extremely unconvinced. With such a decision, even if Qi Tian was the Zhenmo General and a Dragon Tiger mighty figure, they would still object.

They had traveled thousands of miles from the Imperial Capital, not to be scapegoats. Being immediately assigned to the Magic Kingdom Border was something they naturally refused. The three families had prominent backgrounds, so what if they disobeyed orders? Surely, they wouldn't kill so many of them.

"This General, the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General, in front of the entire city, led troops to kill our soldiers and defied imperial decree. You, as the esteemed Zhenmo General, dismiss this matter with a few casual words, which I fear will not convince the public."

"Furthermore, we have received the Heavenly Mandate from the court and have our own missions. Even if we go west, we must first request the This General to report to the court!"

Gongyang Xiu, a martial artist from the Gongyang family, standing sixteen feet tall and built like an iron tower, jumped out, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and with a hint of anger in his tone, spoke, then turned his head away.

Chen Yuan had killed a direct descendant of their Gongyang family, and killing intent surged in his heart, making him the first to speak out.

"This General also seconds that!"

Seeing this, Huangfu Jing and Meng Ziyi from the side also stepped forward and spoke slowly.

The three families were a community of interests, naturally advancing and retreating together.

How could they be sent to the Magic Kingdom Border by a single word from Qi Tian? Even they were afraid of the rumors about that place.

Seeing these three martial artists jump out, the cold stars in the Zhenmo General's eyes became even more piercing. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the three of them.

Chen Yuan also looked up at the three, expressionless.

Qi Tian's eyes flickered with profundity, but he wasn't angry. His tone was merely light and faint, "What a joke. Don't think This General doesn't know what you're planning, and don't bring up the court for anything."

"Since you were ordered to come to Shu, you must obey This General. If you defy orders, even if This General deals with you publicly right now, whether it's your Gongyang, Huangfu, or Meng Family family, no one can find fault."

At this moment, after the great battle, the wind and snow once again howled across the world, and the cold wind was biting. As these words fell, the three martial artists of the families were chilled to the bone, their expressions slightly changing.

Gongyang Xiu's Face changed several times, and he stubbornly said, "The court has its own laws!"

Unexpectedly, the Zhenmo General seemed to have heard a funny joke, and his eyes instantly became so deep that they were intimidating. "The court?"

"The court is eager for someone to clean up this mess."

"This General is helping them clean up, so what if a few people die?"

"Huangfu Family, didn't you hear This General tell your third uncle to guard the Demon Country, and he didn't even dare to fart!"

"If the court knew, even if your three families didn't agree, other officials would be eager for it. Someone would naturally speak for This General, because This General is the one who allows those officials, including the old folks in your families, to still sit safely in the Imperial Capital, dictating the Jiangshan."

"If This General doesn't do it, those people will panic."

"What are you even?"

As Qi Tian's words fell, he cast a glance, incomparably domineering, causing the three martial artists to tremble, their heads forced down with creaking sounds.

Arrogant!

This Zhenmo General was boundless in his arrogance, not even putting the court in his eyes.

The three martial artists were both shocked and angry. Were people from this remote place all so barbaric and unreasonable?

First, there was the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General, and now the Zhenmo General was also like this.

They were both angry and anxious in their hearts, but after hearing the This General's words, they were left speechless, a lump in their throats, feeling extremely uncomfortable, yet afraid that if this person turned ruthless, he would truly deal with them.

They had not interacted with this rumored Zhenmo General of Shu before, and rarely heard of him in the Imperial Capital. However, from their brief encounter upon his appearance, his actions were decisive and domineering, showing no Face to their three families' Dragon Tiger.

Just as the three martial artists were choking, an unexpected voice sounded.

"Everything is for the greater good, just as the This General said!"

"Zhongli is willing to obey the This General's command!"

The three martial artists were stunned, turning their heads to look at Zhongli, the newly appointed Town Demon Envoy sent by the court, either frowning or raising an eyebrow.

"Lord Zhong."

Gongyang Xiu's tone was displeased. He hadn't expected this Town Demon Envoy, nominated by the three families in their own camp, to turn traitor on the battlefield. He was about to speak, but then Zhongli's faint voice transmission reached his ear.

"The green hills remain, the clear waters flow on. It's better for you gentlemen to yield and not defy this General Qitian. His methods are extraordinary, and he speaks no empty words. After all, everything has variables, and when the biggest variable appears, you must go with the flow to avoid bringing trouble upon yourselves. Then you can ask the elders of your families to find a solution."

Zhongli said this because he originated from the Imperial Capital This General Office, and he knew more about the Zhenmo General of Jiannan Road than others.

This Zhenmo General had been in Shu for many years, and few people had ever seen him, let alone those thousands of miles away in the Imperial Capital hearing news of him? Most people only knew that he had been guarding the Demon Country for years, rarely showing his Face, and not interfering with matters on Jiannan Road. However, those who knew the inside story were aware that his status was extraordinary and his strength unfathomable.

The emergence of the Ten Fiends from the Ten Thousand Mountains caused great chaos in Shu, but it didn't force this person to appear. This was naturally because the place where this Zhenmo General was stationed was even more crucial!

Eight Divisions Demon Kingdom.

The place where the eight divisions of the Demon Race resided, also known as the Eight Divisions Heavenly Dragon in Buddhism. The horror of this place, besides these eight divisions being eight kinds of extremely fierce and powerful demons, was mainly that these demons had a great connection with the Western Pure Land.

Some of the fellows there were recruited and became Dharma Protectors, which meant they had an official status and an extra layer of connection. If they made a mistake, ran out and ate people, and were then captured and killed, there would be powerful monks who would say "Amitabha" and come to escort them away. Where could you go to reason about that?

It is rumored that the closer one gets to the Pure Land, the more terrifying the place becomes, like a human purgatory. Legends describe the scene there: skeletons like hills, bones like forests, human hair matted into felt, human flesh rotted into mud and dust, human tendons wrapped around trees, dry and shimmering like silver, a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, emitting a foul stench.

The Western Pure Land and this human purgatory are right next to each other, truly bizarre and ironic!

The most critical point is that if this place is not peaceful, it means that the mysterious Western Pure Land is also not peaceful, and the dangers within are unfathomable.

General Qitian has been guarding such a place for many years, so his terrifying strength is imaginable.

Outsiders know very little about the Demon Country, making it difficult for them to comprehend, and thus, they naturally don't understand.

Zhongli, however, had learned from confidential documents in the This General Office that this person possessed a bow made of Asura bone for the bowstring, Yaksha horn for the arrow, and the sinews of the Dragon Race Naga for the string, possessing infinite power.

These demons are all equivalent to the Dragon Tiger of the Human Race!

Arrogant?

Zhongli thought that if he had such strength, he might be even more arrogant than this This General.

As for the "biggest variable" he mentioned in his voice transmission, it was naturally that the families had not considered that this Zhenmo General, who had been guarding the Demon Country for many years and rarely showed his Face, would appear.

In short, there were too many unexpected circumstances. The plans of the three families were completely foiled this time. It was better to accept it and make new plans.

It was clear that this Town Demon Envoy was not muddled; he had considered things very clearly in his mind.

After listening to Zhongli's voice transmission, the three martial artists' Faces twitched a few times, but they ultimately remained silent, forced to swallow the breath caught in their throats.

Seeing Zhongli's stance, Zhenmo General Qi Tian said nothing more, only giving a meaningful look to the assisting This General sent by the court, smiling, and then commanded:

"Since you have reached a consensus, Zhenmo Shi Zhongli, then immediately take your army and depart."

"Time waits for no one!"

Zhongli was quite decisive. Since he had agreed, he was quick about it. "Understood!"

He bowed his hands, then turned and glanced at the three martial artists from the families, before soaring into the air and heading towards the central army.

The three martial artists, with somewhat grim expressions, followed. They could only take things one step at a time and wait for news from their families.

Before leaving, each of them gave Chen Yuan a deep look.

Soon, whistles from the court's army began to sound, relaying commands. The scattered troops began to gather and organize.

At this moment, on the flying eaves of that ruined area, only Qi Tian and Chen Yuan remained.

"Chen Yuan!"

Qi Tian's majestic Face turned, calling out Chen Yuan's name.

"This General!"

Chen Yuan responded.

"This General often hears your name!"

"You've done well, you're ruthless enough, but you need to consider your next move before acting. You've killed countless demons in the Ten Thousand Mountains, so you might be used to it, but human hearts are even fiercer and more poisonous than demons. You need to be wary."

"That North Sea Dragon Girl helped you today and revealed her true form. It might be trouble, so you need to pay attention."

What Chen Yuan hadn't expected was that this Zhenmo General didn't criticize him at all, but instead gave him a few instructions, as if he knew him quite well, not even asking about the details of the incident, and even knowing the identity of the North Sea Dragon Girl.

This surprised him a little.

"How does This General know these things?"

Qi Tian clasped his hands behind his back, and that resolute and majestic Face, for once, smiled. "This General knows everything he should know, but sometimes, human power has its limits."

Speaking of this, the Zhenmo General's Face showed a hint of loneliness.

"New generations replace the old; many people have died. Even cultivating to This General's Realm, there are many times when one is powerless."

"Chen Yuan, your martial Dao potential is astonishing and outstanding, and your future is promising. Sometimes, there's no need to be burdened by reputation. If one day the battle reaches an irreversible point, just leave. There's no need for unnecessary sacrifice."

Chen Yuan hadn't expected his direct superior to tell him these things upon their first meeting; it seemed to hold a deeper meaning.

The battle reaching an irreversible point one day?

He was very perceptive, sensing a slight unease.

"This General's teachings, I listen with respect. This General, may I ask, do your words imply any new developments?" Chen Yuan asked directly.

After all, people have cognitive biases.

Only by reaching a higher mountain can one see a more distant landscape.

This Zhenmo General, who was rarely seen, had already transcended martial artists and entered the Dragon Tiger Realm. If he spoke such words, Chen Yuan had to be cautious.

Qi Tian was somewhat intrigued by Chen Yuan's perceptiveness, not expecting that Chen Yuan would notice his mere sigh.

He admired Chen Yuan, this rising star of the Fushi, and paid much attention to him. After all, he was a native of his own Fushi, and given the heavy casualties in the Fushi now with no one to take over, both emotionally and logically, he felt a sense of closeness.

He didn't hide anything from Chen Yuan, turning his gaze towards the wind and snow, his tone profound,

"This General's appearance this time, to be honest, wasn't for you. It's because something happened in the west, and manpower is needed. This General came specifically to target these people."

"Those people in the court are mostly greedy for life and afraid of death, protecting themselves. When they see treasures in Shu, they want to reach out. How can there be such cheap things in the world? It's better to involve more people."

"But human power has its limits!"

"Chen Yuan, take your Fushi comrades and brothers, and think more for yourselves. This General will issue an order, allowing you to mobilize other Fu Gate. If anyone makes you disheartened, just like today, let the floods rage, and follow your heart's desire."

Qi Tian was like a seasoned veteran, understanding Chen Yuan's current concerns and difficulties.

Chen Yuan's heart couldn't help but tremble.

When others say you are rebellious and arrogant, but then someone tells you that you are doing the right thing, that you should do exactly that without worries, this feeling brings a sense of bittersweetness to his heart.

That sense of loneliness from his journey vanished at this moment.

"Thank you, This General!"

He bowed deeply!

This time, it was out of sincere respect.

Qi Tian's eyebrows curved slightly,

"I hope you can advance bravely in the martial Dao, and one day fight alongside This General, clearing a path to a bright and clear world."

"That's all for now."

"Order the others to disperse, and let the army pass through the gate!"

One incense stick later,

The entire Tianxiong Pass watched.

On the main street of the South City, the Tianxiong Pass Fu Army and the Sword Pavilion Army withdrew to both sides, standing at attention, looking at the cleared main street.

At this moment, on the main street, the thunderous rumble of hooves shook, and the clanging of iron armor collided, shaking the South City.

The court's 150,000 strong army, re-organized, with banners fluttering, facing the wind and snow, both in the sky and on the ground, transformed into torrents, surging towards the outside of the South City gate.

Exiting Tianxiong Pass, entering Shu, and heading west all the way!

This also meant that a great battle that had shaken the entire Tianxiong Pass had come to an end, with a result.

Countless people's hearts remained unsettled for a long time.

Ninth Zhonglang, Town Demon Envoy, the standoff between two armies, three Dragon Tiger, the silver true Dragon, the Zhenmo General—the appearance of each character seemed to foreshadow a magnificent era about to unfold in Shu.

Martial Dao's wild songs, the Demon Battlefield, great changes in the world, attracting heroes to contend for supremacy.

And this battle was destined to shake Shu, spread throughout several nearby Jianghu, and then reach the imperial court!