403: All the soldiers return to the mountain (4K monthly ticket required)

“Order!”

“All Ninth Mountain Army, return to the mountain and await orders!”

“Send word to the two Councilors, the Four Cities Garrison, the Officials, and all civil and military officials in the city to come to the Ninth Mountain Great Camp for a meeting!”

“Additionally, an 800-li urgent dispatch, bearing the General’s order, to notify the twenty prefectures north of Jinguang Pass to dispatch troops into the pass!”

“No mistakes allowed!”

On the Commanding Platform, orders bellowed through the wind and snow, like the sound of wind and thunder. Immediately after, messages flew with the command flags to the parade ground below.

The couriers received the flags, knelt on one knee, cupped their fists, and rose.

“Understood!”

“Understood!”

“...”

Then, these troops quickly departed according to their respective command flags. Those sending messages within the city rode horses, while those on 800-li urgent dispatch mounted Ao Tian Falcons. With cries piercing through the wind and snow, they transformed into streaks of silver light, soaring into the sky and heading directly north.

Streaks of silver light streaked across the sky, while on the ground, couriers bearing three command flags galloped from the foot of Ninth Mountain towards the four corners of the city.

This scene was noticed by many observant individuals within the city.

“So many Ao Tian Falcons dispatched at once, all heading north. What’s going on?”

“Just now, there seemed to be a troop of soldiers who also went straight out of the city to the north. They looked like the soldiers who escorted those demons back to the city last time.”

“What happened in the north? We haven’t received any news. Oh, right, last night, that Zhonglang General confronted someone in the North City, and the Jin Family, where the Crown Prince of Northern Liang was staying, was suddenly raided by the South City Guard Division. Could it be related to this?”

“...”

Ninth Mountain now held sway over Jinguan City, and many people paid attention to its every move. The sudden spectacle at Ninth Mountain caused some commotion and much speculation. After all, the sight of so many Ao Tian Falcons being dispatched at once was rare, and the hidden meaning behind it signified an 800-li urgent dispatch, indicating urgent military matters needed to be conveyed.

As night approached, in Jinguan City, outside the Four Cities Garrison and the Official’s Yamen, the sound of hooves could be heard as Ninth Mountain couriers entered several government offices.

Upon receiving the message, some Officials hastily put on their official robes and came out to greet them, as Officials belonged to the civil official system within the Dao Fu Division, assisting in governing the city. They were subordinate to military officials of the same rank, and Ninth Mountain’s power was currently immense, now commanding Jinguan. Upon hearing that Ninth Mountain Army had arrived, they were all respectful and hurried.

And those with guilty consciences were even more terrified!

Among them, Guo Lixiong, the Official of South City, watched the quickly departing armored figures with a hint of unease in his eyes.

“Where’s that rebellious son?”

He paced back and forth in the Yamen’s front hall like an ant on a hot pan, asking his subordinates.

“Reporting, my lord, Young Master heard that Ninth Mountain people were coming and was so scared he slipped away through the back door!” his subordinate carefully said, raising his eyes slightly.

“Useless fellow!” The South City Official fumed, his mustache bristling, and cursed angrily.

“My lord, the Ninth Mountain people only asked you to go to a meeting. Why are you so worried? You haven’t done anything out of line,” his subordinate, a Clerk, said, somewhat perplexed by Guo Lixiong’s fearful appearance.

“What do you know? That rebellious son said something he shouldn’t have a few days ago, and Ninth Mountain stripped him of his armor. And I am a Fushi official. Yesterday, the Zhonglang General appeared in North City and somehow had the Jin Family, where the Crown Prince of Northern Liang was staying, thrown into prison. How can I not be afraid? I’m just afraid I’ll have my head chopped off as soon as I go!”

Guo Lixiong blamed it all on that rebellious son, but he was truly terrified, fearing that Ninth Mountain people would find an excuse to settle accounts. After all, that Zhonglang General tolerated no sand in his eyes, acting with thunderous decisiveness, killing all the prominent troublemakers in the entire Jinguan City until they dared not show their faces.

Tell me, how could he not be afraid?

The subordinate Clerk felt a bit speechless after hearing his superior’s words and his anxious demeanor. He thought, if Ninth Mountain really wanted to act against you, my lord, they wouldn’t need such tactics. But as a subordinate, he dared not say such things directly. He merely changed his expression.

“The Ninth Mountain people said to go to Ninth Mountain for a meeting, my lord. If it’s true, they certainly wouldn’t have invited only you. Other Officials are likely also included. Why don’t you send someone to inquire? Then you’ll know if it’s true or false.”

Upon hearing this, Official Guo immediately stopped pacing. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Then he quickly shouted outside: “Someone!”

At this moment, the subordinate Clerk quickly added, “My lord, Ninth Mountain’s order is for you to depart immediately without delay. If it’s a meeting, other Officials must have already started moving. If you send someone to wait on the necessary path, it won’t delay things. I, for one, feel that it looks like there’s truly an important matter. My lord, you can rest assured. Ninth Mountain, under the Zhonglang General, will not make things difficult for its own people.”

Official Guo was somewhat speechless by his subordinate Clerk’s words, but being suddenly called to a meeting, an peripheral figure of the Fushi, felt truly strange, especially since his son had made a mistake recently, so he couldn’t help but overthink.

“If it’s truly a meeting, then what on earth happened that even we civil officials are being called?”

He frowned, but then he understood.

“Forget it, no need to send someone to ask. Come, prepare the carriage and horses, to Ninth Mountain!”

Not long after, the South City Official, dressed neatly, sat in his carriage and headed straight towards Yunding Mountain!

As the carriage traveled the latter half of its journey, night quietly fell, the evening drum had already sounded, and Jinguan City lit up with lights. From time to time, the sound of hooves trampling snow could be heard, galloping past.

“Giddy up!”

Shouts quickly faded into the distance, and even the sound of hooves seemed extremely hurried.

The South City Official was truly curious, so he lifted the curtain of the carriage. He only saw blurred figures receding into the dim night. He asked the Yamen runner guarding the carriage, “It’s freezing cold, and there’s a night curfew. Who is galloping horses on the street?”

The questioned Yamen runner quickly cupped his fists, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “Reporting, Official, I don’t know what happened, but from time to time, there are soldiers dressed in Ninth Mountain uniforms galloping forward, scattered. Looking at these men, their hair is not tied up, and they are only wearing light armor, so they should be soldiers on leave rushing back.”

Upon hearing this, Official Guo looked in the direction ahead, and a sense of surprise arose in his heart, wondering what on earth had happened.

Just as he put down the curtain, preparing to continue his journey, suddenly, the ground subtly vibrated. Following that, a faint rumbling sound came from behind.

“Rumble, rumble”

This vibration, like a tide, quickly became clear, and the sound grew louder and louder, as if thousands of troops and horses were rapidly advancing in this direction.

On both sides of the street, exclamations gradually rose, and the sound of doors opening and windows closing was incessant.

Soon, outside the carriage, the urgent voice of the Yamen runner sounded, “Quick, pull over!”

“Neigh!”

The carriage horses neighed, and under the coachman’s shouts and whip, they quickly swerved to the side of the main road and stopped. The carriage violently jolted, startling the South City Official, who scrambled out, clutching his official hat on his forehead, and stood on the front step of the carriage.

“What happened?”

“My lord, look!”

The Yamen runner dismounted quickly, holding the reins and using his body’s weight to pull down, restraining the startled horse. Then he turned his face back, his voice somewhat distorted.

Guo Lixiong looked back, and his pupils contracted.

He saw, on the street behind, illuminated by the white snow, a cold and gleaming steel torrent, rumbling like a flood, galloping wildly down the street!

Evil Qi was like raging fire, and cold light shone on their iron armor. On each tall horse, armored soldiers in heavy armor were like ferocious beasts, full of intense and fiery ferocity.

One person alone possessed a formidable Aura, but their cold iron armor, reflecting the snow, formed a continuous expanse. Roughly estimated, there were over ten thousand cavalry, their Aura connected into one, Evil Qi soaring to the sky, truly worthy of being called a tiger-wolf army.

These iron cavalry were all clad in unified Ninth Mountain-style armor, and they were a large contingent of Ninth Mountain Army who had received orders from General Mountain, two hundred li to the south!

An anomaly occurred at General Mountain a month ago, with a large amount of pure fire crystals erupting, and the rumored Phoenix divine bird manifesting, leading to conflict. Chen Yuan took action to Seal it off, and the miraculous fire domain within the mountain filled it with an extremely intense and pure Fire Origin Qi. Cultivating here allowed one to refine True Qi with the abundant fire Qi, greatly increasing Cultivation speed.

Chen Yuan then ordered the majority of Ninth Mountain’s forces to be transferred here for Cultivation, making this mountain a Cultivation ground. In just this short month, the Cultivation progress of these main Ninth Mountain forces was incredibly fast. Many achieved Breakthroughs, and their Aura became incomparably fierce, explosive like fire.

Now, the order from the mountain was for all troops to return to the mountain. They returned upon receiving the order, like fierce beasts returning to their mountain, galloping back!

Such a sight and Aura made the breathing of the startled common people along the way involuntarily stop. Many powerful martial artists, upon seeing this tiger-wolf army, narrowed their eyes. The might of these thousands of troops and horses, it was feared, even a Martial Divine Ability practitioner would not dare to easily test their edge!

This was the might that Ninth Mountain had cultivated!

“Rumble, rumble”

This steel torrent rushed past the South City Official’s carriage, which had pulled over, and headed straight towards Yunding Mountain.

And this increasingly loud commotion finally made the night no longer peaceful, with whispers constantly rising.

“Hurry to Ninth Mountain!”

The South City Official watched the receding torrent, calming the stifling sensation in his chest caused by that Aura. His tone became urgent, urging the coachman to get going, and he himself re-entered the carriage.

The continuous actions of Ninth Mountain made it clear, even to a fool, that something big was about to happen.

“Giddy up!”

The coachman quickly raised his whip, urging the carriage back onto the road, following behind the ten thousand strong iron cavalry. The carriage wheels turned rapidly.

Thus, after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the carriage finally arrived at Ninth Mountain.

At this moment, Ninth Mountain vibrated with the neighing of horses and the pounding of hooves.

The Ninth Mountain Army Camp was ablaze with fire, illuminating the road below the mountain.

The South City Official’s carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain with a “whoa.” Here, civil officials dismounted from their sedan chairs, and military officials dismounted from their horses.

“You all wait here!”

Guo Lixiong instructed the Yamen people, then turned and looked up at the blazing fires and thunderous atmosphere of the Ninth Mountain Great Camp. He stepped onto the mountain path, his figure moving dozens of meters with each sway.

On the way up the mountain, he actually encountered the Officials from the other three cities, gathered together and ascending the mountain.

“Official Zhang, Official Ji, Official Sun, you’ve all come too!”

“It’s Official Guo!”

The Officials of the East, South, West, and North cities met.

“What on earth happened? Is there going to be another battle on the front lines? On my way here, over ten thousand cavalry returned to Ninth Mountain; they must be the main forces stationed at General Mountain outside South City!” Guo Lixiong could only think of this one reason.

“Not quite clear. A large-scale movement by Ninth Mountain can only be for this reason, but when it comes to leading troops in battle, we have no part in it. Why are we four called to a meeting? That’s what’s strange,” the East City Official said, first with solemn concentration, then frowning, showing his confusion.

This was precisely the reason why all four Officials were perplexed.

Their duty was to assist the Fushi in governing the city, much like the county magistrates in the four directions.

“Talking more is useless. We’ll know when we get there.”

The four then arrived outside the main gate of the Ninth Mountain Army Camp. At this time, horses were constantly galloping into the camp, and inside, shouts, neighing, and sharp whistles created an incredibly chaotic noise.

A green-clad armored soldier stepped forward, cupped his fists towards the four of them, “Four Officials, please proceed to the Commanding Platform for the meeting. Follow me!”

Saying this, he led the four into the army camp gate.

Passing through the noisy formations of soldiers, the four Officials followed and arrived at the tower of the Commanding Platform!

Inside the tower, the lights were bright. In the hall on the first floor, some people were already seated.

The two Councilors, Gao Yu and General Fan Chou.

The three Garrison Generals: Zhou Yuan, the East City Guard; Mo Qianyun, the South City Guard; and Liao Qingshan, the West City Guard.

As well as the Chief Secretary of the Dao Fu Division in charge of the Weapon Repository, and the Directors of the ten divisions coordinating with the various mountains.

About eleven or twelve people!

When the four Officials, Guo Lixiong, entered, they bowed slightly to the two Councilors, Gao Yu and General Fan Chou, and the three Garrison Generals, exchanging pleasantries. “Our apologies, we subordinates are late!”

In fact, Officials and Garrison Generals were of the same rank, both Fifth Rank officials, but in the Fushi, civil officials were inherently subordinate to military officials, which is why they referred to themselves as subordinates.

Gao Yu and the others simply gestured. Guo Lixiong and the four found their places according to the seating order and sat down.

No one spoke in the hall. Some were meditating, some held teacups with lids covering the rim, quietly drinking tea, and others were communicating through sound transmission, but everyone’s ears were carefully listening to the commotion outside.

Not long after, more people arrived.

Xiao Sheng, the North City Guard, walked in wearing heavy armor, radiating Evil Qi. “It seems I’m late. Those Jin Family people are stubborn as dead ducks, can’t get a word out of them. It wasted some time.”

Upon hearing this, those present couldn’t help but twitch their brows.

Everyone had heard about last night’s events, and it was said to be by order of Ninth Zhonglang.

It was a slap in the face to the Crown Prince of Northern Liang!

However, no one spoke much on that topic. But now that most people had arrived, everyone remained quiet, silently waiting for the main person to arrive, and their hearts couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

After about a dozen breaths, orders came from outside.

“Open the Restriction!”

“No one else is to disturb!”

As the words fell, several footsteps quickly approached, then entered the tower.

Immediately, Cloud Skyborn, Liu Qing, and Lu Ming appeared, bustling in.

Then, the main door of the first-floor hall slammed shut.

Inside the hall, the others had strange expressions.

They heard the three, Cloud Skyborn, walk straight to the front. “The General has important matters and cannot spare the time. He has instructed us three to preside over today’s meeting!”

Saying this, the three sat down on the front left and right sides. Cloud Skyborn looked at the two Councilors and the Four Cities Garrison who had turned their attention to him, and his expression slowly became serious, dropping a bombshell:

“News from the front lines: the demon Seal has been lifted, and they are stirring. Large numbers of demons are gathering in the fallen lands, and the second wave of the campaign will soon begin!”

“What?!”

When this news was dropped, although many people had made related conjectures about Ninth Mountain’s actions when they arrived, hearing the confirmed news still made them involuntarily gasp for breath.

What was bound to come, still came!

Everyone else’s mood sank.

“Scared?”

Cloud Skyborn’s eyes flickered with sharp light as he surveyed everyone’s expressions.

“Cavalry General Yun, just tell us, what orders has the General given? I, Gao, will cooperate fully.”

Gao Yu directly stated his position.

Cloud Skyborn nodded slightly, his gaze like lightning. “By the General’s order, Ninth Mountain will immediately dispatch troops, but this time it’s different from the first. This time, we may very well take the initiative to attack!” (End of Chapter)