Chapter 31 Snatching People

Yun Bai understood in his heart that at this moment, it was simply impossible for him to kill Chen Qiang, let alone topple the Chen Family.

He had to swallow this insult.

If he provoked the Chen Family too much, he wouldn't have an easy time either.

Furthermore, he still faced the heavy pressure of Spirit Stone costs. If he could extort more Spirit Stones from the Chen Family, he could buy the soul-stabilizing pill sooner to treat his sister.

Only by becoming stronger would he have more say, and only then would it be possible to make the Chen Family bow their heads.

Just as Yun Bai was feeling suffocated with anger, he suddenly heard someone call his name from behind.

"Young Master Yun, would you be able to spare a moment? My master invites you to the nearby Moon-Seeking Tea House; there is a good opportunity he wishes to discuss with you."

Yun Bai asked the person, "Who is your master?"

"General Lin Jian, the Magistrate of Chu Prefecture."

"General Lin Jian?" Yun Bai's brows knit together instantly, and the wicked fire in his heart, ignited by the Chen Family, flared up again.

The Northwest Army? The Magistrate? In his current understanding, these people and the Chen Family were simply cut from the same cloth, birds of a feather! If anyone believed the Chen Family could thrive in the Northwest Army without the tacit approval or even indulgence of these high-ranking officers, they were fools.

Who in Chu Prefecture didn't know that the City Commander, General Yang Cang, was the son-in-law of the Chen Family? How much better could this General Lin Jian be?

He suppressed the urge to refuse immediately, wanting to see what this Magistrate was up to. He said coldly, "Lead the way."

Thus, Yun Bai followed the man out of the National Temple and into the Moon-Seeking Tea House, one street away.

Inside the tea house, General Lin Jian, dressed in casual clothes, was tasting tea with his eyes closed. His demeanor seemed peaceful, but between his brows lingered the murderous aura of one who had long lived a military life.

"My Lord, Young Master Yun has arrived."

"Oh? Please, come in."

Yun Bai entered the tea house, his gaze sweeping toward General Lin Jian like cold lightning. General Lin Jian, sitting in his seat, opened his eyes and looked at him with a hint of scrutiny.

Yun Bai did not recognize this Magistrate of Chu Prefecture; it seemed he was a newly appointed general. But in his eyes at this moment, this person also seemed branded with the mark of the "Chen Family," which filled him with disgust.

The two giants of Chu Prefecture: the State Religion and the Northwest Army.

Before the assessment for the State Religion, he had considered joining the Northwest Army, but after a deeper understanding, he discovered that the Family forces within the army were deeply entrenched. For commoners like him and his sister with no background, joining would likely mean never having a chance to get ahead, and they might even become cannon fodder. Additionally, the strict management in the army made it inconvenient to take care of his sister, and the State Religion possessed the Medicinal Pill capable of healing Yun Qian, which was why he ultimately chose the State Religion.

At this moment, facing this military giant, Yun Bai had not the slightest bit of goodwill, and he couldn't even be bothered to maintain basic pleasantries.

He sat down unceremoniously and spoke directly, his tone carrying clear detachment and a trace of imperceptible mockery: "General Lin Jian, you are busy with ten thousand tasks, yet you have the leisure to summon a mere newcomer like me who just joined the State Religion? I am truly flattered. May I ask what advice you have? Could it be that you are here to act as a lobbyist for the Chen Family?"

General Lin Jian was taken aback by Yun Bai's rapid-fire, hostile opening, and the speech he had prepared stuck in his throat.

He had expected the young man to have some arrogance, but he hadn't expected such undisguised disgust and resistance, especially the direct mention of the "Chen Family," which made him feel somewhat embarrassed for a moment.

He gave a light cough, suppressing his displeasure, and tried to ease the atmosphere: "Young Friend Yun seems to have deep prejudices against the military? Things are not what you think..."

"Prejudice?" Yun Bai sneered, interrupting him. "General Lin Jian, how the military in Chu Prefecture relates to local families, you know better than I do. Regarding the matter of Chen Qiang, if there hadn't been someone behind him, how could he have escaped so easily?"

"I just met someone from the Chen Family, and now you, the Magistrate, have summoned me personally; it is hard not to overthink. I, Yun Bai, am of low status, but my bones are still a bit hard, and I am not accustomed to beating around the bush. If this is truly for the Chen Family's affair, there is no need to waste your breath!"

General Lin Jian's expression darkened completely. He had long held a high position; when had he ever been confronted and mocked to his face by a young man like this? The atmosphere in the tea house instantly dropped to freezing point.

However, looking at Yun Bai's eyes, which were exceptionally bright with anger, and that unyielding posture, the annoyance in General Lin Jian's heart was gradually replaced by another emotion.

He took a deep breath, suddenly sighed, and a trace of helplessness and sincerity appeared on his face: "Young Friend Yun Bai, please calm down. You are right to curse, but you are also wrong."

Yun Bai raised an eyebrow, still meeting his gaze coldly.

General Lin Jian leaned forward, lowered his voice, and his tone became extremely serious: "I am not in cahoots with local forces as you imagine. To be honest, I, General Lin Jian, was directly appointed by the Ministry of War in the Capital as the new Magistrate of Chu Prefecture. My primary task is to rectify the deep-seated problems of the Chu Prefecture military, clean up the organization, and strike against forces like the Chen Family that collude with the dregs of the army, erode military discipline, and harm the region!"

He looked at Yun Bai with burning eyes: "I admire your sharpness and courage, and even more so your disdain and anger toward the evil deeds of playboys like Chen Qiang! Because this proves that you and I, at least on this matter, are standing on the same side."

"I sought you out today, by no means to plead on behalf of the Chen Family; on the contrary, I represent the Northwest Army's Great General Gu Wuhou, extending an invitation to you. I invite you to join us and together cleanse the turbid air within the Chu Prefecture military!"

"I have investigated your Family. You came to Chu Prefecture five years ago, lost your parents at a young age, and are left with only one younger sister, who suffers from a terminal illness. All these years, you have been searching everywhere for medical treatment for her."

"You do not have the advantages of noble families, yet you have reached this point at a mere 17 years of age; you are a rare talent."

Yun Bai's mouth twitched; so this General Lin Jian was here to poach him?

"We in the Northwest Army greatly appreciate you, and we also believe you have a limitless future. We know that you have just signed a Grade C special contract with the State Religion. But that does not matter. We will negotiate with the State Religion, and we will pay for all breach of contract terms on your behalf. You need not have any worries."

"We have just applied for and received a Grade B contract from above, personally approved by our Northwest Army's Great General Gu. You may not know the value of this Grade B special contract. After signing, we can immediately send you to the military for secret training. There, you will receive personal guidance from the Third Realm expert, Great General Gu Wuhou, and all Cultivation Technique resources, weapons, and equipment can be customized for you."

"At the same time, you will directly receive a Sixth-rank title and one thousand taels of gold. Your sister can also be sent to the Capital for better medical treatment. You have been running around for so many years, and Yun Qian's illness has dragged on and on. There are countless famous doctors in the Capital, and all kinds of Medicinal Pills and Formation techniques are numerous; there must be a way to solve it."

General Lin Jian smiled: "In this vast Northwest Region, there are only three geniuses qualified to be personally approved for a Grade B special contract by Great General Gu. One is a 13-year-old in the First Realm from Canghong County, one is a freak Genius with innate talent in Formation, and you are the third!"

Yun Bai was somewhat surprised. A 13-year-old in the First Realm was not simple. One had to know that it took him, Yun Bai, almost ten years to Cultivate from an ordinary person to the First Realm. If not for the assistance of the smart brain Xiao Liu and the black hole special skill, he wouldn't know where he would be rolling in the mud right now.

Just looking at the age when Yun Bai reached the Breakthrough to the First Realm was not worth such a high-spec special contract from the Northwest Army, but it only took Yun Bai three days to reach the First Realm Mid-stage after his Breakthrough, and he actually withstood the Heavenly Demon possessing his body alone. This was rare among the current Human Race.

An ignorant youth, in a situation where he had nothing, defeated the Heavenly Demon that had possessed his body.

Through a glimpse, the insightful big shots keenly sensed that Yun Bai was extraordinary in many aspects, such as willpower and Divine Sense. Only big shots like Great Elder Xu Antong and Great General Gu Wuhou, who had experienced the bloodshed and sacrifices of the Demon Tide era, knew what Heavenly Demon possession meant.

Therefore, if Great General Gu Wuhou said Yun Bai was worth it, then this Grade B special contract was worth it!

"Therefore, I sincerely invite you to join the Northwest Army!" When General Lin Jian stated these conditions, he himself felt it was somewhat incredible. Could Yun Bai, who was originally just a commoner, actually attract such great attention from Great General Gu?

After listening, the frost on Yun Bai's face eased slightly.

He was silent for a moment, then shook his head again: "Thank you, General Lin Jian, for speaking frankly, and thank you, Great General Gu, for your kindness. But... I cannot trust it. The Chen Family's influence is deeply rooted; how could it be easily shaken? I have now joined the State Religion and only wish to rely on my own efforts to Cultivate and protect my sister. I do not want to wade into the murky waters of the military, nor can I afford to."

This time, his refusal was no longer filled with gunpowder, but it was still firm.

General Lin Jian looked at Yun Bai, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes, but there was more understanding and appreciation. He knew that empty words were difficult to gain trust immediately, especially for a young person like Yun Bai who had been traumatized and had a firm will.

He no longer forced the issue, slowly stood up, and said solemnly: "Everyone has their own ambitions; one cannot force it. Great General Gu's door is always open for you. In addition,"

He paused, looked at Yun Bai with a deep gaze, and his tone was meaningful, "Today's words came from my mouth and entered your ears. I hope you take care of yourself."

"Remember, in this world, especially in a place like Chu Prefecture, if you want to truly not be bullied, if you want existences like the Chen Family to bow their heads to you, the only way is to keep becoming stronger! Cultivation, strength, and status are the hard truths! I hope you possess the power to ignore all demons and monsters soon!"

These words were like a heavy hammer striking Yun Bai's heart. The anger and frustration in his heart seemed to have found a direction to vent. He took a deep look at General Lin Jian, bowed with cupped hands for the first time, and his tone softened slightly: "Thank you, General Lin Jian, for your guidance; Yun Bai will keep it in his heart. Farewell."