Chapter 94: Divine Prison Spear Master, Zhenhai Dragon King
It was already the twelfth lunar month.
The weather grew colder day by day.
Linjiang Prefecture.
Overnight, the north wind assaulted, and frost and snow suddenly fell.
By early morning, everywhere one looked, between heaven and earth was already a blanket of silvery white.
South Water Gate.
Even in this cold winter season, the wharf was still bustling with voices, the noise rising straight to the sky.
Laborers shouldered large packages, shouting work chants, huffing and puffing as they carried back and forth.
Some wealthy merchants wore thick fur coats, hand warmers tucked inside, surrounded by servants watching the laborers work, occasionally stamping their feet, now and then issuing a few rebukes.
On the city wall, patrolling soldiers had changed into thicker clothing, wearing cotton armor or leather armor outside, each gripping sabers and spears, eyes sharply scanning all around.
With Hong Yuan’s order, Tao Gongwang, Qian Shan Zhi, and others naturally dared not disobey, and soon integrated Golden Soup Camp and Grain Transport Gang.
They kicked out three or four hundred old, weak, and good-for-nothings from Golden Soup Camp, and supplemented with elites from Grain Transport Gang.
The combat power improvement of this newly formed ‘Town Sea Army’ was not yet apparent for the time being; it was just that after being disciplined by Tao Gongwang and others, military discipline was greatly improved.
Mist rose over Jade Belt River.
Large and small passenger boats, cargo boats, and ferries gathered, sails crisscrossing as they swarmed in.
There were rich merchants and great families from all over, as well as many Jianghu martial artists wearing sabers and swords; of course, there were even more ordinary folk bustling for livelihood, hurrying through the wharf.
Moreover, more than twenty grain transport boats, under the command of the grain transport official, were moored in the designated waters.
Amid this chaotic din, on a passenger boat decorated fairly elegantly with a ‘Jinzhou Luo Family’ lantern, a young master in brocade robe and jade pendant at his waist frowned tightly.
Beside him stood an old man about fifty years old, also in luxurious silk robe, equally pulling a long face, sighing repeatedly.
Jinzhou bordered Mingzhou, and the Luo Family from which this old and young pair hailed was considered a mid-tier noble clan in Jinzhou.
In recent years, Luo Family had expended great effort and wealth, and only recently managed to connect with Wei Family and Xiang Family, establishing business dealings with these two great noble clans of Linjiang Prefecture.
After all this busywork, they had only run two shipments so far.
This was the third trip.
Thinking of this, the young Luo Family master even had the urge to crash his head into Jade Belt River.
He had fawned and curried favor in the family, winning the elders’ favor, and thus secured the lead role in escorting this shipment, hoping to advance further within the clan.
But while still halfway, he had already heard the news of the drastic changes in Linjiang Prefecture.
Now Xiang Family was wiped out, and it was said that the Wei Family old master had surrendered to Manor Lord Song of Crouching Tiger Manor, but according to the recently widely circulated news, their situation was not too good, seemingly discarded after use.
What to do?
The Luo Family young master pressed his forehead, his thoughts in turmoil.
Returning the way they came was impossible.
Given the success of the previous two trips, Luo Family had loaded a full fifty boats of goods this time, with over a hundred varieties of items.
If they returned empty-handed, the losses and responsibility would all fall on him, utterly ruining his future in the clan.
Precisely because of this, even upon learning the news midway, the Luo Family young master could only grit his teeth and press on.
“After Wei Family endured this turmoil, who knows their state; can they still connect… No! Better hope that Manor Lord Song of Crouching Tiger Manor is easier to talk to.”
The Luo Family young master thought silently, then turned to the silk-clothed old man beside him and asked, “Third Uncle, how much do you know about Manor Lord Song of Crouching Tiger Manor?”
“Alas!” The silk-clothed old man smiled bitterly, about to speak, when suddenly a clear horn blast rang out, rapidly spreading.
On the misty Jade Belt River, another seven or eight large ships cleaved through the waves, their tall flag sails fluttering in the wind.
With the horn blast, a young officer in cotton armor on the wharf leaped up, running while blowing a whistle.
The whistle pierced the wharf, drawing the involuntary gazes of merchants, travelers, and Jianghu guests.
The young officer quickly assembled a team of twenty or thirty men and shouted, “The alliance’s fleet has arrived! Quick! Clear the way by moving other boats aside!”
His subordinate soldiers immediately sprang into action, waving flags and sternly rebuking the passenger and merchant boats originally moored in the main channel.
Amid a flurry of chaos, various boats, under the panicked control of sailors, were herded to both sides like sheep.
Though it caused waves of commotion and intermittent complaints, no one stood up to resist; eyes turned toward that fleet.
Drawing near, one could already make out the characters ‘Town Sea’ on those flag sails.
On the wharf, the noble clans and merchants on various boats looked grave, while those martial artists, regardless of age or gender, showed awe upon seeing ‘Town Sea’ on the sails.
It had been over twenty days since the great change in Linjiang Prefecture; who now did not know who was the most sensational figure in Linjiang Prefecture and even all of Mingzhou in recent times?
Divine Prison Spear Master!
Zhenhai Dragon King!
All pointing to one person: Hong Yuan!
Among those who had spied on the battle at Mingguang Courtyard from Jinming Ward were agents from various sides and many Jianghu folk, including one highly prestigious martial world elder.
After observing, this man turned pale and gave only four words of evaluation to the crowd: Divine might like prison!
From then on, Hong Yuan’s title of ‘unrivaled, Startled Swan Spear’ became ‘Divine Prison Spear Master’, spreading rapidly.
And because he integrated Grain Transport Gang and the original Golden Soup Camp into one, forming Town Sea Alliance, he also gained the title ‘Zhenhai Dragon King’.
By now, Hong Yuan’s fame was no longer confined to one prefecture; it had spread widely across Mingzhou, and with time, gradually to other prefectures.
In terms of prestige, even Song Yinglong, backed by Crouching Tiger Manor’s might, fell short.
Even in territory, Song Yinglong held ten counties, while that Zhenhai Dragon King reportedly only took Qingxu and Yangquan Counties.
But well-informed upper circles had long heard that Song Yinglong had suffered repeated setbacks at the hands of that Zhenhai Dragon King, even forced to withdraw troops from Black Iron Town.
Many muttered darkly that this so-called ‘Zhenhai Dragon King’ was perhaps really ‘suppressing’ Song Yinglong.
The Luo Family young master looked around, seeing the several Town Sea Alliance large ships drawing closer, his heart stirred; he turned to his third uncle.
But he saw the silk-clothed old man looking back at him too; their gazes met, both having the same thought.
How about seeking cooperation with Town Sea Alliance?
Mingzhou, Pingkang County.
“Divine Prison Spear Master? Zhenhai Dragon King?”
Heavy snow blanketed the mountains; looking out, it was a world of silvery white.
Cliff walls, mountain pavilions, terraces, and trees were all wrapped in snow, sparkling crystal clear under the reflected glow.
The youth in moon-white Daoist robe unusually had no mind to appreciate it, murmuring to himself, a trace of surprise appearing on his usually calm, unruffled face.
Mr. Cui, bowing and waiting at the side, could not suppress the stormy waves in his heart.
In his original conception, that ‘young tiger’ Hong Yuan of Tiger Subduing Sect, under the sky-high bounties from several major forces in Linjiang Prefecture, might survive but would be forced to flee in disgrace.
With Qionghua Martial Gathering approaching and Dragon Subduing Sect affairs numerous, Cui Ming, as one of the stewards, could not devote too much attention to that ‘young tiger’.
Only recently did he suddenly think of it and order someone to collect intelligence.
When the recent news came back, he glanced at it, and his eyes nearly popped out.
Cui Ming found it incredulous.
Not only did that Hong Yuan not flee, he went against the tide, single-handedly spearing through all martial artists blocking his path, and in Twin Dragon Gorge, in one battle slew two Microscopic Level Grandmasters, Lei Meng and Han Ding Tian.
Then with one man’s power, he subdued Grain Transport Gang and took control.
Seeing this was already shocking enough, but there was even more heart-pounding information after.
Several days later, he again took up his spear into the prefectural city, spearing through two thousand soldiers of Guo Family and Hua Family, taking the heads of the two noble clan helmsmen, then dividing prefectural power with Song Yinglong.
This…
Cui Ming felt that ever since returning from Yangquan County, the whole world had become fantastical.
“Young Master Shenxiao…” Cui Ming’s eyes showed worry as he looked toward Zhang Shenxiao.
Even with utmost admiration for Zhang Shenxiao, facing Hong Yuan’s exaggerated battle record, he could not avoid inner turmoil.
Could Young Master Shenxiao achieve killing two Microscopic Level Grandmasters in one battle?
Could he single-handedly rout two thousand soldiers?
These questions surged in his mind repeatedly, hard to suppress.
After a moment, he heard Zhang Shenxiao say indifferently, “You’re worried? Worried I’ll lose to that Hong Yuan?”
“Subordinate…”
Before Cui Ming could answer, Zhang Shenxiao continued on his own, “I thought the dragon-tiger contest had no suspense, my opponents only Mingzhou’s three great sects; unexpectedly Tiger Subduing Sect’s generation keeps surprising me—this is no longer a young tiger, but one with wings, soaring to the heavens.”
Zhang Shenxiao unfolded a paper note in his hand, all about Hong Yuan’s information; with a light shake, it turned to dust and scattered in the wind.
“Your worry is not unfounded, for even I dare not claim complete confidence.” Zhang Shenxiao sighed leisurely, then suddenly said, “Cui Ming!”
“Yes, subordinate is here!”
“Go back and report to my master: tell him I’ve gone down the mountain for training; come March next year, I’ll appear at the Qionghua Gathering in Longyuan Prefecture.”
Cui Ming’s expression tightened; he saw Zhang Shenxiao wave his hand, robe flapping loudly amid a crisp crane cry resounding.
His figure resembled a crane soaring in the sky, suddenly floating lightly upward, leaping down from mid-mountain.
Cui Ming stumbled forward a few steps, seeing a white cloud swiftly drifting away, vanishing in an instant.
Longyuan Prefecture.
Snow piled on both riverbanks; on Dragon Spine River, painted boats stood like a forest, sounds of silk and bamboo instruments endless; numerous glamorous women mingled with wealthy nobles, laughter rising and falling.
In one painted boat, in the spring-like warm side hall, a youth with half-open collar pillowed his head on a beautiful woman’s slender, soft thigh.
He held a book in hand, reading intently, occasionally opening his mouth to accept fruit and wine fed by the woman.
After a good while, heavy footsteps sounded outside the hall; then the side room door was pushed open, and two figures strode in.
These two wore embroidered brocade clothes, both around forty years old; one square-faced middle-aged man glanced at the youth and snorted, “Who’d have thought the ‘Xie Family Treasure Tree’ would set our meeting in such a place.”
The youth chuckled lightly, slowly sitting up, one arm around the woman’s waist, lightly pecking her cherry lips, teasing her into giggles, then waved her away.
Only then did he leisurely stand, adjusting his clothes while drawling, “What’s wrong with this place? Good scenery, fine wine, and beauties who know how to pamper—don’t tell me you two uncles have never been here, or I’d look down on you, Xie Lingjun.”
As he spoke, his clothes were already neatly arranged.
The two brocade-clad middle-aged men in the hall felt a blur before their eyes; the previously frivolous youth inexplicably transformed.
The person was the same, the clothes the same, but his bearing had utterly changed.
In plain azure scholar’s robe, figure slender like a jade tree in the wind, he smiled faintly at them, brows and eyes refined, divine light restrained, features elegantly handsome.
In the present world, the south bred noble families and nobles, the north produced military leaders.
Among southern noble clans, eight houses reigned supreme, three birthed from Mingzhou; this Xie Lingjun was precisely a scion of Jiangling Xie Family.
Also the most outstanding of Xie Family’s younger generation, bearing the title ‘Xie Family Treasure Tree, orchid-like elegance’.
The two brocade-clad middle-aged men in the hall were no simple figures either, from Mingzhou’s other two great noble families: Jindu Chen Family and Longyuan Wang Family.
Mingzhou’s prosperity was unmatched in the world, always the focus of various forces’ covetous eyes.
Major vassal states, the other five noble families, northern military leaders, and numerous depraved sacrifice evil god sects would not let go of this huge piece of fat, planting agents openly or covertly in Mingzhou to cultivate forces.
But precisely because forces were too complex and mutually checked, it was hard to unfold; those truly deciding Mingzhou’s grand momentum were still the native factions.
Among noble families and nobles, Jiangling Xie Family, Jindu Chen Family, and Longyuan Wang Family led; in the martial world, Flower Stream Sword Sect, Vajra Temple, and Profound Ice Sect reigned supreme.
Among the three great families, only Wang Family rose in the prefectural city of Longyuan Prefecture, but the other two would not ignore the prefectural city, sending outstanding family talents to hold it.
The three families both openly contended and covertly fought, but also often allied, such as in squeezing other prefectures and counties for taxes.
The Chen and Wang middle-aged men carefully sized up Xie Lingjun, seeing him transform in an instant, and were inwardly startled.
Previously, Xie Family’s prefectural city head was around their age; this time a twenty-seven or twenty-eight-year-old youth, they had thought to give him a show of strength, but upon seeing his bearing, they dismissed the notion.
‘Xie Family Treasure Tree’ lived up to the name.
“Alright, Lingjun nephew, we have busy affairs, so no more delaying; straight to the point.” The two brocade-clad middle-aged men sat facing Xie Lingjun; the Wang middle-aged man spoke first.
“Indeed; after talking with you two uncles, I still need to chat intimately with the four ladies Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon—no time to waste with you two.”
Xie Lingjun still held the book in one hand, eyes not lifting, while his other hand lightly tapped the table, producing a crisp sound.
Soon, an attendant entered holding a box, saluted, and placed it on the table.
Xie Lingjun pushed the box toward the Chen and Wang pair, saying, “This is the document and account book presented by Song Yinglong: the document petitions the central authority for the seal of ‘Linjiang Prefect’; the account book is the taxes to be paid, equivalent to those from Xiang Family and Wei Family in the past.”
The Chen middle-aged man snorted coldly, “He knows his place.”
With Great Yin Dynasty’s central authority weakened, separatist forces rose in various prefectures and states, but after eight hundred years, Great Yin had declined and revived repeatedly, its Mandate of Heaven deeply rooted, unchanging like sun and moon.
The world’s billions had long grown accustomed to Great Yin’s existence; the Mandate of Heaven endures.
Thus, those with true ambition, after seizing a prefecture or state, would petition the center for seals.
Those directly overturning the table, openly declaring rebellion against Great Yin, were few—mostly rough bandits or depraved sacrifice sects: one brainless, the other anyway unable to gain Great Yin’s recognition.
The Wang middle-aged man smiled, “Song Yinglong got ten counties, territory far larger than Xiang Family and Wei Family’s, yet hands over wealth only equivalent to theirs—he’s still getting a great deal.”
Xie Lingjun said, “So this petition document is not to be sent to the center?”
“No! Help him submit it.” The Wang middle-aged man shook his head.
“But.” The Chen middle-aged man nodded too, eyes flashing, “Besides Song Yinglong, what of that Divine Prison Spear Master? His rise so swift, fame so quick—Mingzhou hasn’t seen such a figure in decades. Even this Chen has heard his name till my ears are callused; pity about Han Ding Tian—I had wanted to recruit him as a guest elder, but he didn’t know his place.”
“Lost Mingzhou’s top spearman, gained a Divine Prison Spear Master—what’s the pity?” The Wang middle-aged man was utterly unconcerned, laughing, “Rumor has it he’s not yet twenty, handsome and extraordinary, peerless natural talent—this Wang is quite eager to meet him. Where’s his document?”
Xie Lingjun’s gaze fell on the book, head not lifting, “None!”
Chen and Wang’s eyes sharpened, turning to Xie Lingjun, but he said not a word more; after a moment, the Wang middle-aged man chuckled, “Indeed young and famous, brash with youth—but occupying half a prefecture and two counties, without giving us three families an explanation, it’s truly unjustifiable. Lingjun nephew, your view?”
Xie Lingjun tapped the book in hand, saying indifferently, “I’ll sit and watch.”
Chen and Wang exchanged a glance; the Chen middle-aged man suddenly said, “Lingjun nephew bears the title ‘orchid-like elegance’; among today’s young generation, few can stand shoulder-to-shoulder. Don’t you want to contest that Hong Yuan?”
Xie Lingjun ‘hehe’ laughed, “Don’t.”
Chen and Wang inwardly cursed ‘sly fox’; they were naturally displeased that Hong Yuan gave no face to top-tier noble families like theirs, but his battle record and various intel had long reached their desks.
Their subordinate staff officers had analyzed his character thoroughly.
If truly to deal with him, it had to be a one-strike kill; otherwise, expect endless retaliation—and his tough battle record made even them, as top-tier clans, feel it thorny.
Seeing Xie Lingjun young, they tried to goad him into action; unexpectedly, he was even steadier than them.
“The Qionghua Gathering is just three months away; in that case, wait till then to meet this hero.”
In the end, Chen and Wang sighed and rose to take leave.
As leaving the door, the Wang middle-aged man glanced back at Xie Lingjun, unable to resist asking, “Lingjun nephew, what book are you reading so intently?”
Xie Lingjun raised his head, closed the pages, facing the cover toward them, and smiled, “《Legend of the Condor Heroes》, a storybook novel just circulated from Linjiang Prefecture—quite captivating. Said to have come from that Divine Prison Spear Master’s residence, tsk!”
At this unexpected answer, Chen and Wang stared at each other, but once out of the painted boat, they sent attendants to buy it.
In the painted boat side hall, Xie Lingjun lounged leisurely, head back, tsk-tsking in admiration, “Five Great Masters of the World, east south west north center—why didn’t I think of that before? I need to promote it more, let those Jianghu folk vie for fame and ranking too.”
As he sighed, suddenly two attendants hurried in and reported, “Young Master, we have a lead on that item you wanted.”
Xie Lingjun’s lazy expression vanished, gaze suddenly sharp, “Where?”
“Xingqing Prefecture!”
