Chapter 211: Chen Shun’an, Eager For Justice And Righteousness
Late at night.
Wind whipped snow particles against the tent flaps.
In the central tent at the Three Forked Road, lamps blazed brightly, gathering over a dozen people.
In the tent, the crowd consisted either of elders from the Wuqing Stick Bureau’s Inner Department or chiefs and squad leaders from the Wuguan Camp.
Lu Jing sat in the first seat on the left hand, Liu Qingyi sat in the first seat on the right hand.
Both puffed out their chests and bellies as they sat there, their fierce faces like thick ink drawings, just like evil gods descending to the mortal world; the air had already frozen solid.
Any sharp-eyed person could see that the two seemed at odds.
Lu Jing and Liu Qingyi both remained silent.
Meanwhile, the others argued heatedly.
They scowled and glared, temples bulging, cheeks puffed out, feet stomping stools and heads nearly hitting the beams, spittle flying out like nails.
“Heavy Snow blocks the river, freezing three feet deep. Even relying on the Grand Canal Porpoises’ ice-breaking ability, for us martial artists, it’s still an extremely dangerous matter… Why not hold steady, pin down these Water Demons, and wait until next year’s thaw at the spring equinox before making our move!”
“Drag it out to next year? Every extra day means massive expenses for feeding people and horses; what burden will that place on the Wuqing commoners? You scoundrel, you just want to line your own pockets and seize the chance to rake in wealth!”
“Aah!! Old Dog Zhou, you’re bullying me too much, slandering my good name—do you dare fight me to the death?!”
“I dare not.”
“Alright, no need to ruin the harmony. This batch of porpoises is still too few in number, only eight in total. If there were more…”
Chen Shun’an was mixed in among them. Though he had rendered great service and held the position of Tongming Envoy.
But as the tent’s crowd frequently offered plans and talked endlessly, he kept his eyes on his nose tip, hands tucked in his cotton robe sleeves, sitting calmly and inconspicuously.
He was just a porpoise language translator, a logistics officer.
At most, he trained the porpoises further, issued commands, and improved their rapport with human martial artists.
Other matters, even someday driving the porpoises to the Funiu Water Marsh for Combat against the Great Demon, had little to do with him.
After all, that unknown Great Demon in the Funiu Water Marsh had unfathomable strength, a cultivator of immortality from the immortal realm.
Even a single fallen Red Scale from it had the Water Demons and martial artists at the Three Forked Road searching everywhere, eyeing it covetously.
Chen Shun’an had already shone brightly.
The rest could be left to these young people.
After who knows how long of arguing, the tent gradually quieted.
Everyone’s gazes uniformly fell on Lu Jing and Liu Qingyi.
In the end, the final decision still rested with these two.
Lu Jing sat boldly in the main seat and spoke,
“We cannot delay any longer. Once we’re familiar with the porpoises’ wave-breaking ability, to the point of orders being followed without question, we set out for the Funiu Water Marsh.”
Liu Qingyi also nodded and said,
“Brother Lu is right; in warfare, speed is paramount, delay breeds change.”
Although Liu Qingyi had exposed the Tian Xuan Saint’s identity during the day, foiling some of Lu Jing’s petty schemes, creating a subtle rift between them.
But on major matters like Slay Demons, the two still maintained consistent attitudes, even accommodating each other to avoid affecting the big picture.
Liu Qingyi said: “However, eight porpoises is indeed too few. I have a military formation called the Iron Chain Shock Kill Formation. We just need to prepare the Linked Iron Locks and gather True Intent Martial Artists; it forms like four heads and eight tails, spinning left and right, following the mechanism of heaven and earth’s wind and clouds, in the forms of dragon, tiger, bird, and snake.
It can attack or defend; even if fallen into a demon horde, it can shock and kill its way out, and can disperse into units for flexible changes. The more who enter the formation, the greater its power.”
Lu Jing pondered briefly, then nodded and said,
“Then the top priority: on one hand, widely invite Wuqing experts to assemble porpoise-driving martial artists; on the other, trouble Shopkeeper Chen to have that Porpoise King patrol outside for a few days and find as many more porpoises as possible.”
Chen Shun’an nodded silently, without refusing.
It was just a minor matter.
Afterward, the tent’s warriors and martial artists made detailed arrangements for leading the army to Slay Demons.
Lu Jing and Liu Qingyi personally wrote secret letters, widely inviting Wuqing experts.
Some were eager and fierce, armed and ready.
Others received blueprints for forging Linked Iron Locks and prepared to fire up the forges overnight to cast weapons.
Others were responsible for food for this porpoise group, intending to purchase top-quality Fish Catch.
“Alright, that’s enough.”
Lu Jing stood up, his face solemn, looking at the crowd in the camp, and said,
“In this campaign, we can only win, not lose! Otherwise, the flood dragon disasters of the past two hundred years may repeat themselves.”
“Everyone disperse. When the time comes, after I, Commander Liu, Shopkeeper Chen, and others head to the Funiu Water Marsh, all of you must properly garrison the Three Forked Road and not fall for a ploy to lure the tiger from the mountain.”
“Any questions?” Liu Qingyi also stood up and looked at the crowd.
The crowd said nothing, uniformly looking toward Chen Shun’an in the corner.
Any questions?
Big problems!!
Can I not go?
In the crowd, Chen Shun’an fell somewhat silent, his face instantly darkening.
Why at the end did it suddenly turn to this old man?
Perhaps seeing Chen Shun’an’s fly-swallowing expression, Lu Jing asked with some concern,
“Shopkeeper Chen, your complexion seems off. That day at the Funiu Water Marsh, we’ll have to trouble you to act as intermediary, passing detailed military orders to the porpoises, even some deceptive false messages to other Water Demons… It’s crucial, benefiting the people; take good care of your health.”
Benefiting the people?
Such a big hat?
Chen Shun’an opened his mouth.
This Lu Jing was also sly and rotten, no good sort!
So what could he say?
Chen Shun’an’s expression turned serious, he stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said loudly,
“Position low, yet dare not forget the nation’s worries; matters settled, still await the coffin closing. For this, Chen Mou will of course step up without shirking, dare not tarnish my Water Station’s reputation!”
Chen Shun’an conveniently praised the Water Station again.
When drinking water, think of the source; never forget one’s roots!
“Well said, position low, yet dare not forget the nation’s worries!”
“Worth a big drink!”
“Shopkeeper Chen is truly a righteous man, zealous for public good!”
“Brother Chen, the past few days I held prejudice against you; it was my fault. In the future, whatever you need, just speak—brother here will insert knives in both ribs for you, sell horse for club!”
The tent’s crowd immediately praised without end.
……
The secret meeting ended; it was already late at night.
Chen Shun’an hurried anxiously toward Warehouse Keeper Fang’s dwelling.
Warehouse Keeper Fang had not yet slept.
Lying down clothed, breathing long and steady.
Chen Shun’an gently shook him awake.
Warehouse Keeper Fang’s eyes snapped open, his hand “whoosh” pressing onto the Short Knife by the bed, pupils contracting sharply; only upon seeing it was Chen Shun’an did he relax, throat bobbing,
“Shopkeeper Chen? Why are you here?”
“Warehouse Keeper Fang, since Chen Mou has successfully completed the task—not only translating porpoise language, but bringing back an entire group… that two taels of ‘Purple Iron Cattail Milk’ can be issued now, right?”
Although Chen Shun’an was confident that, with his Martial Dao Talent, Slay Mind Thief was just a matter of time.
Especially in just a few more days, once Lulü reached Perfection, Ran Yi’s Divine Aspect could continue to Upgrade, Mud Pill Grows Golden Lotus, fully opening the Niwan Acupoint, drawing Innate Qi.
At that time, countless wonders would likely emerge atop Divine Essence.
But shortening the Breakthrough time by even one day was excellent.
The Tian Xuan Saint was almost at the door.
And inexplicably, a “benefiting the people” task had dropped during the battlefield roll call.
Chen Shun’an grew afraid again.
“Purple Iron Cattail Milk?”
Warehouse Keeper Fang came to realization, sat up pulling on clothes, took the rough porcelain Teapot from the table, poured a cup of strong tea; steam wafted over his face as he asked puzzled,
“So urgent? Shopkeeper Chen, though this item is a rare treasure, you already have Three Refinements Martial Body; for you, it’s only useful someday for Slay Mind Thief…”
Chen Shun’an said no more, just cupped his hands.
Seeing Chen Shun’an’s firm intent, Warehouse Keeper Fang also grew solemn, set down the Tea Bowl, and said,
“Then I’ll go ask for you; wait a moment.”
“Many thanks.”
With that, Warehouse Keeper Fang donned his tile hat, picked up the Lantern, and hurriedly left the room toward the Public Office.
Chen Shun’an sat in the room, using the wait to Fall into the dream immortal realm, silently meditating and regulating his breath.
Not missing any chance to cultivate.
About the time of one incense stick later.
Besides Warehouse Keeper Fang, the Banner Officer who had previously eased things for Chen Shun’an also came along.
This man’s name was Shi Lin, also a veteran instructor at the Liangjiang Military Academy, with sharp eyes gleaming, a slick character.
At this point, the three sat at the table.
Shi Lin said: “Brother Chen, rest assured; the Purple Iron Cattail Milk is already yours, no one can take it. Since Brother Chen wants to claim it, I’ll write the chit here, notify the Public Office Banner Officers, report up to Leader Lu… At latest in seven days, you can go to the Martial Arts Hall to collect it.”
“Seven days?” Chen Shun’an frowned and said: “So long?”
“Ah? That’s long?”
Shi Lin, hearing this, widened his eyes, looking at Chen Shun’an in some surprise.
“This counts as First Class great merit; by normal process, it takes at least a month.” Shi Lin explained.
Chen Shun’an instantly understood.
Damned procedures!
All sorts of procedures!
One chit, after Inspection and review by various departments, layer upon layer upward, finally approved!
Chen Shun’an had even heard that in some remote county, rebels broke out; Refugees stormed the County Yamen, seized the city, and declared themselves king.
So an official document was sent from there by Fast Horse to the court.
First initial review at the prefecture, then verification and forwarding at the subprefecture, then handled by the Provincial Surveillance Commission, afterward to the Governor or Governor-General, finally deciding whether to memorialize…
By the time the court confirmed sending troops to Suppress the uprising and they arrived at the county…
The county was already an empty city.
Rebels and commoners had all been devoured by rampaging tiger demons.
Weeds and trees overgrown in the city… full of tigers and leopards, shaped like goblins and gluttons, already a demon nest.
What was meant to Suppress rebels turned bizarrely into Slay Demons.
The Sacred Dynasty’s efficiency was reassuring in that way.
Chen Shun’an’s face twitched, he could only say helplessly and deeply,
“Can we find a way to speed it up… Chen Mou has urgent need.”
Urgent need?
Warehouse Keeper Fang and Shi Lin exchanged glances.
You can’t fatten a pig in one bite; even if Shopkeeper Chen is a late-life hero with unyielding ambition, borrowing this to Slay Mind Thief and step into True Intent Realm.
Mere seven days isn’t even enough to adjust state and clear stray thoughts.
What, these saved days let you crush all Wuqing invincible, Great Accomplishment?
But…
Shi Lin had essentially hugged Chen Shun’an’s thigh, earning Leader Lu’s high regard, even personally straightening his collar.
He had carefully removed that clothing, found someone to mount and frame it, planning to pass it as heirloom for posterity to revere.
So Shi Lin could only grit his teeth and say,
“Since it’s Brother Chen’s request, leave it to Shi Mou; I’ll find a way! Brother Chen, await good news!”
With that, Shi Lin hurriedly departed.
