Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Chapter 156: 156 The third night he’s not here, missing him

Fengchi County.

On the city wall.

”Boom boom boom!”

”Kill!”

In the dead of night, a dull drumbeat sounded, torches were lit one after another, accompanied by fierce cries of battle.

The previously quiet county town suddenly became tumultuous.

The soldiers on duty on the city wall hurriedly struck the golden gong.

The pounding sound echoed throughout the city.

”Enemy attack!”

”Enemy attack!”

”Enemy attack!”

They shouted at the top of their lungs while banging the gong.

Soon, the city wall was filled with defenders, the firelight illuminating the sky as flaming arrows poured down towards the charging enemy forces.

The flames reached the sky, lighting up the night.

The defenders on the wall, aided by the firelight, were nearly scared out of their wits.

People.

It’s all people.

The hills and fields were filled with people.

They came with hoes, sickles, rakes, and large knives and spears taken from the Song Army, surging towards Fengchi County in an uncountable mass.

Such momentum made the legs of the defenders on the city wall feel weak.

Most of the local soldiers in Nanyang County had already been defeated by the Yellow Turban Army. How many county soldiers could there be in each county town?

Thus, the defenders of Fengchi County were mostly conscripted from the local populace, given only simple training, and had never seen such a grand scene.

At the stern command of the leader, the defenders calmed themselves a little.

They threw rolling stones at the rebels approaching the city wall.

There were simply too many rebels.

In just a quarter of an hour, the arrows were already exhausted.

The rolling stones were long gone.

Scaling ladders were placed against the city wall.

The rebels climbed up the ladders one after another.

”Brothers, they are out of arrows, kill them for me!”

”Break into the city and snatch the women; this city has never been taken before. If we get in first, we can have a great advantage...”

”...”

Someone shouted in the rebel army.

Immediately, some rebels seemed to be imbued with adrenaline.

Zhang Ping, in the Central Army, was also intrigued, his voice carried far by True Qi.

”A hundred gold for the first to climb.”

In sieges, the first to climb the battlements was called the ”First Climber.”

In the previous dynasty, they were even recognized as the foremost merit.

...

A quarter of an hour later.

Someone had already climbed the wall and fought with the defenders.

Not long after.

More and more rebels climbed the wall.

In such a situation, it was clear to everyone now.

Fengchi County could not be defended.

...

Luo Zhen did not stay at the County Government Office overnight.

After all, she was still an unmarried woman, and staying with a group of men was obviously inappropriate.

Relying on her relationship with Li Wenjun, Luo Zhen and Granny Qing stayed in a secluded courtyard three miles west of the county office, where there were few people around.

Luo Zhen had just fallen asleep when Granny Qing woke her up.

”Miss, wake up quickly, Fengchi County can’t hold on, we must leave.”

”Where’s Uncle Li? Let’s call him and leave together.”

Li Wenjun took them in, and Luo Zhen was not one to be ungrateful, so of course, she wanted to take him with her.

”...Miss, let’s go first. I’ll explain on the road,” Granny Qing hesitated slightly.

”Did something happen to Uncle Li?” Luo Zhen noticed something was wrong from Granny Qing’s expression.

”Lord Li...he has been killed by the County Magistrate.” Granny Qing said.

”What?”

Luo Zhen’s body stiffened, and her eyes welled up.

She had taken Lord Li as her benefactor.

She even planned that after the war, if Uncle Li was willing, she would offer herself in gratitude.

After all, at this critical moment, Li Wenjun was still grateful enough to take her and Granny Qing in.

Such kindness, Luo Zhen could not leave unrepaid.

But who could have expected he...would die like this...

”Granny Qing, how did you know?”

”Earlier, I went to the County Government Office hoping to ask Lord Li to arrange some guards, but unexpectedly... Miss, we should go before it’s too late,” Granny Qing said anxiously.

”Okay.”

Luo Zhen didn’t pack her things and followed Granny Qing right away.

Luo Zhen wasn’t someone who would cling to life through dishonorable means.

But the grudge against her father, the grudge against Uncle Li, needed someone to avenge.

She had to preserve her life to have a chance to avenge them in the future.

Moreover, even if she stayed, with her frail body, she couldn’t be of much help.

While running, Luo Zhen deliberately rolled in a mud pit, messed up her hair, and smeared mud on her face.

She knew how tempting her body was to men.

Not long after Luo Zhen and Granny Qing left.

The courtyard was surrounded by torches, and Fengchi County’s magistrate, Zhao Shicheng, appeared outside, shouting loudly, ”Surround it, don’t let Luo Zhen escape. If we offer the most beautiful woman of Nanyang to General Zhang, our families can stay safe, and we may even receive a reward.”

”Understood.”

After a search, the entire courtyard was empty.

Zhao Shicheng touched the still-warm bed, face darkened: ”They haven’t gone far, chase them.”

...

[Day 9 of the Great Turmoil: The grain supplies of Nan County have arrived...

After a night of cultivation, you have broken through to become a Third Grade Martial Artist...]

...

[Day 20: Due to your late arrival, Gao Fen missed the best time for rescue and was killed by the rebel army.

Your squad wiped out that rebel force, and given the reason for your late arrival, your merits and demerits were offset.]

[Simulation ended, you may retain one of the following items.]

[One, the realm of a Third Grade Martial Artist.]

[Two, the Vermilion Fruit from Great Yellow Mountain.]

[Three, Great Success of the First Two Forms of Eight Desolates Prison Suppression.]

Chen Mo looked at the three options.

After some thought, he chose the Vermilion Fruit from Great Yellow Mountain.

Because, regarding the realm of a Third Grade Martial Artist,

according to the simulation just done, cultivating for one night tonight would allow him to break through, so choosing one felt like a waste.

As Chen Mo chose the second option,

an orange fruit resembling a plum appeared in his hand, emitting a faint fruity fragrance, about the size of an egg.

Holding the Vermilion Fruit, Chen Mo pondered that he got the fruit in advance.

Would the Vermilion Fruit on Great Yellow Mountain still be there?

While Chen Mo was puzzled.

[All simulation attempts for today have been used.]

[Cooldown period: 24 hours. Next simulation costs 32,000 taels, which can be prepaid.]

Chen Mo: ”...”

No way, system bro, I haven’t even reached the realm of a Third Grade Martial Artist yet.

And it’s 32,000 taels already?

Chen Mo felt like crying without tears.

It seemed like there was no way to take advantage of the system.

...

Far away in Jingru Palace at the Capital.

Since Chen Mo left the Capital, Ye Wanqiu hadn’t had a good night’s sleep, always worrying about Chen Mo’s safety.

Tonight was no different for Ye Wanqiu.

She sat by the window, gazing longingly towards Nanyang, clutching the hairpin Chen Mo gave her, her eyes filled with infatuation.

Her mind drifted back to what Chen Mo said to her once.

Have you heard of Wang Wei’s ”Missing Someone”?

”Red beans grow in the southern country, in spring they sprout a few branches.”

”May you gather them more, for they are the most longing things.”

Ye Wanqiu slowly recited, having long memorized the verses of longing by heart.

She stroked the head of an orange cat.

On the third night since Chen Mo left, missing him.