I Grind to Martial Saint

The night was as black as ink.

Peering into the depths of the mountain range, one could faintly make out the massive, pitch-black silhouette of a sheep’s head.

That was Sheep Head Peak.

It was also the stronghold of the Wuyun Bandits.

Ever since defeating Nie Jing, the Wuyun Bandits had grown even stronger. Many wandering bandits and thieves from Cangshui County, hearing of their fame, flocked to join them.

Zhang Bei welcomed all comers, incorporating them into his ranks.

As a result, the scale of their mountain stronghold expanded day by day.

From the middle of the mountain upwards, the slope was covered in a dense cluster of stockades.

Torches burned brightly in every stockade, making it seem from afar as if the entire mountain was on fire.

In the stockade at the very peak, Zhang Bei, dressed in a black robe, sat upon the main seat in the Hall of Unity.

Before him stood another man.

This man had a gaunt face, a long, gray-white beard, and held a feather fan in his hand.

His name was Chen Lun. He was ranked seventh on the Cangshui County Black List, and known in the Martial World as the Poison Scholar.

He was originally a scholar who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations in the local County Town.

He grew resentful, convinced the County Yamen was corrupt and had cheated him. He then mastered a potent Poison Skill and, in a single night, poisoned several dozen people in the local County Yamen to death.

Afterward, he became a bandit. He remained one until he met and was subdued by Zhang Bei, after which he became the second-in-command on Sheep Head Mountain, serving as the bandits’ strategist.

Even their allegiance to the Wangling Sect was orchestrated entirely by Chen Lun.

”Chieftain, news has arrived from Cangshui County Town.”

”In a fit of pique, Li Xiao fired an arrow at Han Yuan, but Han Yuan seized the opportunity to cut him down.”

Chen Lun said coolly, waving his paper fan.

”Li Xiao is actually dead...”

Zhang Bei sounded a little surprised.

”Li Xiao’s strength was his Arrow Technique; he was weak in close combat. Once Han Yuan closed the distance, his death was inevitable.”

Chen Lun felt no sorrow for Li Xiao’s death; he even felt the man deserved it.

’He could have demoralized the Government Office officials, said his piece, and left. But no, he just had to provoke Han Yuan. An absolute fool!’

”To be able to kill a Wangling Sect Priest, not to mention Bai Muxin and his men... It seems this Han Yuan... is not necessarily weaker than Nie Jing. Interesting, very interesting... This Han Yuan is quite a man.”

Zhang Bei chuckled.

’I originally thought that with Nie Jing dead, Cangshui County would be leaderless and fall quickly.’

’But who would have thought Han Yuan would rise from obscurity to turn the tide? He annihilated the three great families of Cangshui County Town and stabilized the entire situation.’

”The emergence of a man like him is hardly a good thing for us,” Chen Lun said with a frown.

”This just makes things less boring.”

”Tomorrow, prepare the weapons and provisions.”

”I will set out within three days to attack Cangshui County Town!” Zhang Bei declared in a low voice.

”Yes, Chieftain!”

Chen Lun cupped his fist.

...

「Cangshui County Town, inside the Observatory.」

Han Yuan was in the main hall, sitting cross-legged and cultivating the Great Demon Skill.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

He saw Zhai Mu standing respectfully before him.

He had instructed Zhai Mu not to disturb him unless it was important, and to handle matters on his own.

For Zhai Mu to come to him today, something urgent must have happened.

Seeing Han Yuan open his eyes, Zhai Mu spoke quickly, ”Director, based on reports from the Feiying Tribe, the Wuyun Bandits are making repeated moves. They should be marching on the city soon.”

”What’s more, they’re boasting about it, making sure everyone knows.”

Han Yuan snorted coldly. ”Sooner or later... What’s the reaction from the people in the city?”

Zhai Mu smiled. ”No particular reaction, actually. After all, what happened a few days ago already prepared them for this.”

Han Yuan nodded. ”As long as morale doesn’t collapse, we’ll be fine.”

He thought for a moment, then asked, ”What’s the situation with General Li?”

’When the Wuyun Bandits attack, I naturally won’t be able to hold them off alone.’

’The Wuyun Bandits now have tens of thousands of soldiers. No matter how skilled I am at killing, I can’t kill them all.’

Zhai Mu replied, ”General Li has been recruiting and training young men. The County Soldiers are now back to a force of five thousand.”

”But of course, their combat effectiveness isn’t as high as his previous troops...”

Han Yuan said quietly, ”We’ll just have to trust General Li.”

”Right... have you found any leads on that matter I asked you to investigate?”

Zhai Mu’s expression turned solemn. He lowered his voice and said, ”That’s exactly why I came to report to you.”

”You previously tasked me with investigating for traces of Wangling Sect activity near Cangshui County Town.”

”You were right. Those Wangling Sect cultists have been very active recently.”

”After nightfall, they often appear in the poorer alleys, secretly subverting the people.”

Han Yuan said coolly, ”Now that the Wuyun Bandits are about to attack, the Wangling Sect naturally wants to convert more people within the city. Then, when the attack begins, they can incite chaos from within.”

”With a powerful enemy at the gates and a Wangling Sect rebellion from within... it will be very difficult for Cangshui County Town to hold.”

Zhai Mu smiled. ”But you, Sir, with your brilliant foresight, already predicted this.”

”I just didn’t expect... that there were so many Wangling Sect cultists still in the city.”

”Have you located their strongholds?” Han Yuan asked.

”Yes... but these cultists are extremely cautious, scattered in different locations throughout the city.”

”Even if we were to capture a few, the others wouldn’t be exposed.”

”However, during our investigation, we found one stronghold that is much larger than the others, hiding about a dozen cultists,” Zhai Mu said in a low voice.

”Oh? What kind of place can hide a dozen people?” Han Yuan asked in surprise.

”A large mansion belonging to the Song Family,” Zhai Mu explained softly.

”The Song Family?”

”Who are they?”

Han Yuan twisted his neck, which let out a loud CRACK.

”The Song Family is a minor family in the city.”

”The Patriarch, Song Hai, is a wealthy merchant who deals in lumber.”

”He was probably secretly converted by the Wangling Sect... which is why he’s letting these cultists stay in his home,” Zhai Mu said.

”Alright then.”

”Leave the Song Family to me.”

”Have Zhou Yuanhu take some men and deal with the other strongholds in the city.”

Han Yuan stood up, a wide grin spreading across his face.

’I may be the Director now, but I still have to earn Contribution Points by completing missions.’

’Otherwise, the directorship only comes with a stipend of five hundred Contribution Points a month.’

’So, taking out a dozen or so Wangling Sect cultists should net me over a thousand Contribution Points. It’s well worth the trip.’

...

「Night fell.」

The bright moon hung high in the sky.

A masked figure leaped swiftly across the rooftops.

After a moment, the figure landed silently and quickly approached a large manor.

This was the Song Mansion.

Han Yuan easily vaulted over the courtyard wall near the back gate.

Song Hai was just a minor merchant; naturally, there were no guards on patrol at night.

He could faintly hear the sound of voices.

Han Yuan’s expression shifted, and he crept silently toward the front courtyard.

There, he saw dozens of people crowded into the courtyard. Led by a Yellow Robe Mage, they were repeatedly bowing to a dark yellow statue.

By the flickering firelight, Han Yuan could just barely make out the statue’s features.

Its hands were formed in a sealing gesture, and it wore a bizarre expression that was not quite a smile—it was utterly unsettling.

’This statue... Could it be the Yellow Springs Saint Mother?’

Han Yuan’s eyes narrowed.

The next moment.

As if sensing his gaze, the dark Statue of the Netherworld Saint Mother actually began to rotate on its base, its head turning to look directly where Han Yuan was hiding!