I Grind to Martial Saint

He had completely settled his old scores in Jianghe Province. His next stop was Yuan Province.

Back when the Spirit Sun Sect had forced him to leave Cangshui County in Jianghe Province, he had entrusted all his men to Zhang Cang.

So much time had passed, and Han Yuan had never inquired about the situation in Yuan Province. Not knowing how things were, he decided to go have a look.

At his current speed, traveling day and night, it took him only half a month to reach the vicinity of Yuan Province.

He Yi Town.

This was a small town on the border of Yuan Province.

Inside a bustling little teahouse, many idlers were chatting nonsense out of boredom.

”I hear Daoist Zhang is besieging Yuan Province City. I wonder when he’ll finally take it!”

”I heard that too. They say that Inspector Jiang Ming hired a Demon Dao who is incredibly sinister. Otherwise, Yuan Province City would have fallen long ago!”

”These damn officials, they all deserve to die!”

”Yeah, they should be struck by lightning!”

The men discussed loudly, holding nothing back.

From time to time, others would even join in, expressing even greater indignation.

Han Yuan, sipping tea in a corner, felt a stir in his heart as he listened to the men’s words.

’Besieging Yuan Province City... It seems that kid Zhang Cang has really made a name for himself.’

With that thought, he turned to a man beside him and said softly, ”Brother, I just arrived in Yuan Province and don’t know the situation here. I overheard you mention the Wind and Thunder Army is besieging Yuan Province City. What’s that about?”

As he asked, Han Yuan offered a piece of broken silver.

The man’s face immediately lit up. After pocketing the broken silver, he said with a smile, ”Well, brother, you must be out of the loop. The Wind and Thunder Army is a righteous army founded by Daoist Zhang. They staged an uprising in Nanyuan County a long time ago.”

”Later, the Government Office tried to suppress them time and again, but they never succeeded. Instead, it only made the Wind and Thunder Army grow stronger.”

”Everywhere the Wind and Thunder Army goes, they open the granaries to distribute food. They only kill corrupt officials and the local Noble Families who prey on the common people.”

”That’s why the people of Yuan Province are willing to follow the Wind and Thunder Army, and heroes from the Martial World are constantly joining their ranks!”

”A few months ago, the Wind and Thunder Army began to conquer the counties of Yuan Province, sweeping through them like the autumn wind scattering fallen leaves. In some places, people even coordinated uprisings and opened the city gates for them...”

”In the end, only Yuan Province City is still holding out.”

Han Yuan asked in surprise, ”The Wind and Thunder Army is that formidable?”

The man said as if it were obvious, ”Of course... The leader of the Wind and Thunder Army, Daoist Zhang Cang, is said to be the reincarnation of the heavenly Thunder Monarch. He can even summon Divine Thunder to strike people down!”

”It’s just that the Demon Dao hired by that damn official in Yuan Province City seems very powerful, which has slowed the Wind and Thunder Army’s advance!”

”But I think Yuan Province City will be breached soon!”

Speaking of this, the man’s tone became excited.

Clearly, the people of Yuan Province had long since sided with the Wind and Thunder Army and couldn’t wait for Yuan Province City to fall.

”I see.”

”Thank you.”

Han Yuan nodded, then rose and left the teahouse, walking down the streets of the small town.

”Meow~ You’re not planning to go to Yuan Province City and join the fun, are you?”

the Orange Cat asked.

”We’ve come all this way. Of course I can’t miss it.”

Han Yuan said with a smile.

”Fine.”

”Lord Meow enjoys a good spectacle too.”

The Orange Cat chuckled.

.....

At this moment, Yuan Province City was besieged on all sides.

Outside the four city gates to the north, south, east, and west, a great army had laid siege. Countless banners fluttered in the air, creating a grim and oppressive atmosphere.

”Zhang Cang, if we keep dragging this out, I’m afraid something unexpected will happen,”

Huang Xian’Er said in a low voice.

She was currently standing on a hillside, gazing at the magnificent city in the distance.

And Zhang Cang stood right beside her.

”That Demon Dao is too bizarre. Even though I took the Celestial Heart Grass and broke through to the Seven Spirits Realm,”

”every time the Wind and Thunder Army attacks the city, that fiend hides somewhere inside Yuan Province City and casts a spell, turning the bodies of our dead soldiers into Evil Corpses that wreak havoc on our formations. But I can’t lock onto his location.”

Zhang Cang said grimly.

He had a fortuitous encounter recently, finding a legendary Spirit Grass, the Celestial Heart Grass.

This Celestial Heart Grass could greatly enhance the Divine Soul of Abnormal People.

After taking it, Zhang Cang had also broken through from the Three Soul Realm to the Seven Spirits Realm.

But when facing that Demon Dao, he felt a frustrating sense of powerlessness.

”This Demon Dao’s origins are unknown. We must take him down as soon as possible.”

”I just have a feeling that they’re plotting something,”

Huang Xian’Er said.

For a moment, Zhang Cang didn’t know how to respond.

He took a deep breath and said gravely, ”I plan to sneak into Yuan Province City and try to assassinate that Demon Dao!”

It was the best method he could think of.

Once the Demon Dao was dead, everything would be over.

Besides, the Demon Dao was skilled at manipulating corpses, but his one-on-one combat skills were likely not as strong.

As long as the enemy’s guard wasn’t too high, he still had some confidence.

”You think Jiang Ming wouldn’t anticipate what you’re thinking?”

”I’m afraid that man has already laid an inescapable trap in the city, just waiting for you to walk into it.”

Huang Xian’Er said, shaking her head.

”I know this decision is risky.”

”But just as you said, we can’t delay any longer.”

In his heart, Zhang Cang was actually more anxious than Huang Xian’Er.

He wanted to breach Yuan Province City more than anyone.

”Let’s think of another way.”

”If only that guy Han Yuan were here.”

”If he went to kill that Demon Dao, it would be a sure thing.”

Huang Xian’Er suddenly sighed.

”Brother Han is being hunted by the Spirit Sun Sect. To avoid implicating us, he cut off contact with us long ago,”

Zhang Cang said softly.

Huang Xian’Er realized she had gotten sidetracked and was about to say something else when...

a voice suddenly spoke up.

”You were looking for me?”

Zhang Cang and Huang Xian’Er were instantly stunned and turned their heads in unison.

A figure was slowly walking up the hillside.

”I paid a visit to your camp. Zhai Mu said you would probably be here.”

”So I came looking.”

Han Yuan said with a slight smile.

”Brother Han!”

Zhang Cang was overjoyed.

Huang Xian’Er’s jaw dropped.

She suddenly felt there was something eerily uncanny about Han Yuan.

How did he appear the very moment she mentioned him?!

”Long time no see.”

”I heard all about your exploits on my way here.”

”I didn’t expect Yuan Province City was about to fall into your hands.”

Han Yuan chuckled.

Zhang Cang shook his head with a wry smile. ”To be honest, I never expected to get this far myself.”

Some things, once done, could not be undone. One could only keep moving forward, step by step.

This was a realization that had only recently dawned on Zhang Cang.

”I didn’t expect it either.”

”But I hear you’ve run into some trouble,”

Han Yuan asked with a smile.

”Yes... That Inspector Jiang Ming has invited a mysterious Demon Dao to hold the fort.”

”Every time we attack the city, he casts spells from within, causing the bodies of our dead soldiers to turn into Evil Corpses and attack indiscriminately!”

”Since this fiend is extremely cautious, I have no way of locking onto his position to launch an attack.”

”That’s why it’s been delayed until now,”

Zhang Cang explained.

”Then leave it to me.”

Han Yuan nodded.

”Thank you, Brother Han!”

Zhang Cang said, cupping his fist.

”No need. Didn’t you also risk your life to help me last time?”

Han Yuan said, shaking his head.

”But you’ve helped me many times, while I’ve only helped you once,”

Zhang Cang said, shaking his head.

In truth, he had always kept the memory of Han Yuan’s kindness to him in his heart.

That was why when Han Yuan had asked him to ambush an Innate Grandmaster last time, he hadn’t hesitated at all and had gone directly to Cangshui County.

”I might need your help again in the future. No need to keep score.”

”For now, tell me the details about this Demon Dao,”

Han Yuan said seriously.

Huang Xian’Er quickly chimed in, ”We still haven’t seen what that Demon Dao looks like. He’s supposedly called the Corpse Concealing Daoist, and his Cultivation should have reached the Seven Spirits Abnormal People Realm.”

Han Yuan frowned slightly. ”You haven’t seen what he looks like... That does make things a bit tricky.”

”Do you know his usual area of activity?”

Huang Xian’Er shook her head. ”We don’t... Even though we have spies in the city, this fiend’s movements are extremely strange. He almost never appears in public.”

”Is that so...” Han Yuan thought for a moment, then said, ”It seems we’ll have to use the tactic of luring the snake out of its hole.”

He then explained his plan in detail to Huang Xian’Er and Zhang Cang.