Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1163: Chapter 1159: Competing for Merit

The fundamental role of the City Guard is still defense; the Imperial City is of utmost importance.

Song Shoufang sighed, ”It’s indeed necessary to clean it up; it’s become such a mess.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded in strong agreement.

The other four also nodded in succession.

They were naturally aware of the external situation, but without orders from above, they couldn’t act recklessly, only watch with open eyes.

Song Shoufang glanced over at Huang Zhengyang and Qi Chunyu, ”How long will it take to clean it up?”

Huang Zhengyang and Qi Chunyu exchanged a look, their eyes flickering.

Huang Zhengyang said solemnly, ”About a month.”

”That long?” Song Shoufang frowned.

Qi Chunyu quickly said, ”Your Highness, the demons who dare to come to the Imperial City are not easy to deal with. The two departments can only mobilize experts within a thousand-mile radius, which is not enough to form an overwhelming force. To completely eradicate them, both internal and external cooperation is needed, otherwise, the casualties might be significant...”

”A month...” Song Shoufang pondered.

Mr. Zhou, an old man who hadn’t spoken, laughed and stroked his beard, ”A month’s time is too long. Prolonging it will cause too much civilian casualties. It’s best to strike like thunder and eliminate them in one move.”

”Mr. Zhou,” Huang Zhengyang quickly said, ”We’d love to stomp them out in one move, but the more anxious we are, the more it can’t be rushed.”

Qi Chunyu said, ”Countless lessons have taught us that the more urgent we are, the easier it is to have loopholes, leading to massive casualties.”

Song Shoufang looked at General Wei De Zhao Wuyou, ”General Zhao, can you mobilize some experts from the City Guard to assist them?”

Zhao Wuyou immediately showed difficulty on his face and smiled wryly, ”Your Highness...”

”Your Highness, General Zhao is also in a dilemma.” Mr. Zhou sighed and stroked his beard, ”The city gates and inside the city both need to be rigorously defended. The former fears they might do something desperate, while the latter needs to prevent petty thieves from taking advantage of the situation. Any chaos inside the city would have too huge an impact.”

”Precisely, precisely.” Zhao Wuyou nodded repeatedly.

Song Shoufang glared at him.

Zhao Wuyou smiled submissively.

Chu Zhiyuan said solemnly, ”Your Highness, our sect can dispatch experts to assist!”

The Court wants to begin the demon eradication on a large scale, and it will surely make a big scene.

At this time, it’s expected that other sects will also take action.

The Court had previously offered bounties to various Martial Arts Sects to have them deal with the demons, using martial arts experts as vanguards to consume them.

At that time, the martial arts experts’ mobilization indeed led to tremendous losses, making it not worthwhile.

Even as one of the Four Great Sects, the Heavenly Sword Sect could not act carelessly.

But now, with the Court utilizing the Evil Extermination Department and Demon Hunting Bureau, if martial artists strike again, it’s seizing the opportunity.

At this time, exerting effort offers many benefits.

Firstly, it increases the Court’s favor towards the sects.

This favor is an incalculable benefit—it could be of no use or extremely beneficial.

The second benefit is to take the opportunity to enhance the public’s favor towards the sects.

The benefits of such favor are straightforward.

It can attract more young people to join the sect, ensuring its prosperity and legacy.

Any sect leader or head with a little foresight would not hesitate to get involved.

Though not the master, I theoretically can’t decide, but such great benefits can’t be ignored.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Chu Zhiyuan.

Huang Zhengyang said, ”Mr. Chu, can you make decisions on behalf of the Heavenly Sword Sect?”

Qi Chunyu gently shook his head, ”The martial artists previously made moves too, but it didn’t make much impact, so they all withdrew.”

Chu Zhiyuan looked solemn and slowly said, ”Our sect has been focusing on clearing out the Qinglian Sea and originally planned to concentrate our efforts to help the Court eradicate the demons after dealing with the Qinglian Sea, but... unexpected changes occurred...”

Huang Zhengyang chuckled, ”Mr. Chu, isn’t there some truth lacking in your words?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Now there’s a change over by the Qinglian Sea, so we will temporarily put that aside. As for the demons, the situation has become so dire we must take action. Our sect leader first sent me to lead the charge, to first probe the demons outside the Imperial City before deciding on a larger action!”

He believed that his words would be justified by Sect Leader Lu Wanshan.

”Hehe...” Qi Chunyu smiled and shook his head, ”Mr. Chu, your words...”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Though I’m not talented, I’ve fulfilled the task assigned by our sect, and have initially uncovered the situation of the Evil Sect around the Imperial City.”

”You’ve uncovered it?” Qi Chunyu raised an eyebrow, ”I find that hard to believe.”

He didn’t believe Chu Zhiyuan had such capabilities.

Even their Demon Hunting Bureau hadn’t figured out those Evil Sects’ details.

They were too closed-off, making it hard to capture any live ones, and even harder to get information from captives.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and looked towards Prince Zhuang Song Shoufang, ”Your Highness, besides our sect, the other three sects are also eager to act, unable to tolerate the demons’ havoc outside the Imperial City. Even if the Court doesn’t move, they would soon join us to handle them too!”

Such an opportunity couldn’t be monopolized alone. Bringing in the other three sects seemed like sharing the benefits while also sharing the risk.

For just the Heavenly Sword Sect to act, it would be unsightly.

More importantly, at this time, as one of the Four Great Sects of the Martial Arts world, they would become competitors of the Evil Extermination Department and Demon Hunting Bureau.

They would compete for credit with each other.

With only the Heavenly Sword Sect, they’d be too weak and would need to bring in the other three great sects.

Huang Zhengyang said, ”With us, the Evil Extermination Department and Demon Hunting Bureau taking action, it’s about enough.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”With us, the experts from the Four Sects stepping in, there’s no need to hold back the City Guard.”

He said this while looking at Zhao Wuyou.

Zhao Wuyou quickly said, ”Well, more experts are indeed needed now. Experts from the Four Great Sects are strong and trustworthy.”

At this time, it was best not to mobilize the City Guard. The hard work of the City Guard over the past year has been noticed by several princes and courtiers, so there’s no need to earn more credit now.

At this point, it was more feared that any mishap would wipe out previous achievements.

Honestly maintaining the current situation would lead to great success, without needing to do more.

Bringing in the Four Great Sects could dilute the credits of the Evil Extermination Department and Demon Hunting Bureau, and could be seen as a way of giving back to Chu Zhiyuan for his previous assistance.

Song Shoufang slowly said, ”In the past few days, Xiao Chu, your contributions have indeed been outstanding. You’ve not only killed many demons but also uncovered their current secret plots, accomplishing what others cannot, truly worthy of being a distinguished disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect... In that case, have your Four Great Sects also send experts to assist.”

Huang Zhengyang and Qi Chunyu looked helpless.

This Chu Zhiyuan being able to get the demons’ secret plans was indeed a significant achievement.

With such achievements, the Four Great Sects earned the right to share the fruits.

The prince’s decision left no room for objections; after all, their subordinates were incompetent.

”Thank you, Your Highness!” Chu Zhiyuan respectfully bowed, ”Rest assured, we will proceed steadily, occupying only one path and not greedily messing things up.”

This was to alleviate the defenses of Huang Zhengyang and Qi Chunyu.

After all, with the Evil Extermination Department and Demon Hunting Bureau, even in competing for credit, one shouldn’t make enemies.

Song Shoufang nodded, ”The actions of you four sects remain reassuring; which path will you take?”

”The direct south.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”We four sects will clear the demons within three hundred miles outside the South City Gate.”

”That is very good.”

Huang Zhengyang and Qi Chunyu nodded with satisfaction, slightly relieved.

This Chu Zhiyuan indeed knew his limits and didn’t arrogantly claim half.

Song Shoufang slowly said, ”Then it’s settled. Mobilize your people quickly and take action as soon as possible.”

”Yes!” Chu Zhiyuan and the others bowed and solemnly agreed.

He vaguely understood why Song Shoufang sought him out, not Gu Junqi.

This was a knock on everyone’s head.

It was a reminder both to the Demon Hunting Bureau and Evil Extermination Department, as well as to the Four Great Sects.

Not having Gu Junqi come, but instead having him, signified that involving the Four Great Sects in this action wasn’t because of their status, but due to his merit.

It expressed the dissatisfaction of not letting the disciples assist earlier.

It was also secretly a blow to the Demon Hunting Bureau and Evil Extermination Department, expressing dissatisfaction with their incompetence.