Martial Cultivator

Chen Chao walked into the Warden’s Office. Seeing the slightly shabby main hall, he turned his head with some curiosity to glance at Wang Zhen who had been following behind, smiling as he asked, “You knew this official was coming, so you tidied up in advance?”

Hearing this, the other officials of the Warden’s Office wanted to speak up to explain for their superior, but Wang Zhen waved his hand and said with a smile, “If the Lord Warden Commander truly wants to look, there’s only one tea cake in this house worth any money.”

Chen Chao waved his hand with a laugh, “Then what are you standing around for? Since this official came, won’t you at least invite this official to a cup of tea?”

Wang Zhen was taken aback. He truly had not expected that Chen Chao actually wanted to drink tea with him here. He was somewhat excited and quickly had someone prepare it, then stood a bit stiffly beside Chen Chao.

“Sit, this is your own office, why so uptight?”

Chen Chao waved his hand, gesturing for Wang Zhen to sit.

Wang Zhen did not decline. After all, to have tea with the Lord Warden Commander today, and to be able to speak of it later, his subordinates would all be green with envy.

After sitting down, while waiting for the tea to be served, Wang Zhen hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice, “Your Excellency seems to be injured.”

In fact, this did not even need asking. Anyone with eyes could tell. In his current state, not to mention being injured, even if someone said he was dying, probably no one would doubt it.

Chen Chao nodded, “This official is fated to toil all my life. It seems that this official must walk that narrow, winding road between life and death. Fought a life-and-death battle not long ago and nearly lost my life.”

Wang Zhen asked with curiosity, “Was it a powerhouse hired by those itinerant cultivators?”

Back when Chen Chao went north and killed those few itinerant cultivator prominent figures, he had been clearly aware of it.

Chen Chao shook his head and sighed, “It was a tigress.”

That answer left Wang Zhen completely confused, but he was not new to officialdom. Knowing his superior did not want to talk about it, he stopped asking and quietly closed his mouth.

Toward this man who could become the foremost military official of the dynasty at this young age, Wang Zhen felt only admiration and nothing else.

Chen Chao glanced at Wang Zhen and asked with a smile, “After today, you’ll be under countless watchful eyes here in Jiang’an Commandery. Shall this official transfer you elsewhere?”

Wang Zhen did not hesitate and shook his head, “The demon scourge in Jiang’an Commandery has not yet been fully resolved, and the safety of the people here is still not secured. This lowly official doesn’t wish to be transferred elsewhere.”

Actually, when Chen Chao mentioned transfer, he did not clarify whether it would be a promotion or a lateral move, but given Wang Zhen’s recent merit, the likelihood of a promotion was high. He was already a commandery’s warden. If promoted, he would likely become the warden of a provincial capital; essentially a meteoric rise. Yet he refused without even thinking, which somewhat surprised Chen Chao.

Before coming, Chen Chao had reviewed the dossier of this warden of Jiang’an Commandery. He had once been a low-ranking military official with little success, serving as a captain in the south. After investigation by the Hundred Streams Pavilion, it was found that both his cultivation and character were quite commendable, and only then had Chen Chao used his authority to transfer him over. Although the warden faction and the Northern Frontier Army did not always see eye to eye, within Great Liang’s military, few dared show dissatisfaction toward this Lord Warden Commander.

All the more so because Chen Chao now had both name and reputation. Though many civil officials in the court saw him as overbearing, to the military officials, everything he did felt gratifying.

Thus, the Ministry of War did not cling onto him, especially since they had never known how capable Wang Zhen truly was.

They had simply assumed he was just another regular captain.

Chen Chao did not speak further. He waited until the tea was served, took a sip, and then narrowed his eyes with a smile, “Wang Zhen, what do you seek in this life?”

Wang Zhen did not hesitate, and answered frankly, “It’d be a lie to say that this lowly official doesn’t want to be promoted, but more than that, this lowly official wants to be a good official, to do something for the people, do what ought to be done in each post I hold.”

Chen Chao smiled and said, “Some people often make great vows in their youth, thinking that if they can accomplish this one thing in their lifetime, it would be remarkable. But as circumstances change with the passing of time, they gradually wear away their youthful ideals. What do you think of that?”

“This lowly official dare not guarantee that my aspirations will never change, but if one day this official no longer match virtue with position and bring shame to Great Liang, I ask that Your Excellency cut off my head with your saber.”

Wang Zhen knelt on one knee, expression solemn.

Chen Chao looked at this middle-aged martial artist he had just met for the first time and smiled, “If that day comes, you wouldn’t live to see this official. But this official believes you likely won’t become such a man in this life.”

Wang Zhen looked up, somewhat puzzled as he looked at the young Lord Warden Commander before him.

Chen Chao raised his teacup and said calmly, “Get up. Right now, this official’s reputation is far worse than yours.”

“Those pedantic scholars in the court are short-sighted. How could they know what Lord Warden Commander has done for Great Liang? Which thing wasn’t done so we could stand with our backs straight?”

Wang Zhen gave a bitter smile, “It’s only because this lowly official has no way to attend court in the Divine Capital. If this lowly official could, I’d surely scold them myself.”

Chen Chao said in surprise, “When did a martial artist like you start daring to say you could scold those scholars?”

Wang Zhen was left speechless.

“But back in the day, this official never lost in a war of words.”

Chen Chao stood up, glanced at Wang Zhen, and said with a smile, ”Enough idle chatter. Now let this official say something sincere to you. The itinerant cultivators of the north have already been crushed by this official. Now, this official wants to have Blue Moon Mountain gather those itinerant cultivators again. You will help to manage this matter.”

Wang Zhen frowned slightly, a bit confused and somewhat unwilling.

Chen Chao said, ”The demon scourge must be eliminated, but how? You think your few subordinates are enough?” ”Stabilize the itinerant cultivators of the north first, then recruit some to eliminate demons together. Wouldn’t that be much faster?”

Wang Zhen suddenly understood and nodded with a smile, “What Your Excellency says is exactly right.”

Chen Chao said, “Those northern itinerant cultivators, this official will have greater use for them later. Manage this well. If you mess it up, then just remain in this post for the rest of your life!”

Wang Zhen laughed heartily. This Lord Warden Commander really was interesting, even his threats had a kind of charm. But then Wang Zhen quickly remembered: this very same Lord Warden Commander had not said a single word of nonsense when dealing with someone like Su Tong.

He honestly found it hard to reconcile these two sides of the same man.

Chen Chao finished his tea and stood up. “Since this official has drunk your tea, if you handle what has been tasked to you well, this official will see you again in the Divine Capital.”

Wang Zhen said gratefully, “Many thanks for your support, Your Excellency.”

Chen Chao said nothing and turned to leave.

Wang Zhen said in a low voice, “Your Excellency, should this lowly official send men to escort you? Returning to the Divine Capital now may be quite dangerous.”

Chen Chao said indifferently, “Some people want to kill this official, and this official wants to kill people too.”

......

......

At the Infatuation Daoist Temple, ever since Yun Jianyue took the position of temple master, this leading sect of Daoism had become much more low-key. Though there were still many voices within the temple discontent with Great Liang, they were all suppressed by this new temple master.

Although Yun Jianyue was not very respected among the older daoists, he held great prestige among the younger generation. Moreover, it was the elders of the temple who had personally stepped forward to appoint this young daoist as temple master, so even those dissatisfied with him mostly remained silent, not daring to speak much.

Moreover, this current temple master had stepped into Nepenthe and even killed the Chief Enforcer not long ago. It was likely that before long, he would reach the end of Nepenthe and become the youngest great daoist sage in the thousand-year history of Daoism. A daoist genius with such boundless prospects, even if some people wanted him dead, the elders of the temple would never agree to it.

Geniuses were not exactly rare, but they were far from common. A peerless genius like Yun Jianyue only comes once in a thousand years.

Yun Jianyue, who had entered seclusion countless times of late, exited seclusion once again. When great daoist sages entered seclusion, it was usually for long periods - ten or twenty years was not unusual. Even the shortest were usually half a year or more. But this young temple master of Infatuation Daoist Temple, his long retreats lasted only a month, the short ones just half a month. In the eyes of many elders, it was child’s play. And yet every time he emerged, his progress was so fast that each retreat was equivalent to a year of bitter cultivation for others.

This time, Yun Jianyue went to the great hall where the temple master resided. In recent days, when Yun Jianyue had not been present, the major affairs of Infatuation Daoist Temple were handled by a few elders together - with one other person, Ye Zhihua, who also took part.

When Yun Jianyue arrived, a few elderly daoists saluted with clasped hands, all surprised by Yun Jianyue’s current cultivation.

Now, in Infatuation Daoist Temple, perhaps only a few reclusive martial uncles in deep cultivation could compare with Yun Jianyue.

After sending off the old daoists, Yun Jianyue finally looked toward Ye Zhihua, who stood silently.

”Senior Sister.”

Yun Jianyue greeted her. Only then, did Ye Zhihua nod in return. This cold-natured woman got straight to the point, skipping any pleasantries, and began recounting recent events. Most matters concerning the Infatuation Daoist Temple had already been handled by her. After a brief pause, Ye Zhihua looked at Yun Jianyue and said calmly, “That young martial artist visited the Myriad Heaven Palace once. I don’t know why, but he stayed there for some time. Afterwards, he went north, killed a few itinerant cultivators, and then vanished. Recently there’s been news, he killed a garrison commander in Xinliu Prefecture.”

Yun Jianyue smiled and said, “He does like killing people.”

“Someone saw it with their own eyes, his complexion was pale, his movements sluggish. He’s clearly seriously injured. Someone has likely already gone to kill him.”

When Ye Zhihua first received the news, she also hesitated over whether to send people to intercept and kill that young martial artist, to prevent his return to the Divine Capital. But after some thought, she ultimately did not carry it out.

She knew her junior brother disliked that.

Yun Jianyue said, “He acts too directly at times, too hastily at others. Though he walks fast on his path, it inevitably brings trouble. Many in the foreign lands fear him, but once they realize he’s weakened, they’ll want him gone forever. It’s all perfectly normal.”

Ye Zhihua said, “It’s been a long time since our temple simply watched from the sidelines.”

Yun Jianyue smiled and said, “What’s wrong with being a bystander now?”

Ye Zhihua fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject. “You previously sent people across the sea to search for Martial Uncle, but mostly... there’s been no news.”

This was a decision Yun Jianyue made after repeatedly studying the visions within that demon bead. He felt that perhaps Daoist Wuyang really had not died in that sea.

If he were still alive, then he must be brought back to the temple.

“Mostly no news, which means there is some.”

Yun Jianyue looked at Ye Zhihua and smiled, “Senior Sister has suppressed the news.”

“They may not be real. If we don’t make a fuss for now, it’s still reasonable.”

Ye Zhihua gave Yun Jianyue a look, her emotions complicated.

“You should at least tell me something, shouldn’t you?” Yun Jianyue rubbed his brow, knowing that his Senior Sister always looked out for him.

“Someone said they vaguely saw a crazed daoist at sea, but whether it’s true or not is unclear. None of the disciples I sent out were able to cross the sea.”

Ye Zhihua paused, then asked, “Have you thought, if Martial Uncle returns, who should hold the position of temple master?”

Yun Jianyue said as if it were a matter of course, “If Martial Uncle is still alive, then let him take the position. I don’t think anyone would oppose it.”

”What about you?”

Ye Zhihua frowned. “You don’t think for yourself at all?”

Yun Jianyue smiled and said, ”What’s there to think? Compete with Martial Uncle? What for? He’ll grow old one day. He’ll die one day too. We can talk about it again when that time comes.”

“The two of you think completely differently. When the time comes, if he wants one thing and you want another, what then?”

Ye Zhihua stared at Yun Jianyue. Toward this junior brother, Ye Zhihua often did not know how to persuade him.

“That is a problem.”

Yun Jianyue fell silent. Ever since becoming temple master, he had finally seen the true face of the Infatuation Daoist Temple from top to bottom.

And he did not like it very much.

This seat of daoist supremacy actually lacked some Dao and had too much of the human.

“Then when the time comes, I’ll discuss it with Martial Uncle. If we can’t agree, we’ll deal with it then.”

Yun Jianyue quickly thought it through and then said, “This time after exiting seclusion, I plan to go take a look at the Myriad Heaven Palace.”

Ye Zhihua frowned and asked, “Why?”

Yun Jianyue said softly, “I heard there’s Dao over there.”