Martial Cultivator

Since the military report from the north spread, throughout the entire Great Liang, for some reason, everyone was extremely excited this time.

Aside from the excitement of the common people, many cultivators also celebrated, inviting friends to drink wine and eat meat, as if it were their own sect that had won.

In fact, such a scene would have been almost impossible a few years ago. How the Northern Frontier army resisted foreign enemies in the north had always seemed only natural to them. To expect them to feel honored by it would have been wishful thinking.

But in these past years, with the Great Liang Emperor crossing the desolate north, and with Chen Chao slaughtering in all directions there, these events accumulated one by one, like a silent spring rain that gradually seeped into everyone’s hearts.

Previously, the cultivators in the foreign lands might still have been wary of the attitude of the Infatuation Daoist Temple and did not dare to voice their opinions, but by now, that great daoist sage Yun of the Infatuation Daoist Temple had almost openly declared that he would stand with Great Liang. As a result, the cultivators in the foreign lands naturally no longer had any reservations.

Of course, celebration was celebration, but at the same time, another piece of news spread. Although the demon race vanguard army had been repelled, their main forces were gathering again, clearly preparing to march south once more, and this time with the strength of the entire race. As soon as this news spread, many cultivators smashed their wine bowls and immediately headed north, creating quite a momentum.

It was said that at the border of Xinliu Prefecture, more than twenty groups of cultivators gathered together, eventually forming a force of several hundred people heading north together. Such a spontaneously formed northbound force would have been impossible before, but now, its appearance did not seem strange to many.

And right at the border of Xinliu Prefecture, when this several-hundred-strong group passed by a small commandery city, at the city gate, a tall old man cupped his fists and asked, “Are you all heading to the Northern Frontier to kill demons?”

Within the group, the cultivator chosen as leader was also an old man with white hair and beard. He was an itinerant cultivator from the south named Daoist Tri-willow. His realm was not particularly high, at the Great Beyond, but over the years he had roamed mountains and forests, slaying demons in the wilderness. After joining this northbound group, he was quickly elected as its leader. Hearing the tall old man’s question, Daoist Tri-willow also cupped his fists and replied, “Indeed. May I ask who you are, Fellow Daoist?”

The old man laughed loudly. “Names don’t matter. Since you are going to kill demons, then stay and have a bowl of wine. After drinking, this old man will follow you north as well. I’ve lived a whole life, if I don’t do something, I might just die sick in bed in the end. Better to go out in a blaze of glory. In the future, when my descendants speak of me, at least this old man will have a good name.”

Daoist Tri-willow also laughed heartily. Without any pretension, he led the several hundred people behind him straight into the taverns of the city.

On that day, the major taverns in this commandery city were filled with these self-organized northbound cultivators.

When this group was about to leave, at the city gate, a tall man cupped his fists and smiled, “This humble self is Chen Wannian, Commander of the Left Guard of Great Liang, here to see you off.”

Daoist Tri-willow was startled and asked curiously, “Your Excellency, are you that Mr. Chen from Windspirit Mountain?”

Before leaving Windspirit Mountain, Chen Wannian had already earned the title of the number one martial artist in the foreign lands. Even now that he served in Great Liang, people still habitually mentioned his time at Windspirit Mountain.

Chen Wannian nodded and smiled. “That is precisely this official.”

“Hearing that everyone here is heading north to kill demons, this official has already urgently informed the Northern Frontier. When everyone heads north, you may be subject to inspection. Please do not take offense. After all, the Northern Frontier Great Wall is the foundation of Great Liang’s state, so caution is necessary. But for your righteous action, on behalf of the imperial court, this official thanks you all!”

Chen Wannian clasped his fists heavily.

Daoist Tri-willow returned the gesture, and everyone behind him followed suit.

But afterward, someone in the crowd suddenly spoke up and asked, “May I ask Commander Chen, what the Lord Warden Commander once said at Inviting Moon Mountain: if the Northern Frontier Great Wall were to be breached, he would become the first to die for the country, does that still stand?”

When that person opened his mouth, who knew how many people around all turned to look at that former number one martial artist of the foreign lands, now the Great Liang’s Left Guard Commander.

Chen Wannián said calmly, “Of course it counts.”

“The words of the Lord Warden Commander carry the weight of nine tripods, nothing he has said has ever not counted. But since all of you have asked, I, Chen Wannian, can also say this here to everyone - if one day the Northern Frontier Great Wall is shattered and the demon race marches south in full force, I, Chen Wannian, will face north and die.”

Chen Wannian said calmly, “We martial artists do not cling to a life of ignominy!”

Hearing these words, the group of cultivators once again bowed, expressing their respect to this martial artist.

Chen Wannian stepped aside, watched the crowd leave the city, gazed for a long time, and only then turned south, returning to the Divine Capital.

However, this Commander Chen had only gone several dozen miles when, on the road, he encountered an unexpected person.

A young daoist sage in a dark red daoist robe stood by the roadside at this moment.

Chen Wannian stopped and greeted, “Greetings, Temple Master Yun.”

Yun Jianyue looked at Chen Wannian and went straight to the point, “Is the second battle in the Northern Frontier already imminent?”

Chen Wannian asked curiously, “Is Temple Master Yun also going to the Northern Frontier?”

Yun Jianyue nodded. “I just went to the Divine Capital. Chen Chao is in seclusion and did not come out. I didn’t get to see him, so I thought to go directly to the Northern Frontier to take a look.”

Chen Wannian fell silent. The Lord Warden Commander had not been in seclusion for long, but everyone knew what he was in seclusion for.

“Sage, I am afraid that at this moment there is no need for you to personally go?”

Chen Wannian felt a headache coming on. If Yun Jianyue appeared in the Northern Frontier at this time, it would certainly be useful for the foreign lands, but was it a bit too early?

Yun Jianyue said calmly, “Just to make a stance clear. Presumably, Yun Jianyue trio together should be able to encourage some people.”

Chen Wannian showed a face full of gratitude and was just about to speak, when a streak of light suddenly flashed across the sky. Yun Jianyue raised his hand to intercept it, and in his palm was a jade slip.

After glancing at the message inside, Yun Jianyue frowned slightly, and then his expression became somewhat unpleasant.

“The trip to the Northern Frontier will have to be delayed. This penniless daoist has other matters to attend to. Commander Chen, if you see the Lord Warden Commander, please help pass along a message - say that this penniless daoist is looking for him.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Jianyue turned and transformed into a streak of rainbow light that shot toward the horizon, heading south. Judging by the speed, in the blink of an eye his figure could no longer be seen.

This young great daoist sage, having already stepped into the end of Nepenthe early on, did not seem to have stopped progressing in his cultivation.

Chen Wannian stood in place, furrowing his brows.

What matter was it now that made this young temple master of Infatuation Daoist Temple act in such haste?