Martial Saint through Reading

Chu Ming’s eyes were deep.

Do civil servants harm military generals?

Such things have indeed often occurred in history.

Is this person the one my master worries about?

But is it merely a Prime Minister?

The Tiger Armor Army has expanded the territories of the Great Qin Dynasty, yet the Qin Capital plays tricks with the grain provisions.

The Prime Minister has the duty to advise, but who really makes the decisions?

”You don’t need to worry too much. This grain provision decree not only concerns the Tiger Armor Army but also involves all external soldiers of the Great Qin Dynasty.”

”Brother, although I don’t think much of today’s Majesty, His Majesty isn’t foolish enough to freeze the hearts of the millions of soldiers of the Great Qin Dynasty. The decree for grain must be issued.”

Shen Yu noticed Chu Ming’s silence and immediately comforted him.

”According to Old Xiao, that Grand General of the Eastern Expedition from his family has already sent a letter to the Qin Capital to accuse Zuo Yuan, that old fox. It seems the decree for grain will soon be issued.”

”...”

...

Xirong County, Baili Mansion of the County Governor.

”County Governor Baili, how are you feeling?” County Magistrate Xiao He came to inquire.

”Cough cough...”

Baili Xinghua lay on the bed with a pale face. Seeing Xiao He’s arrival, he wanted to get out of bed to greet him.

”No need for that.” Xiao He sat by the bed and covered Baili Xinghua with the bedding. ”The Blood Evil Sect was too rampant, causing Lord Baili to suffer such a calamity.”

”Cough cough...” Baili Xinghua coughed a few times, speaking weakly: ”Thank you, Lord Xiao, cough cough... I wonder... I wonder if the Blood Evil Sect’s bandits have confessed?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao He’s brows immediately furrowed.

”Lord Baili, among the thirty-five bandits who attacked the Commandery Mansion last night, thirteen died on the spot, and the remaining twenty-two were captured alive, but...”

”What?” Baili Xinghua seemed a bit agitated.

”Those people, after being put into the dungeon, all took their own lives before interrogation.”

”The antidote for the Blood Bone Pill...” Xiao He lowered his eyelids. ”Was not found.”

”Cough cough...” Baili Xinghua coughed violently, his face first excited, then gradually dimmed.

”However, I have already ordered the gathering of all the county’s physicians. We will surely be able to resolve the Blood Bone Pill inside Lord Baili’s body.”

”... Thank you, Lord Xiao.” Baili Xinghua lay weakly.

”Lord Baili, please rest.”

”...”

Xiao He left, and a long while later.

Baili Xinghua’s pale complexion faded, replaced by ruddy cheeks.

He dressed neatly, his body flickered.

When he appeared again, he was beneath a Lake Heart Pavilion.

”Pei Blood Servant.”

”Hundred Strategies Envoy.”

The two under the pavilion had varied expressions.

”Hundred Strategies Envoy, the Sect Leader is very angry.” Blood Servant Pei Yan’s face was dark.

”Lang Xi and Lang Jin of the Wolf Race are dead, and four Bloodthirsty Guards were destroyed.”

”With one strategy from the Hundred Strategies Envoy, most of my Blood Evil Sect’s deployments in Xirong County were destroyed.”

Baili Xinghua’s face looked unpleasant, remaining silent.

”Hundred Strategies Envoy, last night at the Commandery Mansion, you saw that mysterious expert, right?” Blood Servant Pei Yan asked: ”How strong is he?”

”Lower Meridian Unlocking Realm, at least unlocked the first two of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. His strength is similar to Xiang Yue, the Commander of the Tiger Armor Army.”

”Does the Hundred Strategies Envoy suspect Xiang Yue?”

Baili Xinghua nodded.

However.

Pei Yan shook his head: ”It shouldn’t be Xiang Yue. Young Master Chaang from the Nine Hordes Kingdom sent news back that Xiang Yue led one hundred thirty thousand Tiger Armor Army troops to defeat the Kuirong Zhi, capturing Yangjia City.”

”Not only that, but Kuirong Zhi’s young Horde Lord fell into Xiang Yue’s hands.”

”What?” Baili Xinghua looked shocked. ”Wasn’t Young Master Chaang supposed to plot with Chi Wugui to abduct the Kuirong Zhi’s young Horde Lord? How did he end up in Xiang Yue’s hands?”

Pei Yan’s face turned even darker. ”The Kuirong Zhi somehow learned of Young Master Chaang’s plan and sent two experts, one disguised as the young Horde Lord and one following in secret.”

”In the end, at the cost of killing Chi Jue, Chi Hong, and Chi Zhen among the Chi Wugui, one full realm powerhouse from the Kuirong Zhi was killed. But all of Young Master Chaang’s strongholds within the Nine Hordes Kingdom were exposed, forcing him to shift targets.”

”That very day, the Kuirong Zhi camp was attacked by experts, and the Kuirong Zhi’s young Horde Lord was abducted.”

”Afterwards, Xiang Yue used the young Horde Lord to scare away the Kuirong Zhi army...”

”Young Master Chaang suspects that Xiang Yue set up a scheme to deceive everyone.”

”Therefore, the mysterious expert who appeared last night is unlikely to be Xiang Yue, the Commander of the Tiger Armor Army.”

There was silence beneath the Lake Heart Pavilion.

For a long while.

Baili Xinghua cupped his hands and spoke: ”Please inform the Sect Leader, though last night’s plan failed, Xirong County remains under control.”

”I will intensify the transportation of Jingyan Salt and grain in the coming days.”

”Hundred Strategies Envoy, if that’s all, I’m afraid it’s not enough?” Pei Blood Guard frowned.

Just at this moment.

”Please, for the sake of me, the Young Master, give the Hundred Strategies Envoy a chance.”

A young man in white clothes walked outside the pavilion.

”Young Master.”

”Young Master Yaan.”

Baili Xinghua and Pei Yan hurriedly saluted.

”Rise.” The young man in white sat under the pavilion, his expression gentle. ”I heard Ninth Brother suffered a big loss in the Nine Hordes Kingdom?”

”Reporting to Young Master Yaan, Young Master Chaang...”

Pei Yan was just about to speak, but the young man in white waved his hand, ”It doesn’t matter what loss Ninth Brother suffered. I, Yaan Qu, cannot suffer a loss. Go back and tell my father, that within half a year, I will take Xirong County.”

”Additionally, let Ninth Brother know that he should move quickly. Don’t let me take Xirong County while he still hasn’t settled the Xianyun Horde Branch. Father wants a pincer movement.”

”... Yes.” Pei Yan hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said: ”I take my leave.”

”Mm.”

Pei Yan departed, leaving only the white-clothed young man and Baili Xinghua under the pavilion.

”Hundred Strategies Envoy, you’ve worked hard.” The young man in white took out an elixir.

”Thank you, Young Master.”

”Do you think this Young Master can take Xirong County within half a year?” The white-clothed youth asked calmly, staring at the lake’s surface.

”I don’t know.”

”Heh, is it that you don’t know or don’t believe?”

A smile appeared on Yaan Qu’s face, a smile full of confidence.

”Heh, this Young Master has already touched the treasure suppressed under the Black Tower. Once the time is ripe to eliminate that old thing, taking Xirong County will be no issue.”

Baili Xinghua’s eyes immediately shone with light: ”Congratulations, Young Master.”

”Young Master, what exactly is the treasure suppressed under the Black Tower?”

”Heh, it’s the object of the Great Qin Dynasty’s fortune.”

”...”

...

Night falls.

County City, southwest, Treasure Medicine Tower.

”Benefactor.” Junior constable Shen Yi knelt on the ground.

The two daughters from the Jiaang Family did the same, while The Medicine Maniac had his shoulders wrapped in cloth, bent over in a bow.

”Please, stand up.” Chu Ming sat on the chair.

”Yes.”

The four of them stood up.

Chu Ming looked at The Medicine Maniac: ”Yao Qi, how are your injuries?”

”Report to the benefactor, it’s nothing serious.”

”Hmm.” With a wave of Chu Ming’s hand, two pills appeared, ”Take these.”

One was the antidote for the Life-locking Elixir for ten days, and the other was a healing medicine.

”Thank you, benefactor.”

”Is there any new progress at Baiyun Pier?”

”Report to the benefactor, these past two days Baiyun Pier has been massively recruiting people. Shen Yi, in the guise of a porter, infiltrated the Canal Guild and found that Baiyun Pier seems to be transporting large items.”

”Large items?”

”Benefactor,” Shen Yi’s expression turned angry, ”it’s Jingyan salt! I’ve been working in the Jingyan Salt Mine as a constable for over ten years; the night breeze at the pier blows, and I can smell the scent of Jingyan salt.”

”It’s not just Jingyan salt.” Jiaang Jing respectfully added at this moment, ”Little Yan and I disguised ourselves and infiltrated the pier yesterday. We accidentally boarded a transport ship and saw a large amount of grain in the cabin.”

”Jingyan salt... grain... ”

Chu Ming appeared lost in thought.

It seems that the Blood Evil Sect has regained control of the Jingyan County mine.

As for the grain, it probably comes from those high-yield counties below Xirong County.

”Well done.”

Chu Ming flipped his hand, and three pills appeared on the table, ”This medicine can accelerate your Qi Blood training.”

The pills were refined by him for Shen Yu and Little Shan, mostly composed of century-old medicinal substances, supplemented with Azure Ancient Juice, making it a true nourishing medicine.

”Thank you, benefactor.”

”You all can leave for now; Yao Qi, stay.”

”Yes.”

The three of them left.

Chu Ming took out a cultivation technique book and handed it to The Medicine Maniac.

”This is... ”

The Medicine Maniac respectfully received and began flipping through it.

”A Meridian Unlocking Realm cultivation technique! Such a brilliant technique!”

The Medicine Maniac was instantly captivated by its contents.

”Benefactor, is this technique meant for me?”

”Hmm.”

This cultivation technique was developed by Chu Ming specifically for The Medicine Maniac, capable of condensing Qi and Blood Power to nearly double the usual thickness, while making cultivation less challenging.

However, this cultivation technique was also devised to reinforce his control over The Medicine Maniac.

The technique harbors Xuanji, which complements the Life-locking Elixir’s Xuanji.

Once The Medicine Maniac practices it, all his Qi Blood will bind with the Life-locking Elixir he consumes.

As long as the elixir exists, so does the Qi Blood; if it vanishes, the Qi Blood dissipates too.

In other words, even if The Medicine Maniac successfully develops an antidote for the Life-locking Elixir, his Qi Blood will disperse due to detoxification, reducing him to an ordinary person.

The Medicine Maniac’s behavior has been commendable lately, yet it’s not enough for trust.

The human heart is unpredictable, mutable, especially with old beasts like The Medicine Maniac who have lived for nearly a century.

”Thank you, benefactor.” The Medicine Maniac was overjoyed.

”Focus on your recovery.”

Leaving the Treasure Medicine Tower, Chu Ming headed straight for Baiyun Pier.

Where does the Blood Evil Sect want to transport the Jingyan salt?

Why does the Blood Evil Sect need to transport grain?

Is there a hidden rebel army in the shadows?

In any case, he will not let the Blood Evil Sect have their way.

”...”

...

The crescent moon hung high, the river glistening with silver waves.

Baiyun Pier.

”Move faster. Everything must be loaded by the end of the hour, or I’ll have your hides!”

Onshore.

Porters carrying heavy loads wobbled precariously towards docked ships.

Laborers hauled large items together, taking step by straining step forward. Despite the late autumn chill, sweat poured off them steadily.

Crack—

A whip lashed down, leaving a bloody mark on a porter’s back.

”Didn’t you hear? Move faster.”

The marks from such lashes covered their bodies.

Every step they took left a print on the ground.

Those were prints mixed with sweat and blood.

Thump, thump—

Suddenly.

Someone ahead collapsed, exhausted, causing their cargo to spill, scattering in the moonlight like silver-white streaks.

The porters stopped to look.

”Seeking death!” The overseer immediately rushed over, whip in hand, ”Get up!”

Crack—

The whip came down viciously.

”Sir, sir... I really can’t go on.” The person pleaded bitterly.

”You have the strength to talk but not to carry?!”

Crack!

”Get up!”

The whip fell again and again, leaving the person bloodied and battered.

Just as the next lash was about to fall, a figure dressed in silk clothing approached leisurely.

”Stop.”

”Sir.” The guards hurriedly saluted.

Huang Xiao’s eyes, sharp like an eagle’s, swept over the spilled Jingyan salt, ensuring who saw what they shouldn’t have.

”Are you alright?” Huang Xiao finally looked at the curled-up porter on the ground.

”Sir... sir... I really can’t go on.”

Huang Xiao squatted beside the porter, seemingly checking his injuries with concern.

Then, he suddenly showed a fierce look, loudly rebuking, ”How can they carry properly when injured like this?”

”Sir...” The overseer, who had been whipping the porter, immediately knelt down in fear, ”He’s faking it!”

”Faking?” Huang Xiao’s tone shifted slightly, ”Fine, very good.”

”All of you, and you, come here at once.”

”Oh, and those of you holding goods, put them down and come with me. I’ll ensure justice for everyone,” said Huang Xiao.