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Chapter 74: A Figure at the Sword Viewing Peak
Chapter 74: A Figure at the Sword Viewing Peak
In Linjiang County, there stood Qingfeng Mountain, and within it, the Guanjian Gorge.
Several dozen sturdy Demon Horses galloped day and night, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust.
With a long sigh, a deputy general clad in a black cloak dismounted and gazed toward a row of neatly pitched tents ahead.
It was early morning, and the campfire, dampened by the dew, emitted crackling sounds as white smoke rose from the black charcoal.
About a dozen bodies of Golden Eagle Military Officers had been collected together, their corpses riddled with sword wounds, flesh torn open, and bones exposed.
Hong Lei led the Demon Horse, his eyelids twitching slightly.
If the outer camp officers were akin to wandering heroes in the jianghu, skilled in solving cases and handling matters in small groups, then the inner camp officers were akin to an army. A hundred people formed the Demon-Subduing Grand Formation, pushing into demon lairs with overwhelming force.
Any injury sustained indicated a grave situation that was almost out of control.
Perhaps startled by the sound of hoofbeats, a young man clad in a large cloak, with a golden eagle embroidered on his shoulder, stepped out of a tent.
He appeared at least ten years younger than Hong Lei.
His right arm was wrapped in bandages, his face pale, and his breath weak.
He frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure. "What took you so long?"
"I should be asking you the same, Deputy General Zhao," Hong Lei replied, his voice carrying a chill as his hand rested on his sword sheath. "I gave you forty men to guard this Guanjian Gorge and prevent the disciples of Qingfeng Gate from leaving the mountain without permission. And this is how you perform your duty?"
As he spoke, he glanced at the dozen or so corpses.
The Guanjian Gorge was a steep cliff with a treacherous terrain, easy to defend but difficult to attack. Any movement of the Qingfeng Gate disciples would be visible to the Demon-Subduing Department's watchful eyes.
In the event of any unusual activity, there would be enough time to report to their superiors and request reinforcements.
"I don't have a habit of sitting around and doing nothing," Zhao Kanglin said arrogantly, his eyebrows raised in contempt. "If it weren't for the sudden appearance of that old man, Fury Sword, I would have led my men through and presented myself before General Chen, claiming a great achievement."
Hearing this, Hong Lei forcefully suppressed the urge to slap him.
He raised his eyes to the cliff above.
On the edge of the cliff, a figure in gray robes sat cross-legged, sparse silver hair pulled back into a bun with a wooden hairpin. His eyes were half-closed, his face weathered, and his palms rested on his knees, holding an ordinary iron sword.
He was the Elder Fury Sword of Qingfeng Gate, a swordsman who had reached the Jade Liquid Perfection stage many years ago and held considerable reputation in Qingzhou.
If not for his old age and declining health, having already lived past three hundred years and fearing failure and the waste of a precious opportunity to condense his Elixir pill, he might have had a chance to achieve the Golden Core stage.
"Although I'm injured, he also took a hidden loss," Zhao Kanglin said, a sense of self-satisfaction in his eyes. "It will take him at least ten to fifteen days to recover."
Zhao Kanglin came from a renowned family and practiced a secret technique passed down through the generations. To engage in a battle across cultivation stages with a well-known senior of the jianghu, exchanging injuries, and still managing to escape was something he could boast about to anyone.
Seeing his proud demeanor, the Golden Eagle Military Officers in the tents and the outer camp officers mounted on the Demon Horses wore unpleasant expressions.
"...”
Shen Yi maintained a calm expression as she gripped the reins.
So this was the reason they had been forcibly drafted.
"Tsk," Hong Lei parted his lips in a sneer as he gave Zhao Kanglin a piercing look. "You might want to forget about any merit. Instead, prepare to receive a flogging when you return."
"You—" Zhao Kanglin gritted his teeth. If not for his bad luck, ending up stranded here and desperately needing manpower to guard the area, he wouldn't have tolerated a deputy general from the outer camp speaking to him in such a manner. What a disrespectful and unruly fellow!
Ignoring Zhao Kanglin, Hong Lei turned and said, "Outer camp disciples, dismount!"
The forty-odd people dismounted in unison.
Hong Lei strode in front of them. "We had to leave in a hurry earlier, so I didn't have time to introduce myself. Most of you are not my subordinates. I am Hong Lei, a deputy general in the Demon-Subduing Department for sixty years, with a mid-stage Jade Liquid cultivation base. I've been working for General Chen... yes, the Elder Chen Qiankun currently at the summit of Qingfeng Mountain.
With these words, excitement finally showed on the faces of the many officers.
It was common knowledge that to progress from one stripe to two, one would have to participate in five demon-related incidents regarding the Jade Liquid Realm. And to progress from two stripes to three, one would need to be involved in more than twenty such incidents.
However, being a part of a single Condensing Reality Realm incident was equivalent to at least twenty incidents in the Jade Liquid Realm.
Moreover, this was only said to be a Condensing Reality Realm incident, but in reality, they didn't even need to lift a finger. They only needed to guard this mountain for General Chen Qiankun.
"As rewards, I offer three bottles of treasure medicine, an unlimited number of top-quality initial stage martial arts manuals for the Condensing Reality Realm, and a low-quality martial arts manual for the Jade Liquid Realm."
"Three years' salary and two months' vacation."
As Hong Lei held out his palm, not just the others, but even Shen Yi's gaze flickered with a hint of surprise.
The Demon-Subduing Department might be strict, but they were indeed generous with their rewards.
Back in Boyun County, they wouldn't have dared to even think about such things, but now everyone had a share.
"All you need to do is help me guard this Long Cliff."
With a solemn expression, Hong Lei lowered his hand and stepped towards the first person, "What's your name and what's your cultivation level?"
"Liu Daqian, late Initial Stage, skilled in the dao."
"Wang Meng, late Initial Stage, some knowledge of fist and palm techniques."
"Dai Bing, early Jade Liquid Realm, I... use a sword."
Hong Lei's steps faltered slightly as his gaze lingered on the woman's sleeve, where three cloud patterns stood out prominently.
Such a young cultivator in the early Jade Liquid Realm was definitely not an unknown figure.
He casually reached out towards the longsword at her waist, and Dai Bing took a half-step back, her expression complex as she protected her sword with her hand.
Hong Lei tugged at the corner of his mouth thoughtfully.
Then he walked towards the next person.
The young man had a tall and slender build, with a straight spine and a straight, black ceremonial dagger hanging from his waist. His ink-colored shirt seemed tailor-made for him.
His features were handsome and dignified, and apart from his fair skin, it was hard to find any flaws.
Noticing the two cloud patterns on his sleeve, Hong Lei asked in a gentle voice, "Are you at the peak of the Initial Stage?"
Shen Yi shook her head and replied calmly, "Jade Liquid Realm."
As her words landed, the officers couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Although they were all well-traveled and experienced individuals from Qingzhou, it was commonly believed that only those who could break through to the Jade Liquid Realm in their seventies or eighties could be considered a powerhouse in their own right.
To have reached the early Jade Liquid Realm in one's thirties required not just exceptional talent but also the resources of a top-tier sect.
Even if the person in question had a youthful appearance and was actually forty years old, it would still be a shocking feat.
Of course, what was even more unacceptable was the fact that...
Two such individuals had already been found after asking only a few people.
"..."
Hong Lei was slightly taken aback and suddenly recalled the man's face.
In that small courtyard, there had been two powerhouses—the disciple of the Commander and Miss Li—and next to them was a pot-bellied man. Although he had seemed weak, the fact that he could stand with them suggested that he, too, was someone of significance, merely skilled in concealing his aura.
Similarly, the man before him was clearly capable of refusing but had still chosen to come to Qingfeng Mountain. Such was the spirit of a young hero.
Thinking of this, Hong Lei's expression softened as he said, "Rest assured, we're only here to guard the cliff. Old Man Chen hasn't truly decided to turn against the Qingfeng Sect. As long as they hand over that person, we will sound the retreat and leave."
"The prerequisite is that you don't act like a spoiled brat who's been pampered by his family. Even at the age of forty, you still have the brain of a pig."
(End of Chapter)
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