Patrol Captain

"Rumble"

In Chengdu, where the sky had been clear and cloudless, a sudden clap of thunder rang out!
Soon, the clouds in the sky churned and suddenly turned overcast.

"crash"

The rain started, fast and heavy.

Along the street, large raindrops pounded on the green tiles with a crackling sound. The raindrops broke into bright petals, and the water flowed down the eaves, weaving a white curtain of water on the street.

The peddlers and pedestrians on the street were caught off guard by the sudden thunderstorm, and they cried out in alarm and cursed.

"Damn it, the heavens didn't even warn me before it started raining! My steamed buns are ruined!"

"Hurry up, hurry up, this rain is coming down too fast, damn it, we're all soaked."

"That's strange, the sky was clear just now, and it's raining right away."

"."

On the street, a vast expanse of white rain fell, and pedestrians cursed as they hurried to find shelter from the rain. The sound of their footsteps splashing through puddles echoed through the streets and alleys, only to be swallowed up by the even denser sound of the rain.

The rain was falling too hard, and passersby couldn't get out of the way far. They could only find a roof nearby to stay under, hurriedly brushing the rain off their heads and bodies, complaining as they looked up at the sky.

At this time, the eaves on both sides of the street were filled with people seeking shelter from the rain. Only martial artists with martial arts skills and their inner energy could stroll leisurely in this downpour.

Everyone thought it was just a thunderstorm and would pass quickly.

Unexpectedly,

"Boom!"

Another thunderclap boomed in the sky, this time with even greater force, as if the sky itself were splitting open, and thunder trees burst forth, cleaving through the rain curtain.

A flash of lightning illuminated the gloomy sky.

Suddenly, amidst the rapid sound of raindrops, a sharp cry of alarm rang out.

"What is that?" Someone pointed to the lightning-streaked sky, their pupils widening involuntarily.

Clearly visible, amidst the gathering of silver lightning trees in the sky, was a blurry, tall figure with a pair of silver wings, holding something in its hands. With each strike, thunder roared and lightning trees burst forth.

A master, straining his eyes, peered through the dense rain and dark clouds and suddenly saw a gigantic, strange figure, seven or eight zhang tall. This person had a face as blue as indigo, hair as red as cinnabar, piercing eyes, a thunder god's mouth, and a pair of wind and thunder wings growing from his back and ribs.

This strange man held a large silver hammer in one hand, surrounded by silver lightning, and a sharp black nail chisel in the other. When he struck the black nail chisel with the hammer, a thunderous sound rang out, and the tip of the nail chisel spewed out dazzling lightning that spread through the void.

Those with profound knowledge recognized this extraordinary person as Lei Gong, who was revered as the righteous god of the Thunder Department among the common people and was a messenger under the emperor's throne in the imperial court!
Beneath the thunder god's feet lies Cloud Peak Mountain, the location of the Jiannan Circuit's governor's office!
Before the people of Chengdu could even be surprised, the sound of drums could be heard coming from the direction of Yunding Mountain.

"Boom"

"Boom"

"Boom"

"."

The drumbeats began, suddenly becoming rapid, just like the raindrops falling from the sky.

Subsequently,

"woo"

"woo"

"."

The dense rain weaves a white curtain, and the dull sound of horns rolls from the depths of the rain and mist amidst the rapid drumbeats. There is no rousing sharp sound, only a heavy sob, mixed with the crackling of rain on the green tiles and the thunder in the sky, reverberating and echoing in the city streets. The air seems to be stained with a chilling and desolate feeling, carrying a suffocating depression.

"The drums are beating and the horns are blowing; Yunding Mountain is gathering its troops!"

"What happened?"

Some people cried out in alarm and rushed to their feet.

The rapid, thunderous drumbeats and the deep, resounding horns signified that Yunding Mountain was summoning its troops, a sight familiar to many residents of Chengdu.

This is what happens when something big happens.

Just a few years ago, the demons of the Ten Thousand Mountains broke through Youmen Pass, and the demon-suppressing envoy who was stationed there perished. The demons came out of the pass and massacred several cities. The war drums of Yunding Mountain sounded and the horns blew, summoning all the mountain-crushing troops to rush to the front line. Many sons of Shu went there and never returned. Every household hung up white silk, and even their bones did not return, leaving only a cenotaph.

Today, the war drums sounded again, and the bugles blared, drawing gasps and exclamations from the people of Chengdu.

Inside the teahouses and taverns, everyone put down their cups and turned to look outside. The storyteller's gavel froze in mid-air. On the street, pedestrians all looked up toward Yunding Mountain with expressions of surprise and doubt.

In the four government offices, a magistrate heard the bugle call and ran out of his residence in a panic, holding his official hat with both hands, looking in the direction of Yunding Mountain, his face ashen.

"Good heavens, what has happened now?"

"Someone, hurry to Cloud Peak Mountain!" The man was in a hurry, and his tone of voice had changed. Cloud Peak Mountain now has the Imperial Advisor from the court in charge, and the general from the Ninth Mountain is also leading the charge. Why are they suddenly beating drums and blowing horns to summon troops? If you think about it carefully, something big must have happened.

"Sir, I will prepare the carriage immediately." Upon receiving the order, the official in the yamen quickly responded and was about to leave.

"Why bother preparing a carriage? Who knows what terrible thing has happened at Yunding Mountain? If I get there late, I'll lose not only my official hat but also my head. Quickly prepare the fastest horse!" The official snapped angrily and rushed out of the yamen.

Soon after, a figure dressed in a robe adorned with birds and other symbols was seen riding a horse and galloping straight toward Yunding Mountain.

"grown ups"

"grown ups"

The officials who were supposed to follow behind tried to catch up, but were left far behind. They could only shout after them, but they saw their master galloping away and disappearing into the vast rain without stopping for a moment. The officials looked at each other and saw a sense of solemnity and unease on each other's faces.

"It seems something big is about to happen."

Meanwhile, in the streets shrouded in a thick rain, from all directions, in every street and alley, the sound of horses galloping could be heard. Hard armor broke through the rain, turning into white shadows as they raced forward, their hooves pounding on the bluestone slabs, splashing water everywhere.

"drive"

"drive"

“驾” “.”

At first, there were only scattered soldiers returning to the mountains at the sound of drums, their hooves clattering and disorganized. But later, the thunderous sound of hooves came from the gates in the east, west, south, and north.

A torrent of cold, hard steel, accompanied by rapid drumbeats, tore through the white expanse of sky and earth. The clanging of armor plates mingled with the sound of horses' hooves, rolling into a muffled thunderclap in the rain, all converging on Cloud Peak Mountain like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.

Pedestrians along the street stared in astonishment, their eyes wide with disbelief and horror.

Even the troops on the outer defense line of the city are rushing towards Yunding Mountain!

problem occurs!
Meanwhile, as the drums were being beaten and the horns were being blown on Yunding Mountain, in the western city, in an ancient temple hidden in a low hill, in the Mahavira Hall, the monks, with their heads bowed and solemn faces, sat cross-legged on prayer cushions, chanting Buddhist scriptures and singing Buddhist chants. Inside the hall, the golden Buddha statue had its eyes closed, its face compassionate, its hands in the meditation mudra, and emitted immeasurable light.

Beneath the golden Buddha statue, before the assembled monks, stood a young and handsome monk draped in a moon-white robe. His eyes were closed, devoid of sorrow or joy, his hands holding prayer beads, and his lips silently chanting scriptures.

Soon, the drumbeats and horn sounds from Yunding Mountain, mixed with thunder, echoed through Ci'en Temple, into the Mahavira Hall, and reached the ears of the monks inside.

Some monks continued to uphold their original intentions, unmoved by external things, and recited the Mahavairocana Sutra transmitted from the Western Land with their eyes lowered. However, others were disturbed by the rapid drumbeats and the deep horns, their minds filled with distracting thoughts. Finally, they couldn't help but open their eyes, their hearts filled with surprise and doubt. They couldn't help but look at the holy monk from the Western Land. Just that one glance, and their peripheral vision swept over the golden statue of Buddha in front of them, their pupils suddenly contracted, followed by a cry of surprise.

The exclamation immediately made the monks chanting scriptures and giving their lessons in the hall open their eyes one by one.

A young monk in the temple slumped backward, pointing with a terrified expression at the Buddha statue standing in the center of the main hall.
"The Buddha statue is bleeding!"

Following his pointing finger, the monks looked towards the Buddha statue and saw that two bloody tears were streaming from the corners of the closed eyes of the golden Buddha statue standing in the center of the hall—a bizarre and terrifying sight.

Looking inside the hall again, the Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors, and the eighteen Arhats were all in the same state.

The monks in the temple were in an uproar upon seeing this. Many turned pale and their eyes were filled with panic, as they had never witnessed such a bizarre sight. Even many of the older monks who had been in the temple for a long time were somewhat flustered, hurriedly clutching their prayer beads and chanting Amitabha.

"The Buddha weeps blood, what an ominous sign!"

"Is my Ci'en Temple about to suffer a calamity?"

"Holy monk, holy monk, please enlighten us!"

A group of monks cast hopeful glances at the holy monk sitting at the front, and hurriedly called out that this holy monk had stayed at their Ci'en Temple for several months, preaching and spreading the Dharma, opening the door of convenience, making the once quiet Ci'en Temple flourish with incense offerings, and attracting a surge in worshippers. Moreover, mysterious phenomena arose, and the Buddha statues in the temple emitted immeasurable light under the blessing of his Dharma.

At the call of the monks, the Arhat Gaya on the prayer mat slowly opened his eyes. His eyes, as deep as the starry sky, were calm and still. He spoke slowly.
"The Buddha's teachings tell us not to be alarmed!"

He rose from the prayer mat and stepped into the hall. With each step, lotus flowers bloomed in the air. When he reached the hall door, he looked up at the sky, then raised his hands and chanted a long Buddhist mantra.

"Amitabha!"

"When Buddha sheds tears of blood, the people suffer. The Dharma will reveal the truth, and the Mahayana Dharma Assembly will soon appear to save all sentient beings, but it will not be in Shu."

The abbot of the temple, his aged eyes almost completely obscured by eye bags, lowered his head and clasped his hands.
"Please enlighten me, Holy Monk!"

The Arhat Gaya faced north, his gaze deep, and slowly said, "North of Shu, there will be widespread suffering and death, turning into an endless sea of ​​misery. All beings will be adrift in this sea of ​​suffering, and the Mahayana path will appear there."

"This humble monk is about to embark on a long journey, leaving this place to guide sentient beings and seek the true Mahayana scriptures."

The sound, imbued with a lingering Zen quality, like a ethereal celestial chant, entered the ears of the monks, dispelling the fear in their eyes and replacing it with a hint of fervor.
"The holy monk's journey is to save all sentient beings. We have cultivated for many years and wish to follow the holy monk to seek the true scriptures!"

"I wish to follow the holy monk and seek the true scriptures!"

Inside the hall, a group of monks clasped their hands in worship, their faces filled with fervor.

"dong dong dong"

Amidst the rapid drumbeats, the scene shifts to Yunding Mountain under a thunderstorm.

On the way into the mountains, the hooves of soldiers and horses pounded the earth, causing mud and rocks to tumble and the sound to echo throughout the mountains.

In the sky, the Thunder God unleashed his power, striking the black nail-shaped chisel with all his might, sending down bolts of thunder that cleaved the firmament of Cloud Peak Mountain. He was using the sound of thunder to transmit a message to the heavens and the four corners of the earth, delivering an astonishing message.

The western front, the three passes within the pass, and even the capital city tens of thousands of miles away!

The winds and torrential rain lashed down on the peaks of Yunding Mountain, whipping the battle flags planted in the ground below. The flags, soaked and patterned, resembled bloodstained wounds. The war drums thundered in the wind and rain, each beat striking the heart, mingling with the mournful bugle calls, echoing through the mountains, making the entire Yunding Mountain seem to tremble and hum.

In the center of each drill ground, messengers galloped, whistles sounded, and troops gathered, forming square formations. Armored soldiers tightened their reins, and warhorses puffed out white vapor in the rain, their hooves constantly pawing the muddy ground. Water droplets from their armor dripped down their plates, and long spears and swords pointed diagonally at the ground, their sharp, cold light piercing through the rain. The dense formations were exceptionally imposing, like a steel jungle rising from the ground.

The sounds of wind and thunder, the beat of drums, the clashing of armor, and the heavy breathing of soldiers mingled together in the air, creating a chilling and menacing scene.

These soldiers were unaware of what was happening, but with such a display of force, everyone knew that a major battle was about to begin!
Meanwhile, at Cloud Peak, streaks of light rushed up the mountain from the foot of the mountain. Civil officials dismounted from their sedan chairs and military generals dismounted, all heading towards the Heavenly Patrol Hall at the summit.

Since the Grand Preceptor of the Great Qian Dynasty was ordered by Emperor Wu to take over the Guanfu Division, all those qualified to appear in this Heavenly Patrol Hall are officials of the fourth rank or above.

Today, officials of all ranks from Chengdu and other cities have flocked here, marking the first time such a large number of people have gathered.

The civil and military officials dispatched by the imperial court to assist Helian Shan in maintaining the situation, along with military officers from several nearby regions and various officials from the local provincial administration, all gathered together.

When these people arrived and saw so many people, they were all startled, sensing that something terrible was about to happen.

They whispered among themselves in the main hall, trying to glean some information, but to no avail. However, they all noticed the solemnity on each other's faces, and the air was filled with a sense of impending doom.

The drumbeats outside never stopped, striking right at everyone's hearts.

Everyone looked toward the main seat, which was still empty.

Half an hour later, a tall old man dressed in a black robe appeared from the side door of the main hall and walked towards the main seat.

"crash"

All the officials rose at once, and the armor on the military officers clashed together, producing a uniform, resounding clang that echoed through the hall.

Everyone bowed respectfully towards Helian Shan, saying, "Greetings, Grand Preceptor!"

Before the main seat, Helian Shan looked down at the densely packed crowd below. His previous air of old age was gone; his gaze was now piercing, his martial saintly aura overwhelming, and his voice booming.
"The Thunder God strikes with lightning, and he reports to the heavens."

"The military situation is urgent, so I won't waste any more words with you."

"News has arrived from the Ninth Mountain today: a mutiny has broken out in the Northern Liang!"

"With the Northern Liang King raising an army, the Shu region is in grave danger and will likely be the first to be hit. Therefore, speed is of the essence in warfare."

"Issue my order: immediately dispatch troops northward, without delay!!!" (End of Chapter)