Patrol Captain

The next day, as dawn broke, a narrow slit of light tore open the east, dispelling the darkness of night. Golden light quietly spread over the city gate tower, which had been closed for many days, and tinged the eaves with a warm, moist glow.

"when"

"when"

"when"

On the city gate tower, the morning bell, silent for many days, broke the stillness and rang three times. The powerful sound of the bell echoed over the city, penetrating the silence of the streets and alleys and awakening people's expectations.

As the doors and windows opened, some people put their hands to their ears, listening to the bell, and shouted happily, "It's the morning bell! The morning bell is ringing!"

"The morning bell tolls three times, the city gates open wide, the city gates are about to open!"

Then, at the four city gates,

"Rumble"

A deep, rumbling sound echoed across the ground as the city gate's hinges slowly turned, producing a dull yet exhilarating noise.

"Hmph, hah, hah," the heavy stone doors were pushed open step by step by the strongmen. The nine doors opened one after another, and the gloom that had accumulated in the capital for many days was instantly shattered by the sunlight. The dawn light, like a rushing stream, poured in through the cracks in the open doors, carrying the warmth and clarity of new life, washing over the tired but bright eyes of the soldiers guarding the city, and sweeping away the heavy gloom.

After being under lockdown for nearly half a month, Jin Guan opened the Tongmen Gate after taking over the command at the Ninth Mountain!

People went out into the streets, their faces beaming with joy. The entire city of Chengdu was swept away from its former gloom and regained its vitality.

In the eyes of the common people, the opening of the city gates meant that the authorities were confident in restoring the situation in Chengdu. It was a silent declaration that reassured all the people who wanted to live a peaceful life.

In the hearts of many people in Sichuan, the Ninth Mountain is the anchor of stability!

When the Ten Thousand Mountains were frantically attacking the pass, the Ninth Mountain turned the tide. At its command, countless ambitious men rushed to the battlefield. The scene from that year is still vivid in my mind.

Furthermore, everyone could clearly feel that, on the very day the news spread, the already crumbling public order in Chengdu began to improve visibly.

The rumors that were flying everywhere and the forces that were trying to stir up trouble in the chaos seemed to have been extinguished, and they all quietly disappeared without a trace.

The effect was truly immediate!
Whether they were locals of Jin Guan City or from other places, anyone who had ever stayed in this place had heard that when the Ninth Mountain was still a Lieutenant General, he was stationed at Yunding Mountain and his methods were already extremely ruthless. Anyone who disobeyed orders or provoked him was beaten to death with a single blow, or even had their family property confiscated and their clan exterminated. At that time, several families from the Three Mountains and Five Clans in the city disappeared, all due to bloodshed.

Moreover, the one from the Ninth Mountain now is someone who strikes fear into the hearts of all.

Even the Northern Liang rebel king, who had stormed into the pass and caused a stir in the court, was utterly humiliated by this Martial Saint General. It is said that he even lost his royal palace.

As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean, and no one dares to provoke the tiger at this critical juncture!
Thus, the news that Ninth Mountain had taken over Yunding Mountain and that Chengdu had lifted its lockdown spread rapidly throughout the Shu region via the wide-open city gates.

At dawn on the second day after the news spread, the two city gates in the east and north directions were wide open, and the hustle and bustle outside the city broke the morning tranquility. Outside the city, there was a constant flow of vehicles and horses, and a large number of people rushed back to the city after hearing the news.

The third day, the fourth day, the fifth day, and so on.

In the north of the city, at the Huicui Building, in the same private room on the second floor, the atmosphere was lively, unlike the dull atmosphere of more than half a month ago.

Cheers to our reunion!

"Haha, let's do it!"

"Who would have thought that we, who were so reluctant to part here, almost to the point of tears, would be reunited here in just half a month? This is truly a great joy in life."

"This is all thanks to Brother Gongsun. As soon as I received your letter, I rushed back on horseback. I never expected that you brothers would feel the same way as me. It truly brings tears to my eyes."

"Brother Gongsun, I, your foolish brother, offer you a toast!" One man, half-joking and half-serious, raised his cup with both hands and offered a toast to Gongsun Wuji, who was carrying a sword case on his back and dressed in black.

"Same below."

"Haha, I'll join in the fun too." Everyone laughed and joked, creating a lively atmosphere as they raised their glasses one after another.

Gongsun Wuji raised the wine cup on the table, his gaze sweeping over the smiling faces, not one missing. Even his usually stern eyes softened with a smile.
"Welcome back!"

He then downed the drink in his glass, showed the bottom of the glass, and put it down.

The others were the same, full of high spirits.

After this round of drinks, everyone put down their glasses, and a friend spoke, his tone impassioned.
"Now that the Ninth Mountain has taken over Cloud Peak Mountain, given the current situation, and with the Martial Saint General of the Ninth Mountain now in power, he will certainly not hold his ground, but will take the initiative to attack."

"This will be our chance to shine!"

"Brother Gongsun, what are your plans?" a friend asked Gongsun Wuji.

The Sword Tomb successor composed himself and said, "This time I will join the Ninth Mountain!"

Upon hearing this, no one showed surprise. Instead, they exchanged glances, and seeing that no one was surprised, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.

“Coincidentally, I had the same idea. Now that Ninth Mountain has taken power, its current forces are insufficient to control such a large operation, so it will definitely recruit more soldiers.”

"That's what I think too."

"It seems that we all have no prejudices and are thinking the same thing."

"Brother Yue, what are you saying? We're all aiming for the same goal: to slay demons on the battlefield and make a name for ourselves. Believe it or not, when the Ninth Mountain really starts recruiting soldiers, we'll probably be overlooked." Someone laughed and joked.

"I hope that day will come soon."

"."

Just as the atmosphere in this gathering building was lively, in the center of the city, a small courtyard with green bamboo was located. It had only one courtyard, with green bamboo planted in the courtyard, which sheltered the walls on both sides.

Upon entering the courtyard, a cobblestone path winds its way to a two-story wooden pavilion. The pavilion exudes an antique charm, and the wind chimes under the eaves sway gently, their sounds crisp and melodious. At this moment, several friends have arrived in this tranquil courtyard.

"Haha, Master Li, how have you been?"

"And Master An, he's still as dashing as ever!"

"I was overjoyed to receive Miss Qin's message, so I rushed over from home, bringing a pot of fine wine with me." On the second floor of the pavilion, a burly, square-faced middle-aged man greeted the group of people with a smile, carrying a pot of wine in his hand.

Several people were sitting at the table.

A Taoist priest dressed in a blue robe, wearing a headscarf, cloth shoes and white socks, holding a whisk, and sporting a long, flowing black beard, was none other than Master Li Guanyi of Fulong Temple. He raised one hand in greeting to the newcomer.

"Greetings, Patriarch Yun. It's been a long time. Your cultivation has improved remarkably. Congratulations!"

The burly, middle-aged man was none other than Yun Chuxiong, Yun Tiansheng's father. Originally from the second branch of the Yun family, his status had risen dramatically due to his son's position in the Ninth Mountain and his own title as one of the "Seven Heroes of Weiyuan," making him the head of the Yun family. This position had always belonged to his eldest brother, Yun Fangting, but his brother felt that Yun Chuxiong's position was not beneficial to the Yun family and would only attract gossip. So, he insisted on placing him in the position of family head. There was no typical sibling rivalry involved; on the contrary, the entire Yun family wholeheartedly supported the move.

Sitting next to Master Li was a beautiful woman dressed in white, who was Sect Leader An of the Su Nu Sword Sect. She was composed and bowed to Yun Chuxiong.

In the main seat sat Qin Rushuang, the owner of the pavilion. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her brows held a touch of heroic spirit. She wore a brightly colored five-colored robe.

Qin Rushuang wore a faint smile and maintained a graceful demeanor.
"Please have a seat, Patriarch Yun. We've been waiting for you."

Yun Chuxiong hadn't seen his old friends for a long time, and his heart was filled with longing. He casually asked, "Where are the other fellow Daoists?"

As soon as he said that, he realized he had said the wrong thing and regretted it.

He happened to be away when the incident occurred at Benlei Mountain. After hearing the tragic news, he was heartbroken and held a memorial service. In anger, he sent the Yun family to the south to search for the whereabouts of those demons. He even went there himself, but was driven back by his own son.

Of the Seven Heroes of Weiyuan, only six remain. Fellow Daoist Yuan Kun of Benlei Mountain was harmed by a demon, while Fellow Daoist Qingyangzi of Shu Mountain was rescued from the clutches of the evil spirits by Chen Yuan, but he was severely injured, his soul had been separated from his body for too long, and he had lost all his cultivation.

"I'm sorry." He was filled with regret and remorse, and the cheerful atmosphere suddenly turned somber.

"It's alright, the matter is over. Brother Chen has avenged Yuan Kun and Fellow Daoist Qingyangzi. We just need to remember. By the way, after hearing the news, Fellow Daoist Qingyangzi couldn't come himself, so he sent his eldest disciple, Ji Wuming, to Jinguan. He's still on his way." Qin Rushuang spoke softly, then changed the subject to lighten the atmosphere slightly.

"Patriarch Yun, the Ninth Mountain has taken over Cloud Peak Mountain. It seems that Brother Chen has already taken power. At this time, we must need people. However, there are many mysteries involved, and we are not yet certain. Are you aware of this?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Chuxiong shook his head. "My son, Yun Sheng, is no longer at Yunding Mountain, but in Qingshan County. However, he rarely sends messages home, and even when he does, he seldom mentions matters of the army."

At this point, he looked directly at Qin Rushuang and said, "Miss Qin, it's not difficult to find out. Now that the Ninth Mountain has taken over the affairs, we can go directly to Cloud Peak Mountain and ask them."

Qin Rushuang nodded upon hearing this.
"Ru Shuang does indeed have this intention, but she doesn't know if Brother Chen is here?" She also didn't know if Chen Yuan was at Cloud Peak Mountain.

After all, this Brother Chen's supernatural abilities are somewhat unbelievable; he can teleport thousands of miles away in an instant while he is in Qingshan County.

If she couldn't see him, she would feel disappointed, so she asked another question. As she spoke, wisps of white smoke rose from the incense burner on the table. Qin Rushuang turned her head and looked out the window, gazing into the distance.

Looking out of her attic window, she saw rolling green hills in the distance, shrouded in a light veil, with pavilions and towers dotting the landscape. That was the Yunding Mountain Daofusi.

Like her and Gongsun Wuji, as news of the Ninth Mountain taking control of Yunding Mountain spread, many familiar figures returned to this city that had weathered storms and remained standing, all waiting for the Ninth Mountain's next move.

Or perhaps we're just waiting for that Martial Saint General to take the stage!
Inside this two-story building, as the former Four Heroes of Weiyuan spontaneously came to discuss the matter of the Ninth Mountain, the soldiers guarding the west city gate, like clay or wooden sculptures, gazed at the western wilderness, watching for any movement.

As time passed, the sun began to set, bathing the western official road in a warm golden light. The red sun hung on the edge of the horizon, dyeing the flowing clouds crimson.

A breeze carrying the warmth of the setting sun swept across the open fields. Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared on the distant horizon. As the sound of hooves grew closer, the image of a galloping horse gradually came into view.

The horse's mane billowed in the wind, like surging, inky waves, its hooves pounding the last rays of sunlight on the road. The galloping horse moved like an arrow, raising billowing dust that trailed long trails of it along the official road. The setting sun cast long shadows of the horse, and the sound of its hooves on the empty road was deep and powerful.

"Tap tap"

As the sound of hooves drew nearer, the armored soldiers on the city gate tower spotted the soldiers on horseback in the distance and were about to sound a whistle to signal for them to go and question the riders.

Suddenly, a thunderous shout, accompanied by the rapid clatter of hooves, shattered the tranquility of twilight and tore through the sky.

"Urgent battle report delivered by 800-li messenger"

The roar of the armored warrior on horseback pierced the twilight, hoarse yet carrying immense force, like thunder rolling across the city walls. He leaned forward, his hair tousled by the wind, dust covering his body unable to conceal the burning passion in his eyes. The horse's hooves flew, the yellow sand kicked up shimmering golden in the setting sun, mingling with the afterglow on the horizon, as it charged directly into the wide-open city gate.

At the same time, a roar filled the wide gate of the city and crashed into Chengdu.

"Report!"

"Our Imperial Advisor led the frontline soldiers in a bloody battle, slaying the Demon King on the western front."

"Our Imperial Advisor led the frontline troops to slay the Demon King and crush the demonic tide."

Shouts echoed repeatedly as the horses galloped across the main street in the west of the city.

When the final roar burst forth, filled with resolute passion, it instantly erupted through the streets and alleys. Children's cheers and the shouts of the people mingled together, quickly sweeping across the entire city like a tidal wave.

The terrifying demonic tide in the west was actually repelled?
The sword that had been hanging over the heads of the people of Chengdu, never falling, was finally broken.

At this time, the people of Chengdu learned that the Grand Preceptor of the Great Qian Dynasty, who was rumored to have fled, had actually gone to the western front to lead his soldiers to resist the demonic tide, and in the process, he killed a demon king.

At this moment, the city of Jin Guan, which was already experiencing a wave of people returning to the city, was greatly boosted by this news, and everyone was overjoyed.

The setting sun hung on the western horizon, its rosy glow intensified by the fervent roar of the battle cry. The hooves of the messengers never ceased, and the shouts of battle reports pierced through the doors and windows of every household, washing away the anxiety and fear of the past few days. The entire city of Chengdu was enveloped in the heat of victory; the roar, like a rainbow, soared into the sky, causing the clouds to freeze in mid-air.

Just as this good news from the western front reached Chengdu, Chen Yuan, who was putting the finishing touches on work in Qingshan County, thousands of miles away, also received the news!
"it is good!"

"It seems Lord Helian is holding back a lot of anger!" (End of Chapter)