Duan Zhengchun transmigrates to Yin Zhiping

"what?"

"Brother Yin, what did you say?"

Guo Jing, who was leading the way, turned around and looked at Duan Zhengchun behind him, asking a question in confusion.

"Oh, it's nothing, please, Brother Guo."

Duan Zhengchun gave an awkward smile and hurriedly followed.

The three then went to a side room in the backyard, where Huang Rong, at Guo Jing's suggestion, personally poured tea for Duan Zhengchun.

Looking at Huang Rong's still fair and delicate hands despite being middle-aged, Duan Zhengchun couldn't help but feel a little tempted, but he still controlled himself and didn't show it.

"Brother Yin, you must have had a long and arduous journey from Zhongnan Mountain. The Mongol army should not be coming tonight, so you can get a good night's sleep."

Guo Jing raised his cup in acknowledgment and said with a smile.

Duan Zhengchun nodded and asked, "Does the Mongol army send troops to attack Huai'an Prefecture every day? How many troops are there? Can the garrison in Huai'an hold out?"

Guo Jing shook his head, a serious look on his face, and continued, "Brother Yin has just arrived in Huai'an and may not yet know the situation. The Mongol army has indeed attacked Huai'an County several times, but their purpose does not seem to be to take Huai'an, but only to harass it."

"The army numbered only around five thousand, but they were extremely powerful. Over the past few days, the defenders of Huai'an suffered heavy casualties. Even so, the Mongol army ultimately chose to withdraw, showing no intention of taking the city."

Duan Zhengchun frowned and pondered, "They are testing the Song court's attitude! That's why they are not in a hurry to capture a single city or town!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Jing and Huang Rong exchanged a glance, a look of surprise flashing across their faces.

"That's right! Rong'er and I think so too, which is why we've gathered heroes from all over the world to come here and help stabilize the situation for the Huai'an garrison, so that the Mongol army won't take advantage of the situation."

"Although we have killed many enemies, this is not a long-term solution. Therefore, we have discussed with you heroes and decided to send out of the city tomorrow to relocate all the people near the border inland. A great war could break out at any time, but those people are innocent."

Guo Jing nodded approvingly, then sighed helplessly.

What is the imperial court's attitude?

Duan Zhengchun pressed on with a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Guo Jing's expression grew even more solemn, and he slowly said, "In the current court, treacherous officials are in power, and the emperor is incompetent. So far, we have not received any news of reinforcements for Huai'an, only that the Huai'an garrison must hold out to the death."

"If this attitude continues, I'm afraid it won't be long before the Mongol army launches a full-scale invasion of our Great Song!"

Duan Zhengchun narrowed his eyes and fell into deep thought. He had already guessed this situation beforehand.

"But now things are much better. With Brother Yin's support, I believe those Mongol Tartars will definitely not get any advantage."

Guo Jing gave a wry smile and said slowly.

These words sounded agreeable, but for Duan Zhengchun, they were a huge pressure. Although he was highly skilled in martial arts, no matter how good his skills were, he could not withstand hundreds of thousands of Mongol cavalry by himself.

If a full-scale war were to break out, the only way to resist would be for the imperial court to send troops. He was just a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world), and he could not possibly decide the life or death of a country.

"I don't see many pedestrians on the street, and most of the shops are closed. Have the people in this city been relocated to the rear?"

Duan Zhengchun paused for a moment, then asked slowly.

"When we arrived, most of the people had already left. The Mongol army had been harassing us for days, and no one could stay any longer. However, quite a few people stayed behind. Some had families to support and couldn't leave, while others were determined to stand with Huai'an County."

"For their sake, we should do our best. Although we are both people in the martial arts world, protecting our home and country is an inescapable responsibility for heroes like us."

Duan Zhengchun took a deep breath, his face filled with determination.

"Please rest assured, Brother Guo and Sister-in-law, our Quanzhen Sect will stand with you heroes. If there is anything we can do, please contact my junior brother Lin Zhiyuan."

"If there are any important matters that need to be discussed, just go directly to him."

Duan Zhengchun clasped his hands in a fist salute to Guo Jing and Huang Rong and said something earnestly.

"Thank you, Brother Yin. It's getting late, you should go back and rest. Tomorrow morning you have to go out of the city to help the people in various border areas relocate."

Guo Jing slowly stood up and returned the salute with clasped hands.

Duan Zhengchun nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

A moment later, Duan Zhengchun arrived at a private room under the guidance of a beautiful young woman.

By inquiring with the woman, Duan Zhengchun learned that the owner of the mansion had lent it to Guo Jing before moving away, and had settled all the martial arts practitioners who came to his aid here.

Looking at the fully equipped room, Duan Zhengchun nodded in satisfaction, slowly placed the sword box against the corner of the wall, turned his head to look at the woman, and asked curiously, "I wonder what the relationship is between you and Brother Guo Jing?"

The woman frowned slightly, glanced at Duan Zhengchun, and said with a hint of displeasure, "How can you take advantage of people like this?! You're so young, if you call my father 'elder brother,' then I'll have to call you 'uncle'!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun asked in surprise, "You are Brother Guo's daughter?"

The woman stomped her foot and pouted, "You're trying to take advantage of me?! My name is Guo Fu, Guo Jing is my father! Huang Rong is my mother!"

Duan Zhengchun glanced at Guo Fu and realized that Guo Fu's eyebrows and eyebrows did indeed resemble Huang Rong's. He just didn't expect that Huang Rong, who was so gentle and elegant, would have such a seemingly unruly daughter.

He suddenly felt that Guo Fu in front of him was somewhat similar to Shuang'er from before.

"What are you looking at?!"

Seeing Duan Zhengchun staring at her intently, Guo Fu hesitated, adopted a defensive posture, and loudly questioned him.

Duan Zhengchun sat down at the table with a wry smile and said slowly, "Your father and I met once before on Zhongnan Mountain. We hit it off immediately and became close friends despite our age difference. He called me brother, so naturally I have to call him elder brother."

"If you don't want to call me uncle, you can call me whatever you want."

Guo Fu's eyes lit up, and she pressed on, "You're from the Quanzhen Sect? Then you must have met Yang Guo, right?"

Duan Zhengchun raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Yes, we've met before, we're quite familiar."

"How is he now? Is he doing well in the Quanzhen Sect? Has his martial arts improved?"

Guo Fu looked curious and continued to ask, seemingly having completely forgotten that she was supposed to call Duan Zhengchun "Uncle".

Could this little girl have a crush on my disciple?

Seeing how much Guo Fu cared for Yang Guo, Duan Zhengchun couldn't help but feel uneasy. He casually said, "He's very good. As for his martial arts, since he's become my disciple, he'll surely become famous throughout the martial arts world one day."

Upon hearing this, Guo Fu looked surprised again, curiously sized up Duan Zhengchun, and exclaimed, "You're that brat Yang Guo's master?! You don't look very old, you're probably just an ordinary disciple of the Quanzhen Sect, right?"

"If Yang Guo had become a disciple of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, he might have been able to become famous throughout the martial arts world. But you? Aren't you being a bit too confident?"

"However, I heard that there is a highly skilled martial artist among the third-generation disciples of the Quanzhen Sect, who seems to be even more powerful than the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. He has even fought against my maternal grandfather, Huang Yaoshi. If I were to become his disciple, there might be a chance."

"As for you, tsk tsk..."

In the end, Guo Fu couldn't help but shake her head, a hint of disdain showing between her brows.

Duan Zhengchun laughed and said, "You know him too? Since you know him so well, do you know his name?"

Guo Fu scratched her head and hesitated, "My name... I can't remember it right now, maybe it's something like Duan? Or Yin? Anyway, I'm better than you!"

"You're also from the Quanzhen Sect, don't you know him?!"

Duan Zhengchun shook his head and said with a smile, "Never heard of it."

Guo Fu hesitated, pondered for a moment but still couldn't remember the name. Helplessly, she stamped her foot and said, "Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore. Now that I've dropped you off, I'm going back."

As soon as she finished speaking, Guo Fu turned and walked away, muttering something under her breath, seemingly still thinking about that person's name.

Duan Zhengchun smiled bitterly, took out his wine gourd, took a sip, and gradually fell into deep thought.

After a long while, Lin Zhiyuan, representing the Quanzhen Sect and various heroes, came to Duan Zhengchun's room and recounted the details of the meeting to Duan Zhengchun.

Duan Zhengchun did not get too involved in this matter, only telling Lin Zhiyuan to handle it himself, since he was the commander.

After resting for a while, Duan Zhengchun left Liuyuan alone and strolled through the empty streets of Huai'an County.

...