0166 Weeping (Fifth Update...)

Hua Su took a deep drag on his cigarette, then exhaled the smoke in a long stream. The smoke formed a white dragon, climbing upward toward the full moon, its shape strikingly similar to his Dharma Manifestation.

With a firm and confident smile, Hua Su said, "I have already made up my mind. This time, among the one hundred and ninety-two veteran soldiers of the Demon-Suppression Army, all of their severely damaged Ming-energy circuits have been repaired. One hundred and fifty-seven of them will return with me to the Demon-Suppression Army. Only eight have expressed a desire to continue their retirement and return to their hometowns. The remaining twenty-seven will all stay in Taicang City."

Jiang Feng asked in surprise, "These twenty-seven... are they all at or above the Yangming realm?"

Hua Su nodded and said, "That's right, fifteen in the Yangming realm, and twelve in the Shenming realm!"

During this demonic battle in Taicang City, Jiang Feng had seen and interacted with a vast number of powerful experts. Leaving aside Hua Su, who was a Yiming Martial Emperor, there were several Ximing Martial Ancestors, and quite a few Shenming Martial Sovereigns. In particular, the veteran soldiers from all over the three prefectures were entirely within the range from the Yangming to the Shenming realm.

However, the Taicang demonic war was a special circumstance after all. Under normal conditions, such a large accumulation of powerful experts was simply impossible. For a city the size of Taicang, having three Shenming Martial Sovereigns in ordinary times would already be considered quite good.

After all, this was the Nine Heavens Continent, where the levels of martial cultivation were inherently much lower than those of the Xuanji Continent.

Here, a Yiming Martial Emperor was already a figure at the very peak of the pyramid; a Ximing Martial Ancestor was sufficient to establish a sect and govern a region; while a Shenming Martial Sovereign was a truly decisive and powerful expert.

Generally speaking, given the cultivation levels of these veterans, they were entirely capable of changing the situation in an entire region, and it was rare for them to live in seclusion in the countryside like this.

On the one hand, the veterans' Ming-energy circuits had been shattered, making normal combat impossible; on the other hand, they had dedicated the better part of their lives to humanity, so why shouldn't they be allowed to display their prestige in their twilight years?

And now, the Ming-energy circuits of these veterans had been completely repaired. Such a group of individuals was fully capable of forming a massive force.

Hua Su bringing them back to the Demon-Suppression Army was, on one hand, out of their own personal wishes, and on the other hand, meant to stabilize the situation in the Nine Heavens Continent. Otherwise, just fighting over this formidable force would cause all factions to break their heads!

These twenty-seven veterans staying in Taicang City possessed formidable strength, backed by their past glory and status. With them around, what problem would Wu Qi have in acting as the prefectural magistrate?

In the span of a single breath, Jiang Feng had already thought through all the interconnected links, and he nodded, saying, "Indeed, this is a good idea!"

Hua Su smiled slightly and nodded, "Moreover, the demons are far more cunning than humans imagine. Although the demon nest has been sealed, it is inevitable that some remnants might escape in advance. They are experienced, which will help resolve any issues in a timely manner."

Hua Su had already considered everything thoroughly, and Jiang Feng also felt it was a fine plan. After discussing it for a while, the master and disciple refined a few more details.

Once this matter was settled, Jiang Feng suddenly asked, "After handing things over to Wu Qi, Teacher Hua, you'll be returning to the Suppression of Chaos Mountain, and heading back to the Demon-Suppression Army together?"

Hua Su's smile was filled with nostalgia and burning passion. "That's right! Through this demonic battle, I've come to realize just how hateful those turtle-spawn are! I've held back for far too long. This time when I go back, I'm going to beat the living daylights out of them!"

Jiang Feng laughed. "Then let me wish Teacher Hua in advance a prosperous martial destiny... Speaking of which, your Dharma Manifestation..."

Hua Su snapped his fingers, and the giant dragon suddenly materialized out of thin air, circling around his body.

Jiang Feng stared at it for a moment and asked, "Your Ming-energy circuit hasn't actually fully recovered yet, has it? That's why you didn't use your Dharma Manifestation earlier, and you still can't use it in combat right now, correct?"

Hua Su shook his head. "You're wrong. The Ming-energy circuit was repaired by you long ago, but regaining my original strength will still take some time. This old partner of mine only reappeared yesterday. Once I return to Northern Desert, I'll let the demons witness its might!"

Jiang Feng imagined the scene and smiled. "I've never seen a Dharma Manifestation before; I really want to witness its majesty..."

Hua Su smiled slightly. "What's difficult about that?"

Meeting the gaze of those golden eyes for a moment, the giant dragon suddenly raised its head, vibrating the air, and let out a resounding, crystalline long cry. The sound was immense, carrying an astonishing awe-inspiring momentum that made one instinctively want to bow down before it.

Following that, a gust of violent wind swept through, and the giant dragon rode the wind soaring into the sky. Moonlight shone upon its meandering body, stunningly massive and breathtakingly beautiful.

Watching its retreating figure, Jiang Feng could already envision the scene of the demons being shattered by the dragon's roar!

...
...

Just as Hua Su had said, Jiang Feng and the others did not linger in Taicang City for too long.

On the second day, after resting and regrouping, they went together beneath the Thousand Lions Bridge to pay their respects to Gan Fuxing.

On the third day, August twenty-first, they were urged onto the road by the entire population of Taicang City.

The provincial examinations were coming up on September the sixth, leaving less than a full fifteen days from now. Every candidate had to go ahead of time to make preparations, and if they didn't leave now, it would be too late.

The wealthiest merchant in Taicang City contributed his finest carriage; the most skilled craftsmen worked against the clock to tune it up; and the coachman most familiar with the roads sat at the front of the carriage, ready to take them to Caiyi City.

When they left, many people stopped whatever they were doing and spontaneously walked out onto the streets to bid them farewell.

Someone shouted loudly, "Once you get your results, remember to come back and let us know!"

"There's no need to make a special trip to notify us! The top scorer of the provincial examination will naturally notify every prefecture and county; we'll get the news firsthand anyway!"

"Can an official notice from the yamen compare to them coming back to tell us in person? One is official business, the other is a family affair!"

"That's right, a family affair! Jiang Feng is one of us Taicang City folk now!"

"Not just Jiang Feng, all of these kids are!"

Jiang Feng, Teng Zhi, Hong Cheng, and Ping Luanshan sat inside the carriage, listening to the voices outside, and looked at one another in dismay.

Ping Luanshan winked playfully at Jiang Feng. "Old Jiang, we have this kind of prestige all thanks to your blessing!"

Jiang Feng retorted, "What do you mean thanks to my blessing? Aren't your names on the Black Stone Roll? Aren't you Taicang people?"

"Of course we are!" the others shouted in unison.

Hong Cheng glanced sideways at Ping Luanshan. "You aren't even taking the exams, why are you tagging along?"

Ping Luanshan cried out indignantly, "Ungrateful wretch! Can't I see you guys off? Oh, I know, the moment I step down from the carriage, you're going to burst into tears—heh, I don't even need to guess to know!"

Hong Cheng spat lightly, "Wanna bet? The one crying will definitely be you! You're about to part ways with us and set off alone—are you scared?"

Ping Luanshan argued, "Who's going alone? There's clearly Teacher Hua as well..."

As he spoke, his voice trailed off, and a somewhat gloomy expression crossed his face.

Indeed, he wasn't going to the Demon-Suppression Army alone; Hua Su would be with him. But firstly, Hua Su was his master, occupying a different status, which was still distinct from peers and companions. Secondly, once they reached the Demon-Suppression Army, unless Ping Luanshan was willing to follow Hua Su around as a mere attendant, they would inevitably part ways. By that time, Ping Luanshan would truly be entirely on his own.

The atmosphere inside the carriage turned somber. Hong Cheng asked in a low voice, "Is Master really not coming to say goodbye to us?"

Ping Luanshan said, "Teacher Hua is a man of harsh words and a soft heart; he must be reluctant to part with us too..."

Jiang Feng smiled faintly. "Indeed, who knows? The one secretly wiping away tears behind our backs might not be you guys, but Teacher Hua himself!"

"How could that be possible!" The group laughed together. A moment later, the laughter faded, and Ping Luanshan muttered softly, "I actually feel like there's a real chance of that... Come to think of it, I really wish I could see it..."

Peering through the carriage windows, the group all looked back together. Hong Cheng murmured, "By the time we return, this place will surely have completely changed, right?"

Ping Luanshan nodded heavily. "Mhm, definitely! It'll definitely be prettier, sturdier, and more prosperous than before!"

In truth, whether Hua Su had shed tears behind their backs or not, at the moment of parting, Hong Cheng and Ping Luanshan both wept openly.

Outside the city, Ping Luanshan accompanied them to the furthest point possible before stopping to jump down from the carriage.

Then, with reddened eyes, he patted each of them on the back in turn and said, "Take good care of yourselves! Score some impressive results so I have something to brag about!"

Hong Cheng's tears had already fallen. He patted Ping Luanshan back and said, "You take care of yourself too! Stay alive and wait for me to come over!"

Ping Luanshan laughed through his tears. "Mhm, I'll definitely wait for you guys! I'm off first, so when the time comes, don't try throwing your official weight around in front of me!"

Though tears still lingered on his face, Hong Cheng was already smiling. "Private Ping Luanshan, you just wait and see!"

At last, the carriage sped away amidst a flurry of dust, leaving behind only Ping Luanshan waving frantically.

After Ping Luanshan departed, the carriage curtain lifted, and Bai Guo stepped in from the coachman's side, taking a seat inside.

The carriage provided by the wealthy merchant was both stable and spacious, easily accommodating four people with plenty of room left in the center for a low table.

The treasured artifact used to conceal her identity had been broken, so she simply stopped disguising herself and presented her female identity openly to everyone. Out of past habit, she still dressed rather neutrally, but no plain attire could ever mask her beauty.

Hong Cheng and Teng Zhi gave Bai Guo a strange look for a moment, then cast meaningful glances at Jiang Feng.

Ignoring them, Jiang Feng introduced, "This is Teacher Gan's disciple, Bai Guo. Although she isn't taking the grand examinations, she will be traveling with us for this period. These are my fellow disciples, Hong Cheng and Teng Zhi, both disciples of Teacher Hua. We'll all be taking the provincial examinations together."

Bai Guo nodded at them and suddenly said, "Actually... I can take the provincial examinations too!"

She fished a golden Tianzhao Token from her bosom, placed it on the low table, and said somewhat flusteredly, "A Tianzhao Prefecture Token—I got it last year, but I was rushing to craft a treasured artifact at the time and missed the exams..."

Jiang Feng said with pleasant surprise, "Oh? That's not bad at all; we can discuss certain problems together then."

Bai Guo was a native of Danya Prefecture. Danya, much like Yushui, belonged to the Zhutian Central Prefecture, so there was certainly no issue with her participating in the provincial examinations as well.

What Gan Fuxing had done in Taicang City was known to all, and both Teng Zhi and Hong Cheng held him in deep respect. Upon learning that Bai Guo was Gan Fuxing's disciple, their attitude toward her instantly grew much warmer. (To be continued...)

[Note: Bonus chapter added for 120 Zhang wealth notes... Written entirely on the spot, I'm completely exhausted.]