"That must be Qingshan County!"
"We’ve arrived at Qingshan County. It seems to be more imposing than the towns we’ve passed by."
"The ship is docking, everyone hold on tight," someone shouted.
As the tower ship neared the waters of Qingshan County, someone with sharp eyes saw armored soldiers riding horses directly across the river, stepping through the water toward the tower ship!
"Ninth Mountain! It’s the troops from the Ninth Mountain!" someone recognized the style of the armor, from the Ninth Mountain, and exclaimed with excitement.
Immediately, the atmosphere on the ship became lively. Indeed, there are Ninth Mountain troops deployed here, which means the General could be here. It seems they chose the right place to seek refuge, bringing joy to their hearts.
Under the watchful eyes of the passengers on the ship, a Ninth Mountain Green-armored soldier riding a black horse galloped directly toward the ship, the horse’s hooves stepping on the sparkling water as if shattering golden scales.
When there was a distance of just a few dozen feet left, the Green-armored soldier pulled the reins, and the exotic horse let out a long neigh, its front hooves raised high.
"Ne-e-e-igh"
Then, a pair of eyes shot coldly from beneath the Green helmet, taking out the Ninth Mountain waist token,
"I am under orders from the Ninth Mountain!"
"Anyone without a pass for Qingshan County is not allowed to enter the city. Those who dare to defy will be executed!"
These words were like a bucket of cold water pouring over those who thought they had come to the right place.
Traveling thousands of miles to get here, only to be told in a single sentence they can’t enter the city. Some began to feel resentment,
"Why? We struggled to get here, and now with war raging everywhere, shouldn’t you of Ninth Mountain shelter us people from Shu? Isn’t this tarnishing the reputation of the Martial Saint General of the Ninth Mountain?"
"Yes, indeed, not even allowed into the city. Did we just come here for nothing, all for the Ninth Mountain?" someone concurred unwillingly.
People started expressing their discontent in bits and pieces.
Yet, there was someone who seemed a bit more distinguished, stepping out from the crowd, clasping his hands in salute,
"Lord, now with Beiliang in the north causing trouble, the Demon Tide rising in the west, and the Great Mountain Demon Clan reappearing in the south, everyone is merely seeking survival. Remembering the former fame of the Nine Colonels, protecting the people of Shu, we came here specifically hoping for a bit of flexibility."
It’s always better to say nice things than to speak harshly, and it’s not wise to offend a smiling face, especially given who’s backing the soldier in front of them.
However, that Green-armored soldier tugged the reins, pacing back and forth, the chill in his eyes slightly lessened, though his tone remained stifled;
"You have sought refuge in the wrong place. People from the rampant Beiliang continue to attack Qingshan County, slaughtering the citizens in the city."
"Our Ninth Mountain is under martial law, purging bandits. Those who are not residents of this county are not allowed to enter the city, and military orders are like mountains, unchangeable."
"If you need refuge, you could go to neighboring counties but do not approach Qingshan County. If you think of sneaking into the city via woodland land routes, I advise you to dismiss the thought. After all, Beiliang bandits have infiltrated the woods outside the city, and we, the Ninth Mountain, are in the midst of a sweep. Blades and swords are indifferent; being mistaken for Beiliang bandits is a peril not worth its price."
After the Green Armored Military Officer finished speaking, without giving the people on the ship a chance to speak, he tightened the reins, turned the horse around, and with a "clip-clop-clop," walked across the water, heading toward the shore.
On the ship, the passengers looked at each other, followed by a roar of discussion and complaints.
"What, Qingshan County actually has Beiliang people causing trouble, killing innocent civilians, and now it’s under martial law?"
"Yes, that King of Beiliang rebelled, wasn’t it because he was pushed to desperation by our Martial Saint General? It seems this place is not peaceful either; we better hurry and leave."
"Should we just leave like this? We came all the way here; where should we go now?"
Shortly afterward, the tower ship was dismissed and turned back!
At the docks of Qingshan County, armored soldiers stood in an orderly manner. The river wind swept across the wooden bridge, waves surged against the bridge foundations, raising splashes several feet high. Two majestic horses stood at the bridgehead, their manes tousled by the wind, hooves firmly planted on the creaky bridge planks.
The horse on the left was cloaked in a red dress like fire, fluttering fiercely in the river wind. Amidst the swirling clothes, a long sword slung diagonally across the back was revealed. Its scabbard was dark, reflecting not a trace of sunlight. On the right-side horse, a person clad in red armor, the edges and corners of the armor worn shiny, exuded the somber atmosphere of a battle-hardened soldier.
The two stood together without speaking, their gaze drifting far away, directly toward the river surface miles away. That large ship was slowly departing, sails bulging, yet it couldn’t hide the sluggish sound of the hull cutting through the river water as the ship’s shadow gradually shrank.
As it was about to disappear from sight, the person in red armor spoke,
The speaker was Yun Tiansheng, responsible for patrolling the docks. At this moment, he retracted his gaze and glanced sidelong at the red-dressed woman beside him, Lian Nichang.
Those people sought refuge under the name of the Ninth Mountain, yet he ordered them to be turned away, indeed appearing unfeeling in people’s eyes.
Lian Nichang slowly gathered her gaze, her black hair blown to her lips by the river wind, and gently shook her head,
"These people are not the first wave. If orders are given to receive them, more will surely come, causing chaos instead. Qingshan County cannot accommodate so many people, not to mention the possibility of a mix of Beiliang death warriors among them. It’s better to take decisive action, clearly prohibiting entry, which is beneficial for both sides."
"Besides, the fires of war have not yet ignited, there’s still time for these people to consider."
Yun Tiansheng sighed, "Yes, the fires of war haven’t started, the soldiers at the front line are still fighting fiercely to protect the people, yet some behind are already fleeing at the news. Though I understand it’s human nature to seek benefit and avoid harm, perhaps the stance this armor represents is different, it makes me a bit uncomfortable in my heart!"
At this, Yun Tiansheng seemed to find his words contradictory, chuckling self-deprecatingly.
Lian Nichang said nothing; she understood this feeling.
The two stood in silence, the river wind howled, and the evening sun cast its glow, leaving only the sound of waves lapping against the shore.
Soon, suddenly, in the space several feet above the dock, a point of white light abruptly lit up. Then, as if the space protruded outward like a mirror, something seemed about to emerge.
The next moment, that white light flashed, and a figure stepped out from within.
Clad in a mystical robe, golden patterns woven, hair white as frost yet standing upright, unadorned by a crown, held loosely by a single ink jade hairpin, his face engraved with deep-worn lines of time, his gaze laden with the vicissitudes of life, eyes lit by a penetrating brilliance falling upon Lian and Yun.
Lian Nichang lifted her head, startled by the gaze she couldn’t face directly.
Yun Tiansheng was also taken aback upon seeing the newcomer, though not to the point of losing composure, as this person was expected to be at Yunding Mountain, yet came here.
The soldiers on the bridge, seeing the anomaly, assumed something was wrong, drew their swords, and made a racket, taking a defensive stance, but recognizing the elder, they called out in surprise.
And Yun Tiansheng had already dismounted, focusing his eyes, bowing and clasping his hands upward,
"Greetings, Lord State Preceptor!"
Lian Nichang’s eyes flickered, her heart shaken. It turned out to be this State Preceptor, the authority holder over Shu, rumored to have achieved Martial Saint status long ago, seemingly at odds with her brother. Her brother had mentioned him with some dissatisfaction before.
Nevertheless, she did not neglect her courtesy, alighting and bowing her hands upwards, lowering her head.
The low-lying gaze of Helian Mountain fell on Yun Tiansheng, vaguely remembering this young officer as one of the Piaoqi under Chen Yuan’s command, though unable to recall his name.
"I need to see your General, take me to him."
Yun Tiansheng hearing Helian Mountain’s words and seeing him come in person felt an immense pressure, yet managed to withstand the authoritative presence, neither obsequious nor arrogant,
"Replying to Lord State Preceptor, our General is currently in seclusion refining Divine Skills, he ordered not to be disturbed before he closed himself off!"
Helian Mountain, upon hearing this, did not show anger as he did in the main hall before but remained expressionless, his voice carrying detachment,
"No need for excuses; your General is not in life-or-death seclusion. I seek him to say merely one sentence, and then I’ll leave, lead the way."
Yun Tiansheng, seeing as it were, the venerable three-dynasty minister, Martial Saint of high esteem, coming in person, and having said as much, realized that further avoidance would surpass mere matters of decorum.
"If so, my lord, please follow me!" Yun Tiansheng retracted his hands, lifted his head, and said.

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