Just a few days ago, after a fierce battle, the city suffered heavy casualties. At this moment, the military officers and generals were gathering the remaining soldiers to reorganize and train elites, distributing armor and weapons, rotating city defenders, while others assisted in maintaining city defenses, treating the wounded, and burying the dead.
It must be said that now Tie Dan, wrapped in bandages, found it convenient. The patrolling soldiers, seeing his sorry state, didn’t suspect him of being a spy. Everyone was busy repairing the city defenses and couldn’t pay attention to him. Plus, with the Blood Handprint of the Divine Sect on his broken knife for protection, no Blood God’s Son came to attack him, and he ended up mingling his way to the City Lord Mansion.
Then, effortlessly, Tie Dan found the Suixian Governor Zhang Xun.
Finding him wasn’t difficult. To reassure the people, Zhang Xun had proactively left the gates of the City Lord Mansion wide open, and amidst a throng of soldiers and military officers, scholar strategists, he discussed plans on how to defend, assist, and retaliate. He frequently personally inspected critical checkpoints and the treasury warehouses, even checking the city wells to ensure the water hadn’t been poisoned. Most of the city’s people had seen him by now.
Moreover, with the battle reaching its current intensity, everyone knew that Zhang Suiyang was the backbone. The Divine Sect had placed the defense core on him. Looking up, hundreds of Blood Shadows circling above the City Lord Mansion like a flock of crows, along with ghostly shadows lurking in the streets and alleys, concealing numerous master guards. If Tie Dan weren’t currently weak and worn out, it wouldn’t have been so easy for him to approach.
But honestly, upon seeing him in person, it was apparent that Suixian Governor Zhang Xun seemed like an ordinary, old bureaucrat worn down by years of desk work, with a thin greenish face, narrow eyes, slightly hunched back, and three strands of mixed beard—clearly the type of middle-aged man accustomed to working on confidential matters, who needs strong tea with goji berries in his thermos. Even if he donned full battle armor, it was hard to say he looked much like a hero.
If there was anything special about him, it was probably the medicine he might have taken, transforming from an ordinary old man to someone whose eyes glistened with spirit and vitality—organizing work for over a hundred people without a break, much like a spirited goat butting heads with whoever he met.
Still, other than that, there was no visible show of divine skills. Or perhaps it was a skill itself—leading a group of people to navigate undercurrents, exert a tipping force, and reverse the Qiankun despite having no apparent divine skills...
"You’ve made it all the way here!"
Suddenly, someone approached from behind, grabbing Tie Dan’s hand. Just as Tie Dan was about to counter with his knife, he realized it was the same Medical Officer, so he stopped himself abruptly, stumbled, and fell to the ground.
"What’s all the noise!?"
The soldiers nearby immediately went on alert, drawing their swords and surrounding them.
The Medical Officer quickly protected Tie Dan,
"Don’t chop, don’t chop! I barely saved his life with medicine. Apologies for disturbing you all. This guy’s quite injured, confused, and even sleepwalking his way here. I’ll take him back right away."
"No worries, no worries. Brother Wuqiong, how are things on your side?"
Zhang Xun dismissed the attendants, came aboard, and clasped the Medical Officer’s hand, as they both sat on the steps with him handing over a rice ball.
The Medical Officer gave a wry smile and said,
"Sorry to disappoint you, sir. Of those heroic guards who protected the gate and the formation last night, only this one survived."
Zhang Xun sighed, then with kind and generous countenance, akin to a benevolent elder, he patted Tie Dan on the shoulder,
"Good warrior, if not for your noble courage and loyal heart, fighting the enemy to death, this city might have already fallen. Xun, on behalf of all military officers and soldiers, thanks you for your great kindness. Brother Wuqiong, ensure to take good care of him; prioritize any medicine and expenses for him."
The Medical Officer nodded, "Of course, I’ll handle it, rest assured."
It was a good opportunity. With the broken knife in hand, Zhang Xun was close enough to be stabbed with a lift of his hand,
Yet Tie Dan didn’t act but coldly sneered,
"No need for that, is there? At this state, what use do I have for you?"
The surrounding samurai all widened their eyes. But Zhang Xun actually bowed and spoke aloud,
"Everyone, keep calm and listen to me!
You are unafraid of might, unafraid of fire and water! Those who came to help defend Suiyang, who among you isn’t a great hero, who isn’t a man of ardor!
With seven-foot bodies, you alone face the brunt, swords snap, armor breaks, yet still, you don’t retreat; your heart for the country is of conspicuous valor!"
He then tore his chest armor, looking around at the generals and soldiers,
"Suiyang needs this kind of iron will! This kind of courage! This loyal heart! This burning blood!
Xun promises you, a shrine will be built for the fallen! And those who survive will receive the fief of ten thousand households!
If I cannot share wealth with you, I swear to bleed with you all!"
Then Zhang Xun made a cut across his chest, and the surrounding generals and soldiers, with eyes popping and brows raised, blew their beards and widened their eyes, shook their armor, and drew their swords in blood oath,
"Willing to give our utmost!"
"Noble and pronounce, strong and unyielding, scornful of roundness and proud of rectitude, plucking the obscure, not sticking to a singular skill, quirky and strange, of no practical use, merely self-entertainment, standing on tiptoe awaiting, placing my enemies..."
That military doctor, Brother Wuqiong, however, didn’t participate in this front-line frenzy of morale-boosting, instead, he hoisted Tie Dan onto a stretcher and dragged him away, chatting along the way,
"I’ve been reading my whole life, failed to make it in ten years, burdened by the five poverties. Do you know what the five poverties are?
Intellectual poverty, academic poverty, literary poverty, destiny poverty, social poverty.
Basically, it means becoming conceited from reading some books, thinking I am exceptionally learned and looking down on others, disliking cunningness and preferring integrity, ashamed of deceitful deeds but lacking flexibility and adaptability, resulting in setbacks everywhere I go.
Yet within, I still see myself highly but unconsciously, solely exploring the subtle truths of sages, deep and profound principles, dismissing studies of techniques and nomenclature, ending up writing strange, useless articles as a pastime.
Hehe, in the end, it’s just a waste of time, a lifetime of regrets, achieving nothing, and in old age, I can only endure hunger and cold. With good intentions and a few pointers, I still have to endure others’ misleading rumors and ridicule. If I encounter enemies, it’s bitter~~"
Tie Dan ignored him.
"Later, I finally had an epiphany. I thought, as a man, full of knowledge and wisdom, how can I spend my days lamenting and complaining about the world!
Relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself! I must strive! I must be strong! Even if I am overwhelmed by poverty, at worst, I will stop studying!
I don’t believe there is no path for me to walk in this world! I must have a purpose since I was born! I don’t believe I’m incapable!
So, I called myself Wuqiong! I vowed never again to be troubled by poverty!
I must achieve a career, to let Heaven know that such people like me exist in the world!"
The military doctor stopped, raised his arms, and then lowered his head, dragging the cart further,
"In the end, I farmed and encountered bandits, traded and met thieves, wherever I went, there were officials exploiting me.
Even as a doctor, I encountered military chaos, natural disasters, locust plagues, a land of red soil, countless dead bodies.
A life brought back with great difficulty was trampled to death by a horse the next day, and no one could save it...
So I finally understood, it’s not that I have a problem, the sick one is this world..."
The military doctor dragged Tie Dan back into the tent, throwing him among the pile of dying bodies, continuing to treat his wounds and change his medicine.
"Anyway, I can’t survive anymore, but you clearly have a great life ahead, why come to such a place to die?"
Tie Dan looked at him,
"Dying in such a place, is it a worthwhile purpose?"
"I don’t know either. The Suixian Governor recruited me just to find a military doctor. I found him pleasing to the eye and came to him just to have a meal.
But now, I really don’t understand. Why are there so many people, coming one after the other, to die in this place..."
Wuqiong looked off into the distance at the city walls, shaking his head.
"But perhaps they all have their own reasons, don’t you think?"
Tie Dan didn’t speak.
"Oh, Dan, you’re finally awake."
Once again, Tie Dan opened his eyes, and Wuqiong’s shadow of the military doctor was already gone, only seeing under the bright moonlight, a blood red shadow, like a cloak floating in the air.
"Where did you go?"
Chen Xuantian said,
"Oh, anyway, trapped in the array, with nothing to do, just walking around, checking the paths."
Tie Dan frowned, his gaze sharp,
"Trapped in the array?"
"Eight Golden Locks."
Chen Xuantian lifted the tent flap, looking out at the Suiyang City tower under the bright moonlight, calculating with his fingers,
"This is the opening door. Qian receiving Jia Ren, Qian position has Hai, Hai is the birthplace of Jia wood, Jia is also the first of the ten celestial stems.
Therefore, opening is the beginning of all things, the most auspicious door. It’s beneficial for starting a business, going on expeditions, marriage, relocation, seeking medical advice.
This is called opening door great fortune. Even if you cannot break this array, entering through this door cannot be harmful."
Then Chen Xuantian folded his arms behind his back,
"Who would’ve thought I charged in just to be trapped. Damn, being played like this, they have some skills..."
Tie Dan, "..."
"But don’t panic, I have achieved great success in Divine Skills, last night I broke through one door, you go rest over there first, as for this stubborn door, I will definitely break it!"
Then he flicked his sleeve, a moment of blood rain brushing across the face.
When Tie Dan opened his eyes again, he only saw that the vast land and rivers were gone, heaven and earth were dyed in one uniform color, his vision filled with an endless crimson blood sea, stretching to the world’s end, as if heaven and earth were swallowed.

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