Chapter 154: Chapter 43: Unexpected Complications

The ferry crossing outside Shunyang Prefecture City was bustling with activity. On the official road along the bank, five hundred Government Soldiers were assembled and ready to depart. Only twenty of them wore heavy armor and a hundred wore light armor; the rest were Pike Soldiers and archers in cloth armor. As for cavalry, there were none.

At the city gate were countless locals who had come to watch. At the foot of the city walls were some barefoot commoners, and atop the walls were the scions of the city’s great families. Local officials also stood beside the Government Soldiers, clasping their hands in salute toward the warships on the river.

Dozens of small boats were packed closely together at the ferry crossing. Some were merchant vessels intending to head south, but they would be unable to leave for some time. The Weijiang, which ran through Ningzhou Road, had been completely blockaded. Until the search of Crescent Mountain was over, only official ships would travel this stretch of the river.

The fleet showed no intention of docking. Propelled by Water Control Qi Practitioners, it passed Shunyang Prefecture’s ferry crossing at a steady speed. On the bank, the assembled Government Soldiers followed at a quick pace, responding to their officers’ commands.

「Two days later.」

The fleet arrived at another ferry crossing, where a thousand more Government Soldiers were waiting in formation. They smoothly joined the marching column.

Five days later, when the fleet entered the territory of Right Huai Prefecture, the number of Government Soldiers marching along the bank had grown to over twenty-five hundred, joined by six thousand previously assembled Militia.

Upon reaching the territory of Right Huai Prefecture, the young Governor Yue Zong disembarked and personally led one thousand elite Government Soldiers to advance on Crescent Mountain.

The remaining Military Arrays continued to march at their original pace.

When Crescent Mountain was visible in the distance, Zhong Tong said with a chuckle, "Fellow Daoist, look. In these deep mountains and old forests, there are as many as eighteen officially registered Mountain Monarchs, and countless more who are not. But now, with this turmoil on Crescent Mountain, not a single Mountain Monarch has sent troops to help suppress the rebellion. Don’t you think they might be harboring rebellious intentions?"

His words made Wang Ping give him a sideways glance, while Zuo Xuan, Zuo Liang, and Hu Qianqian were all startled.

"Senior, if you have something in mind, you might as well say it plainly." Wang Ping had no need to beat around the bush with Zhong Tong.

"I was thinking, why don’t we take this opportunity to wipe out all the Demon Race in these mountains in one fell swoop? Then we can reappoint eighteen new Mountain Monarchs in the name of the Daoist Scripture Hall. What do you think?"

At first, Wang Ping thought, ’This old man must be crazy.’ But then he understood that someone was passing a message to him through Zhong Tong. So, he looked impassively at Zuo Xuan and asked, "What do you think?"

Zuo Xuan immediately replied, "Our mission is only to search Crescent Mountain. Without a direct order from the Lord, if we rashly attack the eighteen Mountain Monarchs of Ningzhou Road, I don’t know if they are rebels, but we will certainly be labeled as rebels first."

"My apologies, that was an oversight. Please don’t take offense, Fellow Daoist..." Zhong Tong took a document from his robes. "While you were traveling to Ningzhou Road, Fellow Daoist, Senior Brother Zi Luan sent an urgent dispatch via Immortal Crane."

Wang Ping’s heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged as his calm gaze fell upon the document.

Zhong Tong handed over the document, saying, "Please take a look, Fellow Daoist."

The document’s contents did not order Wang Ping to directly encircle and annihilate the eighteen Mountain Monarchs. Instead, it instructed him to command the eighteen Mountain Monarchs to assemble their respective tribes and coordinate with the main army’s operation on Crescent Mountain. As for any Mountain Monarchs who disobeyed the summons, they could then be treated as rebels and annihilated accordingly.

Attached to it was another document, jointly issued by the Central Secretariat and the Ministry of War. At the end of this document, the Emperor’s seal was stamped in a prominent place.

"What a brilliant move!"

Wang Ping exclaimed in admiration. Yu Lian also poked her head out to stare at the document’s contents. Before Yu Lian could finish reading, Wang Ping handed the document to Hu Qianqian and ordered, "Pick some people to deliver these orders."

"Senior Brother Zi Luan has always been meticulous and thinks much further ahead than we do. But he’s still too cautious. If it were up to me, I’d just take this chance to wipe them all out and prevent future trouble."

Although Zhong Tong looked like a kind, good-natured man, he was in fact incredibly ruthless and decisive.

Hu Qianqian finished reading the handwritten document. Just as she was about to go and select the messengers, she saw a Qi Cultivator leap over from the warship clearing the path ahead. He reported something to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator at the bow.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator then walked over quickly, clasped his hands, and said, "Daoist, a Fox Demon claiming to be the Mountain Monarch of Pingfang Mountain requests an audience."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Tong commented, "He has some sense, at least..."

Wang Ping motioned for Hu Qianqian to wait and then instructed the Foundation Establishment Cultivator, "Bring him here!"

The arriving Fox Demon wore exquisite, carefully crafted leather armor. He carried a scimitar studded with gems, and the belt from which it hung was covered in brightly polished jade stones. Even his shoes were inlaid with symmetrical rubies, and a string of golden earrings dangled from his furry left ear.

"You were right. The Demon Race here is very rich," Wang Ping couldn’t help but remark to Zuo Xuan upon seeing the Fox Demon’s attire.

Zhong Tong added, "Not only do they craft magnificent clothes, but also sturdy armor and sharp weapons. If we let them continue to develop, in a hundred years, these mountain forests will become a grave threat."

Wang Ping agreed internally but did not show it.

’They’re rich, and they’re the Demon Race. It’s impressive that Zi Luan has put up with them for this long. Even I feel like robbing them.’

"This humble demon, Hu Yi, greets the esteemed Immortal Masters..."

After speaking, to Wang Ping’s surprise, Hu Yi performed a full, formal kowtow. He knelt on both knees and prostrated himself, placing his hands flat on the deck.

Yu Lian remarked, "This Fox Demon is far too calculating. He’s not like Hu Qianqian."

"Rise and speak," Wang Ping said coolly.

As soon as Hu Yi stood up, Zuo Xuan immediately demanded, "Why did you intercept our fleet? If you can’t give a good reason, I’ll have your head on the spot!"

Facing this member of the Demon Race, Zuo Xuan was like a completely different person, her killing intent erupting without reservation.

"I... I..."

Hu Yi was genuinely startled. After all, in a sense, Artifact Cultivators were the natural enemies of the Demon Race.

Facing Zuo Xuan’s killing intent, he said tremblingly, "I heard that the Daoist Celestial Army had arrived, presumably to attack Crescent Mountain. As a Mountain Monarch of Ningzhou Road, I have a duty to protect my land and people, so I brought several hundred of my kin to offer our aid."

"Present your identification tablet!" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

As Zuo Xuan spoke, she gestured to the Qi Cultivators on either side of her.

Hu Yi did not dare to disobey.

Zuo Xuan took the identification tablet but did not hand it to Wang Ping. She inspected it directly with her spiritual sense, then said in Wang Ping’s ear, "He is indeed a Mountain God enfeoffed by the Court and is also registered with the Daoist Scripture Hall."

At this moment, Zhong Tong stepped forward and said, "Fellow Daoist, why not let me have a few words with this Mountain Monarch of Pingfang Mountain?"

Wang Ping hadn’t wanted to get involved in this matter. Hearing Zhong Tong offer to take it on, he was happy to oblige and said, "Fine."

Having received permission, Zhong Tong immediately walked forward with a beaming smile and led Hu Yi to a cabin below to speak in private.

Just then, a Government Soldier carrying a Command Flag on his back ran over from the shore, bringing a battle report from Yue Zong on the front lines.

Scouts had spotted a small contingent of Demon Race troops fifty li ahead. Young and impetuous, Yue Zong had immediately led the Vanguard Army to attack them.

After hearing the news, Hu Qianqian couldn’t help but say, "That man is too impatient. We have the initiative now. As long as we advance steadily, resolving the turmoil on Crescent Mountain will be a simple matter. A rash advance like this means taking on unnecessary risks."