Chapter 1972

Fan Shuang could see from the accounts that a large amount of supplies were being transported to the city gate, some of which were marked with coded language.

One night, father and son discussed privately: "Those few coded markings on the county accounts—I know what they are now!"

He was in charge of the records at the county office, and some supply allocations were recorded by him.

Fan Shuang was slightly surprised: "What?"

"When I was on duty recording the supplies on the day of transport, the burlap wrapping those few items tore at a corner, and I immediately recognized them—looked just like the guardian beasts guarding the city gate!" Father Fan whispered, "I've seen this kind of guardian beast on the gate towers of Shui City before; they're used to protect city walls and gates, and they're quite powerful! I only know we have eight of them here, but I don't know what they look like or how strong they are."

"Mian City also uses guardian beasts?" Fan Shuang gasped, "Truly extravagant."

"These things are powered by xuanjing—true gold-devouring beasts."

"Isn't Emperor's Flowing Juice coming soon? It also consumes Emperor's Flowing Juice."

Fan Shuang immediately asked: "Have you mentioned the guardian beasts to anyone else?"

"No."

"Don't mention it—not a single word! This is confidential."

……

That evening, Fan Shuang invited Tu Shanfang to dinner.

Although storm clouds gathered, although outsiders poured in in large numbers, although prices soared, Mian City had not yet been touched by war, supplies could barely suffice, and taverns and restaurants remained open as usual. Fan Shuang wouldn't entertain guests now; once fighting broke out, he feared it would be difficult to do so.

Tu Shanfang glanced at the sky and said, "We can eat, but not drink—there might be a mission."

"Another day for drinks—I'll make sure to treat you well then."

Seated in the tavern, the two had grown familiar, and Fan Shuang began asking about Guo Bai Yu, whom everyone feared.

Tu Shanfang immediately replied: "According to our intelligence, Guo, surnamed Guo, outwardly claims to have received divine aid. After his forces were severed by the Black Armor Army, several factions actively came forward to merge with him."

The Dragon God Army swept through the first wave in Shanjin, basically taking all the easy territories; the remaining stubborn forces were like isolated islands in the sea, separated by territories under the Dragon God Army's actual control.

They clearly understood they would inevitably be the next target. Thus some factions secretly allied, preparing to unite against the Dragon God Army. To outsiders, Guo Bai Yu waving the tiger skin of a heavenly god made him seem more competitive.

Fan Shuang asked: "Which heavenly god?"

"Wenming Heavenly God. Have you heard of him?"

Fan Shuang exclaimed: "He is also one of the major gods of the Lingxu Pantheon, ranked just after Miaozhan Tianzhen. I've heard a theory: after Miaozhan Tianzhen fell, the chief god of the earthly realm became Him."

"Then He must be formidable?"

"Actually, no matter the rank of a heavenly god, once descended, they are usually beyond mortal resistance." Fan Shuang frowned tightly, "The Lingxu Gods are famously arrogant—Guo Bai Yu actually managed to align with such a major god, a true heavenly god—truly strange."

"Heavenly gods in the celestial realm are exalted above all—why would they bother with a lowly fish of the mortal world?"

Tu Shanfang shook his head: "Forget it—these aren't our concern. The superiors have already marked him."

Fan Shuang rejoiced: "Really?"

"Otherwise, why send us here?" Tu Shanfang laughed, "The superiors judged Guo Bai Yu might become a threat, so they ordered us to come train the militia, assist the county and prefecture, and organize resistance."

Upon hearing this, Fan Shuang felt a bit disappointed: "I thought the Dragon God... uh, I thought the Black Armor Army would come in person. I heard he always leads battles himself."

In his impression, He Huo had always appeared as a merchant. He still found it hard to imagine He Huo in armor, slaying enemies on the battlefield.

Although he also knew He Huo's martial cultivation was astonishing.

"The Dragon God indeed fights at the front, extraordinarily brave and fierce—all who see him are impressed. But the Black Armor Army is also divided into several routes; my main force is led by General Tao, currently engaged with the Wutun tribe in the north—a tribe far more formidable than Guo Bai Yu. Only after defeating them can they move south to support other regions." Tu Shanfang said, "Not every commoner facing the Dragon God Army surrenders at the first sign. You should know this best."

Fan Shuang nodded. The Ya people had long looked down upon the Nine Abysses Great Emperor; it stands to reason the Wutun tribe feels the same.

Those resistance forces existing as tribes or sects are especially wary and opposed to the Dragon God.

"And where is the Dragon God's main army?" The Dragon God's great army that recently swept through Shanjin—how did it suddenly vanish without a trace?

"The Dragon God has his own principles; the army has its own secrets. As warriors, we need only obey orders."

Fan Shuang raised his cup, offering tea instead of wine in respect: "The Black Armor Army is famed for its bravery, Tu brother—your rapid rise shows you are no ordinary man."

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Tu Shanfang's face showed pride, yet he still felt the need to modestly say two things: "Where, where—we are merely nameless soldiers under the great Dragon God."

Tu Shanfang's gaze, however one looks at it, seems ill-intentioned; Fan Shuang recalled what his companions had said before, and finally asked about Tu Shanfang's past.

Once the matter was laid bare, Tu Shanfang did not conceal it from him.

Originally, this man lost many job opportunities due to a hand injury, couldn't even do farm work well, and with some family misfortunes, he concluded farming had no future for him; after sixteen or seventeen, he abandoned proper work and specialized in quick-profit schemes.

Stealing chickens and dogs goes without saying; killing and looting were as routine as meals. Thus he drifted for over a decade, now in his early thirties.

Fan Shuang listened, his forehead slightly sweating—being able to drift on the Shanjin plains for over a decade without having his limbs broken or being boiled in a pot truly takes some skill.

But is this Tu Shanfang really only in his early thirties? His face is weathered, deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes like gullies—he looks nearly fifty.

Speaking of which, compared to the Ya people, the Shanjin people are generally thin and small, with rough features that make them look older; even many women resemble tough men. Some armies slaughter the innocent to claim merit, even chopping off women's heads to impersonate enemies and report victories—just by skin and facial features, one can't tell them apart.

Like Lady Wang—even if she endured wind and frost on the refugee road, her face weary, others can still tell at a glance she came from a wealthy background.

"Then how did Tu brother join the Black Armor Army?"

"To make money, of course—what other reason could there be?" Tu Shanfang said with an air of utter naturalness.

"……" So pragmatic? Fan Shuang had thought he was moved by the Dragon God's call.

Overthinking it.

This is the Shanjin plains—no one dares to be impractical.

"Back then, the Weiwu Guard wasn't famous yet; I joined that band of mountain bandits who robbed their supply convoy—result? You know. Other bandits were killed; only I was spared, because someone down the mountain spoke well of me. Entering Weiwu, making money depended on which convoy you followed, how many trips, how few—sometimes there were bonuses. Averaged out, I could earn more than one tael per month; not long after, I won a fight and then joined the Black Armor Army."

"More than one tael—that's not little." The average income in Mian City is only three to five qian per month.