[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-153":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Eternal Green Immortal Sovereign",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270161,4432,"Chapter 153: To Act According to One","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-153",153,"\u003Cp>Several young soldiers walked toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Cao has real skill—he ambushed and killed over ten experts from the Ghost Ming  Sect last night. Truly satisfying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly! We didn’t even go looking for them, yet these bandits dared launch a direct attack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They deserve to die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked, they excitedly discussed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man accidentally caught sight of an old man and immediately bowed: “Master Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others, reminded, all bowed in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui waved his hand: “What were you just talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reporting to Master, General Cao ambushed and killed over ten Ghost Ming  Sect demons lurking around Qinghe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a great thing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Rui smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers quietly relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who in the Anning Guard didn’t know that this Master Li was Jiang Lin’s man? He’d handled several impressive missions, and Jiang Lin and Cao Wei were at odds—they feared Cao Wei’s success might bring blame down on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blame them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t that petty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei’s victory severely crushed the Ghost Ming  Sect’s momentum—it could ensure Qinghe’s peace for at least a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was glad to see such a good outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Lin and Cao Wei being at odds was a matter of stance and position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Wei working hard against the Ghost Ming  Sect wouldn’t make Jiang Lin sabotage him or grow jealous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s their duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui certainly wouldn’t interfere either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He arrived at the Benhuqi  training ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Tan Hu training troops in formation—the young disciples from Huaqing Sect were nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since returning from Qingfeng Manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qin and the others had received Jiang Lin’s order and left the Benhuqi .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed Jiang Lin was satisfied with Li Rui’s training and recalled the Huaqing disciples early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Crown Prince’s faction gone, Li Rui was happy for the peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood aside and watched the training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu finally walked over, drenched in sweat: “Big Brother Li, have you heard? General Cao killed many Ghost Ming  Sect demons—so satisfying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded: “I just heard it on the way here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That guy Cao looks like a woman, but he hits hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s scalp prickled: “Little Brother Tan, say that to me all you want, but never say it in public again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the Anning Guard—hundreds of eyes are watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the commanding officer, Cao Wei could kill someone with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his ruthless actions this time, it’s clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Ministry of War assistant from the capital isn’t a man to be trifled with—he won’t hesitate to kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu realized his words could bring disaster upon him and scratched his head awkwardly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Li is right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending time with Li Rui, he’d gradually mellowed, no longer as impulsive as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, get ready. Come with me on an errand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui said coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike others, Tan Hu was a man who couldn’t sit still—he’d be dragging Liang He and the others into training every day if he had nothing else to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He welcomed chaos just to pass the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Tan Hu’s eager expression, Li Rui shook his head: “Little Brother Tan, don’t go stirring up trouble again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu thumped his chest loudly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll follow Big Brother Li’s lead completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui continued: “People have gone missing in the Liushu Village area—suspected to be the work of a beast. Master Ning wants us to investigate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides monitoring the martial world, the Anning Guard’s other key duty is suppressing beast disturbances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu perked up at the word “beast,” calling to the Benhuying  soldiers behind him: “You brats, work’s here—follow me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men had been lying exhausted on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Tan Hu, they groaned—none of them had his Tianshengshenli .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were tired, for heaven’s sake!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Li Rui, understanding their plight, suggested they depart at noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast disturbance had been reported three days ago anyway, and other units were also handling it—delaying a bit wouldn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After noon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui led the Benhuying  riders straight toward Liushu Village outside the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having lived for decades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew every village and hamlet around Qinghe better than his own palm—Li Rui led the way, arriving at Liushu Village twenty li away in half an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the familiar village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui’s heart stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he worked as a stable boy for the Zhu family, he often came here—mainly because the hay was cheaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Giddy-up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a soft cry, and the group slowed, entering the village gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some children playing by the village gate stared curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Children were innocent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the adults saw Li Rui’s group and shrank back in fear—they didn’t know their exact status, but any official was someone to avoid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui merely glanced at them. Three years ago,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he’d been just like them—even more invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reached the center of the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Hu’s eyes lit up as he leapt off his horse: “Big Brother Ge, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, Ge Hong was chatting with an old man leaning on a cane, likely not much younger than Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saw Li Rui and Tan Hu, and smiled: “I heard Master Ning sent help—I didn’t expect it to be you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui dismounted and walked over to Ge Hong’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ning hadn’t told him the team sent to handle the beast disturbance was Ge Hong’s Wu Squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+ Shu _ Ba\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong was delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been sent by Ning Zhongtian two days ago to handle the beast disturbance, but two days passed and another herbalist died in the mountains—he still hadn’t seen a trace of the beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustrated, he’d decided to search the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a Platoon Leader, he had only fifty men under him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, that’d be enough—but the ravines behind Liushu Village span over a hundred li; it was nowhere near enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he’d asked Ning Zhongtian for reinforcements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never expected to run into Li Rui here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technically, Night Scouts’ duties resemble reconnaissance, and they deal more with sects—beast disturbances are usually handled by the regular squads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably because things have been busy lately, Ning Zhongtian sent the Benhuqi  to assist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui looked at the old man beside Ge Hong and asked: “Old Zhao, do you remember me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old village chief looked puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t understand why this old official spoke to him so familiarly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cloudy eyes studied Li Rui for a long time, then merged with the image of a stable boy in his memory—he widened his eyes, pointing at Li Rui in disbelief:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re… the Zhu family’s stable boy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, he regretted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if he was wrong? He’d just insulted this official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to scramble for an apology when Li Rui smiled and nodded: “Old Zhao, your memory’s as sharp as ever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Village Chief Zhao was so stunned he couldn’t speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his memory, a few years ago, a Zhu family stablehand often came to Willow Village to collect hay—wasn’t his name Li? Li Rui?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Li?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pondering for a long time, he finally spoke it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui chuckled at the old man, five or four years younger than himself: “How come, after I changed my clothes, you don’t recognize me anymore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Zhao confirmed his identity, his heart pounded violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stablehand had turned into an official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never heard such a story in his nearly seventy years of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Old Zhao utterly shocked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui cleared his throat and changed the subject: “Old Zhao, tell me first—what exactly happened in the village?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly feared Old Zhao might have a heart attack and drop dead right then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be a sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former Magistrate Ma had been eagerly waiting for Old Zhao to turn seventy, so he could report to the Prefectural Office that his jurisdiction now had a seventy-year-old village chief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Magistrate Ma was transferred to another county and reportedly promoted to Registrar—he probably won’t live to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Old Zhao calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a trembling, hoarse voice, he said: “A few days ago, Zhao San’s eldest son went up the mountain to gather herbs, but didn’t return for five or six days. I thought something was wrong, so I sent a few young men to search the mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They found a corpse in a ravine—it was Zhao San’s eldest son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Accidental deaths from falling while gathering herbs happen often, so I didn’t think much of it. But a few days later, Zhao Ba died too—when they found him, his body had been gnawed beyond recognition. Only then did I realize something was wrong, and reported it to the authorities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong took over: “I took the coroner to inspect it—it was definitely the work of a beast. But that beast is extremely cunning; whenever I bring men up the mountain, it vanishes into the deep woods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked deeply frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already been stuck in Willow Village for three or four days because of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui paused thoughtfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s indeed troublesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though beasts lack high intelligence, their survival instincts are strong, and once they enter the mountains, they’re far superior to human martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding a beast in such a vast mountain range is no small challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong looked hopefully at Li Rui: “Brother Li, any ideas?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t a god, nor a fortune-teller—this kind of thing left him completely clueless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Ge, I think even if we search the mountains, it’s likely useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong had only fifty men, plus my fifteen—that’s just sixty-five people total. To search the mountains with so few is pure fantasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what do you suggest, Brother Li?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong had run out of options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui firmly uttered one word: “Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Hong sighed. He knew this method well—but it meant wasting at least half a month in Willow Village, which was hardly worthwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui understood Ge Hong’s thoughts, and for once, his tone grew resolute: “Brother Ge, since this task was assigned by Chief Ning, we must see it through, no matter how long it takes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’re going to do something, do it right—or don’t do it at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no such thing as giving up halfway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui wasn’t motivated by pity for the villagers of Willow Village—he simply had an inner compulsion to see things done properly by the rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At seventy, one follows one’s heart without overstepping boundaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s because he embodied unity of knowledge and action—no matter what he did, he was already within the bounds of propriety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1797,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1497ba6b96408e18ce3f71bedac035d484a5f69562503b0a9ebff5232d6c154a","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-154","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-152",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]