Chapter 77: Night Watch at the Military Fortress

Once this matter was settled, Uncle Rong Kui was very pleased and bragged to Xu Yuan: "How did I handle things, nephew? Reliable or not?"

Xu Yuan smiled and flattered him: "Uncle Rong Kui, you have always been reliable."

Uncle Rong Kui, his face glowing with health, laughed heartily: "I told you long ago, our Demon-Extermination Army is formidable! If you join the Demon-Extermination Army, with your Second Uncle shielding you from above and us old brothers helping you nearby, your future will be bright and vast!"

Xu Yuan simply did not respond.

Refugees streamed continuously into Tie Men Fortress.

This military fortress was only five li from the county town; rushing as fast as they could, several thousand refugees were safely settled inside before nightfall.

The refugees had originally been settled in Chengxi, but as soon as they arrived and before they could even settle down, they were shouted at to leave the town and come to the military fortress.

Complaints and grumbling were inevitable along the way, but these were trivial matters that no one cared about.

Xu Yuan returned home once to tell his stepmother that he would be going to Tie Men Fortress tonight.

Lin Wanmo's face immediately fell; only after a moment did she ask: "Do you truly wish to join the Evil-Dispelling Bureau?"

Xu Yuan said: "Between the Demon-Extermination Army and the Evil-Dispelling Bureau, I prefer the Evil-Dispelling Bureau."

"You still do not trust your Second Uncle?"

Xu Yuan said: "He is my own Second Uncle, and the conditions he offered are excellent. But I always feel... there is a barrier between us. If he truly valued me, he should have returned personally, rather than sending someone casually to fetch me."

Xu Yuan took a deep breath: "Moreover, I always feel there is something going on here!"

His stepmother remained worried: "Can't we just stay at home peacefully and not get involved in either of these two?"

Xu Yuan smiled but said nothing.

His stepmother then slumped in helplessness: "Go ahead, go ahead! I know you have grown up, think you are a man now, and can no longer bear to stay in this alley!"

Xu Yuan did not deny it.

His stepmother had always refused to tell him about the family's "difficulties," but Xu Yuan vaguely guessed a few things. If he could make a name for himself in the Evil-Dispelling Bureau, it would be a great asset.

And Xu Yuan was indeed, as his stepmother said, unwilling to spend his whole life huddled in He Gong Alley.

If he did not possess these skills, if he had not experienced the various events of this past month, Xu Yuan would never have developed so much "ambition."

Outside is so dangerous; not only could he accept huddling in He Gong Alley, but even spending his whole life as a servant at Yifang Ting Inn would be acceptable.

"Then I am leaving."

As Xu Yuan stepped out the door, his stepmother picked up a broom and began sweeping the main hall, dragging chairs and moving tables, making clattering noises, while complaining as she swept: "What's the point of telling me? You have already decided to go; as a stepmother, I cannot control you anyway."

"If I say too much, I will only become annoying!"

"Your wings have truly hardened; you even dare to stay out all night!"

She did not know who she was speaking to.

On the incense table in the main hall, Xu Huanyang's spirit tablet stood quietly.

His stepmother picked up a feather duster and, with one sweep, "accidentally" knocked the spirit tablet over.

In the inn, only Ma Tianshou, Yan Lao, and Song Lu remained.

Song Lu was the most miserable; fortunately, both the Evil-Dispelling Bureau and her Song family had deep resources. Song Lu did not know what medicine or pill she had taken, but her broken leg and severed hand had already regrown.

However, for a complete recovery, at least a few more days were needed.

Strictly speaking, the refugee issue had been resolved more properly—yet Elder Ma could not quite feel happy.

Yan Lao saw the problem; after holding it in for a while, he could not help but laugh: "Will an Elder also become anxious over a piece of fine jade?"

Ma Tianshou smiled bitterly: "I did not expect it; their family actually has a Commander of the Demon-Extermination Army."

Before coming to Shanhe County, Ma Tianshou had been focused on Qiao Ziang and had also suspected Chen Liangxuan.

He had no idea who "Xu Yuan" was.

Therefore, his grasp of Xu Yuan's family situation was insufficient.

If he had noticed Xu Yuan before arriving, with the Evil-Dispelling Bureau's capabilities, it would have been easy to investigate Xu Chuanyang.

Now, Elder Ma discovered that Xu Yuan did not have only the Evil-Dispelling Bureau as an option and truly became anxious about gains and losses.

Ma Tianshou had many students.

Some were talents he personally valued, but most were "interest bindings" between parties, and some were favors from relatives and old friends.

The only one Ma Tianshou was currently cultivating with great care was Fu Jingyu.

Xu Yuan was the second one he truly valued.

Ma Tianshou had already formed the thought of taking him as a disciple, but had not yet mentioned it to anyone.

Song Lu's wound itched terribly; she looked listless and said: "He deliberately exposed his connection with the Demon-Extermination Army at this time; I think he has some intention of waiting for a better price!"

Yan Lao shook his head gently but said nothing.

Ma Tianshou looked at his female student and began to instruct: "If Xu Yuan had no merit in suppressing evil spirits, your situation would be highly possible.

But after he has great merit, your argument does not hold. Xu Yuan should simply want to help us solve the refugee problem."

Yan Lao also felt that Xu Yuan did not have such intentions.

After interacting with young Xu these past few days, he found that this young man had clear objectives, could play some small tricks, but still retained a trace of sincerity in his heart.

Song Lu clearly did not understand; Ma Tianshou wanted to explain further, but seeing his female student's current state, she would neither listen nor understand, so he simply did not waste his breath.

Xu Yuan and Fu Jingyu, accompanied by the County Commandant, arrived together at Tie Men Fortress.

Xu Yuan recalled that since meeting this County Commandant in the afternoon, he had always worn this expression of deep worry, as if disaster were imminent.

He did not want to come to Tie Men Fortress; he was merely a ninth-rank Wu Xiu; having him or not having him made little difference.

But he dared not stay away.

Of the entire county yamen, he was the only one left alive...

If they cannot redeem themselves through merit, their entire families will lose their heads.

After they entered Iron Gate Fortress, the gate immediately closed.

The chief banner officer never showed his face, sending only a subordinate to guide the three.

The chief banner officer also sensed something was amiss, fearing he might be implicated.

Xu Yuan and Fu Jingyu did not count on him; while the sky was still light, they familiarized themselves with the fortress layout, then Fu Jingyu proposed to Xu Yuan: "We each take half—east and west—you choose first."

Xu Yuan said casually: "I'll take the east."

Fu Jingyu would take the western half.

"Captain, you serve as the mobile force, ready to support at any time."

The captain immediately agreed.

Fu Jingyu took out two tokens and gave one to each of them.

Xu Yuan's token bore the inscription "Mountain-Moving Captain," while the captain's was an ordinary captain's token.

"My Purification Office's token has some power to deter malevolent spirits. Worn at night, it keeps ordinary evils at bay."

This token is also a "warding object."

If a malevolent spirit still dares approach while you carry the token, it must be a Fu Daxiong!

With all arrangements settled, the three each found a place to rest.

There were many empty houses in the fortress.

The captain followed Fu Jingyu without hesitation.

He did not yet know Xu Yuan's role in the Ten-Zhang Malevolent Spirit incident; naturally, he deemed the official Purification Office Mountain-Moving Captain more reliable.

Night travel was not forbidden today, but these thousands had been in close proximity to malevolent spirits during the day; sleeping among them was not necessarily safer than during a night curfew.

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(End of Chapter)