Chapter 77: Night Watch at the Military Fortress

When the matter was accomplished, Uncle Zheng Rongkui was delighted and boasted to Xu Yuan: “How’s my handling of things? Reliable or not?”

Xu Yuan smiled and flattered him: “Uncle Zheng Rongkui, you’ve always been reliable.”

Uncle Zheng Rongkui beamed, laughing heartily: “I told you long ago—our Demon Extermination Army is mighty! If you join, with your second uncle watching over you and us old comrades backing you up, your future will be bright and vast!”

Xu Yuan said nothing in reply.

Refugees kept streaming into Tiemenbao.

This military fortress was only five li from the county seat; despite the rush, several thousand refugees were all settled before nightfall.

The refugees had originally been housed in Xicheng, but barely had they arrived when they were shouted at to leave the city and come to the fortress.

Naturally, there was grumbling along the way, but these were trivial matters, ignored by all.

…

Xu Yuan returned home and told his stepmother he would be going to Tiemenbao tonight.

Lin Wan’s face immediately fell; after a moment, she asked: “Do you truly want to join the Purification Office?”

Xu Yuan said: “Between the Demon Extermination Army and the Purification Office, I lean toward the latter.”

“You still don’t trust your second uncle?”

Xu Yuan said: “He’s my own second uncle, and his offer is generous. But I always feel… there’s a barrier between us. If he truly valued me, he’d come back himself—not just send someone to drag me over.”

Xu Yuan took a deep breath: “Besides, I feel something’s off here!”

His stepmother remained worried: “Can’t we just stay home and stay out of both?”

Xu Yuan smiled but said nothing.

His stepmother sighed helplessly: “Go, go! I know you’ve grown up, think you’re a man now, and can’t stand staying in this alley!”

Xu Yuan didn’t deny it.

His stepmother never told him about the family’s “difficulties,” but Xu Yuan had guessed a few things. If he could rise in the Purification Office, it would be a great help.

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

Without these abilities, without the experiences of the past month, Xu Yuan would never have developed such “ambition.”

The outside world is so dangerous; even spending a lifetime as a menial in Yi Fangting Inn would be acceptable.

“Then I’m off.”

Xu Yuan stepped out; his stepmother picked up a broom and began sweeping the main hall, dragging chairs and moving tables, clattering loudly, complaining as she worked: “Why tell me? You’ve already decided—you’re my stepson, I can’t stop you!”

“I say too much and I’ll just annoy you!”

“You’ve grown wings now—dare to stay out all night!”

No one knew who she was speaking to.

On the altar in the main hall, the spirit tablet of Xu Huanyang stood silently.

His stepmother picked up a feather duster, swept once—and “accidentally” knocked the tablet over.

…

The inn now held only Ma Tianshou, Yan Lao, and Song Lu.

Song Lu fared worst, but fortunately, both the Purification Office and her Song family were wealthy; she’d taken some medicine or pill, and her severed leg and eaten hand had regrown.

But full recovery would still take several days.

The refugee issue had been resolved more than adequately—but Master Ma seemed unable to rejoice.

Yan Lao sensed the problem, held back for a long while, then couldn’t help laughing: “Are you, Master, really fretting over a single gem of talent?”

Ma Tianshou sighed bitterly: “I never expected he had a Commander of the Demon Extermination Army in his family.”

Before coming to Shanhe County, Ma Tianshou had been watching Qiao Zian, and had suspected Chen Liangxuan.

He had never heard of “Xu Yuan.”

So he knew nothing of Xu Yuan’s family background.

Had he noticed Xu Yuan beforehand, the Purification Office could have easily uncovered Xu Chuanyang.

Now, Master Ma realized Xu Yuan had another option—and began to waver.

Ma Tianshou had many students.

Some were talents he personally favored; most were tied to him by mutual interest, or by ties of kinship and obligation.

The only one he had truly nurtured with care so far was Fu Jingyu.

Xu Yuan was the second he truly valued.

Ma Tianshou had already considered taking him as a disciple, but had not mentioned it to anyone.

Song Lu’s wound itched painfully; she lay listless: “He deliberately revealed his connection to the Demon Extermination Army now—I think he’s just holding out for a better offer!”

Yan Lao shook his head slightly but said nothing.

Ma Tianshou looked at his female student and advised: “If Xu Yuan hadn’t vanquished the evil, your theory might hold.

But with such great merit to his name, your claim falls apart. Xu Yuan simply wants to help us resolve the refugee crisis.”

Yan Lao also believed Xu Yuan had no such ulterior motives.

After spending these days with young Xu, he found the youth had clear goals, used minor tricks, yet still retained a core of sincerity.

Song Lu clearly didn’t understand; Ma Tianshou wanted to explain further, but seeing her current state, he decided it was pointless.

…

Xu Yuan and Fu Jingyu walked together, followed by the County Wei , arriving at Tiemenbao.

Xu Yuan recalled: since seeing the County Wei in the afternoon, he’d been in this same gloomy, doom-laden state.

He didn’t want to come to Tiemenbao—he was just a low-tier Wu Xiu; his presence made no difference.

But he dared not refuse.

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

If he failed to redeem himself, his entire family would lose their heads.

After they entered Tiemenbao, the fortress gate slammed shut immediately.

The Platoon Leader never showed himself—only sent a subordinate to guide the three.

The Platoon Leader sensed something was wrong and feared being implicated.

Xu Yuan and Fu Jingyu didn’t expect anything from him; while daylight remained, they familiarized themselves with the fortress layout, then Fu Jingyu proposed: “We each take half—east and west. You choose first.”

Xu Yuan said casually: “I’ll take the east.”

Fu Jingyu took the west half.

“County Wei , you’ll serve as mobile support.”

The County Wei immediately agreed.

Fu Jingyu produced two tokens and handed one to each.

Xu Yuan’s was the “Mountain-Moving Captain” token; the County Wei ’s was an ordinary Captain’s token.

“Our Purification Office tokens have some power to repel evil. Worn at night, they keep ordinary evils at bay.”

The token was also a “warding object.”

If an evil still approached despite the token, it was surely a great malevolence!

With all arranged, the three found places to rest.

There were many empty rooms in the fortress.

The County Wei followed Fu Jingyu without hesitation.

He still didn’t know Xu Yuan’s role in the Ten-Zhang Evil Incident—he naturally trusted the official Purification Office Mountain-Moving Captain more.

Night travel wasn’t forbidden, but these thousands had been in close contact with evil during the day; sleeping among them wasn’t necessarily safer than under a night curfew.

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(End of Chapter)