Chapter 239: with translation of chapter title

Chen Wuji successfully won over everyone with a single meal.

On the crowded clearing, apart from the sounds of eating, there were only occasional remarks like "This is really delicious."

Besides that, there was no other disturbance.

"Brigade Commander Chen, how did you make this food? It's really fragrant!" Wu Bu Yong had already finished a basin of meat stew, and was letting Yuan Jinshi ladle him the soup from the pot.

This soup, strictly speaking, is actually hot pot water.

Yuan Jinshi had just washed the pot, and in the instant before the brush went into it, Wu Bu Yong stopped him.

This kid shouted that it was a waste of heaven's bounty—how could such good soup be thrown away?

Actually, this hot pot water isn't simply poured out; it has many uses.

The village also raises cattle and horses, with not a bit of waste.

Especially those two horses that Chen Wuji brought along as if herding sheep—they're more valuable than people.

Chen Wuji has no experience raising horses; during this time, Xiong Paozi has been taking care of them.

Those two ancestral beasts must each day receive a refined ration of mixed beans and wheat, a treatment many villagers don't get.

"As long as Brigade Commander Wu enjoys his meal, giving him and the brothers a welcome feast, I must bring out the good stuff." Chen Wuji said with a smile, "Whether this food is fragrant or not really comes down to the spices—add more spices and it naturally becomes fragrant."

"Spices? You're feeding us this lot and you actually put in spices?" Wu Bu Yong suddenly felt his world collapse, looking at Chen Wuji with a pained expression, "Brigade Commander Chen, you're truly… overly loyal to the brothers—spices are damn expensive, damn expensive, how can you bear to spend on them? The money for those spices could buy us enough millet to eat for several days, sigh, I really feel the pain."

After muttering a couple of words, he suddenly shouted at Yuan Jinshi, "Little brother, this pot must not be washed—absolutely not washed—just leave it as is, tomorrow we'll continue using it to cook porridge."

Yuan Jinshi looked toward Chen Wuji.

Chen Wuji waved his hand with a smile, "Since Brigade Commander Wu said that, then don't wash it—just leave it like this."

Doing a good deed for someone must be made known to them.

From Wu Bu Yong's reaction, his meal today was… spot on.

Wu Bu Yong drank two bowls of soup, then patted his belly, contentedly sat beside Chen Wuji, and said, "Brigade Commander Chen, I'm not exaggerating when I say this meal is the most comfortable and delicious I've ever eaten in my life."

"Brigade Commander Wu, you overpraise me; conditions are limited, so it's still rather shabby." Chen Wuji said.

Wu Bu Yong vigorously shook his head, "Brother, don't be so modest; although I rarely come down from the mountains, I still have some insight—I appreciate your intentions, thank you."

Having said that, he reached out and pointed at the person sitting opposite on the plateau's branch, "Is this the manpower you want me to train?"

"One of them." Chen Wuji said, "These people—you just have them practice."

"Just throw them at me and let me go all out training them?" Wu Bu Yong said, somewhat surprised.

Chen Wuji nodded, "Pick a time in the morning or afternoon, set aside half a day for them to work, and I won't interfere otherwise."

"No problem, but…" Wu Bu Yong glanced at the people on the plateau's branch, hesitating, then said, "Brigade Commander Chen, I'll say something I shouldn't, but these people look to me like they're your family's… slaves? Surely they aren't really slaves?"

"My Chen clan branch—these people had previously recognized someone else as their ancestor, and we forcibly turned them back. Although they aren't slaves, they must still pay something for their former choice." Chen Wuji said lightly.

Wu Bu Yong nodded, "Understood, I also know what to do."

Chen Wuji actually doubted whether Wu Bu Yong's claim of understanding was genuine, but he didn't press further.

Those people on the plateau's branch need to genuinely suffer some hardship; let Wu Bu Yong torment them as he pleases.

If things get out of control, he'll step in then.

After settling Wu Bu Yong and the others, Chen Wuji returned home.

Because he was preoccupied with what lay ahead, Chen Wuji didn't even have the mind to do his usual evening exercises, so he fell asleep early, embracing left and right.

The next day, early in the morning, he first went to the ancestral hall to check on Wu Bu Yong's side; seeing that the other side had already begun drilling, he ordered Chen Li to take people to watch at the ancestral hall, while he himself led more than ten young strongmen from the clan into the mountains.

The Qiang people, to enter Nan Jun via the Shenxianling Mountain Range, must take the mountain ancient plank road.

This road is formidable; it must be destroyed.

The party took turns clearing the way, crossing mountains and ridges, and finally at noon found a mountain path that connected to the ancient plank road.

These roads were all dug out decades ago; although narrow and the terrain difficult, they are all military transport routes.

After the wars ended, these roads saw little use.

Nowadays, only occasionally will a large caravan take a shortcut along these roads to travel north and south.

Chen Wuji walked while observing the surrounding terrain, then went west for about three li before stopping and asking those beside him, "Does anyone know what this place is called?"

"Brother Wuji, this seems to be… Elephant Nose Ridge." Chen Wuwei stretched his neck to look around, then said uncertainly.

Chen Wuji glanced, "It either is or it isn't—why does it still seem like it?"

Chen Wuwei gave a simple, honest grin, "Brother Wuji, I've only heard it said; looking at it, it seems to be."

"Fine."

Chen Wuji took out the hand-drawn map he'd made along the way and marked Elephant Nose Ridge on it.

Regardless of what it was called before, now it is this.

Elephant Nose Ridge resembles an elephant's trunk, with cliffs jutting out from both sides and extending outward; the ancient road passes underneath, like going through a mountain gate into unknown territory.

Cutting off the road here means anyone coming from the west can only detour.

According to the orientation of the surrounding mountains, this detour isn't easy; without a guide, one will surely waste time in the mountains.

Chen Wuji scrambled up the cliff barehanded, then stuffed a bundle of Shocking Heaven Thunder into a rock crevice.

After lighting it, he quickly scrambled down and sprinted away at a hundred-meter dash speed.

Just as he regrouped with Chen Wuwei and the others, a booming explosion rang out in the hills.

The terrain of two mountains flanking a valley caused the sound to concentrate and explode, making everyone's ears ring with a buzz.

Immediately after, a sound like ten thousand horses galloping arose.

Boulders on the mountain thundered down, instantly blocking the valley, yet the falling rocks from the mountain showed no sign of stopping.

"Hurry, hurry, get farther away!" Chen Wuji shouted urgently.

His blast set off a chain reaction.

The power of Shocking Heaven Thunder is real, but limited; under normal circumstances it shouldn't produce such an effect.

It was a helping hand on the terrain.

The commotion of Shocking Heaven Thunder triggered a landslide.

A group of people ran several hundred meters in one breath before stopping; the place where they had just stood ahead was already filled with huge rocks and clods of earth, like a high wall, its height even exceeding that of the city wall by a bit.

Everyone stared at the scene before them, dumbfounded.