[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-108":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"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},2292071,4481,"Chapter 108: North Camp","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-108",108,"\u003Cp>“Stop pretending.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci said coldly: “Bring out that high-level cultivator. Let’s see who’s stronger—you or me. By the way, perhaps the person your Gao family secretly hired is a remnant of the Demon Cult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, his sharp gaze swept over everyone present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging from the reactions of these people, they truly didn’t know about any high-level cultivator—especially Gao the Squire and Gao Youyao, who both looked at each other with questioning expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only odd one was this scholar; his expression remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this young man was clearly just a scholar who couldn’t cultivate at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be there’s no high-level cultivator at all? Did Ruan the Retainer misperceive something? Or did this martial man, Wu Feng, set this up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zheng Ci thought this, a faint smirk curled his lips, revealing a mouth of rotten teeth. He was about to speak when his pupils suddenly contracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There truly was a high-level cultivator hiding nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci felt the air around him solidify—he could barely move. Boom! A gust of force erupted from his body, shattering the table and chair he sat on into fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’re here, why not show yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose, alert and scanning the surroundings, but after a long while, there was no response. His expression grew darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave!” Zheng Ci said grimly, turning away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Bao and Zheng Youqing exchanged glances, then quickly led their men out of the Gao family’s main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened to Father?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Bao hurried forward to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci’s face was grim: “The Gao family truly has a high-level cultivator hiding in the shadows. I couldn’t sense his presence at all, and I don’t know his strength. If we rashly raid the Gao household, trouble will surely follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Youqing, upon hearing this, looked crestfallen: “Grandfather, what should we do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci sneered: “The monk may run, but the temple won’t. As long as we trap the Gao family members, that high-level cultivator won’t dare leave. Bao’er, go to the North Camp outside the city and bring reinforcements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did they just leave like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Feng asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao the Squire sighed: “Wu younger brother, you really came alone—didn’t hire any high-level cultivator to hide in the shadows?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Feng shook his head, equally confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Youyao’s eyes lit up: “The Gao family has done so many wicked things—perhaps the hidden high-level cultivator has a grudge against the Zheng family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This possibility was extremely slim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after eliminating all other impossibilities, this one seemed slightly more plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she had suspected Lu Fang—but a scholar who can’t cultivate at all? If she couldn’t detect him, how could Wu Feng miss it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Zheng Ci, a high-rank martial man, have missed him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they unconsciously dismissed Lu Fang, leading to confused thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Youyao pinned all her hopes on the hidden high-level cultivator, repeatedly pleading earnestly—but the hidden figure showed no intention of appearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left everyone in the Gao family disheartened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At present, their situation was perilous—describing it as “nine deaths, one life” was no exaggeration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang saw their worried faces and smiled: “Don’t worry, everyone. When I returned from the birthday banquet earlier, I stepped out for a moment—I sent someone to the North Camp outside the city to fetch reinforcements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Youyao frowned: “Why didn’t you warn me beforehand? How could anyone possibly come just because you randomly sent someone to the military?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao the Squire sighed and shook his head: “Young Master Fang means well, but alas—the heavens intend to destroy our Gao family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang reassured them: “Don’t be so discouraged. I’m confident—the man I sent to request the North Camp troops will be taken seriously. I estimate reinforcements will arrive within five or six hours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Feng shook his head with a bitter smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Fang, you don’t understand—the North Camp troops only mobilize for special missions. Normally, even imperial officials can’t get them to respond.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled and said nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao the Squire forced a weak smile and prayed: “High-level cultivator, if you’re willing to protect our Gao family, I’ll give you half of our family’s wealth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one answered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even if he offered all their wealth—no one responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d even considered making peace with the Zheng family, but after careful thought, he abandoned the idea—their demeanor made it clear they intended to annihilate the Gao family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thousand-man army marched straight into Beicheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the “North Camp” inscriptions on their armor, some recognized them as coming from the North Camp outside the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers seized a local man to guide them and headed toward Gao the Squire’s residence in eastern Beicheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandfather, the North Camp troops have arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Youqing said excitedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci had been meditating. Hearing this, he frowned and muttered: “How could reinforcements arrive so soon? Bao’er just left!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he wondered, he saw the massive thousand-man force and was startled—he’d sent Zheng Bao to request Xu the Hundred-Commander, but this was a full thousand men. Had Xu been promoted?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu the Thousand-Commander, clad in heavy armor, spurred his tall steed forward and halted before Zheng Ci, looking down with hesitation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What assistance does this gentleman require?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci beamed: “Your Excellency, you arrived so quickly! There are remnants of the Demon Cult hidden in this mansion, and their cultivation base is high. We specifically requested you to eliminate them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He assumed Xu the Hundred-Commander had indeed been promoted, and this man was his subordinate—he never imagined Lu Fang had gone to request troops from the North Camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Demon Cult remnants?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu the Thousand-Commander paused, then said coldly: “Surround this estate. You, sir, come with me inside to search.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci nodded eagerly, then suddenly asked: “My son went to summon you—why isn’t he with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu the Thousand-Commander snapped: “He’s behind us—he’ll arrive shortly. Don’t waste time. Come inside, sir—before the Demon Cult remnants escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci nodded and led the way into the Gao household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gao family had already been in panic; seeing this display, they rushed back to report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What! The North Camp commander has arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao the Squire’s vision darkened—he nearly collapsed. It was over. Everything was over. Even if a high-level cultivator hid within, he’d surely retreat before a North Camp commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Feng frowned tightly: “I didn’t expect the Zheng family could summon the North Camp so quickly—this is bad…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang’s expression turned thoughtful, then he smiled: “Perhaps… this North Camp commander was sent by me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Youyao gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh: “If you really summoned the North Camp commander, I’ll worship you as a god from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1123,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0135bb8021556eadf26217a5a306942262b7f973d03abc3df159c4a790269781","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-109","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-107",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]