[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-star-martial-era":3,"chapter-the-star-martial-era-the-star-martial-era-chapter-44":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Star Martial Era",{"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},2274902,4448,"Chapter 44: Sugar Candy and Tradition","the-star-martial-era-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>Tianyang Branch Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flag Master Zhong Da met the Academy Head Zhou Qingzhu in the quiet chamber of the Scripture Transmission Hall, but after a long day of travel, Zhong Da now looked worn out, his lips cracked and dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Academy Head, the Jinshan Dao Academy has forcibly sealed off Jinshan County City under the pretext of hunting demons. With the Star-Locking Ring, Academy Head Dong Zhao has prevented anyone above the Star-Refining Realm from leaving. I arranged for a free cultivator of the Condensing Star Realm to escape via the waterway, but they were spotted and driven back.” Zhong Da complained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about those below the Star-Refining Realm?” Zhou Qingzhu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They don’t interfere with those below Star-Refining, but most Star-Refining cultivators are still trapped. So far, only one early Star-Refining cultivator has escaped, while several Meal-of-Mist cultivators have been sent to the Six Counties to gather intelligence—all carrying Star Pigeons. Any news will be relayed quickly.” Zhong Da said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. The purpose still isn’t clear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are speculations, but no confirmed intelligence yet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something this unusual must hide a trick!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qingzhu, standing with his hands behind his back, slowly turned. “Dong Zhao has deployed the Star-Locking Ring, half-blockading Jinshan County City—just to catch a few local bandits?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Da knew certain things, but he dared not speak them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things are better known than spoken—saying them might invite great trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We must prepare early! Have we contacted the teams searching outside for demons?” Zhou Qingzhu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve made contact, but they say their squad leader, the County Guard Director, has suddenly intensified operations and tightened restrictions—no leave allowed, and mutual surveillance among comrades has sharply increased. There’s virtually no chance of withdrawing from the teams.” Flag Master Zhong Da said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have the external search teams also coordinated with the Jinshan Dao Academy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems Dong Zhao has laid a very large board.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered, Zhou Qingzhu made his decision. “Immediately contact Hua Xin, Han Shou, Lü Yigong, Jin Chi, and Lin Lang. Order them to use every means possible to withdraw from the search teams and converge on the key roads leading to the four gates of Jinshan County City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If necessary, they may desert their units outright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhong Da was stunned. “Academy Head, that’s desertion—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if it’s desertion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I take full responsibility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, once our Tianyang Branch Academy personnel leave the army, military law has no jurisdiction over them.” Zhou Qingzhu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhong Da departed, Zhou Qingzhu let out a cold laugh. “If that’s how it is, then I, as Academy Head, must also test them—see how they dare stop me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, Zhou Qingzhu’s form flickered and vanished from the Tianyang Branch Academy, becoming a streak of light racing toward the eastern gate of Jinshan County City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Zhou Qingzhu appeared within the eastern gate’s vicinity, Deputy Academy Head Feng Shu materialized to block him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhou Qingzhu’s feet erupted with starlight, lifting him into the air as he attempted to fly over the wall. Feng Shu, only at the Condensing Star Realm, could not stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, another streak of green light landed atop the wall. In its palm, the Star-Locking Ring flashed, and a spray of starlight shot out like chains, wrapping toward Zhou Qingzhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Audacious!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qingzhu roared, repelling the starlight chains. Dong Zhao leapt skyward, starlight exploding—within moments, the two had exchanged several blows, evenly matched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qingzhu suddenly retreated, glaring at Dong Zhao with a bitter laugh. “Dong Zhao, I am Academy Head of Tianyang Branch! There’s an emergency—how dare you block me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you delay capturing the demons, not even your provincial Dao Academy can bear the blame!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Zhao retracted his Star-Locking Ring and smiled. “A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! I thought a demon was breaching the city. I had no idea it was Academy Head Zhou. Had I known, I’d never have dared to stop you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. I knew you’d dare not.” Zhou Qingzhu swept his sleeve and turned to leave the city—but in the next instant, Academy Head Dong Zhao followed closely behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, no matter how fast or slow Zhou Qingzhu moved, Dong Zhao trailed him—whether he went east, west, south, or north, Dong Zhao simply followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qingzhu glared. “Dong Zhao, are you spying on me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no!” Dong Zhao smiled broadly. “I merely noticed Academy Head Zhou’s fondness for a night stroll, so I humbly accompanied you. Please don’t take offense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a quarter-hour later, Zhou Qingzhu could not shake off Dong Zhao, the stubborn sugar candy. He snorted in frustration and returned to the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no choice. Even if he left the county city and could temporarily lose Dong Zhao, the city’s response would collapse without his coordination. Some matters only he knew, only he planned, only he dared to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to return for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Academy Head Zhou, take care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Zhao watched Zhou Qingzhu return to the Tianyang Branch Academy, bowing with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qingzhu merely swept his sleeve and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heshui County City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s group emerged from a carriage and horse stable, escorting a captured villain—this was the fifth target of their mission, and they had secured all of them smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the entire group was drenched in blood, radiating heavy killing aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, their team’s mission in Heshui County was fully completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Jin felt a sense of unreality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mission was too easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from Hong Li, who presented slight difficulty, the other targets offered no challenge at all. How could this justify the investment Director Tian Zhang had poured into them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not counting effort, just training, equipment, and elixirs had cost over two hundred taels of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they’d been sent to accomplish tasks of negligible difficulty. Xu Jin felt this mismatch deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellencies, all five targets have been captured. My duty is fulfilled. I take my leave.” The guide sent by the Chunyu Bureau also came to bid farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was night, the Chunyu Bureau guide wore a wide-brimmed hat and face mask, concealing his true appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin’s heart stirred. He beckoned the guide aside and pulled a hundred-tael banknote from their previous spoils, handing it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This night has been hard on you, Elder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I cannot accept! I cannot accept!” The guide reached to take it, but upon seeing the denomination, he hesitated—it was too large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin shoved it firmly into the guide’s hand and lowered his voice. “Elder, I feel this mission was too easy—it doesn’t match Director’s generous reward. Please advise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chunyu Bureau guide glanced around, then whispered, “Watch your back on the return journey. One misstep, and you may face nine deaths, one life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Either move very fast,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>or find change within slowness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the Chunyu Bureau guide took the banknote and turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin was chilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nine deaths, one life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What danger awaited on the return journey?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Xu Jin realized—the captured bandits might be escorted back to the county city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a quarter-hour later, Xu Jin’s group returned to the mansion holding Hong Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, the number of captured bandits had risen to four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the main hall’s side rooms, five treasure chests stood stacked—one held confiscated items, the other four were all stolen goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the other four targets yielded far less than Hong Li’s haul, together their total was still substantial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Niu, when do we return to the county city? Should we escort the prisoners back tonight?” Xu Jin stepped forward and suggested directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Gui glanced at Xu Jin in surprise—he hadn’t expected Xu Jin to propose an immediate night return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Gui knew that returning tonight offered slightly higher safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, Niu Gui’s orders were different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Director’s orders: ideally, escort the ringleader, accomplices, and confessions back to the county city. Second best: bring back the ringleader Hong Li and the others’ confessions. Worst case: at least bring back the confessions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even the confessions couldn’t be brought back, this mission was a total failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, facing Xu Jin’s suggestion, Niu Gui shook his head. “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must interrogate them tonight, extract ironclad confessions, before we return!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Niu Gui’s firm expression, Xu Jin knew there was no room for negotiation. He asked instead, “Big Brother Niu, how long will interrogation and confession extraction take?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At least one night. I’ve already summoned several clerks and interrogators from the Heshui County government office. By dawn, it should be done.” Niu Gui said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest and conserve your strength. The return journey may be dangerous.” Niu Gui said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, Big Brother Niu, these spoils—especially the confiscated items—I see many elixirs among them. May I distribute them among the team first?” Xu Jin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Divide them yourself. You may take an extra ten percent from the stolen goods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But don’t break military tradition.” Niu Gui instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What tradition?” Xu Jin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Gui glanced at Xu Jin. “Officers take the lion’s share—exact ratios are your discretion, based on rank. Also, the clerks and interrogators who helped must receive a bonus. And when returning the Star Battle Horses to the Beast Taming Hall, a token gift is customary—usually three to five taels—to ensure future cooperation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin understood this was Niu Gui guiding a newcomer. He thanked him, then asked about the eight children mutilated by the bandits and the abused women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send them to the Welfare House. Give each a few taels, and donate a hundred taels to the Welfare House, promising we’ll visit again. Their treatment should improve. If you’re kind-hearted, take a few hundred taels from the stolen goods and visit every few months with more aid—it’ll be a blessing for those children.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the women—one already killed herself.” Niu Gui sighed. “After the case is closed, if we survive and return, and if any have no home, we’ll find a way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Give each a little silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t give too much—it would harm them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother Niu, your righteousness!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Jin bowed deeply to Niu Gui—this was sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Gui waved him off. “Go divide the spoils. Then assign night watches. I must deal with these monsters!” As he spoke, his eyes brimmed with ferocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, Xiaohu—call a few men. Let’s divide the confiscated goods!” Xu Jin strode toward the side room—time to split the silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1744,"2026-06-19T23:56:29.689Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2c89725c8a430bc4c5b14f1ea0f3421ce67613ec26b04a8d0316d281d276788a","the-star-martial-era-chapter-45","the-star-martial-era-chapter-43",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-star-martial-era-cover.jpg"]