Chapter 131 - 131 126 General Flag Roll Call - Chen Yuan Counts Troops (Request for Monthly Ticket)

Chapter 131: Chapter 126: General Flag Roll Call – Chen Yuan Counts Troops (Request for Monthly Ticket) Chapter 131: Chapter 126: General Flag Roll Call – Chen Yuan Counts Troops (Request for Monthly Ticket) At this moment, from outside the alley. Indistinct voices of women’s chatter could be heard. “Look at the neighbor, Master Yue, coughing so severely; I wonder if something bad will happen.” “In these times, why is he so foolish, leaving his wife and children to guard the city wall.” “Sigh, see, in the end, he got nothing good out of it, even got injured, how pitiable.” “Yes, yes, why do such foolish things, isn’t it better to live peacefully?” “.....” Then, among the neighbors in the alley, several old women listened to the urgent coughing from the courtyard, whispering in groups so close to each other, looking towards Yue Shan’s courtyard while chattering incessantly. Inside the house, the woman, upon hearing the faint voices from outside, wanted to rush out. “Little Sister Lian, what are you doing?” Yue Dao held onto his wife. “I want to reason with them.” The woman’s eyes reddened even more. She would not allow those people to disgrace what her husband had done. Just at this moment, fierce shouting came from the courtyard of a household, “A bunch of old women gossiping daily, annoying everyone.” “If it weren’t for the men like Master Yue, what business of yours old women, always babbling useless talks, only crying when it’s time to flee, what are you doing now.” “He is a martial master, what are you in comparison, not condescending to argue with you is already generous enough, and yet you addicted to talking.” Suddenly, an old man near fifty, with a white beard, carrying a tobacco pipe, stormed out, glaring with fierce eyebrows and berated the group of old women. Then pointing at one of the women, his eyebrows steep and eyes wide, “You crazy woman, get back home quickly, don’t mix with these people.” Seeing her own husband thundering in rage, one old woman quickly shrank back. Other women, offended by the scolding, stood with hands on hips facing the old man. “Third Elder Wei, what’s it to you?” “We are neighbors, just showing some concern, and you’ve made it sound awful.” “What about our status?” “Ptui, you old tree bark.” The pipe-smoking old man stood unyielding, pointing and cursing, “Shut your mother’s claptrap, that’s not concern, you speak ill of people behind their backs, does that make sense? Old Fang, Old Jin’s family, if you are real men, shut your wives’ mouths.” As a result of all the arguing and noise, the volume escalated, all of a sudden the entire Chicken-calling Lane became lively. Those arguing argued back, those pulling people pulled on. It is not known when, Suddenly, everyone’s noise ceased, all looking towards one end of Chicken-calling Lane. Far away, an echoing boom was transmitted, the ground of the alley also started trembling. Soon, the noises became more distinct. “Clatter” “Clatter” “.....” Quickly, at the far end of the alley, a troop of Armored Soldiers wearing Mystic Armor, exuding a chilling gleam and severe aura, rushed towards the alley. The imposing manner made many bystanders’ legs grow weak. It felt like this group of Armored Soldiers emerged from a sea of corpses and blood, chilling to the soul. Soon, this group of Black-armored cavalry reached in front of the gathered people in the alley. Everyone gasped in unison, involuntarily stepping back. Among them, the leading cavalry raised a hand, the people and horses behind halted. And riding on a large horse beneath him, the horse’s eyes like flowing fire, nostrils shooting out twin jets of white vapor. “Chicken-calling Lane, where is Yue Dao’s house?” That rider, seemingly forged of black iron together, formidable like an Iron Cavalry, left only a pair of eyes visible, looking towards a woman at the very front. The woman felt as if targeted by some terrifying being, her tongue knotted in fear, she could only point hastily towards a courtyard a dozen meters ahead. The rider said nothing, just lifted the reins, and the crowd automatically split into two lines. Following that, this group of Black-armored soldiers swiftly reached the doorstep of Yue Dao’s Courtyard in Chicken-calling Lane. The leading soldier softly called out, lifting a Jade-sealed Silk Scroll with one hand. “Chicken-calling Lane’s Yue Dao, is he here?” After not too long, With a “creak”, the courtyard door opened. There, Yue Dao, supported by his wife Little Sister Lian, stepped out of the courtyard. Yue Shan looked at these soldiers, whose uniforms were completely different from those of the Imperial Mystic Armor Army of White Emperor City, his expression turned stern. This was the Ninth Mountain Mountain-cutting Army. Directly under the rumored Government Administrative Office. The previous night, when the Demon Cult attacked the city, he had personally seen this group of soldiers, arranging their formation, staunchly standing against the Demon Cult’s Azure Dragon, who was a Heavenly Pass Level powerhouse. And the one he revered was none other than the Ninth Mountain’s Colonel! “May I ask what business you gentlemen have with me?” Yue Dao gently pushed away his wife’s supporting hand, standing erect, his voice slightly hoarse as he clasped his fists in salute. The leading cavalry unfolded the silk scroll in his hand and began to recite. “By the decree of the Government Administrative Office’s Ninth Mountain Colonel,” “Yue Dao of Chicken-calling Lane, on Bing Shen day, voluntarily enlisted to guard the pass and battled fiercely against the Demon Cult.” “The Colonel is greatly relieved and has summoned you to the Ninth Mountain Mountain-cutting Army, to bear the General’s Flag, with a salary of a hundred taels, and provisions for fifty households.” In the Mountain-cutting Army, below the Colonel are the colonels, followed by captains who each lead two General’s Flags, and each General’s Flag leads five Small Flags, with each Small Flag commanding ten troops. “Upon this order, Yue Shan, are you willing?” Asked the leading cavalry to Yue Shan. At this moment, Yue Shan’s eyes were wide open, his body trembling with excitement. His humble status had caught the eye of the Ninth Mountain’s Colonel; he would die without regrets. “I accept the command!” He tried to kneel on one knee to receive the order, but his movements were clumsy due to his injuries, and his wife, seeing this, looked worried but did not stop her husband. The leading cavalry dismounted and helped Yue Dao to stand, then stuffed the order into his hand and patted him on the shoulder. “Well done, I am your Captain, we are family now.” “I heard the Colonel’s first order was written for you; make sure you do not tarnish the General’s honor.” As he spoke, his gaze dropped to the bandaged wound on Yue Dao’s abdomen, his hand flipping over to reveal a Small White Jade Bottle. “It seems you were injured on the battlefield, that black stain is the result of demonic energy corruption. Ordinary medicine might not be effective; this is a Clear Spirit Pill, take it and heal.” Yue Dao did not refuse, bowing respectfully, “Thank you, my lord.” The Captain waved his hand, “You deserve it!” Saying this, he leaped onto his horse, gathered the reins, turned the horse’s head around, and didn’t forget to remind, “Tomorrow at 5:45 AM, go to the Sky Patrol Department for roll call, I’m off!” With these words, the Captain urged his horse forward with a shout, leading his troop quickly away from Chicken-calling Lane. As the cavalry departed, the previously quiet Chicken-calling Lane instantly buzzed. “My heavens, the Government Administrative Office, it sounds so majestic, what place is that?” “Fool, don’t you know what you are clamoring about? That’s the Heavenly Army of Jingguan City; they are said to be formidable, wielding life and death, definitely not to be trifled with by mortals,” someone anomalously proclaimed. “Now, hasn’t Master Yue struck it rich? General’s Flag ah, provisions for fifty households, salary of a hundred taels, such a high official.” Another woman’s voice rose, filled with envy. “Look at you flipping your opinion so fast, didn’t you hear what the lord said? It’s rightfully Master Yue’s. Master Yue fought against demons outside the border and even got injured; it’s well deserved.” “Wei Old Third, look at how arrogant you are, acting as if you were appointed as the General’s Flag.” “.......” The alley was buzzing with neighbors and bystanders all speaking in envious tones. At the gate of his courtyard, Yue Dao watched the Black Armor disappear into the distance, holding the Jade Seal Order in his hand, feeling as if it weighed a thousand pounds, his chest filled with surging emotions. This was the first order written by the Colonel! ..... Meanwhile, inside White Emperor City, the Black-armored cavalry led by the Ninth Mountain Mountain-cutting Army rushed through the city, carrying various recruitment orders to every corner of the streets and alleys. “By decree of the Ninth Mountain Colonel” “Yang Biao of Qinghua Lane, on Bing Shen day, enlisted to guard the pass... summoned to the Ninth Mountain Mountain-cutting Army, appointed as Small Flag bearer, leading ten men...” “East Market Street, Zhu Qing!” “South Gate, Fu Shan!” “....” One by one, names of those who had bravely signed up to guard the pass resounded through the city, stirring up a wave of calls. At that moment, atop a high tower of the Sky Patrol Department, Chen Yuan gazed into the distance with eyes sharp as an eagle’s, watching the movements of troops and horses, his heart also surging. This was Chen Yuan’s first time assembling troops! And it would be his first time leading troops! The invisible pressure weighing on his shoulders, coupled with the surging emotion in his heart, rose and fell, tumultuous like the Dangbai River. At that time, his gaze shifted downward, his hands holding three three-foot long Black Bottom Gold Edge Mountain Flags. The poles were black and golden, covered in marks from sword slashes and ax chops, and staggeringly heavy, forged from Geng Metal. The flags themselves, with a black base showing dark red mottled patterns, were attached in a way that one flowed into the next, and the material of the flag fabric was such that it would neither burn in True Fire nor soak in water. But the mottled marks seemed to tell Chen Yuan what these three flags had gone through. A glint of golden light flickered in Chen Yuan’s eyes. These were the “Mountain-cutting Banners”! The Main General Flags of the Ninth Mountain’s Mountain-cutting Army! Claimed by the Ninth Mountain’s Colonel, now Chen Yuan! Such banners, forming a grand formation with Ninth Mountain Troops’ Small Flags, possessed great power, capable of revealing the might to cut through mountains, a prowess Chen Yuan had witnessed the previous day. Good stuff! Chen Yuan’s gaze shifted, and with a flick of his hand, he threw the small flags which transformed into streaks of light, landing behind him and billowing in the wind. The wind howled, and the flags fluttered!