touchnovel Chapter 36 Focus on the present, survive, and live your own life.
Chapter 36 Focus on the present, survive, and live your own life.
The once noisy and disorganized open space fell into a deathly silence, followed by suppressed gasps and gasps of shock.
All eyes were focused on Zheng Chaoyang, who sat upright on horseback, exuding an awe, shock, and even fervor.
Those ordinary yamen runners and village militia who had previously taken the fights between martial artists for granted now truly felt the terror of martial arts masters—the absolute suppression brought about by their level of life!
Zhang Yuan was closest to Zheng Chaoyang, and his feelings were the strongest.
The overwhelming pressure struck him, and he felt his blood and qi instantly ignite and boil. His heart pounded wildly like a drum, as if it were about to jump out of his throat!
The blue steed beneath him also let out a frightened neigh and paved its hooves uneasily.
He gripped the reins tightly, his back ramrod straight, relying on his unwavering will and the surging blood within him to forcefully resist the pressure, while his eyes gleamed with an unprecedented sharpness.
This is the power of the peak of the third stage of the Transcendent Realm, a half-step Grandmaster!
This power was far greater and more awe-inspiring than he had imagined!
It was a level of power that transcended the mundane, instantly elevating his yearning for martial arts to its peak.
At the edge of the chaotic and crowded line, Wang Ziteng was following Master He and dozens of members of the Guzhu Gang. He was also startled by the sudden and powerful pressure and staggered.
As he followed the gazes of the crowd, he immediately spotted the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure on horseback.
Zhang Yuan, Zhang Qingyang!
He was right behind Master Zheng, who was releasing such terrifying pressure, and he did not fall down despite facing the overwhelming pressure!
Wang Ziteng's eyes were filled with shock and a complex emotion that was hard to describe.
That companion who was once sick and weak in the dilapidated house and needed him to save his food to take care of him is now the son of a captain, and he stands beside a half-step grandmaster, facing such turmoil!
A large, rough hand landed on Wang Ziteng's slightly thin shoulder, steadying his slightly swaying body with a firm force.
Old Master He's deep, hoarse voice rang in his ears, carrying a sense of world-weariness: "Kid, don't overthink it. Everyone has their own destiny, and everyone's path is different. Take care of what's in front of you, live on, and live your own life."
Wang Ziteng stiffened, then took a deep breath, nodded heavily, and the confusion in his eyes was quickly replaced by a fierce and determined look that belonged to a young man from the martial arts world.
He gripped the hilt of the short knife at his waist.
On the other side, Xu Changhe, who was also startled by the grandmaster's aura, had a trusted subordinate who recognized Zhang Yuan and whispered, "Master, look, that kid on horseback behind Grandmaster Zheng! That's Zhang Qingyang, the orphan of Captain Zhang Zhenshan!"
"If it weren't for getting him out of the Green Bamboo Gang..."
Xu Changhe raised his hand expressionlessly, stopping his subordinate from speaking. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, and his voice was low and cold: "Saying too much is useless. Things have come to this point, and there's no point in bringing up old grievances again."
"Today at Tanjialing, whether we live or die depends entirely on our own abilities. Let's focus on the present!"
After he finished speaking, his gaze unconsciously turned to a spot not far away.
There, Zhao Hengjiang, the newly appointed leader of the Guzhu Gang, was also looking in this direction, surrounded by a group of fierce subordinates.
Their eyes met briefly in the air, and they both saw solemnity, apprehension, and an indescribable complexity in each other's eyes.
There was a shock at Zheng Chaoyang's terrifying strength, and an awareness of the impending bloody battle; perhaps...
There's also a hint of regret that the Green Bamboo Gang, which once fell apart, is now "cooperating" in this way.
In that gaze, there was hostility, calculation, and a fleeting, subtle connection belonging to former colleagues.
Zheng Chaoyang acted as if he had only done a trivial matter, not even glancing at the few martial artists kneeling on the ground, trembling, as if they were just a few specks of dust blown away by the wind.
He gave the reins a flick, and the black-maned horse strode forward with steady steps.
The terrifying pressure that had enveloped the entire area receded instantly like a tide.
The procession moved slowly again, but the atmosphere was completely different.
All the noise completely disappeared, leaving only the heavy and orderly sound of footsteps and horses' hooves, and an invisible, solemn and heavy atmosphere.
Everyone understood that the journey to Tanjialing was far more dangerous than they had imagined, and that there were hidden talents among the team.
Zhang Yuan followed behind Zheng Chaoyang, feeling the awe-inspiring gazes of the crowd. His blood was still surging in his chest, and the longsword in its sharkskin sheath on his back seemed to be slightly warm, as if responding to the breathtaking power of the grandmaster just now.
"call out--"
The caravan had traveled no more than ten miles when the urgent warning shots of scouts ahead shattered the morning tranquility, soaring straight into the sky.
The curtain of Chen Wenyuan's carriage was suddenly lifted, and his refined face was now covered with frost.
His gaze swept across the direction where the dust was rising, his voice low and tinged with seriousness: "It's only fifteen li outside the city! How dare these bandits be so rampant? What are they planning?"
Zheng Chaoyang reined in the horse, and the black-maned horse snorted and stopped.
He turned to look at Zhang Yuan on horseback beside him, his tone leaving no room for doubt, carrying the composure unique to a grandmaster: "Qingyang, if war breaks out, stay close to me!"
The team, which had been somewhat solemn due to Zheng Chaoyang's intimidation, instantly became filled with a genuine atmosphere of tension.
The clanging of weapons rubbing against armor and the sound of rapid breathing were clearly audible.
Just then, a group of disheveled people came rushing towards them from the bend in the official road ahead.
First up was a blood-stained banner of the "Weiyuan" Escort Agency, with more than ten guards, all wounded and with torn armor, desperately protecting dozens of terrified and weeping civilians.
At the front of the procession, two soldiers dressed in the uniforms of county government militia were waving their arms frantically.
"My lord! Lord Chen!" A local militiaman, seeing Chen Wenyuan's carriage, cried out as if he had seen a savior, "Bandits have launched a surprise attack on Lijiawa ahead! The镖师 (bodyguards) of Weiyuan Escort Agency are protecting our fellow villagers and fighting to the death to escape!"
"The bandits...the main force of the bandits has rushed towards Songshi Town, fifteen miles away! Chief镖头 Wang, along with several skilled men, has taken a shortcut to deliver the message!"
Songshi Town!
Everyone's heart jumped into their throat.
Fifteen li is a mere blink of an eye for elite bandits!
Chen Wenyuan suddenly stood up, his gaze sharp as lightning, piercing through the chaotic crowd and locking onto the direction of Songshi Town.
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and without further hesitation, he raised his hand and made a sweeping motion in the air!
"boom--"
A surge of powerful and righteous energy erupted from his fingertips, solidifying into a massive, golden "Guard" character in the air!
The golden characters, imbued with the true meaning of Confucianism and Taoism and the power of the Way of Heaven, transformed into a golden stream of light, carrying unparalleled pressure.
The streak of light tore through the air, traversing ten miles in an instant, and suddenly hovered above the low city wall of Songshi Town, its golden light shining brightly, as if a divine decree had descended!
With the combined power of Confucianism and Taoism, and the support of the imperial court's great principles, it possesses such magnificent power!
Although Zhang Yuan had witnessed Chen Wenyuan's use of Confucian and Taoist methods before, he now realized that Chen's words truly had the power to shake heaven and earth!
Not only Zhang Yuan, but all the other martial artists were also stunned by Chen Wenyuan's move.
"Chen Wenyuan, the counselor of Fengming County, is here! His troops marched to Songshi Town, decisively defeating the bandits and relieving the people from their dire straits!"
Chen Wenyuan's voice was infused with the true meaning of Confucianism and Taoism, resounding like a great bell, clearly reaching everyone's ears, carrying an unquestionable majesty.
"Anyone who kills the enemy will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver! Anyone who beheads the bandit leader will be rewarded with three hundred taels of silver and recorded as the first to achieve merit!"