piratefiction Chapter 84 Left Envoy
Chapter 84 Left Envoy
Chapter 84 Left Envoy
The figure at the stern suddenly attacked and instantly reached Liang Cheng's side.
So fast!
Alarm bells rang in Liang Cheng's mind, and he instinctively activated the Dragon Step, retreating rapidly while simultaneously slashing out with his blade, the pale blue blade energy tearing through the air.
Wind and Thunder Slash!
The gray-robed man neither dodged nor evaded, but instead brought his right index and middle fingers together to meet the blade. Yan Song reacted and struck with a palm.
The man in the gray robe focused on two things at once, dealing with them simultaneously.
"Clang—"
The true energy at his fingertips clashed with Liang Cheng's blade, producing a metallic clang. Liang Cheng felt a strange, subtle force penetrate his blade, causing his hand to go numb.
Liang Cheng retreated five steps, each step leaving deep footprints on the deck, his chest heaving with turmoil.
With just one move, the difference in skill was immediately apparent!
The opponent was not like Xu Zhang, the Flipping Dragon; the number of true qi seeds he had condensed was definitely not low, and he could overwhelm him purely with his cultivation level.
If Yan Song hadn't distracted him, he probably would have been injured in one move.
On the other side, Yan Song's palm strike was as solid as a physical object, carrying a rumbling thunderous sound, and struck the gray-robed man directly in the back.
He had used eighty percent of his strength in this palm strike, and even those at the same True Qi Realm level would not dare to take it head-on. However, the gray-robed man seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, and flicked his left sleeve backward.
"boom."
With a loud bang, Yan Song's violent true energy and the opponent's palm force dissipated into nothingness at the same time, and Yan Song's expression changed.
Taking advantage of Yan Song's attack, the gray-robed man advanced and grabbed at the oilcloth bag in Liang Cheng's hand again with his right hand.
At that very moment—
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Three sharp whooshing sounds came from the mist, and three black crossbow bolts with a blue glow shot in a triangular formation toward the gray-robed man's vital points.
The crossbow bolts came incredibly fast and at a tricky angle, forcing the gray-robed man to pause, then sweep away the three bolts with a flick of his sleeve.
Liang Cheng finally had a chance to catch his breath. He took a deep breath, activated the Broken Wave Technique to its fullest extent, and the nine true energy seeds trembled at the same time. The pale blue light on the Zhengxian Blade shone brightly, and he slashed out with a sound of wind and thunder.
A hint of surprise flashed in the gray-robed man's eyes. He had not expected Liang Cheng's counterattack to be so fierce. A soft palm strike arrived first, colliding with the sword energy in mid-air.
With a bang, Liang Cheng's sword strike was blocked, and his body swayed slightly. The gray-robed man also took three steps back to dissipate the aftershocks of his true energy.
At that moment, the fog churned, and a jet-black warship emerged from the fog, with two people standing at its bow.
The man on the left is burly, dressed in heavy black armor, and wielding a massive sword as wide as a door panel. He is none other than Yue Shan, the commander of the guards.
The man on the right, dressed in a blue robe, with a gentle face, was none other than Shen Wenyuan, the special envoy of the city lord's mansion.
Behind the two, hundreds of elite black-armored guards drew their bows and crossbows, the arrowheads gleaming coldly, already locked onto the gray-robed man.
"You Zoroastrian rat, I've been waiting for you for a long time!" Yue Shan's voice boomed like thunder, grinning to reveal his gleaming white teeth. "You dare to make a move right under my nose?"
The gray-robed man's gaze swept over Yue Shan and Shen Wenyuan, then looked at Yan Song and Liang Cheng. Suddenly, he raised his hand and unleashed a crimson flame.
Fireworks shot into the sky, exploding into an eerie red lotus amidst the thick fog.
Signal!
Yan Song's expression changed: "This is bad, he's calling for help!"
Almost at the same time the signal was sent, a powerful aura soared into the sky from the depths of Misty Reef and rushed toward this side at high speed.
The other party was dressed in a crimson robe, with a bronze demon mask covering his face. His aura was as deep as the ocean, and he was none other than the Left Envoy of the Zoroastrian Church!
Upon seeing this, Yue Shan's expression changed: "Left Envoy of the Zoroastrian Church!"
He brandished his massive sword and shouted sharply, "Black-armored Guards, form ranks!"
"promise!"
Hundreds of black-armored guards responded in unison, quickly forming a battle formation that combined offense and defense. Huge crossbows were nocked, swords and shields were in front of them, and their killing intent was palpable.
Shen Wenyuan took a step forward, his aura as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, but he was somewhat nervous. Fortunately, he was prepared and had brought the True-Breaking Crossbow.
The red-robed left envoy and the gray-robed protector stood together, glanced at Liang Cheng, and suddenly struck down with a palm, causing alarm bells to ring in Liang Cheng's mind.
You can't force it.
Shen Wenyuan, Yan Songyue, and the other two's expressions changed drastically. "How dare you!"
In a flash, Liang Cheng's mind raced. He knew that if he stubbornly resisted, he would die, and the account books were now a hot potato!
"then!"
Without hesitation, he threw the oilcloth bag at the red-robed left envoy, and at the same time, he pushed the Dragon Step to its limit, retreating rapidly towards Yue Mountain.
The red-robed Left Envoy subconsciously took the oilcloth bag, glanced at it, and after confirming it was correct, a soft chuckle came from behind the bronze mask.
At this moment, Yue Shan's attack arrived. With a casual flick of his sleeve, Yue Shan's sword light shattered inch by inch.
That's all for today, everyone. Until we meet again.
Having said that, he didn't linger. With a flick of his sleeve, he and the gray-robed man transformed into two streaks of light, disappearing into the depths of the thick fog.
Yue Shan's face was grim. He was about to give chase when Shen Wenyuan stopped him, saying, "We have achieved our goal this time. Don't pursue a cornered enemy."
Then he smiled slightly at Liang Cheng: "Decisive and ruthless, you slew the River-Turning Dragon. Among the young talents of Linwu City, you should be the leader."
"
Yue Shan couldn't help but mutter, "This kid threw away the account books so quickly, he's decisive enough, he knows to prioritize his own life, just like you, old scoundrel Shen."
Shen Wenyuan glanced at him almost imperceptibly, and Yue Shan immediately stopped talking. Yan Song, however, breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Liang Cheng had decisively given up on the oilcloth bag.
He stood in front of Liang Cheng, saying, "Thank you for coming to our aid, Brother Shen and Brother Yue."
He made no mention of the fact that the two of them were suspected of using Liang Cheng as a pawn. In any case, if it weren't for Shen Wenyuan and the other person's appearance, this trip would probably have been fraught with danger.
Shen Wenyuan walked up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and said sincerely, "You have made a great contribution by slaying the River-Turning Flood Dragon. The City Lord's Mansion will reward you handsomely."
Liang Cheng nodded, but before he could thank him, he suddenly groaned and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. The soft, yin-like force that had invaded his lungs during the clash with the gray-robed man had been suppressed, and now that he had relaxed, the injury flared up.
Yan Song quickly stepped forward, placed a palm on his back, and channeled his pure true energy into him to help him resolve the foreign true energy within his body.
Shen Wenyuan took out a white jade bottle, poured out a pill the size of a longan, and handed it over: "This is the Qingyuan Pill, a secret recipe of the City Lord's Mansion. It can remove foreign true qi and heal internal injuries."
Liang Cheng took the medicine and swallowed it. A gentle medicinal effect spread, and the tightness in his chest was immediately relieved.
"Thank you, Uncle Shen."
Shen Wenyuan waved his hand, looked at the gradually dissipating mist in the distance, and said in a deep voice, "This place is not suitable for us to stay for long. Although the Fire Worship Sect has retreated, it may not be able to make a comeback. We should return to Linwu City as soon as possible."
Yue Shan immediately ordered: "Retreat and return to port!"
The Black Armor Guards quickly retreated to their warships, and the martial arts academy disciples boarded the ships with the captured supplies and the wounded. Several large ships turned around, broke through the fog, and headed back the way they had come.
Liang Cheng returned to the cabin, sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, and his internal energy flowed freely to expel the foreign energy. His injuries gradually stabilized and he was out of danger.
After he finished regulating his breathing, he frowned deeply.
Shen Wenyuan and Yue Shan's arrival was definitely not that simple, because the Left Envoy of the Zoroastrian Church left too calmly. If they didn't have a backup plan, why would Shen Wenyuan and Yue Shan have gone to such lengths?
There must be more to this than meets the eye.
I need to be more careful in the future.
Three days later, at Linwu City Wharf.
The Qingyuan Pill truly lived up to its reputation as a secret medicine of the City Lord's Mansion; its effects were extraordinary. After three days on the return journey, the foreign true energy in Liang Cheng's body had been completely eliminated, and his injuries had healed by 99%.
When the fleet docked, Yue Shan and Shen Wenyuan were the first to disembark and bid farewell to Yan Song and Liang Cheng.
"Young Liang, take good care of your injury. I'll treat you to drinks in a while!" Yue Shan laughed heartily.
-
Shen Wenyuan said gently, "The city lord will be returning to the city soon. You are welcome to come to the mansion for a chat then."
Liang Cheng returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Respectfully seeing you off, gentlemen."
After the city lord's men left, Yan Song said to Liang Cheng, "Go back to Zhenchuan Peak to heal your wounds. I will personally report to the dean about the extermination. You have made a great contribution this time, and the dean will surely reward you handsomely."
"Master, this disciple wishes to go to Linhai Town first, and then return to the Martial Academy."
Yan Song was taken aback upon hearing this. His gaze fell on the blood-stained canvas bag on the man's back. He seemed to understand something and pondered for a moment before saying, "Your injuries are no longer serious. In that case, go and come back quickly. Be careful on your journey."
"This disciple understands, and thanks the head monk for his understanding."
Liang Cheng turned and disembarked. Yun Jinghong watched his retreating figure, feeling somewhat powerless.
The gap is widening.
My personal growth is still too slow; I need to work harder.
Chen Family Cemetery, Linhai Town.
Liang Cheng placed the canvas bag in front of Chen Bainian's grave, untied the knot, and the head of the River-Turning Dragon was revealed, its eyes wide open, its death appearance ferocious.
"Master Chen, the head of the River-Turning Dragon is here. You can rest in peace now."
He whispered something, filled three cups with wine, and poured them one by one in front of the grave. Behind him, Chen Zi'an, dressed in plain clothes, walked over with red eyes and bowed deeply to Liang Cheng.
"Thank you, Mr. Liang."
Liang Cheng helped him up: "The Chen family will rely on you from now on. If you need anything, you can come to the Martial Academy to find me."
Chen Zian nodded emphatically, "I will carry on my father's legacy. Now, with your presence as a guest elder and the support of the Chamber of Commerce, business has stabilized."
After hearing this, Liang Cheng said nothing more, stood quietly in front of the tomb for a moment, and then turned and left.
He is gone, but we should live in the present.
That afternoon, Liang Cheng returned to the True Transmission Peak of the Martial Arts Academy.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, before he could even see Ning San Niang, a disciple in charge was already waiting outside: "Senior Brother Liang, the Dean requests your presence at Mingxin Pavilion."
Inside Mingxin Pavilion, Dean Bai Hong sat in the main seat, with Lü Bingchen and Yan Song on either side.
Liang Cheng bowed and said, "Disciple Liang Cheng greets the Dean, Master, and Head Master."
Bai Hong's gaze fell on him, and he nodded slightly: "How are your injuries?"
"She is out of danger."
-
Bai Hong took out a jade box and pushed it on the table. "You deserve the greatest credit for this campaign to wipe out the Black Tide. This is a reward from the Martial Academy: three Condensation Pills to help you stabilize your cultivation level."
The Condensing True Pill is a rare elixir for those in the True Qi Realm. It is even more effective than the Qi-Replenishing Pill, and can even be used for cultivation by those in the True Yuan Realm. The Martial Academy's reward is indeed generous.
Liang Cheng accepted the pill with a grateful expression: "Thank you, Dean."
"The River-Turning Dragon has been killed, but the appearance of the Left Envoy of the Fire Worship Cult is no small matter. The account books have also been taken by them, but do you still remember their contents?"
Liang Cheng recalled briefly, then shook his head: "The account books used coded language, which this disciple couldn't understand at all, so it really couldn't provide any clues."
Sure enough.
Bai Hong had already anticipated this. He paused and looked at Liang Cheng: "Now that you have advanced to the True Qi Realm, according to the Martial Academy's custom, true disciples need to be sent out for training and to guard a region."
The other two disciples on True Inheritance Peak, after stabilizing their cultivation levels for a year, were respectively sent to North Mountain Pass and Green Stone Town.
Liang Cheng understood.
No wonder he had never met the other two disciples; they had already been sent to guard a region.
"Originally, you would have needed at least a year to consolidate your foundation, but your achievements this time are outstanding. You killed Xu Zhang, wiped out the Black Tide, and fought against the Fire Worship Envoy. You have far surpassed ordinary people who have just entered the True Qi Realm."
Lu Bingchen then spoke up: "The dean and a few of us have discussed it and decided to make an exception and ask you: would you be willing to be transferred out ahead of schedule?"
Liang Cheng did not answer, but instead asked, "Where will you be sent?"
"The Dongshan Mine under the jurisdiction of Linwu City is rich in resources, but it is occupied by local powerful families and is not easy to control. It needs to be strongly suppressed."
Bai Hong stared at him: "If you choose to be sent to a post outside the capital, you will be in charge of guarding a region and have the power of life and death, but you will also have to bear the responsibility of maintaining peace in that region."
Of course, you can also continue to stay at the martial arts academy and focus on your training; there's nothing wrong with that. We can follow the usual practice and discuss this matter again after a full year.
Bai Hong handed the choice to Liang Cheng.
Liang Cheng was silent for a moment, then looked at Bai Hong: "Dean, what are the specific benefits if I choose to be sent to an outside post?"
Bai Hong was not surprised to hear this question and slowly said, "Firstly, in addition to the monthly stipend for the True Inheritance, the Garrison Commander can also receive an extra 8,000 contribution points every month, which can be converted into resources such as spirit stones and pills."
"Secondly, you have the authority to make decisions regarding the Dongshan Mine. You can take 10% of the profits from the mineral resources within your jurisdiction as cultivation resources."
"Thirdly, the City Lord's Mansion and the Martial Academy will jointly establish a hundred-man personal guard, which you will command. All expenses will also be borne jointly by the City Lord's Mansion and the Martial Academy."
Lu Bingchen added, "With you as the head of Dongshan Mine, as long as you do not violate the ironclad rules of the Martial Academy or cross the bottom line of the City Lord's Mansion within your jurisdiction, you can make your own decisions and do not need to report everything."
Although there is a monthly allowance within the Martial Academy, it is ultimately limited. Now that one is cultivating at the True Qi Realm, more resources are needed, such as Qi-replenishing pills, Xuanjin powder, and earth vein stone milk, which are scarce items. Relying solely on contribution points for exchange is far from enough.
Although the mayfly destiny has no bottleneck, it requires a massive amount of resources to make progress and break through. How many True Qi Realm experts have wasted decades and are still stuck in the True Qi Realm?
Wealth, companionship, law, and land—even mayflies vie for dominance; the path of martial arts is one of fierce competition.
"This disciple is willing to be transferred to a post outside the capital."
With this in mind, Liang Cheng no longer hesitated.
A hint of approval flashed in Bai Hong's eyes. He didn't seem surprised at all. After all, how could someone with such a talent not compete?
Lu Bingchen suddenly spoke up, reminding him: "Dongshan Mine is one of the largest iron ore mining areas under the jurisdiction of Linwu City. Interests are deeply intertwined, and the local powerful Lin family has been operating there for three generations, making it deeply entrenched. The former garrison commander was transferred because of a conflict with the Lin family. Have you thought this through?"
"It is precisely because interests are concentrated that resources are abundant. Since I am the garrison commander, I should clarify the rules. Those who abide by the rules can coexist, while those who do not will be eliminated."
"To be dealt with according to the law."
Lu Bingchen stroked his beard and nodded: "He has a sharp edge, but the current head of the Lin family, Lin Yue, is a mid-stage True Qi Realm expert. He broke through the True Qi Realm and condensed four True Qi Seeds. In addition, he has cultivated the Black Mountain Force for many years, making his physique formidable. He should not be underestimated."
"Disciple understands."
Seeing this, Bai Hong said nothing more, took out a black iron token, with the words "Guardian" engraved on the front and the Martial Academy logo on the back.
"This is the garrison order. You will depart in three days, accompanied by one hundred personal guards to help you establish a firm foothold."
Liang Cheng accepted it with both hands: "Thank you, Dean."
"remember."
Bai Hong's voice suddenly turned serious, "Being sent to an outside post is not about enjoying life, but about taking responsibility. The safety of 50,000 people in Dongshan Mine and the annual output of one million catties of pig iron all depend on you. You should be prepared."
"Your disciple will certainly not fail in your trust."
After leaving Mingxin Pavilion, Liang Cheng went straight to the Foreign Affairs Hall.
He was to take on a Class A mission to guard the Dongshan Mine. Although it was an official post, the Martial Academy issued the mission in the form of a task, which was reasonable and compliant with regulations, and he did not participate in the division of responsibilities of the City Lord's Mansion.
Upon his arrival, the disciple in charge greeted him respectfully: "Master Liang, this is the mission document. Please take a look."
Liang Cheng glanced at it.
[Grade A - Guarding Dongshan]
Duration: One to three years; Base contribution points: 8,000 points per month.
Bonus: At the end of the year, Dongshan Mine was tallied up. He signed and sealed the document for 10% of the profits, accepted the task, and was about to leave when a voice came from behind him: "Senior Brother Liang, please wait."
Liang Cheng turned around and saw Lu Qingzhou walking quickly towards him with his usual warm smile. "I heard that Junior Brother has been transferred to Dongshan Mine?"
"My senior brother is well-informed."
Lu Qingzhou shook his head: "It's not that I'm well-informed. My father just received a transfer order from the City Lord's Mansion. One-tenth of the iron ore in Dongshan Mine belongs to the Lu family. My father asked me to tell my senior brother that Lu Ming, the Lu family's manager in Dongshan, will fully cooperate with my senior brother's actions."
Liang Cheng understood.
This is the Lu family trying to curry favor.
"Please thank Uncle Lu on my behalf."
"Of course, when will you depart, Senior Brother?"
Three days later.
"Then I wish you a resounding victory in advance, Senior Brother. Although Dongshan is in chaos, with your abilities, you will surely be able to turn the tide in one fell swoop."
That night, at No. 3 Courtyard of Zhenchuan Peak.
Liang Cheng informed Ning San Niang about the matter of being sent to a post outside the capital.
Ning San Niang remained silent for a long time, then sighed softly, "I don't understand these important matters. I only have one piece of advice: take good care of yourself and come back safely."
Liang Cheng held her hand. "Mother, don't worry. Dongshan Mine is only ten days away from Linwu City. I will come back to visit you regularly. With Sanya and Tieniu serving you, and the Martial Academy protecting you, you can stay here in peace."
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Senior Brother Liang!"
Zhao Yuan and Li Mu were outside the door.
Zhao Yuan has made rapid progress in the past few months at the Human House. With Liang Cheng's connections, no one dares to offend him. He has already broken through to the late stage of the Transformation Realm, and his aura has become much more condensed.
"Senior brother, I heard that you will be sent to Dongshan Town in three days. The Martial Academy is selecting a personal guard, and we have already signed up."
Liang Cheng was somewhat surprised. "It's not like the Martial Academy there. The fighting is more direct, and it might even involve bloodshed. It's much more dangerous."
"Junior brother, don't be afraid. Instead of training hard at the martial arts academy, it's better to follow your senior brother for real combat experience. I gained some benefits from the previous suppression of the Black Tide. Besides, I owe my current success entirely to your guidance, senior brother, so I should follow you."
Li Mu's eyes were equally intense.
Liang Cheng nodded upon seeing this: "Then go and prepare. I will talk to the teachers and the others and give you priority in being hired."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Zhao Yuan and Li Mu left.
Liang Cheng returned to the quiet room, sat down cross-legged, took out the Condensing True Pill given to him by Bai Hong, swallowed one, and the medicinal power dissipated like a surging river.
The nine true qi seeds within his dantian shone brightly, frantically absorbing the medicinal power and slowly growing stronger.
One night passed.
As the morning light streamed through the window, Liang Cheng opened his eyes, a sharp glint in them.
[The Second Level of the Broken Wave Technique: Beginner (387/2000)]
[Mysterious Yin Sword Technique: Beginner (260/1500)]
【Wind and Thunder Slash: Minor Success (2943/5000)】
[Stone Armor Technique (Golden Armor): Beginner (241/1000)]