Chapter 77 - 75: A Member of the Immortal Family
’And I, the Defender of the West Gate, just need to hold out until that day.’
’When the time comes, I’ll decide whether to stay or go...’
Wei Tu mused.
If Qingfeng Prefecture fell, it would basically be the same as all of Shannan Dao falling.
After seeing the "mighty" forces of the Guangyuang Prefecture rebels, the remaining prefectures and counties wouldn’t continue their futile resistance in loyalty to the Court.
Afterward, a single proclamation would be enough to make the remaining prefectures and counties capitulate.
For the Zheng Country Court, this was clearly unacceptable.
A Rebel King who occupied a single prefecture was merely a bandit, but a Rebel King who held an entire Dao was qualified to establish a new court.
Even if the Zheng Country Court could later rely on its backing of Extraordinary Power to exterminate the Rebel King, the resulting turmoil in the hearts of the people would be impossible to repair...
After all, the common people had no idea that the Zheng Country Court had Innate Martial Masters and members of an Immortal Family.
...
「Seven days later.」
In the evening.
Deng Zhijun came to Wei Tu’s tent. He wore a complex expression as he glanced at Wei Tu, then whispered a few words to him before leading him to the Governor’s Mansion inside the city.
Upon entering the mansion, Wei Tu saw many Military Officers around his own age.
Wei Tu’s brow twitched. He felt a sense of déjà vu.
He suppressed the stray thoughts in his mind and followed Deng Zhijun into the main hall.
Inside the hall, the person in the seat of honor was not Governor Liu, the Supervisor of Shannan Dao, but a gaunt-cheeked old man in a green robe, his Spirit vigorous.
Governor Liu was respectfully pouring tea for the green-robed elder, his words filled with fawning praise.
This surprised Wei Tu slightly, but it also allowed him to secretly confirm the green-robed elder’s identity. He had to be the "Innate Martial Master" sent by the Court to handle this crisis.
"Captain Wei, please have a seat." Deng Zhijun ordered a servant to bring a chair, seating Wei Tu at the lowest-ranking position.
「A quarter of an hour later.」
More Military Officers gradually filed into the Governor’s Mansion’s main hall.
Among them, Wei Tu saw Fu Zhizhou and Kou Liang.
The three of them exchanged glances, then sat separately, pretending not to know each other well.
—The matter of the four of them becoming sworn brothers had not been widely publicized. Other than their families and close friends, few people knew just how deep their bond was.
"I have gathered all of you colleagues here today because there is a matter I wish to discuss."
Seeing that the Military Officers had all arrived, Governor Liu took the second-highest seat. He rose, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, and spoke after a light cough.
As his voice fell, a Military Officer quickly spoke up.
"Please give us your orders, Lord Governor."
Seeing this, Governor Liu nodded in satisfaction. He smiled and said, "For this matter, we must ask for Immortal Master Wu’s instructions. I... am merely assisting him."
Wu... an Immortal Master?
Hearing this title, all the Military Officers present revealed looks of shock. They had guessed the green-robed elder’s status must be extraordinary, otherwise he wouldn’t have made Governor Liu, the head of an entire Dao, act so obsequiously.
But they had never imagined that the green-robed elder was actually a legendary member of an Immortal Family.
This included Wei Tu and his two friends.
The three of them had previously guessed the elder was an "Innate Martial Master"—they never expected him to be a member of an Immortal Family, the very kind they had pursued for nearly thirty years without ever having the fortune to meet.
’It makes sense. Wuyun Tower was but a minor nuisance, yet the Court still dispatched three Innate Martial Masters. The current Guangyuang Prefecture rebels are a dagger to the heart. Why would the Court only send Innate Martial Masters...?’
Thinking of this, Wei Tu was suddenly enlightened and no longer had any doubts.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the hall—
The green-robed elder, Immortal Master Wu, set down his teacup. A smile touched the corners of his mouth as he said, "As for the Guangyuang Prefecture rebels, with me here, the siege can be lifted in three days."
"However..."
Immortal Master Wu paused for a moment. "It’s just that the Guangyuang Prefecture rebels also have the support of an Immortal Family, just like I do. My power alone, plus the Court’s two Innate Martial Masters, is more than enough to deal with their expert. But if you add... all the rebel bandits... it’s hard to say..."
"Therefore, I need all of you to leave the city with me and act as my protectors."
"Although Mortals cannot harm us of the Immortal Families, their interference is still a troublesome matter."
He added.
However, upon hearing this, Wei Tu thought otherwise. If Immortal Master Wu truly had the ability to be unafraid of Mortals, why would he need them, a group of Military Officers, to leave the city and act as his protectors?
’This Immortal Master Wu must have a low status among the Immortal Families.’
’Otherwise, he wouldn’t be ordered around by the Zheng Country Court to resolve a crisis.’
Wei Tu mused to himself.
Just then, an earth-shattering idea formed in his mind—while Immortal Master Wu and the other Immortal Master were fighting and both were heavily injured, he could join forces with Fu Zhizhou, abduct one of them, and interrogate them for information about Immortal Families.
However, the moment this thought arose, he was instantly jolted back to his senses. He suppressed this greedy notion in the depths of his heart and refused to entertain it further.
—Immortal Techniques were unfathomable. Even if both were grievously wounded, they might still possess a way to severely injure an Innate Martial Master.
After Immortal Master Wu finished speaking, Governor Liu’s expression hardened. He said in a deep voice, "What Immortal Master Wu has commanded is a military order!"
"You all enjoy the Court’s stipend and should be loyal to the emperor and the state. If anyone thinks of retreating or flees on the battlefield, according to the law, their Three Races will be exterminated!"
As his voice fell, the atmosphere in the hall instantly tensed, filling with oppression and a grim, murderous air.
’This time, there’s no room for refusal,’ Wei Tu sighed inwardly.
The last time, an order from Hex Prefecture had sent them, the newly promoted Martial Scholars, to go undercover in Wuyun Tower. Back then, they weren’t officials, so they could have naturally refused.
But this time was different. Everyone present was a Military Officer. With an official position, they could not disobey the Court’s orders.
Even if it was an order to their deaths.
’Fortunately, I sent my family away ahead of time. When the time comes, even if there’s danger, I should be able to escape with my life amidst the chaos by relying on my Martial Arts strength.’
’This time is both a danger and an Opportunity.’
As he pondered, Wei Tu deliberately lowered his head to prevent anyone from seeing his expression.
—Innate Martial Masters had astonishing eyesight and could discern others’ emotions through micro-expressions.
If Innate Martial Masters could do that, Wei Tu had no idea if this Immortal Master Wu possessed a method to see his current thoughts.
He had to be as cautious as possible.
"To avoid any complications from delay, we will act tonight and put an end to this Shannan Dao rebellion."
Immortal Master Wu stood up, slapped a white cloth pouch at his waist, and a single Cyan Lotus Leaf appeared in his hand.
He chanted an obscure and difficult Curse, and the palm-sized Cyan Lotus Leaf in his hand immediately shimmered with a five-colored light as it grew in the wind.
「A few breaths later.」
The Cyan Lotus Leaf had grown to be many yards wide.
"You may all come up now." Immortal Master Wu said with a smile, now holding a pale green jade stone in his hand.
Witnessing this magical scene, the Military Officers present were filled with confidence. Without further hesitation, they stomped their feet and leaped onto the massive Cyan Lotus Leaf.
After jumping onto the Cyan Lotus Leaf, Wei Tu crouched down and touched its surface.
He found that the leaf’s surface felt soft to the touch, yet its texture was tough. It seemed to truly be the leaf of a plant, not some special kind of metal.