Chapter 234: You would be beheaded
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Fang Zhenghi was slightly worried. He quickly called a waiter over and gave him a couple of silvers to find out what was happening. This was by far the most efficient way to gather information.
"What is going on in Huai An County? Why are there so many soldiers?"
"Master, you have asked the right person. I don't know the exact details, but a month ago, troops of soldiers began to come to Huai An County. I hear that there is ferocious beast on the loose in Cang Ling Mountain. All of the roads have been sealed. Can Ling Mountain itself has also been sealed."
"Ferocious beast?" Fang Zhengzhi had entered the mountain once a month for the entire duration he had stayed in the Northern Mountain Village. He knew how dangerous it was. However, most of the beasts would stay hidden unless they were being threatened.
Just like the Blue Fire Wolf back in the day.
Wolves tend to hunt in packs. However, that Blue Fire Wolf was travelling alone. It was definitely unique, and not likely to appear for decades.
Could it be that another unique beast is on the loose?
So many soldiers have been activated.
What beast could it be?
Fang Zhengzhi wanted to ask more, but the waiter shook his head. He clearly did not know any more. Fang Zhengzhi lost his appetite upon hearing that Cang Ling Mountain had been sealed for a month.
He ordered a few snacks and finished them quickly. Then, he walked to the city gates.
Chi Guyan did not say anymore. She simply followed Fang Zhengzhi all the way to the city gates.
However...
They were stopped at the gates.
Just as what the waiter had said, the road to the foot of Cang Ling Mountain had been sealed.
"Stand right there!"
Two soldiers lowered their spears towards Fang Zhengzhi and Chi Guyan. Then, they looked at the stallions that the two of them were riding. After looking at each other, one of the soldiers said, "Where are you two young men going?"
"The Northern Mountain Village." Fang Zhengzhi replied.
"Do you have the token to pass?" The soldier asked.
"No." Fang Zhengzhi shook his head.
"Then I'm afraid you cannot pass. The military has sealed all of the roads to Cang Ling Mountain. If you have any pressing matters, you can go to the military to get a token." The soldier was respectful. He could tell that their stallions were extraordinary. He could not afford to antagonize them.
"What token? I'm not going!" Fang Zhengzhi shook his head.
"About that... please do not make things difficult for us. You really cannot pass without the token." One of the soldiers said with difficulty.
"What if I charge past?"
"If you charge past without a token... you would be going against military law. I am sure you know what the consequences are, so..."
"It sounds serious. According to military law, what will happen if I disobey an order?" Fang Zhengzhi ignored the soldier and turned to ask Chi Guyan.
"You will be beheaded!" Chi Guyan replied calmly.
"I doubt you will dare to charge through if it is so serious?" Fang Zhengzhi pressed.
"You can guess."
"I'm too lazy to guess. I am someone who will just do as I wish. If you get lost along the way, don't blame me!" After Fang Zhengzhi finished, he whipped the Snow Treading Dragon Stallion. With a whinny, the stallion bounded past the blockade and galloped towards the Northern Mountain Village.
All of the guards were stunned by what they saw. None of them could react in time. That man charged through despite knowing the consequences?
Hang on...
I think someone else charged through!
Just as they were about to shout, a white figure flashed past. Chi Guyan rode the Scarlet Flame Snow Cloud and followed closely behind Fang Zhengzhi.
Yet another one?!
All of the soldiers looked at each other in confusion.
"Someone else has charged through!" Just as they were about to shout it out, an officer rushed over.
"What are you screaming about?" The officer bellowed.
"Sir, someone charged through the blockade, those two..."
"Smack!"
"Smack!"
He slapped both soldiers before they could finish their sentences.
"Do you all want to die? You are both blind, but I am not. Do you two not know what that stallion is? It is the Snow Treading Dragon Stallion of the Divine Constabulary. That is the stallion of the Red Pinion Squad!" The officer raged.
"Divine Constabulary... Red Pinion Squad!" Both soldiers felt a chill down their spines.
Even though they had not spent much time in the army, the name 'Red Pinion Squad' was etched deeply in their minds. That was the elite army of the Divine Constabulary.
"Those two are from the Red Pinion Squad?!"
"Are you blind? There was only one Snow Treading Dragon Stallion!"
"Then who was the other guy?"
"I'm not sure, but he must be from an equally elite army."
"Is there another army as powerful as the Red Pinion Squad? Don't try to bully me just because I'm not well read."
"I am serious. Do you know the Stabilisation Constabulary? Their 'Mountain Breaking Army' is just as powerful! This was what my uncle told me!"
"Your uncle knows a lot!"
"Smack!"
"Smack!"
The two of them got slapped again.
"Shut up, both of you! Are you supposed to discuss the Mountain Breaking Army here? Don't try to implicate me even if you two have a death wish!"
"Yes sir, we will not dare do it again."
...
Fang Zhengzhi had wanted Chi Guyan to eat dust. However, before the half mile mark, he realized that something was amiss.
The Snow Treading Dragon Stallion had been overtaken by the Scarlet Flame Snow Cloud?
No matter how hard he whipped his ride, he could not catch up. He was always trailing behind in the dust cloud of Chi Guyan. If he kept this up, he would die from too much dust inhalation.
As such, an exasperated Fang Zhengzhi could only 'cordially' invite Chi Guyan to travel alongside him.
Chi Guyan did not object either.
The narrow road was completely occupied by the two of them. The road became a little squeezy when they passed the army camps along the way.
However, due to the fact that Fang Zhengzhi's Snow Treading Dragon Stallion was famed throughout the Northern Lands, all of the guards parted for them.
Some of the ration carrying supply carts also stopped by the wayside for them to pass.
No one came up to ask them if they had the token to pass through. They continued on their journey unimpeded. Fang Zhengzhi also began to relax.
"This stallion is quite good. Maybe I should go get another hundred from the Divine Constabulary and give one to each of the families in the Northern Mountain Village. That would be great!" Fang Zhengzhi muttered as he rode alongside Chi Guyan.
Chi Guyan ignored him, focusing solely on riding the Scarlet Flame Snow Cloud.
"Cang Ling Mountain is a good place. The grass is the best. Furthermore, there are many ferocious beasts. With such grass and meat, I'm sure the hundred would reproduce to give many more."
"Then, I can open up a stable. The horses can run about inside and I can pick the best to give back to the Divine Constabulary."
"Don't you think the Divine Constabulary is quite stupid? How could they have not thought of that, aish... what a pity!"
Fang Zhengzhi continued muttering to himself, seeing that Chi Guyan wasn't replying.
"The method for rearing the Snow Treading Dragon Stallion is a Divine Constabulary secret, how can we release it?" Chi Guyan finally replied.
"You are absolutely correct. As such, in order for this great plan to come to fruition, I must make the Northern Mountain Village a subsidiary of the Divine Constabulary. That way, it will still stay within the constabulary. Don't you agree?" Fang Zhengzhi replied.
"You do think quite far, but, why would my Divine Constabulary absorb a useless, far flung village?" Chi Guyan replied with a question.
"Useless? You couldn't be more mistaken. The Northern Mountain Village is a prime location. It's scenery is fantastic and it is a hotbed for talents. I am willing to wager that the Northern Mountain Village would be more prosperous than Huai An County in two months. Do you believe me?"
"Two months?" Chi Guyan's expression changed.
"Yes."
"Are you for real?"
"Of course."
"Okay then. If you're able to make the Northern Mountain Village more prosperous than Huai An County in two months, I will absorb them into the Divine Constabulary. But what if you can't?"
"That won't be possible. You can forget about discussing things that won't happen." Fang Zhengzhi waved her away confidently.
"Stop daydreaming. If you can't do it, you will be my servant for two years. You will cook me whatever I want to eat!"
"So vicious?"
"If you don't dare to take it up, forget it."
"Fine, deal!" Fang Zhengzhi grit his teeth. His love for money had stemmed from the Northern Mountain Village.
On this trip back, he wanted to clarify some things for himself. His silver would definitely allow the village to continue surviving for many years, but this was far from enough.
Without some powerful backing, the village would not survive regardless of how much silver they had. They needed a powerful and influential backer.
Who was better than the Divine Constabulary?
...
After a few hours, Fang Zhengzhi and Chi Guyan finally arrived at the entrance to the Northern Mountain Village. The crystal clear river continued to flow through the entrance.
However, all of those ladies who worked the fields at this time of day were missing.
"The weather is so good, yet they're off lazing?" Fang Zhengzhi murmured to himself. He galloped towards his home without thinking much of it.
Before long, he heard loud noises from the assembly square.