Chapter 394: A Quiet Day (2)

But these men were immediately sent flying back even faster than they had left.

“This area is sealed. Screaming your lungs out is useless. Besides, do you really think calling your men will be enough to handle me?”

Fang Rui sat down imperiously on the head seat, which was draped in a White Tiger pelt. He glared down at the crowd, his dominant aura leaking out as he spoke. “State your names!”

The Six Village Chiefs exchanged glances, their faces grim, and spoke one by one.

“Heifeng Stronghold, Song Gong.”

“Qingfeng Stronghold, Su Bo.”

“Huangfeng Stronghold, Li Yu.”

“Huagang Stronghold, Kang Jie.”

“White Stone Stronghold, Jiao Meng.”

“Pan Shi Stronghold, Huangfu Cheng.”

At this moment, the Six Village Chiefs were as docile as rabbits. Where was the slightest trace of their earlier arrogance?

The reason?

These mountain bandits who roamed the forests naturally understood the law of the jungle. They believed in the power of the fist, acting viciously before the weak and obsequiously before the strong.

They were the perfect embodiment of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

Fang Rui had revealed his power and could naturally suppress them. But earn their loyalty? That was a joke.

‘But I’m not here to win you over. I’m here to train dogs, or perhaps, to act as a Gu Raiser!’

Fang Rui sneered inwardly and said, “You don’t need to worry about the Great Yu Court’s encirclement army. I’ve already dealt with them.”

As he spoke, with a flick of his sleeve, a dark light swirled into a light screen, showing the scene from the previous day: the military formation being shattered and three hundred Tribulation Demon Black Eagles slaughtering the Black Flood Dragon Army.

“HISS!”

The Six Village Chiefs all sucked in a cold breath upon seeing this. The man before them had single-handedly, with his Beast-Exorcising Skill, slaughtered over a thousand elite soldiers of the Great Yu Court.

One by one, they couldn’t help but calculate in their hearts: if all six strongholds joined forces to face this man…

The thought made their hearts sink. They would likely face nothing but utter defeat.

“Your Excellency is mighty!”

“Your Excellency eliminated the Violent Yu Army! We are endlessly grateful.”

“Indeed. We wonder, what brings Your Excellency here? Please, just give us your command.”

…

“Command? Naturally… it’s to attack the county town. Guanghua County Town!” Fang Rui’s words were earth-shattering.

“This… Your Excellency, please reconsider!”

“That’s no different from suicide!”

“That’s right, the County Army in Guanghua County Town are all elites…”

…

The Six Village Chiefs voiced their opposition.

They had no desire to become cannon fodder in exchange for Fang Rui’s fortune!

If Fang Rui forced them, they would likely just go through the motions, or even flee.

“With just you lot of trash, there’s naturally no chance of victory. But… come outside with me.”

Fang Rui sneered and rose to his feet.

Song Gong and the other five exchanged a glance and reluctantly followed.

As they walked out, they saw their subordinates all passed out. Their fear of Fang Rui grew even deeper.

Once outside, Fang Rui whistled—”WHHEEEW!”—and three hundred Tribulation Demon Black Eagles descended like a black cloud. Under the effect of a Military Secret Technique, their Military Qi coalesced into a hundred-foot-tall Black Eagle that slammed into a nearby mountain, triggering a Mountain Collapse.

“Th-th-this…”

Song Gong and the other five stared with wide eyes.

The light projection before could have been a Blinding Technique, but now, facing such terror and witnessing it with their own eyes, there was no faking it.

In particular, the visual shock of the latter was far beyond what the former could compare to.

“So, is it feasible now?” Fang Rui asked again.

“Perhaps we could give it a try, but we still need to be cautious.”

“A matter this big must be planned for the long term.”

“We must think of a way to minimize our losses…”

…

Only then—

did Song Gong and the other five finally see a glimmer of hope in breaking through the county town’s defenses.

In their minds, after the city fell, Fang Rui would eat the meat, and they, following behind, could at least get a sip of the soup, right?

However, they were also worried about their subordinates suffering heavy losses and were still weighing the pros and cons.

“Wrong. It’s not me, it’s you.”

Fang Rui naturally saw through their thoughts. “These three hundred Tribulation Demon Black Eagles will be divided among you, fifty to each stronghold. I will also impart a Military Secret Technique to you. We’ll agree that whoever is the first to breach the city and capture the Guanghua County Magistrate will be king and rule over all six strongholds.”

“Furthermore, I will not take any of the wealth you obtain from conquering the city.”

He paused here, his tone enticing. “Just think about it. The gold, silver coins, and wealth of the great households in Guanghua City… the Cultivation Techniques and secret manuals… the Old Medicines and Great Medicines… and the beautiful women…”

With this promise, and with such a tantalizing prospect dangled before them,

the desires of these ambitious bandit chiefs were indeed stirred. Their gazes grew feverish and their breathing heavy.

“Since Your Excellency has commanded, how could we dare disobey?!”

“Damn it, let’s do it!”

“Give me three days, and I guarantee Your Excellency will hear good news!”

“A true man born into this world should live a grand and glorious life…”

…

Working to the death for someone else is, naturally, very different from working to the death for yourself.

“Good!”

With a flick of his sleeve, a Military Secret Technique transformed into a stream of light and imprinted itself upon the minds of the six men. The three hundred Tribulation Demon Black Eagles split into six groups. “These Tribulation Demon Black Eagles are intelligent and spiritual. They can understand human speech. If you need anything, just give them a direct command.”

“You are…” Song Gong was the first to understand the implication.

“Yes. As I said before, attacking Guanghua County Town is your business. I will not interfere or point fingers.”

Fang Rui was a Gu Raiser. How could he possibly enter the fray himself?

With that said, a dark light flickered at his feet, transforming into an Energy State Black Eagle and soaring into the sky.

“By the way, we still don’t know Your Excellency’s name!” Song Gong shouted from below.

“A madman sharpens his blade in the dead of night,The Imperial Star wavers, Mars blazing in its height.The world turns upside down from this day on,Why hesitate to kill until the deed is done?”

“I am… Chu the Madman. You may also call me—the Demon Ancestor!”

These murderous verses condensed into dark, black light, each word hovering in mid-air. When Fang Rui spoke his final line, they exploded with a BOOM, transforming into a fierce, rising wind.

THUD!

Two or three of the Six Village Chiefs, including Song Gong, knelt directly on the ground in terror.

Such wild Force, such a bandit aura… even as bandit chiefs themselves, they couldn’t compare in the slightest, like fireflies before the bright moon.

It could be said that this scene was seared into their minds, an unforgettable shadow for the rest of their lives.

…

“Uncle, you’re back?” Xin Xue’er’s voice was cheerful.

“Yes, I’m back.”

Fang Rui’s expression was peaceful, his tone gentle and slow.

If Song Gong and the other five bandit chiefs were to see this, their eyeballs would probably fall to the ground.

Indeed, the tyrannical dominance and bandit aura he had displayed before the Six Village Chiefs had now completely vanished, as if an actor had stepped out of character.

“Uncle, are you finished with your business?”

“Finished.”

“So where are we going next?”

“To Guanghua County Town, to rest for a couple of days.”

“Guanghua County Town? I know that place! Mom took me there once for the market fair the year before last!”

Amidst this conversation, boundless golden sunlight covered the land as the Purple Feathered Crane let out a clear cry, carrying the one big and one small person through the sky.

…

「Guanghua County.」

Fang Rui rented a courtyard and went to buy ingredients in the city, preparing to cook.

This was the first time he had cooked since being alone.

Xin Xue’er tended the fire and peeled garlic.

Fang Rui kneaded dough and chopped meat.

The two of them spoke in low voices.

At noon, lunch was stewed meat noodles.

The meat was stewed until it fell apart, soft and fragrant. Some fresh wild vegetables were added, and the taste was so smooth and delicious it could make you swallow your tongue.

“Why are you crying while you eat?”

“SOB, Uncle, I miss my mom… My mom said she only got to eat meat on the day she got married…”

“Then you should eat more on her behalf,” Fang Rui said after a pause, patting the little girl’s head.

“Uncle, in the story you told yesterday, do people really turn into stars after they die?”

“They really do.”

“Then I want to become a star soon!”

“You… silly child.”

…

After the meal, Fang Rui took out a flowerpot and brought out the Jade Lotus Seed. This was from that Jade Lotus back then.

In the past, Fang Ling and Nannan would plant it every year. Now, there was no one to help him.

“Uncle, I’ll help you.” Xin Xue’er came over, carrying a small hoe on her shoulder.

Fang Rui smiled. “Alright!”

Not long after, after planting the Jade Lotus Seed in the flowerpot, he set up a Micro Array to maintain the Jade Lotus’s growing environment.

“Uncle, is this mint? Can you eat it?”

“It’s not mint, but you can eat it. It’s just that if you eat it, you won’t be able to plant it and use its leaves to make tea.”

“Then I won’t eat it.”

…

This familiar conversation seemed to have happened many years ago.

Fang Rui froze for a moment. He took out the clay figurines he had bought that day from his Spirit Ring and placed them on the windowsill. He also hung up the wind chime he had brought from Shangluo, the one Fang Ling and Nannan had made with their own hands.

“Uncle, why are all these clay figurines in pairs?”

“Because clay figurines are meant to be in pairs! This pair is a brother and sister, this one is a mother and son, and this one is a mother and daughter…”

TING-A-LING!

Amidst this clear and crisp sound, Fang Rui and Xin Xue’er stood side by side, one big and one small, remaining at the window for a long time.

At this moment, Fang Rui felt an immense sense of peace in his heart. It wasn’t indifference, nor was it apathy, just peace.

That peace was like the gentle warmth of scattered sunlight—not scorching, but warm and tranquil.

Outside the window, insects chirped, and the light and shadows were mottled.

Nothing happened today.