Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 308 - 1: Starting with a slash, is the first ring of military affairs this thrilling?

Chapter 308: Chapter 1: Starting with a slash, is the first ring of military affairs this thrilling?

The sky was overcast, and the river seemed to have turned black, with waves surging violently. The Marching Hall rocked up and down on the river’s surface aboard the tower ship; the three characters for Inspection Bureau on the side hall’s placard were reflected inversely on the water’s face. Inside the hall, the left and right ministers from the Ministry of Justice held commands in both hands, left for beheading, right for arrest.

Zhao Xing had an arrest command insignia inserted behind his back, which radiated a black and gold glow, locking down all of his vital energy.

The light couldn’t penetrate the gloomy and vast hall, where candle flames flickered on both sides. A massive figure sat in the principal seat, his imposing aura terrifying like a prison; half of his body was shrouded in shadow, revealing only half of his face. But on this half, there was straw-like hair, and when his eyes opened, they showed pure black eyeballs with a few blades of green grass sprouting from his lashes.

"You are the Second-level Transport Envoy of the Lanjiang Transport Bureau, Zhao Xing?"

"That is indeed me, but may I ask why you have taken me?"

"As the transport envoy of Lanjiang, you have lined your own pockets with seven hundred forty-nine thousand bushels and five steps of provisions. Additionally, three nearly-new tower ships were forcefully reported as scrap by you and sold cheaply to Yi Zhijie of the Leiyang Chamber of Commerce, from whom you received kickbacks. Do you admit your guilt?"

"I admit my guilt and am willing to surrender the ill-gotten gains and fines..."

"Since you admit your guilt, you are to be executed immediately!"

"What?! I am a Secondary Fifth-rank official; how can I be executed without an inquiry? Mr. Liu’s actions violate article three hundred sixty-two, clause seven of Great Zhou’s laws..."

"Pfft~"

Before Zhao Xing could finish his defense, he saw his body kneeling on the ground, already headless.

Damn my bad luck; I finally climbed up with my guild brothers’ help, only to be chopped by this fellow... Zhao Xing’s last thoughts flashed through his mind as darkness fell before his eyes.

...

"Zhao Xing, Zhao Xing, wake up! It’s time to set off!"

A familiar voice resounded by his ear, followed by Zhao Xing feeling his cheek being wet and slick.

He opened his eyes and saw it was the Mountain Cat licking his face.

Zhao Xing sat up from the bed, his eyes somewhat vacant.

As if from a dream of a thousand autumns, what year is it now?

"Haven’t you slept enough? You have been asleep since the day before the Mao Hour, it’s been twenty-seven two-hour periods now, are you alright?" Long Xiao asked curiously as he came to the bedside upon seeing Zhao Xing wake up.

"I’m fine." Zhao Xing’s eyes instantly became clear. That’s right, I am Zhao Xing of the Divine Might Army, about to leave Ten Suns Cave Heaven and head to Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion south of the Canglan River, to complete the military duties arranged by the Military Realm."

"I’ve heard that you sleep only one two-hour period every day during training, and that you’ve done so without fail for a year. Now it seems it’s true," Chen Shijie looked at Zhao Xing and said, "You’re too exhausted, and once your spirit relaxed, you ended up sleeping for twenty-seven two-hour periods. How was it, did you sleep well?"

"I slept well," Zhao Xing nodded and with a beckon of his hand, a cloud formed automatically in his palm, turning into a cloud basin.

Swish~ Water materialized and a towel was blown over by the wind; then he began to wash up in front of Chen Shijie and Long Xiao.

Upon seeing this, a flash of appreciation appeared in Chen Shijie’s eyes.

An expert recognizes the master by the details in cloud control, which is enough to show that Zhao Xing’s spellcasting abilities had truly reached a refined level.

"Meow~" the Mountain Cat approached to drink the water from the basin.

"Ao Tian, why are you drinking this?" Long Xiao hurriedly pulled the Mountain Cat back, "It’s unclean."

"Meow!"

The Mountain Cat broke free from Long Xiao’s grip and moved closer again.

I won’t, I want to drink it!

Zhao Xing laughed as he pushed the Mountain Cat’s head away and conjured another cloud filled with water, signaling it to drink from that instead.

The Mountain Cat immediately turned its head obediently.

Dragon Xiao felt somewhat heartbroken.

Raised for a year, yet it’s less obedient to me than to you, its cheap owner, sigh.

After washing up, Zhao Xing, Dragon Xiao, and Old Chen came to the side hall to eat.

"There’s no one else you need to see, is there?" Chen Shijie asked.

"No more." Zhao Xing shook his head, having been to the Ten Thousand Skill Palace the day before and met with the last person.

Unexpectedly, while sleeping, he dreamt of many scenes from his previous life, including the one where Liu Tianning executed him. It seemed that he should visit the Ten Thousand Skill Palace less often in the future.

"Since there’s no one else, let’s set off after eating." Chen Shijie said, "No need to fuss over the Eighteen locust and willow courtyard, you’ll be coming back afterwards anyway."

"Alright." Zhao Xing indeed had nothing to pack.

...

After the meal, they stepped outside where an Arrowfish Flying Boat was parked on the lawn.

However, the trio and the cat didn’t rush to board, but rather were waiting for something.

"Clip-clop, clip-clop~"

Mr. Gao, riding a bamboo horse, dashed from the sky and landed outside the courtyard gate.

"Here we are." Zhao Xing went forward to greet him. "Mr. Gao."

"Zhao Xing." Mr. Gao dismounted and handed over a box, "This is the mission item issued to you by the Yang City Military Department."

"Thank you for bringing this, Mr. Gao." Zhao Xing received it, a small box containing a new seal, an Earth Mirror, and the necessary credentials for carrying out military tasks.

"I wish you a journey as splendid as brocade, may your path be smooth and unobstructed." Mr. Gao gave his good wishes with clasped hands.

"Thank you, and I wish Mr. Gao prosperous business as well." Zhao Xing returned the courtesy.

"Hahaha, I’m off." Mr. Gao mounted his bamboo horse and clip-clopped away.

....

Datong Prefecture, Wanfeng Mountain Range.

The lakes surface, calm as a mirror, suddenly began to ripple in waves, with patterns getting denser until at one moment, the central area abruptly bulged upward.

"Splash~"

A ramming spur shot out from the crest of the waves, followed by the sharp prow and the scaly hull emerging into view.

"Swoosh~"

Like an arrowfish leaping from the water, the Flying Boat swiftly inclined and rose to a height of a hundred meters, then leveled off in the sky.

A military flag fluttered in the wind, embroidered with ten suns.

"Zhao Xing, once you’re out of the Ten Suns Cave Heaven, you should be able to see the first mission the Military Realm has issued to you. If the location doesn’t go through Xier County, I won’t accompany you." Chen Shijie said.

He still needed to return to Xier County where the Divine Might Army was primarily gathered.

Along the Canglan River, military towns were stationed; Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion acted like a pivot, piercing through the Canglan River. Yet, the Great Zhou’s border south of Pinghai State stretched long, and the war had not officially started, so aside from the permanent combat troops at Jiutian Yingyuan Mansion, most forces awaited orders north of the Canglan River.