Soul of the Revered Banner
Chapter 35: Liang City

There had been three encounters along the road where someone tried to claim a corpse.

Some were ghosts, others were spirit creatures imitating human speech.

But if one were to speak of danger, the last one was the most perilous.

A hedgehog spirit, capable of human speech, broke into the military formation and killed several soldiers in a frenzy.

It had nearly reached the carriage when Old Bai led a squad to encircle and kill it.

Another soul was added to the Revered Soul Banner, a hedgehog wraith.

There was something curious about it, but it had only barely entered the rank. It fought recklessly and knew no spells.

To avoid drawing more trouble from the scent of blood, the convoy decided to press on through the night.

By dawn’s first light, they finally saw the city walls of Liang City.

Once near Liang City, they were no longer harassed by those ghosts and spirits.

The city’s resident Immortal masters from the Offering Pavilion would deal with such threats.

“We’re finally here.”

Old Bai let out a long breath; the burden in his heart finally eased.

As he rose to his feet, his right arm was already gone, lost fending off that spirit beast.

Liang City, in the early morning, was veiled in a faint layer of gray mist.

A yawning gate guard snapped awake the moment he saw the convoy bearing the Embroidered Guard's banner.

The gate officials dared not block their path.

The city gates swung wide open.

The convoy rolled into Liang City, with a cart at the rear carrying five patched-together corpses of fallen soldiers.

On the streets, nameless vendors steamed unknown snacks, clouds of steam rising from their bamboo baskets.

Shop assistants dismantled their store shutters, preparing for the day’s business.

An old man in tattered clothes wandered the street hawking candied hawthorn skewers.

Peddlers with quirky little toys were already set up to sell.

Ox carts and donkey carts rolled through the misty streets, trampling over stained remnants on the ground.

The carters cracked their whips, shouting commands.

Beggars huddled together against walls for warmth.

Fortunately, it wasn’t cold enough to freeze someone to death, there was no fear of falling asleep and never waking again.

The brothel lofts stood open, with the scent of powder drifting down from the windows.

From time to time, one could glimpse courtesans painting their brows.

Compared to Eight Directions County, Liang City was indeed more prosperous.

Wider streets. More people.

But for the convoy, all they felt was exhaustion.

Only after traveling day and night to return to Liang City did they feel secure.

“Shizhu, take a few of the men and collect the death gratuities for our fallen brothers.”

“Tietou, come with me, we’ll deliver the Immortal masters’ bodies to the Offering Pavilion.”

At a fork in the road, Old Bai issued his orders to his most trusted men.

They couldn’t deliver the bodies directly to the families.

The dead deserved a proper accounting.

If the families were handed only the corpses with no explanation, how could they carry on?

After reporting the deaths and claiming the compensation, the brothers would add a bit more out of their own pockets, as comrades of many years, it was the least they could do. Hopefully, those who’d lost their family’s pillar could pull through.

“Got it, boss,” Shizhu nodded.

And so the convoy split.

There weren’t many in the Offering Pavilion. As soon as the Immortals’ bodies arrived, dedicated personnel came to receive them.

Alongside the corpses of the two fallen Immortal Masters was the body of Li Qingfeng, whom they believed to be a demonic cultivator.

Pinewood pillars. Bluestone tiles. Ornate railings.

A faint blue radiance shimmered lightly, barring Old Bai and his men from further entry.

It was the Offering Pavilion’s formation array.

Its purpose was to keep ordinary folk from disturbing the Immortals inside.

Only nobles and officials could even dream of summoning such beings.

Still, as servants of the court, these Immortals were duty-bound to aid the empire.

They handled bizarre threats beyond mortal means.

They also served as defense against assassins targeting the emperor, and against Immortals from rival nations.

The Immortals held a status somewhat removed from the mundane.

The attendant boy receiving them was stunned, he hadn’t expected them to return with three corpses.

Immortal Wen and Immortal Zhu were both dead.

He immediately realized something grave had occurred and ran back into the building without a word.

Soon after, an old man in a green Daoist robe hurried over, parting the crowd to gaze upon the three bodies on the wagon.

“To think a mission to eradicate evil would cost us two of our own...”

Clad in green robes and dust whisk in hand, he had the air of a true Immortal.

Inside the Revered Soul Banner, Tu Shanjun narrowed his eyes. This old Daoist had formidable cultivation.

The Daoist examined the demonic cultivator’s body, faint black Qi circled it and bloodthirsty energy wafted out.

A pallid and withered face, he certainly fit the image of a demonic cultivator.

“Cheif.”

A breathless Embroidered Guard rushed to Old Bai’s side, speaking in hushed tones:

“Something’s happened. Brother Shi and the others have been detained.”

“What?” Old Bai’s expression sharpened.

Though visibly unsettled, he couldn’t just barge off in front of an Immortal Master.

He cupped his hands and said to the Daoist, “We’ve returned the Immortal Masters’ bodies. There are pressing matters we must attend to, so we’ll take our leave.”

The old Daoist had finished checking, the storage talismans and artifacts were all intact.

Even the demonic cultivator carried a sword hairpin that looked quite extraordinary.

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed them.

Since nothing was missing, there was no reason to detain the guards.

Besides, it seemed they had their own trouble.

Though the soldier had spoken quietly, a cultivator’s senses were sharp.

With the Immortal Master’s permission, Old Bai led his men away.

The Daoist in green turned to his young attendant.

“Go. Summon all the providers.”

The Embroidered Guards turned their carts toward the magistrate's office.

Old Bai questioned the soldier for details but the man knew little, just that there had been a commotion in the government office, and suddenly Brother Shi had been taken.

Sensing something was wrong, he ran straight from the Offering Pavilion.

Old Bai instinctively reached with his remaining left hand for his waist blade. In doing so, he suddenly remembered,

He still had a small flag tucked into his belt.

It had been taken from that demonic Immortal.

Back then, he'd drawn it to steady his nerves, hoping it might aid them in battle.

To his surprise, it had worked wonders against ghosts and had even scared off the thing in the bridal palanquin.

He had kept it on him ever since.

But with all the rush and after hearing Shi had been detained, he completely forgot to hand it over to the Immortals.

“Forget it. I’ll return it when I have time.”

“Saving a life is urgent, it can't wait.”

Old Bai tucked the flag back into his belt and urged the driver to hurry.

Tu Shanjun made no comment.

It was just a pity, he had yet to find a new Qi Refining banner master.

He felt that as long as the Banner Master wasn’t an evildoer, he could lend his support.

But considering the circumstances, he held back.

Old Bai was strong, but merely a second-rate martial artist who had cultivated internal Qi.

Now with one arm gone and age catching up, the path to immortality seemed unlikely.

Most importantly, did the man even possess spiritual roots?

That was the real key.

Without spiritual roots, it would be a long detour.

Before long...

The carriage arrived at the Embroidered Guard’s government office.

Old Bai strode toward the gate, only to be blocked by two soldiers.

“Old Bai, please allow us to report your arrival first.”

Old Bai forced a smile and held back his brothers behind him.

“Of course.”

After some delay, the gatekeeper finally returned, wearing a fake smile.

“Apologies for the wait, Old Bai. The Lord Qinghu invites you inside.”

Old Bai nodded and entered the magistrate’s compound.

In the courtyard lay the five corpses of their fallen brothers.

The rest of his men were blocked off by guards with drawn blades.

Shizhu was restrained by two guards, completely immobilized.

As Old Bai entered, Shizhu’s eyes went wide.

He tried to rise, but was kicked down by the guards behind him.

Bound hand and foot, a rag stuffed in his mouth, he could only wriggle awkwardly on the ground.

Old Bai’s face was icy. He said nothing to the guards, but walked directly into the main hall.

Inside, a man in a silver-embroidered robe was bent over a desk, writing.

The light fell behind him, obscuring his face.

“Sir,” Old Bai greeted stiffly.

His smile was forced and uneasy.

“If my men have caused offense, I beg you not to hold it against them.”

“I offer my apologies for Shizhu. I’ll make sure he’s disciplined properly once we return.”

(Chapter End)

A crash course on Chinese Military Ranks;

Baihu, commander of ~100 troops, this is also Old Bai's rank

Qianhu, Thousand-man Commander

Wanhu, Ten-thousand Commander, I might simply tl this as General

Zongbing, Marshal