The Demonic World I designed
Chapter 175 - 175 168 The Young Soldier Who Deceived His Way into Yangzhou!

175: Chapter 168: The Young Soldier Who Deceived His Way into Yangzhou!

175: Chapter 168: The Young Soldier Who Deceived His Way into Yangzhou!

“What academy?”

All three were stunned by the name, Yin Yang Academy, quite a bold name indeed…

“Yin Yang Academy!” Shen Yuan affirmed, “They’ve released an announcement that they’ll start enrolling students tomorrow.

Anyone who enrolls can become a citizen of Lyuzhou, and it is said…” Shen Yuan hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “It is said that the Yin Yang Academy in Lyuzhou is a branch of the Imperial Court, where one can truly learn the techniques of the main academy…”

“That’s complete nonsense, isn’t it?” Wei Gongyan was the first to scoff in amusement, “The Yin Yang Academy in the Capital City was established years ago through the connections of Duke Song, by assembling hundreds of families from Great Jin, along with various generous promises from the Imperial Court.

How could it be Lyuzhou’s turn to open a branch?”

“True that…” Shen Yuan also laughed in agreement.

But deep down, a realization dawned on him: back in the day…

in the Shen Family, he was the one among his siblings who was best at studying.

But no matter how well one studied, if they lacked talent in techniques, they wouldn’t be valued in the Shen Family.

He had become an Imperial Scholar at a young age, an honor that would have warranted ancestral worship in an ordinary family, yet in the Shen Family, the elders couldn’t even be bothered to host a proper banquet.

And his brother, who lazed around all day, got into the Yin Yang Academy early on because of his sensitivity to spiritual power in the technique.

For his coming-of-age ceremony, the family threw a celebration so grand it seemed the entire city should know about it, just to find a suitable bride from another influential family for him.

The Yin Yang Academy…

Once a threshold he couldn’t reach despite years of striving, now, it had appeared in Lyuzhou, altogether too fantastical…

Of course, he internally scorned Chen Qing’s unethical methods, but in the depths of night, amidst his dreams, he occasionally wondered if this so-called Lyuzhou branch might actually have something of substance?

After all…

boldly presented as it was, it couldn’t possibly be completely empty—a joke intended to fool people, right?

“Minister Shen?

Minister Shen?”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you daydreaming?” Weichi Feihu waved his hand in front of him.

“Oh…” Shen Yuan came back to his senses and hurriedly said, “I was just reminiscing about some things, which made me lose focus.

Please forgive me, what were you discussing just now?”

“We were just discussing how to infiltrate Lyuzhou’s interior…” Weichi Feihu looked at him, thinking to himself: This scholar is so naive, we probably can’t expect him to extract any useful information.

But he still said, “You just mentioned becoming a citizen of Lyuzhou requires either joining the army, farming, or enrolling in that…

Yin Yang Academy, right?”

“Yes!” Shen Yuan promptly replied.

“Then let’s divide into three groups!” Weichi Feihu immediately decided, “Like this, Gongyan and I will join the selection for the Tiger Guard Army, and…

Gongzhan, you go to Daqing Mountain to gather intelligence.

Finally…

Shen Yuan, right?

Since you’re the only one here schooled in literature, you will go to that Yin Yang branch.

How does that sound?”

Gongzhan was taken aback, looking up at his master.

Weichi Feihu continued to talk enthusiastically, not paying much attention anymore, just blankly wondering if the master still held a grudge against him for the attack.

Wei Gongyan, however, was full of pride.

He had thought the master didn’t care at all, but it seemed that not punishing him with family law was already the master’s limit.

The master was still too benevolent like a woman, but no matter, he would gradually adjust the master’s disposition by his side, shaping him into a proper member of the Weichi Clan.

Wei Gongzhan opened his mouth; he was somewhat worried about his cousin following the master, but couldn’t think of any reason to object, and in the end, he silently accepted the arrangement.

“Shen Yuan, what about you?”

Shen Yuan was also stunned for a moment before coming to his senses and nodded, “As General Weichi commands, I will do my utmost…”

He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but a hint of excitement surged in Shen Yuan’s heart.

He then quickly reassured himself: he was entering with a mission, to probe the reality on behalf of the Imperial Court, not because he believed there was really anything to the Yin Yang branch…

And so, the three set a time and place for their next meeting, and after partaking in the relief meal, they went their separate ways to begin their journey in Lyuzhou.

It was this choice of paths that would utterly transform their lives…

——————————–

“Lord Wang, where are we heading to?”

On the ship, Deputy General Lan Xiang looked into the fog ahead, feeling that their route didn’t quite seem to be heading towards Nanming Prefecture.

“Yangzhou,” Wang Ye replied indifferently.

“Yangzhou?” Lan Xiang’s brow furrowed immediately, “Why are we going there?”

“This retreat is for preserving Duke Qi’s strength, isn’t it?” Wang Ye asked, looking at the other party.

“Eh…,” Deputy General Lan Xiang was taken aback, “That’s true, but…”

“The situation in Jiangnan is unclear, and Nanming Prefecture might become the next target of a heavy living dead assault.

Going to such a place as Nanming Prefecture without known intel is unwise, and the same goes for the Shen Family’s Nanyang City.

With Shen Yuan conspiring with the Imperial Court, the attitudes of the other Shen Family members are also unknown, aren’t they?”

“Eh…

that’s true, but…”

“Then, is there any place better than Yangzhou?” Wang Ye asked curiously, looking at the other party: “Yangzhou is situated among the three cities, serving as a major rear position, allowing for enough reaction time in any situation.

Storing our troops there, waiting for Duke Qi to rendezvous, isn’t that the most prudent course of action?”

“Minister Shaoting has a point!” Lan Xiang decided not to argue further because he knew after only a few words that he was unable to outtalk the other party…

Wang Ye smiled and nodded: “General, look, we’re about to reach the shore.”

There were quite a few living dead at the Yangzhou port, but for the thirty thousand pure-blooded soldiers, they were hardly a challenge.

The several thousand living dead wandering the port were almost instantly exterminated.

“Everyone check for wounds!” Lan Xiang inspected the troops while speaking to Wang Ye, who was following behind him: “Minister Wang, why is there such a big difference between these living dead and the ones that attacked us yesterday?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Ye explained: “Parasites and their hosts vary.

Those who attacked us the other day were infected soldiers from the Imperial Golden Dragon Guard.

The Golden Dragon Guard is born from noble families, each individual naturally far stronger than an ordinary person.

Then there are the parasites; from what I know, the parasites causing living bodies to turn into the living dead also vary in rank.

Most of the common folk are infected with lower-ranked parasites, while those infecting the Golden Dragon Guard are different.”

“I see…” Lan Xiang nodded upon hearing this, “Then, about those monsters, like the ones infected in the Golden Dragon Guard, Minister Wang, do you know how many there are?”

“I have no idea,” Wang Ye shook his head, “The demon of the sea is not solitary.

The Imperial Court collaborates with a part of them; several others are in the West Sea, and one of them…

is in Jiangnan…”

“Where?” Lan Xiang’s heart tightened upon hearing this.

“Where, I do not know, but it would be best for us to avoid it.”

Lan Xiang nodded upon hearing this, then looked toward Yangzhou: “Minister, where do we go now?

To Yangzhou City?”

“We must not go to Yangzhou City…”

“Why not?”

Wang Ye pointed in the direction of Yangzhou City: “Minister, with your Jade Bat Bloodline, your vision is excellent.

Take a closer look above Yangzhou City.”

Upon hearing this, Lan Xiang looked and his expression immediately turned solemn.

Above Yangzhou City, under the clear blue sky, were rolling dark clouds, shrouding it in shadow!

“What is that?”

“Yangzhou City didn’t have many garrisoned troops, so when it was attacked by the living dead, Yangzhou City almost didn’t resist for long before it fell,” Wang Ye sighed looking at Yangzhou City, “While Yangzhou can’t match the prosperity of Nanming Prefecture, it is also one of the Seven States, with a population of a million.

However, in the face of the living dead, if there are no troops for protection, the more densely populated a large city is, the easier it is for more parasites to infect.

Now, in Yangzhou City, out of a population of a million, all are living dead!”

“A million…” Several officers looked at each other.

The number sounded frightening, but if they were all of the same strength as those they had just faced, truth be told, they were not intimidated.

However, a forced assault would result in significant losses, since even a minor injury from these living dead was fatal—a very thorny problem.

“So…

what do we do now?”

“No need to worry…” Wang Ye looked in another direction, “Lord Chen from Lyuzhou has already dispatched soldiers to rescue the countryside near Yangzhou.

He has assessed the situation and believes that a large number of living dead have gathered in the Yangzhou provincial city, while the number of living dead in the surrounding rural towns is limited.

Therefore, he has opted for a split troop rescue strategy, firstly rescuing the countryside surrounding Yangzhou.

We can head to the nearest town to see the results.”

“Lyuzhou?” Lan Xiang was stunned, “Lyuzhou still has troops to support other areas?”

He remembered that all the troops from Lyuzhou had been summoned away?

In his opinion, it would have been a miracle if they could take care of themselves, let alone send troops to help others?

And wasn’t it said that several Provincial Government Offices were isolated by the dense fog arrays, preventing any coordination?

“Let’s talk about the specifics after we reach the county town,” Wang Ye spoke softly, “We need to get there before dark; otherwise, with us being such a large target in the open, it’s quite dangerous.

If the living dead in Yangzhou City take notice of us, that would be troublesome.”

Upon hearing this, Lan Xiang suppressed his doubts and nodded slightly: “Then, Lord Wang, please lead the way.”

He felt that this Mr.

Wang must have a plan, though he was not clear on the specifics.

Now that he was already deceived into coming here, he could only take one step at a time…