Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times
Chapter 678 - 518: The Evildoer Holding a Baby

Chapter 678: Chapter 518: The Evildoer Holding a Baby

Upon exiting the Cloud Palace, Gu Changsheng saw Han Qiu and Xiao Cui waiting outside.

Summoning them from the shadows, Gu Changsheng handed over the secret passage map he had drawn to the two, instructing them to meet up with the Dark Night Army waiting at the other end of the Heavenly Path.

With the secret passage map, they could save several days’ time. If they set out overnight, the Dark Night Army should be able to enter Jinchuan City by tomorrow evening.

After returning to the inn, Gu Changsheng called over the inn’s shopkeeper, pointed to the plethora of items stored in the warehouse and said, "Shopkeeper, all these items were plundered from the merchants in this city. Please help me return them to their rightful owners."

The old shopkeeper was visibly confused but nodded his head all the same.

With that matter resolved, Gu Changsheng felt that she might regain some of the face she had lost and her mind eased considerably.

Just after noon, a notice was posted in the public square outside the Cloud Palace: Collecting military supplies for the restoration of the Phoenix Clan at the Southern Border!

This short notice of merely one line of text stirred Jinchuan City into action.

Gu Changsheng watched wide-eyed and slack-jawed as the inn’s shopkeeper ushered his family to drag all manner of items from under the bed, beneath the stove, from the rafters... in short, from every conceivable place within the household!

Long spears, bows and arrows, iron tools, armor, and provisions...

They loaded up a full cart and then hauled it towards the Cloud Palace!

Stepping outside for another look, the streets were filled with countless citizens pulling carts loaded to the brim, all streaming in the direction of the Cloud Palace!

The sight was truly spectacular!

"For heaven’s sake, what in the world is going on?" Gu Changsheng, watching the bustling crowd, her mouth twitching uncontrollably, couldn’t help but exclaim.

Zhou Mu’s gaze also turned somber as he watched the orderly flow of citizens and said in a deep voice, "Rumors had it that the Land of Bashu had no standing army. Now it seems that Bashu needs no army at all!"

A city armed to the teeth, regardless of age!

The citizens were soldiers, and the soldiers were citizens; military supplies and weapons were readily available in every hand!

The Witch Clan-ruled Land of Bashu, through practical actions, perfectly exemplified what it meant for the military and the people to be one!

"Damn it, the Cloud Palace has ruled over Bashu for a thousand years, fostering such unity and high regard amongst the people!" Gu Changsheng could not help but click her tongue in amazement. She turned to Zhou Mu, who was at her side, and said with a sheepish expression, "Evildoer, it seems that even if a million troops from the Great Zhou Territory were to attack, it might indeed be difficult to gain an advantage in Bashu. Ten years ago, when you passed through Bashu, they were clearly releasing water!"

A regime with a vast army isn’t frightening! No matter how formidable the troops, they are not impregnable or invincible!

However, when a regime becomes an absolute faith, with the military and the people as one, such unity is truly daunting to the core.

Even if one were to conquer Bashu by force, if Bashu is undefeated, all that the victor would inherit is a lifeless, desolate city!

The rugged and harsh Southwest Land of Bashu was impressively powerful!

What about the Southern Border?

Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but start worrying!

The Cloud Palace’s notice called only for military supplies, so the shopkeeper delivered the items to the square of the Cloud Palace, organized them accordingly, and then returned with an empty cart.

"Oh my, why are our honored guests standing here?" Upon seeing Gu Changsheng and the others standing at the entrance of the inn, the shopkeeper dropped the handcart and approached them with a beaming smile.

At the shopkeeper’s words, Gu Changsheng looked at him with a hint of deep significance in her eyes.

Feeling her gaze, the shopkeeper awkwardly wrung his hands and said, "Well, honored guest, rest assured, although the military supplies I delivered weren’t much, with over sixty thousand households in Jinchuan City, the collection should be more than enough for the needs of your troops at the Southern Border for a year!" _{f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m}

Bit by bit adds up. Indeed, the square in front of the Cloud Palace was already overflowing with all kinds of military supplies, and the guards from the Cloud Palace were directing the loading of the carts.

"If you contribute all your military supplies, how will you fend off enemies if someone else invades?" asked Gu Changsheng, shifting her gaze from the direction of the Cloud Palace and slowly addressing the old shopkeeper.

Upon hearing this, the old shopkeeper immediately laughed, dismissively waving his hand and speaking with a grin, "There’s no need to worry about that, honored guest. Our Land of Bashu may lack in many things, but we have an abundance of mines. The women at home will soon replenish what’s needed. Tomorrow I will join the others to mine, and within ten days, we’ll have restocked our arms!"

At this point, the old shopkeeper scratched his head, thought for a moment, and then added, "These are unstable times; the Cloud Palace hasn’t posted a notice like this in over a hundred years. We better stock up a bit more just in case, in case you don’t have enough for your military needs in the Southern Border!"

Gu Changsheng smiled at his words and looked at the old shopkeeper with gratitude, saying in a deep voice, "That’s more than enough! A year’s military supplies will suffice for me! Within a year, I will pacify the Southern Border and fulfill the Witch Lord’s wish!"

Hearing this, joy immediately spread across the old shopkeeper’s face; he rubbed his hands together and nodded repeatedly, "That’s best! That’s best! Since it’s the Witch Lord’s wish, it must be an incredibly important matter! Rest assured, honored guest, we will prepare enough military supplies to be sent to Dayao Mountain. If the supplies collected this time are insufficient, you are welcome to send someone to Dayao Mountain to retrieve more!"

Dayao Mountain, located at the border between Bashu and the Southern Border.

Watching the old shopkeeper bustle off to prepare meals, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but sigh.

Bashu had given her more to think about than she had imagined!

"Evildoer, when will your Great Zhou be like this place, with the military and the citizens united, faith crowning the king, unafraid of the chaos of the Four Kingdoms?" Leaning on the table, Gu Changsheng propped her chin on her hands and batted her eyelashes at the evildoer with an inscrutable expression.

Zhou Mu smiled bitterly, tapped her head gently, and said, "To reach such a level of unity, one needs the work of hundreds of thousands of years. Bashu has indeed earned my respect... I am truly envious!"

Gu Changsheng sniffled and nodded in agreement.

"Is there any kingdom amongst the Four Kingdoms of the Central Plains that dares to entrust the common people with the right to forge weapons?"

"Even owning a bow and crossbow is a capital crime of conspiracy in the hands of the common folk, let alone anything else!"

"Yet Bashu is entirely different!"

"Within the Cloud Palace, the Bashu Witch Master sealed her kingship through faith—her domain is as impregnable as copper walls and iron ramparts!"

"The following evening, the Dark Night Army finally arrived."

"Wuchang Yue, clad in a black witch robe, gazed at where the Dark Night Army emerged, her eyes deep with emotion, yet she ultimately remained silent."

"That was her Witch Clan’s last resort, a secret passage to the Heavenly Path!"

"Nevertheless, thinking of Gu Changsheng’s identity, Wuchang Yue merely tilted her head to one side."

"Gu Changsheng, seeing the abruptly appearing Wuchang Yue, couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth, pointing at her, he incredulously exclaimed, ’Damn it, when you said you’d follow, you really did?’"

"’Of course, when I, this lord, speak, it’s always as solid as a nine-hooked cauldron!’" Wuchang Yue glanced at Gu Changsheng, speaking haughtily."

"Hearing this, Gu Changsheng’s lips twitched again, and pointing to the empty space behind her, he stammered, ’It’s one thing for you to follow, but don’t you think you should at least bring a few experts to guard you? You’re just coming by yourself, empty-handed?’"

"’If I had brought others, it would have invariably attracted attention, it’s better I come alone,’" Wuchang Yue lifted her little head, the dignity of the Bashu Witch Master shining through."

"’Foolhardy courage!’ Gu Changsheng couldn’t help rolling his eyes."

"The Dark Night Army was filled with curiosity towards this suddenly appearing little girl, but seeing her get along so well with their lord, they refrained from any comment."

"Before long, a group of women in white delivered dozens of horse-drawn carriages!"

"They dropped off the carriages and left without saying a word!"

"The stoic warriors of the Dark Night Army exchanged puzzled glances at the sight."

"The carriages were packed full, tied down tightly, and even the cart wheels were made of refined iron. Such extravagance, one after another—it was truly over the top!"

"’Logistics team, spare some men to escort this cargo!’" Gu Changsheng commanded, waving a hand to Yhan Ting.

"Yhan Ting, a ghostly talent in the art of killing yet skilled in medicine, was in charge of logistics for that reason."

"Yhan Ting was taken aback, pointing to the dozens of carriages parked along the roadside, he gulped and said, ’Excuse me... my lord, is this our supply train?’"

"What’s going on here?"

"His lord had not only successfully secured passage through Bashu, but had also borrowed so much military supply?"

"This... this..."

"Since when were the people of Bashu so easy to talk to, so generous?"

"’Correct, this is our supply train!’" Gu Changsheng responded authoritatively, looking at the logistics team as they dispatched sturdy men to the carriages. With a wave of Red Sleeve’s hand, he commanded in a stern voice, "’All men, heed my command, march forth immediately, and press on towards the Southern Border!’"

"’Yes, sir!’"

"In the next moment, the Vanguard Camp’s riders spurred their horses into swift motion."

"Glancing at the Central Military men left by his side, Gu Changsheng looked helplessly at the little girl on the ground, quirking a smile as he spoke, ’Little one, come on! From now on, you can’t leave the sight of me and the evildoer.’"

"Wuchang Yue was taken aback by the discipline of Gu Changsheng’s subordinates, and turning her gaze, she pointed her little staff at the man beside Gu Changsheng, ’You! Carry this lord!’"

"Zhou Mu, called upon, furrowed his brows almost imperceptibly."

"Pff!" Gu Changsheng couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter."

"Well, the Little Witch Lord sure knew how to pick her people!"

"Grabbing the back of Wuchang Yue’s garment, Gu Changsheng tossed her in Zhou Mu’s direction with a look of schadenfreude, watching the stunned man and blinking his Phoenix Eyes, he teased, ’Considering how she went to such lengths to prepare so much military supply for us and is even responsible for leading the way, evildoer, just endure it and hold her.’"

"Zhou Mu, a lifelong soldier, had never held anyone other than Gu Changsheng—this woman."

"His face, stoic as if hailing from the Divine Residence, stiffened as he looked at the relaxed little girl in his arms, then glanced at the gleeful woman beside him and helplessly shook his head."

"Cradling Wuchang Yue in one arm and taking the woman by his side with the other, he made his way to where the horses were kept."

"Hehe!" Watching Zhou Mu’s comical stance with the child, Gu Changsheng couldn’t suppress a laugh. Mounting his horse, he snapped the riding crop."

"Zhou Mu, holding Wuchang Yue in front of him, urged his horse to follow her."

"As the Dark Night Army passed by, the people of Jinchuan City watched with interest. With just this small number of men, could they really restore the Southern Border and ensure the safety of their Witch Lord?"