Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 289 - 256: Inescapable Net, Hard to Fly Even With Wings

Chapter 289: Chapter 256: Inescapable Net, Hard to Fly Even With Wings

The reason for taking action just after nightfall was this.

In Qingyang City, where labor was exchanged for relief, the policy of "Work begins at sunrise, and rest at sunset" governed the daily routines.

Zhou Ping’an believed that the people were already suffering enough and saw no need to relentlessly exploit their labor.

If he could make everyone’s lives a bit more comfortable, then he would strive to do just that.

Thus, when night fell, those within the city who had homes returned to rest.

Those without homes in the city would rest in temporary shelters outside the city walls.

This time of the night was meant for gathering around the stove for evening chats, preparing for sleep...

And no one would be wandering the streets aimlessly, looking for trouble after a meal.

He set his sights on the city interior.

The rationale was the same.

The harsh conditions outside the city were bearable only because of the temporary tents.

Ten people living together, either sitting or lying down in cramped conditions.

This situation was, of course, temporary, and it would improve once housing constructions were completed.

But for now, the conditions remained extremely harsh.

As the son of a former County Magistrate, raised in privilege and often boasting of his superior lineage,

Li Yuankang certainly wouldn’t dwell among dozens under a stinking tent.

Even if he changed his appearance and assumed a new identity, he would certainly not choose to suffer needlessly.

Thus, one could deduce that this person was likely hiding within the city.

After considering these details thoroughly.

When the moon rose and both inside and outside of the city quietened down,

The City Guards and the intelligence unit sprang into action.

...

"Seize the spies, bind your hands and await inspection."

Toward the eastern city, torches were lit.

Soon after, more than twenty groups of City Guards broke down doors in various locations simultaneously.

Suppressed shouts echoed as one.

Zhou Ping’an stood atop the roof of Wanhua Tower, his gaze sharp as a hawk’s, looking toward the east of the city.

Lin Huaiyu stood beside him, sword drawn and alert.

Disappointingly, there was no battle in the eastern city.

The intimidation of the City Guards was indeed strong...

Perhaps due to some of Zhou Ping’an’s recent actions, the people in the city felt greatly at ease.

Thus, regardless of whose door was knocked upon, the people inside seemed very cooperative.

Even those "notables" who were restrained showed little dissatisfaction.

"Twenty-one people from the eastern city, none resisted, all are here."

Soon, a carriage transported these "suspicious persons" to the square in front of Wanhua Tower.

"Thirty-three from the southern city, all are here."

"Seventeen from the western city, no one was missed."

"Twenty-five from the northern city..."

In front of Wanhua Tower, as all the "notables" were accounted for,

Green Lady visibly appeared somewhat disappointed.

Tang Lin’er looked left and right, spoke threateningly at times and persuasively at others, yet realized that no one displayed any irregular behavior.

If Li Yuankang really was among these ninety-six people, he truly had a great ability to keep his composure.

Could it be that they should chop each person to test the resilience of their flesh?

Tang Lin’er felt his head go numb.

He had no idea how to uncover the man.

The man might be hidden among them, or perhaps they had the wrong direction and he wasn’t here at all.

If so, that would be utterly embarrassing.

Staging such a grand affair only to catch air...

These "notables" were the most capable helpers of the Official Government of Qingyang City these past days.

Thus, it wasn’t too good to probe too recklessly.

For instance, the middle-aged man in a long robe and high cap standing at the front left was Li Shida, formerly an academic instructor at Qingxi Academy, known for his integrity but disliked by his peers.

When the Red Lotus Bandits attacked, his family, without a carriage, had to flee across the river amid the crowds.

Upon arriving in Qingyang territory, his family of three nearly starved.

The Red Lotus Sect provided porridge and teachings, but that only reached a very few.

The instructor, still carrying a bit of his scholarly demeanor from time to time, didn’t appear to be someone important.

In fact, such scholarly persons were hardly welcome among the bandit forces and were instead viewed with hostility by others.

This mentality was likely one of "I am the master now," feeling incomplete without stepping on something to affirm it.

Fortunately, a full-scale chaos hadn’t erupted, and no one targeted Li Shida specifically, so he managed to hold on until Zhou Ping’an returned to the city.

When Zhou Ping’an got back, he initiated comprehensive relief measures, proclaiming "Food for everyone, clothes for all," and literally distributed food by headcount...

While not full to the brim, achieving seven or eight parts full was certainly possible.

One does not appreciate warmth and coldness of the heart until pushed to the brink.

Such measures had an immense impact on those refugees teetering on the edge of life and death, needless to say.

Zhou Ping’an might not have done very well in some aspects,

but he ensured no one died of hunger and managed to keep everyone fed, which could truly be considered "boundless merit."

Thus, when the recruitment notice was posted, with the loud-mouthed soldiers spreading the word,

Li Shida, the instructor, was among the first to come to the County Yamen to apply.

After an initial assessment by Lin Huaiyu, who found him capable and just,

Zhou Ping’an was consulted, and he then hired him as the Director of Household Affairs for Qingyang City, specifically to oversee the distribution of money and grain.

After this person assumed office, he held great power, and numerous messy favors and requests came flooding in.

However, this person had one advantage: he was like wood—firm and immovable in his decisions.

No matter if others played the pity card or tried threats and bribes, he treated everyone equally.

He showed no partiality even to his own wife and daughter.

Among the hundreds of thousands of residents in Qingyang City, he earned the name "Iron-faced Scholar."

Among these ninety-six people in front of him,

there were many like the "Iron-faced Scholar" Li Shida.

For example, the tall youth standing next to Li Shida, who was over nine feet tall and resembled a small mountain, was called "Mang Jingang."

His name was Luo Hao, and his nickname was Mouse.

But his towering stature hardly matched his diminutive nickname.

When he first arrived in Qingyang City, carrying his hunchbacked old mother, Luo Hao was so thin his bones showed, and his eyes were sunken.

Given his extraordinary height and appearance of a fierce general-in-the-making, even without having met a famous teacher to practice Martial Arts, he was noticed by a Transmission Master of the Red Lotus Sect.

The master tried to recruit him several times.

But Luo Hao adamantly refused to join the military, preferring to do menial labor just to stay with his mother.

The reason was, his mother had once said that the Red Lotus Sect was a band of rebels and up to no good.

And so, Luo Hao remembered it.

Even when the Transmission Master came bearing gold, he was not tempted.

Suffering from near starvation with his mother,

Zhou Ping’an returned.

This time, the two of them were saved.

Considering Luo Hao’s great height and large appetite, fearing he might still be hungry, the director of ration distribution gave him the equivalent of two additional people’s rations.

It was said to be by the orders of Zhou Ping’an.

Indeed, it was a command from Zhou Ping’an...

The exact words were, "Let them eat their fill."

Eating one’s fill and being satisfied are not the same thing.

Having meat in the military and fine grains for the sturdy citizens also make a difference.

For Luo Hao and his mother, having access to fine grain, plain white buns, rice, and some salty meat soup to moisten their throats, was like suddenly moving from hell to heaven.

Moreover, Zhou Ping’an did not force anyone into military service. After consulting Luo Hao, he had the big fellow move trees for construction.

With his strength, this was almost like no work at all.

Among his group, he barely lifted a hand and finished the job, eating three full meals each day and growing robust.

After a little over ten days, the lost weight on his body had notably returned.

That day,

As Mother Luo ate the soft white buns, tears suddenly flowed down her cheeks. She said, "General Zhou is such a good man, Mouse. What if the Red Lotus Bandits attack again? We won’t have such good food anymore."

"Don’t worry, when the time comes, I’ll grab a firewood cutter and fight the enemy. I’ll surely keep General Zhou and Qingyang City safe," Luo Hao said confidently.

"Silly child, what good is a firewood cutter in battle?

I’ve heard that General Zhou doesn’t discriminate against anyone in the army and teaches top-notch foundational Martial Arts. Why don’t you learn from him?

With your muscle and bone strength, practicing Martial Arts will also make you much stronger, allowing you to contribute to General Zhou," his mother suggested.

"Alright, I’ll join the army right away. Then, mother, you can also eat meat," Luo Hao said with a naive smile.

The very next day, he voluntarily joined the military.

It was also on this day

that he, having never practiced Martial Arts before, defeated all the unbeatable hands of the City Guards.

Tang Lin’er sparred with him, and after more than thirty moves without a clear winner, he was forced to narrowly claim victory using the "Purifying Lotus Body."

This event caused quite a stir.

Even Zhou Ping’an was alerted.

After a few moves, he realized that the big fellow had indeed never trained in martial arts, nor even in combat techniques.

Yet, he was able to exert incredible power just with the simple movements of chopping trees and farming.

Ordinary punches and kicks in his hands were transformed into something miraculous.

If it were just that, one could say that Luo Hao was a martial prodigy, especially talented in the technical aspects.

However, the fact that he had the strength of over ten thousand pounds without any training was unbelievable.

Zhou Ping’an almost couldn’t resist taking a few drops of his blood to see if it was that of an Ancient Fierce Beast... of course, he wouldn’t have been able to tell anyway.

One could only say that he was a naturally born Divine General. That he had been undiscovered for the first seventeen years of his life was like a cheat code from heaven given to Ping’an.

It was just a matter of waiting to deliver the opponent right in front of him.

Thus, Zhou Ping’an personally taught Luo Hao the Gentle Water Eight Steps and the Chasing Wave Sword, and even imparted the Tidal Breathing Technique to him.

Moreover, on his first day in the army, he promoted the newly nicknamed "Mang Jingang," the silly big man, to Infantry Commander.

...

The people in front of him were his foundation.

Zhou Ping’an walked up to the ninety-six men, his gaze sweeping over each one.

Thinking that Li Yuankang was still likely mingled in the crowd, perhaps even mocking him,

a glint of cold light flashed in his eyes.

"Very good, maintaining your composure, feeling invincible, huh? Let’s see who is truly the Son of Destiny," he said.

A feeling struck him.

Li Yuankang was among them.

He was on the right track in his search.

At this moment, all he needed to do was to find him.

And ensure he did not harm anyone else.

...