Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 406 - 364: Spirit Demons Blood Devouring, Grandmaster Transgression

Chapter 406: Chapter 364: Spirit Demons Blood Devouring, Grandmaster Transgression

Zhou Ping’an listened, finding the situation increasingly familiar.

Moreover, during their brief conversation, he strangely developed a good impression of the middle-aged man with a small mustache.

Without delay, he asked, "Your surname is Xiao, may I know if you have any relation to the Great Yu’s royal family?"

Since the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty 753 years ago, nearly eight hundred years had passed...

The royal Xiao family had branched out extensively, with descendants spreading far and wide through countless generations.

Encountering someone with the surname Xiao, inquiring about their origin and background was certainly appropriate.

Some joked that on the streets, you could throw a stick and it would likely hit a royal descendant.

Meaning that the bloodline of the Xiao royal family was actually not precious.

At the same time, it was evident just how many people from the Xiao nobility had fallen into the common populace.

"I am a twenty-third-generation descendant of the Huai Tang Longevity King, currently down on my luck in Pinghu. I suppose General Zhou might find this amusing," Xiao Chengfeng said, looking embarrassed.

"So you are indeed a royal descendant, my apologies, my apologies. Let’s discuss this in town," Zhou Ping’an said unceremoniously.

He was aware of the situation in Pinghu County.

Previously, the Green Lady had sent an envoy to negotiate, hoping to have Qingyang and Pinghu join forces against the Red Lotus Rebel Army...

However, the envoy was beaten and sent away, and the County Magistrate Wang Jin even insulted Zhou Ping’an as a traitor and rebel.

Thus, Zhou Ping’an had completely abandoned that idea.

And stopped concerning himself with Pinghu County.

Not long after, he heard that Pinghu had fallen. The entire family of County Magistrate Wang Jin had kneeled to surrender but weren’t spared.

All were executed publicly, and their wives and daughters were taken into the military camp; the result was self-evident.

It just showed that some people either became foolish by overstudying or vastly underestimated the brutality of the Red Lotus Bandits.

Given Ran Sifei’s ferocious disposition, he was always looking for an opportunity to assert his dominance, and the magistrate just happened to be in his crosshairs.

"In Pinghu County, all the major families with connections had already relocated.

The rest were thoroughly plundered by the Red Lotus Rebel Army from top to bottom.

The city, aside from some impoverished people, had nothing noteworthy left.

However, with the general stationed in this town, there’s something you must beware..."

Zhou Ping’an, bold and skilled, instructed the covert member of the Green Scale Army who had come to meet him to hurry on a fast horse to Qingyang to deliver the news.

He also had Lin Huaiyu dispatch troops to take over defense.

Then, he was led by Xiao Chengfeng to the Pinghu County Yamen.

Initially, the place was chaotic. Upon seeing Zhou Ping’an enter the city, many showed astonishment.

But, as Xiao Chengfeng issued a few commands, it miraculously calmed down.

Seeing this, Zhou Ping’an couldn’t help but regard him more highly.

Previously, according to his own words, he was coerced by the Red Lotus Army and became a prominent figure, despite not being one of their own, which was quite remarkable.

"Sir, speak frankly. To be frank with you, now that Qingyang and East Mountain are secured, and this city is pacified, the Three Counties of Liyou no longer face warfare.

We are planning to manage things meticulously and settle the residents. Now is a time for peace, not conflict; any issues can be resolved one by one."

Zhou Ping’an, although wanting to avoid trouble and recognizing rare talent, wouldn’t simply take someone’s word as it was.

He directly pointed out.

Now in these Three Counties of Liyou, over a million people belonged under his command.

Defensible on all sides with Li River to the east, Yunjin to the west, and backed by Black Mountain, he was ready for an attack or defense.

No matter the tactics, he was fearless.

"I see, congratulations, General, and my respects!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengfeng covered his face, sobbing, tears soaking his sleeves.

"This..."

Zhou Ping’an was baffled.

Everything was going well; why the sudden weeping?

Moreover, it wasn’t feigned crying.

Zhou Ping’an, extremely perceptive and empathetic to emotions, soon realized that the newly sworn Pinghu accountant Mr. Xiao was genuinely distressed, tears and snot flowing freely.

Standing quietly behind him, the young spearman Yu Changlie, also showing a look of sorrow, added, "My elder brother merely recalled the incident in Pingshan County where thirty thousand residents were forcibly used by the Red Lotus Bandit Tang Yukun to assault the Yunjin Ferry, with seven to eight out of ten either injured or killed...

And considering the well-being of the residents in the Three Counties of Liyou now, he couldn’t contain himself for a moment."

"What about Mr. Xiao at that time?"

"That day, as the Pingshan County Magistrate, he couldn’t lay down his life in battle to serve our nation nor could he secretly save our people. Being criticized whether he advanced or retreated...

Disheartened and despondent, he heard about General Zhou of Qingyang broadly recruiting talents and nurturing the people.

Thus, he decided to come and join, but didn’t expect that upon just arriving in Pinghu, he would be cornered by the Red Lotus Bandit Ran Sifei."

At this point, a chilling murderous intent flashed in Yu Hai’s eyes, "That Ran Sifei is no hero; however, that old archer is extremely vicious, keeping my brother’s family under control..."

Yu Hai glanced at Xiao Chengfeng, then stopped talking.

Zhou Ping’an, however, understood clearly.

Given Yu Hai’s character, he naturally wouldn’t submit, fighting to the death if needed.

Yet, considering the safety of his entire elder brother’s family, he had to forcibly restrain himself.

But within the army, he didn’t contribute effectively.

Previously during the battle beneath the city,

Zhou Ping’an had also noticed that this man hardly utilized even two or three percent of his capabilities.

Merely drifting along in the army, providing vital energy and blood force, but without having any impact whatsoever.

"If he had also joined the attack, there might have been more variables," Zhou Ping’an thought.

After quietly sensing the energy around Yu Changlie, Zhou Ping’an could confirm that this man’s martial arts prowess was certainly no less than that of Ran Sifei.

While he was pleased, he also felt a bit uneasy.

This type of mid-journey defector, being a powerful expert with his own convictions, was not easy to deceive.

If their ideals aligned, that would be one thing — naturally, they would be loyally devoted until death.

But if their ideals did not match, it was very possible they would find an opportunity to flee...

Even taking a large group of people with them.

Recalling a historical figure from modern society, Zhou Ping’an felt a stir in his heart, wondering if he was nurturing a threat or unwittingly making wedding clothes for others.

At that thought, he couldn’t help but laugh it off.

He was perhaps overthinking it.

How could someone destined for great accomplishments be so petty?

One cannot simply reject great talents over a small hidden danger.

That would be utterly inappropriate.

One cannot even compare to "Ren, Qi, Cao."

Take one step at a time.

Listen to what he has to say.

"Mr. Xiao, I have always enjoyed making friends and fishing by the river in my leisure time. At the beginning of March, the ice on the Li River melts, and accompanied by a few friends, I would fish by the riverside, enjoying the spring scenery.

It was meant to be a leisurely pastime, but unexpectedly, while I was dozing off during fishing, I overheard a secret in a daze," Xiao Chengfeng said.

Perhaps because his emotions that day were too intense, Xiao Chengfeng’s face still showed a look of shock as he spoke.

According to him, while dozing off during fishing, for some reason, he overheard people discussing how to go upstream, attack the Three Counties of Liyou, then break through Yunjin Ferry, and march straight into Yunzhou. With the power of millions of ’Blood Food’, they aimed to help the Demon Chief turn into a dragon.

"The Demon Chief? Are you talking about the Southern Scale Demon Chief?" Zhou Ping’an’s face went pale.

When it came to hearing stories, there was surely no lack of information from Little Jiu’er.

However, the tales the little fellow heard were always mixed, neither discerning truth from falsehood.

For instance, the story of Southern Scale Demon Chief "Crocodile Dragon King" Qiu Xing, was enough to stop children from crying at night.

When Little Jiu’er recounted it, he would even stutter with his teeth chattering.

At the time, Zhou Ping’an had merely treated it as a child’s bedtime story without taking it seriously.

However, hearing it from Xiao Chengfeng, a descendant of the Huai Tang Longevity King, taking it so seriously, it seemed inappropriate to consider this merely a pure tale.

"Exactly that Crocodile Dragon... Last year, at the year’s end, Master Wen of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau advised that the demonic spirits arose from the southwest and northwest. He was dismissed on the spot as a spreader of superstitious nonsense.

Yet, those who knew better all understood that Master Wen, with five generations of inheritance, was loyally devoted to the Imperial Court and connected by fate, and he would absolutely not fabricate lies to deceive the emperor.

His warning means there definitely are some issues in the southwest and northwest.

However, some people are blinded by the current peace and prosperity and fail to see the truth," Xiao Chengfeng continued.

"Moreover, I also heard that voice meticulously chatting away, saying that the Blood Demons, acting as internal agents, had abandoned the three counties; the common folk had become ’Blood Food’, and the southwest gate was wide open...

Upon hearing this, I woke from the dream startled, breaking into a cold sweat, and I even released the small turtle I had just caught and hurried back to the County Yamen.

Not long after, I heard that the Red Lotus had raised their flag, proclaiming ’Red Lotus Purification, Recreating the Universe’, and concurrently, thirty-six prefectural sub-branches rose in rebellion.

In Huangze County under Pingshan County, Helm Master Tang Yukun launched a direct assault, marching straight towards Pingshan..."

Following that, Pingshan County fell, and Xiao Chengfeng, along with hundreds of thousands of civilians, crossed the river, fleeing through Yunjin Ferry.

But they were caught up by the Red Lotus Army...

At the same time, the Prefectural Governor of Huangze, Zhang Zhongyu, ordered the ferry crossing to be sealed off, not allowing the civilians to cross the river.

That day, three hundred thousand civilians were caught in the middle, suffering heavy casualties, turning the Li River red.

Xiao Chengfeng and Yu Changlie, together with seventy or eighty thousand civilians, broke through the encirclement and headed south, hoping to escape to the Qingyang Region.

For, they heard that this region was most friendly to refugees, with ample food supply, providing them a chance for survival.

As for the sudden attacks by spirit demons, they would have to take one step at a time.

"Red Lotus Sub-branch helm master Tang Yukun?"

Zhou Ping’an looked at Yu Changlie, thinking it was unlikely.

With his prowess, if Tang Yukun was only at Fang Buping’s level of cultivation, he really might not have been able to fight against him.

"Tang Yukun is formidable in military strategy, full of cunning plans, and I don’t fear him in a direct charge.

However, he has a master swordsman by his side, reputedly from under the command of Bright Heart Holy Mother of the Red Lotus Nine Luminaries Peak, known as Cang Wu.

This person’s swordsmanship is indeed fierce; I am far inferior and could not withstand more than a few moves, so had to flee in disarray," Yu Changlie said somewhat dejectedly.

It seemed he was recalling the dreadful defeat of that day.

There was no mention of any Holy Maiden or Dharma King then, but suddenly there was a Grandmaster level expert.

Zhou Ping’an curiously suppressed his interest, but then heard Yu Changlie continue directly, "Grandmaster level is a term used in Jianghu for those who have grasped the true intentions of heaven and earth, possessing extraordinary skills.

It’s rumored that General Zhou had once studied under the Cloud Water Sect, you must have heard of it...

As martial intent progresses to the later stages, it needs to be united with the celestial spirit, understanding the true meaning of heaven and earth, being capable of sensing Heaven and Earth’s Divine Opportunity, invariably accompanied by great forces of nature, and usually not something that three or two Nine Refinements Martial Intent experts can contend with.

It is because Cang Wu the Old Daoist was in Huangze, that Zhang Zhongshu was compelled not to move, and had no choice but to seek help from the Cloud Water Sect..."

Thus, Zhou Ping’an understood.

Recently, Elder Wu Changsong of Diecang Peak passed through Qingyang on his way straight to Huangze County for this very reason.

According to what Yu Changlie said, it likely wasn’t just Elder Wu who had hurried there.

Possibly, other elders and disciples of the Cloud Water Sect had also arrived.

After all, Zhang Zhongshu, as a True Disciple of the Cloud Water Sect, controlled an entire prefecture.

In these times of great turmoil, gaining momentum, the Cloud Water Sect could not afford to neglect supporting him.