Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 87 - 84: Framed to His Face, A Step Back is Actually a Step Forward

Chapter 87: Chapter 84: Framed to His Face, A Step Back is Actually a Step Forward

"Leave behind your belongings, the matter of Baicao Hall sheltering Li Feiying has nothing to do with the rest of you.

Mr. Tian is not an unreasonable man; everyone put down your crossbow arrows and fall back, carefully distinguishing the scene, you must not let the rebels escape."

Tian Shouyi’s face turned red and then white, and after a long time, he managed to squeeze out a few words.

His voice was even slightly hoarse.

Even the most insensitive could clearly feel the unwillingness and frustration in his heart.

"If you had done this earlier, it would have been much better. Thus, Mr. Zhou and the Third Miss will not delay Lord Tian in searching for the strong thief, we shall take our leave now."

Zhou Ping’an slightly retracted his aura, offering a beaming hand-folded salute.

He casually picked up a bundle of gold and silver at his feet and tossed it over: "As for these stolen goods, since County Captain Tian intends to gather them for the state, Mr. Zhou won’t take a single coin. I merely ask for my family home to be safe, that is all."

Amidst his words, in the presence of everyone, he also gave Tian Shouyi some face.

To avoid him truly not being able to step down from his position.

Although it was like tearing off half the face, on the surface, there was still a need to maintain some decorum.

The reputation of being a rebel, it’s indeed not a good one to bear, nor is there any need to bear it.

After finishing his words, Zhou Ping’an, together with Lin Huaiyu, walked out of Baicao Hall swaggeringly under everyone’s gaze.

Following behind them was a middle-aged man with a dark face, carrying a hoe, cowering, head lowered, and not speaking a word.

...

Under the watchful eyes of everybody, gold and jewels scattered on the ground, making the soldiers’ breathing quicken.

Yet no one noticed that among the medicines and gold and silver items, inexplicably, there was an additional silk handkerchief...

On the handkerchief was a red lotus drawn so vividly and enticingly, it seemed alive.

...

"Why didn’t you order to strike?"

Xiao Changhe, who walked out from behind the half-collapsed low wall, inevitably had some dust on his black and white Daoist robe.

He patted his clothes forcefully, took off the jade crown on his head, and carefully wiped it for a while before he approached Tian Shouyi and asked coldly.

No wonder he was angry.

Not only did he fail to save the face of the senior members of his sect, but he also couldn’t avenge his nephew disciple Deng Yuanhua.

What was the most frustrating was that Tian Shouyi seemed to have done nothing and had Baicao Hall in his hands.

Even if he lost face and wanted to regain control over Baicao Hall, most of the gold and elixirs that ended up in the hands of the County Magistrate would inevitably disappear.

An official travels a thousand miles for wealth.

Not only do high and low officials act this way, but even those in the sects aren’t always living off the wind and dew; they too need a lot of silver for their expenses.

All kinds of medicinal supplements, fine clothes, exquisite food, and beautiful servants.

And let’s not forget about the luxury houses, followers, and carriages; which of these doesn’t require money?

Therefore, facing this sudden windfall, both Tian Shouyi and Xiao Changhe had their reasons to claim a large share; it was only natural.

After all, each had made an effort.

And each of them had a reputable cause.

"You see..."

Faced with Xiao Changhe’s questioning, Tian Shouyi’s eyes subtly twinkled with intelligence, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, and said with a helpless and bitter smile: "Earlier on, you also saw the situation; it wasn’t that Mr. Tian didn’t want to keep those two, but rather it was beyond my ability."

He stretched out both hands, laying them flat.

One could see that on both palms, a faint violet hue was spreading...

Especially at the base of his thumbs, where there were already a few long cuts, still oozing fresh blood.

"I had thought that, although the Lin Residence is hard to deal with, only Fairy Huaiyu deserved attention. As long as she’s trapped within the military formation, there’s nothing to worry about...

After all, one can hardly fight against many; a solitary person’s strength is not enough to fend off our combined assault, let alone facing these two thousand troops."

Tian Shouyi spoke of this matter, full of frustration.

"I never expected that Zhou Ping’an, who came from humble beginnings, would advance in cultivation and martial prowess to such a degree in such a short span of time?"

It’s truly heartbreaking when talents of the world cannot be utilized for oneself...

He not only knew about how Zhou Ping’an and the others had entered Qingyang City on that day but also how they stood for a long time at the recruitment site in the military camp before heading to the Lin Family."

At the time, it all seemed so ordinary.

Now looking back,

what I missed out on was more than just a genius.

What I missed was a bright and splendid future.

County Captain Tian gently stroked the big blue horse that had followed him for many years, his eyes full of pain.

In the recent clash of knives and spears, his opponent’s strength was extraordinarily great.

He had been unprepared at the moment, sitting carelessly on the horse as he made his move, and by the time he realized something was wrong, it was already too late to retreat and defuse the force.

He had no choice but to transfer that crazy, infinitely powerful force onto his horse.

The consequence was,

he himself was unharmed, except for a slight injury to his palm.

But the horse beneath him had all four of its hooves broken and its innards damaged; seeing it spouting blood from its mouth, it clearly wasn’t going to live much longer.

"Find a good burial place for Qing’er and bury it,"

County Captain Tian instructed a guard beside him, then turned his head with a bitter voice and asked, "Elder Xiao, I also want to ask you, when did Zhou Ping’an learn your Lishan Sect’s Ghost Shadow Step Technique, and even reach the ’Shadowless Under the Sun’ level...

With that kind of movement technique, I ask you, in Qingyang City, who could possibly keep him, and what crossbow could hit him?"

"Your contraption couldn’t keep him either?"

Elder Xiao Changhe furrowed his brows and suddenly asked.

"No, unless he’s completely unguarded, then maybe it’s possible. However, trying with Lin Huaiyu might work."

County Captain Tian pressed the treasure on his arm and carefully thought back to Zhou Ping’an’s earlier evasive movements and the eightfold phantoms he conjured, still not feeling too confident.

"Actually, if Elder Xiao could firmly entangle Lin Huaiyu, it might still be worth a fight..."

By the time the conversation reached this point, they were essentially slapping each other’s faces.

Elder Xiao Changhe’s face went pitch-dark.

He grunted and turned away.

"The foundation of Baicao Hall, after all, belongs to Lishan, you should still make some arrangements with your nephew Yin; otherwise, it will not be easy for me to speak on your behalf."

"Mr. Tian is well aware of that,"

County Captain Tian said with a smile.

The interests at hand were of the utmost importance.

Regardless of whether he lost face, in the end, this empty-handed bluff hadn’t failed.

These piles of gold, silver, gems, and mountains of medicinal herbs and pills could elevate the strength of his troops by a notch.

What is the foundation of a commander?

It’s nothing more than the soldiers under his command.

Without his troops, he is nothing.

That’s why, regardless of his own character and whether he is heartless or not, County Captain Tian never treated his soldiers with disdain.

Most of the time, he would even eat and live with his soldiers, training with them every day.

This was precisely the biggest reason why he had risen from being a despised prodigal son to his position today.

He knew well what to rely on, when to bow his head, and when to strive hard.

Understand the situation and make a fortune in silence.

"Huh..."

"What is this?"

Seeing that no one was around, County Captain Tian suddenly reached out and grabbed a shining white silk handkerchief, opened it to take a look, and felt as if his eyes were burning with fire...

A wave of heat rushed to his forehead.

Eight characters came to life and imprinted themselves upon his heart.

[Red Lotus Purification, Karmic Fire Engulfing the Body]

His heart raced, and he quickly brought his hands together, discreetly slipping the silk handkerchief into his sleeve, his expression calm as he shouted, "Bring the treasures inside the residence into the camp for military funds."

"Yes, sir."

A few soldiers responded, their faces full of joy.