Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 258 - 249: Fuling on Alert!

Chapter 258: Chapter 249: Fuling on Alert!

Recently, many martial artists had come to help out in Fuling City.

Even the townsfolk of Fuling themselves formed a militia to aid in maintaining order within the city.

After all, with the Governor gone, everyone hoped that Fuling could thrive during this period, who knows, maybe when Kaihuang hears about this, he might think Fuling is quite special, perhaps even better off without a Governor, and then, in a moment of vigor, decree that Fuling no longer needs a Governor to manage it.

Of course, the reason why everyone was proactively maintaining the order in Fuling was also because the Town Martial Office had arrested many high-ranking officials from the Chuan-Yu Road, and these officials were now detained within Fuling City.

Even the Ministry of Punishment from the Imperial Court had dispatched a team here to assist in the custody of these officials, personally ordered by Kaihuang to be captured.

Moreover, a military force of one thousand two hundred soldiers had been transferred from under the command of Yang Mang, the King of Shu on the Sword South Path, specifically to assist with this matter.

Therefore, under the management of the Ministry of Punishment, the Town Martial Office, the military, martial artists, and the militia, Fuling City was actually doing much better than when Hu Feipan was in charge.

Even the citizens felt that there were fewer beggars on the streets recently, and they were earning more money than usual.

Nobody had to pay to enter the city anymore.

For a time, there was an increase in happy chatter and laughter within Fuling City.

"Xi Fu, I’m going to pick up Dirty Three!"

Outside the north gate of Fuling City, Rough Riding Commander Long Xutuo, hearing his apprentice’s report, glanced at the spot where his young apprentice’s tooth was missing and struggled to suppress his urge to laugh.

"Pei Shoushen, do you know Zhang San from the Town Martial Office? You’re going to pick him up?"

Long Xutuo looked at his eight-year-old apprentice with a serious expression.

"Acknowledge four, they say he’s the most verbose!"

Long Xutuo smiled and pointed northward, saying, "They probably won’t be traveling by water the whole way, go and meet them."

"Yes, Xi Fu!"

The eight-year-old Pei Shoushen happily turned and ran to his warhorse, leaped onto it, and with two Thunder Drum Jar Golden Hammers in his hands, he galloped northward.

The deputy general beside him expressed his concern, "Capital Commandant, is it really safe to let Young Pei go off by himself? Could there be danger?"

Although Pei Shoushen was eight years old, his behavior was much like that of a three-year-old child. His front tooth had been chipped when he tried to bite the iron cage after seeing a demon beast in the military catch one with its teeth not long before.

"Let him go, it shouldn’t lead to any trouble."

Long Xutuo was quite fond of his apprentice, after all, at the young age of eight, the boy had already cultivated to the Five Emperors’ Proper Position within the True Core Realm.

To reach the Five Emperors’ Proper Position at the age of eight, his future was boundless.

At this moment, Zhang San, accompanied by many martial artists, was escorting the arrested officials off the boat, heading south on the land route.

Although the Capital Region Road was to the northeast of the Chuan-Yu Road, the fastest and safest method was to gather everyone in Lingzhou and then travel by water directly to the Great Sui capital — Daxing City.

However, just as everyone was moving forward, suddenly, a martial artist who was scouting ahead ran back.

"Reporting to Military Chief Zhang, there’s a young commander ahead. Judging from his armor and horse, he should be one of ours, and he says he’s here to see you. Moreover, he’s quite powerful, seems to be at the True Core Realm, so we didn’t dare to stop him."

Upon hearing this, Zhang San couldn’t help but think of the message previously sent by Third Miss Gan, who had already arrived in Lingzhou, that Kaihuang had transferred a troop of twelve hundred soldiers from the Sword South Path, and it must be someone from the military coming to meet them.

"If he’s a young commander from the military, then he must be one of us. Let him through, what’s there to dare or not dare to stop."

However, it wasn’t long before Zhang San understood why the martial artist who had come back to report said the other party seemed very powerful, and appeared to be at the True Core Realm.

For on the other side, atop a yellow piebald horse, was a little boy who looked no more than ten years old, holding a Thunder Drum Jar Golden Hammer in each hand that was even bigger than his own head, galloping wildly toward them.

Zhang San also sensed that the boy’s aura should belong to the Five Emperors’ Proper Position.

But just how old did the boy look!

Had he begun his training in his mother’s womb?

At that moment, Pei Shoushen in the lead also noticed Zhang San and company, immediately stopped his warhorse, and lifted the hammer in his hand to point ahead.

"Which one is the filthy Zhang San? I’ve heard Zhang San is mighty tough, and I want to challenge him to a duel!"

Zhang San was amused by the adorable appearance of the boy opposite him, spurred his horse forward, and said, "I am Zhang San. Who are you?"

"I am a disciple of Long Xutuo of Sword South Path, a sworn younger brother of King of Shu Yang Mang, of the True Core Realm, the Five Emperors’ Proper Position, Pei... Shou... divi... Shoushen!"

Seeing the youngster who had come to meet them challenge Zhang San, along with his inadvertently humorous speech, everyone could hardly suppress their laughter. Still, since the boy had come from Sword South Path to help, they tried to keep their laughter quiet, all bowing their heads and holding it in.

"A fight is possible, but first the troops behind me need to pass through here. Let’s cross swords to the right of the road, allowing my people to proceed past on the main road. How about that?"

"Roar ha! Roar ha!"

Young Pei spurred his piebald horse to step aside on the road.

Meanwhile, Zhang San, taking advantage of Young Pei’s back turned to him, executed the Wood Series Technique "Grasses and Trees into Soldiers."

Instantly, he created several decoys of himself around his vicinity.

Then, Zhang San donned his bamboo hat and continued to use his techniques, concealing the many decoys created by the "Grasses and Trees into Soldiers" spell so Young Pei wouldn’t find him too easily.

After that, Zhang San led the group to continue moving forward.

When Young Pei saw Zhang San just ahead, he charged at him to engage in battle, but his hammer stroke caused the decoy Zhang San to disappear upon impact.

"Zhang San, how can you be so weak... oh, there’s another Zhang San! Zhang San, look out—"

Everyone lowered their heads, trying not to let themselves laugh out loud, watching Pei Shoushen on his horse, chasing after Zhang San’s decoy figures created by his technique.

Soon, the crowd reached the northern gate of Fuling City.

Long Xutuo immediately came out to greet them.

"I am Long Xutuo, Capital Commandant of Sword South Path, greeting Military Chief Zhang and all members of the Town Martial Office. Eh? On the way here, did you see a child about eight years old? Big-headed and sturdy, he is my apprentice Pei Shoushen, also known as Young Pei. He said he was coming to meet you all."

Hearing that Pei Shoushen also went by the nickname Young Pei made everyone laugh even more.

Zhang San said, "Commander Wei, Young Pei insisted on having a one-on-one duel with me. Seeing that he likes to play, I used a spell to create some decoys to amuse him. I’ll dispel the magic now, and I expect he’ll be back soon."

Long Xutuo knew that it must have been Young Pei who insisted on pestering Zhang San and repeatedly apologized.

"Military Chief Zhang, I’m so sorry, truly sorry; the boy has followed me since he was little, and he hasn’t exactly picked up any good habits."

Zhang San said with a smile, "No matter, no matter. I find the little fellow rather adorable. Plus, being the same realm as me at such a young age, his potential is boundless!"

"Military Chief Zhang, you flatter him. Please come inside the city."

As Zhang San and Long Xutuo rode together, Long Xutuo whispered, "We’ve already secretly arranged several large boats nearby. This time we’ll take the river route, unimpeded."

Zhang San nodded slightly, then catching the profound look in Long Xutuo’s eyes, he understood what the real plan was.