Chapter 627 - 260: The Choice: Enter Yuanchu Mountain?
"Some things, once lost, can never be regained. Do you understand?"
Yun Hong warned.
"My apologies. I’m afraid I don’t know anything."
Chu Lingguang knew Yun Hong meant well, so he bowed to him.
"You..."
Yun Hong’s expression stiffened.
He remembered back in the Northern Territory Trial Ground, right here in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Chu Lingguang had nearly lost his chance to advance because he was helping Du Wushuang cut down a Dragon Claw Tree. But in a twist of fate, he’d ended up winning the top spot.
"Sigh!"
In the end, Yun Hong let out a long sigh.
He clapped Chu Lingguang on the shoulder. "Look after yourself. I hope to see you on Yuanchu Mountain someday."
’Yun Hong knew in his heart that even if Chu Lingguang knew who the Wolf Demon was, he would never betray them.’
’Back in the Trial Ground, he’d risked everything to chop down that Dragon Claw Tree for Du Wushuang, all for a single promise. The Wolf Demon had helped him snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Even if that being was now branded a demon, Chu Lingguang would never sell them out.’
"Zhang, Chu Lingguang doesn’t know who the Wolf Demon is."
He walked up to Zhang Xuan and said earnestly.
"It’s impossible for him not to know."
Zhang Xuan didn’t believe it.
He wanted to teach Chu Lingguang a lesson.
"Zhang, Chu Lingguang is a man of loyalty and principle. He always repays his debts. Even if you beat him to death, he won’t talk."
Yun Hong said, stepping in front of Zhang Xuan.
Zhang Xuan clenched his fists. ’Chu Lingguang’s actions aren’t just a defiance of me personally, but a contempt for Yuanchu Mountain’s authority. He’s trying to upset the balance of power.’
"Zhang, even if Chu Lingguang won’t talk, we’ll find the Wolf Demon sooner or later. A man like him, if you show him favor, will remember it and find a way to serve Yuanchu Mountain. If, say, we let him enter Yuanchu Mountain to cultivate now, he would definitely..."
Yun Hong tried to persuade him.
"In his dreams!"
Zhang Xuan was furious that Yun Hong would even suggest letting Chu Lingguang enter Yuanchu Mountain to cultivate at a time like this.
It was utter nonsense.
"Sparing his life today is the greatest favor I’ll grant him. If he wants to enter Yuanchu Mountain, he can bring me the Wolf Demon. Otherwise, it’s never going to happen!"
Zhang Xuan declared, his voice ringing with conviction.
He said it loud enough for Chu Lingguang to hear.
"Zhang..."
Yun Hong couldn’t bear to see Chu Lingguang’s future ruined.
"Silence! If you plead for him again, I’ll assume you’re in league with the demon, too."p>Zhang Xuan snapped.
Yun Hong’s expression froze.
"Hmph!"
Zhang Xuan stalked away.
Sighing to himself again, Yun Hong hurried after him.
Chu Lingguang watched the two of them leave.
"Chu, even the experts from Yuanchu Mountain came to see you personally. Are you about to head to Yuanchu Mountain to cultivate?"
After Zhang Xuan and Yun Hong left, Lin Shirong came over and asked.
As the top commander of Wolf Valley Pass, Lin Shirong now felt like he was a step below Chu Lingguang and treated him with great courtesy.
"You’ve misunderstood, Lin."
Chu Lingguang didn’t explain further.
"You rascal, once you get into Yuanchu Mountain, don’t forget what you promised me. You have to let me see the power of the Qi Refining realm."
Lin Shirong just assumed Chu Lingguang was being cautious and didn’t want to say too much before officially entering Yuanchu Mountain.
Everyone at Wolf Valley Pass knew that the ceasefire between the Great Yuan and the Turkic forces was directly related to Chu Lingguang leading ten thousand men on a surprise attack against the Turkic Headquarters.
For such a meritorious deed, being granted a noble title or a high-ranking position would be no exaggeration.
Had Yunchuan City fallen, the Great Yuan would have lost the entire north, and even the Profound Iron Ore of Wolf Valley Pass would have fallen into Turkic hands.
Everyone was waiting for orders from above, scrambling over each other to congratulate Chu Lingguang in advance.
Chu Lingguang couldn’t explain the situation to them.
「Three days later.」
The Court sent an army of fifty thousand to reinforce the defenses of Wolf Valley Pass.
Chu Lingguang’s night raid on the Turkic Headquarters with ten thousand soldiers had revealed the location of Wolf Valley Pass. The Profound Iron Ore at the pass was of critical importance to the Great Yuan.
Regardless of whether the war had ended, the Great Yuan would immediately reinforce the garrison here.
Along with the fifty thousand troops, a transfer order arrived.
"Chu, your orders are here! You’re going to Yuanchu Mountain to cultivate!"
Upon receiving the order, Lin Shirong brought it to Chu Lingguang at once.
He was so excited he was practically dancing.
"WOOOOOH!"
"Yuanchu Mountain!"
"Yuanchu Mountain!"
"Commander Chu!"
The soldiers cheered for Chu Lingguang.
Chu Lingguang had performed a great service, and he had managed to bring two thousand men back with him. Everyone knew of his divine courage and the hardships he had faced.p>The survivors were all deeply grateful to Chu Lingguang.
They also knew that once Chu Lingguang’s reward was announced, theirs would soon follow. Many of them were waiting to return home in glory, laden with generous rewards of silver coins.
"Chu, hurry up and open it."
Lin Shirong held the order out to Chu Lingguang.
"Commander Chu!"
Ma Zhong, who had lost an eye in the battle, also watched Chu Lingguang with great excitement.
The transfer order from the Court was sealed in a bamboo tube. His name, Chu Lingguang, was carved on the outside. Only he could open it; anyone else would be punished for leaking military intelligence.
So, in front of everyone, Chu Lingguang crushed the wax seal on the bamboo tube, pulled out the stopper, and tipped out the document inside.
"By order of the Holy Emperor, Chu Lingguang is to report to West Warehouse within three days to assume the post of City Guard Captain."
The contents were simple.
Each word was resolute and forceful.
It was as if they were accompanied by the roar of a dragon.
Although Chu Lingguang had been mentally prepared, seeing that the Court had demoted him from commander to captain instead of promoting him still sent a sharp, uncontrollable pang of pain through his heart.
He knew this was all because of Yuanchu Mountain.
But the Court’s cowardice and cruelty still filled him with resentment.
"This..."
"City Guard Captain of West Warehouse!"
"West Warehouse is the most barren place in the Great Yuan! It’s five thousand li of desolate, snow-covered mountains where not a single blade of grass grows. Even the Turkic people never bothered with it."