Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

In the days that followed, Chu Lingguang would finish his official duties for the day and then retreat to his tent. There, he would use a Qi Refining technique to refine the power within his Dantian, converting his True Qi into Spiritual Power.

He had always believed that the process of converting his True Qi into Spiritual Power would indirectly strengthen his Dantian. If that effect proved insufficient, he would simply strengthen his Dantian while simultaneously refining his Qi Sea Power.

After a single appearance at Wolf Valley Pass, Andenuk was never seen again. The relationship between the Great Yuan and the Turkic tribes deteriorated from one of peace into a state of war.

「Two months later.」

The Turkic tribes took the initiative and attacked the Great Yuan.

Along the northern National Border, a Turkic army 300,000 strong bore down on the empire.

In Yunchuan City of Mazhou Prefecture, a Turkic force of fifty thousand crossed the Hundred Thousand Mountains, attempting a night raid to capture the city and shatter the Great Yuan’s rear defenses.

Unfortunately, their movements were quickly spotted by Mr. Du’s scouts, and the two armies clashed within the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Turkic Wizards controlled Demon Beasts to clear the path ahead.

Experts from the Great Yuan’s Beast Taming Sect countered by controlling Demon Kings, unleashing a beast tide in the opposite direction. The fighting within the Hundred Thousand Mountains resulted in countless casualties for both sides.

A brutal war also broke out along the main National Border.

Wei Tu—brother of Wei Yongguang, the commander of the border pass, and a man Chu Lingguang had met once—was killed in action!

Yang Shaorong, who had been drilling troops in Qiling Prefecture, was given command during the crisis. He led an army of 30,000 to reinforce the National Border, while his wife, Wei Fanghua, and young son, Yang Xiaoning, traveled to the Wei Family’s estate to pay their respects to the fallen Wei Tu.

Second Brother Wu Feihong, Third Brother Li Murong, and even Fourth Brother Wang Chao accompanied Yang Shaorong to the front lines.

In the waters near Black Bear Island off the coast of Qingzhou Prefecture, pirates made a resurgence. As if guided by an unseen hand, they formed a joint fleet with three island nations from beyond the South Sea—Da Li, Qi Han, and Golden Crow—and launched a coordinated attack against Black Bear Island, Pearl Island, and Qingzhou Prefecture itself.

In just two short months, war had erupted along all of the Great Yuan’s borders.

Bandits rose in rebellion.

Riots flared up across the land, and it seemed as if the Imperial Court might collapse at any moment.

Chu Lingguang stood guard at Wolf Valley Pass.

As streams of news from the outside world reached him, he grew particularly concerned for Xuanyuan Jinkang’s safety upon learning that Black Bear Island was under attack by pirates and forces from the small island nations.

’Knowing Xuanyuan Jinkang’s personality, he’d never admit defeat, much less surrender or retreat. If he can’t hold on, he’ll probably die fighting on Black Bear Island.’

Chu Lingguang had promised Eunuch Liu that he would take Xuanyuan Jinkang to Yuanchu Mountain, and he now worried he would be unable to keep his word.

When he heard that Yunchuan City was under attack—that a fifty-thousand-strong Turkic army led by Wizards had crossed the Hundred Thousand Mountains to launch a night raid—Chu Lingguang feared the city would fall and worried for the safety of his four sworn brothers.

Fortunately, Yunchuan City’s defenses held.

Mr. Du had learned of the Turkic plan ahead of time and intercepted their fifty-thousand-strong army within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, preventing the battle from ever reaching the city gates.

Subsequently, Yang Shaorong led an army of 30,000, accompanied by his three junior brothers, to the National Border to confront the Turkic Army.

In the short span of two months, the Great Yuan’s world seemed to have been turned upside down.

With frequent uprisings all over, it was as if the Turkic King’s influence had long ago infiltrated the Great Yuan’s territory.

Chu Lingguang knew that on the battlefield, blades had no eyes and death could come in an instant. Hearing that all four of his sworn brothers had rushed to the front, he was sick with worry.

’At least Hei Hu is still in South City, serving as the Garrison Commander.’

Their child was not yet two, and when Chu Lingguang had seen the couple in Baiyang County three months prior, Hei Hu had bulked up considerably.

His strength had just reached the realm of Qi Sea Perfection, his six-layered Dharma Aspect was not yet fully open, and he had only recently awakened his True Dragon Power. While that level of power would make him a fierce general on the battlefield, it wasn’t enough to guarantee his own survival.

’If he goes to the battlefield... I’m really worried something will happen to him. What would my cousin, Linghua, and my little nephew, Hei Long, do then?’

But as ill luck would have it, his worst fears came true.

Two months after the war began, Chu Lingguang received a letter at Wolf Valley Pass. It was from his Second Aunt, Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family, and it came with a bowl of lard.

The letter explained that Hei Hu had been transferred to the front a month ago. Guo Wei had tried to pull some strings but failed to help. Hei Hu only had time to say a few words of instruction to Zhang Linghua before he had to rush off to the front lines with the army.

His Second Aunt, Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family, hoped that Chu Lingguang could use his own connections to get Hei Hu pulled back from the front.

’Second Aunt.’

Chu Lingguang stared at the bowl of lard, lost in a daze for a moment.

He was now a Senior Fifth Grade official, the Vice Commander of Wolf Valley Pass. Here, he was second to one man and commanded thousands. He enjoyed fine food and clothes every day, never having to worry about his next meal, let alone money. But seeing this bowl of lard, sent by Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family from a thousand miles away, deeply moved him.

He would never forget how, when he had nothing to eat, Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family had helped him behind Zhang Da’s back.

Nor would he forget the time she had left a bowl of lard and two eggs in his kitchen.

Hei Hu and Zhang Linghua had only recently married, and their son, his nephew Hei Long, was not yet two. His aunt was terrified that Hei Hu would meet with an accident on the battlefield, leaving Linghua and her child desolate and alone. That was why she had thought of him first, hoping he could use his authority or connections to have Hei Hu recalled from the front lines.

SCRAPE!

Chu Lingguang scraped a spoonful of the fat into his rice, mixed it in evenly with his chopsticks, and ate every last grain of the glistening bowl of rice.

Putting down his bowl and chopsticks, Chu Lingguang wrote furiously, sending a letter to Mr. Du that very night.

’My Second Aunt thinks that as a Vice Commander, a Senior Fifth Grade official, I’m powerful enough to get Hei Hu pulled from the front lines. But how could I possibly manage that?’

’But this is the first time Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family has ever asked me for anything, and it’s about Hei Hu, Linghua, and their family. I can’t just sit by and do nothing. Not even if it goes against my Martial Arts Heart, not even if it means betraying my creed of loyal service.’