Chapter 191: Truly a Bit Excited
Qin Mu was stunned, not knowing which fellow cultivator the Imperial Preceptor was referring to.
However, the Imperial Preceptor of Yan Kang confiding in him sent a chill down his spine. He felt as though he might be killed at any moment to silence him.
"You need not worry."
The Imperial Preceptor seemed to see through his thoughts, speaking leisurely: "I simply felt moved by emotion and wished to talk with you. You are a very good listener. If it were that loose-lipped Duke Wei, I wouldn't dare say much. Otherwise, if I mentioned something, the entire court and countryside would know about it by the next day."
"Duke Wei? Wei Yong seems to be from the Duke Wei's household."
Qin Mu blinked. The Duke Wei, a top-ranking first-grade official of the current dynasty, was also a loose-lipped talker? Wei Yong's loose tongue was already troublesome enough—it turned out to be a family tradition.
The Imperial Preceptor continued: "Moreover, although you are a sixth-grade Grand Academy Erudite with an official position, you are not within the court. Speaking with you is quite safe."
He revealed a smile and said: "Most crucially, no one would believe anything said by the Demon Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult."
Qin Mu's face darkened. The Heavenly Demon Cult's reputation was excellent among the common people, but in the eyes of the court and the martial world, it was rather notorious.
Several generals approached, and one of them bowed, saying: "Imperial Preceptor, Tianbo City has been pacified."
The Imperial Preceptor nodded. The generals looked at Qin Mu with puzzled expressions, and Qin Mu nodded back with a smile.
"This is our dynasty's first Grand Academy Erudite."
The Imperial Preceptor said: "Qin Mu, Erudite Qin."
Seeing that Qin Mu appeared honest and upright, with a dignified bearing, and though young, gave off a trustworthy air, the generals praised him: "Erudite Qin is truly mature beyond his years. No wonder he is the first Grand Academy Erudite—a man of extensive learning and talent."
Qin Mu returned the greeting, smiling: "You flatter me, esteemed sirs."
The Imperial Preceptor turned around, looking southward, and said: "This battle was merely a small test. The real fight is yet to come. Ahem, ahem..."
The generals were startled and quickly stepped forward: "Imperial Preceptor, your injuries..."
The Imperial Preceptor waved his hand. His face was somewhat pale but quickly returned to normal. He said: "Perhaps I was shaken by that demon god when I slew him just now. It's nothing serious. The rebel forces are entrenched in the south. I intend to give them two choices. He Zhuguo."
A general with a square face bowed: "Your orders, Imperial Preceptor!"
"Go to the south and tell those traitors and rebels that I have arrived. Give them two paths."
The Imperial Preceptor pointed toward the southern frontier, his face cold: "The first path: I will lead a thousand troops and ten thousand horses to crush everything—annihilate their cults, destroy their sects, eradicate their schools, and wipe out their nine clans. This is the court's rule; traitors and rebels meet this fate."
The pillar-state general He Xiaopeng listened attentively as the Imperial Preceptor continued: "The second path follows the rules of the martial world. I will bring court officials to mark out a territory, and everyone will challenge each other according to martial customs. If they have the skill, they can kill us, or we kill them. Two paths—they may choose."
He Zhuguo hesitated: "Imperial Preceptor, following the rules of the martial world might be somewhat inappropriate?"
The Imperial Preceptor laughed: "Before I entered court as an official, I too was a man of the martial world. What is inappropriate? Pillar-state General, were you not the same? You also came from the martial world into the court, did you not?"
He Zhuguo acknowledged this and said: "I will go to the southern frontier at once! But Imperial Preceptor, please take care of your injuries. If they choose the martial path, I fear they might strike you with hidden arrows."
The Imperial Preceptor waved his hand, and He Zhuguo departed.
"Wei Zhuguo."
"Your orders, Imperial Preceptor."
"Mobilize the troops to cross the river, spreading out like a fan. From the Eastern Sea in the east to the Great Wasteland in the west, push forward—fill lakes as you cross them, fill rivers as you cross them, raze cities as you pass them. Drive southward."
The Imperial Preceptor said expressionlessly: "Make these rebels feel the pressure."
"Wei Wenju receives the Imperial Preceptor's command!"
"Duke Wei."
"Your orders, Imperial Preceptor."
"Duke, your cultivation is formidable and you are skilled in leading troops. You shall command the forces to strike directly at Daxiang in the southern frontier. Champion General, Huaichang General, each of you will lead one army, advancing from Duke Wei's two flanks to destroy the left and right cities of Daxiang. Supreme Pillar, you will lead another army to attack Dayu."
The Imperial Preceptor deployed his generals and issued his commands. Duke Wei laughed: "Imperial Preceptor, we're all off to work. What about you?"
The Imperial Preceptor smiled: "I will walk slowly behind you, waiting for the rebels to make their decision. Besides, I have some injuries that need recuperation."
"Your injuries haven't healed yet?"
Duke Wei boomed: "Then you really need to rest for a while. Isn't the Little Divine Healer by your side? Have him treat you. My old lady sneaked off to the Flower Alley in the capital behind my back. I thought she was going there to find women, but it turned out she was looking for the Little Divine Healer to get treated. Damn, it scared me half to death, and I was a bit excited too. I thought she liked that sort of thing..."
The Imperial Preceptor coughed dryly, somewhat embarrassed, and said: "Duke, you should set out with your troops. Daxiang is a key military stronghold in the southern frontier—a tough nut to crack."
Duke Wei nodded and turned to leave. He looked back at Qin Mu and said: "Little Divine Healer, give him some medicine to fix that stiff face of his. That sour face can't squeeze out a single smile. Heh, don't mind me. I recognize you. When my old lady went to see you for treatment, I secretly followed. I was worried she was sleeping with women—truly a bit excited..."
Qin Mu's expression stiffened as he waved to him.
The Imperial Preceptor exhaled a breath of turbid air and said: "Ignore him. All the men in the Wei family are like that—mouths big enough to swallow a few cows."
Qin Mu was at a loss for words. Clearly, the Imperial Preceptor had also suffered from this. Duke Wei had spouted plenty of nonsense in front of him.
"Imperial Preceptor, let us part ways here." Qin Mu smiled.
The Imperial Preceptor shook his head: "Part ways? Why? You still need to follow me to the southern frontier. Without you by my side, how will you treat my injuries?"
Qin Mu said awkwardly: "Imperial Preceptor, don't joke. You know your injuries better than I do. Besides, I came out to lead the scholars on a training expedition. Now I've lost several of them, and I need to find them before they die in the chaos."
"You must follow."
The Imperial Preceptor's face darkened slightly: "I will help you find your scholars. What are their names?"
Qin Mu truly did not want to stay by his side. The Imperial Preceptor's plan was clearly to use the various armies to put immense pressure on the southern rebels, forcing these rebellious sects, families, and great clans to feel the heat, compelling them to come and kill the Imperial Preceptor.
The Imperial Preceptor appeared to give them two paths, but in reality, he only gave them one.
Staying by the Imperial Preceptor's side would surely make him a target as well.
He was only at the Five Radiance Realm—how could he be a match for such a colossal existence?
But with the Imperial Preceptor giving the order, he couldn't refuse. He had to name Shen Wanyun and the others.
The Imperial Preceptor raised his hand, and a cloud of fire soared into the sky. The fire cloud transformed into the names of Shen Wanyun, Yue Qinghong, Yun Que, and Si Yunxiang. Then another fire cloud formed a straight arrow pointing to Qin Mu's location.
Before long, Shen Wanyun, Si Yunxiang, and the others hurried over. They were all wounded, having clearly endured fierce battles and narrow escapes. Dragon Qilin was also with them, lifted up by Wolf Slave as they ran toward him.
"Scholars of the Grand Academy pay respects to the Imperial Preceptor!" Shen Wanyun and the others were startled when they saw the Imperial Preceptor and quickly bowed.
Their hearts were uneasy. Qin Mu had summoned the Heavenly Demon King, causing a massive catastrophe with countless casualties. They had been caught up in it, making them accomplices of the Grand Academy Erudite. If the Imperial Preceptor questioned them about their crimes, they would surely be beheaded as a warning to others.
The Imperial Preceptor glanced at everyone, his gaze falling on Dragon Qilin. He nodded and smiled slightly.
Dragon Qilin struggled to rise and bowed to him, saying: "Imperial Preceptor."
"Dragon Da, why are you still injured?"
Fox Ling'er jumped onto Dragon Qilin, looked at the wound on his rear, and asked puzzledly: "Can't you lick your own butt?"
Dragon Qilin grunted and ignored her.
Qin Mu stepped forward, took out a few bottles of Dragon Saliva, and applied it to the big fellow's wounds. Dragon Qilin's injuries were severe. The Heavenly Demon King's gaze had cut into the muscles of his rear, even tearing through his dragon scales. Fortunately, the dragon scales were extremely tough, blocking the gaze somewhat, or he would have been sliced in half.
Qin Mu also took out a few more bottles of Dragon Saliva for Shen Wanyun and the others to treat their wounds.
"Yun Que, Wanyun, one bottle costs ten thousand Dafeng coins."
Fox Ling'er kindly reminded them: "If you don't have money, you can write an IOU."
Yun Que the monk's face turned ashen, and he stammered: "This humble monk is already completely broke—truly washed clean. Ever since the Erudite came to the Grand Academy, I've been washed clean. With all this debt, I might only pay it off in my next life. Sister Fox, have mercy..."
Qin Mu was at a loss for words and said: "Ling'er, don't be silly. I brought them out for training, and if they get hurt, it's my responsibility to treat them. Besides, I have a reputation as a divine healer. A healer has a parent's heart—how can I charge money? When this training expedition ends, if they get hurt again, then I'll charge. Charging now would ruin my reputation."
Yue Qinghong had been planning to ask him for a spare bottle of Dragon Saliva but immediately dropped the idea, thinking: "Deep down, he still intends to charge for treatment. Truly stingy..."
Si Yunxiang was also injured. She asked Qin Mu for a bottle of Dragon Saliva, pulled Yue Qinghong aside, and the two girls ran into the woods to take off their clothes and apply the medicine to each other's wounds to avoid leaving scars.
"Sister, your figure is wonderful. I'm not this big." Si Yunxiang studied Yue Qinghong and praised her.
Yue Qinghong laughed: "You're still young. When you grow a few more years, you'll get bigger too. Besides, being bigger feels a bit uncomfortable—it bounces when you run. I'm not used to wearing a chest wrap. If only I could find something to hold them in place. But I can't find a good tailor..."
Si Yunxiang thought for a moment: "I heard the Erudite is also a tailor. The clothes he makes are quite nice. How about..."
Yue Qinghong was startled, her big dark eyes widening: "How can that be? He's a man!"
Qin Mu gathered everyone together, his expression grave, and said: "Our training mission has changed. I will accompany the Imperial Preceptor to the southern frontier, deep into enemy territory. The Imperial Preceptor's injuries have not healed, so I need to stay by his side to help treat him. If you want to go back, you can leave now."
Shen Wanyun and the others thought about the key point—this journey would surely be fraught with danger—and so they hesitated.
The Imperial Preceptor said: "Along the way, I can guide you in your cultivation. Last time, your Grand Sacrificial Officer invited me, and I spoke for less than two days. This time, it's for the sake of the Grand Academy Erudite."
— First update today, second update at 6 PM!