At the Grand Commander's Residence.
After receiving the imperial decree, Chen Sanshi moved in immediately with his family.
There were quite a few maids and servants still remaining in the residence. After the Grand Commander's passing, if no one had taken charge, they would've been forced to scatter—most of them homeless to begin with. Now that a new Grand Commander had arrived, and he happened to be the former commander's son-in-law, it couldn't have been better news for them.
The Grand Commander's Residence was enormous—large enough to rival a small sect.
In fact, it truly was. The place had been built on the old grounds of a former sect in Liangzhou City. It wasn't overly extravagant, yet it carried an understated grandeur. There were more than a hundred courtyards within the walls.
Chen Sanshi settled his family in a lakeside courtyard near the rear mountain, a place named "Fufeng Pavilion."
His master's old courtyard, "Danggui Garden," remained forever sealed.
The fourth senior brother's "Wutong Court" was also preserved untouched for now.
Days passed one after another, and on the surface, life in Liangzhou City appeared peaceful again.
Behind the rear mountain, Chen Sanshi discovered a natural cave. Each day, he would bring the Mountain-Suppressing Sword and carve away at the stone, intending to turn the cave into a natural cultivation abode. When he had free time, he sat by the lakeside using his late master's fishing rod to catch fish.
"This isn't so hard…"
He suddenly pulled the rod and lifted—only to haul up a clump of waterweed. "Tch. Master's fishing rod is useless."
"Siqin!"
"Come here!"
"Go to the storehouse, withdraw some silver, and buy me a proper fishing rod."
"Yes, master."
"…Why are you back again?"
"Master, Steward Wu said the rod left by the late Grand Commander was already the best and most expensive in all Liangzhou City—crafted with top-grade materials too."
"Impossible. I told you to buy a new one, so go buy it."
"Oh."
Ten days later, Chen Sanshi swore never to fish again.
His cave dwelling was finally complete.
Past the Green Ant Lake lay the rear mountain.
Using the original cave as a base, he expanded it to include more than ten secluded chambers for closed-door cultivation. The furnishings were simple—either plain wooden tables and chairs, or stone ones carved directly from the cave walls.
Chen Sanshi took out a spirit pearl and placed it into a carved stone basin.
Immediately, spiritual energy surged out like thick mist, filling the entire cave.
Then, he crushed a talisman, sealing the flow of qi so that no trace leaked out.
From the outside, no one could sense anything unusual.
Another thirty days passed.
Chen Sanshi had been cultivating The Five Elemental Formula · Qi Refining, yet his progress was painfully slow.
[Technique: The Five Elemental Formula · Qi Refining (Early Stage, Layer One)]
[Progress: 335/500]
At this pace, who knew in how many years—or centuries—he'd reach the second layer. Even compared to his martial cultivation, the gap was enormous.
Currently, his martial realm was at the Late Stage of Mortal Shedding—equivalent to the middle stage of Qi Refining for a spell cultivator. Not weak, but not particularly strong either.
Back when he killed the Witch God Sect's High Priest, who was at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, it had been due to the unstoppable momentum gained from slaying tens of thousands in battle, and the overwhelming blessing of the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry's Heaven's Gate Formation.
If it had been a one-on-one duel, even using all his methods, he probably wouldn't have died—but neither would the opponent.
In truth, to improve his cultivation…
The best method would be to travel to the Immortal Cultivation World, find a pure-element cultivation technique, and pair it with pills to accelerate progress.
And for the heavenly treasures required to advance into the True Force Realm, he would also need to gather them there.
At this rate, he might have to travel between both worlds quite often.
[Skill: Archery · Perfection (Limit Break Stage 2)]
[Progress: (558/2000)]
His archery continued to improve steadily.
After ending his seclusion, Chen Sanshi stored away the spirit pearl and exited the cave.
Before leaving the residence, there were still some matters to settle.
After leaving the Grand Commander's Residence, Chen Sanshi went straight to the home of Lieutenant General Yu Song.
He had once promised Yu Song that he would personally teach his two sons martial arts when the time was right. He wasn't one to break promises, but war and countless other affairs had delayed him for too long.
Widow Madam Song greeted him. "Lord Marquis, you're here for those two rascals? They went to the military camp this morning. Said they wanted to enlist in the Northern Liang Army."
"I see. I understand. If there's ever anything you need, just send someone to inform the Grand Commander's Residence."
After bidding farewell, Chen Sanshi went to the camp.
According to Liangzhou's rules, every year in the second month, recruitment for new soldiers began.
"Greetings, Grand Commander!"
"Greetings, Grand Commander Chen!"
"Mm."
Chen Sanshi walked toward the registration area and soon spotted Yu Song's two sons.
"Yu Ji."
"Yu Lie."
"Greetings, Grand Commander!"
The two young men clasped their fists in salute.
"If you don't mind," Chen Sanshi said after a pause, "would you be willing to call me Master?"
The brothers exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with uncontrollable excitement. Then they dropped to their knees in unison and shouted, "Master, please accept our bow!"
"Alright, get up. Wait a moment."
Chen Sanshi noticed another figure in the crowd.
"My lord," said Su Can, reluctant to leave, "can't I join the Northern Liang Army directly?"
"Nonsense!"
The recruiting officer scowled impatiently. "The Northern Liang Army doesn't take raw recruits. Even formation grunts are forged through blood and fire. If you want in, either your family already has someone serving in the army, or you must first enlist in the Liangzhou garrison and earn your way up through selection."
"But…"
Su Can scratched his head. "I went to the garrison earlier, and they said the spring quota's already full this year…"
Liangzhou's garrisons and the Northern Liang Army always offered full pay, and even the families of fallen soldiers received generous pensions. Recruitment was never short of applicants—but this year was different.
The new Grand Commander's reputation had spread far and wide. Every young man in Liangzhou wanted to enlist.
Su Can had simply been delayed half an hour helping his injured neighbor, Uncle Xu, and by the time he arrived, all positions were filled.
"You're late—whose fault is that?"
The officer waved him off irritably. "Go, go, get out of here."
"My lord," Su Can pleaded, "can't you give me a chance? I can shoot arrows—hit a willow leaf at a hundred paces. I may never have served, but I've already killed eight barbarians!"
"You really want a chance?"
The officer lowered his voice and rubbed his fingers together meaningfully.
"Oh, oh."
Su Can immediately caught on and pulled out a few bronze coins from his pocket.
"What are you playing at? Ten taels of silver!"
The officer sneered, tossing the coins aside in disgust. "Bring ten taels of silver, and I'll put you straight into the Northern Liang Army as a formation grunt. How about it?"
"Really?"
Su Can's eyes lit up but quickly dimmed again. "Sir, I don't have that much money."
He made a living hunting, but he never dared to venture deep into the Luotian Mountain Range. There was no way he could earn that much silver.
"No money?!"
The officer lost all patience. "Then get out of my sight!"
"His silver—comes from his uncle."
Pa!
Suddenly, a heavy silver ingot slammed onto the table with a crisp sound. It was a gleaming twenty-tael piece.
"Well now?"
The officer's eyes lit up instantly. He picked it up and even bit into it to test it. "Not bad! Didn't expect your family to have such a generous relative!"
"I've paid. You're not going to cheat me, are you?"
"Of course not, of course not! Don't worry!"
"But as far as I know," said the man calmly, "to enter the Northern Liang Army, one must first serve in a garrison and be selected step by step. My nephew isn't the descendant of a Northern Liang soldier—how could he be accepted?"
"That's easy!" The officer grinned slyly. "Just find some orphaned soldier's family and take his spot. Not everyone's a general's son. Those formation grunts? No backing, no kin. Die in battle, and no one even remembers their names! By the way, which battalion do you want to join?"
"The Hongze Battalion. Is that possible?"
"Of course! Why not? The Hongze Battalion lost a lot of men recently. They're filling the gaps. Most replacements will come from the Capital Army, but there'll still be a few dozen garrison slots. I can find someone to substitute you in—but it's troublesome, so… it'll cost extra."
"Extra's fine. I'm just curious—can you really grab quotas from the Liangzhou garrisons too?"
"Ha! Who do you think handles the recruitment? We're all buddies! Fifty taels. You pay fifty taels of silver, and I guarantee you a spot in the Hongze Battalion as a formation grunt. Don't think it's too much. You know what the Hongze Battalion is like. Follow the Grand Commander, make a few merits, and you'll earn it all back. If you don't want it, plenty of others do."
"Is that so? Then, sir, could you arrange one for me too?"
"You? You're too old! We can't take older men—"
The officer turned around mid-sentence, but his words cut off abruptly. He stumbled backward, chair and all, collapsing to the floor. "G-G-Grand Commander—"
"Why so nervous?"
Chen Sanshi stood behind him, calm and composed. "Can't I just have a chat?"
"Z-Zhang… Zhang…"
The officer stammered uncontrollably. "Zhang Youde."
"Quite capable, aren't you, Lord Zhang?"
Chen Sanshi flipped through the registration booklet on the desk. "You serve in the Northern Liang Army and still have enough reach to meddle in the Liangzhou garrisons. Impressive connections—you've outdone me."
"Grand Commander! Please spare me!"
Zhang Youde dropped to his knees, knocking his head against the ground repeatedly.
A few soldiers quickly rushed in, seized him, and dragged him away.
"Rest assured, Grand Commander!"
Wang Li stepped forward and cupped his fists. "We'll investigate this matter thoroughly."
Chen Sanshi said nothing.
He only watched in silence as they hauled the man off.
No matter where one went, there were always parasites like this.
"G-Grand Commander Chen."
Su Can was still stunned, unsure what to say. In the end, he just clasped his fists and bowed silently.
"I remember you. Your archery's not bad."
Chen Sanshi rested a hand on the young man's shoulder—and immediately sensed the unique pulse of a Martial Saint Body. "From now on, you'll train under me with the Yu brothers."
"Them?"
Su Can looked at the two standing nearby, clearly confused.
Yu Ji whispered, "Hurry up and greet Master."
Master?
It took Su Can a moment to grasp what had just happened.
Then, as if struck by lightning, he dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
Even half an hour later, he still hadn't recovered from the shock.
Not long ago, the man he had regarded as a white-robed god—was now his master.
Among the three disciples, Su Can was the eldest, making him the Second Senior Brother.
As for why he wasn't the First, no one knew.
They each took their assigned manuals and returned to study them.
Chen Sanshi, meanwhile, went to deal with military matters—but as he approached the main tent, he ran into an old acquaintance.
A man in a fitted combat outfit, with twin blades strapped at his waist.
Wen Zhi, the master of Splitting Moon Manor.
"So it's Manor Master Wen," Chen Sanshi said calmly. "The arena's five hundred steps away. Let's settle this quickly."
"G-Grand Commander Chen…"
Wen Zhi didn't move. He stood frozen in place.
"No need to mind my title," said Chen Sanshi matter-of-factly. "Once we're on the platform, life and death are left to fate. Even if I die, no one will come after you."
Thud!
Before he could finish, Wen Zhi dropped to his knees.
"Manor Master Wen?"
Chen Sanshi frowned slightly. "What's the meaning of this?"
"A father's fault lies in failing to teach his son," Wen Zhi said hoarsely. "Do you remember, Grand Commander Chen? You once told me that. Recently… I've come to understand what it means. My daughter told me that my eldest son, in order to curry favor with Cao Fan and the others, deliberately made things difficult for you—and even tried to kill you multiple times. He got what he deserved."
He shut his eyes, voice trembling. "Even if that weren't the case, I've no right to seek revenge anymore. During the chaos in Liangzhou, if not for you, my daughter would've died by my own hand. That debt alone repaid one life for another. Later, at the Luotian Mountains, your late master saved me and Shao Yuqing again. I owe you yet another life."
"I understand," said Chen Sanshi evenly. "So you won't be coming after me again."
"No. I owe you my life. If not for your late master and you, Splitting Moon Manor would've long been destroyed."
Wen Zhi unbuckled his twin blades and set them down before him. "Grand Commander Chen, I offended you before. If you wish, you may take my head now. But if you choose to forgive me, I, Wen Zhi, will serve you from this day forward—follow your command, and face fire or blade without hesitation."
"That line…"
Chen Sanshi looked at him quietly. "Did your daughter Wen Chengrui teach you that?"
At those words, Wen Zhi froze. "H-How did the Grand Commander know?"
"Your daughter has a calculating mind," Chen Sanshi said lightly. "Go back and tell her—she doesn't need to play such tricks. As you said, our debts are settled. I won't trouble your family again."
"Grand Commander Chen…"
Wen Zhi straightened his posture and said seriously, "Those words were indeed taught by my daughter, but they're also what I truly feel. In the jianghu, we value gratitude and repayment. You and the late Grand Commander saved both me and my sect—how could I not repay such kindness, even with my life? Grand Commander? You… what are you looking at?"
He noticed the white-robed figure before him had stopped paying attention. Chen Sanshi's gaze was fixed upward. Wen Zhi followed his eyes and saw, far above—a thousand zhang high—a silhouette flying on a sword. The figure was heading straight toward Mount Huangyun.
'That's where the Grand Commander was buried!'
"Qianxun!"
Chen Sanshi summoned his White Swan horse, and in the blink of an eye, vanished.
Wen Zhi froze, then immediately followed.
Mount Huangyun.
The burial had taken place less than two months ago. The mountain slopes were still draped with white mourning cloth, and the ground remained scattered with half-decayed paper money. The occasional caw of a crow echoed through the mountains, giving the place a desolate air.
A white blur streaked across the sky, sending the startled birds fleeing in all directions.
Holding the Black Serpent Bow in hand, Chen Sanshi's mind raced.
He didn't know why a cultivator had come to his master's resting place, but it definitely wasn't to pay respects. Back then, his master had slaughtered countless cultivators at The Edge of the World and destroyed an entire spiritual vein. Eight or nine times out of ten, this must be revenge.
'Even the dead aren't left in peace?!'
At the foot of the mountain, Chen Sanshi finally caught sight of the cultivator.
Using his Qi Observation Technique, he gauged the man's cultivation level.
This outsider was likely at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, around the seventh layer of his cultivation art—roughly the same level as that Witch God Sect High Priest he had once fought. If it came down to a one-on-one battle, it would be tricky, especially since he couldn't stack the "Unrivaled" battle aura this time.
Still, trouble or not, retreat was not an option.
If this man dared to show even half an ounce of disrespect to his master's grave, Chen Sanshi would block him no matter what. Soon, reinforcements from the army and Martial Saints could be mobilized—if nothing else, they'd trap him here until he died!
Reaching the forest line, Chen Sanshi dismounted.
But just as he was about to move in, another figure descended almost at the same time.
It was his senior brother—Lü Ji.
Lü Ji landed gently amid fragments of a shattered incense burner. He stood before a cultivator with a wine gourd at his waist, speaking to him roughly a hundred steps from their master's tombstone.
Seeing that, Chen Sanshi put away his bow and decided to observe first.
"Hic."
The drunken cultivator, Qu Yuanxiang, swayed unsteadily and pointed a trembling finger at Lü Ji's face. "You—you step aside. I'm not doing anything bad. I just want to dig up the grave and have a look. If there's nothing there, I'll leave."
Dig up the grave?!
Chen Sanshi's face remained blank, but his steps grew quieter as he approached.
"Immortal Master," Lü Ji's tall, broad frame stood unmoving. "His Majesty should have already told you—our master was buried without any grave goods. There's nothing for you to look at. If you have any other business, you can speak directly to me. I am the late Grand Commander's eldest disciple, and the Governor of Liangzhou."
"I don't understand your ranks and titles."
Qu Yuanxiang lifted his palm and pulled out a golden plaque. "See this? Your emperor gave it to me himself. With this, I can do whatever I please."
"Immortal Master, that golden token is reserved for imperial envoys. You do have authority to question military and civil matters in Liangzhou—but that doesn't include disturbing my master's corpse. If you don't believe me, we can both go to the capital and ask His Majesty directly."
As Lü Ji spoke, he subtly turned his head and gave a slight shake toward the white-robed figure in the woods.
Meanwhile—
A large number of soldiers began marching out of the city.
Wang Zhi and several senior brothers led trusted subordinates toward Mount Huangyun.
"Stop! You can't go!"
Their third senior brother, Nie Yuan, galloped up on horseback, blocking their path. "You can't!"
"What do you mean, can't?!"
Wang Zhi cursed. "Didn't you see that someone's flying in the sky—heading for our master's grave?!"
"A message already came from the capital," Nie Yuan explained hurriedly. "That man's an Immortal Master from Heavenly Water Isle. He's carrying an imperial gold token. By rank, he's currently the highest authority in Liangzhou. If you march an army up there, it'll look like rebellion! This is a sensitive time—don't you want to stay here and keep mourning for Master? Don't worry about the grave—Senior Brother and Little Brother are already there. Nothing will happen."
Sure enough, a short while later, they saw three figures returning from the direction of Mount Huangyun.
Wang Zhi and the others dismissed their troops and followed on foot.
"You—you incense-burning priest," Qu Yuanxiang muttered, sniffing as he spoke, "don't lie to me. You'll take me to see the Foul Vein later, right?"
"Of course."
Lü Ji gestured politely. "I've already prepared a residence for the Immortal Master. Please, rest for now."
"Fine."
Qu Yuanxiang hiccupped again, swaying as he spoke. "I've been flying all day. I could use a nap."
Nie Yuan stepped forward and led the drunken cultivator away to rest.
"Boss," one of the younger men asked, "what's going on?"
"Yeah, who's that drunkard? What's he doing at Master's grave?"
When Lü Ji explained briefly, the group froze.
"What?!"
Wang Zhi roared, "He wanted to dig up Master's grave?!"
"Then we should kill him right now!" shouted another. "If one of us can't, the two of you together could! And if not—add us too!"
"Lü Ji, are you scared or what?!"
"Enough!"
Lü Ji's voice thundered, cutting them off.
He glared at his fellow disciples, then pulled a folded letter from his robe. "Read it yourselves! This came from the capital. That drunken cultivator is His Majesty's guest. He holds an imperial token. If you kill him, how will we answer to the emperor? Do you want Liangzhou to fall into chaos again?! If anyone dares touch him, don't blame me for forgetting our brotherhood!"
His words silenced the entire camp.
After a moment, Lü Ji sighed softly. "Junior brothers, junior sisters, listen well. Master… is gone."
He looked around at them all, his tone softening. "The capital's already looking for excuses to target us. You all know that. Don't hand them one yourselves."
Leaving those last words behind, Lü Ji rubbed his temples, turned, and walked away.
"So that's it then?"
Wang Zhi gritted his teeth. "We're just going to let this go?"
"Little Brother," said Meng Guangxin, raising his voice. "Amitabha. Should we kill him anyway?"
"The eldest senior brother is right," Chen Sanshi said quietly.
Chen Sanshi finally spoke. "We're still waiting for the court's decree about the mourning period. If we kill that drunkard now, there's a nine-in-ten chance we won't be able to stay in Liangzhou afterward."
Even if they had to kill him, it couldn't be done openly.
He didn't say that part aloud.
Instead, he quietly left the group and returned to the city.
At the Marquis of Martial Might's Residence.
Lü Ji hurried back to his mansion. As he walked, he kept shaking his head violently, as if he were suffering unbearable pain. He kicked open the door and stumbled inside, catching himself against a table. The impact sent porcelain cups and teaware crashing to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Whispers flooded his mind like a constant hiss.
In front of his eyes, strange, distorted faces swirled endlessly.
They invaded his thoughts like icy water seeping into his bones, gnawing at his spirit without pause until he could no longer bear it.
"Get out!"
"I said get out! Can't you hear me?!"
His furious roar echoed across the hall.
But the phantom figures didn't retreat. Instead, they multiplied—countless shadows filling the air, spinning around him in a mad whirl, laughing in twisted, mocking tones.
"Courting death!"
Boom!
A burst of qi exploded from Lü Ji's body.
His massive fist turned into the shape of a dragon-elephant, swinging to obliterate the illusions.
"Senior Brother—it's me!"
Just before his strike landed, a familiar voice called out. Lü Ji froze, halting his blow in midair.
"Senior Brother, what's wrong with you? I've been calling for half the day and you didn't even respond. Is it the backlash from the Evil God Path? Did that Evil God come to collect its debt?"
Nie Yuan's tone carried guilt. "Back in Youzhou, you only borrowed that power for our sake."
"Is he settled?"
Lü Ji's expression cleared as his sanity returned. He sat down on a stool, adjusting his breath.
"He's settled," Nie Yuan replied with a weary sigh. "But that Qu Yuanxiang is unbelievably arrogant. Whatever he sees, he demands. Says he's going to enjoy himself here for a while—and starting tomorrow, he'll be taking control of all Liangzhou's political affairs."
"Let him be," Lü Ji said flatly. "He won't stay long. He'll be gone soon enough."
He opened his eyes again. "How's the preparation in Dongyi City?"
"All ready," Nie Yuan said with a nod. "We can begin in the next few days."
"Good." Lü Ji waved a hand dismissively. "Go get everything in order."
"Yes. But, Senior Brother…" Nie Yuan hesitated. "This won't cause trouble later, will it?"
"I only owe that Evil God twenty thousand blood sacrifices."
Lü Ji rubbed his forehead. "Once I pay that debt, I'll have nothing to do with the Evil God Path ever again."
Hearing that, Nie Yuan let out a sigh of relief. "If that's the case, I'm reassured."
Before dawn.
After two days of closed-door work, Chen Sanshi rose early to handle affairs.
Since assuming the role of Grand Commander, he'd become busier than ever. Beyond military duties, he had to manage civil matters too—such as completing the disaster relief work his master hadn't finished before his death.
Another new edict had also arrived from the capital.
It declared that starting this year, every acre of farmland must grow an additional half-tenth of spiritual grain.
For Liangzhou, whose taxes were already lighter than other provinces, this might not sound severe. But adding even half a percent more spiritual grain would likely strip the common folk of what little surplus they had left, leaving their homes bare and hungry.
All Chen Sanshi could do was submit a memorial, hoping the court would reconsider.
Half a month later, news from the capital finally arrived—about their mourning period.
One year.
They were granted only one year to observe mourning.
The justification was dressed up in noble rhetoric.
It claimed that the late "War Immortal" Yu Shanggong had mourned his father for three years, but since Chen Sanshi's master was considered even more vital to the Great Sheng Dynasty than Yu Shanggong had been to the Zhou Dynasty, one year would suffice.
Moreover—
Their fourth senior brother hadn't returned.
Rumor had it he'd been granted a marquisate and was now living comfortably in the capital.
Who knew when they'd meet again?
"Grand Commander! Trouble!"
Xia Cong burst into the command tent, breathless. "Something's happened in Dongyi City!"
"Dongyi City?"
Chen Sanshi set down the report in his hands. "If I remember right, isn't that where the barbarian prisoners are held?"
After the Battle of Youzhou, they'd captured many barbarian soldiers.
A portion of them—about twenty thousand—had been detained in Dongyi City.
"Yes," Xia Cong reported. "And those prisoners are the problem! Last night, during the second watch, several tribal leaders suddenly rallied more than twenty thousand men, shouting they would avenge their people and 'retake Liangzhou.' But General Lü led the Black Turtle Battalion and crushed them swiftly."
"Where are they now?"
Chen Sanshi rose sharply.
"They're all… dead."
Xia Cong hesitated for a moment. "All twenty thousand plus of them. Slaughtered to the last."
Chen Sanshi's eyes darkened.
Those twenty thousand captives were supposed to be dealt with slowly—used to build fortresses or breed warhorses. That would've been a lasting resource.
But now…
The barbarian main force was already destroyed. Among those twenty thousand captives, not a single one had reached the Profound Manifestation stage—how could they possibly think of attacking Liangzhou? Wasn't that pure suicide?
Even a fool could tell—something was off.
Senior Brother…
Chen Sanshi's Qi Observation Technique had long revealed that his eldest senior brother had begun cultivating the Incense God Path.
It must have been a gift from the emperor after the Ziwei Mountain affair.
And recalling how the Crown Prince had once cultivated the Evil God Path…
Chen Sanshi could already guess what was really happening.
Those twenty thousand barbarians were dead.
Yet he felt no sympathy for them.
After all, if the barbarian blood sacrifice back then had succeeded, all Central Plains people like him would have become second-class citizens—or worse, slaves.
Still, he couldn't simply ignore this incident.
"I understand. You may go," Chen Sanshi said softly.
He left the command tent and headed straight for the Marquis of Martial Might's Residence.
On his way, he passed by the government office—and stopped.
An open court trial was underway.
But the man presiding over it… was wrong.
In the Great Sheng Dynasty, civil disputes were usually handled by the county magistrates.
Even within the prefecture capitals, attached sub-counties took care of most local cases, not the prefects themselves.
Only in a provincial capital like Liangzhou City would the prefect personally oversee major trials.
But today, sitting in the magistrate's seat—wasn't the prefect.
It was Qu Yuanxiang!
During his two days of seclusion, Chen Sanshi had heard that this so-called Immortal Master wanted to "experience mortal life." With the imperial golden token in hand, no one dared to stop him, and he'd been meddling in government affairs ever since—usually making a complete mess of things.
Apparently, today he'd decided to "experience" what it was like to judge cases.
"Now then," Qu Yuanxiang slurred, taking a long drink from his wine gourd, his red-rimmed eyes lazily drifting to the two kneeling below—a woman and a frail man. "Who… who was it that said… they wanted to accuse their uncle?"
The woman choked back tears. "My… my husband trades goods outside the city. His brother… forced himself on me—violated me!"
Qu Yuanxiang turned to the thin, chicken-necked man beside her. "And you? What say you?"
"My lord, absolutely not!" The man shook his head frantically. "This woman is venomous! My elder brother's been missing for ages, and last night I caught her in bed with our steward. I came to report her, but she must've found out and accused me first to cover her sin! My lord, please judge wisely!"
"Hmm. You, woman—Pan shi, right?"
Qu Yuanxiang squinted and raised a brow. "I'll ask one last time—are you sure what you said is true?"
"I swear it's the truth!" the woman cried. "Every word!"
"Good."
Qu Yuanxiang suddenly grabbed the command baton from the table and pointed at one of the clerks—a scrawny man trembling at the side. "You! In front of everyone, show us exactly how you 'defiled' her."
"Ah?!"
The clerk froze in horror. "Immortal Master, y-you must be joking!"
"Do it!" Qu Yuanxiang's voice boomed like thunder. "Or I'll have your head cut off!"
"Madam Pan, f-forgive me!"
The clerk didn't dare defy the order. He lunged toward the woman in front of everyone.
The woman screamed and resisted with all her strength.
In a matter of seconds, the two were rolling on the floor in full view of the crowd.
The woman was no frail commoner either—her frame was strong, even sturdy for a noblewoman.
The clerk, on the other hand, was so thin he could have been mistaken for a monkey. After struggling for a while, not only did he fail to overpower her, he ended up clawed across the face, bleeding profusely.
"You."
Qu Yuanxiang jabbed his baton at another clerk. "Reinforce him. Go on—help him!"
"M-my lord… yes!"
The second man rushed in, joining the chaos.
But even with two men, they couldn't do a thing to Pan shi.
Pa!
"Enough!"
Qu Yuanxiang slammed the gavel down, his drunken face twisting into self-importance. "Two men can't subdue one woman. That proves she's lying! The accused uncle is innocent! Guards! Take this Pan shi and her lover, the steward, and throw them in prison!"
"Oh, merciful heavens!"
The accused man broke into grateful sobs. "A wise and just immortal indeed!"
There was no miscarriage of justice—at least, not technically.
Chen Sanshi noticed that the steward had already fled beforehand.
But that didn't mean the situation was normal.
From the drunken cultivator's eyes, he saw something chilling—disdain.
A disdain not just for the case, but for everyone present.
It was as if all the people in this city were nothing more than chess pieces in a game he played for amusement.
If he were allowed to keep meddling like this…
And the worst part—this man wasn't weak. His cultivation was high, and he had the emperor's golden token.
Chen Sanshi could only turn away and leave, heading straight to the Marquis of Martial Might's Residence.
A servant led him through the courtyard, where he saw Lü Ji—his armor soaked in blood—removing his battle gear. Nie Yuan stood beside him, speaking in a hushed tone.
"Junior Brother?"
Lü Ji's voice was low and heavy. "What brings you here?"
"Senior Brother, you already know," Chen Sanshi said quietly, his gaze falling on the bloodstains. There was no need for further explanation.
"Oh…"
Nie Yuan quickly stepped in. "Ah, that! It's because those barbarian captives—those who'd already surrendered—suddenly rebelled last night! It happened out of nowhere. You were still in seclusion, but fortunately, Senior Brother acted fast—"
"Tell the truth," Chen Sanshi interrupted.
Nie Yuan froze, then forced a stiff smile. "Junior Brother, I am telling the truth."
"Third Senior Brother."
Chen Sanshi closed his eyes briefly. "I don't want to argue with you, and there's no reason to lie to me. Speak honestly—it's better that way."
"Junior Brother, what do you mean? I have no reason—"
Before he could finish, Lü Ji raised a hand, stopping him.
"Junior Brother," he said.
Lü Ji met Chen Sanshi's eyes directly, his voice steady. "Yes, I arranged everything. The people who died were killed by my order. It was a blood offering to the Evil God Path. But I didn't do it to gain strength. Back in Youzhou, when I borrowed that power to save Master and everyone else, I made a contract with the Evil God—twenty thousand blood sacrifices in exchange for power. If I don't repay that debt, I'll never be free of his influence. The longer it lingers, the more I risk falling into demonic corruption. And I don't think I was wrong. Those barbarians weren't worth pitying. The only reason I didn't tell you beforehand was because I knew you'd object."
He spoke everything in one breath—what happened, why he did it, and his reasons, all laid out clean and clear.
"Senior Brother," Chen Sanshi said calmly, "you've been straightforward."
His tone was flat, but his words carried the weight of command. "You're right—they didn't deserve pity. But Senior Brother, what you did still crossed the line. I'm the Grand Commander of Liangzhou. For something this serious, you should have reported it. If I'd said no, then you shouldn't have done it."
"Junior Brother, quite the official tone you have there," Nie Yuan said with a cold sneer. "Senior Brother did what he had to do. He didn't tell you because the Evil God Path is taboo. If you'd approved it, people would've questioned your integrity once it got out. He was protecting you."
"Shut up, Third Brother."
Lü Ji's face showed no guilt or anger. He simply said, "You are indeed the Grand Commander, but according to the imperial system, even a governor's punishment requires approval from the Grand Council."
"I won't submit a memorial," Chen Sanshi replied. "I have no intention of punishing you."
Their gazes locked.
"This time, for the sake of the fact that you took on this Evil God debt to save Master and our brothers back then, I'll let it pass."
He took a step forward, his tone turning faintly cold.
"But I'll say this once, Senior Brother—take care of yourself. I don't ever want to see a day when we brothers draw blades against each other."
"Junior Brother!" Nie Yuan snapped. "Watch your tongue! Master's gone—now the eldest brother is like a father to us. How could you speak of turning swords against family?"
He snorted angrily. "And another thing—if it weren't for Senior Brother breaking through to the Late Spiritual Communion Stage with the Evil God's power, how do you think we're keeping that drunk Qu Yuanxiang in check? Without him, that man would be tearing Liangzhou apart!
"As for you, Junior Brother—you've only just broken through to Martial Saint. You haven't even surpassed the level Master left behind. If it really came to a 'battle between brothers,' do you think you could win?"
"My words are finished," Chen Sanshi said, bowing with cupped fists. "Senior Brother, Third Brother—farewell."
"Wait."
Lü Ji's voice came low and steady. "I have something to say too."
He took a step forward. "You're staying in Liangzhou under the pretext of mourning, aren't you? You're doing it on purpose. Listen to me—don't oppose the court. Master's gone. We can't fight the empire anymore.
"Whatever you're planning, I hope that a year from now, you'll obey the decree and enter the capital. You're still the Marquis of Champion, the Grand Commander of Northern Liang. You'll still lead armies in battle.
"As for me—I'll stay here in Liangzhou.
"You and I, brothers—one inside, one outside. If we act carefully, we can protect everyone from the sect.
"But if you keep acting recklessly, you'll drag us all down with you."
Chen Sanshi paused, but didn't turn back.
After a brief silence, he walked on—quicker this time—out of the Marquis of Martial Might's Residence.
"Grand Commander!"
"Something's wrong!"
"The people are rioting!"
Before he could even return to camp, Zhao Kang came running. "After the notice was posted about the court raising the spiritual grain tax by five percent this year, villagers from over a dozen settlements started protesting!"
"No matter what, keep them calm," Chen Sanshi ordered. "Don't let it turn bloody. I'll try again to persuade the court."
He paused briefly, his tone firming. "Also, I plan to enter seclusion for a while. If anything urgent comes up, send it to the Grand Commander's Manor before nightfall. After that, let General Lü handle all affairs."
"Seclusion?" Zhao Kang hesitated, then nodded. "Understood."
Mourning. Spirit grain tax. Immortal envoys…
Chen Sanshi had been Grand Commander for only a few months, yet it already felt like years. The weight pressing on his shoulders never lifted.
That weight had a name—Imperial Order.
And the Imperial Order could not be defied.
But deep down, he knew the real truth behind it all.
Everything boiled down to one word—weakness.
He still wasn't strong enough.
He had no power to refuse the things he didn't want to do.
He couldn't keep wasting time like this.
When he returned to the Grand Commander's Manor, he found Zhao Zhao and Chen Yunxi chasing each other around the courtyard.
As Zhao Zhao ran past, Chen Sanshi caught her by the shoulder.
"Ow, ow, ow!" she yelped, grimacing. "Hey, Chen! What are you doing? Men and women shouldn't touch like that—let me go!"
"Pack your things. You're coming with me."
He added, "Bring the spirit boat."
"The spirit boat?"
Her eyes widened immediately. She knew where they were going. With a reluctant glance back at Chen Yunxi, she sighed. "Fine, fine. I get it."
The Daze Market.
This time, Chen Sanshi had one goal—to find the heavenly treasure that could open the human body's Divine Aspect.
A True Force martial artist could rival a Late Qi Refining cultivator.
And after that—
If anyone in the capital wanted to summon him again, they'd have to ask his Dragon-Gall Bright-Silver Spear whether it agreed.
The board was locked.
The only way to break it—was by breaking it with strength.