I Grind to Martial Saint

RUMBLE...

Dull thunder rumbled ceaselessly over Cangshui County Town.

On this night.

For some reason, Du Qiuxu’s heart was in turmoil.

He couldn’t even manage to calm his mind through meditation.

"Perhaps the thunder is disturbing my spirit," Du Qiuxu muttered to himself.

He pushed open the window.

A cold wind whistled in.

A cold rain had begun to drift down from the sky.

The harsh winter had long since passed; it was now early spring.

But this early spring rain felt several degrees colder than the winter snow.

’I wonder how the Director’s bandit extermination campaign is going?’

Du Qiuxu gazed in the direction of Sheep Head Mountain, a hint of worry creeping in.

With Tongming County having fallen to the Wangling Sect, the Province Mansion had focused all its efforts on recapturing it.

If this bandit extermination mission failed, the consequences would be severe.

The bandits throughout Cangshui County would likely grow even more rampant, and public order would descend into chaos.

Just then.

A figure braved the cold spring rain and dashed into the courtyard.

"Supervisor Du!"

"An urgent report from Sheep Head Mountain!"

Hearing this, Du Qiuxu hurriedly pushed open his door.

The Black Death Guard who had come to report quickly handed him a sealed letter.

Du Qiuxu opened it, and his expression turned extremely grave.

The contents of the letter were shocking.

In essence, the bandit extermination on Sheep Head Mountain had failed. The County Soldiers, the Noble Family Guards, and the Observatory’s Demon Exterminators had all suffered heavy losses. Director Nie Jing of the Observatory had fallen in battle, and General Li Jin was now leading the remnants of their forces in retreat, fleeing from the Wuyun Bandits’ pursuit.

The worst-case scenario, one Du Qiuxu had never even dared to imagine, had come to pass!

But he was incredibly composed. He said nothing, merely waving a hand to dismiss the Black Death Guard.

’This news... I must inform Prefect Wen as soon as possible.’

Du Qiuxu’s eyes flashed.

’What’s done is done. I must think of a countermeasure.’

With this thought, Du Qiuxu quietly left his room, exited the Observatory, and sped toward the County Government Office.

But just as he was crossing a dark alley,

BOOM!

An earth-shattering explosion suddenly roared through the night sky.

A ball of white light, like a meteor, smashed down toward Du Qiuxu.

BANG!

Du Qiuxu had left in a hurry and hadn’t brought his Coiling Dragon Staff.

He never imagined he would be attacked within Cangshui County Town.

However, the moment the white light appeared, he reacted, letting out a low roar as he channeled his True Qi and struck out with his palm!

POW!

Du Qiuxu’s palm strike violently knocked the ball of white light to the ground.

It landed with enough force to blast a small crater in the earth.

It was a large, round hammer, engraved with a white cloud pattern.

A figure appeared silently and slowly picked up the heavy hammer.

"Bai Muxin..."

Du Qiuxu stared at the figure, his eyes narrowing.

The man had ambushed him without any attempt at concealment, showing his true face.

These details seemed to prove he was in a very dangerous situation.

"Supervisor Du... where are you off to?"

Bai Muxin grinned.

"That’s none of your business."

"And why are you here?"

Du Qiuxu said coldly.

"Old Bai is here to see you on your way, of course."

A stout figure emerged from a dark side street.

He held two toad-head walnuts in his hand, a broad smile on his face.

It was none other than the Patriarch of the Cui Family and Vice Director of the Observatory, Cui Jiushan!

Du Qiuxu’s expression shifted slightly.

"Yellow Springs Saint Mother, deliver me from this sea of suffering."

At that moment.

Another chant echoed out.

A withered old man in yellow monastic robes appeared from the front.

"The Wangling Sect..."

"Bai Muxin, Cui Jiushan, you dare to collude with the Wangling Sect."

Du Qiuxu demanded coldly.

As the withered old man appeared, a strange power seemed to spread out, sealing off the area.

As the Supervisor of the Demon Extermination Tribe, Du Qiuxu naturally recognized this as the power of a Barrier.

"Du Qiuxu... I didn’t want it to come to this either."

"But some things, once done, can’t be undone."

Bai Muxin said flatly, hefting the large hammer in one hand.

"You weren’t saying that when your Observatory was acting so aggressively..."

Cui Jiushan sneered.

He had long held a grudge against the Observatory over the matter at the docks.

So when the Wangling Sect approached him, it didn’t take much effort to win him over.

Mainly, Cui Jiushan himself saw things very clearly.

The Great Ling Official’s Mansion was just a paper tiger, ready to collapse at the slightest push.

Now that the Wangling Sect had its sights set on Cangshui County Town, he had to pick a side between them and the Observatory. Staying neutral was impossible.

Besides, even Nie Jing had already perished on Sheep Head Mountain.

In his eyes, Cangshui County was destined to suffer the same fate as Tongming County.

Siding with the Wangling Sect now was the most logical choice; he might even be able to reap greater benefits.

"Aren’t you afraid that Director Nie will return and hold you accountable?"

Du Qiuxu said, feigning composure.

"Du Qiuxu, to think you’re still playing dumb with us at a time like this."

"Nie Jing died on Sheep Head Mountain long ago. Otherwise, why would we make a move on you?"

Cui Jiushan scoffed.

Hearing this, Du Qiuxu instantly understood everything.

He said no more. He circulated the True Qi throughout his body and calmly regarded the three men before him.

"Even in death... I’ll take you all with me."

...

「These past few days.」

The gloomy rain in Cangshui County had not stopped; it fell endlessly.

And piece by piece, news spread that struck panic into the hearts of the people of Cangshui County Town.

The news that the bandit extermination on Sheep Head Mountain had failed with heavy losses was spreading like wildfire.

The news of the death of the Observatory’s Director, Nie Jing, was particularly explosive.

All at once, the entire city was abuzz with discussion of the matter.

Their greatest fear was whether the Wuyun Bandits from Sheep Head Mountain would attack the city.

"The Province Mansion is busy trying to wipe out the Wangling Sect in Tongming County; they don’t have the resources to worry about us."

"Who knows how many of the County Soldiers made it back... If the Wuyun Bandits attack, we’re done for!"

"Maybe we should find a way to leave Cangshui County Town."

Within Cangshui County Town, the populace was restless and anxious.

News from Helin County Town had already arrived.

Everyone now knew that if the Wuyun Bandits entered a city, they would burn, kill, pillage, and rape.

Thus, some people were already plotting to flee Cangshui County Town and escape the ravages of war.

A somber cloud hung over the County Government Office.

Wen Zhiyuan sat in the main seat, his brow deeply furrowed. "I gave clear orders that this news was not to be spread! How did it become common knowledge all over the city!"

Zhao Junshan shook his head. "I had my men investigate. Starting last night, some people were deliberately spreading these rumors in the markets. By the time we realized what was happening and went to arrest them, they were gone."

Wen Zhiyuan sighed. "It seems our enemy came prepared."

Just then,

another Government Official walked in, cupped his fist, and announced, "Sir, Vice Director Bai Qi of the Observatory requests an audience!"

"Bai Qi?"

"Why is he the one to come..."

Wen Zhiyuan voiced his surprise and suspicion.

Bai Qi was from the Bai Family.

Logically, with something this major happening, Du Qiuxu should have been the one to come personally.

"Have him come in first. We’ll see."

Zhao Junshan suggested.

"Very well," Wen Zhiyuan nodded.

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