On the other hand, Old Craftsman furrowed his eyebrows and pondered.
The elder had a greater understanding of smithing art and had achieved the integration of Heaven and man. While the state could not let him see through the mist, he had indeed come into contact with the barrier. In other words, the old man had touched the starting point, and from there he saw the direction of the end.
Needless to say, seeing it was one thing; making his way to the end was another thing.
The path was dangerous, difficult, and obscure. The old man could work hard for it, but nobody could guarantee that he would definitely succeed.
Ou Yangming put the spear away. He was proud when he looked at the other spear in the room, which was almost similar to the new one.
After a long time, the confused Ni Yunhong sighed and questioned, “Brother Ou, where’s my younger sister?”.
“She hasn’t returned,” Ou Yangming answered slowly.
“What?” Ni Yunhong’s face changed. “Why is that so?”
Ou Yangming shook his head and assured him. “Don’t worry, she’s safe, but she’ll only come back a few days later.”
Once Ni Yunhong withdrew himself from thinking about smithing art, he instantly thought about his younger sister. He frowned and asked, “Brother Ou, is my younger sister with… Him?”
Ou Yangming’s face darkened a little as he thought, ‘He just has to bring it up when I didn’t want to think about it. Can we even have a proper conversation…’
Nonetheless, he could only nod when he saw the rather strange look on Ni Yunhong’s face.
Ni Yunhong hesitated for a while, but he ended up saying nothing.
old Craftsman cast a meaningful glance at Ou Yangming, then he ordered, “Young fella, come with me to the military camp to meet General Chen.”
“Yes,” Ou Yangming quickly responded to him as he also wanted to escape from the awkward situation.
Old Craftsman had aged, but he had also become more stubborn. If he decided on something, he would act on it right away.
With that, they left the prefecture with the spear and headed to the military camp outside the prefecture.
Banners and figures could be seen from a distance away, and masculine shouts were heard coming from the military camp from a distance away.
Ou Yangming raised his eyebrows as he somehow felt like he was home, and he felt a warm and comfortable feeling inside his body.
Outside the camp’s gate, a bright-eyed squad leader noticed them. Seeing as they were approaching the camp, the leader yelled, “The military camp is an important place, and it’s out of bounds for idlers; trespassers will be killed without questions.”
As he spoke, the guards at the gate raised their spears and pointed the spear tips at Ou Yangming and his companions. Consequently, strong killing intent filled the air.
A normal person would have flinched even if one did not collapse to the ground at the sight of this, but Ou Yangming and the rest were already used to the scene because they were from the military camp.
Old Craftsman stopped and cupped his hands from afar. “I’m a soldier from the Immense Forest Military Camp’s Armament Camp. I heard General Chen Yifan from the West Camp is here, so I’ve come to see him.”
The squad leader frowned and asked, “Do you have General Chen’s authorization?”
Old Craftsman was stunned, and he could only answer with a bitter smile, “No.”
“Since you don’t have one, wait here.” The squad leader was disdainful. “Who do you think a camp’s leader is? He’s not someone who can be visited by anyone!”
The old man flushed while the people behind him looked displeased.
If they were at the Immense Forest Military Camp, Old Craftsman and the other men could easily meet a camp’s commanding general, let alone entering or exiting the camp freely. After all, the old man was the chief Military Fire Blacksmith in the Armament Camp; he had the right to meet someone directly.
Nevertheless, they were at the Prefecture Military Camp at the moment. Without any connections here, they were considered normal people.
Even so, they were indignant because of how a mere squad leader treated them.
Ou Yangming was about to negotiate when Ni Yunhong cleared his throat and expressed, “I’m impressed that the military camp has such strict rules. Heh, may I ask for your name, Sir Squad Leader[1]?”
The squad leader sneered. “I’m Qu Hongfu. If you’re not happy with me, go ahead and report me.”
Ni Yunhong kept a straight face and asked calmly, “I won’t report you. I’m Ni Yunhong, so am I qualified enough to meet the
general?”
Qu Hongfu’s face changed at once. He scanned Ni Yunhong from head to toe and asked, “The Ni family’s eldest young master?”
“That’s right,” Ni Yunhong answered proudly.
The Ni family was second to none in the prefecture. Even though the military camp was a relatively small and closed circle, how could the squad leader not know of the clan given that he was in the prefecture?
“You’re the Ni family’s young master. Please forgive me.” Qu Hongfu took a step back and did a fist salute. He added after a pause, “I’ll go notify the general now.”
Ni Yunhong waved his hand and said, “We’re meeting General Chen for a personal matter, so just inform him that Old Craftsman and Ou Yangming are here to meet him.”
Qu Hongfu hesitated for a while and thought, ‘Since it’s a personal matter, why are you entering the military camp?’
Despite that, he would not offend the Ni family’s eldest young master for a small matter. Just as he was going to answer Ni Yunhong, a thought crossed his mind. “Ou Yangming? Ou Yangming from the Immense Forest Military Camp’s Armament Camp?”
Ou Yangming stepped forward and uttered, “That’s me.”
His companions thought, ‘Looks like General Chen Yifan has given an order, or the little squad leader wouldn’t know Ou Yangming’s name.’
Qu Hongfu stared at Ou Yangming with a complicated look.
At the same time, the ten guards at the gate did the same too. Each of them looked at the young fellow with bright eyes.
Ou Yangming tensed up a bit. He would not be surprised if Qu Hongfu was the only one who reacted like that, but he became alarmed because the other soldiers had the same expression on their faces.
Ni Yunhong asked with a deep voice, “Do you know Brother Ou because General Chen gave you an order?”
Qu Hongfu took a deep breath and explained, “General Chen didn’t tell us about him, but we know of Ou Yangming from the Immense Forest Military Camp, and we know that he’s a good man.”
Following that, the squad leader took three steps back and ordered from the center of his squad, “Raise your spears.” “Whoosh…”
Behind him, the squad of soldiers straightened their bodies and held their spears tightly.
“Salute…” Qu Hongfu shouted and raised his military saber. The ten tough men behind him lifted their spears concurrently, then they prodded them diagonally in mid-air.
They moved in unison and with full power. While there were only about ten of them, they gave off a magnanimous aura as though they were a thousand soldiers with ten thousand horses.
In the military camp, people who were near the gate were attracted to the motion. Strange looks could be seen on their faces.
Ou Yangming and the rest were confused too. In particular, Old Craftsman and the two other elders from the Armament Camp were in disbelief.
They were familiar with the salutation because it was the highest formality done by the soldiers. Normally, soldiers would only do it as a group during huge events, and the salutation would usually seem grand and solemn if a hundred of a thousand of them did it together. Since merely ten soldiers saluted, and they did it at the military camp’s entrance, it seemed unremarkable.
“Uhm… What are you doing?” Ou Yangming was stupefied, and he asked with a bitter smile, “You got the
wrong person, didn’t you?”
The squad leader put down his military saber and responded sternly, “If you’re ou Yangming from the Immense Forest Military Camp, it’s not a mistake.”
“Qu Hongfu, what the hell are you doing?” A furious roar was heard, which hurt everyone’s eardrums.
Subsequently, a burly man was seen walking over swiftly. He glanced at everyone at the gate with his lightning eyes, then he asked, “Who are they?”
Qu Hongfu immediately answered, “Captain Zhang, this is Ni Yunhong, the Ni family’s eldest young master, and this is…”
“Hmph, the Ni family’s eldest young master is honorable indeed, but you mustn’t carry out such a formality!” The man glared at the squad leader as he reprimanded him.
“Captain, let me finish… This is ou Yangming,” Qu Hongfu expressed bitterly. “What’s the point of letting you finish your sentence? The salutation can’t be… Oh, what did you say?” The man suddenly paused and looked at Ou Yangming. “Are you Ou Yangming? Ou Yangming from the Immense Forest Military Camp’s Armament Camp?”
Ou Yangming was bewildered, but he answered, “That’s me.”
The man scanned Ou Yangming from head to toe, then he straightened his body as well to carry out a formal military salute. “I’m Captain Zhang Mingzhe. Greetings, Master.” “I’m Ou Yangming. Greetings, Captain Zhang.” Ou Yangming quickly returned the salutation.
Old Craftsman and the other people looked at each other and thought, ‘When did Ou Yangming become so famous in the Prefecture Military Camp?’
Zhang Mingzhe said in all seriousness, “Master Ou, we’ve been waiting for you for a long time; you’re finally here.”
Ou Yangming looked at Ni Yunhong because he was shocked, but the eldest young master was also confused.
“Master Ou, why have you come today?” Zhang Mingzhe laughed. “I heard General Chen Yifan has come to the prefecture, so I’m here to see him,” Ou Yangming answered.
“Ah, you want to meet General Chen. That’s easy.” Zhang Mingzhe turned his body sideways and said, “Please, I’ll bring you to him.”
Qu Hongfu suggested, “Captain, let me lead the way.”
Zhang Mingzhe glared at him. “Master Ou is here, that’s an important event, so I must lead the way. Quickly report to the general that Master Ou has come; the general will be delighted.”
“Yes,” Qu Hongfu responded loudly and left in a hurry.
Ou Yangming asked after some thought, “Captain Zhang, which general is he reporting to?”
Zhang Mingzhe uttered, “Of course it’s General Li, the Middle Camp’s commanding
general!”
[1] Note that this is not a legitimate title. Ni Yunhong is only addressing the squad leader in this way because of how he and his companions were treated
Chapter 215 - What’s The Grade And Rank
General Li-Li Xinfan!
Everyone shuddered when they heard the name.
Even Ni Yunhong’s face changed. Ou Yangming and his companions were not at the military camp near the immense forest; they were at the Prefecture Military Camp, which had the largest army in the county.
Li Xinfan was not an ordinary cultivator; he was a Supreme Great Ancestor. He was also from the imperial family like Governor Deng Xiyuan, but he was the most powerful martial artist in Changlong County. In terms of power alone, even the Ni family, which had three Supreme Great Ancestors, dared not say that they could suppress General Li.
Although Ou Yangming was slightly popular, it was unexpected for him to be valued by a figure like Li Xinfan.
The young fellow forced a smile and asked, “Captain Zhang, why does General Li know a nobody like me?”
“A nobody? Master Ou, you underestimate yourself.” Zhang Mingzhe could not help but laugh, and he explained with a serious face, “My brothers and I admire what you did, and we’re grateful for you from the bottom of our hearts. Hehe, General Li has personally ordered us to thank you with the military salute if we ever see you.”
The other people became even more puzzled. Eventually, Old Craftsman nudged Ou Yangming and asked softly, “Young fella, what did you do?”
Ou Yangming was startled for some time before he said, “I didn’t do anything…” Zhang Mingzhe shook his head and sighed. “Master Ou, you sought justice for us, fought the imperial merchant on your own, and taught the high officials and nobles a great lesson. Did you forget such a significant matter?”
Old Craftsman widened his eyes at Ou Yangming and cursed, ‘What’s going on? I’ll surely make this young fella explain to me once we’re home.’
Ou Yangming was stunned. “Captain Zhang, I ought to have done that. It’s just a small matter, so it’s not worthy enough to be remembered by General Li.”
“A small matter? Heh…” Zhang Mingche laughed, but he sounded rather bitter. The captain lowered his voice and said, “Master Ou, who else is willing to stand up for soldiers like us?”
Ou Yangming opened his mouth and looked at Zhang Mingzhe as he felt troubled, but he could not let a world out.
He was willing to offend the imperial merchant for a squad leader-a deceased squad leader—and was unwilling to stop even when two Supreme Great Ancestors showed up. How many people in the world could have done that?
Nonetheless, while it was the reality, the incident cast a chill over the generals and the soldiers. As such, even Zhang Mingzhe did not have the guts to speak about it openly.
“Master Ou, please!” Zhang Mingzhe reached out his hand to guide the guests into the military camp.
Along the way, Ou Yangming noticed that more people gathered to see them. The people whispered to each other, and whenever he turned to look, someone would salute him even from far away.
Nevertheless, nobody stopped them, and they simply bowed at Ou Yangming quietly from afar. They expressed their highest respect for him in a soldier’s unique way.
Ou Yangming was agitated. He stuck out his chest as he followed behind Old Craftsman, and he walked calmly as the other people watched.
At this moment, he firmly believed that everything he did was right. Even if he offended the governor, even if he provoked the imperial merchant, Ou Yangming never regretted it.
At last, there was a smaller crowd when they were deeper inside the military camp. They were at the residence for high-rank officers, after all, which was out of bounds for most people. “Ou Yangming’s here, that’s great!” A hearty voice was heard.
Chen Yifan’s familiar figure was seen, but he was instantly attracted to the spear on Ou Yangming’s back as soon as he appeared. In fact, he ignored Old Craftsman and the other people. “Lil’ Ou, did you smith this weapon for me?” Chen Yifan cut to the chase.
Ou Yangming grinned. ‘Chen Yifan’s still as straightforward as ever.’
“General, I did smith this weapon for you. Take a look at it; are you satisfied?” Ou Yangming removed the spear from his back and tossed it to the general.
Ordinary people must be checked thoroughly before they entered the heavily-guarded military camp, so it would be impossible for one to carry a self-made spear into the camp.
However, every soldier neglected the spear after they found out Ou Yangming’s name, hence the young fellow entered the camp smoothly with the weapon.
Chen Yifan caught the spear and fixed his gaze on the spear tip. He subconsciously quivered.
When he held the spear with both hands and wielded it, the spear vibrated and gave out a buzz. The vibration hit their eardrums and cast a chill over them.
“This… This is a great spear!” Chen Yifan’s eyes lit up, and he could not hide his excitement. “Come, let me test it out!”
Subsequently, he turned and entered the courtyard, which was arranged for him, with the spear.
Zhang Minghe, Ou Yangming, and the other people looked at each other. They were aware of Chen Yifan’s character, but they thought he was being too willful.
Old Craftsman let out a dry cough and sai
d, “Ah, that’s just how General Chen is—direct. Heh, let’s go in too.”
“Yes, yes.” Zhong Yunda nodded and agreed with the old man.
Despite that, the two elders were actually thinking, “Oh, General Chen. Even if you see something great, you should still be reserved; an officer from the Prefecture Military Camp is here.’
With different thoughts, everyone entered the courtyard, and they were immediately greeted with spear shadows.
Chen Yifan flashed as he held the spear, and he moved with the weapon like a legendary dragon. As he wielded the weapon, it looked like an azure dragon mounting the clouds or riding the mist playfully in the courtyard.
Without warning, the legendary dragon turned and seemingly stared at the other people.
As a result, everyone else was fearful. It was as though the lights transformed from the spear shadows were a legendary dragon as a whole, and that it could swallow all of them in one bite.
Old Craftsman and the two other old Military Fire Blacksmiths felt a chill down their spines when they sensed the cold-intent from the spear shadows. They slowly shifted forward to stay further away.
On the other hand, Ou Yangming and Zhang Mingzhe watched attentively. The captain was in awe and thought the general was worthy of his title; the general’s cultivation base was far from his reach.
Ou Yangming beamed with joy. His understanding of the Chen family’s spear technique had already improved from the past, hence he verified his gained knowledge as he watched Chen Yifan’s spear technique. The young fella was overjoyed because he felt like he had advanced further again. Chen Yifan suddenly lowered the spear tip to the ground and moved while he dragged the spear by the end of the handle. He yelled after he took a few steps, then the spear tip bounced up like a venomous snake and was prodded in the void.
The general gathered all his essence, energy, and spirit in the movement. If someone was following closely behind him at that instant, the person would have turned into powder due to the irresistible force.
When the general performed the Chen family’s Back Spear Thrust, there was a different charm to it. “Great spear technique!”
Immortal Path to Heaven c1-725 Page 128
