Volume 1, Chapter 209 – Reunion

“Thousand Commander, please follow me.”

The Demon-Suppressing Army soldier quickly returned. After handing the Demon-Suppressing Token back to Shi Lan, he turned and led the way.

On the inner side of the wall, more than twenty flood-dragon horses were tethered. The man led out two of them from among the group.

Shi Lan took the reins, swung herself onto the horse, and rode forward.

After galloping for more than thirty li, the two arrived at a drill ground.

This drill ground very clearly bore the marks of rushed temporary construction. Even now, flattened wreckage of houses could still be seen.

Beside the drill ground, as far as the eye could see, stood an untold number of enormous military tents.

At the entrance to the drill ground, a military recruitment notice had been posted, and soldiers of the Demon-Suppressing Army were coming and going from time to time.

After dismounting at the entrance, Shi Lan followed that Demon-Suppressing Army soldier into the drill ground.

Inside, many people were practicing archery and crossbow techniques. Shi Lan only needed two glances to tell that most of them were newcomers.

Judging from their movements, they clearly had yet to adapt to the weight of heavy armor, and compared with the veterans of the Demon-Suppressing Army, they also lacked a measure of blood-forged valor.

From time to time, officers with Demon-Suppressing Tokens of various colors hanging from their waists, as well as Sacred Martial Immortal Sect disciples of all ages, passed by Shi Lan’s side.

For some unknown reason, those Sacred Martial Immortal Sect disciples did not dare let their gaze linger on Shi Lan for even a moment, as though they were deeply wary of her.

Before long, Shi Lan and her guide arrived in front of a separated encampment.

“General Bai’s division is stationed here. Thousand Commander, you may enter directly.”

General Bai?

Shi Lan froze for a moment, then quickly realized that the man was referring to Bai Weiyang.

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For the Demon-Suppressing Army, finding out where she had been assigned should have been a very easy matter.

Shi Lan was not surprised by that. What pleased her was that Bai Weiyang was actually here.

If that was the case, then Wu Lingkong and the others should also be here. Perhaps even her father was here as well.

After thanking him, Shi Lan strode eagerly into the camp.

“Come straight to my tent. The one in the center is mine.”

After taking only a couple of steps, Shi Lan felt a divine sense sweep over her, and a somewhat familiar voice sounded by her ear.

Shi Lan quickened her pace and, taking three steps where one would do, entered the central tent.

The furnishings inside were very simple, with only a commander’s desk.

On top of the desk rested a four-chi jade sword, and behind it sat a handsome man with a face like polished jade, apparently deep in thought with his eyes closed.

It was Bai Weiyang, whom she had not seen for nearly a year.

“General.”

Shi Lan stepped forward and bowed.

After a long while, Bai Weiyang slowly opened his eyes. After looking Shi Lan over twice, he nodded. “It is good that you returned safely.”

He did not ask where Shi Lan had gone during this period, lightly letting the matter pass.

“General, why are you in Xianwu City?” Shi Lan asked in puzzlement.

Bai Weiyang kept it brief and gave only a short explanation.

Back then, because a great number of powerful demon race experts had gathered, the pressure had soared so sharply that the fortress simply could not be held. Unwilling to make meaningless sacrifices, the Demon-Suppressing Marshal chose to retreat with support from the Sacred Martial Immortal Sect.

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The various fortresses were linked together, so that when one moved, all were affected. After several probing attempts at resistance, they too could only retreat along with the others, and that retreat carried them all the way back to Xianwu City.

“General, may I ask whether the subordinates originally under me, as well as Wu Lingkong from the women’s battalion attached to my command, are currently in the camp?” Shi Lan asked directly, without any attempt at circumspection.

If she had asked this question of any other Demon-Suppressing General, she likely would not have gotten an answer at all. Some of the others could not even remember all the Thousand Commanders under them, much less a mere Centurion.

But Bai Weiyang only thought for two seconds before speaking.

“The unit originally under your command has already been broken up and reassigned under other Thousand Commanders. As for the women’s battalion… due to certain circumstances, they are not presently in Xianwu City. Wu Lingkong is safe and sound, so you need not worry.”

Just as Bai Weiyang finished speaking, a black-armored general strode quickly into the tent, a slip of paper in his hand.

“This is the location of your blood relatives in Xianwu City. Go and see them. If there is military business, you will be notified,” Bai Weiyang said, waving a hand.

Blood relatives?

Shi Lan instinctively took the slip of paper from the black-armored general and glanced at it.

Only one place was marked on it, in the western district of Xianwu City.

Apart from Shi Tianlu, her blood relatives were probably only Su Lanyue and her two younger brothers…

Shi Lan quickly came back to herself, took her leave, and left the tent.

Bai Weiyang stared at the jade sword on the desk. His expression suddenly slackened, and he rubbed at his brow, looking somewhat tired.

…

Shi Lan left the camp and quickly exited the drill ground, heading toward the place marked on the slip of paper.

The drill ground was at the far eastern side of Xianwu City, while the western district lay far opposite it, nearly a thousand li away.

The flight-restricting formation hung overhead, and the streets below were somewhat crowded with people, so Shi Lan’s speed of travel was not especially fast.

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Even after walking for three or four hours, she had covered less than half the distance. By then, the silver moon was already hanging high in the sky.

Night had fallen, yet Xianwu City still shone bright as day, brilliantly lit by countless lamps, and there were far fewer pedestrians on the streets.

Shi Lan had no need to rest at all. Just as she was preparing to increase her speed and continue through the night, she spotted a somewhat familiar shop by the roadside.

“Nishang Pavilion…”

Looking at the splendid three-story building, glittering with jewels and luxury, Shi Lan hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside.

…

Half an hour later, Shi Lan left Nishang Pavilion and continued on her way. She had left the Yueji Skirt behind there and paid two high-grade spirit crystals as the repair fee.

She had once again taken off her battle armor and changed into a long green dress, with a fitted white outfit beneath it. Her Qiankun Bracelet now also held several dozen additional sets of clothing.

Most of those garments were only low-grade artifacts, all of them gifts from Nishang Pavilion.

…

The next day, just as the morning sun was rising, Shi Lan finally arrived in the western district and reached the place marked on the slip of paper.

It was a very quiet three-courtyard residence, with two evergreen ancient trees nearly three zhang tall planted by the entrance.

Shi Lan stood beneath the stone steps before the gate, momentarily lost in a daze.

Creak—

The courtyard gate gave off a grating sound that set one’s teeth on edge and slowly opened.

Two servants stepped out. Seeing someone standing outside, they both froze.

“Miss, how may we help you?”

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After a moment, seeing that the young woman in green standing below the stone steps seemed to be staring blankly, one of the servants cautiously spoke, his attitude extremely gentle, even somewhat humble.

The present Xianwu City could not be adequately described even by saying it was a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons. The relationships within it were tangled and complex, and tossing out a brick at random might hit an Innate Realm martial artist.

These were troubled times, and one had no choice but to proceed with utmost caution. He was only a lowly servant and absolutely did not dare offend someone rashly.

Shi Lan came back to herself and slowly let out a breath. Her emotions were somewhat complicated as she spoke softly, “I’m looking for someone. Is this the residence of Shi Tianlu?”

“It is, but the family head is not currently in the residence. If you have business with him…”

“I’m not looking for him.”

Shi Lan shook her head. “I’m looking for Su Lanyue.”

“Then please allow this lowly one to report it to the matriarch.”

Only after Shi Lan nodded did the servant hurriedly turn around and jog into the courtyard.

After running two steps, he stopped and turned back, intending to ask the young woman’s name.

But after taking a proper look at the beautiful woman in green standing bathed in the morning light, he looked as though he had been struck by lightning. A trace of alarm flashed through his eyes.

The servant did not dare look any longer. He quickly turned back around and pressed a hand to his hastening heartbeat.

Th-this young woman… how could she resemble the long-missing eldest young master so much?!

Could it be…

that the family head had another child of his blood living outside?!

At that thought, he immediately rushed toward the courtyard. This matter was of great importance, and he had to report it to the matriarch as quickly as possible.