Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

July 1st.

Northern Land.

Also known as Luobei.

It does not refer to the entire north, but specifically the northeastern territory.

After the Celestial Master Army swept through the Northern Land, initially treating the common people well, its power gradually grew unrestrained, coupled with the indulgence from the higher-ups, leading to the Celestial Master Army not governing the Northern Land at all.

After plundering and taking away a large number of people, the entire Northern Land became desolate, and the hatred of the local people towards the Celestial Master Army surpassed even that towards the Court.

However, they were helpless, as the Celestial Master Army coerced half of the young and strong in the Northern Land, killed some who refused to join, and only a few managed to hide in the mountains, escaping the disaster.

Those who survived in the Northern Land could be described as struggling between life and death.

Moreover, since the Celestial Master Army took away most of the money and food from the Northern Land, those who remained could only consume Volcano Earth and dig Tree Root.

Hu Qiang, Su Wen, and Wei Qing, accompanied by a small elite squad of Divine Brave Guard and a few Gaozhou locals, followed Chen Mo's orders and carried the tokens given by Geng Songfu, stepping into the territory of Gaozhou.

Since entering Gaozhou's territory, they looked around without seeing any sign of green.

The fertile fields were dried and cracked.

The houses were in ruins, and on the roadside, they could see the corpses left unburied, scavenged by vultures.

"Is this Gaozhou?"

Hu Qiang was shocked by the sight before him.

Gaozhou and Qingzhou were adjacent, but Qingzhou, even at its worst, never reached this state.

Especially since Chen Mo took over the governance of Pingting County, the days of peace made them forget the brutality of chaotic times.

This was beyond human; it could be described as Purgatory.

Huang Li, a local of Gaozhou, had reddened eyes upon seeing the scene. It wasn't like this when he left.

The destruction of his homeland pained Huang Li more than anyone.

"Damn Celestial Master Thieves!" A person beside Huang Li knelt with a thud, then kowtowed heavily three times, saying, "I, Huang Yeshi, swear to the heavens, one day I shall slaughter all Celestial Master Thieves."

Currently, they were part of the Celestial Master Army, but they knew it was merely a title. Thus, neither Hu Qiang nor Su Wen or others had anything to say about Huang Yeshi's words.

"Gaozhou is in this state, can we still complete the mission assigned by the County Magistrate?" Wei Qing frowned, as the local people had dug up all the Tree Root, stripped the grass skin, and starved like this. Even if they kept Wutai Horse, they would likely be slaughtered for food by now.

Upon hearing this, Su Wen and Hu Qiang's expressions turned grim as well.

To them, completing the mission was evidently crucial, but given the current situation, it seemed very difficult.

In the end, Hu Qiang made a decision, saying, "Regardless, since we've arrived, let's go to Wutai County first to determine the situation. If all else fails, see if there's a chance to catch a few Gao Pu Wild Horses in the mountains, so we can report back."

Su Wen and Wei Qing nodded; it seemed that was the only option.

The team, as arranged by Chen Mo, was led by Hu Qiang, but Hu Qiang was aware of his own abilities, so he frequently consulted Su Wen and Wei Qing for opinions.

Especially Wei Qing, since he was previously a Centurion of the Qingzhou Army.

The two spent three days reaching the boundaries of Wutai County.

However, the closer they got to Wutai, the three of them found the situation here was better than other counties in Gaozhou.

Hu Qiang sent someone to inquire.

They learned that not all members of the Celestial Master Army were slaughtering civilians; some commanders were good to the people.

Of course, they weren't that good, merely not killing randomly, not raping women, and not forcing the local youth to join the Celestial Master Army. However, they did plunder all the civilians' money and food, even taking the rice seeds, which was akin to killing them but through 'pretty' means.

Stepping into the territory of Wutai County, while passing a mountain forest, Wei Qing suddenly changed his expression, dismounted, and raised his arm.

The team immediately halted.

Even though Chen Mo had few horses, the three leading figures had horses to ride.

"What's wrong?" Hu Qiang asked.

"Captain Hu, do you also feel that this forest is too quiet, without even a bird call?" Wei Qing said.

"Isn't that normal? The people were starved to the point of digging Tree Root to eat; perhaps they had thought of ways to catch birds, and it's possible all the birds around have been captured," Su Wen interjected.

Hu Qiang, born as a hunter, had keener instincts than most people. Hearing Wei Qing say so, he indeed felt something odd; it was too quiet.

"It's somewhat abnormal, but the Celestial Master Thieves have reached Qingzhou, and the Official Soldiers were either driven away or killed. Such a poor place wouldn't have anyone starting a bandit group, strange as it is, but there's no need to be overly worried," Hu Qiang said.

"Better to be cautious, given our limited numbers. Let's advance in formation," Wei Qing suggested.

Hu Qiang nodded, and with his signal, the following team immediately progressed in a three-three formation.

But soon after proceeding, disturbances came from the mountain forest on both sides.

At this, everyone's complexion changed because they saw flags raised in the mountain forests on both sides, and shadows quickly but chaotically charged down.

"Form the formation..."

Wei Qing quickly ordered the Divine Brave Soldiers to form up. They surrounded Wei Qing, forming a thick small circular formation, with shield soldiers on the outside, long spears placed above them, and step archers inside, ready for battle.

Hu Qiang tightened his strong bow, ready to release the arrow at any moment through the gaps between the soldiers ahead.

"Wait a minute, let's wait first."

At this moment, Wei Qing was startled because he saw some people wearing the armor of the Qingzhou Army among the shadows charging down from both sides.

And the group coming down from the mountain also noticed the peculiarity of Wei Qing and his men, so they stopped 60 paces away from the Divine Brave Guard.

This distance was already beyond what ordinary archers could manage.

This group also didn't seem intent on becoming enemies with Wei Qing and his men. Among them, a middle-aged man with a few scars on his face, dressed in Step Armor and appearing to be an officer, shouted:

"I don't care who you are, please leave quickly, Wutai County is not a place you should come to."

"The Qingzhou Army is here, do not dare to move," Wei Qing shouted as well.

The middle-aged man with the scarred face was stunned upon hearing this, then immediately said, "Move, the nation falls!"

After saying that, he shouted again, "General's intent, hundred battles wary."

"Settle the world, report peace," Wei Qing said this with a smile on his face, saying, "So they're brothers of the Qingzhou Army, what is your name, brother?"

What they had just said were codes previously used by the Qingzhou Army.

"Li Yunzhang," the middle-aged man with the knife scars also showed some emotion, but didn't relax his vigilance, saying, "Which battalion are you from, brother?"

"Ninth Battalion Centurion Wei Qing."

"So you're from the Cavalry Battalion, I'm the Captain of the Second Battalion."

"So it's Captain Li." Wei Qing respectfully cupped his hands, with respect on his face. A Captain is above a Centurion, able to oversee three thousand people according to the Qingzhou Army's structure.

Li Yunzhang gave a desolate smile, then said, "Brother, were you also scattered by the Celestial Master Thieves, becoming the remnants who roamed here?"

Li Yunzhang had been guarding Impatiens at the time, fighting against the Celestial Master Thieves coming from Gaozhou.

Later, when Impatiens fell, the commanding general died in battle, and the Vanguard General led them to break out. Of the twenty thousand Qingzhou Army, only a few managed to escape, and he was among them.

The remaining troops were less than three hundred, including a half who were injured and ill.

After being blocked by the Celestial Master Thieves, they ended up in Gaozhou.

"No, we came to Wutai County for an important task. I am no longer part of the Qingzhou Army but have pledged allegiance to the Pingting County Magistrate, becoming part of the Divine Brave Guard." Wei Qing confessed truthfully.

"You defected?" Li Yunzhang's face showed anger. As a Captain of the Qingzhou Army, he knew that Pingting County was an upper county of Qingzhou, and since Qingzhou had been occupied by the Celestial Master Thieves, Wei Qing pledging allegiance to the Pingting County Magistrate was tantamount to joining the enemy.

"Not so." Wei Qing shook his head again, then said, "Captain Li, can we talk alone? I'll come out now, and you tell your men not to act."

"Just say it directly like this." Li Yunzhang remained cautious.

"Then can I come closer, and you tell your men not to move, is that alright?" Wei Qing said, as it was difficult to hear clearly from that far away.

"Fine, but only you," Li Yunzhang said.

Wei Qing walked out from the formation, and Li Yunzhang kept his word, not allowing his men to make a move.

When they were thirty paces apart, Li Yunzhang had Wei Qing stop.

Wei Qing stopped and then began to recount his experiences to Li Yunzhang.

Wei Qing spoke in great detail, wanting Li Yunzhang to believe him, and finally also stated his purpose for coming to Wuyun County.

After finishing, he even tried to persuade Li Yunzhang, saying: "Captain Li, your rank is higher than mine, and your ability must be greater than mine. If you join our County Magistrate, the benefits you receive would definitely be higher than mine. The most important thing is that you can live a stable life in the future."

He continued, talking about his current benefits: "I now receive a salary of two guan per month, three meals of solid food a day, with meat in one of them. The County Magistrate even found a wife for me in the village, and promised me land when the territory expands.

In the Qingzhou Army, I couldn't even dream of such things."

Upon hearing this, it was unclear how much this moved Li Yunzhang, but the remaining soldiers from the Qingzhou Army beneath him were already swayed.

Although they had occupied Wutai County, a surrounded place rich in resources, after arriving in Gaozhou, they lived off the resources, as Wutai's old horses were slaughtered due to the Celestial Master Thieves' plundering.

To save food, they only ate one meal a day.

Li Yunzhang's expression flickered, this treatment tempted him, but having never heard of a Chen Mo, he couldn't verify the truth of Wei Qing's words.

If deceived, the cost might be death.

Li Yunzhang didn't dare to believe easily, saying, "For the sake of being brothers in the Qingzhou Army, you better leave quickly, I will not make a move against you."

Seeing that he failed to persuade him, Wei Qing frowned.

At this moment, Hu Qiang said, "I have the token of Wutai County's former County Magistrate Geng Songfu."