Mountain Patrol Military Officer

After more than half a cup of tea time, the chanting inside the Great Hall came to an end.

The golden Buddha statue representing the present moment suddenly emitted a radiant glow, casting a glazed light from its lowered eyes onto the crown princess consort's head, enveloping her beneath.

After a while, the crown princess consort, kneeling on the cushion, opened her eyes with a gentle smile playing on her lips and bowed to the old monk Bai Mei in front of her.

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing blessings."

"Every time the Buddha light bathes me, fatigue dissipates completely—it's remarkable. It's rumored that this statue contains true Buddha relics, akin to the true Buddha in the world—is it true?"

The crown princess consort's demeanor was soft and gentle, devoid of sharpness, as she asked the abbot.

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Only Master Sanjie, the abbot here, chanted a Buddha name, his brows lowered, "All things are mere illusions. If you see no form in what is seen, then you see the Tathagata!"

"It is because Your Highness constantly develops Bodhi mind that you see the true Buddha, the Buddha's light shining everywhere, without any discrimination."

Upon hearing this, the crown princess consort became reverently devout, "The disciple is enlightened!"

Then, the two discussed Buddha teachings for another half a cup of tea time before concluding.

Thus, the crown princess consort left, stepping out of the Great Hall.

Waiting outside, mingled among the palace maids, Qin Rushuang also followed.

The crown princess consort glanced sideways at her and smiled, which made Qin Rushuang lower her head, her ears turning red, feeling somewhat unaccustomed.

Thereafter, the crown princess consort's palanquin left Xuankong Temple, descending the mountain.

The abbot of Xuankong Temple, the old monk Bai Mei, with his monks, escorted her to the door and from afar saw one of the palace maids, uttering Amitabha Buddha.

By the time they descended the mountain, it was noon, and the crown princess consort's carriage slowly made its way down the mountain road.

The midday sunlight penetrated through layers of overlapping leaves, weaving a mottled golden net in the forest. The towering ancient trees pointed towards the sky, moss on the bark slightly curling from the sun, the shadows of the trees cast slanted on soft soil, gently swaying with the breeze.

As the carriage traversed through it, a curious voice sounded within.

"How was it?"

"Did you meet that General like you wished? What did he say?"

"It's a pity for my status that I can't see outside men, or I would definitely meet this General with you."

The voice was evidently teasing.

"Brother Chen said I shouldn't get involved." Qin Rushuang's "disheartened" voice rang out.

Upon hearing this, the crown princess consort exclaimed, then said after a while,

"This person is virtuous!"

"Seems like he sees things clearly. Just listen to me for now, don't get involved in such dangerous matters."

"Hmm."

As the words settled, half a face with clear and cold features appeared from the carriage window, bright eyes watching the midday mountain scenery outside.

Perhaps knowing Brother Chen has his own way, her mood brightened with the mountain scenery.

At this time, the creek outside the mountain road shimmered under the sunlight, occasionally a falling leaf swirled in, slowly carried along by the water current. Squirrels leaped across branches, causing a flurry of soft sounds, a pine cone "plopped" onto the ground, startling the sparrow foraging in the grass.

Thin mist steamed between distant mountain cove, intermittently visible under sunlight, resembling light veils left behind by immortals. Wildflowers bloomed profusely, blue-purple iris, bright yellow wild chrysanthemums, scattered stars across green grass, when the breeze blew, the bamboo forest rustled softly, bamboo leaves rubbed against one another as if whispering to each other. The mountain wind carried the fresh scent of pine needles, the moist earthiness, and the fragrance of wildflowers, invigorating one's spirit. Occasionally mountain mist swept past, forest lights and shadows shifted instantly, alternating brightness and darkness, the entire forest resembling a flowing ink wash painting, serene yet full of vitality.

Just listening, besides the bird calls in the forest, there were other sounds.

Descending the mountain, the sounds gradually became clearer.

It seemed like the neighing of horses and rumbling sounds.

It came from the other side of the mountain.

.......

After Qin Rushuang secretly met with Chen Yuan coming down the mountain, on the other side, behind Xuankong Mountain, outside the gardens, there was a military camp.

It was a forbidden army camp stationed nearby guarding the Imperial City.

The entire camp sprawled along the foot of the mountain like a city in the mountains. Three rows of stag antler chevaux-de-frise embedded into the steep slope like fangs, with concealed poison bamboo stakes interspersed, arrow towers entwined with thorns, golden imperial guard cloaks fluttered in the wind.

Mountain stream clear springs cut through the middle, in front of the camp gate, golden armor guards stood with halberds, fish scale armor reflected cold light, at the waist the blade swallowing mouth with vengeful beast head seemed ready to devour people anytime.

Inside the camp, tents spread across, occasionally horse neighs and shouts echoing.

In the center of the camp, a large drill ground, soldiers in golden armor in abundance, spears like a forest, two armies confronting each other, on the high central army platform, an officer's cloak flapped wildly, a command arrow fiercely slapped into tiger skin arrow tube: "Open the formation!"

In an instant, drumbeats poured down like torrential rain, front row sword and shield hand dropped their stance, bronze beast face shield clashed roaringly, deep thunderous crashing sound continuous like waves; rear row spears launched neatly from shield gaps. Flanking cavalry advanced swiftly, hooves vibrating, hiss hiss hiss, scabbards drawn, curved knives cut a chilly line in the sunlight.

On the distant observatory, the military supervisor's vermillion pen raced across the military records, evaluating the troops on the drill ground.

Seeing two armies opposed, thousands of imperial guards, forming various formations practicing.

In the center of the field, wolf brush soldiers pushed forward with iron thistles-covered long bamboo, like clusters of thorns; rattan shield hands rolled and maneuvered, shield beast opening exhaled cold light; Tangpa soldiers hooked people in the throat with iron teeth, shouting in unison so loud it made copper bells on flagpoles buzz.

On the southeast corner of the drill ground, the Divine Mechanism Camp's puppet army formation just like metallic monsters, charging inside, northwest direction, there was a special talismanic magic regiment, moving like thunder, talismans fluttering wildly, deploying various arrays under precise control....

This was the imperial guard's drill training.

At this time, in a corner of this camp, hundreds clad in black armor watched the imperial guard drills far away, a hint of envy showed in their eyes.

These imperial guards' military preparations were too luxurious!

Various weapons, puppets, talismans, military collaboration drills, appearing very formidable.

But naturally, these imperial guards, as troops guarding the Dragon Court, each not chosen from thousands, at least selected from hundreds, as direct troops of Your Majesty, these military preparations they wouldn't know how many times better than theirs.

They were merely cavalry, armored, charging! Straightforward and brutal.

And naturally, these black armored soldiers followed Chen Yuan to the capital, hundreds of Ninth Mountain troops.

Previously, to avoid drawing attention, they were kept by Chen Yuan within Divine Skills, and upon entering the Divine Capital, as frontier generals next to them, the accompanying troops had strict regulations, needing to stay in the defense camp, with significant restrictions on movement.

Therefore, they were left in the forbidden army camp below the mountain.

These few days, these Ninth Mountain Armor Soldiers could clearly feel the indifferent attitude of these imperial guards towards them.

Like looking down on them as troops from remote areas.

Practically no interaction between the two sides, the imperial guards didn't seem to want any association with their group, peace reigned.

According to the regulations, they were strictly confined within the camp, unable to move freely.

"If only we had these military preparations!"

"Then killing those demons would be so much easier, reducing many casualties."

"Their weapons maybe elite, but seem a bit disordered in tactics. I truly want to witness the prowess of these imperial guards."

"Have they ever been on the battlefield?"

"They should have, right?"

"..."

These Ninth Mountain Soldiers observed the training of the Imperial Guard, chatting idly, apart from envying the elite weapons of these guys, also possessing a tenacious spirit, wanting to test the skills of the most elite troops under the Imperial City.

They were soldiers experienced from the Demon Battlefield, baptized by slaughter, naturally possessing a certain pride when witnessing this scene.

Just then, on the observatory, the censor's gaze swept over, exceedingly sharp!