"So that’s what happened."
Having returned to Cyan Stone Castle, Bai Zheng recounted what he had seen and heard.
Bai Shu’s brow furrowed. It sounded like the group across from them was more difficult to deal with than he had imagined. He turned his head and looked behind him.
"Mister Chen, what do you think we should do?"
Behind Bai Shu, an inconspicuous man in a gray scholar’s robe raised his head. His face was covered in scars. In the Great Yong, where literary grace was prized as beauty, such a condition all but guaranteed the end of one’s official career.
Mister Chen said calmly, "Cooperation benefits both sides. What’s the harm in showing some weakness first and yielding a little ground?"
After listening, Bai Shu closed his eyes, his fingers tapping gently on the armrest.
"Che’er, take some men, open the cellar on the east side, and take out three hundred piculs of grain. Then bring it to trade with the other side."
"Yes, Father." Bai Che cupped his fist and bowed.
As he bowed, he inadvertently glanced at his sworn brother before quickly looking away. He straightened up, his face earnest. "Father, your son would like to ask my sworn brother to accompany me. He has been to the other side once, so he must be familiar with the way. And with him there, communicating with them will be easier."
"Then Zheng’er can go along too."
...
Outside the Gated Community, a team was on patrol.
Cao Biansheng flicked his silver spear, its tip striking a nearby wall and knocking off a black beetle that was clinging to it.
The president had said these black beetles were "pests." When on patrol, they were to kill any they saw.
"Brother Cao, I heard the people from the neighboring Gated Community are coming to trade with us," said Ma Xu, who was following behind.
Before Cao Biansheng could speak, a classmate next to him answered for him. "That’s no Gated Community. I heard they call themselves Cyan Stone Castle. It’s a Dock Fortress. Do you know what a Dock Fortress is?"
Ma Xu said confidently, "Duh. Before we transmigrated, I was a loyal Qidian user. A Dock Fortress is a small, fortified city controlled by powerful landlords in ancient times. It has city walls, a well, and corner towers. When danger approached, they’d just shut the gate, and it’d become a turtle shell. Back then, the northern nomadic tribes were mostly cavalry and weren’t good at sieges, so Dock Fortresses were like nails hammered into the north."
Song Meng said, "Then you haven’t read enough novels. A Dock Fortress isn’t as amazing as you think. It wouldn’t be hard to take for a regular army with siege equipment. Our Qin Alliance has Catapults and siege Crossbows. If we surround it, it’s very manageable."
Ma Xu shook his head. "Not necessarily. Any Dock Fortress that can survive on the borderlands is no simple fort. Besides, how are you going to use a Catapult inside this cave? With this little height, you’d just end up smashing yourself."
Song Meng was disdainful. "You’re just making assumptions. Have you ever actually transmigrated to ancient times before? And here you are, acting like an expert."
Ma Xu sneered. "Heh, sorry, but I actually have transmigrated before. Four times, in fact."
The moment he said this, the group around him fell silent. It seemed like... he had a point.
Someone tried to mediate, "Alright now, settle down. No need to argue and ruin the harmony."
"Brother Cao, there are footsteps over there. Sounds like more people are coming."
’They’re here already.’ Cao Biansheng looked across.
A caravan of carts slowly rounded the corner, a banner flying above them.
They were flanked by private soldiers on horseback, clad in armor.
As they drew closer, Cao Biansheng noticed that the leader he had traded with this morning was following behind another young man, who seemed to be in charge.
Bai Che cupped his fists and said politely, "Captain Cao."
Cao Biansheng nodded, then asked, "What’s in the carts?"
"The grain for our trade."
"Can I inspect it?"
An attendant behind Bai Che was about to speak, but Bai Che stopped him with a wave of his hand. "Of course. Please."
Cao Biansheng didn’t stand on ceremony and went straight to it.
After a short while, having confirmed there were no issues, he allowed them to pass and provided an escort.
The Hunting Team members following Cao Biansheng commented quietly, "He talks so formally."
"He’s kinda handsome, like one of those young masters from a TV drama."
"Duh, he’s a genuine young master. In modern terms, he’d be the second-generation leader of a small-town ’Brahmin’ family."
Ma Xu chimed in, "He’s not that weak. A small-town Brahmin who wants to mess with you still has to play within the rules. If they get you killed, they still have to find a way to cover it up."
"This guy is a real local tyrant. He has land, soldiers, and grain. As the saying goes, ’the Emperor’s authority doesn’t reach the countryside.’ He’s the law in his own village. If he has you killed, they’ll just wrap you in a straw mat, toss you by the side of the road, and say you tripped and died. No one would dare say you were murdered."
The group’s discussion grew louder and louder.
The expressions on the faces of the Bai family’s attendants began to change.
"If the master is insulted, the servant dies." Although the words and phrasing of these people were strange, the attendants could still grasp the general meaning.
’These people are so rude! They have no respect for the Young Master at all!’
A burly, bearded man, unable to contain his anger, drew his blade and faced them. "You insolent lout! Utter one more filthy word, and I’ll have your blood spray three feet high!"
Ma Xu’s expression was a little awkward. He cupped his fist and said, "My bad. I’ll watch my mouth next time."
This, however, only made the man angrier. He took a step forward. "Such a half-hearted apology! Do you think my blade isn’t sharp?!"
Ma Xu frowned.
’I already apologized, and he’s still not letting it go.’
He wasn’t some ancient man; he didn’t subscribe to that kind of rigid social hierarchy.
But on second thought, he realized he had started this trouble. If it escalated, it would be bad. So, Ma Xu adopted a more sincere attitude. "I apologize. I spoke out of turn just now. I hope you can all be magnanimous."
Bai Che smiled slightly. "It’s no matter."
But Cao Biansheng, who was following behind, frowned. He glanced at Bai Che’s back and spoke up. "Your Cyan Stone Castle is stationed at the borderlands, so you must have a strong martial tradition. I wonder, who is the number one expert of the Bai family?"
As soon as he said this, the eyes of the Bai family members subconsciously fell upon Bai Zheng.
Bai Zheng was stunned. ’How did I get dragged into this?’
Noticing their gazes, Cao Biansheng understood. ’So that country bumpkin from this morning is actually the Bai family’s best fighter.’
"My hands are itching for a fight. I wonder if we might be able to have a friendly spar."
"Of course," Bai Zheng sighed internally. The man had already put it that way.
If he were to avoid the challenge in front of everyone, he would inevitably look like a coward. This was a fight he couldn’t refuse.
The crowd spread out.
All eyes fell on the two men in the center of the open space.
"Bai family, Seven Absolutes Spear. Please." Bai Zheng took his spear and raised it.
Cao Biansheng casually twirled his spear in a flourish. When it came to pure martial arts technique, he believed he couldn’t match an opponent who had likely trained arduously for decades.
After a moment’s thought, Cao Biansheng said, "Qin Alliance, Cao Family Spear."
Bai Zheng raised his spear and thrust, the Long Spear in his hand transforming into a striking serpent.
The next second, a faster flash of silver light arrived in an instant.
His palm jolted. Bai Zheng felt a Giant Strength transmit from the other end, and his spear shaft was forced upward.
The silver light climbed up his spear shaft, growing larger and larger before his eyes, finally stopping right in front of his face.
Staring at the slightly wavering tip of his opponent’s spear, a bead of cold sweat broke out on Bai Zheng’s forehead.
He felt as if his opponent’s spear... was alive.
...
...