Chapter 772 - 232: Visitors from the Gu Family
The other cultivators in the courtyard, seeing this person never set foot outside, not attending the daily morning and evening classes, nor the lectures during the day, and even avoiding the training rooms... naturally, they began to have doubts.
When Chen Yan came out midway to collect meals, fellow disciples in the same courtyard asked him about it. Chen Yan simply said that he received a Jade Scroll bestowed by an Inner Sect Disciple that day and was currently in seclusion, delving into its mysteries.
This excuse made everyone envious, and thus they ceased persuading him further.
On the seventh day, finally, someone from within the outer and inner sect’s Jing’an Hall came looking for Chen Yan.
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Zhao Wuji, upon entering the courtyard, because he was wearing the formal robes of an Outer Sect Disciple, every preparatory disciple from the outer courtyard he encountered greeted him with respect.
Zhao Wuji’s nature was somewhat arrogant, disinclined to interact with these people, and headed straight to knock on Chen Yan’s noon gate. When Chen Yan opened the door and came out, Zhao Wuji immediately pulled him along and left.
"Is it finally the Gu Family who has come?" Chen Yan asked after being dragged out of the courtyard by Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji glanced at Chen Yan: "What else? Do you think I’m idle every day, coming to chat with you for fun?"
Chen Yan sighed in relief: "It’s good that they’ve come... uh, the Gu Family won’t cause me trouble, will they?"
"That I don’t know." Zhao Wuji shook his head: "An elder only sent me to bring you along.
Fortunately, Zhao Wuji had interacted with Chen Yan before and had some rapport, speaking a few more words as they walked: "I’ve heard that the person from the Gu Family this time is a big figure. The chief steward of the outer sect came out to receive him. After looking at our recorded investigation results and your deposition, they said nothing, just wanted to take you to meet them."
Seeing Chen Yan remain silent, Zhao Wuji sneered, somewhat disdainfully: "What are you afraid of?— if they suspected you were an accomplice, they wouldn’t send me to call you, but rather directly come to capture you! Since they are inviting you over, it seems the Gu Family doesn’t suspect you of anything."
Chen Yan nodded.
Zhao Wuji walked a few steps but suddenly stopped, turning to look at Chen Yan: "Hold on, I have a few words to tell you."
"Hmm?" Chen Yan also stopped, looking at Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji scratched his head, laughed, and said: "The elder instructed me on something I almost forgot—remember the following words well. I’ve had dealings with you a few times, and I know you are not foolish, someone who speaks and acts with tact, so these words are given to you, and you surely understand the limits."
"Please speak, Fellow Daoist." Chen Yan appeared very courteous.
"Just now I told you, the person coming from the Gu Family this time is a big figure. Even our outer sect’s supervising elder personally received him, and two senior brothers from the Inner Sect personally accompanied him!
I tell you, for such a big figure, if you get a chance to see them... you must speak respectfully and cautiously!
I heard that this big figure is a direct lineage noble of the Gu Family and holds an important position appointed by the Immortal Platform. He is the current Town General of Snow Cliff Pass!
This person had previously fought a great battle at Snow Cliff Pass, achieving impressive feats, an unprecedented victory in the last twenty years— he is going to the Immortal Platform to report on duty, and upon receiving notice from the Gu Family, because he was the closest, he dropped by here on behalf of the Gu Family to handle this matter.
This kind of frontier Town General, not only with high cultivation, clearly also possesses an astonishing aura, when you meet this noble, you must be on your guard, answer only what you are asked, do not utter nonsense, which would incite the noble’s anger— I say this for your own good.
Of course, given the importance of this matter, the person may not personally question you, but if you see them..."
Chen Yan hurriedly cupped his hands and thanked him: "I understand, I understand! Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for the reminder!"
He sounded relaxed, but in his heart, he couldn’t help but feel a ripple of unease.
The Town General of Snow Cliff Pass!!
Isn’t he the highest commander of that recent battle between Snow Cliff Pass and the Fierce Beast Race at Snow Cliff Pass?
The one who devised the entire strategy, deliberately provoking the war, attracting the Fierce Beast Race’s amassed army to invade, then feigning weakness under Snow Cliff Pass to hold them back, while personally leading Thunder Riders to stay hidden in Evil Land Mountain and the sea of trees...
In one battle, he annihilated more than thirty thousand enemies.
He also finally set a heavenly fire that burned hundreds of miles of sea of trees, allowing the Primordial Qi restored area to spread to the original sea of Evil Spirit Trees, further expanding territory by several hundred miles, even setting up fortifications in the sea of trees, effectively pushing the border conflict line between the Domain Realm and the Fierce Beast Race forward significantly!
Could it really be this guy?
However, the ripple in Chen Yan’s heart was also because he felt somewhat guilty.
Gu Jinjia had informed Chen Yan afterward, that the earthquake he caused in the snowfield days ago, resulting in the collapse of the ice surface, seemed to have tipped the scales of the war heavily in favor of Snow Cliff Pass.
In truth, it disrupted the original battle plan of that Town General, forcing him to collect the net earlier, which resulted in fewer battle results— although Chen Yan later understood he may not have necessarily hindered them, since Gu Jinjia also said the original plan, though likely to yield greater rewards, also carried more significant risks and would have incurred more losses on their side.
But that Town General didn’t see it that way— afterwards, he refused to return to Snow Cliff Pass and led troops to search around the snowfield, swearing to find the "culprit behind the scenes who triggered the ice collapse".
Later, when Chen Yan heard that the Town General had finally returned to Snow Cliff Pass, he quickly ran away.
Having disrupted someone’s plan, they surely hated him to death. How could he not feel guilty?
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The meeting place was in the outer sect’s Jing’an Hall.
Following Zhao Wuji to the hall’s door at Jing’an Hall, Chen Yan saw several Outer Sect Disciples outside the door, standing with clean clothes, bowing their heads in anticipation, serving carefully.
In addition, there stood several soldiers in leather armor, their attire being the most familiar to Chen Yan as those of Snow Cliff Pass’ garrison.
Zhao Wuji first went in to report, then came out to lead Chen Yan inside.
In the main hall, seats were arranged on both sides, with two chairs at the front.
Seated on the left was Elder Qian from Jing’an Hall, whom Chen Yan had met before,
And seated beside him on the right was indeed a burly, wide, and slightly plump man, wearing a cloak over his leather armor.
This fat man, with traces of weathering on his face and a hint of resolve in his eyes, clearly had an air of command.
Chen Yan immediately recognized him as a leading military figure who could cultivate such an aura.
Seeing this, Chen Yan promptly stepped forward and saluted: "Zhao Shanhe, a loose cultivator from the wilderness, greets the Town General and Elder Qian."
The fat man was taken aback, glancing at Chen Yan, his expression showing a slight weirdness.
Elder Qian, however, stroked his beard, glanced at Zhao Wuji, who looked embarrassed and spoke softly: "I forgot to mention it to him at the outer gate just now."
Elder Qian coughed, about to say something, when the fat man beside him chuckled: "Zhao Shanhe, is it? I am not the Town General, but the Left Tooth General under the Town General, Gu Jiu."
Not the Town General?
Chen Yan was taken aback, recalling Zhao Wuji’s words, and realized this guy came in to report first and didn’t inform him clearly about who was questioning inside!
But since he wasn’t the Town General, Chen Yan felt relieved— he was somewhat afraid of meeting the Town General.
Firstly because he felt guilty.
Secondly... his Transformation Technique can’t be seen through by those below the Celestial Human Realm. But above the Celestial Human Realm, if intentionally observing with mana, it can be seen through at a glance.
If it were a Town General, he would undoubtedly be a high-level cultivator of the Celestial Human Realm.
Since it wasn’t the Town General, this Left Tooth General might not be at the Celestial Human Realm.
But he called himself Gu Jiu, so he must be from the Gu Family.
"Greetings, General Gu," Chen Yan saluted again.
"No need to panic." Gu Jiu nodded: "Let me speak frankly with you, I already know the course of this matter. You need not conceal anything, as long as it’s as you stated, this affair does not concern you— our Gu Family doesn’t unjustly implicate others."
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[Recently, I’ve been experiencing health issues, so the amount of updates these days might be slightly reduced. I’ll strive to maintain continuity— if I can’t manage, I will announce a break in advance. Once I’ve recovered, I’ll return to the normal volume of updates. It should only be a few days. Just letting everyone know~]
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