Chapter 412 - 244: Raising Troops

Chapter 412: Chapter 244: Raising Troops

"It has nothing to do with me. This is all something Lord Su figured out on his own."

Zhang Zhongmei stated the truth.

"So, it’s still because I’m a good teacher?"

Huo Zhen Court said.

Su Mu was at a loss for words, then chuckled. ’No wonder he’s still so lively after being trapped in the Demon Court for so long. He really is confident enough.’

"What does it have to do with you?"

Zhang Zhongmei retorted bluntly, "Back when you were learning the Artifact Refining Technique, could you forge a Mortal Weapon to this level in a month?

It’s Lord Su’s own exceptional talent!

He’s the most talented person in Artifact Refining I’ve ever seen, bar none!"

"Let’s be modest, be modest."

Su Mu was a little embarrassed by his praise.

’I’ve just put in a little more effort than others, that’s all.’

"I can only forge Mortal Weapons for now. I still don’t have the slightest clue how to forge a Profound Weapon,"

Su Mu said humbly.

Huo Zhen Court rolled his eyes. ’You can forge a top-quality Mortal Weapon in just over a month and you’re still not satisfied?

You still want to forge Profound Weapons?

If you could even forge Profound Weapons, what would be the point of us at the Divine Weapon Pavilion?

Don’t challenge our livelihood with your hobby. Even your Taiping Bureau’s Marquis Mingyi isn’t as good as me at the Weapon Casting Technique, okay?’

"I believe that with your talent, it won’t be long before you can forge Profound Weapons,"

Zhang Zhongmei said with certainty.

No one in the Divine Weapon Pavilion had truly mastered the Heavenly Craft Refining Technique in all these years. Su Mu had only looked at it once and had already grasped the method for forging Mortal Weapons.

With talent like that, he believed Su Mu could one day truly master the Heavenly Craft Refining Technique.

"It’s not that easy,"

Su Mu said.

’The Heavenly Craft Refining Technique requires a million Points to go from Entry to Minor Completion.’

’Even if I went all out, it would still take two years.’

’But it’s impossible for me to not improve my Cultivation and martial techniques for two years, spending all my Points on Artifact Refining.’

’Only when my Points are particularly abundant will I consider further advancing the Heavenly Craft Refining Technique.’

’Otherwise, improving my Cultivation is the top priority.’

"My Lord."

Just then, Shi Ziran hurried over and said to Su Mu, "Chen Yougong is here. He says he has something important to report.

He’s been here several times already. I was afraid of disturbing you, My Lord, so I haven’t let him in."

As the first person in Songjiang Prefecture to bow his head to Su Mu, Chen Yougong was now cooperating with the Wu Family to build the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy.

He had performed exceptionally well in this process, completing various coordination tasks with great skill.

The direct consequence was that Chen Yougong’s status in Songjiang Prefecture had skyrocketed. He had become a favorite of Songjiang Prefecture, the Taiping Bureau, and the Inspection Bureau, and all the various families had to give him some face.

Su Mu had also accepted two banquet invitations from Chen Yougong, which could be considered returning a favor and lending Chen Yougong some support.

"Let him in,"

Su Mu said after a moment’s thought.

"Gentlemen, please make yourselves at home."

After saying goodbye to Zhang Zhongmei and Huo Zhen Court, Su Mu walked towards the front hall.

...

In the main hall of the Taiping Government Office, Chen Yougong stood somewhat constrained.

Su Mu didn’t find it strange. It would be odd if an ordinary merchant could remain calm and composed after coming to a powerful Government Office like the Taiping Bureau.

"Is there a problem with the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy?"

Su Mu asked, getting straight to the point.

"No, everything is going smoothly at the construction site."

Chen Yougong quickly bowed and said, "It’s just that there’s a matter I feel I must inform you about, my lord."

"What is it?"

Su Mu asked, puzzled.

’Lu Mingyang is at the construction site all day, and he has the full cooperation of Inspector Wu Yiqi from the Inspection Bureau. For ordinary matters, their presence should be enough to resolve things.’

’What could possibly require my personal attention?’

"It’s like this,"

Chen Yougong said, "To build the Bailu Academy, we need a special kind of white stone. This stone is quarried from Centipede Mountain, which is sixty li outside Songjiang Prefecture. The Chen Family has always been responsible for quarrying it.

A few days ago, a craftsman at the quarry suddenly went mad."

Chen Yougong explained the matter in great detail.

If it were just one craftsman going mad, Chen Yougong wouldn’t have made a fuss.

In a place like a quarry, it wasn’t unusual for a few people to die.

But since then, people had been continuously going mad and then killing themselves through self-harm.

Chen Yougong suspected that demons were causing trouble, so he had run to find Su Mu.

The Taiping Bureau was responsible for precisely these kinds of demon-related matters.

"I suspect the miners may have dug into some demon’s lair and have been cursed by it!"

Chen Yougong said with conviction.

"My lord, the miners are now in a panic. It’s already affecting the quarrying process. If we can’t solve this problem, I’m afraid it will delay the construction schedule for the Songjiang Prefecture Bailu Academy,"

Chen Yougong said with a worried expression.

"I understand. I’ll go there myself,"

Su Mu said slowly after a moment of deliberation.

’I’ve been in Songjiang Prefecture for so long, and all I’ve done is scheme against those families. I haven’t even seen a single demon.’

’If it really is a demon, it’ll be a good chance to stretch my muscles.’

Su Mu summoned Yang Yungzhong, brought along two Taiping Captains and another seven or eight Taiping Captains, and immediately rushed to the quarry Chen Yougong had mentioned.

Watching the backs of Su Mu and his party as they left the city, a meaningful smile appeared on Chen Yougong’s face.

"Master, didn’t you say we were going to ’cast a long line to catch a big fish’? The monsters from the Demon Court haven’t arrived yet, so why are we making a move on Su Mu now? What if we alert the enemy?"

A man dressed as an attendant said in a low voice.

Chen Yougong glanced around warily. Seeing no one nearby, he glared at his subordinate.

"Who said I’m making a move on Su Mu?"