Chapter 1091.1: Have to Try - Part 1

After leaving White Deer Prefecture, Chen Chao had already begun making his way north once more. By now, he had finished everything he needed to take care of on this trip south. As for the major matter of the human race's spies working for the enemy, since he had already entrusted it to the Infatuation Daoist Temple, Chen Chao would not interfere much further. With the Infatuation Daoist Temple and the Warden’s Office working together from here on, there should be no major problems.

However, Chen Chao did not travel very quickly on this journey north. Along the way, he had actually been harboring the intention of taking a good look at this Great Liang Dynasty.

It was not for any other reason. He simply had a vague feeling that once he went north this time, it would be difficult for him to return.

Faced with the current situation, he had long since resolved to give his life for his country. Dying did not matter, so long as they could win.

Thus, Chen Chao's mood was not particularly heavy throughout the journey. He traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping now and then, and soon arrived within the borders of Wei Prefecture.

Chen Chao had always felt deeply attached to Wei Prefecture. In his heart, he was probably more willing to regard Wei Prefecture as his hometown. That little courtyard in a remote county town had perhaps been the place where he had felt most at ease over the years.

During those years, he would occasionally go out to kill demons, and whenever he had some free time, he would share late-night snacks with Mi Ke, the county magistrate. Although Mi Ke was a smooth operator when it came to handling affairs, he truly could not be considered one of those corrupt officials and venal bureaucrats. Now that he was serving as an official in the Divine Capital, Chen Chao had heard that his reputation as an official was quite good. He was simply getting a little old. Had he been younger and had a few more years to build his record, it would not have been impossible for him to become a premier.

However, Mi Ke had never expected to reach such heights in his lifetime. He was already quite content with the position he had attained.

Chen Chao felt somewhat wistful. Since parting ways with Mi Ke in Tianqing County, the two had met again in the Divine Capital, but Chen Chao had been occupied with far too many matters afterward. As a result, the two had hardly ever sat down together to enjoy a proper late-night meal.

Lost in these various thoughts, Chen Chao traveled through most of Wei Prefecture before finally arriving at a ferry crossing. North of here lay Changping Prefecture. Beyond that, farther north, were Xinliu Prefecture and the Northern Frontier.

Standing before the ferry, Chen Chao looked rather forlorn.

Ever since he had watched the young girl named Xie Ying die in his arms, he had thought of one question every time he came to a ferry crossing.

What if, back then, he had simply escorted Xie Ying all the way to White Deer Prefecture?

For a long time, this matter had been a heart demon for Chen Chao. Although he had finally come to terms with it, he had never forgotten what happened. Whenever he thought of it, his spirits would inevitably sink a little.

Although ordinary people were eaten by the demons lurking in the mountains and forests every day in the vast Great Liang Dynasty, there was still a considerable difference between witnessing such things and never seeing them at all.

Just as Chen Chao stood there, momentarily lost in thought, a ferryboat had already pulled into the shore. Quite a few people disembarked. Among them, several were clearly traveling together. After getting off the boat, they had initially intended to head southeast. But after taking a few steps, a woman in a plain, unadorned robe among them looked at a figure in the distance and said, “Look, doesn't that person look like the Lord Warden Commander?”

The others did not even turn around to look before bursting into laughter. One man chuckled, “Wu Yi, you really can't get him out of your mind, can you?”

Unlike the man's teasing, another woman spoke in a much more considerate tone. “That's only natural. These days, even in the northern lands, rumors are spreading that Fairy Li Tang is also deeply enamored with Lord Warden Commander, though it's only unrequited love.”

“Hahaha! If it were any other man treating Fairy Li Tang this way, this Xu would definitely scold him for not knowing what was good for him. But since it's Lord Warden Commander, then... well, he truly lives up to the title of Lord Warden Commander!”

The man named Xu Yin burst into laughter, and his words made everyone else laugh as well.

“Xu Yin, if I remember correctly, you used to be quite the rebellious young fellow in your earlier years. How is it that now, whenever Lord Warden Commander is mentioned, you seem to admire him to the point of complete submission?”

Another young man dressed in a green robe spoke up. His name was also rather coincidental: Li Qingshan.

Xu Yin laughed. “Is there anyone else in this world who could genuinely drive the Demon Emperor out of Great Liang? Is there anyone else who could face three opponents alone on the battlefield? “Of course I admire a figure like that. Though I'm still holding back. If that fellow Hai Qing were still around...”

As he said this, Xu Yin lowered his voice a little and spoke softly, with a trace of sadness. “He would have said even more outrageous things.”

At the mention of Hai Qing, the mood of the group sank somewhat.

“Let's go.”

Wu Yi sniffed first, deliberately putting on a carefree air, “Let's get our business done before talking about anything else.”

The others nodded and were about to move on when the young man who had previously been visible only from behind turned around and looked at them from a distance.

When they had seen only his back, it had merely been a guess. They had not truly expected it to be him. But now that they could see his face, Wu Yi was the first to freeze.

“Lord Warden Commander...”

Hearing this, the others also looked in that direction. Sure enough, there stood the young man in black, smiling as he looked at them.

“Lord Warden Commander!”

Xu Yin was the first to speak, his voice filled with excitement.

Chen Chao walked toward them with a smile. “Fairy Huang, Fairy Wu, Daoist Xu, Daoist Li. It’s been a long time.”

These were precisely the people Chen Chao had encountered earlier in the northern lands when he had been using the alias Chen Ling. Of course, they had all learned his true identity later.

At Inviting Moon Mountain, Chen Chao had once said that if the demon race breached the Great Wall of the Northern Frontier, he would be the first person to give his life for his country. At the time, many cultivators had felt their blood surge with passion, and some had immediately left the northern lands for the Northern Frontier.

These people had been among them. Back then, there had been seven of them. But now...

Chen Chao furrowed his brow. “What about Fairy Han, Daoist Hai, and Daoist Zuo?”

Xu Yin's eyes dimmed, and he could not bring himself to answer.

Only then did Huang Ying speak softly. “During the demon race's first assault on the city, Hai Qing, Han Chan, and Zuo Mu died on the city walls.”

Chen Chao fell into silence.

Hai Qing was the personal disciple of the Sect Master of the Thousand Lakes Sect, a pure martial artist whom the Thousand Lakes Sect regarded as its candidate for the next Sect Master. Zuo Mu, likewise, had been viewed as the successor to the Snow Mountain Sect.

Compared with those two men, Chen Chao actually had a deeper impression of Han Chan. This was not because she was a woman, but because she was a rare female martial artist, with an exceptionally forthright and easygoing personality. She had even once wanted to compare saber techniques with Chen Chao, the Lord Warden Commander himself.

When they had parted that day, no one had imagined it would be the last time they saw one another.

“You gave your lives for the country. This official holds you in the highest esteem.”

Chen Chao spoke with a bitter smile. “At a time like this, all this official can do is offer such polite words.”

Li Qingshan, who had always been quiet and sparing with words, said, “Before that big fool Hai Qing died, he was still saying that Lord Warden Commander wasn't hiding behind us, but was standing in front of us instead. Just that alone, he said, made his death worthwhile.”

“Han Chan said her greatest regret was that she never got to stab Lord Warden Commander once.”

Huang Ying's eyes grew moist, and she could barely get the words out.

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