C23 Eat a Tea Leaf Egg to Calm Your Nerves!

Three hours later, Sunn Cheng's carriage arrived at the northern gate of Azure Sun County.

Entering the county from the southern gate, he carried a sense of trepidation as he navigated through the city streets. Once past the northern gate, he would be free to leave the city and make his way to Ping Mountain City.

The normally bustling northern gate was eerily quiet today, with only a handful of listless vendors huddled in the shade at the base of the city walls, half-heartedly hawking their wares.

Sunn Cheng's brow furrowed as he drove the carriage; the stillness was pierced by an ominous aura of menace.

"Boom—Boom!"

The Armor Soldiers stationed at the north gate's archway sprang into action. Four of them pushed the heavy gate, kicking up dust as they closed it under the bright daylight.

A signal soldier appeared atop the city wall, brandishing a flag and waving it from side to side. Suddenly, rows of garrison soldiers lined the city walls, bows drawn and arrows pointed directly at Sunn Cheng and his family in the center below.

On the ground, dozens of soldiers emerged on either side, encircling Sunn Cheng's family in a pincer movement.

With a steely gaze, Sunn Cheng looked up at the city wall, where two familiar figures stood: Lin Xi, clad in shining white armor, and Lin Zheng, donning a black tiger-head military robe.

"Sunn Cheng! You have some nerve! To think you would dare to kill the captain of our garrison's guards, showing no respect for our authority! Today, you will be held accountable for your crime!" Lin Zheng's voice, cold and commanding, echoed across the plaza before the northern gate.

Sunn Cheng scoffed and called out to Lin Xi, "Miss Lin, Blackbeard enticed Wang Yue to Mouth Connecting Town, scheming against my sister. Are you aware of this? Remember, you promised me that Wang Yue would not obtain any information about my sister from your garrison. How will you explain this?"

Lin Xi gestured to summon a soldier who had escaped from Mouth Connecting Town after following Blackbeard and interrogated him briefly. She then called out, "Sunn Cheng, even if I find you disagreeable, I would never stoop to such vile tactics! But even if Blackbeard acted without orders, it's not for a commoner like you to take matters into your own hands! You publicly executed the captain of our guards. How could this not bring shame to the garrison? If we do not discipline you, how will the garrison command respect in Azure Sun going forward?"

Lin Zheng pointed at Sunn Cheng and shouted, "Sunn Cheng, you've caused a massive calamity today. You've not only killed the captain of the guard, but you've also maimed the Wang family's second son. I doubt you'll be able to fly away from this one! If you're thinking of leaving the city, you'll have to get past the Wang family patriarch first!"

Sunn Cheng turned to see a large force of at least thirty to forty people armed with swords and spears closing in. Leading the charge was a man in his fifties or sixties, brandishing a golden broadsword as he sped forward on his horse, his eyes ablaze with fury.

This man was none other than Wang Hong, the Wang family patriarch, the second most formidable expert in Azure Sun, and a cultivator in the early period of the Soul Union Stage.

A cultivator at the Soul Union Stage possesses a Spiritual Force that is several times more potent and abundant than that of someone at the Qi Drawing Stage. A single palm strike, channeling Spiritual Force from the meridians into the palm, could be so overwhelming that a Qi Drawing Stage cultivator might not only fail to withstand it but could even be blown apart.

Furthermore, the early period of the Soul Union Stage brings forth a Soul Sense within the sea of consciousness, enhancing the cultivator's six senses and the sharpness of their bodily reactions to an incomparable degree.

Typically, a Qi Drawing Stage cultivator would only stand a chance against a Soul Union Stage adversary by overwhelming them with sheer numbers until the latter's Spiritual Force was depleted.

Only those at the pinnacle of Qi Drawing Level Four could hope to exchange a couple of blows with a Soul Union Stage cultivator, but even then, they wouldn't last long.

Wang Hong, seething with rage, had eyes that seemed ready to engulf Sunn Cheng whole. Wang Yue might have been a disappointment, but he was still his second son, and now someone had robbed him of his ability to continue the family line. This was a vendetta that demanded retribution.

"You vile creature! You dare cripple my son? Today, I will exterminate your entire lineage!" Wang Hong bellowed, his golden broadsword aimed directly at Sunn Cheng.

Sunn Cheng withdrew his meat knife with a swift backhand motion, eyeing Wang Hong with utmost caution. The old man's presence was oppressively strong.

Without paying Wang Hong any attention, Sunn Cheng slightly turned his head and softly said to Old Madam Luo inside the carriage, "Grandma, our reinforcements haven't arrived yet. I'm not sure I can hold off this old turtle much longer!"

Old Madam Luo expressed her confusion as well. "Chen Ming'an is usually so dependable. They should have been here by now. Where could they be?"

Sunn Cheng couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. Grandma remained unflustered, while he was out here facing the numerous Wang family guards and an enraged Wang Hong, feeling a pressure heavier than any mountain.

"Chief Wang," Sunn Cheng began, jumping down from the carriage and bowing with an ingratiating smile, "Wang Yue is a scoundrel. He's brought misery to the people of Azure Sun and tarnished your esteemed reputation. The Wang family has been a prominent clan in Azure Sun for centuries; surely you don't want to see your family's good name destroyed overnight. If I may be so bold, I suggest you seize the moment while you're still vigorous and have more children. They're bound to be better than that rascal Wang Yue! Don't you agree?"

His eyes darted around as he spoke, silently praying for the reinforcements to show up before things took a turn for the worse.

Upon hearing Sunn Cheng's words, Wang Hong's anger turned to laughter, and he retorted sharply, "What a silver-tongued young fool you are, spewing nonsense even when death is staring you in the face!"

The Golden Ring Saber jingled menacingly. Wang Hong sneered, slinging the saber over his horse's back, and spat out with venom, "I'll personally dismantle your bones, you wretched little creature, and leave you begging for life or death!"

With that, Wang Hong leapt into the air like a bird taking flight, his palm shining with a brilliant light as Spiritual Qi swirled around him, launching a fierce attack at Sunn Cheng!

Terrified, Sunn Cheng let out a yelp, tumbling forward to evade Wang Hong's initial strike. He swung his meat knife with all his might, but Wang Hong's swift movements easily deflected the blade. Another palm strike aimed at Sunn Cheng's chest forced him into a desperate block. Despite his immense barbarian strength, akin to that of a Barbarian Beast, the force-filled palm sent him flying backward.

With a thud, Sunn Cheng collapsed beside the carriage, coughing up blood. He wiped his mouth and, leaning on the carriage, stood up with a wry smile. "Grandma, if your reinforcements don't arrive soon, I'm afraid I'll be done in by that old tortoise!"

Old Madam Luo Fu, assisted by Xiaonuo, descended from the carriage and instructed Muh Yi to remain inside. She paid no mind to the surrounding Wang family guards and the mansion's sentries, her hands firmly gripping her cane. She called out loudly, "Soong Hee, you rascal, since you've come, show yourself without delay!"

The area was quiet for a moment until the three vendors, who had been leaning against the city wall, picked up their loads and ambled over. It was then that everyone noticed the three vendors, with their bamboo hats, were exceptionally tall and robust, striding with the commanding presence of dragons and tigers.

The Wang family's personal guards and the mansion's sentries wanted to approach and disperse them, but they were held back by the formidable aura emanating from the trio, causing them to retreat involuntarily.

Lin Zheng and his daughter looked on with confusion. Who were these mysterious vendors who had appeared so suddenly?

Sunn Cheng blinked in astonishment as the vendors drew closer. The leader set down his load and adjusted his straw hat, revealing the youthful face of a handsome young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes.

The young man, about twenty years old, grinned at Sunn Cheng and said, "Little brother, to hold your own against a Soul Union Stage Early Period expert with just a second-level Qi Drawing cultivation is quite impressive! Here, have a tea egg to steady your nerves. You've taken a bit of a beating, but now it's our turn to put on a show!"

Sunn Cheng accepted the tea egg in a daze and bit into it under the young man's attentive gaze. Surprisingly, it was delicious!

Old Madam Luo Fu cast a sideways glance at the young man and huffed. She settled back into the carriage, her tone laced with irritation. "You scamp, you haven't changed a bit in all these years, still as mischievous as ever. Don't you dare lead my grandson astray! Deal with these ruffians quickly. We'll talk on the way."

Old Madam Luo Fu and the two young ladies re-entered the carriage. The young man, along with the two strapping men behind him, gave a cheerful bow to the old lady, then playfully winked at Sunn Cheng. The three of them strode confidently into the center of the gathering.

Wang Hong barked, "Enough with the charades! Who are you people? Are you aware that today the garrison and the Azure Sun Wang Family are conducting official business? If you value your lives, clear out at once!"

Lin Zheng, stationed atop the wall, also called out, "All bystanders, withdraw immediately! Otherwise, you risk the indiscriminate strike of blade and arrow, and we will not be accountable for the casualties!"

"Haha! What grandeur, Lord Garrison! You certainly have a way of striking fear into us humble folk!"

A sound as loud as thunder caused everyone to instinctively step back. The three figures, positioned in a triangle, laughed in unison. With a swift motion, they stripped off their cloaks and hats, revealing their true forms.

The young man was clad in finely crafted dark armor, exuding a commanding presence, with a voice as booming as thunder. His rugged features marked him as a hardened military man, donned in a simple warrior's robe that was stretched taut by his bulging muscles.

Another was built like a bull, standing at an impressive nine feet tall, his fierce demeanor unmistakable.

"I am Song Hee, commander of the Profound Armor Army from Phoenix Soaring County. With me are Kong Lei, Military Officer of the Sharp Peak Camp, and Niu Buping, captain of the Sharp Peak Camp's first team. By the order of the Golden Martial General of the Profound Armor Army, we are here to enlist Sunn Cheng from Mouth Connecting Town, Azure Sun County, as the second captain of the Sharp Peak Camp," they declared in a resolute tone. The young man in the dark armor, Song Hee, brandished a golden document bearing the seals of the Ministry of War and the Golden Martial General of the Profound Armor Army, and he looked up at Lin Zheng as he made his proclamation.

"The Profound Armor Army!?"

"How can that be? Wasn't the Profound Armor Army disbanded long ago?"

A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Wang Hong's initial shock quickly turned to a scowl. Lin Zheng felt a pang of anxiety, his hands gripping the battlements as he peered down.

His keen vision confirmed the authenticity of the summons, yet the claim of affiliation with the Profound Armor Army left him utterly astounded.

"Lord Lin! Do not be swayed by their fabrications! The Profound Armor Army is no more. We should join forces, apprehend these impostors, and bring them to Ping Mountain City. We can then present them to Commander Van of the Divine Guard Army and claim our due recognition!"

Wang Hong's brow furrowed deeply as he gripped the golden ring blade. The name of the Profound Armor Army, at once strange and familiar, surfaced again, unexpectedly throwing the Wang family's personal guards and the entire garrison's sentinels into disarray.