Lord of the Desert

Chapter 545 Beacon Tower
To the north of Liangzhou lies a large lake called Shuohai.

The Ling River originates here. Its waters flow gently in spring and autumn, but become powerful in summer. It flows across the three northern guard posts and is named for its fierce and indestructible ice jams.

October 25th, the solar term Minor Snow.

The rainbow is hidden from view, and heaven and earth are closed off.

The northern plains of Zhenbei Zuowei are empty and flat, scattered with reeds, camel thorns and stubborn dark ochre shrubs whose names I do not know; groups of wild mountains sit with their knees drawn up in the more unfamiliar north, with hardy pine and cypress forests planted in the dry snow on their shoulders.

The Ling River has been frozen for several days, its usual roar now silent.

The north wind raced back and forth across the foot-thick, mottled white ice, slamming snowflakes into sharp, piercing ice pellets.

The insects are dead, the snakes are asleep, and the well-fed beasts are hiding their claws.

But Dahua's northern defenses remained vigilant.

North of the Ling River, a low-lying town with sharp edges exhales its usual dark, grimy smoke, shaking off the first snowfall of the year.

The council chamber of the town's governor's office.

The flames in the fireplace flickered in the wind.

A burly man with a ruddy complexion pushed open the door and entered. His imposing figure made the 2.2-meter-tall wooden door appear exceptionally narrow.

"Commander Yang, why are you taking so long?"

Fengsui Town's garrison commander, Suo Chengzhou, sat at the innermost seat, holding two pure steel pellets in his palm. He raised his eyelids and asked.

“The Stone Slave’s wolf riders are roaming in the north. I’m leading men to chase them away.”

As Yang Haorang, the commander of the city defense department, took off his clothes and shook them, a splatter of frost-white powder fell to the ground from under his bearskin cloak.

"Why are you all here? What's up?"

He looked around the room and saw five people sitting around the fireplace.

"Since we've all gathered here, it must be something important to discuss!"

The speaker was Song Mingjie, the patriarch of the Song clan, the largest clan in the city.

"It's getting cold, so be quiet when opening and closing the door."

He was quite old, and he was huddled in a deep chair in the corner of the room with a hand warmer in his arms. He felt uncomfortable as soon as the temperature dropped a little, so he hurriedly called the servant to add firewood to the stove.

"It's not that I didn't know you were here."

Yang Haorang, dressed in only a single layer of clothing, laughed heartily, pulled over a low stool, and sat down casually.

"They didn't do anything?"

A middle-aged woman glanced at his plain inner and outer clothes.

This person, sitting in the third position, possesses the cultivation of the second level of the Innate Realm and is currently the number one expert in Fengsui City, Yong Yu.

"Now that we've gone, we can't go back empty-handed."

Yang Haorang patted the armrest lightly, his tone relaxed and carefree.

“I snapped the neck of a dire wolf and captured two stone slaves, personally gouging out their eyes, pulling out their tongues, and beheading them; only the new bearskin I bought cost a full eighty strings of cash, so I deliberately avoided the blood.”

He pointed to the bearskin hanging at the door.

"Good, that's exactly right. These traitors should be skinned alive!"

Another captain, Guo Han, with a round face and a black beard, clapped his hands and laughed, revealing a set of white teeth.

Stone Slaves refer to the humans who have sided with the Giants, while Dire Wolves are a wolf-like alien species with a spine as strong as a horse and a chest as broad as a bear.

The practice of corporal punishment had long since faded within Kyushu, but upon hearing of this cruel punishment, everyone present merely nodded and no one found it inappropriate.

"It's only been two months since things calmed down, and there are already signs of wolves again..."

The speaker, weathered and worn, sat opposite the garrison commander; he was none other than Huan Chengji, the former beacon tower commander.

He originally possessed the innate Four Harmonies cultivation level, but unfortunately, his leg was severed at the root during the previous fierce battle, and his meridian circulation was damaged. Now, he may not be able to surpass ordinary Celestial Interaction.

"So what if you're here? If Brother Huan can't leave the formation, we're still here for you."

Guo Han pressed his left hand against his knee, his face arrogant.

Huan Chengji's eyelids twitched as he was about to lash out, but then he heard Suo Chengzhou's steel ball strike the ground with a sharp clang.

"Commander Guo is still too outspoken."

The garrison commander of Sog glossed over the impending conflict.

"I called everyone here for another matter."

Song Mingjie's eyelids drooped, as if he didn't care about anything.

"I'm quite curious, what could be so important?"

Yong Yu sneered, her broad, powdered face feigning composure but actually showing impatience; while Huan Chengji, Yang Haorang, and Guo Han, the three martial artists, sat upright like three peaks, each with their heads held high. "New news has arrived from the south."

Suo Chengzhou coughed once.

"'Blazing Star' Hong Fan has led the Red Sand Army, which he personally assembled, past Congrui Pass. They will arrive in ten days at most."

As soon as he finished speaking, the council chamber fell silent, and one could clearly hear the sound of snow falling from the roof.

Yong Yu lowered her chin.

Song Mingjie's eyes widened.

The three military officers each looked away, no longer harboring any competitive feelings towards each other.

Although Zhenbeiwei is a self-contained entity, it also has the world in mind and admires the three lists; and the news that Hong Fan will be appointed as the Beacon Tower Commandant has been circulating throughout the city for several months.

Everyone knew that what had arrived was not an enemy, but a helping hand.

But the beacon tower was too small.

On a small scale, they felt a sense of unease, as if they were about to be locked in the same iron cage as an elephant.

The thirty-three years of the Zhenghe era have come to an end.

At this time, Hong Fan was not only a swift and brilliant star, but also the undisputed strongest leader in the past forty years and the number one fighter below Yuan Ci. He displayed an image of being ruthless and unscrupulous in cases such as the Azure Emperor Sword Sect and the Pan family's private salt business.

Hezhou has always revered courage, and the people north of Kuaiye Mountain have gone so far as to despise cowards.

The people present, who were prominent figures in Fengsui City, usually presented themselves to others as tough, decisive, and never backing down. But when they heard that Hong Fan was coming, they all unconsciously lowered their heads.

There's no other reason than that even someone as noble as the Prince of Huaiyang and as powerful as the Iron Demon have served as cautionary tales.

"He might not be as strong as the rumors say, right?"

Song Mingjie leaned back, took out a pipe from his pocket, lit it, and used the spicy tobacco to refresh himself.

"If it's really as amazing as those news reports from the south say, then that kid is comparable to an ordinary Yuan Magnetic."

"Rumors are bound to be exaggerated."

Yang Haorang took over the conversation.

"Even a 30% discount is still pretty impressive."

"He is the future Beacon Commandant. He is here to fight the Giants and Stone Slaves. It's a good thing that he is strong."

Huan Chengji straightened his empty left trouser leg and said.

"It's good that the captain is good at fighting, but no matter how strong he is, he's still an outsider."

Yong Yu retorted.

"I'm afraid this person is too arrogant because of his great reputation, and difficult to get along with."

"Hmph, the emperor suddenly sent this bunch of guys who brought their own food over here. How could it be just to defend the city? I'm afraid that Hong Fan is too self-important and will make a mess of things, leaving us to clean up the mess."

Her words betrayed her impatience.

After Huan Chengji suffered a severe blow, Yong Yu was overjoyed and sat on the throne of the number one expert in beacon fire fighting. He never expected that he would have to hand it over before the New Year.

"That's exactly right, which is why I've called you here today to settle this matter."

Suo Chengzhou said.

"I sent a letter to the General's Mansion a long time ago and received a personal reply from the General."

Here's the procedure.

In recent years, the Giant Spirits have been frequently hunting in the south, leaving the Three Guards exhausted. It's not a bad thing to be able to borrow external help. No matter how strong Hong Fan is, he is still a Xiantian (innate) being, and the army he brings will rely more on local supplies. Once he arrives, all military affairs will be handed over to him. Hey, the Giant Spirits are far more powerful than those insects, snakes, and sea fish. Once these outsiders have witnessed it, they will surely behave themselves.

If he doesn't know what's good for him, I, the garrison commander, will report this to the general's mansion, and the general will then intervene.

Hearing this, everyone felt somewhat relieved.

"In short, if he behaves himself, we'll keep to ourselves and tolerate him a little in minor matters; after two or three years, he'll eventually leave after he's made some contributions—the emperor can find one Fiery Star, but he can't find a second one."

Suo Chengzhou concluded.

Upon hearing this, the group nodded in agreement, which made them appear to be well-mannered and courteous, as well as humble and considerate.

"Furthermore, now that he has passed Congrui Pass, we should send someone to meet him, otherwise people will say that Zhenbeiwei is not polite."

Seeing that there were no objections, Suo Chengzhou raised another question.

"Given the title of Fiery Star, none of us six in Fengsui City are qualified to welcome him; however, I am the garrison commander of this region, and I have important responsibilities to bear, so I cannot leave lightly..."

He stood up straight, his eyes shining brightly.

"So, who among you will go to greet him?"

(End of this chapter)