Patrol Captain

The girl turned to look at Ji Wuming's departing figure, a hint of suspicion flashing in her eyes.

"Let's go, if you keep looking, your little sister's eyes will get drooling." At this moment, Zhao Yunluo tugged at the girl's sleeve, thinking it was a teenage girl's adoration, and teased her.
"Let's go and pay our respects to the old lady."

As he spoke, he pulled the girl towards the backyard.

A hint of impatience flashed in the girl's eyes. In the brief moment that Zhao Yunluo pulled her away, she turned her sleeve down, and a colorful butterfly flew out. The butterfly fluttered its wings, flew over the eaves, and headed in the direction where Ji Wuming had left.

At the same time, she didn't forget to call out sweetly, "Sister, slow down," and glanced back at Ji Wuming's back, her eyes filled with a hint of mockery and coldness.

Hopefully, she's mistaken.

Young Master Ji, have you perhaps discovered something?
The witch snorted inwardly.

Meanwhile, after leaving the Yun residence, Ji Wuming glanced in the direction of Cloud Peak Mountain and couldn't help but quicken his pace.

He wished he could use his escape technique immediately, but there was a no-fly zone above Chengdu, and running wildly on the streets would be too conspicuous, so he didn't want to attract attention.

At this time, the streets of Xicheng were already bustling with people, even as dawn broke.

Today, the Grand Seal Conferment Ceremony at Yunding Mountain is the grandest event in Jiannan Road. After the ceremony, Yunding Mountain will send troops south to fight the demons to the death. From dawn, Chengdu will be bustling with activity.

Ji Wuming marveled at the magnificent scene, but his anxiety grew. He disappeared into the crowd and headed towards Yunding Mountain.

"Mom, what beautiful butterflies!" On the way, a child accompanying his mother to the market clapped excitedly and pointed to the butterflies fluttering in the sky.

As Ji Wuming passed by the children, he noticed butterflies at this time of year. He glanced over and saw that there were indeed some, their vibrant colors fluttering away in his sight.

Ji Wuming's mind wasn't on this; he glanced at it briefly before looking away and found a horse stable by the roadside.
"Are there any horses left?" he asked.

"Hey, you've come at the wrong time. Starting a few days ago, the market for renting cars and horses has been tight. We're all sold out. Sir, you'll have to look for another place."

Ji Wuming frowned, but said nothing and left the place.

However, once he left the horse stable, he saw a troop of city guards patrolling the streets amidst the crowds.

They were all dressed in armor and fully armed, in groups of ten, riding horses and patrolling the streets. Passersby would consciously make way for them.

A few days ago, on the main street of the four cities, demons committed a horrific bloodbath, causing tension throughout the city. Rumors circulated that the investiture ceremony at Yunding Mountain was triggered by this bloodbath, and the Martial Saint General on Yunding Mountain was furious and prepared to march his troops south.

Therefore, on such an important day as today, a large number of troops from the garrison were dispatched to patrol the city to ensure the smooth conduct of the investiture ceremony.

When Ji Wuming saw this group of fierce-looking guards patrolling the city, his eyes lit up slightly.

As the troop of soldiers patrolled the streets to a less crowded area, Ji Wuming appeared from around the corner, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and offered his greeting.

"Excuse me, gentlemen."

When the patrolling soldiers saw someone blocking their way, they instinctively gripped the swords at their waists, instantly becoming alert, and the sound of drawing their swords against their sheaths rang out a few times.

The leader, holding the reins, stopped his horse, his eyes flashing as he looked at the approaching figure. He quickly raised his hand to signal his men not to make any rash moves.

"A young swordsman from the Shu Mountain Sword Sect?"

Xiao Qi didn't recognize Ji Wuming, but he recognized the clothes Ji Wuming was wearing. After all, the Shushan Sword Sect was famous, and Shushan disciples wore clothes with a small golden sword symbol when they traveled the martial arts world.

"My name is Ji Wuming. I apologize for disturbing your official business."

"I have some business to attend to and would like to borrow a horse from you all. Could you please do me a favor?"

Ji Wuming clasped his hands in a polite gesture.

"Are you Young Hero Ji?" Upon hearing Ji Wuming's name, Xiao Qi's expression immediately changed, showing great surprise.

“Exactly.” Ji Wuming nodded. “Then what else is there to say? Since Young Hero Ji is borrowing the horse, although it is against the rules, your reputation is worth making an exception for.”

"Someone, prepare a horse for Young Hero Ji!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a soldier immediately dismounted and led the horse over, laughing heartily as he handed the reins to Ji Wuming.
"Young Master Ji, please mount your horse."

Ji Wuming was somewhat moved by the straightforwardness of these people. Feeling a surge of warmth in his heart, he took the reins without hesitation, mounted the horse, and prepared to greet them before galloping towards Yunding Mountain.

But just as he mounted his horse and caught a glimpse of something, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that a brightly colored butterfly was perched on the roof of a nearby eave, seemingly unremarkable.

But then, a thought flashed through Ji Wuming's mind.

The same butterfly.

He had met him before.

As if in a stress response, he had something on his mind, and at this moment, he felt a sense of surprise and doubt.

However, after mounting his horse, he didn't glance in that direction again, his expression remained unchanged. He then pulled on the reins and stepped forward, bowing to the junior officer in charge of the procession.

"Thank you for your kindness, General. I appreciate your thanks, but I must take my leave now."

Ji Wuming made a seemingly ordinary polite remark, but as he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the junior officer opposite him, and his lips moved a little too fast.

After saying that, Ji Wuming pulled the horse, turned it around, and rode away. However, the direction he took was not towards Yunding Mountain, but towards the South City.

After Ji Wuming left, the colorful butterfly that had been resting on the roof under the eaves next door fluttered its wings and flew away in the direction Ji Wuming was going.

Meanwhile, the junior officer, looking in the direction Ji Wuming had left, gradually changed his usual expression to one of surprise, suspicion, and even seriousness.

"Turn back."

"Fall back."

At dawn, as the morning light broke through the darkness, Yunding Mountain was filled with a restless energy.

The sounds of drills from various mountain training grounds soared into the sky, causing the mountains to tremble.

Today is the day of the seal-granting ceremony, and the relevant instructions have been issued.

But these are all just public, deliberately released information.

At this moment, early in the morning, in the Ninth Mountain Zhonglang Hall, which belongs to Chen Yuan's absolute core area.

Pei Qing summoned all the lieutenant generals for a secret meeting to discuss the early deployment of some elite troops to the battlefield and to discuss the battle plan.

Good news has already arrived from Gongsun Yang's side.

Not long after, a commotion was heard outside the tightly closed palace doors.

Chen Yuan, who was presiding over the meeting, heard the commotion, gestured with his hand, and asked a question to the person outside.

Who's making a fuss outside?

Soon, the guard outside came to report.

"Reporting to the General, it is a junior officer from the West City Garrison who urgently requests an audience. I told him that you and the other officers are discussing important matters and asked him to wait a moment, as it concerns Ji Wuming of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect."

"Let him tell me what it is?" Chen Yuan asked from inside the main hall, his eyes gleaming with golden light, taking in the entire scene outside.

"Reporting to General Chen, I was patrolling the streets just now when I encountered the young hero Ji Wuming. He telepathically told me to come to the Ninth Mountain to see you, saying that my master is acting strangely and that there are ghosts in the Yun family. So I dared to come and did not dare to delay." (End of Chapter)