As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 206 Return, Long Lian Transforms

In less than three months, the massive campaign against the Xiongnu came to an end.

Unaware of his own limitations, Shengluo Khan, who dared to provoke the Central Plains, suffered a crushing defeat and was severely weakened.

Mingchen didn't need to watch what the grassland would do next; he could roughly guess. The project layout was already complete, and he no longer needed to follow up on the finishing touches.

He didn't wait for Wang Hanbo to join him, and instead led his eight hundred cavalry back to China.

Lingzhou, Jiujuguan, Shanchuncheng.

A bloodthirsty aura swept over them as eight hundred cavalrymen, exuding murderous intent, rushed in from outside the pass, entered the pass, and went into the city.

A majestic white giant wolf carried a young scholar as its leader, followed by a group of solemn-faced soldiers. Each warhorse was adorned with a ferocious head, a symbol of their honor.

The border regions have long suffered under the influence of the Xiongnu.

Upon hearing the sound of galloping horses, people instinctively hid and trembled.

After a while, however, no sounds of burning, killing, or looting were heard.

Only then did he step outside and look towards the departing soldiers.

"That...that's our Qian Yuan army?"

"So many people! They killed so many Huns!"

"Did we win?"

"Waaaaah... Mother... We won!"

"May Your Majesty protect us! Long live the Emperor!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill! All the Xiongnu deserve to die! Waaah..."

“Okay…Okay…”

"I heard that a troop of men went deep into the heart of the Xiongnu territory and killed the Xiongnu's great general..."

……

The Xiongnu people did not dress like that.

Those cavalrymen also had the heads of Huns on their bodies.

Everything points to one conclusion.

This is the army of Emperor Qian Yuan. The new emperor ascended the throne and sent a large army to annihilate the Xiongnu and protect the people.

These people from the lower classes on the border, who were bullied, have finally been remembered.

Watching the departing cavalry, they were filled with excitement, exchanging words with one another, and some even knelt on the ground, expressing their gratitude.

"Li Ling, how are you feeling?"

In border cities, the roads are not as well-developed as in more developed areas, so Mingchen slowed down his pace.

Under the gazes of the surrounding people, which were filled with either awe or gratitude, he spoke with great interest to one of his lieutenants beside him.

After more than two months of fighting and living together day and night, Mingchen had enough time to figure out the true nature of these eight hundred people and promoted a few useful ones.

Mingchen is not a general and cannot always command these eight hundred soldiers.

With a solid foundation and the experience of these events and the bloodshed, these eight hundred cavalrymen have been honed into something formidable.

These people are capable of fighting against thousands of troops and are extremely fierce. They are important treasures of Qian Yuan, and Ming Chen must choose a suitable person to manage them.

This deputy general was the person he chose; he was shrewd, decisive, and had his own opinions.

Normally, Mingchen's personality wouldn't care about the people's gratitude or resentment, since his purpose wasn't actually to save the common people.

However, this time he made a special trip through the city with his troops, enduring all sorts of stares from the people.

Among the eight hundred men were some elite warriors brought from Kyoto, whose quality was beyond question.

But some people joined as farmers from the lowest rungs of society, and some may not yet find meaning in the fight. For them, each slaughter of innocent lives is also a test.

Now, Mingchen is using these people to instill in his soldiers an indomitable fighting spirit.

It's a pity that Lao Wang didn't help Mingchen spread the word, and he didn't get the same feeling of being seen off with food and drink as Ling Yu did when she left the Northern Border.

However, people who have experienced hardship have a very low threshold for gratitude; they are generous with their thanks as soon as they see even the slightest clue.

Under the gaze of the people, the entire Blood Fiend Army seemed to become lighter and gentler.

"General, it feels...it feels great..."

Beside Mingchen, the lieutenant he had singled out swayed, his eyes glistening with tears, seemingly agitated: "This humble general would give his all, even if it meant being shattered to pieces... I would be willing."

They are a righteous army that protects the country and deserves the gratitude of the people.

After fighting for more than two months, these fierce soldiers were also under some pressure.

Now, under the gaze of those being protected, it seems that everything has been worthwhile.

"Hahaha~"

Mingchen laughed heartily: "Send the order to the soldiers that they can wave to the people and show off their spoils of war."

Lord Ming, whose military discipline was excessively strict, issued such a military order at this moment.

Some honors are rightfully theirs.

Since Wang Hanbo didn't help him publicize the soldiers' achievements, then let them tell the people themselves.

There's no need to hide anything, nor to exaggerate anything.

They should accept what belongs to them openly, generously, and naturally.

After more than two months of valiant fighting, this is what they deserve.

Li Ling was momentarily dazed, then nodded emphatically and said, "Yes, sir!"

No general would issue such an order.

This person... is truly a very special individual.

After two months of living together day and night, I still couldn't figure him out.

He is carefree and unrestrained, cold-blooded and ruthless, taking lives with a laugh, showing no regard even for ordinary people, women and children.

But now, it is full of gentleness and human warmth.

He is full of contradictions.

But at least in Li Ling's eyes, this man was a man of great ability and a man worthy of respect.

"Oh~~"

"We've stormed into the Xiongnu's main camp!"

"We killed tens of thousands of Xiongnu soldiers!"

"We killed the Xiongnu general!"

"No one will bother you anymore!"

"Oh~~~"

The quiet, desolate city was suddenly filled with bursts of noise.

The pebble fell into the lake, creating ripples.

Eight hundred soldiers marched by, bringing endless cheers and legends, igniting the passion of the entire city.

The indifferent soldier broke into a smile, waving the severed head in his hand, looking both terrifying and insane.

But the people in the city were weeping, cheering and expressing their gratitude.

These monsters, whom the Huns revered as demons and monsters, were, in their eyes, the most lovable people.

Walking through the city is also walking through the glorious path of these soldiers.

For some reason, Mingchen had a strange feeling that this army seemed to have gained some different kind of power, which was magnificent and imposing, with an aura that was like a rainbow.

"My lord... this army is very strong!"

At the same time, I could hear the chirping of birds.

Because they were friendly forces, the feeling wasn't very noticeable.

But the little bird knew that if it were to fight against these eight hundred men, the battle would be even more intense than the previous military campaign on the northern battlefield.

"Hey~ that's it!"

Mingchen laughed nonchalantly: "Don't you even know who brought this up?"

Eight hundred iron cavalrymen departed amidst cheers from the crowd, but the legendary stories remained.

The people of Lingzhou do not worship the various powerful gods in the legends. For them, the young general riding a white giant wolf and the eight hundred menacing cavalry are their faith.

……

Qingchi in Qingzhou, Mingfu.

The eldest son of the Ming family has become a high-ranking official in the capital, and the status of the entire Ming family in the county has naturally risen accordingly.

Or rather, it's ridiculously high.

The county magistrate even rushed up to lick Comrade Ming's toes.

All sorts of distant relatives I'd never even heard of came over for a visit.

When one person attains the Tao, the chicken and the dog ascend to heaven.

A dog belonging to the Ming family could roam freely on the streets.

It's human nature; this is perfectly normal.

Comrade Ming was very pleased with himself. When he had nothing to do, he would go out for a stroll and enjoy the feeling of being the center of attention.

Of course, while it's good to be proud, it's still important to maintain a proper sense of proportion.

The officialdom is treacherous; every step is like walking on thin ice.

Throughout history, countless high-ranking officials have suffered disgrace and ruin due to the burdens of their families.

He, as a father, could no longer protect his son from the wind and rain, but at the very least, he couldn't hold him back. It was okay for his son to cause trouble for his father, but he couldn't let his own brat cause trouble for him.

Some relatives who seem unreliable and arrogant have long been cut off from contact, and they don't care even if the other party scolds them for forgetting their relatives after gaining wealth and status.

The Ming family has enough money to live on and does not accept any bribes.

The children's upbringing was also more rigorous, to prevent them from becoming spoiled brats and bringing shame to their elder brothers.

Of course... he didn't know that his brat wasn't standing on thin ice, but on solid, towering earth.

Today, a young master entered the gates of the Ming Mansion with a little red bird and a little white dog.

"Mom, I'm busy with official duties, don't bother me, I'll leave in a little while."

"There are still a bunch of people waiting for me outside the city!"

Eight hundred cavalrymen stayed outside the city to rest, and the white wolf also shrank in size.

On his way back to Beijing, Mingchen decided to stop by the old man's house. He had a few things he wanted to discuss with him.

"This child..."

Watching Mingchen's retreating figure as he quickly ran towards the backyard.

Li Huixiang shook her head and lowered her eyes slightly: "You must be tired from the journey."

Even though the other party refused, she still went to the kitchen to prepare food for Mingchen.

As a mother, she could sense that Mingchen had changed somewhat since his return.

The child is now famous all over the world, a place beyond her reach.

She had no way of knowing what he had gone through or what he had endured, and she was unable to help him.

All we can do is be tolerant.

No matter how far a child goes or how high he climbs, in his mother's eyes, he is still just a child.

"Old thing..."

"kindness?"

Mingchen had just run into his yard when he was momentarily stunned.

There seems to be another person in the yard.

The autumn breeze blows gently, and her long, flowing hair sways lightly in the wind.

Beneath an ancient tree that had witnessed countless years, a slender figure stood quietly, her pure eyes slightly raised, meeting Mingchen's gaze as he entered.

The beauty wore a light veil, her features were delicate, and a blue rune was marked between her eyebrows. Her temperament was ethereal, seemingly real yet unreal, with a beauty that was untouched by the world.

When she saw Mingchen rushing in, she parted her cherry lips slightly and called out, "Young Master."

Mingchen's mind raced for a moment before he came to his senses and asked, "Are you Long Lian?"

She smiled but did not reply.

An invisible magical power spread out, and the beauty's figure shrunk, transforming into a small blue snake in an instant.

The illusion shattered instantly. She flicked her tongue and looked at Mingchen: "Young Master, I am Long Lian."

During the time Mingchen was away, she cultivated under the old tree for more than three months. Her aptitude and cultivation were already sufficient; she only lacked someone to teach her the techniques and methods.

She quickly mastered the transformation technique that Fuyao had struggled to learn even after trying for a long time.

Mingchen smiled at her and praised, "Haha, Long Lian looks so beautiful in her human form!"

Mingchen has never denied that he is a womanizer and likes beautiful women.

Beauty is beauty, so let's just praise it openly.

Be open and honest, and there's no need to hide any malicious intentions.

Long Lian has been staying in the Ming Mansion these days, and often listens to his master talk about this special person and eavesdrops on the people in the mansion talking about his past.

Mingchen's image in her mind became much more concrete.

As the first person to enter the mortal world and seriously interact with her, the one who changed her life, Long Lian also wanted her to be the first to see her in her transformed form.

Hearing Mingchen's praise, she felt quite pleased and unconsciously wagged her tail, nodding at Mingchen: "Thank you, young master."

"You killed a lot of people?"

Just then, the dry branches trembled gently in the wind.

A weathered voice suddenly rang in Mingchen's ears.

Old Tree, Mingchen's first partner.

It didn't pay attention to the white wolf that Mingchen brought, but instead observed Mingchen's condition first.

Mingchen shrugged and said indifferently, "The Xiongnu don't count as people."

He's not even close to that!
She's not even half as good as her older sister yet!
"kindness."

The old tree seemed to say, "Just don't let it affect your state of mind."

Mingchen laughed and said, "Don't worry, my heart is as hard as iron, unbreakable."

"A wolf demon? Over a hundred and eleven thousand years of cultivation?"

After confirming that Mingchen was alright, Laoshu turned his attention to the newcomer Mingchen had picked up.

One glance was enough to see through the White Wolf's true nature.

The little white dog lay down on the ground, trembling all over, its eyes wet and pleading as it looked at Mingchen.

Putting everything else aside, just looking at it is quite cute.

The white wolf was timid to begin with, and had never seen such a terrifying old monster.

The aura emanating from Long Lian was enough to make it kneel down and lick his feet.

I didn't expect there to be such a heavyweight among them.

The old tree did nothing, but its energy locked onto the tree, and a few words were enough to make it tremble with fear.

The shrinking spell couldn't be maintained, and the original form was revealed.

Who exactly is this powerful figure I'm following? I never expected to have an even more outrageous powerful father than Fuyao.

Mom, I want to go home!

"It's alright, it's alright, we're on the same side!"

"Don't be afraid!"

Mingchen patted its big head and said in a comforting tone.

He was a big, imposing figure, but surprisingly timid.

Mingchen introduced his new car to the old tree: "That's right, I want to drive it around in the future."

"But I have a problem now, how can I bring it into the battlefield?"

"Enter the battlefield?"

"Yes, the world is in chaos now, and war is inevitable. I can't just stand by and watch forever."

Old Tree said to him, "Have you ever wondered why warhorses can charge into the battlefield without any fear, but fairies cannot?"

Mingchen thought for a moment and said, "Is it the army's momentum that has a special suppressive effect on monsters?"

"Yes and no."

"Ordinary creatures simply follow physiological principles and live out their lives. But fairies need decades, hundreds or thousands of years of cultivation to achieve enlightenment, develop intelligence, and possess magical powers that surpass those of ordinary beings."

"Once you become spiritually connected, you can sense many things that you couldn't sense before."

"Fairies cannot enter the battlefield because they are too intelligent and have extraordinary senses, allowing them to perceive powers that ordinary living beings cannot."

"The warhorse is not agile, so it will not fear the battlefield."

That's not hard to understand.

If you have eyes and look at the sun, you will feel its glare and experience pain.

But what if you don't have eyes? You can't feel the sun, and looking up at it won't hurt your eyes, and nothing will happen.

After a moment of contemplation, Mingchen asked the old tree, "So, you mean that if a demon wants to enter the battlefield, its spirit must be stripped away?"

Upon hearing this, the white wolf trembled violently, its eyes filled with terror. It whimpered and looked pitifully at Mingchen.

Buhou! He's coming for me!
A tonic! A divine being!

I don't want to become an idiot.

"Correct."

Mingchen asked, "Are there any other methods?"

Mingchen is very kind to his own people and doesn't want to take away the white wolf's spiritual energy.

If that doesn't work, then the only option for going to the battlefield is to ride a horse.

"Have."

However, the all-knowing old tree then offered him another solution.

Mingchen rolled his eyes at the old man: "Can you stop talking so dramatically?"

I won't say a word unless asked!

The old tree paid no attention to Mingchen's complaints, and simply said, "I have a method called 'Returning to Ancestor,' which can temporarily seize the spirit, dissipate magical power, and replenish the physical body."

"However, it will cause its bestial nature to return, retaining only a small amount of intelligence."

This spell is purely a negative, self-destructive spell.

If you switch to using the "Soaring" skill, you become a giant bird, unable to cast any spells, relying solely on physical attacks, and your brain doesn't work well either.

Therefore, the old tree would generally not pass on such magic to others.

"Oh?"

Mingchen raised an eyebrow: "How much is 'small quantity'?"

"It's a bit better than a warhorse, but it can only understand simple commands."

"Hey, good, good! That's enough!"

Perhaps the return of his bestial nature isn't a bad thing for the white wolf.

This guy is too timid.

Mingchen was very satisfied and said to the old tree, "Teach it!"

"Can!"

A gentle breeze blew, and a leaf landed on the white wolf's head.

Before it could speak, a profound magical information was imprinted in its mind.

I don’t know how long it took.

Somewhat dazed, it still mustered its courage and knelt down before the old tree to express its gratitude: "Thank you, senior."

The first problem I encountered here has been solved.

Mingchen nodded, then asked the old tree, "Do you know about what's happening in the east of Qianyuan?"

“Someone told me it has turned into the underworld, and a decapitated ghost king has descended to earth. Didn’t you say that immortals and gods should not interfere in human affairs?”

"..."

The old tree was silent for a moment, then said, "The king stakes the whole country on the netherworld, worships the underworld, and the nation's fortune is used to support the gods. The land is transformed into the underworld, and the ghost king can leave the gates of the underworld to walk among humans. There is a compassionate Buddhist country in the far south, where the situation is similar, and there are also devout believers who can borrow the Dharma from the Arhats."

Mingchen: ...

You old Dong, you don't feel bad using things that aren't yours, do you?

Mingchen never wanted to establish a country where divine authority was greater than royal authority.

"What if the Ghost King becomes my enemy someday?"

"It's alright! Gods exist within faith. Though difficult to kill, they are not invincible. Everything in the world has its counter. No matter what kind of being it is, no matter how high its cultivation level or how powerful it is, there are always supernatural powers and magical treasures to counter it. They will only act when they are certain of victory, making the world believe that gods are omnipotent!"

The branches of the old tree trembled slightly, making a rustling sound.

Whether it was Mingchen's imagination or not, the usually calm and collected voice seemed to carry a hint of disdain.

"You may lead your troops eastward to reclaim your territory, destroy the Eastern Kingdom, and kill its king. Then faith will cease to exist, and the underworld will be returned."

"A mere beheading king? Be careful of his magical weapons. Long Lian and Fu Yao can both defeat him."

"Oh?"

This was the first time that the old tree had revealed so much about the gods to Mingchen.

He then asked, "What is the difference between gods and demons?"

"..."

The old tree remained silent for a while before saying, "Now that you've entered officialdom, you must have some understanding of the court and bureaucracy..."

"The deities of the Nine Heavens Celestial Palace, from the lowest to the highest, can be minor officials, soldiers, generals, and officials of the imperial court, or they can be kings and emperors. Their relationships are intertwined, not monolithic, but there are also connections of mutual interests."

"While demons and monsters are local bandits and chivalrous heroes."

"There are extraordinary people among the common people, and even the emperor is not invincible."

"Understood?"

Upon hearing this, Mingchen narrowed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought: "Oh..."

"Don't worry, all you need to do is lead your troops forward without hesitation!"

The old tree spoke with a weathered voice, saying to Mingchen, "In the end, everything in this world is still in the hands of people."

"Perfect timing, since you're here, take Long Lian with you."

"I have taught her everything I needed to."

The old tree ended the conversation about the gods and turned its attention to what was in front of it.

The little snake paused upon hearing this: "Master..."

Old Tree is a very good teacher.

It wasn't as weathered and ethereal as it seemed; rather, it was like a gentle elder, meticulously caring for Long Lian and resolving all the problems she had encountered since beginning her cultivation.

Long Lian got along very well with it and gradually adapted to life at the Ming residence.

She was indeed quite interested in traveling with Mingchen, but she felt a little reluctant to leave him.

Mingchen chuckled and asked the little snake, "Long Lian doesn't want to come with me?"

Snakes have a kind of innocent beauty that makes them quite interesting.

"Uh...no, young master..."

"Go away...go away..."

The old tree was quite casual, its branches swaying gently, and the sounds seemed to gradually fade into the distance.

Mingchen stopped teasing her: "Long Lian, this is our home. If you miss this old man, you can come back anytime."

What do powerful demons have to fear about parting?

"..."

Home... that's a very ethereal word.

Mingchen had told her this before she came.