Headless Immortal

Chapter 92 Choosing a Day to Deploy Troops
A light mist hangs in the air, and the autumn sky is clear and crisp.

As dawn breaks and dusk approaches, the sky is a pale blue, devoid of the luster of the sun and moon.

Suddenly, the old man sat up, fumbled for a tinderbox in the dark, and lit the greasy lamp. The room was illuminated with a bluish-white light. In the light, the old man drew his precious sword. Clang! The cold light flashed past people's eyes, making the room feel even colder.

The old woman sat up, wearing a thick cotton coat.

"Grandpa, are we going now?"

"Well."

Lao Cheng responded and sheathed his steel knife.

It was a fine knife; he had it forged by blacksmith Ou in the south of the city for three taels of silver.

She accompanied him on his campaigns, fighting zombies in Jiangxi, suppressing rebellions and killing bandits, and slaying monsters in Jiujiang. She should have enjoyed the same happiness as him.

But it's never easy for people to enjoy happiness.

Even knives have it tough; they get rusty from all the comforts they get.

It took Lao Cheng an entire afternoon to sharpen his skills and regain his former edge, just like he is now, clad in armor.

The old woman tied her nail cord into a knot, sobbing as she wiped away tears, afraid to speak loudly for her son and daughter-in-law to hear.

Old Cheng neither comforted nor stopped her. He pressed down on the copper pipe bowl, took a puff with the brass mouthpiece wrapped around the pipe in his left hand, and silently grasped his wife's rough, withered hands, which she had worked so hard for the family, rubbed them together, and said in a low voice, "Rest, get some sleep. He and his wife are here."

He blew out the oil lamp and went outside.

Doorway.

Cheng Liang was feeding the blue donkey while holding a lantern.

Old Cheng got into the car; there was a box inside.

Cheng Liang handed over a pot of hot soy milk, steamed flatbread, and some dried meat to eat with it. The first two could be made at home, but the dried meat had to be bought at the market, which had been prepared yesterday.

The family has never been careless towards Lao Cheng and Xiao Cheng.

Cheng Liang's honest and unassuming appearance didn't seem like that of someone from the jailer's family; he looked more like a strong laborer leading the horse and driving the cart for the father and son.

The old, thin hand rested on the box: "This set of armor was originally made for you, but you don't wear it, so your son wants to."

“Father, swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield, you should look after him.”

Cheng Liang didn't look at the armor box. He knew from a young age that he wasn't cut out for this. He hesitated for a long time even when killing a chicken. When rats crawled past his bed at night, he didn't get up to kill them and just let them go.

That's why Xiao Cheng didn't face any opposition from his family when he raised Hui Bao; they easily accepted him.

This person is too soft-hearted; they're not suited for a government job.

"Don't worry, I'll protect him even if it costs me my life."

Cheng Liang shook his head: "No, Lao Cha, don't say that. Everyone has to be okay. I'm just afraid..."

“We were poor. You were sick back then, and we didn’t have money for medicine. I pawned my cotton-padded coat, but it still wasn’t enough. Luckily, I still had some strength. The imperial court conscripted soldiers and gave them a month’s salary first. I knew that was money to save my life, but I had no choice but to take it.” Old Cheng took a deep drag and exhaled a puff of smoke that shone white in the lantern light.

"On the battlefield, every single time you're risking your life."

"I honed my skills in the army, and it took countless lives to build my fortune."

"afraid?"

Old Cheng chuckled, puffing out pungent smoke from his dry pipe. He waved his cracked, rough hand to clear away the smoke, revealing a pair of bright badger eyes: "If you're afraid, you won't do the business of beheading people."

"Master!"

Xiao Cheng was waiting at the entrance of the county government office when he saw the donkey cart arriving and waved happily.

With a smile on his face, Lao Cheng and Xiao Cheng's father carried the boxes down.

Cheng Yan said, "Father, let's go back."

Xiao Cheng's father opened his mouth and looked at Cheng Yan: "Be careful in everything, don't work so hard."

"His uncle..."

Cheng Liang's clasped hands didn't resemble those of a martial arts master; he looked more like a small shopkeeper from the marketplace.

He had never attended a private school, so he couldn't offer any words of encouragement or inspiration, and even his expressions of concern sounded stiff.

The dark-skinned man handed Cheng Yan a water bag filled with hot soy milk, then personally helped Cheng Yan put on his armor before driving the donkey cart onto the long street, which was already showing signs of dawn.

The steaming heat and mist from the steamer on the street mingled together.

Cheng Yan watched as the figure gradually disappeared at the street corner.

The old cat, lying on the backpack, swayed its tail and yawned.

Since becoming a cat, I always seem to be sleepy.

"Years ago, I followed Commander Wei in the army. He once said, 'Slaughtering pigs is lowly, killing people is high-class.' While I still have the strength, I'll chop down a few more." Old Cheng stubbed out his pipe, put his hands behind his back, and strode into the county government office.

Cheng Yan hurriedly caught up, and Gray Baby, who was hanging on his chest, poked its little head out.

Beyond the threshold was an old official sitting behind a table.

Lao Cheng greeted him with a smile.

Cheng Yan obediently called him "Uncle".

The old official pointed to the larger courtyard of the county government office.

Upon entering the inner courtyard, one is greeted by a bustling crowd.

Old Cat Lu Xun noticed something: the armored soldiers were chatting and laughing, and there was no sense of gloom or tension despite the impending battle.

Some were also handing out homemade cigarettes.

They gathered in twos and threes. This reminded him of a while ago when he and Zhao Jia fought off river bandits on the Xunyang River. Most of those soldiers looked like this, or even more relaxed.

This mindset is good; at least when facing demons, one can raise a shield and draw a full bow, which is enough.

Lu Xunyou shifted his large tail to a more comfortable position.

Cheng Yan set up a small table: "Uncle Cat, have something to eat."

After eating his fill, Grey Baby let out a burp. The old cat was about to drink soy milk and chew some dried meat when he caught sight of the eagle's gaze on the eaves. So he meowed at Cheng Yan. Cheng Yan was taken aback and was about to take out his brush, ink, paper and inkstone. Even though he had some tacit understanding with Uncle Cat, he still couldn't understand cat language.

Flutter.

Toothless Nighthawk landed and scurried quickly to Old Cat's side like a rooster on the ground.

The cat pointed its paw at it, then at the food on the table.

Cheng Yan suddenly realized, and said with a smile, "Eat."

His father prepared plenty of dry food and filled a large bag with soy milk. It was more than enough to feed not only three elves, but also a large monster.

"Uncle Li, would you like to eat something together?"

Upon seeing Li Song approaching, Cheng Yan held up a flatbread.

"No, no, no."

Li Song was a man of principle; he wouldn't stoop to competing with children for food. Looking around the table were a black cat, mice, and an eagle that looked almost supernatural; he certainly wouldn't sit with poultry. He'd only arrived early, and since he wasn't part of the military unit, he'd come to chat with an acquaintance.

"Where's your grandpa?"

"My grandfather went to see the county magistrate and the magistrate."

"Uncle, you really won't eat?"

"I have already eaten."

Li Song chuckled in surprise, looked around, his eyes lit up, and he clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Daoist Master, you've arrived quite early."

"Layman Li." Master Chen led his two disciples closer.

"Master Daoist, Senior Li."

Senior brothers Yang Shen and Ma Ye also arrived.

"Amitabha."

Master Jueming and the young monk arrived.

Cheng Yan, his cheeks puffed out, held a piece of dried meat in one hand and a flatbread in the other, and mumbled, "Grandma."

The old woman, dressed in a black floral dress, nodded slightly, her gaze falling on the swordsman: "It was you who killed Huang Mu."

The swordsman holding the sword raised the brim of his hat, revealing a frosty, sword-like eye, his mouth seemingly holding a block of ice that would never melt: "He deserves to die."

Before the sorceress could say anything more, Li Song interrupted her: "Damn it, Uncle Huang colluded with monsters to harm the people. There's no turning back now."

The old woman twitched her eyebrows but said nothing more.

She and Lao Huang had been friends for many years, and the two were considered influential figures in Meilan.

Now that he's gone, how can one not feel sorrow?

About two or three quarters of an hour.

The sound of gongs and drums rang out.

Dressed in his official robes, Magistrate Lü Qian of Meilan County ascended the stone platform erected in front of him and proclaimed loudly, "Bandits must be eradicated, and the den of monsters must be eradicated even more!"

The master even promised that everyone who participated in the battle would receive three taels of silver as rations, and if they died in battle, they would receive compensation. He also promised that the sons of their families would be given priority in selection and would inherit their fathers' businesses.

His impassioned speech boosted morale.

"set off!"

The armored soldiers boarded the county government's donkey carts and oxcarts and headed to the eastern dock of the city.

The deck of the official ship extends down.

"Junior brother, you come with us."

Seeing that Cheng Yan was about to join the ranks, Yang Shen grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to his side. Gone was his usual playful demeanor. He said seriously, "When the fighting starts, don't stray too far from me and your Senior Brother Ma."

"Ah."

Cheng Yan nodded. He was representing Bailudong Academy, so he would definitely listen to his two senior brothers.

The boat drifted on the river for about half an hour.

Lei Ji bowed slightly to Master Chen of the Lushan Sect and said, "Master, we may begin."

Chen Jing immediately made a hand seal, pointing forward with the Heavenly Stem Jiazi seal: "Open the altar."

The wind rises, and the fog comes.

The water meets the sky.

suddenly.

The water flow surged backward as the large boat parted, and the falling peach petals drifted downstream, carrying a delicate fragrance from both banks.

After breaking through the thin mist, a peach blossom grove came into view.

For several hundred paces along both banks, there were no other trees, only fallen petals scattered everywhere.

"Lean closer!"

(End of this chapter)