Oh, Brother Song, you don't know.

Let me tell you about it.

Lady Zhushan is the Taoist Temple Master of Pearl Mountain.

They, unlike others, do not practice martial arts but soul cultivation.

They are extremely skilled at creating illusions, but they themselves lack offensive means, so... They forcibly create some Medicinal Humans with drugs to assist them against enemies.

These Medicinal Humans have their potential exploded by drugs, forcibly elevated to the standards of the Form Realm, but inherently they are incapable, their potential also depleted, and they are quite temperamental and irritable.

Well, those are the group from the first floor of Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

If you've been there, you would know, they are all a bunch of losers."

Song Cheng recalled the owner of the Gambling Arms' Workshop who wanted a hundred taels to cover Ling for five nights, despite the place being empty, still demanding 300 taels for a single gambling session, and couldn't help coughing twice.

Hong Juguang understood immediately and laughed, "Right, right? Seems like you've been there, got it now?"

"I understand." Song Cheng also started to laugh.

The two clinked their cups together.

Song Cheng asked, "Thousand Treasures Pavilion sells some pills that elevate cultivation. Are there problems with those pills?"

Hong Juguang waved his hands, "Not at all.

Blood Dew Pill, for the warriors of the Force Realm;

Flame Gang Pill, for us warriors of the Form Realm, both are very effective auxiliary resources.

Our Martial Arts Hall is still their long-term customer.

Crafting Medicinal Humans is another potion that is held by Lady Zhushan and not sold to the public."

Song Cheng nodded.

It was evident that warriors of both the Force Realm and the Form Realm need quite a lot of resources for normal cultivation.

All these, he hardly knew, after all... he had never consumed any.

At this moment, he thought for a while, then asked, "Brother Hong, you mentioned that Lady Zhushan's Medicinal Human died, why not just replace it with another one?"

Hong Juguang gave him a deep look and said, "Herein lies the problem..."

The air suddenly fell silent.

Hong Juguang said, "Lady Zhushan's cultivation in illusions is profound and unique.

Once executed, it does not distinguish between friend and foe, sweeping everyone into it, except for... the blind.

A blind Medicinal Human who has been forcibly enhanced to the Form Realm must also be a Force Realm expert.

Where can you find such a person?"

After saying this, the air grew even quieter.

Song Cheng suddenly understood something.

He suddenly realized why the employee named "Hua Wen" at Thousand Treasures Pavilion had a favorable impression of him.

Thinking of this, he no longer hid it and simply shared the matter.

Hong Juguang thought for a moment and laughed, "Pearl Mountain Taoist Temple counts as a righteous faction, and the creation of Medicinal Humans isn't about forcibly capturing people. That employee probably took notice of you, and was waiting to report back to Lady Zhushan before they approached you to negotiate.

However, they probably never expected, Brother Song, that you are actually a Form Realm expert. Now, this is interesting."

Song Cheng said, "Brother Hong, please enlighten me."

Hong Juguang said, "Lady Zhushan has always used Medicinal Humans because they are entirely under her control. Someone like Brother Song, she must have never seen nor thought of."

The two continued to drink tea and chat.

One was eager to "open his eyes" to see the surroundings.

The other had finally found an expert who could help defend the Prefectural City.

Having previously had an encounter, they thoroughly enjoyed their discussion.

Meanwhile, Hong Juguang took the excuse of needing a restroom break to step out, but in reality he listened to his disciple reporting about Song Cheng's situation.

With these being special times and Song Cheng being highly capable, he wanted to expedite the process and appoint Song Cheng with a position in the Martial Arts Hall. By doing so, this young man could be drawn into the whole city defense system.

But before the appointment, he must clarify all information regarding Song Cheng.

The influence of Shanhe Martial Arts Hall was immense, and just while they were having their meal and tea, outside disciples had already delivered all the news about Song Cheng.

Hong Juguang read it through, breathed out in relief, and was also secretly astonished.

This man is a true genius...

Afterward, he returned and continued chatting with Song Cheng until nearly the third watch of the night.

The night patrol clanked, and the night fell silent.

Suddenly, a disciple from Shanhe Martial Arts Hall came to report, claiming "Madam Song has arrived."

The disciples were not foolish; they understood Hong Juguang's character. Therefore, after observing Hong's actions and arrangements, they comprehended that during the evening's sparring, this External Affairs Envoy had actually been defeated by the Son-in-law of the Song Family.

Now that the two were conversing so jovially, thus... "a mere chairman of a common commerce chamber" and "a woman usually tackled with flattery" suddenly transformed into "Madam Song."

Hong Juguang personally escorted Song Cheng to the entrance, pondered a bit, and then solemnly pulled out a green wooden command token engraved with the character "Shanhe", and handed it over publicly, saying, "Brother Song, this is the Guest Elder token of our Shanhe Martial Arts Hall.

With this token in hand, as long as he did not leave the city, he could go anywhere, ask anything, and listen to anything—even going to the Prefectural Yamen to request troops would find them cooperative.

"To put it bluntly, brother, in this city, wherever you go, just slap this token on the table, and no one dares not to respect you."

This token was precisely what Song Cheng had wanted.

Song Cheng received it with both hands and smiled, "Then, like Brother Hong, I shall stay at home awaiting orders. If any pass starts fighting, and Brother Hong needs me, just send someone to tell me."

He needed to know when and where the danger would erupt and also needed the experience.

And just today's battle with Hong Juguang had indeed refreshed his "True Form of Xuanwu simulation success rate for Yellow Level Grade A," changing it from "two in ten thousand" to "four in ten thousand."

With several more challenges from Form Realm Experts, this success rate would quickly double.

Hong Juguang, seeing his straightforwardness, was pleased and thus folded his fists, "Then I won't stand on ceremony, brother, if I need you."

Song Cheng returned the gesture with his fists.

Hong Juguang laughed heartily, then looked deeply at Chenyu, who was approaching from a distance, wrapped in a platinum cloak, and said, "Madam Song, you've chosen a fine husband."

...

...

The carriage ride home.

In the carriage, Chenyu snuggled next to Song Cheng and said, "Has the situation deteriorated to the point where you need to reveal your trump cards?"

She remembered the strength of Song Cheng and knew he was a Form Realm warrior.

This was the An family's biggest trump card, as well as Song Cheng's own.

But now...

She sighed softly.

Once the trump card was revealed, there would be no room for maneuver, no way back.

Song Cheng whispered into her ear, "That was the past's trump card."

Chenyu: ???

"You..."

She looked at her man in astonishment, feeling this man was full of mystery, always able to surprise her, and always making her feel safe.

"Don't tire yourself." Song Cheng said.

Miss An collapsed on his shoulder, her ink-like long hair cascading down. A sense of security washed over her; she softly responded with an "Mm," then said, "Song, do you want me to be a proper Mrs. Song?"

Song Cheng said, "I like Sister An just the way she is, the most beautiful Sister An."

Miss An said softly, "Thank you, Song.

When I am not busy one day, I will dutifully be your Mrs. Song, do your laundry, cook your meals, bear your children, and then each day not meddle or inquire about anything, just waiting for you to come home."

She was different from Madam Tong and even from Ying.

The pursuit of the Martial Path is endless.

But she did not pursue the Martial Path.

...

...

Song Cheng's sudden rise silenced those who had previously mocked him, pitying him for mistakenly marrying her, and just overnight, the next day, the front of the An family's home swarmed like a marketplace.

Many came to congratulate the son-in-law of the An family on his breakthrough, wishing him well as he became a Guest Elder of the Martial Arts Hall.

Gifts came in abundance, like snowflakes.

The few previous taunts disappeared, leaving only compliments and kind words.

The Ruyi Commerce Chamber was also extraordinarily invigorated.

Song Cheng, by just demonstrating a Form's strength, had managed to solve many problems.

Public sentiment stabilized.

Communications spread far and wide.

If any dangerous movements were to occur, Blind Song would be the first to know and would personally assess the danger on the scene.

He was responsible for support.

The backbone of the Prefectural City still lay with the mighty three major forces; he was merely an "ordinary Form Realm warrior" whose duty was to care for his own little family.

Of course, if someone really pressed him hard, he could only show the side of an "extraordinary Form Realm warrior."

As long as the city did not fall, everything was negotiable.

If the city were to fall, then fleeing was the only option left, and the most he could protect were a few people. If an accident occurred, he might permanently lose a relative or a friend, perhaps Zhao Hua, perhaps Ying, perhaps Miss An or even Tong Jia themselves.

Suddenly, Song Cheng thought of Shanghe County.

There were still many people he knew there, as well as people left by the Ruyi Commerce Chamber.

He remembered the gates and the walls of the city.

He had guarded on those walls, had watched stars leaning against the cold black bricks after a midnight rain with Madam Tong and Ying, and had also peered at the gray, vast forest outside the city through the embrasures of those walls.

The memories were vivid, yet he did not know how things were now.

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