ChangNing’s Imperial Army

Chapter 68 – Very Poor
On their way back, they passed by Yunxiao. Master Cha noticed that Mr. Shen could not help but glance over at the Daoist temple on the mountain. She sat in front and asked, “Do you want ]

Mr. Shen shook his head. “No. Even though it’s already been 16 years, this place is still Yunxiao city.”

Master Cha responded, “It’s already been 16 years, I’m afraid nobody remembers how you look like anymore.”

Mr. Shen answered, “As long as one person remembers, you and Shen Leng will be in danger.

“In that case, why are you not avoiding Zhuang Yong?”

“That’s because I know Zhuang Yong well.”

Mr. Shen added, “Firstly, Zhuang Yong doesn’t know what happened that night. Later on, I heard that he was intercepted on his journey back and went straight to Changan.”

“Secondly, Zhuang Yong cannot be working for the empress. That will never be possible.”

Master Cha nodded, “I heard that presently, the empress is leading a miserable life. Because of that incident, His Majesty was extremely furious. Her family was being oppressed for so many years – not a single person from her family could go beyond Fourth pin. Her family is considered to be doomed, right?”

“How can that be?”

Mr. Shen said, “No matter how much they were suppressed, they are still the empress’ family. As long as His Majesty cared about the dignity of the royal family, the empress will not be deposed. Furthermore, her child has already grown up and become an adult. Even though he has not been named the crown prince, the empress will gain her power and authority back because of her son.

 

“As long as he gets named as the crown prince, her family will make a comeback. The reason why the empress was willing to be hated and treated this way by the emperor is because she’s waiting for that day to arrive…who are the people in the imperial court? Right now, you might feel that there aren’t many people who are willing to come in contact with the empress’ family. However, when that day comes, you will see that her family will be surrounded by big figures.”

Master Cha was somewhat puzzled. “His Majesty is not that old, he’s only in his forties. Why doesn’t he want a few more children?”

“He’s already 45.”

 

Mr. Shen thought about how he used to frequently come in contact with the emperor, but right now, it’s impossible for them to meet with one another.

“Cha’er, there’s something you need to know.”

“What?”

“If one day, Leng were to come across a problem that he cannot solve, or if he is put in a dangerous situation in which there is nothing we can do about, go to Changan city. No matter what, you have to meet with this one person. That person can save Leng.”

“Who?”

“He is…”

Mr. Shen whispered his name into Master Cha’s ear in the softest voice possible. After Master Cha heard the name, she was taken aback immediately. “It’s been so many years, it’s the first time you’re telling me who she is.”

“Just remember it well. And do not tell a single person. For now, we must not tell even Leng himself.”

“Ok.”

Master Cha nodded. “I got it.”

The donkey cart went past Yunxiao city. No matter how much Mr. Shen wanted to go back to take a look, he had to tolerate and quell his desires. Master Cha could understand how he felt. Yunxiao city was a place where Mr. Shen had invested heavily in, and it contained too many years of memories.

“There is always an opportunity for me to go back to take a look. When the time comes where I go back and live in seclusion.”

Mr. Shen shifted his gaze away from Yunxiao city. He lifted his hand and whipped the donkey. The little donkey became well-behaved once more, and ran faster, and more steadily.

Master Cha thought about what Mr. Shen said when they went there – when Leng became a Class A Fifth pin official in one to two years, he was planning to look for Chu Jianlian and live with him. Could Mr. Shen bear to let everything go? Mr. Shen was unable to let go of even the Bai Ta Temple of Yunxiao city, let alone the two of them.

Mr. Shen was afraid of implicating them.

When they got to the river bank, Mr. Shen looked for a decent-looking young man and gave the donkey cart to him. Even though he did not know where the young man was heading while carrying his mother on his back, as long as Mr. Shen felt comfortable giving it to him, it was sufficient.

He did not seek for anything from the young man; Mr. Shen and Master Cha left. The young man looked in the direction they left in with tears in his eyes. He blamed himself, saying, “Mother, I forgot to ask for his name.”

The old lady, who looked very weak, was silent for a moment. He said to his son solemnly, “Bodhisattva.”

Mr. Shen and Master Cha rented a boat and their journey continued uneventfully. When they got back to Anyang, they hastily made their way back home. The moment they entered the town, Mr. Shen stopped in his tracks. His eyebrows twitched slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m afraid we need to move again.”

Mr. Shen looked to the left. At the entrance of the alley, the figure of a person decked in white flashed across.

Master Cha, “The person from that time?”

Mr. Shen shook his head. “I still don’t know yet. I will find out once I see Uncle Chen.”

Master Cha looked at Mr. Shen. “Sir, don’t go back.”

“No, I have to. If I wanted to leave, not many people in this world can stop me. If I don’t go back without saying anything, what will happen if Leng cannot find me??”

Mr. Shen took the lead. Master Cha felt that there were eyes all around, watching them closely.

When they got back to the small courtyard, Uncle Chen could not help but laugh when he saw Mr. Shen and Master Cha. He had been afraid and on edge over the past couple of days. Ever since the people in white dropped by the courtyard, Uncle Chen was unable to have a good night’s rest.

 

After they heard Uncle Chen recount everything that happened to them, Mr. Shen was at ease instead. “Everything’s ok. We don’t have to leave.”

“What’s going on?”

“It’s not her people. It sounds like it’s Changan city’s Liu Yun Sect. When you and Leng made a trip to Changan, you ate at Deng Di Restaurant before sending Meng Changan back to the academy. There was a carriage that followed you three back. The person inside the carriage was the first-in-command of Liu Yun Sect, the owner of Deng Di Restaurant.”

 

Master Cha was slightly stunned. “Indeed, you were worried.”

All along, Mr. Shen did not tell Master Cha and Shen Leng that he made a trip to Changan city. He smiled and said, “Both of you are like my flesh and blood, how can I not worry?”

 

“Mother!” Master Cha called out passionately.

Mr. Shen glared at her. “If I’m not wrong, Liu Yun Sect works for His Majesty. He specially placed them in Changan city’s secret society, as his secret weapon. Of course, not only in the secret society but the entire underworld. If he works for His Majesty, then it’s nothing to be afraid of. Let them stand guard for us on the outside.”

Master Cha got up and prepared to wash up. She took out the gift they bought for Uncle Chen, which they bought on their journey back. Uncle Chen was extremely elated and accepted it. He called her a good girl, in which Master Cha responded, telling him to thank her mother instead, for he was also a good woman.

At this moment, there was a sound of someone knocking on the door. Instinctively, Master CHa grabbed her sword case. Mr. Shen gestured to her, hinting to her not to be rash. Thereafter, Mr. Shen adjusted his clothes and walked slowly to the door. “Who’s this?”

Nobody answered; the person continued knocking.

Mr. Shen opened the door, with a dagger in his right hand behind his back. After the door was opened, Mr. Shen was entirely at ease.

“Stupid Leng?!”

Master Cha stared at him so hard that her eyes were emitting light. She looked as though she was lovestruck.

Shen Leng chuckled and stood outside. He carried with him a huge suitcase. There was a layer of dust on top of his Navy uniform. He looked extremely exhausted, but his smile was still as pure and clean.

Subconsciously, Master Cha rushed over to him. But after she ran a few steps forward, she suddenly remembered that Uncle Chen was still there. Hence, she slowed down. She placed both hands behind her back and walked up to Shen Leng. The smile on her face was very bright.

“Why are you back so fast?”

“Because I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?”

Shen Leng rubbed his head. “Becoming another child’s father.”

Master Cha went pale. She grabbed Shen Leng by his collar and pulled him closer, “Spare the rod…”

Before she finished her words, she was distracted. He dragged Shen Leng into the courtyard. There was a long line of people behind Shen Leng…At this moment, Master Cha realized that Shen Leng was holding onto a rope. There were four to five people tied up; they were all decked in white.

Shen Leng tugged the rope and pulled the men into the courtyard. Mr. Shen and Master Cha were somewhat stunned.

Shen Leng sat on the bench and smiled apologetically at the men in white. “I know where you’re from judging from your clothes. Changan city’s Liu Yun Sect, right? I have a good impression of your leader. When I was in Changan, he took good care of us. When you head back, please help me thank him. If I did not recognize the fact that you’re from Liu Yun Sect, I would have used a lot more strength. The next time you drop by, please thank me on behalf of your leader. I will tell him he’s welcome.”

“He took out his black cord sword from behind and flung it. The sword spun around rapidly and cut the rope that was tying the men up. The granite ground cracked, and the sword was at least a foot into the ground.

“Sorry for offending you, let’s go.”

The men in white looked at each other. They were the people instructed by Ye Liuyun to remain behind to keep an eye on the small courtyard, as they waited for Mr. Shen to return. Who would have expected them to captured just like that without given a chance to react, and being tied up together like a row of ants?

“How arrogant!”

Someone spoke from outside the door. Shen Leng sat there and did not move.

A person decked in white slowly entered with his hands behind his back. He was tall and slender; he had a grave and stern-looking face. One of his eyes looked slightly strange – his eyeball was all black.

After Shen Leng saw him, he laughed. “Is the head of the family here?”

Hei Yan sized Shen Leng up. He noticed that Shen Leng was wearing the battalion commander’s uniform. “You’re wearing the military uniform, and yet you’re still so arrogant?”

Shen Leng replied earnestly, “Most of the people who wear the military uniform are very arrogant. I’m different – I am much more arrogant.”

Hei Yan pointed to the outside of the courtyard. “You people get out and stand there. Stupid fools, how embarrassing. Go back and tell our leader yourselves about this matter. I can’t bring myself to say it. Too embarrassing.”

The men in white looked at each other and went outside of the courtyard in silence.

Hei Yan walked towards Shen Leng and stopped approximately two meters away from him. “What you did in Changan city helped us, Liu Yun Sect. Hence, I want to say thank you.”

Shen Leng, “Not as good as money.”

Hei Yan replied, “Said well…however, you need to fight with me first.”

Thereafter, he threw a punch.

When Shen Leng was in Hujian, he had personally seen how Cen Zheng attacked Bai Xiu. It was not a technique adopted in the military. It could be seen that Cen Zheng was different at the core from the other soldiers. However, it was extremely fast and powerful.

Hei Yan’s punch was very fast too. It was not any slower than Cen Zheng’s.

When Shen Leng saw Cen Zheng’s attack, he did ask himself before – if he were in Bai Xiu’s position, would he be able to block his attack?

The answer was…yes!

Shen Leng struck back.

Both their fists did not make any sense, but they collided head on with one another. Their punches seemed to have caused the air to solidify…Shen Leng’s feet could not help but slid backwards, the soles of his shoes rubbed against the granite ground, creating an ear-piercing sound.

As for Hei Yan, he flipped backwards. After he landed back onto the ground, he retreated three steps.

Before he steadied himself, Shen Leng’s fist was right in front of him. It was simple and uncomplicated yet firm and ferocious. It was a simple technique they learned right after joining the military. Every punch was powerful and overbearing.

Hei Yan dodged his attacks in succession, while looking for an opportunity to counter attack. However, he could not find any. Shen Leng threw thirteen punches at him, and he took thirteen steps back. Thereafter, he realized that he was no longer within the courtyard. Hei Yan refused to accept the outcome and was rather vexed.

Shen Leng stopped advancing. He looked at him and said earnestly, “You can come in again, but remember to knock.”

After he said that, he returned back into the courtyard. Hei Yan looked at the arrogant and obstinate fella. He suddenly laughed, “Did you ever think about joining Liu Yun Sect after you leave the military? With your capability, you will be on the same level as me at the very least.”

Shen Leng replied, “Based on your capability, did you ever think of joining the military? At the very least, you can be my subordinate.”

Hei Yan shrugged his shoulders, “There’s no freedom in the military, it cannot be compared to the satisfaction I get from working in the underworld.”

Shen Leng replied, “Your satisfaction is too small. Mine is very big.”

Hei Yan asked, “How big?”

Shen Leng thought for a moment before answering earnestly, “Bigger than the first-in-command of Liu Yun Sect.”

Hei Yan turned around and left. “When you’re done being in the military, come to Changan!”

Shen Leng replied, “I will go to Changan. Deng Di Restaurant better wait for me. But by then, you might probably have to call me ‘general’.”

Hei Yan responded, “Alright, I will remember that, soldier.”

Shen Leng replied, “It’s battalion commander.”

Hei Yan gradually walked farther and farther. “I left some things for you by the door. After you left, Liu Yun Sect had exterminated Liu Lang Dao. It came from the liquidation of Liu Lang Dao’s assets. It’s exactly half of everything they owned. Our first-in-command told me to stay here because he wanted me to pass it to you personally. Next time when you go to Changan and eat at Deng Ji Restaurant, don’t be so stingy. Your brother Meng Changan even packed a leaf of a vegetable to bring back. How embarrassing.”

Shen Leng looked at a package by the door. He did not know when it was being placed there, but it was not big.

“This is half of Liu Lang Dao’s wealth?”

Shen Leng shrugged his shoulders. “Liu Lang Dao sure was very poor.”