My Cultivation Starting from Archery

Distinctly different from the chaos and ruin elsewhere in the city,

the county magistrate's residence was a haven of tranquility and harmony.

In a side room, not only was a table full of food and drinks prepared, but two singers from Spring Pavilion had been invited, one to play music and the other to dance.

Xue Yuping stood at the door waiting, "Mr. Chen, please!"

"County Magistrate Xue does enjoy his leisure and elegance."

Chen Sansi sat down, "Do you have any orders for me?"

"Try the food first."

Xue Yuping spoke slowly, "There's no rush to discuss matters until Households Commander Tang returns."

Deliberately, Chen Sansi used his filthy hands to grab food from every dish on the table.

"..."

Xue Yuping put down his chopsticks, his appetite gone.

"Having been in the military for so long, I've grown increasingly unrefined. Surely you don't mind, right?"

Chen Sansi spoke with his mouth dripping with oil.

Xue Yuping said calmly, "Of course not, Mr. Chen has worked hard defending the city. Please, help yourself."

About half an hour later,

Tang Ming rushed in, "County Magistrate Xue, the entire family of Xiang Tingchun, old and young alike, have been tortured to death and still the whereabouts of the Immortal Treasure remain unknown."

"Mr. Xiang?"

Chen Sansi feigned ignorance, "County Magistrate Xue, what is this about..."

"No need to panic, Mr. Chen. We have discussed the matter of the Immortal Treasure before."

Xue Yuping continued calmly, "The investigation concluded that Xiang Tingchun was secretly concealing the whereabouts of the Immortal Treasure. It's a crime that traditionally results in the execution of the entire family, and he deserved more than death. Households Commander Tang, please continue."

Households Commander?

Is this person from the military?

No, that's not right.

Chen Sansi thought of another organization that used such a title.

Jinyi Guard.

In the Jinyi Guard, could someone who has achieved Great Success of Refining only hold the rank of a Hundred Households...

Tang Ming frowned, "There's also Golden Bell Temple; we've dug three feet into the ground and found nothing. It's time for us to leave. The Witch God Sect will arrive in two days, and the city massacre and Blood Sacrifice will begin soon, not a single soul will be spared..."

A city massacre and Blood Sacrifice?

It seems there are not just immortals here, but demons as well!

Chen Sansi finally understood why in recent days the Xi River tribe had surrounded but not attacked; they were waiting for the Witch God Sect, and possibly more armies were coming with them!

"Sir."

He spoke from the perspective of a military officer defending the city, saying what someone of his position should, "The Witch God Sect intends to slaughter the city, is the court not sending reinforcements?"

"Of course, the court wishes to send rescue."

Xue Yuping said regretfully, "But the key to Yunzhou lies in the Three Prefectures of Stability, Tranquility, and Lingfeng. As long as these three do not fall, we can win back the land sooner or later. If necessary, even Hengkang Prefecture can be abandoned.

"Mr. Chen, you should pack your belongings. Tonight at the hour of the rat, you will leave with us."

"Leave?"

Chen Sansi asked, "County Magistrate Xue, do you mean to abandon the city?"

"No, no, no, no, no..."

Xue Yuping said five consecutive "no"s, "They will continue to defend, Mr. Chen, you will depart silently with us, by yourself. What I mean is, just you alone."

"Alone?"

Chen Sansi asked gravely, "County Magistrate Xue, I still have my wife and subordinates in the city, how could I possibly leave alone?"

"Mr. Chen."

Xue Yuping said solemnly, "His Majesty has only ordered you to leave, not anyone else. As for your wife, surely you've heard the saying 'a wife is like clothing'?"

"Is your mother like clothing?"

Chen Sansi was furious, but he didn't voice it.

By this point, how could he not see that the court was planning to abandon the entirety of Po Yang!

"Mr. Chen, I have spoken all there is to say."

Xue Yuping continued, "At the hour of midnight tomorrow, we will leave this place at full speed. If you insist on bringing a burden, then you may as well stay and continue defending the city. Remember, alone!

"Households Han, please see our guest out."

Stepping out of the residence,

Chen Sansi's thoughts were heavy, replaying the conversation in his mind, grasping the key information.

So, the court intends to only defend the Three Prefectures of Stability, Tranquility, and Lingfeng, and abandon the rest?

From the map, these three form a strategic triangle.

As long as the Three Prefectures hold, the foundation of Yunzhou remains, and once the Northwest Three States are free, they can retake the lost territory.

But during this period,

what about the rest of Yunzhou, including twelve other prefectures?

Are they to be left for the barbarians to slaughter and fulfill their so-called Blood Sacrifice?

Moreover, how could they be so certain that the Northwest Three States will be available and that those three will not be conquered?

It seems,

as if the barbarians and the court are in suspiciously perfect harmony?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"..."

A terrifying thought suddenly took root in Chen Sansi's mind.

He looked at Han Cheng who followed him out, "Guard Han, are you with Supervisor Sun?"

Han Cheng affirmed.

"Then I will ask you,"

Chen Sansi continued, "What exactly are they planning?"

"I don't have full understanding either,"

Han Cheng said, frowning, "I only know that this has been planned for a long time, and to avoid drawing Supervisor Sun's attention, they deliberately did not send high-level martial artists to Po Yang, including the Emperor. For the search of the Immortal Treasure, only two Jinyi Guard Hundred Households were brought with County Magistrate Xue for undercover investigation."

"They are quite afraid of Supervisor Sun,"

Chen Sansi nodded.

This would explain why, for something as important as the Immortal Treasure, they dared not send real experts, but just enough military force that a county should have, presumably to prevent Supervisor Sun from intervening and ruining their plans.

It seems now...

they might have succeeded.

"Guard Han,"

Chen Sansi inquired, "What actions are we to take, has Supervisor Sun said anything?"

"He hasn't,"

Han Cheng gently shook his head, "My connection with the Governor Mansion is delayed, the last time was when you made contributions on the grassland. According to the Supervisor's original words, you should just ensure your own safety, everything else is none of your concern."

"Ensure my own safety?"

Chen Sansi paused, "You mean, you want me to obediently follow orders and leave alone? Have you ever thought about Sun Li and Sun Buqi who are also in this city? If what Magistrate Xue said just now is true, wouldn't they also die here?"

"The Supervisor didn't instruct on that matter."

Han Cheng scratched his head, starting to stutter, "I... I don't know what to do, in any case, if you want to live then just do as told."

"To live..."

Chen Sansi fully understood the purpose of the poisoned wine.

If he obediently followed orders and left alone, even if he was involved in a secret mission, he might later have the opportunity to be nurtured as a trusted confidante.

Otherwise, there were only two outcomes.

One, die under the so-called "Blood Sacrifice" of the barbarians.

Two, die from the poison three months later.

No, there was no need for that long.

Having learned so many secrets, if he didn't obediently follow through tomorrow night, he was ninety percent sure he would be executed on the spot!

The poisoned wine was just the last resort!

"Kill!"

Chen Sansi offered a straightforward suggestion, "Can't we just kill them?!"

Han Cheng still shook his head, "Tang Ming has reached Great Success of Refining Internal, and I am completely no match for him. And Magistrate Xue also has another Refining Internal under his command."

"You're referring to Luo Dongquan, aren't you?"

Chen Sansi guessed, "I can handle him, but are you really unable to defeat Tang Ming?"

"He's capable of fighting two of me," Han Cheng held up his fingers, "Don't look at me like that, the selection of people for this mission was extremely harsh. It's already good that someone could mix in, let alone being picky about higher realms."

So it was indeed a dead end.

Not to mention not being able to beat them.

Even if he could win, if he killed the magistrate, the Emperor would definitely find a way to kill him afterwards.

Could Supervisor Sun really protect him then?

Chen Sansi didn't want to entrust his fate into someone else's hands.

Unless there was another force that took action to kill the magistrate.

In that case, he could completely extricate himself.

He could take people away and not be resented by the Emperor.

"If you can't bear to leave your wife behind, I can say a few words for you," Han Cheng said, "As long as you can assure Magistrate Xue you won't drag your feet, he might agree to let you take her away.

"All right.

"I can't stay with you for too long or they will become suspicious. If you have anything else to say, meet me in the horse stable on the east side of the city wall after midnight tonight."

With those words, he disappeared.

Chen Sansi, with a heavy heart, returned to his post on the city wall.

Tonight during the last watch.

He had to make a decision on his future in such a short time.

"Sir!"

Xu Wencai cheerfully came over, "I've considered over a dozen strategies to deal with the different changes in Po Yang, would you like to take a look?"

"Sir!"

"Good day, Sir!"

"Sir, this is an amulet my mother asked me to give you, she said as long as you're here, we have a way to live!"

"..."

Upon arriving at the city wall.

One soldier after another began to speak, their tones full of respect.

"Sir!"

Xu Bin held a piece of paper, "This is a name that Xu Wencai came up with for my daughter, which one do you think is good?"

"Little Junior Brother."

Sun Li came over with a long saber, "How is your saber technique coming along, if you need my help, just say the word."

"Sansi, when you're free, teach me archery!"

Sun Buqi said with a playful smile, "Once I learn it, I can go home and let my old man say 'One should always take a fresh look at others, even if only three days have passed,' and save him the trouble of scolding me for being useless!"

Countless words drilled into his mind.

Chen Sansi ignored them all as he walked past them, approaching the refugees squatting at the foot of the city wall.

They had been working hard to defend the city.

Even Shunzi's lame father was straining himself to move rocks.

Last of all were the new recruits from the Martial Arts Arena, who had joined the ranks not long ago after a fierce battle and were still sparring with each other.

"We've seen the Sir!"

As Chen Sansi scanned them, names corresponding to the faces began to emerge one after another.

[Sinking Formation Death Will]

Even these people were willing to follow him to death!

So, even if Magistrate Xue agreed to let him take Sister Lan away, was he really going to just run away like that?

Maybe!

After leaving, perhaps he would be reused by the old Emperor, climbing ranks and amassing wealth, reaching the pinnacle of life.

The downside might be having restless sleep for the latter half of his life, often dreaming of some familiar faces.

Sometimes having too good a memory really isn't a good thing!

"I hate insomnia."

"Haven't I been studying martial arts all this time just to sleep peacefully!"

Chen Sansi's left hand unconsciously gripped the Zhenyue Sword tightly, "If I go now, I really won't be able to sleep!!!"

And even if he really defected to the Dog Emperor, would he be safe?

If the Emperor gave him poison wine once, wouldn't he possibly do it a second time?

Was he supposed to spend his life cowering and living miserably under others?!

Must they force me into this?!

But what else could he do?

He was too weak, at best he could deal with Luo Dongquan. But there was also another at the Great Success of Refining; who would kill him?

And if they were killed, how would he clear the connections without the old Emperor holding him accountable afterward?

"Hm?"

Chen Sansi's gaze fell on the crimson official robe, and an idea suddenly struck him.