Durin's Diary

Chapter 921 Sitting Before the Flowers

The old man walked out of the teleportation center. He looked around and saw a green train pulling into the station from the nearby platform.

I remember when I was a new recruit, I took a train like this to Yumen Pass. At first, I didn't understand why we had to take this slow green train so far away from Yumen Pass when there were faster trains available.

Later he realized that the train was moving slowly so that the new recruits could see the rows of tombstones on the hilltop and the places where they might live in the future.

That damned old bastard! The old general who came up with this idea back then has been living on that sunny hillside for ages. I think he must have done it on purpose.

Thinking of this, he watched the new recruits file out of the carriages, some curious, some solemn. The military police moving through the steam were counting heads with the help of the company commanders.

"marshal."

The call from behind made the old man turn around. Looking at the gray-haired old monkey in front of him, he was somewhat surprised: "Why are you still here?"

"Back then, you and Wang Dongyi never came back. The brothers waited and waited, until in the end, some died, some were crippled, and some retired. Only I, the little brother from back then, was left. I've finally waited for you." The old man, wearing a military uniform with one vine and two stars on his shoulder, wiped his nose as he said this: "I know why you came. You've finally come. Without you, Yumen is really in chaos."

"...I'm back now. Come on, let's go see what's going on, and tell me just how chaotic it is." The old man finished speaking, pursing his lips.

Old Zhang was right; at this critical juncture, this land ultimately cannot do without them.

Even though they are old, that's precisely why they are needed to keep these intractable problems in check... Otherwise, who knows what kind of chaos this place would become.

"The man surnamed Qian has connections with many of the new commanders. I don't know about the young general, but..." At this point, the old man fell silent.

The old man sighed. He knew what the old man's sigh meant, so he glanced at his pocket watch and said, "Let's go then."

"Marshal, is it just you who came?" The old man asked, somewhat surprised.

"I came with an imperial edict. I hope they won't take me seriously." Facing the boy who used to follow him around, the old man smiled and showed him the imperial edict in his hand. "Besides, I have helpers, so don't worry."

"That's great." The no-longer-young man's face was full of joy.

………………

“I told you not to get too close to the fools in the Qian family. There are some kinds of money that you can’t earn. Why didn’t you believe me?” The old man standing by the window turned to look at the crowd behind him, some standing and some kneeling. “Now you remember to come and beg me. What am I? Your wish-granting machine?”

"Young General! Only you can save us!" The kneeling crowd bowed their heads.

Outside, they were all commanders whose word was law, but in this office, they all had to show respect to the young general before them.

Because his father was the one who personally identified the general when the old man left, and his father did not disappoint the marshal's trust, and ultimately died on this battlefield.

Now, this old man… no, Marshal Mo has returned. The Jade Gate has thrived under his leadership for over three hundred years. Even though he hasn't been here for decades, his return today will surely rally his former disciples and officials around him. Not to mention the young general, even the old general, if he were still alive, would have to address him as Marshal!
Therefore, they dared not have any selfish thoughts, but if the Marshal came, there would surely be bloodshed. However, as long as the young general was willing to say a word for them, they could be spared the death penalty.

But the young general sighed: "Do you know why I'm unwilling to help you?"

"We are willing to give up everything we own, just to ask the young general to save our entire family," someone said in a panic.

“Yes, we’re all willing to give.” Some people echoed this sentiment.

Their foolishness made the old man by the window sigh. He looked at the train station in the distance, where the green train was pulling into the station. Judging by the time, the marshal should have arrived by now.

He turned around, looked at the tearful crowd before him, and finally sighed: "Take out all the money these people got from the Qian family and hand it over to the people from the Internal Security Bureau who came with His Excellency the Marshal. I might be able to put in a good word for you."

Then he looked at the merchants standing in the distance: "As for those of you who begged me to speak on behalf of the Qian family, please go back. It is obvious that the sages of the capital are very angry that Your Excellency is able to put on your battle robes again this time. This matter was caused by the Qian family boy from Zhennan Pass, and it is another evil deed that ruins the thousand-year foundation of Changtang. As for such a matter, let alone me, even my father will not utter a word again."

“Sir, we are willing to pay money to save Qian’s life. He only embezzled some money that he shouldn’t have touched. If we pay more, it will be considered as paying back the money. Isn’t that good?” A merchant said with a smile. “We have heard that Master Qian has been trying to make money in recent years. Since he is so short of money, there must be room for him to operate.”

"Fine, since you're so confident, then follow me." With that, the old man walked towards the office door.

………………

Dulin glanced at the time on his pocket watch, raised his eyebrows, and then Hermes flew out of the rift and landed in front of Dulin, making a cooing sound.

Dulin pulled a piece of paper from the mailbox in her paw; it had a string of numbers written on it.

Alright, the coordinates have been reached.

"Do you need my help?" Anta asked curiously.

“The old man and I are going there to kill someone, so you shouldn’t come with us. It’s not a good look to have blood splattered all over your face.” Du Lin said as he opened the teleportation channel. “Besides, I heard you talking quite well with the Celestial Masters. You actually managed to combine formations with magic arrays. That’s a pretty good idea. You guys discuss it some more.”

“Then I have to go with them,” Xiang Shu said.

"What are you going to do? It's dangerous."

"If there's danger, just run. If I die there, every single one of those commanders will die too." Xiang Shu's words seemed to reveal a sense of desperation.

Dulin thought for a moment and finally nodded: "Alright, since you're not afraid of death, I can't underestimate you. But let me make this clear beforehand: I won't run away. Every single one of those traitors will die."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Shu smiled happily: "That's more like a man born and raised in Changtang. I won't lose out by following you."

(End of this chapter)