Distant Mountain Battle Song

Chapter 274 Nothing is difficult in this world if you set your mind to it.
"Even the Beast Supervisor says it's hopeless, but you think it's hopeless? I know you're trying to fool my Thunder Smoke Beast, so don't lie to me. I think I like it just the way it is."

Yun Ce's mocking smile infuriated the burly man with the bushy beard. He turned around and threw a punch, but the punch didn't make a sound. One moment he was clenching his fist and turning around, and the next moment his fist was about to hit Yun Ce's face.

Yun Ce's hand appeared strangely in front of his fist. After the two fists collided, both Yun Ce and the bearded giant took a step back.

The burly man with a bushy beard exclaimed in astonishment, "You've actually broken through to the level of a thousand-man general!"

Yun Ce, protecting his chestnut horse, said, "Is a thousand men such a remarkable feat?"

Perhaps because of the punch they had just exchanged, the burly man with the bushy beard began to behave respectfully. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yun Ce and said, "The Thunder Smoke Beast behind you has been put into the Beast Guardian's 'Soul-Suppressing Nail,' yet it still retains some intelligence, which is extremely rare."

Such a Thunder Smoke Beast is just a toy to you, but it has a great use to me. If you're willing, I'm prepared to exchange three Thunder Smoke Beasts for your already insane one.

Yun Ce shook his head and said, "To me, it's more than just a horse; it's my brother."

The burly man with a bushy beard said, "I can add money, one thousand taels of gold, plus three Thunder Smoke Beasts."

Yun Ce continued to shake his head and said, "It seems that your brother can be killed or betrayed as long as you pay more money. My brother is different. No matter how much money you offer or how many Thunder Smoke Beasts you give in exchange, I will still choose my brother."

Before he could finish speaking, the burly man's fist came crashing down again. In his almost crazed eyes, Yun Ce saw endless greed.

"Bang bang bang."

In a short period of time, Yun Ce's fist collided with the burly man's fist no less than ten times. Although each collision was not very loud, it put a great strain on the bodies of the two combatants. As generals of a thousand men, the force of each punch they threw was not dispersed, but only applied to their opponent.

When Yun Ce's hair tie was broken by the internal energy and his long hair fell loose, the burly man with a bushy beard opposite him was not much better off. His right sleeve had been shattered by the internal energy and turned into a butterfly that quietly fell to the ground.

Seeing that violence was not an option, the burly man with a bushy beard took two steps back and said to Yun Ce, "Five Thunder Smoke Beasts and two thousand taels of gold. This is my final offer. If you can accept it, we can be friends. If you don't, you will be the mortal enemy of the Yongzhou Prefectural Governor's Office."

Yun Ce, who had been calm and composed, was visibly taken aback when he heard the name of the Yongzhou Prefectural Governor's Office. He immediately straightened his chest and said, "I fear the Yongzhou Prefectural Governor's Office, but who are you? What makes you think you can represent the Yongzhou Prefectural Governor's Office?"

"I am Chu Xiong, General of the Eagle Banner of the Prefectural Governor's Office of Yongzhou."

After hearing Chu Xiong announce his name, Yun Ce immediately took out a handkerchief and tied it to his face. Then, he lunged at Chu Xiong. Chu Xiong sneered, lowered his stance, and punched Yun Ce who was rushing towards him. The two fists collided again, and this time Chu Xiong had a great advantage. He sent Yun Ce flying with one punch.

Just as Chu Xiong was about to continue threatening Yun Ce, he saw that Yun Ce's body had been sent flying seven or eight zhang away by that punch. Chu Xiong cursed inwardly and pounced on him. Just then, Yun Ce landed on the back of the chestnut horse. The chestnut horse neighed and galloped forward for a while before leaping up and flying more than two zhang high. It carried Yun Ce over the gate of Qianjiaji and landed on the open ground outside the gate. Without stopping, it galloped into the dawn.

Chu Xiong leaped onto the goalposts, only to see a shadow rapidly receding from him. Unable to contain his anger, he roared out.

He realized for the first time that sometimes going out alone was not a good thing. If he had brought a hundred men with him today, this cunning boy would not have been able to escape his grasp.

The chestnut horse ran for a while and then stopped, continuing to hop like a rabbit. Yun Ce, sitting on the bumpy horse, asked Gouzi.

"This guy is probably after the Tiger Legion. Judging from what he said, it seems like he has a way to break the Tiger Legion's shackles."

Dog said, "Even if it doesn't exist, it's been under research all along. Come to think of it, this guy can immediately associate the chestnut horse with the beast guard when he sees its silly appearance, and he can also associate the beast guard's secret methods with the chestnut horse being useless."

Let me tell you, this association is definitely not a spur-of-the-moment thought, but a flash of inspiration after careful consideration when seeing something similar. Maybe they really do have a way to solve the Tiger Army's problem.

"By the way, why didn't you grab him just now? You should trust me to extract everything from his mind."

Yun Ce laughed and said, "I want a foolproof method, and I don't want to disrupt their ongoing research. It's not too late for us to make our move when they actually make a breakthrough."

"Doggy, tell me, did he even see my face clearly?"

"No, it's dark, and your face doesn't have any special features. Apart from being handsome, he can't describe your appearance. Unless he sees you again, he can't spread your name."

"Ah, Doggy, you're getting better and better at talking." "You know, I prefer to tell the truth now."

Yun Ce entered Liangcheng, and Chu Xiong followed closely behind. However, Yun Ce entered through the east gate, while Chu Xiong entered through the west gate.

The reason some time was wasted was mainly because Yun Ce changed the chestnut horse's outfit. After the chestnut color turned into pure black, the black Thunder Smoke Beast became inconspicuous. After all, black is the most common color among Thunder Smoke Beasts.

When the chestnut horse is normal, it is perfectly normal. No matter who comes, all they can say is that the chestnut horse that has turned into a black thunder smoke beast is just a regular thunder smoke beast, stupid, obedient, and only moves when prodded.

It was fundamentally different from the crimson Thunder Smoke Beast that Chu Xiong had seen, which, although mentally unstable, was full of spirit and vitality.

Liangcheng was considered a barren land in Xinping Prefecture, but it was a rare wealthy city in the entire Han Dynasty because the Liangcheng Grassland was located there, and the most developed industry in Liangcheng was naturally the leather industry.

Cities with leather tanning industries are bound to smell terrible. This was true in Zudi and it was also true in Liangcheng. Not only was sewage flowing everywhere, but the distinctive smell of rotting flesh from the leather industry attracted carrion birds from miles around.

It hovered heavily in the sky, like a dark cloud that forever loomed over the city, giving people an indescribable sense of oppression.

Perhaps this is why Qian Feng, the prefect of Xinping Prefecture, lent Liangcheng to He Tian's garrison. The place was dilapidated enough, and the people were unruly enough, so even if war broke out, it wouldn't be a big deal.

The leather industry is very profitable, but it is extremely environmentally unfriendly and stinks. Anyone with a modicum of refined taste would not choose to live here. Only men and women who love money and want to make money would endure the stench and live here day after day, year after year.

Therefore, if you want to find a good place to live in Liangcheng, the first choice is the upwind side to the west. Liangcheng is located in a structure with two mountains flanking a hook, and the city is in a valley that runs east-west. For some reason, Liangcheng is often windy from the west, which makes the western district one of the few places where nobles and rich people live.

Yun Ce entered from the east gate, enduring the stench and walking westward against the wind until the stench faded and almost disappeared, at which point he saw the west gate in the distance.

Chu Xiong entered from the west gate. His first priority was to confirm that Yun Ce had not crossed the city to go elsewhere. Only then did he inquire along the west side to see if Wen Xun had seen Yun Ce and a chestnut-red Thunder Smoke Beast.

Both were riding alone, and although they were traveling in opposite directions, they ultimately missed each other.

The Tiger Legion's encampment was in the South City. Yun Ce should have lived in the South City as well, but he couldn't stand the smell there, so he chose the West City instead. Besides, the West City had the best inn in Liang City.

I thought that while everyone was focused on the whereabouts of the Tiger Army, the best inn in Liangcheng would be packed with people. But after checking in, I found that business was not good.

I asked the shopkeeper and learned that most people went to the south city, while those who chose to live in the west city were nobles and wealthy merchants traveling to and from Liangcheng.

I thought that Thunder Smoke Beast would be allowed to live with its master here, but the innkeeper refused no matter what. The chestnut horse, which had been painted black, had no choice but to stay obediently in the stable. Although it lived in a luxurious stable, the chestnut horse had no interest in acting silly. It stood quietly in the luxurious stable where it was the only horse and was eating grass.

Yun Ce also changed into a black outfit, with a black mask that only revealed his eyes. He carried a saber on his back and a short dagger at his waist. This outfit easily made people think that this hero must be a high-level hero with some unknown skills, otherwise he would not have carried a long saber on his back and hung a short dagger at his waist.

After settling the chestnut horse, Yun Ce went to the South City. He wanted to find Chu Xiong to see what he was up to and whether he had a chance to take advantage of the situation.

A troop of soldiers rolled down the street, and pedestrians scattered at the sound. Then, Yun Ce saw the renowned Tiger Army.

Yun Ce, who had taken refuge in a restaurant, looked at the towering Tiger Army and asked the manager.

"Do these people come out of the military camp every day?"

Seeing Yun Ce start paying for food, the shopkeeper said solicitously, "They come out to patrol the city every day, saying they're there to catch bandits and intimidate the wicked. But I think they're more like those people who do business and make a show of it for others."

Yun Ce felt the same way. He was about to buy some soup from the shop when he noticed the waiter's right thumb was stuck in the dark yellow soup. Coupled with the faint stench, he couldn't help but gag at the shopkeeper, quickly gathered his money bag, and left the shop, leaving behind an enraged shopkeeper and an innocent waiter.

He Tian lived in the Liangcheng City Lord's Mansion, not with his Tiger Legion. Yun Ce couldn't understand whether this was He Tian's last act of stubbornness or his final tragedy.

In short, he planned to go to the Liangcheng City Lord's Mansion tonight to see if there would be a big spectacle to watch.

(End of this chapter)