CHAPTER 371: CHAPTER 247: THE RENOWNED QIU DRAGON

The entire city of Qiu Dragon Mansion is at least twenty to thirty times the size of Baojiao County. Even the city wall is ten yards high, making the citizens passing in and out of the city gates appear like lines of ants being swallowed and spat out by the gates.

The Medicine King Hall arranged a courtyard for Chen Ku’s family, which, strictly speaking, is not the most luxurious area of Qiu Dragon Mansion but has the advantage of being spacious enough with over a dozen large guest rooms.

This ensured that Chen Ku’s relatives and friends brought over from Baojiao County could be accommodated without feeling crowded.

After settling everyone simply,

Chen Ku finally had a detailed conversation with his family, inevitably talking about the half-lost shoulder of Li Yuancheng.

Li Yuancheng never expected to still be alive after leaving Baojiao Prison and reuniting with his wife. He recounted that fateful night with a low, desolate voice.

It turned out that,

when the Demon People of Peace Path tunnelled into the city that night, Li was on duty at the arrest house. In truth, he was just drinking and chatting with a few brothers.

They never expected such a massive upheaval to occur.

After Ma Tianlin led a group of Yellow Turban Taoist Soldiers from Peace Path to raid the county government office, his drunken brothers were immediately captured.

Li Yuancheng, having Inner Qi Cultivation, instinctively awoke from his intoxication and attempted to engage the Demon People and their allies with a knife, but he quickly fell into a disadvantaged position after just one encounter.

The Taoist Soldiers were all chosen elites; when dozens rushed him at once, he couldn’t exert much skill before being defeated and captured.

At this point, Li Yuancheng gave a bitter smile and said, "Since retiring from the Border Army, I’ve often dealt with some notorious bandits, often with our constables outnumbering them. But this time, completely outmatched, I felt like I was back on the battlefield, where no matter how skilled you are, you can’t withstand the overwhelming pressure of sheer numbers. In just three to five breaths, my knife was nicked and dulled... then I lost my arm and was thrown into prison."

His wife looked at his empty shoulder, crying in pain and sorrow.

Chen Ku had long since arranged for Li Yuancheng to take both internal and external pills, bringing color back to his face, and he couldn’t help but ask, "What do the Demon People of Peace Path intend to do with you officers in the prison?"

Li Yuancheng was silent for a moment before saying, "I heard they plan to execute us on the city gate tower as an intimidation and to boost their morale when the Imperial Court’s army arrives."

Thinking about how he brought everyone here to Qiu Dragon Mansion without seeing the official army, Chen Ku sighed and said, "Baojiao County has been fallen for five or six days. In theory, Commander Ye Zhong, specifically dispatched from Prefecture City with his Divine Machine Camp, should have responded within the first two days, yet there has been no trace."

"Baojiao County has already fallen, and the Demon People can defend the city. I’m afraid Commander Ye’s one thousand Divine Machine Camp won’t easily reclaim the city. I guess the officials and high-ranking officers in Qiu Dragon Mansion are discussing how to prepare their troops and launch a well-prepared reclamation battle," Li Yuancheng said.

Chen Ku agreed, knowing that the Incense Fire Golden Light Array, established with the incense and faith of the city’s citizens, was impenetrable even to a Seventh Realm expert. Coupled with the Demon Soldiers in the city, their numbers increased seven to eight times to nearly ten thousand, making it indeed difficult for the Divine Machine Camp to easily break through.

"I wonder if we will have a chance to return to Baojiao County?" his sister-in-law said softly from the side.

Chen Ku wanted to say that he had reconnected with his older brother, but thinking about the information provided by Chen Xin, indicating that the Yuan Country would soon march south, he fell silent and said,

"Let’s see what the Imperial Court does."

Li Yuancheng sighed, knowing that even if the Imperial Court reclaimed Baojiao City, the city would certainly be too ravaged by the Demon People to have any meaning to return to.

Seeing this, Chen Ku said no more and stated,

"You all rest at home. Having arrived in Qiu Dragon Mansion, I should also go greet the masters of the Medicine King Hall and report safety."

"Oh, right, after Young Shopkeeper Kou settled us in, he gave us an address, saying it was the headquarters of the Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association," said his sister-in-law as she fetched a note from a distant box.

Chen Ku took the note, memorized the location, and said to his sister-in-law, "I will first report to the Three Emperors Ancestral Masters Association. Please arrange everything at home for everyone, and don’t be frugal."

Back then, aside from his extra earnings, all the income from Chen’s Iron Shop was entrusted to his old mother to manage. When the family fled from Baojiao County, they took that money with them. The iron shop had accumulated thirty to forty thousand silver over more than half a year. Even in Qiu Dragon Mansion, they’re considered a wealthy household, so providing for dozens of people is no problem.

His sister-in-law nodded reassuringly. She had heard of these people in the courtyard when she was in the city—once prominent figures who had helped their family. Although they were now fallen, their dignity needed to be maintained even more.

Thus, Chen Ku left the courtyard first.

Walking onto the broad street of Qiu Dragon Mansion,

he began to seriously examine this ’Prefecture City’ on the border. The streets were wide, and the ancient architecture lining both sides was tall, mostly three to four stories high, radiating the prosperity of a Prefecture City.