On this day, the snow on Yunding Mountain fell as large as a mat, flakes blowing down onto the Commander’s Platform.
At the foot of Yunding Mountain, hooves trampled the flying snow, a black thread hastily moving through the storm.
The rumbling of hooves, the clash of soldier armor creating a loud clatter, headed straight for the ninth mountain peak.
A group of a dozen troops dashed towards the Ninth Mountain like a fierce phoenix!
Soon, the distant gates of the Ninth Mountain’s military camp came into view ahead.
However, from a distance, there were several figures amidst the wind and snow outside the gates.
Each was dressed in brocade robes, displaying an aura of nobility, clearly those who usually lived in comfort. But now, the snow covered more than half of their feet, piling thick on their heads and shoulders, yet none of them moved.
As if they were being punished to stand there!
One might say, these people were doing this willingly.
"Military Adviser Gao, please, for the sake of our past camaraderie, kindly report to the Nine Colonels so I may speak with them, otherwise, I am truly restless at heart."
A middle-aged man dressed in a crimson gold woven bird outfit, wearing a green jade crown, and sporting a mustache, spoke humbly to the person in front of him, his expression very earnest.
As he spoke, the middle-aged man turned, his face showing dismay, shouting at a young man in a sky-blue tunic with a green jade belt a few steps behind him, "Get over here!"
However, the face of this young nobleman was bruised, embarrassed, his face flushed as he hung his head and approached.
On closer inspection, he seemed to be the nobleman who had been publicly stripped of his chain armor at the gates of the military camp a few days ago.
The middle-aged man glared at him with fury, "Rebellious son, you’ve disgraced the Guo family!"
After scolding, he then faced Military Adviser Gao, with a tone of hating iron for not becoming steel, clasping his fists, "Military Adviser Gao, this rebellious son was previously addicted to play, so I intended for him to join the military to temper his character. I hoped he would eventually fight demons on the battlefield and bring glory to the Guo family. Who would have thought this rebellious son would sneak away from the camp to visit brothels and drink flower wine? Had I not received news about his being stripped of armor last night, I would still be in the dark."
"At the time, I was so furious, I personally used the family law on him. Now that this has happened, I am too ashamed to meet the Nine Colonels, yet the General has just battled demons outside and achieved unparalleled merit, while we, as subordinates, are dragging behind, which is truly unforgivable. Therefore, I must see the Nine Colonels and bring this rebellious son to kowtow and apologize."
The man’s words were filled with genuine emotion, and his face now displayed a shameful expression that could easily be mistaken as heartfelt sincerity.
This man was a prefect south of Jinguan City, a civil servant within the governmental office, similar to a regional magistrate, cooperating in governing the Southern City.
As for the Military Adviser Gao in front of him, wearing a white robe and chain armor, he exuded a scholarly general’s air. Gao Yu looked at this somewhat familiar colleague, his eyelids drooping slightly, his tone light,
"Guo Zhishi, are you sure your young master was just being playful, or should I repeat what he said in the brothel?"
Saying this, Gao Yu’s eyes slanted, looking towards the young man opposite.
The other was so frightened by this look that his body shivered.
Guo Zhishi heard this and his face froze, his mouth opened slightly.
"Go back. If these words really spread and reach the Colonel’s ears, it won’t be as simple as kowtowing and apologizing. As colleagues, mind your behavior, stay away from trouble, and serve the General well! Otherwise, the General won’t need to act, and don’t blame me for not remembering our past friendship."
Gao Yu’s tone was flat, but towards the end, it carried an icy chill.
Did they really think he was unaware of their little schemes?
Guo Zhishi’s face fluctuated between green and white, finally bowing deeply to Gao Yu, "I understand!"
Meanwhile, Gao Yu’s gaze turned towards the other seven or eight families. Those people, seeing his gaze, showed an uneasy expression like changing masks, squeezing out a smile, intending to speak, but just then, they heard noises of people and horse whinnies from the mountain below, making them look back.
It was a group of troops!
Leading them was a dark-skinned man in red armor with piercing eyes!
Someone recognized him as one of the three Piaoqi Generals under the Ninth Mountain’s Colonel, named Lu Ming.
A usually low-profile, unremarkable Piaoqi General.
The rumble of hooves quickly approached, and Gao Yu, blocking the camp gate, raised his hand, turning to order the armored soldiers guarding the gate, "Open the gate!"
Immediately, the gate guards "rumblingly" raised the iron bars, and those standing at the entrance quickly made way.
Soon, the troops entered swiftly like a gale, kicking up a whirlwind of snow, charging straight through the gates without stopping.
The gate fell heavily closed.
The armored soldiers re-formed their ranks, standing guard at the gate.
Those silhouettes outside, watching the backs of these troops, their eyes carried a trace of envy.
The scene yesterday at noon shook the entire Jinguan City, as the Ninth Mountain Army escorted the corpses of Heavenly Pass Demons back into the city, causing a massive visual impact on those who witnessed it.
Those enormous demon corpses, like small hills, were shocking and heart-stirring!
Over a hundred Heavenly Pass Demons could easily destroy several prefectures, just thinking about it was terrifying. But now these demons became corpses, slain by men. Soon after, news of the Ninth Mountain’s Colonel slaying a large number of demons spread rapidly.
More shockingly, strong individuals in the city sensed that among the demon corpses were fragments of Great Martial Vault Demons!
This delivered a massive blow to many in the city with ulterior motives.