The noise grew louder, like an earth dragon rolling, causing the house to tremble slightly. Even fine dust snow fell from the gaps in the simple roof.
"This is bad, could it be a Demon Tide?"
While analyzing the situation, Manager Xiao, who had been discussing the possibility of war, felt the tremor of the ground, his expression changed suddenly, and he looked alarmed.
Gongsun Wuji, on the bed, twitched his keen ears, his eyelids lowered slightly, "No!"
"It’s the sound of hooves!"
"And it’s coming from the north."
"If it were a Demon Tide, the Mountain-cutting Army inside the border would have issued an early warning."
Saying this, Gongsun Wuji’s gaze shifted back, landing on the farm boy behind him, softening his tone, "Xiao Zhi, go outside and see what’s happening?"
"Alright!" Although the boy was a bit scared, he gathered his courage resolutely, replied without hesitation, and ran out again.
The shopkeeper of Xiao’s pharmacy, hearing Gongsun Wuji say this, couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows, "Such a loud noise coming from the north, it must be the military horses! By the way, according to news from Jingguan City, apart from mobilizing the entire city to build defenses, the Ninth Mountain is gathering a large number of troops from various prefectures, presumably to support the front line."
As his thoughts turned, his expression became one of undue worry, "It seems correct, the Mountain-cutting Army is preparing for a life-and-death battle with the demons. The list you, Young Hero Gongsun, revealed at the beginning was a released signal."
"And in my opinion, the current situation is not very optimistic. Many people in the city are collecting Spirit Grass Talismans and even arrays, preparing a way out. I advise you, Young Hero, to be prepared too!"
At this point, the shopkeeper deliberately lowered his voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, the originally scattered gaze of Gongsun Wuji, lying on the bed, turned into painted dots, landing on the shopkeeper Xiao, and smiled, a weak voice laced with sarcasm,
"Retreat! Where could we retreat to?"
"If Chuanzhong Pass falls, behind it is the Central Plains, with almost no Heavenly Barrier to defend. The Demon Army could sweep through unimpeded."
"Retreating is the same as losing. If we, people, are thinking about retreat before the battle, the outcome is predetermined without even fighting. We would be called cowards, losing the pride of being a martial artist of Shu here!"
Manager Xiao’s face became a bit unnatural upon hearing these words. If someone else had said this, he could have just walked away, muttering about ill treatment of goodwill, but since it was Young Hero Gongsun, he couldn’t find any fault.
He knew this person to be cold and direct, often offending people, but his character was unblemished. Outside the border, he’d almost gone mad killing demons, saving many lives from demons, and with his cultivation as a Heavenly Pass Taoist Soldier and identity as an inheritor of Dragon Mountain Sword Tomb, he’d earned quite a reputation at Chuanzhong Pass, greatly respected by many righteous martial artists.
Even Manager Xiao owed him a life debt. Every time this person returned wounded from outside the border, he mostly came to his place for treatment, so he somewhat understood this Young Hero Gongsun’s character, hence he didn’t argue, just looked a bit unnatural and sighed:
"Young hero Gongsun speaks truly, I just wanted to remind you. As the war is imminent, there are always people thinking about themselves, which is unavoidable. You’ve been to Huxia Pass, you know more than I do. I’m just worried when the time comes... really, what then, hence this talk!"
Gongsun Wuji, hearing this, recalled what he saw at Huxia Pass, his pale face darkened a bit, his lips moved, but in the end, he didn’t say anything.
Meanwhile, outside the house, the rumbling sound became even more grandiose, like the rolling of heavenly thunder, shocking and overwhelming, as if a storm was brewing.
The rumbling had already entered the city; he even heard the clattering of iron hooves accompanied by the clashing of armor, like the sound of waves.
Soon, the farm boy who had just run out came back running, face full of cold air, huffing and puffing, and called out in the room to the two people inside, his face full of excitement,
"So many troops have entered the city, so mighty!"
"It’s... the Ninth Mountain, the Ninth Mountain is here!"
The boy’s tone obviously rose a notch and was filled with excitement as he said the last sentence.
This name has become a symbol in the entire Shu, invincible, unconquerable, carrying the hopes of countless people, and more so, due to a reason for personal adoration.
The Ninth Mountain’s Colonel, back then, left a rich and colorful mark at Chuanzhong Pass!
The boy’s excited shouts echoed through the room. On the bed, Gongsun Wuji’s originally pale complexion quickly flushed upon hearing this name. He couldn’t help but straighten his body leaning against the bedhead, looked at the boy called "Xiao Zhi" earnestly asking:
"Did you see clearly?"
The boy nodded vigorously, "Mm, it’s the Mountain-cutting Banner of the Ninth Mountain!"
With that, Gongsun Wuji seemed to take a breath, his face restored some brightness, and he looked at shopkeeper Xiao,
"Now, I fear no one dares to retreat."
"The Ninth Mountain has killed no fewer demons."
Gongsun Wuji paused for a moment here, a look of reminiscence appearing in his eyes, his tone resolute,
"Is a person who can bring miracles!"
Very few people know that this nameless person had an acquaintance with the Ninth Mountain’s Colonel, who was the terror of Shu!
A little more than a year ago, he met Chen Yuan on a legendary treasure ship. Trapped on the ship himself, the other rescued the people of Qingshan County and a few of them from the ship. At that time, the other party was only the Mountain Patrol Military Officer of Qingshan County, resisting the Demon Cult.
A short time later, when they met again, Chen Yuan had already been appointed Ninth Mountain’s Colonel, annihilating the Demon Cult rampant in White Emperor City and was commanded to quell the Tianxiong Pass rebellion. On the way, he once again rescued him, who was practicing in the deep mountains and was being pursued.