Chapter 107: The Aerial Prohibition Array, Peril at the City Gate

Han Chong’s brow furrowed slightly.

“The seven nations’ martial competition ended in our defeat, and General Ma was severely wounded. Why is General Diao able to laugh? Does he not realize that the seven nations are watching like tigers eyeing their prey, ready to join forces and invade our dynasty at any moment?”

“Hmm? Captain Han, you are merely a disgraced official; is that any way to speak to your superior? Insulting a superior is a crime in itself!”

Han Chong wanted to argue further, but Captain Ning and the others hurriedly pulled him back and retreated to the side.

That evening, the other captains persistently urged Han Chong to join them at the Tongchi Restaurant. The establishment had recently been transferred to a couple of chefs with excellent skills; in just over ten days, it had become bustling and prosperous, with a constant stream of diners.

As Han Chong returned to the sixth floor, he felt a wave of melancholy. However, seeing the streets brightly lit, filled with crowds of people, and the common folk living in peace and contentment, he felt a sense of relief.

“General Han, you have worked tirelessly for the people of Qiongzhou and risked your life time and again. Who would have thought that the General Command would listen to slander and be so unable to distinguish right from wrong!” a rugged captain who had followed Han Chong from Yuanzhou said indignantly, downing a cup of strong liquor with a growl.

“Indeed, General Han! We are willing to follow you to the capital. Even if we are stripped of our ranks, we must argue this case with the officials at the General Command!” The other captains were filled with righteous indignation, cupping their hands in a plea to join him.

“That must not happen. Qiongzhou has only just been pacified, the Dragon-Fish Demon Commander’s whereabouts are unknown, and the new General Diao has yet to secure his footing. If the sea demons were to return, the people of Qiongzhou would once again be plunged into misery. I was originally just a county bailiff, and now I am merely a demoted official traveling to the capital to report for duty. What is one person’s honor or disgrace compared to the life and death of millions? Once I am gone, you must all remain diligent and cautious!” Han Chong raised his bowl to toast them, offering earnest words of comfort.

“Then, General Han, if you are posted elsewhere in the future, do not forget to write to us. When that time comes, we will certainly submit a request for transfer to find you!”

“Haha, rest assured. I am loath to part with you all as well. If there is a chance, I will certainly send word.”

Early the next morning, Han Chong set off on horseback under the farewells of the captains. Only Ming Zhen, who held no official rank, accompanied him. Upon reaching the outskirts of Qiongzhou City, Han Chong released his horse and took to the air on his sword, carrying Ming Zhen directly toward the capital. He intended to arrive early, scout the situation, and prepare himself so that he might remain in an invincible position.

The capital of the Da Feng Dynasty, referred to as Fengdu, was built upon a plateau rising from the center of a vast plain. The sprawling, fertile plains stretched for thousands of miles, forming the heartland of the Da Feng Dynasty and home to tens of millions of people. Fengdu sat in the center, and its elevated position made it easy to defend and difficult to attack, a natural choice for the capital.

Legend had it that beneath this plateau lay a massive mountain, carved out by a sword immortal. The plateau was warm in winter and cool in summer, and strange lights could often be seen flickering above the city—a truly miraculous sight. Eight main highways radiated from Fengdu toward the various provinces in an octagonal pattern. Since the excavation of the Dragon Canal, water and land transportation had become incredibly convenient, allowing government decrees and commerce to flow without obstruction.

Looking down from mid-air, Han Chong and Ming Zhen were stirred by the sight—what a magnificent, peerless city! It spanned over a thousand miles from north to south, nearly the size of an entire province. From above, the city was divided into four distinct, orderly sections. The innermost was the resplendent Da Feng Imperial Palace, surrounded by the grand and meticulously planned Imperial City. The outermost ring was the bustling outer market, while the middle ring was filled with the grand estates of high-ranking families.

Just as Han Chong approached to within fifty miles of Fengdu, a golden arc of light suddenly appeared a hundred zhang above the city, accompanied by the faint, rumbling sound of a dragon’s roar. Han Chong’s heart tightened; he felt his very essence being suppressed by the dragon’s might, causing him a sense of restless unease.

*An anti-air formation?*

Han Chong slowly descended, and only then did the high altitude return to calm. He did not know that this moment had already startled more than a dozen top-tier experts within the Imperial City, who looked toward the sky, trying to discern why the anti-air formation had suddenly issued a warning.

Han Chong had long since concealed his figure to avoid attracting attention. In truth, flight was the exclusive domain of Heaven-Extreme martial artists or the great masters of the Spirit-Refining and Void-Returning realm. Han Chong was only able to perform such a feat thanks to his Qingming Spirit Sword and the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique—he was an anomaly. Nevertheless, he could faintly sense the hidden talents concealed within Fengdu.

Han Chong and Ming Zhen reached the East Gate and ascended the plaza, which stood nearly thirty zhang above the ground, via a highway that resembled a ladder against the plateau’s side. The citizens entering the city formed a dozen long lines, moving in turn through the arches beside the main gate. Among the dozen arches, one was a government thoroughfare forbidden to commoners, through which those in official robes passed quickly and unimpeded.

Since Han Chong had been demoted, he could not wear his copper armor, and his captain’s purple robes were worn and tattered, so he did not wear his official uniform. He and Ming Zhen simply joined the queues to enter.

After a full hour, they finally reached a point thirty zhang from the gate. There, Han Chong saw two men in blue robes hiding to the side of the government archway, occasionally glancing down at a portrait to compare it with the passing officials.

Han Chong muttered to himself. *Could it be that even officials must be screened upon entering the city?* His curiosity was piqued. The Vice Pavilion Leader, Long Yao, had arrived in the capital more than ten days ago; he should have entered long ago. Could there be other high-ranking criminals being sought?

Pulling Ming Zhen into a corner, Han Chong transformed his appearance to that of a regional inspector and strode boldly toward the government passage. As the two men in blue robes were peeking at the portrait, Han Chong suddenly rushed forward, snatched the image from their hands, and cursed, “Which office do you two belong to? How dare you be so rude as to spy on this official!”

He looked at the portrait and saw that it was his own likeness. His heart sank, but his expression remained calm.

“Audacious! We are family retainers of the Sixth Prince’s mansion. At the feet of the Emperor, how dare you be so insolent? Watch your official cap!” The two men were shocked and angry, and they hurriedly snatched back the portrait to rebuke him.

“What? You two are from the Sixth Prince’s mansion? This official is new to the city and has offended you. Here is some gold and silver; please, take it as a gesture of goodwill.” Han Chong produced two large gold ingots and handed them over, which turned their anger into smiles.

“Hmph, you old fellow are quite eccentric. Do not be so reckless next time. Is the capital a place for an out-of-town official to run wild? A single sneeze from the wrong person here could cost you your post and have your family property confiscated. Get out of here.”

“Yes, yes, this official will not dare again.”

After offering a few sycophantic smiles and entering the city gate, Han Chong’s expression darkened slightly. He had infused those two gold ingots with a concentrated burst of his essence; they appeared to be gold, but they were actually two time bombs.

However, he had believed his handling of the major Qiongzhou case to be flawless; it should have been impossible to link him to the collapse of the Qiongzhou Chamber of Commerce or the theft of the account books. Why, then, would the Sixth Prince set an ambush at the city gate to look for him? How did he obtain his portrait?

No wonder the General Command had suddenly acted so out of character by dismissing and demoting him. Could it be that the Demon-Slaying Division, despite being directly under the Emperor and outside the jurisdiction of the Three Departments and Six Ministries, was actually under the control of a prince?

If that were the case, this summons from the General Command was, in all likelihood, a trap.

“Brother Han, what is the matter?” Seeing the shifting expressions on his face, Ming Zhen asked curiously.

“It is nothing. I wonder how Brother Ouyang is doing now. Shall we go to the Imperial Observatory to find him?”

“That would be excellent. Benefactor Ouyang is also a dragon among men; I wonder if his cultivation has advanced!”