Gate of God

"Seal the mountain!"

The same voice reverberated throughout multiple villages.

More than a hundred families assembled in the main square of the Northern Mountain Village, led by Village Elder Zhang Yangping. There were over a hundred armored soldiers standing in front.

Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian were amongst the crowd. Every villager was lost and helpless.

"Commander sir, you can’t seal the mountain. What are we going to eat if you seal the mountain?" Zhang Yangping pleaded with the commander.

"You’re the village elder of the Northern Mountain Village?" The commander looked at Zhang Yangping.

"Yes sir, I am the village elder. Commander sir, all of us villagers hunt for a living. If you seal the mountain, we will be unable to hunt. Over a hundred families will lose their livelihood."

"I hear that you all have a Hall of Dao in the village?" The Commander ignored the pleas and posed a question of his own.

"Yes, yes. That Hall of Dao was moved from the Southern Mountain Village. Back then, a lady from the Divine Constabulary had ordered it. If commander sir does not believe me, you can confirm it with the sensei in the Hall of Dao." Zhang Yangping felt a tinge of hope.

"Mm, the road from here to Huai An County has been sealed. If you all need to go there for any emergency, you had better go by a mountain road. However, there are many beasts along those roads, so go in a group. Take this token with you. When the soldiers on the mountain see it, they will let you pass." The commander took out a black metal token and placed it in Zhang Yangping’s hand.

"Commander sir, then... are you still going to seal the mountain?" Zhang Yangping asked hopefully.

"Sealing the mountain is a military order!"

"About that... sealing the mountain... but... commander, commander sir... someone from our village entered in the examinations this year. He passed the provincial exams, and..."

"I know about that. Li Xiantai from Huai An County has already told me about it. If not for that reason, it won’t be so easy for you all to make your way to Huai An County!" The commander waved his hand in exasperation, interrupting Zhang Yangping.

"Commander..."

"Okay, enough. I have been rushing through the night for a few days now. All of my soldiers are tired. Is there a place for us to stay?"

"It is already prepared."

"Good. My soldiers and I will be setting up camp up here in the north. Even though we will be a slight inconvenience, we have already accorded you many privileges. Other villages are not given such good treatment. As such, do prepare better alcohol and food for us. Do you understand?" The commander requested.

"Yes, yes, commander sir, please rest assured!" Zhang Yangping wanted to add something, but he swallowed it. He had to swallow his pride for the safety of the hundred families he led.

After all, this was a military order. It was undefiable.

Even though the villagers knew that Fang Zhengzhi had already passed the provincial examinations, they did not know if he had passed the imperial examinations. They did not want Fang Zhengzhi to make enemies with the military because of this.

This was the only way he could protect Fang Zhengzhi as an elder. He would inconvenience himself to ensure that his descendants had a smooth sailing future.

"Oh please, he just passed the provincial exams. The results of the imperial examinations are not out yet. Will a hillbilly dare to go up against military orders?" The commander replied derisively upon seeing Zhang Yangping’s expression. Then, he turned to his soldiers, "Eat and drink your fill tonight! Tomorrow, I want all of you energized! This is a big expedition, anyone who messes it up will be killed without hesitation!"

"Yes sir!" The soldiers replied in unison.

The commander nodded in satisfaction. Then, he frowned as he looked at the worn down Northern Mountain Village, "Li Xiantai told me that kid is named Fang something? I missed it out because I was in a hurry. Forget it, this kind of village will never produce anyone of importance. The imperial examinations are not so easy to pass. Furthermore, I am now acting on military orders, even the River of Trust Province Governor will have to be subordinate to those!"

Zhang Yangping frowned as he saw the commander walk away. He did not say anything else, sighing as he looked to the sky.

Fang Houde walked up beside him upon seeing his reaction.

"Brother Yang Ping, what’s going on?"

"The sealing of the mountain is a military order. We can’t change that. If not for the fact that Li Xiantai had helped speak up on our behalf, we may not even be able to leave our village." Zhang Yangping lamented in exasperation.

"If it’s a military order, there’s nothing that we can do about it. There’s nothing to worry about Brother Yang Ping. There must be some trouble in the mountains that will be resolved shortly. When Zhengzhi left, he left behind some silver cheques. I’ll get Xuelian to bring it over later. It should be able to tide us through." Fang Houde comforted.

"Aish... all I can hope for is a hasty resolution to this." Zhang Yangping sighed again.

...

In the river that linked the capital to Huai An County.

A boat was sailing quickly through the river when an eagle like bird of prey swooped down from high above and landed on a pole at the bow of the boat.

A lady dressed in green rushed out and retrieved a bamboo container from the claw of the bird. She took out the letter from inside it, read it, then rushed to the entrance of the cabin.

"My lord, there is news from the capital!"

"Carry on." A faint voice could be heard from inside the cabin.

"The Vice Doman Chief has died in the Combat Examinations. He was killed by Fang Zhengzhi, and..."

"Keep going."

"And... Fang Zhengzhi is in possession of the Sagely Battle God Meng Tian’s sword. Furthermore, he is now the sword envoy, a rank four official."

"Okay, I got it, how long more to Huai An County?"

"It would take at least another 17 days."

"Do it in 15."

"Your wish is my command!"

The lady in green disappeared from the entrance.

Inside the cabin, Yun Qingwu wore a plain white dress. Her face was covered by a veil as she held a pen in her hand.

There was a maroon desk and a stack of papers in front of her. There were countless dots and lines on each piece of paper, making it incredibly complicated.

Yun Qingwu frowned, then began to write. She had to consider each and every stroke, making it look extremely tedious.

After some time, she had only made five strokes.

She raised her head to look at the sky outside. She slowly put down the pen in her hand as her eyes glimmered, "To think that he still passed despite the sacrifice of a Vice Domain Chief? A rank four sword envoy... according to the traditions of the Great Xia Dynasty, he should be on his way back to his village? If this is Heaven’s will, how do you think you will escape my plan?"

...

Inside the capital, Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu said their goodbyes at the door.

According to the traditions of the Great Xia Dynasty, he should be going back to his village to visit his relatives and celebrate his promotion with his parents.

Fang Zhengzhi was not one who valued traditions, but it was still months from the combat examinations retest and the Court Examinations. Furthermore, his birthday was coming.

It was his sixteenth birthday, the mark of maturity.

As such, he had to celebrate his birthday back in his village. After a few months from home, he was beginning to feel homesick.

Furthermore, Yan Xiu had gotten a letter from Western Liang, asking him to make a trip back. Staying in the capital alone would be incredibly boring.

He decided to make a trip back to the village and take in the sights. He would bring the Traceless Sword on a tour!

To stay in one city your whole life...

Was so boring.

The world was huge! One should go see it!

"When we meet in the Court Examinations, I will definitely defeat you!" Yan Xiu waved his Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan as he told Fang Zhengzhi confidently.

"Haha... don’t be so cocky, I am quite powerful now!" Fang Zhengzhi chuckled and shook his head in disbelief.