Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zhang Dongyun nodded in satisfaction.
In this current situation, the first person-in-charge of the Heavenly Punishment Hall was, of course, still his sockpuppet, Mister Black Cloud.
As with state affairs, he would only be overseeing the overall situation.
He would leave the actual work to his men.
He also had a suitable candidate for the leader.
However, this candidate was slightly special.
The burly man appeared in front of Zhang Dongyun, who had transformed into the appearance of the old man in black once again.
“Greetings, Senior.” Wen Hu bowed to the old man in black.
Mister Black Cloud, who was wearing black, sat behind the table and examined the burly man in front of him. His tone was calm as he said, “Your life, like everyone else’s, belongs to His Majesty.”
“I understand.” Wen Hu looked solemn. “Without the protection of Chang’an, I’m afraid those commoners and I would have been killed by the Tang Dynasty army.”
He bowed to Zhang Dongyun. “I will not forget the great kindness of the Fortress Lord and Senior. I will do my best to repay it.”
Right now, he no longer doubted whether the Demon Dao experts here would take everyone’s blood to refine their souls and cultivate their demonic cultivation.
But unlike the others, his mind was not entirely on Chang’an.
In this regard, he differed from the people of the Cold Mountain Sect and the vagrants.
He had nothing to do with the vagrants and the Tang Dynasty army in the first place.
It was only because of the injustice he saw and his intolerance that he had gotten involved.
He was a disciple, and he felt a sense of belonging to his master.
But he had planned to sacrifice his life for righteousness and was saved by Chang’an.
Wen Hu also took this kindness to heart.
“Senior, please allow me some time to return to my hometown and report the matter to my master before returning to Chang’an to serve.”
Zhang Dongyun did not ask him who his master was. He just looked at him with interest and did not speak.
Wen Hu thought that Zhang Dongyun doubted his words, so he said firmly, “A man is born in the world with an indomitable spirit. We keep our promise and do not have regrets. Please believe me, Senior.”
Zhang Dongyun said faintly, “I believe you will return as promised.”
Wen Hu nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Senior.”
“But…” Zhang Dongyun sounded unflustered. “If your master becomes enemies with Chang’an one day, what will you do?”
Wen Hu frowned.
He looked at Zhang Dongyun.
Zhang Dongyun’s gaze was as calm as a still lake.
However, the invisible pressure almost suffocated the burly man opposite him.
Wen Hu fell silent for a long time.
Zhang Dongyun did not urge him and just calmly leaned back in his chair.
“My master is highly principled. Chang’an Fortress has saved people, and both sides will not clash. If there is really such a day…”
After a long while, Wen Hu finally spoke again, his voice lower than ever.
“It’s hard to have both grace and righteousness. If that day really comes, I’m afraid I can only kill myself to thank my master and Chang’an.”
Upon hearing that, Zhang Dongyun said as calmly as before, “What a foolish solution…”
He smiled faintly as he looked at Wen Hu. “But it’s acceptable.”
A small bundle then appeared in Zhang Dongyun’s hands.
He took out a letter and tossed it to Wen Hu.
Confused at first, Wen Hu took the letter, opened it, and looked at it for a few moments before his expression changed slightly.
The letter was a secret report from the Mingguang Guards.
It mentioned that the leader of the civil unrest in Longbei County was not a local of Longbei. He had an accent from Yuqiu Prefecture in Shangnan County.
It ordered the upper echelons of the Mingguang Guards to arrange for people to go to Yuqiu Prefecture in Shangnan County to investigate his background and identity.
Along with the letter was a simple portrait of him, Wen Hu.
Although the portrait only partly resembled him, some words on it described part of Wen Hu’s physical features.
“The Secret Cabinet lives up to its name…” Wen Hu let out a long, turbid breath after reading the letter.
Even though he had tried his best to hide his master’s tutelage and his background, some traces of it were still discovered.
Given the means of the Secret Cabinet, if it continued to dig deeper, it might find out the details of his background.
He did not want to implicate his master, but the situation would be beyond his control when the time came.
“Senior, this letter is…” Wen Hu looked up at Zhang Dongyun.
Zhang Dongyun said indifferently, “Since it’s here, the Secret Cabinet doesn’t have it.”
Wen Hu let out a sigh of relief and solemnly bowed to Zhang Dongyun. “It’s all thanks to Senior for intercepting this letter. It has helped me… and also my master.”
Without needing the old man in black to speak further, Wen Hu’s thoughts were clear.
He said in a deep voice, “Senior has vast powers, and I was impetuous earlier. Please do not mind.”
Zhang Dongyun nodded. “A boy worth teaching. Do your tasks well next.”
In the Heavenly Punishment Hall, apart from Wen Hu, Zhang Dongyun inspected one person after another and chose a few candidates among the vagrants to build the initial framework.
He did not choose anyone from the Cold Mountain Sect.
As everything gradually fell into place, the first group of residents in Chang’an Fortress began to split up.
Some of the people, especially the farmers, left the fortress.
They were able to get a piece of land outside the fortress.
After the initial emergency and filling their stomachs, the people began to fend for themselves.
Land and crops were definitely the basics.
Although it was difficult for the displaced people to leave their homeland, it was best that they had their own land and led a prosperous life with good weather conditions.
In addition to the farmers, some people in Chang’an, who had left their homeland, settled on the fields.
Some were craftsmen relying on their skills, some were scholars forced to leave their homes, and some were good-for-nothing who had been idle for a long time.
Most of them tried to return to their old professions, bringing signs of inhabitation and adding worldly aura to Chang’an Fortress.
The entire fortress was gradually getting on the right track.
That was if you ignored the fact that this fortress was located deep in a mountain range.
At this moment, a group of people came through the mountains and forests and arrived before the fortress. They looked at the fertile lands and the majestic fortress from afar, feeling a bit dazed.
A middle-aged man, who was the leader of the group, stroked his long beard and asked the people beside him, “Fourteenth Brother, is this the Chang’an Fortress you were talking about?”
The man next to him nodded. “This is exactly the place, but not so many people were here before. It seems like the rumors are true. Longbei County’s vagrants are staying here.”
The long-bearded middle-aged man nodded and looked at the word ‘Chang’an’. “I hope this will also become a place where our Chen clan can regain its footing.”