My Cultivation Starting from Archery

"Assemble quickly!"

"What are you dawdling for!"

"Military orders are as mountainous, do you no longer value your lives!"

Under the Order Officer's urging, within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, all three hundred garrison soldiers had gathered.

Chen Sansi was naturally among them.

Leading the group were Householder Xiong and Households Commander Liu, with no sign of Xiang Tingchun.

"Depart!"

At the command, the entire army struck out.

"This is really sudden."

For Chen Sansi, it was his first time executing a real face-to-face mission with the enemy. "Where is Hundred Households Wang?"

"He's not here."

Households Commander Liu came over and said, "This morning, under the pretense of hosting a banquet, Lord Thousand Households gathered all the masters of the Four Great Martial Arts Schools at the Eight Treasures Restaurant, then sent Hundred Households Wang and Hundred Households Luo to accompany them with two hundred men. They haven't returned yet."

A banquet?

This was likely holding the Martial Arts Halls under house arrest to prevent them from interfering with this operation.

It seems that today they truly found the hiding place of the Witch God Sect, and Xiang Tingchun was bound to obtain the Immortal Treasure.

"It seems there's no time to enhance my strength."

"I'll have to adapt as things come!"

Still, as always, Chen Sansi wouldn't take too great a risk for a treasure.

Xiang Tingchun was personally involved, and it had reached the level of fighting suited for Refining Organ Martial Artists; he couldn't get involved even if he wanted to.

He would act on opportunity.

If there really was a chance, he would give it a try; if not, he would let it be.

"Lord Thousand Households captures people just to capture them, but why keep the Martial Arts Halls under arrest? Is it related to them letting blood?"

Households Commander Liu and Householder Xiong also felt something was off.

But the specific reason, if the higher-ups didn't say, they wouldn't ask.

Some things are not better off known.

"Sansi."

Households Commander Liu patted his shoulder, "When we arrive at the location later, you don't need to rush forward. Just lead your men to block off the rear."

"Fatty Wang really treats you well."

Householder Xiong, carrying a battle-ax, added, "For this matter, he even remarkably agreed to invite us to Spring Pavilion."

"Thank you, both Householders Commanders."

Chen Sansi stepped back to find his men.

"Haha!"

Zhu Tong seemed somewhat excited.

He had broken through in Blood Refining a few days ago and was fretting about having no place to use his martial skills, "Let me kill some barbarians!"

Xu Wencai was visibly trembling, clutching a spear more like a crutch in his grasp, he stammered, "Sir, I heard that the followers of the Witch God Sect kill without blinking; I really don't know any martial arts!"

"Useless, you better run then."

Zhu Tong, as always, kept cursing him, "You coward!"

"I, Xu Wen, am not afraid to die!"

Xu Wencai clung to his spear and declared loudly, "I'm just afraid of dying... unnoticed!"

"Tch!" Zhu Tong couldn't be bothered to engage.

Military soldier Wang Li was relatively calm, "Flag officer, sir, what should we do later?"

"Follow the Commands of the Householders Commanders."

Chen Sansi looked at his men, "Don't be frightened, it's just a siege. The real experts will be handled by Households Commander Xiang, we'll most likely just be blocking off the road. Besides, since the day we enlisted, we knew this day would come."

"Sir's right."

Wang Li agreed, "Rather than being at a total loss when we really go into battle someday, better to take this chance for a trial."

The group joined the ranks.

The three hundred men marched mightily towards the direction of Po Yang County.

But their destination was not the county town.

Five miles outside the South City Gate of Po Yang County, there was a temple known as the Golden Bell Temple, where followers of the Witch God Sect had been hiding until yesterday when one of the local military soldiers, who had gone to offer prayers, spotted something suspicious and reported it to the commander.

...

Outside the South City Gate, there was a small hill.

At the foot of the hill, a two-story high bluestone stele was erected, carved with the words "Golden Bell Temple."

Beside the stele, a winding staircase led up step by step, where lines of devout pilgrims queued up to reach the vermilion temple situated at the mid-slope; although there were many people, the place was exceptionally quiet. Only the buildings veiled by ancient pines occasionally let out the sound of the bell and wafts of faint incense smoke.

Outside the temple, there was a teahouse where pilgrims could rest.

Xiang Tingchun, dressed in casual clothes, sat on a long bench, sipping his tea calmly.

By his side, sat two similarly dressed military soldiers.

One was surnamed Feng and the other Zhao.

Households Commander Feng whispered with his head down, "My lord, the garrison should arrive within the time of half an incense stick, encircling the Golden Bell Temple, but... should we not evacuate the civilians?"

"Evacuate?"

Xiang Tingchun, expressionless, toyed with his tea cup, "If we evacuate them, wouldn't that be the same as signaling the Witch God Sect followers?"

"But..."

Households Commander Feng said with a distressed expression, "There are about twenty people from the Witch God Sect, and it's bound to cause a big commotion. If we don't evacuate, I'm afraid many innocent bystanders will be injured."

Xiang Tingchun's voice was icy, "What does it matter if a few peasants die?"

"Lord Thousand Households... you..."

Feng and Zhao, the two Households Commanders, were at a loss for what to say.

"To accomplish something, there's always a price to pay, isn't that right?"

Xiang Tingchun gently placed down his tea cup, speaking in a deep tone, "For one to succeed, thousands must perish; that is always the way of the world."

"But they are civilians." Households Commander Feng mustered his courage, "I think we should still..."

"Enough."

Xiang Tingchun interrupted, "Feng Yong, Zhao Kang, listen to my orders!

"You two, lead a team of elite soldiers and infiltrate the temple disguised as pilgrims with me, and make sure that Liu Jinkui and Xiong Qiuan block every path down the hill. Let one escape, and you'll answer to me!"

"Yes!"

Feng and Zhao dared not say more, quickly leaving to convey the orders.

...

After three hundred garrison soldiers left the city, under the command of various military officers, they dispersed and surrounded the small hill where Golden Bell Temple was located from all sides, the whole process being swift and silent.

Chen Sansi and Fang Zongqi, along with fifty men, were positioned at a pathway down the hill's flank, lying in ambush within the dense foliage on both sides, tasked with trapping anyone trying to escape.

Fang Zongqi issued orders at just the right volume so everyone could hear clearly:

"Spear soldiers are responsible for blocking the path, archers find a spot with a clear view, shield and blade soldiers protect the spearmen, and be ready to kill anyone who gets close!

"For each Witch God Sect follower's head, military soldiers are rewarded with a bowl of Blood Replenishing Soup, and Array Soldiers with three ounces of silver. Higher ranks are rewarded separately!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"When someone fires a whistle arrow from the mountain, it means the battle has started!

"Lord Thousand Households' order, no one is to be spared alive!"

After these orders, nearly fifty people took their positions.

"Sir... sir!"

Xu Wencai's red hat was askew on his head, and he could hardly hold his spear steadily: "I really don't know martial arts!"

"Mr. Zhu."

Chen Sansi began, "Keep an eye on him when the fight really starts."

"Brother Chen, just indulge this old guy!"

Zhu Tong was holding a long spear, with a Black Iron Hammer strapped to his back, complementing the cultivation technique he practiced, though he also held a standard issue long spear.

Before becoming a military officer, martial soldiers likewise needed to integrate into military formations on the battlefield, without disrupting the formation, only military officers had the freedom to command and move as needed.

"Get over here!"

Zhu Tong, as if plucking a chicken, pulled Xu Wencai over to his side.

The crowd fell silent, the atmosphere in the woods laden with tension.

Many among them had never truly fought with real swords and spears, so how could they not be anxious? Thankfully, there were enough of them that it wasn't too frightening.

"Chiu—"

It was unclear how much time had passed when a sharp cry rang out, breaking the eerie silence.