Crafting an Immortal Race with Daily Hexagrams

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: The Martyr

Early the next morning, the two got up early.

Shen Wenxing changed into a casual outfit and spent nearly a hundred silver taels with Zhang Bin on the streets of the Royal City, purchasing some high-end gifts before heading to the Military Department.

Upon arriving at the Military Department, Zhang Bin cupped his hands and spoke: ”Zhang Bin, Left General of the Yunzhong Border Army, requests an audience with Advisor Wang. Please help to convey this.”

Upon hearing this, the soldier in the Military Department said, ”Wait here,” and then turned around and left.

After a long while—

”The Advisor will be here shortly, General, please wait in the side room.”

They were led to the side room where a servant from the department served tea.

Footsteps could be heard from outside.

Before the person arrived, a hearty laugh was heard coming in.

”Old Zhang, what brings you here?”

Hearing the voice, Zhang Bin quickly put down the teacup he was holding and got up to greet him.

Shen Wenxing followed closely behind.

”Zhang Bin, Left General of the Yunzhong Border Army, greets Advisor Wang.”

”To hell with you!”

”Mocking me, are you?”

As soon as Zhang Bin finished speaking, a huge fist landed directly on his shoulder, causing him to stagger.

”Haha...”

Zhang Bin laughed, covering his shoulder, and then opened his arms to give the visitor a hearty hug.

”Old Zhang, your face...”

After the brothers embraced, the burly man across frowned and looked at the left side of Zhang Bin’s face.

”Heh... just a minor injury!”

Zhang Bin smiled indifferently: ”In the battle at He County, I almost had my head busted open by a damned Barbarian Race martial artist.”

”Thanks to my bodyguard here.”

”Oh?” The burly man curiously looked at Shen Wenxing.

”Repressed Qi, a Postnatal Martial Artist?”

Zhang Bin chuckled and introduced: ”Kid, let me introduce you, this is Advisor Wang Chan of the Military Department.”

”Old Wang, this is Shen Wenxing, the bodyguard who saved my life, a Postnatal Peak Martial Artist.”

”Greetings to Advisor Wang.” Shen Wenxing quickly cupped his hands and saluted.

Wang Chan smiled and waved his hand, ”A hero at a young age, reaching the Postnatal Peak at such a tender age, your future accomplishments will surely surpass us old folks.”

”Old Zhang, you’ve found yourself a real treasure.”

The three sat down with laughter.

Zhang Bin immediately signaled to Shen Wenxing to bring out the gifts they had bought for this visit.

Wang Chan glanced at those items, his eyebrows furrowing.

”When did you learn this trick?”

”Take them back to where they came from, I don’t want them.”

Zhang Bin sighed with a smile after sipping tea, ”If it were usual times, I wouldn’t really be willing to buy you these things.”

”This time, I have a request.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Chan put down his teacup and asked seriously, ”What is it?”

He knew that with Zhang Bin bringing such valuable gifts, it was definitely no small matter.

”Do you remember Huang Yunxiao?” Zhang Bin began.

Wang Chan pondered for a moment and said, ”That reckless guy from Yunzhong County?”

”I remember he was reassigned to Anyang County as County Captain a few years ago, wasn’t he?”

Zhang Bin nodded and immediately explained the relationship between Huang Yunxiao and the Shen family.

”Now, the second son of the Shen family has been taken away by the Black Scale Guard of the Inspectorate because of the matter with Master Lu. I have come this time to ask Brother Wang for your help...”

Before he finished speaking, Wang Chan shook his head.

”Old Zhang, it’s not that I don’t want to help. Even if I, your humble brother, am just a small advisor in the Military Department, even the Director of the Military Department wouldn’t dare to interfere with the matters of the Inspectorate.”

”This, your humble brother cannot help with.”

After saying this, he looked at Shen Wenxing, ”If I am not mistaken, the one who was captured should be this young man’s brother, right?”

Shen Wenxing immediately cupped his hands, ”Indeed, it is my younger brother, Ah Nu.”

”Advisor Wang, I know it’s challenging to rescue someone from the hands of the Inspectorate, but I just want to ask you to help at least find out the reason for Ah Nu’s arrest, and if he’s still well now.”

Wang Chan nodded.

Simply gathering some information shouldn’t be that difficult as long as he’s not trying to rescue someone from the Inspectorate.

”Old Zhang, where are you staying now?”

”I’ll find someone to investigate later, and I’ll inform you as soon as I have news.”

Zhang Bin hesitated slightly for a moment and then said, ”We are currently staying at the South City Posthouse, and this time I must trouble you, brother.”

Wang Chan waved his hand, ”I can’t be of much help, there’s no need for thanks for such a small matter.”

”Let’s leave it at that for now, wait for my news.”

After sending the two away, Wang Chan frowned and pondered for a long time before finally calling in a soldier from the Military Department, whispering a few words into his ear.

The soldier cupped his hands in response and then left the Military Department.

Time quickly passed, and three days went by in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the two were anxiously waiting at the posthouse when Wang Chan came looking for them.

”How is the situation?”

After sitting down, Zhang Bin impatiently asked.

Wang Chan spoke with a heavy expression: ”It’s more serious than imagined. I received news that Your Majesty has ordered a court trial against Lu Zhiyuan to be held in three days, in front of the Confucius Temple Sages.”

”You should know the nature of those old things.”

”Full of righteous and moral talk, yet their words are sharper than a knife that kills.”

”Back then, Master Lu wanted to innovate in education, inciting them to criticize him bitterly, wishing they could eat his flesh alive.”

”In this upcoming trial, with them present, Master Lu is doomed.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing’s face suddenly became tense.

He didn’t expect the matter to be so severe.

”Young man, you needn’t worry too much.”

”Master Lu is bound to die, but your brother is merely his student. When the time comes, just put all the blame on Master Lu and publicly sever ties with him, he shouldn’t get implicated.”

”If you wish, I can smooth things over and arrange a meeting for you brothers, so you can persuade him well.”

Shen Wenxing was overjoyed upon hearing this, and quickly stood up to express his gratitude: ”Thank you, Advisor Wang!”

Wang Chan waved his hand.

”Shi Tou, please leave for a while, I have some matters to discuss with Brother Wang.”

Seeing this, Zhang Bin ushered Shen Wenxing away.

Moments later, the two emerged from the room.

”Tomorrow at You hour, you will have a quarter of an hour. At that time, I will take you to the Inspectorate’s prison.”

”Old Zhang, farewell.”

After speaking, Wang Chan hurriedly left the posthouse.

”General, how much silver taels did this arrangement cost?”

Shen Wenxing spoke, knowing that Zhang Bin had likely asked about the cost of such arrangements after sending him out.

The doors of the Inspectorate open high, trying to get them to make allowances is definitely costly.

Zhang Bin slowly raised two fingers.

”Twenty taels?” Shen Wenxing asked tentatively.

Zhang Bin glanced at him: ”The monthly salary of a Black Scale Guard from the Inspectorate is twenty taels, do you think twenty taels would make them willing?”

”Then... two hundred taels!?”

He asked in disbelief.

Zhang Bin nodded: ”Two hundred taels might seem a lot, but it also requires personal connections.”

”Young man, after this calamity, you and your brother are indebted to Brother Wang.”

Shen Wenxing subtly nodded without speaking.

Two hundred taels, so be it. As long as it can save his brother, this money must be spent.

The following day at Shen hour, the two arrived at the Military Department again.

Wang Chan fetched a set of Imperial City Guard armor for Shen Wenxing to change into and directly took him to the Inspectorate’s prison.

After passing through several checks, Shen Wenxing finally saw his brother in the cell.

At that moment, Shen Wenyan had disheveled hair and his clothes were blood-stained, curled up in a corner of the cell.

With time pressing, Shen Wenxing could not afford to feel heartache and directly approached, calling out in a low voice.

”Ah Nu!”

The figure in the corner of the cell trembled slightly and slowly raised his head.

”Big brother!?”

Shen Wenyan, face full of disbelief, rushed over. When he realized it really was his big brother, he couldn’t help but choke: ”Big brother, why... why are you here?”

Shen Wenxing lovingly touched his emaciated face and said: ”Ah Nu, time is tight. The next words from me are crucial for your survival; remember them well!”

Shen Wenyan nodded.

Moments later—

”Big brother, Ah Nu... can’t do it.”

After struggling for a long time, Shen Wenyan laughed bitterly and said: ”A day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father.”

”In Ah Nu’s heart, Master is akin to father and mother, a scholar must have integrity, to live as such would be anguish for the rest of my life.”

”Shen Wenyan!” Hearing his brother’s obstinate words, Shen Wenxing urgently said: ”Master Lu wouldn’t want to see you die!”

”Think about father and mother, if something happens to you, what will they do!?”

”Father... Mother...”

A bitter smile emerged on Shen Wenyan’s face, looking in the direction of Anyang County.

”Big brother, Ah Nu is unfilial, father and mother will depend on you from now on.”

”Master Lu is to become a martyr; as a student, Ah Nu wishes to follow him.”

”You!” Shen Wenxing got angry and was about to say something when a Black Scale Guard from the Inspectorate rushed over: ”Time’s up, don’t delay any longer!”

Shen Wenxing helplessly followed the Black Scale Guard out of the cell.

”How was it?”

Outside the cell, Wang Chan asked, hands clasped.

Shen Wenxing forced a smile and nodded in thanks: ”Thanks to Advisor Wang, I have told him everything.”

Wang Chan nodded: ”That’s good, that’s good.”

”Wait and see, after the day after tomorrow’s court trial, it should be over.”

The two parted ways, leaving Shen Wenxing with a troubled face.

He knew that to save his brother’s life now, he could only rely on the Immortals Li Heshan and Zhongli Qing.

After some hesitation, he decided to head to Immortal Welcoming Garden based on memory.