Chapter 1338: The Young Lady

After a night of heated discussions.

The reputation of the teacher, Yi Feng, had become widely known. From seventy-year-old men to three-year-old children, everyone had heard that Mr. Yi was blessed with extraordinary fortune, protected by the heavens.

The saying that rumors spread like wildfire couldn't be more true.

As dawn broke.

Under the large locust tree at the entrance of Qinghe Town, a few elderly men chatting while taking a stroll began to exaggerate more and more.

"Old Liu, have you heard? The new teacher in our town is blessed by the heavens. When he goes hunting, he always returns with a catch, and he even picks up demon beasts along the way!"

"Not just that! I heard that Mr. Yi has such an extraordinary aura that demon beasts come to him on their own!"

"Haha, what do you know? Mr. Yi is actually the reincarnation of the Literary Star from the heavens. Forget about demon beasts, he can make anything he wishes come true!"

"Sss..."

"Scholars are truly terrifying!"

"Since Mr. Yi is so miraculous, why don't we go pay our respects to him someday?"

The elderly men sat under the tree, whispering among themselves, their stories becoming more and more fantastical, as if everything they said was something they had witnessed firsthand.

Just as they were getting carried away, the sound of hoofbeats echoed from a distance.

The old men turned their heads to look.

A long procession, led by over a hundred black-armored guards, approached with a formidable presence. In the middle of the procession was a sedan chair, clearly carrying someone of great importance.

What was even more astonishing was that the town mayor and the clan elder were personally waiting at the entrance to greet the procession. After exchanging a few words with the leading soldier, they respectfully turned and led the way, their attitudes extremely humble.

This scene instantly startled the elderly women, who quickly stood up and moved aside.

Within moments.

The entire neighborhood was stirred by the commotion. The once somewhat empty street was soon crowded with people on both sides, young and old alike. Some even rushed over while still putting on their clothes, their eyes filled with awe as they watched and discussed the scene.

"My goodness, who is this important person?"

"Whose child are you, speaking so rudely! Don't you recognize the Black Armored Army from Yecheng?"

"Black Armored Army?"

"Doggy, take a good look. These soldiers are from Yecheng. Our Qinghe Town is under Yecheng's jurisdiction. Every few years, important figures come to inspect us. We must not offend them!"

"I understand! But why would such important people come to our Qinghe Town? Are they here to provide us with food and clothing?"

"Most likely, they're here to recruit strong young men to join the Black Armored Army for an upcoming war!"

Listening to the explanations from the uncles and elders around him, a dark-skinned boy's face lit up with longing. As he watched the majestic procession ride by, his blood boiled with excitement!

"The Black Armored Army is so impressive! I want to join too!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, an old man beside him quickly covered the boy's mouth.

The boy was too young to understand that while joining the army might seem glorious now, it could very well lead to a tragic end in the future. A single careless word could bring disaster.

The elders shielded him behind them, their expressions turning grave.

As they watched the procession move away, their eyes reflected a complex mix of awe and apprehension.

The orderly procession marched down the street, finally stopping in front of a large estate.

The slightly plump town mayor bowed respectfully and addressed the sedan chair.

"Young Lady, please forgive us."

"Our Qinghe Town is quite poor. We can only offer you humble accommodations for your stay."

The clan elder also nodded in agreement, his expression steady.

After a few moments.

The bead curtain of the sedan chair was slowly lifted, revealing a beautiful young woman dressed in an elegant brocade gown. She stepped out gracefully, her red lips parting slightly as she spoke in a cold, commanding tone.

"No need for formalities."

"I am here solely to select recruits for the army. If you have no urgent matters, take me to see the living conditions of the people in Qinghe Town."

Her tone was indifferent, yet carried an undeniable authority.

The town mayor bowed even lower, quickly complying.

"At your command, Young Lady."

"This way, please."

With that, the town mayor stepped aside to make way.

Only after the young lady took a few graceful steps did he dare to follow closely behind, leading her down the main street of the town with a humble demeanor. Even though the estate had prepared everything for her arrival, she showed no interest, and he dared not show any hint of dissatisfaction.

After all.

This was the daughter of the city lord.

In a small place like this, she might as well be a princess. Such an important figure's personal visit demanded their utmost respect and flattery.

Even though Miss Chen did not command her soldiers to follow, only having a few personal guards around her, the town mayor and clan elder still felt immense pressure, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

As they walked down the street for several dozen steps, the town mayor obediently explained everything, answering any questions Miss Chen had without hesitation.

Although the roadside inns and teahouses were still open, the business owners, who were usually sharp-eyed, were so intimidated by the scene that they hid inside their shops, not daring to look out. The entire town seemed to grow quieter, with everyone behaving more cautiously.

Chen Yuxin, however, paid no mind to this.

As the young lady of Yecheng, she was accustomed to such looks of reverence. This kind of scene was nothing more than what she expected.

She walked steadily, surveying the street for a while.

It was just an ordinary small town, far less prosperous than Yecheng, and even somewhat impoverished. Even the facades of the inns and teahouses looked unimpressive.

Finally.

Chen Yuxin's eyes showed a hint of weariness as she glanced at the town mayor, who was smiling obsequiously.

"I assume you received my message before I arrived. I instructed you to prepare a list of one thousand able-bodied men. Is it done?"

Hearing this.

The town mayor's body stiffened, and his expression became somewhat troubled.

"Uh..."

"Reporting to the Young Lady, the list of one thousand men has been finalized. They are mostly the able-bodied men of Qinghe Town and should meet the requirements for military service."

His words were flawless, but his tone was uneasy and strained.

Qinghe Town was a poor, small town. The number of people who had lived there for generations was already small. Even with the population growing over the years, the total number of residents was barely over ten thousand.

To put it bluntly.

These one thousand able-bodied men represented almost the entire fighting force of Qinghe Town.

If all of them were to join the army, it would be like draining the lifeblood of the town. If demon beasts were to attack in the future, the town might barely hold its own against small skirmishes, but if a large-scale invasion occurred, the elderly, women, and children left behind would be unable to defend themselves.

Even if the war eventually ended and the soldiers returned to Qinghe Town, how many would survive the brutal battles between cities?

By then.

The foot of the mountain would be filled with new graves.

Aside from empty praises of glory, the town would be left with nothing but endless grief. The population would dwindle, and the town would never regain its former prosperity.

This wasn't a recruitment—it was a death sentence for the young men of Qinghe Town!

Thinking of this.

The town mayor's hands trembled as he bowed, his heart feeling as though it were being twisted by a knife. The words he wanted to say next stuck in his throat.

Chen Yuxin noticed his expression, and her cold eyes narrowed slightly.

"What is it?"

"Do you have some difficulty?"