Chapter 407: Where Righteousness Lies, Life and Death Follow

Zuan was utterly bewildered.

He quickly pulled out *Overbearing Sword Immortal* and flipped through it. But no matter how he looked, it seemed like nothing more than an ordinary romance novel. While some of the phrasing and sentence structure were peculiar, it wasn't anything significant.

As if sensing his confusion, Chu Chuyan explained, "For a long time, this ledger has been both a powerful safeguard for the Chu family and a potential source of its utter ruin. Countless factions have coveted it over the years, so I've constantly pondered how to ensure its security."

"But their methods are impossible to guard against; even if I hid the ledger in the most concealed place, it would surely be discovered. So, I had a sudden inspiration to create two ledgers—one real, one fake. I concealed the true ledger in code within *Overbearing Sword Immortal*, reasoning that no one would ever suspect a young girl's favorite romance novel to hold such vital information."

Zuan looked puzzled. "But if I recall correctly, Xue'er also used to enjoy reading that novel with you. Given she was sent by the Shi family, weren't you concerned she might discover your secret?"

Chu Chuyan smiled slyly. "Didn't you know there are many volumes in the *Overbearing Sword Immortal* series?"

Zuan paused, then noticed the words "Volume Nine" written in a corner of the book in his hand. "Damn, how can such an embarrassing series have so many volumes? This author is truly something else."

Chu Chuyan's face flushed slightly. "The book isn't as bad as you suggest; the heartbreaking romance between the main characters is quite touching."

Zuan: "..."

As he put the ledger away, he mused, "I always thought you were an innocent, naive girl, but now I see you're quite devious. You not only tricked me, but your own parents too?"

Given Qin Wanru's earlier distress and self-reproach, it was clear she genuinely hadn't known the ledger she lost was a fake.

Chu Chuyan looked a little embarrassed. "I didn't intentionally try to deceive you. It's mainly that I don't know how many spies from other factions are within our own household. If you had known and accidentally let something slip, it would have caused far more trouble. Rather than relying on your acting abilities, it was simply better to keep it a secret from you all from the start."

Zuan couldn't help but quip, "Most people only trick their fathers; you managed to trick your parents, your husband, and your sister all at once."

Chu Chuyan: "..."

"Well, the outcome is good in the end," Zuan chuckled. "Looks like we won't have to become outlaws after all."

Chu Chuyan smiled, pressing her lips together. "Everything on my end is arranged. If I'm not mistaken, the news should reach Mingyue City within the next two days."

Zuan breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. This way, I can lead the Red-robed Army and assert our dominance. Damn them! These guys come and go as they please—do they think the Chu family is some kind of public latrine?"

Chu Chuyan scoffed, "A public latrine? That's a dreadful way to put it."

...

After their conversation ended, Zuan headed directly to the Red-robed Army camp on the city's outskirts. Unlike his earlier anxious journey, he was now in an exceptionally good mood.

"Why are you so pigheaded? The Chu family is on the verge of ruin, and you still refuse to come to their rescue!"

"Apologies, but the Red-robed Army has an ironclad rule dating back to ancient times: unless the family head is present in person or holds the military tally, we absolutely cannot mobilize without authorization."

"But the family head and his wife have been arrested! How can they possibly come here?"

"Do you not even trust us? Could I, Young Master Chu San, possibly bring harm to the Chu family?"

...

As he approached the military camp, he heard a group of people arguing loudly in the distance. The most agitated one, round as a ball, could only be Chu Yucheng from the Third Household.

To his surprise, a young man stood beside him, whose physique, compared to Chu Yucheng's, was positively dashing.

"Chu Hongcai?" Zuan frowned slightly. Wasn't he supposed to be imprisoned?

Although all evidence indicated that Chu Hongcai had not participated in Chu Tiesheng's rebellion, they were father and son. With Chu Tiesheng dead, Chu Hongcai was bound to harbor some resentment.

Before them stood several officers in red armor, their expressions unyielding. No matter how much the two men argued, the officers remained unmoved.

"A'Zu?" Just then, Chu Yucheng spotted Zuan and quickly waved him over. "Come quickly and help us persuade them!"

"Zuan!" Hearing this, Chu Hongcai also noticed Zuan. As the saying goes, enemies meeting are filled with rage. He roared, "You dog, prepare to die!"

With that, his long sword flashed from its scabbard, and he thrust it directly at Zuan.

Zuan instantly employed his "Spirit Resonance Finger" to deflect the sword. Chu Hongcai felt a strange, immense force travel up the blade, causing him to nearly lose his grip on the long sword.

However, he reacted swiftly, using the rebound to immediately launch his next attack. His swordsmanship was naturally light and agile, and this sudden assault felt like a torrential storm.

"Alright, don't fight amongst yourselves!" Chu Yucheng's chubby body quickly interposed itself between the two.

Zuan frowned slightly, concerned about accidentally injuring Chu Yucheng, and held back his attack.

Chu Hongcai moved his sword aside and glared angrily. "Get out of the way, you fat oaf! I cannot coexist with my father's killer!"

Chu Yucheng cursed, "Are you an idiot? What level of cultivation were your father and Hong Zhong, and what level is he? How could he possibly have killed them? At that time, only Old Man Mi in the entire Chu family possessed that capability. You believed him just because he made some casual boast? Furthermore, what did you promise me when I rescued you? The Chu family is facing a moment of life and death right now; put your personal grudges aside!"

Zuan's brow twitched. This "fatty" looked like a pig, yet he was incredibly shrewd, even seeing through Zuan's own boasts.

Chu Hongcai also faltered. In truth, he knew this deep down, but the matter had been gnawing at him. He needed a target for revenge to maintain his will to live, which was why he subconsciously continued to delude himself into believing Zuan was his enemy.

Seeing him calm down, Chu Yucheng turned to Zuan. "A'Zu, you've arrived at the perfect moment. I want to take men to rescue the Master and Madam, but these fellows absolutely refuse to listen to me. Please help me persuade them."

He then turned back to the officers. "You must think we're from the Second and Third Households, which is why you won't listen. A'Zu is here now; he's the Eldest Young Lady's husband, from the main lineage. Surely you'll listen to him."

The officers still shook their heads. "Without seeing the military tally, no one's presence is of any use."

"Are you referring to this?" Zuan asked, pulling out a token.

Upon seeing it, the officers simultaneously dropped to one knee and saluted, chanting, "Where righteousness resides, we follow in life and death; heaven bears witness, and the Red Robes stand as proof!"

Chu Yucheng and Chu Hongcai, standing nearby, were utterly dumbfounded. They had just pleaded tirelessly, their throats hoarse from arguing, yet these men remained completely unmoved. Then Zuan simply arrived, and they immediately knelt down?

Could they not be so incredibly opportunistic?

Zuan stated in a deep voice, "Return to the city with me to save the Chu family."

He had initially planned to offer some words of encouragement, knowing they were about to confront the Imperial Army, which might cause anyone to hesitate. However, the officers needed no such motivation. They swiftly went to gather their soldiers, who were fully assembled in no time.

Seeing Zuan dumbfounded, Chu Yucheng's words clarified his confusion. "The Red-robed Army followed our Chu family ancestors loyally through countless campaigns. Subsequently, all new soldiers were recruited through father-to-son succession, and their wives were always maids from the Chu family. Thus, generation after generation, every member of the Red-robed Army is a born-and-bred retainer of the Chu family, their destiny irrevocably tied to ours."

His tone was filled with pride, clearly reflecting a deep sense of honor regarding this army of the Chu family.

"Of course, to prevent anyone in the clan from using this army to stir up trouble, an ironclad rule was also established: it can only be mobilized by the family head personally or with the military tally." Chu Yucheng looked at him enviously. "I never expected Uncle to pass the military tally to you. It seems you are truly deeply trusted."

Chu Hongcai, who was nearby, couldn't help but snort upon hearing this, clearly harboring considerable displeasure. "Let me be clear," he stated, "this time I'm not doing it for you, but for the Chu family, and to ensure my mother's safety, as she did not participate in the previous rebellion."

Zuan offered a faint smile. "Brother Chu, you are a true gentleman, whom I've always admired. If the Chu family manages to overcome this challenge, I'm certain the Master and Madam will grant your mother a pardon."

It was indeed strange: Chu Tiesheng was so insidious and despicable, yet his son, aside from being a bit of a lovesick fool when pursuing Qiu Honglei, was otherwise quite upright—truly two opposite extremes.

Hearing this, Chu Hongcai's expression softened considerably, and he murmured, "Thank you!"

He naturally understood Zuan's current standing within the family; with his promise, his mother's situation would clearly not be a major issue.

Immediately afterward, the three, leading three thousand Red-robed Army soldiers, marched grandly toward Mingyue City.

Upon reaching the city gate, they found it already tightly shut, with numerous soldiers standing ready on the city wall. However, upon seeing the scarlet-clad army, every soldier's mouth went dry, and fine beads of sweat appeared on their weapon-gripping hands.

They had long heard of the Red-robed Army's formidable reputation; if a true battle erupted, their local city-guarding troops would be no match.

A general at the city gate angrily rebuked, "You left your station without orders and came here without cause. Is your Chu family attempting a rebellion?"

Zuan recognized the man as County Commandant Pang Chun. He spurred his horse forward, held up the military tally, and declared, "Who said I didn't receive orders? I am acting on the command of Duke Mingyue, leading men back to defend the Chu family."

Pang Chun replied, "The Imperial Commissioner is currently investigating the Chu family. Isn't your return like this an act of open rebellion?"

Zuan replied coldly, "It's simply that various petty opportunists have been targeting the Chu family recently. We are concerned the Imperial Commissioner might be misled, so we intend to go and reason with them. The Chu family is now at a critical juncture. If you, County Commandant, insist on blocking my path, then do not blame me for disregarding our past acquaintance."

The moment his words ended, the Red-robed Army let out a collective roar, unsheathing their long blades, drawing their bows, and nocking arrows, ready to attack at any moment.

Zuan had never quite understood the purpose of an army in this cultivation world, where individual martial power was so immense.

But in that instant, he understood. Although the individual cultivation of these Red-robed Army soldiers wasn't particularly high, a faint blue light shimmered around them with every movement. This was the effect of a magical array, seemingly capable of pooling all their collective power.

In that very moment, he clearly felt that the oppressive force emanating from this army far surpassed the feeling he had experienced when confronting Liu Yao!

The soldiers on the city wall fared even worse; the overwhelming pressure made their faces pale and their limbs cold. They all looked desperately at Pang Chun, silently urging him to make a decision.

Pang Chun, too, looked tense. He knew full well that his local garrison, long unaccustomed to battle, could never hold back the elite Red-robed Army. Yet, bound by duty, how could he possibly allow them to enter the city?

It seemed his only option was to die for his country.

Just then, a carriage slowly approached from the city's outskirts. Noticing the commotion, it came to a halt near the city gate.

The carriage curtain lifted, and an elegant woman in a simple dress slowly emerged. "Lord Pang," she called out, "why is the gate closed in broad daylight? Open it quickly; I need to enter."

Pang Chun looked utterly perplexed. "Eldest Young Lady," he said, "can you not see the gravity of the current situation?"

The newcomer was none other than Xie Daoyun, the City Lord's daughter. Only then did she turn around, feigning surprise. "Oh, so Young Master Zu is here too?"

On the city wall, Pang Chun's face twitched. *Eldest Young Lady, your acting is just a bit too unconvincing.*