Chapter 54: The Future Imperial Army Marshal (1/2)
“Wang Chong, it’s exactly as you said. The Imperial Army really came!”
These were the first words which Wei Hao said upon hurriedly rushing into the Wang Family Residence. Back then, when hanging the sword on the Bluebottle Pavilion, Wang Chong had told Wei Hao to call him if an Imperial Army member were to come.
Wei Hao didn’t expect that the members of the Imperial Army to really come.
At the highest level of the Bluebottle Pavilion, Wang Chong saw the Imperial Army members whom Wei Hao spoke of. Since his reincarnation, this was Wang Chong’s first time meeting the guards of the emperor.
The Imperial Army was tasked with the responsibility of protecting the capital and ensuring the safety of the emperor. Of the armies of the world, they were considered as ‘royalty’. Bearing the emblem of the royal family, rarely did anyone have the opportunity to interact with them.
This applied for Wang Chong as well.
This was also the reason why Wei Hao was so surprised by this.
“What a strong scent of authority. No wonder no scion dared to offend the Imperial Army easily!”
Looking at the people standing before him, Wang Chong thought.
As the guards of the emperor and the royal family, they often came into contact with the powerful nobles who travel to and fro the royal palace, and as time went by, the deep scent of authority started to rub off them. Compared to them, the other soldiers felt like ‘officials’ or ‘constables’; even without their token, it was easy to identify them.
On the other hand, these Imperial Army members surveyed a person intensely, yet they were austere and reticent. It was easy for ordinary civilians to feel fearful, apprehensive, and uncomfortable before them.
Their disposition was something ordinary people could never possess.
“The guards of the emperor are indeed incredible. As expected of the strongest and most elite army in the world!”
Wang Chong complimented them in his mind.
Wang Chong had met the Imperial Army in his previous life before as well. Compared to their state in his previous life, at this moment, the Imperial Army still held the image of the awe-inspiring, strongest troop.
The Imperial Army were known for their battle prowess, and they depend on it for a living as well. Their strength wasn’t something that anyone could compare up to. However, in a few years’ time, as Great Tang gradually came to a downfall, the scions started to penetrate into the Imperial Army and they tried to buy their way through the ranks. On the other hand, those capable ones were eliminated from the Imperial Army, causing the downfall of the strongest army in the world.
When they were required to guard the capital and the world, the Imperial Army fell with a single confrontation, causing deaths that spread over a thousand li. That became the greatest humiliation of the Great Tang then, as well as the thorn in everyone’s heart, including Wang Chong.
“… It’s enough for such a tragedy to occur once. No matter what, I won’t allow something like that to happen to the Imperial Army once more.”
Wang Chong suddenly felt a sour sensation at his nose. In his previous life, when the tragedy struck, he was right in the capital. He witnessed the corpses of the Imperial Army being stacked up at the alleys around the palace first-hand. It was an unforgettable sight.
Fresh crimson blood flowed through the alleys as though a river of blood, causing Wang Chong to feel incredible astonishment, as well as… agony! It was the first time Wang Chong had experienced the loss of his kin ——his big aunt and uncle!
“Sss!”
Taking a deep breath, Wang Chong quickly calmed down. Regardless of how the Imperial Army was in his previous life, it was a matter that had already passed.
In this current life, Wang Chong had already succeeded in changing the fate of the Wang Clan. What had happened in his previous life may not necessarily happen in this one.
Upon calming down, Wang Chong’s glance slowly swept across the three. Upon seeing the man who had a lightning-shaped scar on his glabella, Wang Chong’s attention was abruptly jolted
“It’s him!”
Wang Chong recognized the person standing before him.
——Zhao Fengchen!
Wang Chong could never have thought that the one who came would be him, one of the legendary top three experts of the Imperial Army. In his previous life, he managed to become the marshal of the Imperial Army.
His greatest distinguishing feature was the lightning-shaped sword scar on his glabella.
In his previous life, he was reputed for carrying two sabers, one by his waist, and one on his glabella. It was due to this that Wang Chong immediately recognized him.
Compared to the Zhao Fengchen that Wang Chong remembered, the one before him looked significantly younger. There were still marks of youth on him, and he had yet to become the valiant figure he had in his past life, exuding an aura as though the entire universe was within his grasp.
Even so, there were many outstanding features to the current Zhao Fengchen. Of the trio, his disposition and authoritative aura clearly stood out.
If he didn’t recall wrongly, the current Zhao Fengchen should already be a commander of the Imperial Army, one of the leading figures of the organization.
In the future, he would reach even greater heights. In the truest sense, his future was bright. The unparalleled authority over the Imperial Army was waiting for him!
“To think that it would be him, I could have never imagined it!”
Wang Chong’s heart was beating furiously at the moment, but it wasn’t because of this that he had remembered him. To Wang Chong, he had another identity:
——The most famous Wootz steel weapon collector in the Central Plains!
He was nearly involved in all legends regarding the Wootz steel in Wang Chong’s previous life!
Zhao Fengchen was the typical ‘martial arts fanatic’. He possessed exceptional love for top-notch weapons, especially for Wootz steel weapons. In his previous life, of the highest priced Wootz steel weapons, nearly a third of which was his doing.
Zhao Fengchen’s interest in the solidity, sharpness, as well as the highly aesthetic patterns of the Wootz steel had reached an insane level. In his previous life, Zhao Fengchen was the one who led the craze for the Wootz steel in the Central Plains!
When the incomparably sharp Wootz steel sword was paired with his outstanding cultivation, he created a legend of his strength in the Imperial Army.
“… To think that I would manage to catch a whale with my rod!”
Wang Chong suddenly felt his entire body lighten, and comfort gushed through his body.
This was truly fate! Wang Chong had just intended to attract a few wealthy Imperial Army members to buy the Wootz weapon, but to think that he would manage to bait Zhao Fengchen, a ‘legendary whale’!
Zhao Fengchen’s love for Wootz steel weapon was publicly known to have reached an insane level. If Wootz steel weapons could be considered as a poison, then Zhao Fengchen must have reached the terminal stage, and no medicine could save him anymore.
For such a famous figure to suddenly appear in Wang Chong’s plan, Wang Chong suddenly felt extremely confident of his future.
“You’re the owner of the sword?”
Zhao Fengchen spoke. The feeling the youngster gave him was weird. When others found out that he was from the Imperial Army, they would more or less show some apprehension against him. Yet, this youngster simply stared at him silently. It was inconceivable to him what the other party was contemplating over.
“Yes!”
Recovering from his thoughts, Wang Chong smiled. His gestures and expression exuded magnanimity.
Zhao Fengchen didn’t report his name to Wei Hao, and his actions clearly showed his intentions to conceal his identity. As such, Wang Chong complied with his wishes. Since Wang Chong knew his true identity, it was impossible for him to let him off the hook so easily.
“I wish to buy the sword hanging in front of your pavilion. I wonder if you can remove the black cloth and show it to me. If the sword pleases me, I am willing to offer a high price that you will be satisfied with—— A price higher than the one you have offered!”
Zhao Fengchen immediately dived into the topic at hand and revealed the intentions behind his visit. His way of doing things was straightforward.
“How much can you offer?”