The moment the news of the rebels' defeat reached the city gates, the entire county seat erupted in a roar of jubilation that seemed to shake the very foundations of the buildings.
People poured out of their homes like a flood, cheering and dancing in the middle of the dusty streets.
A massive crowd quickly formed around the bailiff who had brought the message. The man sat tall on his horse, clearly enjoying his moment of fame as he began to recount the day's events, his voice carrying easily over the heads of the masses.
"Today's battle was a masterpiece of efficiency!" he bellowed, punctuating his words with wide, exaggerated gestures. "The rebels barely had time to find their footing on the sand before they were sent screaming back into the river! Hahaha! And that Gao Village Militia..."
He launched into a vivid, heavily embellished tale, painting the skirmish at Qiaochuan Wharf as an earth-shaking clash of legends.
---
Gao Yiye and her two companions, Qiu Ju and Dong Xue, had little interest in war stories.
They remained tucked away inside the Freshwater Hele shop, quietly savoring the last of their noodles, completely uninterested in joining the sweaty, shouting crowd outside.
Dao Xuan Tianzun, however, shifted his divine attention toward the bailiff, listening patiently as the man piled one dramatic exaggeration on top of another.
Eventually, he pieced together what had actually happened.
Good, he thought, a quiet wave of relief passing through him.
It seems my little people only took a few stray arrows at most. No major casualties.
He was, at his core, a deeply protective Tianzun. The kind who would feel genuine distress over even the smallest loss. If a cat or dog died, he could brood over it for half a day. The thought of his villagers being harmed was something he found difficult to bear.
"Yiye, it seems Heyang County is safe for the time being," he said, his tone lightening. "Those livelihood projects I had you and San Shier plan out? You can begin rolling them out immediately."
Gao Yiye set her bowl down with a crisp clack.
"Understood!"
Dao Xuan Tianzun glanced down and suddenly noticed something.
Her bowl was spotless.
Not a single drop of broth remained.
"Wait. Didn't you just say you were too full and needed Qiu Ju and Dong Xue to help you finish it?"
Gao Yiye gave a small, sheepish smile.
"But these noodles were just so delicious... I suddenly discovered I had a tiny bit of extra room."
Dao Xuan Tianzun fell silent.
What kind of physiological miracle is this?
He had once heard a theory that women possessed two stomachs. One for proper meals, and one specifically reserved for snacks and desserts.
It seemed ancient women were no different.
Perhaps the second stomach here was reserved for curiosity.
Truly, women were mysterious creatures.
---
After the initial wave of celebration died down, the returning troops began to filter back into the county seat.
Leading the column was Zhao Ying's cavalry camp, followed closely by the Gao Village Militia under Cheng Xu.
There was no urgency now. The crisis had passed.
Infantry and cavalry marched together in a neat, disciplined formation as they entered through the main gates, intending to rest before continuing back to Gao Village.
A force of fifteen hundred men was no small presence.
As they reached the city center, Cheng Xu raised his voice.
"Flat Rabbit! Zheng Gouzi! Take the hundred guards assigned to the Saintess and follow me. We're heading to rendezvous with Her Grace."
The two men snapped to attention, faces bright with pride.
Cheng Xu then turned to the rest.
"The rest of you are dismissed for one hour. Rest wherever you can. We regroup at the city gate in exactly one hour."
He paused, then added in a firm tone:
"And remember. Do not disturb the residents. Tianzun cherishes the common folk. If any of you start acting like regular government soldiers and bully the locals, you can look forward to a long stay in the Labor Reform Valley."
Gao Chuwu burst into laughter.
"Not a chance, Instructor! We've been drilling the Three Rules and Eight Points every day. We wouldn't dare mess with the people."
Zheng Daniu nodded, rubbing his neck.
"Besides, bullying people is too much effort. I'd rather find something good to eat."
The soldiers laughed and quickly scattered into the surrounding streets.
---
Zhao Ying watched them go, then glanced back at her own cavalry.
They looked restless.
She raised a hand.
"Cavalry camp, you also have one hour to relax. But listen carefully. No harassment of the locals. If I hear even a single complaint, I'll have your hides."
The riders acknowledged and spread out.
Unlike the infantry, they had horses to manage. One hand always remained on the reins, which made wandering the narrow streets far less convenient.
Still, the horses themselves spoke volumes.
In times like these, no ordinary civilian wanted to cross a mounted soldier. As the riders moved through the streets, pedestrians instinctively stepped aside, giving them a wide berth.
Zhao Ying frowned slightly.
Her new recruits were fine. Local boys, raised with a sense of community.
But her old subordinates... the former bandits...
That was another matter entirely.
Old habits did not disappear overnight.
She leaned toward Cheng Xu and spoke in a low voice.
"Give my regards to the Saintess. I need to patrol the city and keep an eye on my old crew. They used to be horse thieves. If I don't watch them closely, they might slip back into old habits."
Cheng Xu nodded.
"Good thinking. Keep them on a tight leash. Tianzun is gentle most of the time, but the moment He sees someone oppressing the innocent, His wrath is absolute. I've seen Him personally strike down returning rebels who dared to harm civilians."
Zhao Ying gave a firm nod.
"I understand. We're not outlaws anymore. We're a proper army now."
Cheng Xu chuckled.
"Tell me about it. I used to have more bad habits than I could count. Since coming to Gao Village, I've had to fix all of them. Even my favorite skill... exaggerating battle reports... is gone."
Zhao Ying raised an eyebrow.
"Exaggerating battle reports?"
Cheng Xu froze for half a second, then laughed awkwardly.
"Just joking. Just joking."
Zhao Ying said nothing.
She had long suspected there was more to him than he let on, especially since he never removed that mask. But she chose not to press the issue.
Instead, she offered a respectful salute, dismounted, and led her horse into the narrow streets.
---
Cheng Xu watched her leave before turning and heading toward the government yamen with Flat Rabbit and Zheng Gouzi.
Inside, Gao Yiye and San Shier were already waiting.
Flat Rabbit burst in first, chest puffed out so far it looked like he might fall backward.
"Saintess! Your personal guard has returned! From now on, your safety is in the hands of the invincible Rabbit!"
Gao Yiye smiled warmly.
"The messengers said you all fought magnificently. They even said you turned the tide with those powder charges. You've done a great service today."
Flat Rabbit threw his head back, nose practically pointing at the ceiling.
"When the Rabbit takes the field, ten thousand men cannot stand!"
No one responded.
San Shier stepped forward instead, his expression thoughtful.
"Wang Jiayin's defeat today must have shaken him badly. Do you think he'll try again anytime soon?"
Cheng Xu shook his head.
"Unlikely. The Yellow River is long, and there are plenty of easier targets. If he has any sense at all, he'll choose a softer landing next time."
"That's good," San Shier said. "You're leaving in an hour, right? I'll return to Gao Village with you. Tianzun has laid out a series of economic initiatives that need immediate preparation. From this point onward, our focus will shift heavily toward Heyang County."
Cheng Xu nodded.
"Makes sense. With Qiaochuan Wharf, the logistics here are far better than back home. This place is going to become our new center of gravity."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"But that County Magistrate, Feng Jun he's still not one of ours. Might take a little… axle-man work."
San Shier gave a faint nod.
"I understand. For someone like him, we move slowly."
Trivia
"Three Rules, Eight Warnings" – Gao Village's holy scripture for behaving like decent soldiers. Every recruit can recite it. Most still improvise their own ninth rule: Don't annoy Tianzun.
Axle-Man (軸人) – Military slang for a behind-the-scenes operator who "keeps the system turning." Usually someone who smiles, nods, and makes sure the bureaucracy doesn't eat itself.