Su Chen's luck was quite good.

The commander of the Xuanjia Army had heard of his name.

Thus, Su Chen's career soared, and he slew countless enemies on the battlefield.

In just thirty short years, he had received countless rewards and honors.

He was even promoted through the ranks and ennobled as a count.

Late at night, Su Chen often wondered if he was nothing more than an executioner.

Only after stepping onto the battlefield did he realize that the scuffles in his past life's mercenary group, what he had once considered ruthless, were a complete joke in the face of true war.

So, his heart grew even harder.

His meteoric rise, as if he were cheating, wasn't because he was so incredible.

It was because the commander who valued him was incredible.

Some time ago, the commander of the Xuanjia Army was assassinated, his life hanging by a thread.

They said he could still be saved, but Su Chen understood the old man's character.

He was likely already cold and dead.

If he still had a breath left in him, how could he let a bunch of eunuchs give these bullshit commands?

A Spirit Sea 9th Level expert assassinated within his own camp? Who would believe there wasn't something fishy going on?

Fifteen years ago, under the leadership of Commander Mu Qingfeng of the Xuanjia Army, they had defeated the forces of the Canglan Kingdom.

From then on, his name shook the Tianfeng Kingdom.

Commander Mu Qingfeng wanted to seize the opportunity to annihilate the Canglan Kingdom's army, but he was stopped by the imperial court, which chose to let the tiger return to the mountains.

The reason given was that it was enough to repel the invasion, and the two kingdoms could remain good allies.

This angered Commander Mu Qingfeng so much that he went straight back to his hometown on the spot.

Now, fifteen years later, the Canglan Kingdom had finished recuperating, torn up the treaty, and invaded once more.

Commander Mu Qingfeng came out of retirement, only to be assassinated right after winning a battle.

Su Chen silently poured out a jug of wine, a farewell to Commander Mu, thanking him for his patronage.

"Commander Mu, if I am alone in my next life, I will surely uncover the truth and avenge you."

He couldn't do it in this life. In this life, he still had family. He was merely at the Spirit Mark 9th Level; thrown into the imperial court, he was hardly better than an ant.

The next day, a military order arrived.

Su Chen was transferred to another border.

Several of his comrades-in-arms found Su Chen.

"General Jiang, let's rebel!"

Su Chen refused their request and left without a backward glance.

This wasn't rebellion; this was insanity.

In this world where martial arts reigned supreme, a few Spirit Mark Realm cultivators plotting a rebellion could be wiped out by a single Spirit Sea Realm expert.

After that... Su Chen heard that the eunuch faction suffered defeat after defeat, nearly allowing the Canglan Kingdom's army to march straight in.

In the end, the royal family dispatched two Spirit Soul Realm experts, forcing the Canglan Kingdom to retreat.

The Spirit Soul Realm was a level above the Spirit Sea Realm. The Tianfeng Kingdom didn't have many experts of that caliber.

Su Chen paid cursory attention to the war before ignoring it. He had been sent away to idle his days away. The grand scheme of things was not something a person like him could decide.

However, the letters piled on his desk brought a smile to his face.

In these years, Wang Bailu had given him two more sons. The eldest was named Jiang Hao, and the youngest was Jiang Ping'an.

His daughter, Jiang Mingyue, and his eldest son, Jiang Hao, were both married.

His youngest son, Jiang Ping'an, had gone to wander the jianghu as a roaming knight.

Su Chen was very open-minded. No matter what choices his children made, he supported them.

Beside them were letters from the Lingyun Martial Academy.

There were letters from his respected teacher, Jiang Xiangyang, and from friends who had studied with him at the Martial Academy and chosen to stay there. Hearing of Su Chen's demotion, they had quickly written to ask about his situation.

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Su Chen was very grateful to the Lingyun Martial Academy. Without it, it would have been impossible for him to get this far.

If he grew old, perhaps he would choose to stay at the Lingyun Martial Academy as an instructor, just like Jiang Xiangyang.

In addition, there was a letter from Li Ming.

Li Ming, now nearly sixty, was getting married. He wanted Su Chen to find the time to return for his wedding. They had been separated for thirty years.

"Bullshit, that brat must be lying to me! A sixty-year-old geezer seducing a young girl!"

Su Chen cursed playfully, thinking that Li Ming was truly shameless.

He wrote with great flourish, viciously penning the words, "You are a beast, I am ashamed to be associated with you."

After writing it, Su Chen pondered for a moment, felt it wasn't right, made some changes, then tore it all up and started over.

In the end, all his grandiloquent words were reduced to a single line.

"Live well. My sentiments as your brother are in here."

Su Chen took out the technique jade slip that had been with him for many years. Inside was the Spirit Communication King technique he had translated back then.

Since he joined the army, all these years had passed, and he had only managed to decipher half of the technique.

This half... was enough. In theory, it was no problem to cultivate to the Spirit Sea Realm with it.

"I'm giving you a bargain with this Spirit Channeling Technique. Whether you can cultivate to the Spirit Sea Realm in this lifetime will depend on your own fortune."

Li Ming's aptitude wasn't actually bad.

Su Chen sighed softly, wrapped the wedding gift, and had a trusted subordinate deliver it.

This city was a cage, and he could no longer leave.

Some time ago, Commander Mu's trusted aides had plotted a rebellion, and without exception, all were executed.

He didn't know how many pairs of eyes were watching him.

Su Chen didn't know if they had actually plotted to rebel or not.

In any case, if he left this place, his fate would be death, or not much better.

"Damn those eunuchs!"

Su Chen cursed inwardly again.

Things had finally been going smoothly, and now he was suddenly like a prisoner.

Su Chen was extremely displeased.

...

Another ten years of wind and rain passed.

Su Chen was now nearly seventy.

He was a Spirit Mark Peak expert. Seventy years was nothing. He had suffered many injuries, large and small; while he might not live to three hundred, living to two hundred wouldn't be a problem.

Just yesterday, the Canglan Kingdom had rallied its forces and once again invaded the Tianfeng Kingdom.

Su Chen didn't know what the higher-ups were thinking. Damn it, they were so persistent, coming back to fight again after such a short rest.

Peace talks, peace talks, peace talks, every single day!

Fuck, are they a bunch of peace doves or what!

What angered Su Chen the most was the battle report laid out before him.

The Tianfeng Kingdom's army was in constant retreat.

Large swathes of territory had fallen into the hands of the Canglan Kingdom.

Su Chen felt no particular loyalty to the Tianfeng Kingdom, but he didn't want his friends and family to become slaves of a fallen nation.

"General... there is something this humble one doesn't know if I should say."

Su Chen's trusted subordinate said hesitantly.

"If you don't know whether to say it or not, then don't!"

Su Chen decisively shut him up.

"General, I can't go on like this anymore!"

"General, let's defect to the Canglan Kingdom! With your talent, you would surely be given an important position there."

"Lord Jiang, Lord Gu, Lord Han... they're all dead. I'm afraid the general will also follow them to the grave."

Su Chen looked at his subordinate, who had mustered up his courage, and said irritably, "Aren't you afraid the walls have ears, you brat?"

Su Yi scratched his head and grinned foolishly. "I know the general is cautious and wouldn't let anyone get close so easily."

"General, if a man lives in this world without achieving great deeds and living a spectacular life, isn't it a waste of his time on earth?"

Su Yi's eyes shone brightly. He knew that in his heart, his general had no real concept of nation or country.

---

Proofreader: Peter Pan