Chapter 295: What is Tribulation?

Chen Yuanzhi, his face etched with discontent, reluctantly obeyed his father’s wishes and reported to the County Magistrate’s Office with his appointment letter. Thanks to prior arrangements, he easily secured a minor official position—nothing prestigious, merely a junior leadership role in the militia.

Initially, Chen Yuanzhi was cautious. He rushed to the barracks early each morning, stayed until the last soldier departed each evening, and even slept there for the first few nights. However, within days, he discovered the militia was utterly corrupt. A squad of ten men typically had only three present; the remaining seven were ghost soldiers on the payroll.

Corruption flowed downward from the top, while wealthy gentry and merchants skimmed their share from the middle.

The Chen family itself was among the beneficiaries of this system. Once Chen Yuanzhi realized this, his attitude shifted dramatically. He transformed into a seasoned veteran overnight, summoning his usual companions to the barracks for card games, drinking sessions, and even bringing women back to sleep with him, turning the place into a chaotic den of debauchery.

“Brother Chen,” one of his cronies whispered, “a new girl arrived at the Welcome Spring Brothel today. I hear she’s a noblewoman’s daughter.”

Inside the barracks, Chen Yuanzhi and his cronies were drinking when the Wang Brothers arrived. The two pairs had been mischief-makers since childhood, having once blown up their Master’s latrine together, and they continued their unruly ways into adulthood. Both families were well-off, and the brothers had honed their martial skills, reigning supreme in Clearwater County. Even the city’s gangs bowed their heads and addressed them as “Sires,” while disobedient dogs risked a swift slap from their hands.

Far from being ashamed of their hooligan lifestyle, the Wang Brothers reveled in their notoriety, believing it was the epitome of true masculinity.

“A noblewoman?” Chen Yuanzhi perked up immediately.

He and his gang had long grown bored of brothels. The initial novelty had faded, and the seasoned courtesans saw right through their puffed-up swagger, leaving the brothers feeling insignificant.

But a noblewoman was different—noble by birth and, more importantly, untouched.

“Let’s go! We’re spending tonight at the Welcome Spring Brothel!”

Grabbing his saber, Chen Yuanzhi led his entourage out of the barracks. The elderly gatekeeper, missing most of his teeth, sat slumped against a pillar, half-asleep. He didn’t even bother to question Chen Yuanzhi and his crew’s comings and goings, serving as nothing more than a decorative fixture.

The streets buzzed with activity as vendors hawked their wares: candied hawthorns on skewers, sugar figurines, and dazzling street performers.

Chen Yuanzhi and his gang swaggered through the crowd, their shirts unbuttoned to reveal muscular chests. Broadswords hung from their waists, and their reputation as local bullies preceded them, causing people to scatter before them.

Fortunately, they didn’t harass the ordinary folk. They marched straight to the Welcome Spring Brothel, where Mother Kong, the madam, hurried out to greet them.

“Oh my, if it isn’t Boss Chen and the Wang Brothers! It’s been ages since you’ve graced us with your presence. Where have you been striking it rich lately?”

“Mother Kong, we’re here specifically to see Miss Cuiping today,” Wang Dacai declared, pulling out a pouch of coins. “Tell her to come drink with us!”

“Miss Cuiping is already entertaining a distinguished guest,” Mother Kong replied with a nervous smile, unwilling to accept the coins. “Would you care for Green Luo or one of the other girls to keep you company instead?”

Bang!

Chen Yuanzhi slammed his palm on a nearby table, his patience snapping. “What nonsense about distinguished guests? Tell them to scram!”

“Get lost!” one of his henchmen shouted. “Don’t you know who runs Clearwater County?”

The gang erupted in cheers, shouting phrases like “Boss Chen’s mighty!” Chen Yuanzhi beamed, convinced he had reached the pinnacle of manhood—a true hero.

“Dacai, go get the others. Beat the crap out of anyone who tries to stop you!”

“Yes, sir!”

Wang Dacai, grinning from ear to ear, rallied a few of his brothers and stormed off to seize the man. The madam of the brothel, pale with fear, stammered apologies and begged them to show mercy.

Chen Yuanzhi had no patience for her pleas. Wang Dacai led the charge up to the second floor and kicked the door in.

“Who the hell are you? Who let you in here?!”

“I’m your goddamn grandfather!” Wang Dacai grabbed the skinny man, who was about to take off his pants, and slapped him twice across the face. “Take a good look at yourself in the mirror, you worthless bastard. You dare steal a woman from this great man?”

“You… you… you…” The man sputtered in fury, but before he could react, Chen Yuanzhi and his gang burst into the room.

Without a word, the thugs pounced on him, beating him senseless before tossing him out like trash.

“Keep the music playing, keep dancing!” Chen Yuanzhi, basking in his brothers’ adoration, pulled some silver from his pocket and tossed it to the terrified musicians and dancers. The gang commandeered the highest VIP booth in Welcome Spring Brothel, drinking and listening to music. Though they paid, their presence scared away all other customers.

The madam stood below, her face etched with worry.

The night passed without incident.

Chen Yuanzhi’s vanity was thoroughly satisfied. In the following months, he grew restless with military drills and began leading his brothers out on “righteous adventures.” His lavish spending quickly attracted a following, and throughout Clearwater County, every江湖 practitioner knew the name “Boss Chen.”

Fortunately, though Chen Yuanzhi loved stirring up trouble, he never preyed on ordinary citizens—a significant departure from Chen Luo’s initial suspicions. His vanity hadn’t corrupted his true nature.

“Boss Chen, you only dare to show off in front of us common folk! If you’re so brave, why don’t you go north and kill some Xiongnu invaders!”

“What’s there to fear about the Xiongnu?!” Chen Yuanzhi roared, grinding his boot into the chest of a shifty-eyed man. “If they dare to come here, I’ll kick their asses so hard they’ll shit their pants and show them who rules Clearwater County!”

Meanwhile, at the County Magistrate’s Office, Chen Luo and Magistrate Tan were playing chess in the rear courtyard. Lately, Chen Luo had been sending substantial sums of silver to the office, all related to Chen Yuanzhi’s antics.

“Spending so much silver just to secure a military position is too risky,” Magistrate Tan remarked as he placed a chess piece on the board.

The two families were related through marriage; Magistrate Tan’s wife was a cousin of the Chen family, making Chen Luo his brother-in-law. This close relationship allowed them to discuss sensitive matters like buying and selling official positions openly and harmoniously.

“Yuanzhi isn’t suited for scholarly pursuits,” Chen Luo explained. “This is his only path forward.”

“Given the current unstable political climate, becoming a military officer is far too dangerous,” Magistrate Tan cautioned.

As a seasoned official who had passed the Imperial Examination, Magistrate Tan had extensive connections in the imperial court and was privy to many national affairs. Information coming from him could certainly be trusted.

“I just want him to understand the world better,” Chen Luo sighed, sounding like any ordinary concerned father. “That way, he won’t be taken advantage of when I’m gone.”

“The court has been negotiating peace treaties for years, but barbarians understand no such niceties,” Magistrate Tan said, his voice tinged with irritation. “To them, a treaty is merely scrap paper, easily torn to shreds.”

Magistrate Tan’s mood darkened as the conversation turned to national affairs. Clearwater County, located in the far north, would undoubtedly fall if war broke out. His only option then would be to abandon his post and flee.

There was no hope of victory.

The higher-ups were already discussing a southward retreat; defeat was only a matter of time.

“Let’s worry about that when the time comes,” Chen Luo said, steering clear of the topic. He had been observing Magistrate Tan closely these past few days, sensing a familiar aura—the aura of a Demonic Heart. During Elder FusionSpirit’s Demonic Heart Tribulation, Chen Luo had played a specific role; this time, Magistrate Tan was assuming that role.

The Demonic Heart would gradually tempt the Pass Transcendence candidate away from their true nature, luring them toward the abyss of desire.

If one’s true nature was lost, the Tribulation Transcendence would be deemed a failure.

“We’re practically family,” Magistrate Tan sighed, scattering the chess pieces across the board in frustration. “I can’t just stand by and watch Yuanzhi meet his end.”

Seizing the opportunity, Chen Luo rose, bid farewell, and returned home.

There, his three Madams were still preoccupied with the children.

Besides his eldest son, Chen Yuanzhi, he had two daughters. Both were obedient but unremarkable, and they often avoided Chen Luo out of fear.

“Now that the Tribulation has manifested, what exactly is the Demonic Heart?” Chen Luo mused as he sat in the courtyard, pondering the connection between this Demonic Heart Tribulation and the Demonic Heart itself.

When Elder FusionSpirit underwent his Tribulation Transcendence, his Demonic Heart had manifested as “fame and fortune,” with the goal of tempting him into greed and indulgence. This time, the Pass Transcendence was his son, Chen Yuanzhi, and the Demonic Heart was Magistrate Tan. Yet, the connection between them remained elusive.

If the Demonic Heart’s driving force was “vanity,” Magistrate Tan should have already begun promoting Chen Yuanzhi. Why would he be discussing the bleak prospects of military careers with him today?

A Demonic Heart’s sole purpose is to lure one into the Tribulation; it cares nothing for how one fares within it. Not everyone who succumbs to temptation rises to glory; many sink to the depths, becoming useless remnants of their former selves.

Time flowed swiftly, and three years passed in the blink of an eye.

With his family’s support, Chen Yuanzhi successfully climbed the bureaucratic ladder, expanding his command to a hundred men. His daily outings became grand affairs, with a large entourage accompanying him—a spectacle of authority and power.

“He’s only been in office a few days and already gotten promoted again!”

“It’s good to have a wealthy family. Even without academic merit, you can buy your way into officialdom.”

“Let’s just hope Lord Chen doesn’t start oppressing us common folk.”

Murmurs of discontent spread behind his back, but Chen Yuanzhi paid them no heed.

The nation teetered on the brink of instability.

Turmoil brewed along the northern border. With the onset of winter’s bitter cold, a coup had swept through the nomadic tribes. The newly enthroned Great Khan, eager for conquest, began sharpening his claws for a southern invasion. As Magistrate Tan had predicted, the alliance treaty they had once signed was now torn to shreds.

Clearwater County, located in the north, erupted into chaos as news of the upheaval spread. Many residents adopted a wait-and-see approach, uncertain of what to do.

Winter had already tightened its grip on the land. Venturing out into the frozen wasteland offered no hope of survival. This era was rife with peril during winter: the harsh environment, roving bandits, and ravenous beasts—any one of these could claim a life. Only in the direst circumstances would anyone abandon their home.

Days bled into weeks.

Wealthy landowners flocked to the County Magistrate’s Office, demanding updates on the northern campaign from Magistrate Tan. They hoped the northern defenses could withstand the Xiongnu’s frontal assault. If they could endure the winter, they planned to relocate their entire families south as soon as the spring thaw arrived.

But even Magistrate Tan felt uncertain. Winter’s grip had stifled communication, and the most recent message he had received—half a month prior—came from his esteemed mentor. The message warned that the northern front was on the verge of collapse and urged him to prepare for the worst.

“Your Honor,” a staff member cautioned, “the number of bandits outside the county is growing daily. I fear enemy spies may have infiltrated their ranks.”