With dozens of those ruffians and hidden dangers turning their blades in betrayal, the battle’s outcome became unquestionable. Following Hong Shu’s secret instructions, the besieging forces followed ancient military strategies—encircling the city but leaving one side open. They intentionally left a path for escape. Tao Yong, clearly willing to abandon the very foundation of Dunhuang City, was the first to discard his main forces and the Mao family, fleeing with only his closest retainers. Meanwhile, Lu Wu, an old general from Jinxi Province, was not so fortunate. His entire family’s fate was tied to the city walls, and before dying in fierce combat, he shouted a final plea to Hong Shu—not to wipe out the Lu clan completely, and to leave behind at least one heir to carry on the family line. Hong Shu ignored his dying wish, and Lu Wu passed away with eyes wide in fury. Every single one of the Mao family’s loyal guards fought to the death, proving that, regardless of their moral character, the Mao father and daughter possessed a unique talent in cultivating loyal retainers.
Xu Pu slashed straight through the thick formation of the traitorous Jinwu Guards outside the palace, his blade carving a path of destruction. The few surviving cavalry were so terrified that they discarded their weapons and knelt on the ground, too frightened to rise.
Xu Pu casually picked up an iron spear, turned back with a graceful stride, and saw Hong Shu along with Xu Fengnian, who sat casually atop a book chest, meditating and recovering from his wounds. Seeing Xu Pu approach, Hong Shu hesitated before speaking, but Xu Fengnian merely smiled and said, “Dunhuang is yours now. You understand the stakes better than anyone. Don’t worry about me—do what must be done. This Xu uncle here is an old friend of my master’s, and can be trusted.”
Hong Shu curtsied lightly and said, “Greetings, Grand Commander.” She then composed herself and spoke with solemnity, “Please, Uncle Xu, take fifty cavalry and pursue Tao Yong. Let only him escape back to Juzi Province—that way, Dunhuang shows some face to Murong Baoding. Then, Uncle Xu, you may station your troops outside the Buque Terrace and do nothing at all.”
Xu Pu accepted the orders and departed. Several surviving eunuchs and palace maidens followed this unfamiliar middle-aged man. With only a few words, Xu Pu managed to rally fifty to sixty Jinwu cavalry eager to redeem themselves, and they rode out toward the Buque Terrace, where uncertainty lingered between hesitation and inaction.
Xu Fengnian remained seated atop the book chest, meditating and tending to his wounds. Though he appeared bloodied, his injuries were mostly minor. However, his meridians had suffered severe damage. Fighting off five hundred cavalry alone was no exaggeration. Though the Mao family’s cavalry lacked elite warriors, Xu Fengnian had slain over two hundred and forty horses, with another forty or so trampled to death by their own steeds charging recklessly at him. The battle had been tight and perilous. Mao Rou, clearly understanding the importance of energy circulation for martial experts, used strict discipline and promised great rewards to hide within the thickest part of the cavalry formation. She ordered continuous attacks—throwing spears, firing crossbows, and eventually even sending groups of mounted soldiers to charge Xu Fengnian in unison. Some of the more skilled cavalry officers, under her command, seized every opportunity to ambush him. Had this battle been a mere game of chess, where only the pieces mattered and not the hearts of men, even if Xu Fengnian had slain another hundred riders, he would still have perished outside the city gates. However, when Spring and Autumn, with sword qi rolling like a wall and a single sleeve unleashing a green dragon, pierced through the battlefield and killed Mao Rou with the Chunlei blade—like beheading a general amidst a vast army—the morale of the iron cavalry plummeted. Their defeat became inevitable, like a mountain collapsing. Even with over half of the Grand Huangting Cultivation and the early stage of Diamond Qi protecting him, Xu Fengnian still needed twenty days to recover fully. This bloody battle was no less perilous than his previous life-and-death struggle against Tuoba Chunsun and two other masters on the grasslands. In the eyes of ordinary people, it was like watching a strong young man fight three equally strong opponents—exciting and full of schemes. But in reality, it was like fighting hundreds of helpless children, being bitten and scratched endlessly, leaving one’s soul trembling in fear.
Xu Fengnian silently observed the uneasy martial artists after the dust settled, then turned to the fallen, massive body of the old man. Lu Wu, the head of the Lu family, had intended to die with dignity, gripping his iron spear so tightly that it cracked the ground beneath him, dying with both hands still on the weapon. But soon, he was hacked apart by a flurry of blades, trampled under countless feet. Some clever martial artists, feigning retreat, rolled near the corpse and slyly snatched the jade pendant from his waist. Others, slower to act, followed suit, crawling over the body and looting everything—even the jade-inlaid belt was torn away, and only one of his ox-hide boots remained. They say the dead deserve respect, but in the martial world, respect is worth nothing. At this point, the Mao family had been completely wiped out, except for two frightened maids huddled in a corner of the carriage. A sharp-eyed martial artist approached the carriage, eager to take advantage of the chaos. But just as he was about to act, Xu Pu rode by and pierced him through the back with a spear. With a twist of the blade, the man was torn in two. No one dared to act recklessly after that—everyone fell silent in fear.
Xu Fengnian had already returned the Chunlei blade to the book chest. Now, he held the Spring and Autumn sword, its crimson blade stained with blood, resting across his knees. He turned to Hong Shu beside him and asked, “How do we pacify the surrendered factions now?”
Hong Shu thought for a moment and replied, “This should be left to Grand Commander Xu Pu. I should have died outside the palace gates—I shouldn’t interfere further.”
She smiled slightly, “But since the young master is here, of course, it’s your decision.”
Xu Fengnian frowned, “I’ll just observe. But first, I need a plausible identity. Oh, and since even you recognize Xu Pu, could anyone else recognize him as the former commander of the Northern Liang Light Cavalry?”
Hong Shu shook her head, “No. The reason I recognize Xu Pu is because Master Li Yishan once specifically mentioned him when delivering secret strategies in the Tingchao Pavilion. Moreover, information between Liang and Mang is worth more than gold, passed at the cost of lives. Spies and informants must be carefully selected. They can’t cover every detail, and certainly couldn’t track down a Northern Liang general who hadn’t appeared in twenty years. Northern Liang is the most vigilant in terms of infiltration and counterintelligence. As far as I know, there are secret organizations dedicated not only to the Taian City and the major feudal lords, but also to the Northern Mang royal court and the Southern Court’s capital. All of this was arranged by your master, with no room for error.”
Xu Fengnian chuckled bitterly, “Mercy has no place in the army, and kindness has no place in command. I think Xu Pu’s opinion of me might have improved slightly, but not by much.”
Hong Shu lowered her head, “It’s all my fault.”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “You really did make a mistake this time. If it weren’t for you, and if I hadn’t insisted on returning to the city to play the hero, Xu Pu might never have knelt and called me ‘Prince.’ He might have only addressed me as nephew. You don’t know how these old generals are—each one is stubborn and proud, valuing military achievements far more than personal relationships. Xu Pu is actually a rare exception. Take Zhao Changling, the strategist who worked alongside my master as one of the ‘Two Pillars.’ They say you can tell a person’s future at three, but even before I was born, when Xu Xiao didn’t yet have a prince, Zhao predicted that the Northern Liang army would only be stable if it were handed over to Chen Zhibao. He died twenty miles outside the Western Shu imperial city, lying on his deathbed not asking for revenge for his family, but holding Xu Xiao’s hand and insisting that Chen Zhibao’s status as an adopted son must be changed—only then would he die in peace.”
Hong Shu dared not ask further.
Xu Fengnian stood up, sheathed Spring and Autumn behind his back, and exhaled a thick breath tinged with red and gold, “I gained from misfortune—absorbing the Two Chan Golden Elixir outside the city, opening another meridian. And you know, this newly forged sword—if it drinks over a thousand lives, it can become a flying sword on its own.”
Hong Shu blinked and said, “Then can I borrow it? I’ll chop down another seven or eight hundred people.”
Xu Fengnian flicked her forehead, smiling in mock annoyance, “Do you think this sword, which could rank among the top three in the world, is some kind of fool? It needs to be in harmony with its wielder. Cultivating a sword is no trivial matter, and there are no shortcuts.”
Xu Fengnian gazed at the blood-soaked battlefield outside the palace, sighed, and inwardly scolded himself for being sentimental and self-righteous. He picked up the book chest and walked into the palace, leaving Hong Shu to clean up the mess. Watching his back, she recalled that day in the hall when she wore dragon robes and sat on the dragon throne—moments of joy that could last a lifetime. Now she understood that choosing to grow old in a lonely city for one man wasn’t so terrible after all. Xu Fengnian suddenly turned and smiled. Hong Shu was momentarily stunned, wondering which lucky woman would eventually capture his heart. Jiang Ni? She disliked that vengeful princess who lived only for revenge. She thought the young master deserved a more open-hearted woman. Of course, this was only her private thought—whatever choice Xu Fengnian made, she would support it.
Xu Fengnian was no longer the sheltered prince who knew nothing of labor. In the Qingliu Fasting, he bathed and changed into clean robes alone, refreshed and at ease. The situation in Dunhuang had stabilized. The palace maids and eunuchs resumed their routines, undisturbed by the chaos outside. To them, it was just another change of rulers, another shift in the tides of power among the great. Their lives remained untouched. Frankly speaking, they quite liked having the current palace master as the ruler of Dunhuang. Though strict in rewards and punishments, he was far warmer than the previous city lord, who had been as cold as ice for decades. Xu Fengnian sat on a stone bench in a garden bursting with flowers, Spring and Autumn resting on the table before him. Their names sounded like a pair of siblings. He had not waited long for Hong Shu when, unexpectedly, Xu Pu arrived alone.
Xu Pu did not kneel, nor did he make his allegiance clear. Seeing Xu Fengnian wave him to sit, he calmly took a seat and said, “According to Li Yishan’s plan, we deal with each faction accordingly. The deeply rooted native powers within the city must be uprooted completely—no survivors. As for the factions infiltrating from outside the city in the past decade, such as the trusted men of the Juzi and Jinxi Province chieftains, once their old powers are eliminated, we will allow them to fill the vacuum. The new Dunhuang will even extend olive branches, not only offering them a way down from their pride but also building ladders for them to climb. This way, they can slowly absorb the territories of the Mao and Lu families, ensuring peace for at least five years. In the end, it’s still just the art of political balance.”
Xu Fengnian nodded thoughtfully and asked, “What about the Buque Terrace? What’s their stance?”
Xu Pu, who seemed scholarly and refined when not killing, smiled faintly, “Not taking a stance is the best stance. The new Dunhuang is willing to share some of the spoils with them.”
Xu Fengnian asked, “Which factions are Northern Liang’s hidden agents?”
Xu Pu answered without hesitation, “The Yuwen and Duanmu families were both cultivated by Li Yishan. But even within these two clans, only four or five people know the truth. The rest are opportunistic forces, driven by profit. They’re not worth mentioning.”
Xu Fengnian sighed, “Do you think my actions might have complicated things for my master?”
Xu Pu smiled sincerely, “Master Li often says that the true strength of a Go master lies not on the board, but in the minds of people. I believe he would be delighted. Adding an unexpected twist to the game means you’ve truly entered the game and begun to make your move. That’s a good thing.”
Xu Fengnian asked curiously, “Uncle Xu, are you also skilled in Go?”
Xu Pu quickly waved his hands, “After spending so much time with Li Yishan, I’ve only learned to speak in grand theories. When it comes to actual games, I’m just an amateur with no skill. I’d never dare to challenge you, Your Highness.”
Xu Fengnian laughed, “I bet I’m still better than Xu Xiao.”
One respectfully called him “Prince,” while the other warmly addressed him as “Uncle Xu.”
Wasn’t that a mismatch of words?
Suddenly, a bitter spring rain poured down.
Xu Fengnian and Xu Pu walked into the Fastinghall together. Xu Fengnian said, “The real crisis for Dunhuang will come when the demon Luo Yang enters the city.”
Xu Pu nodded gravely. Even this cavalry commander couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Xu Fengnian joked bitterly, “Don’t jinx it.”
Heavy rain poured down inside and outside the city.
A white-robed figure, having visited the Caiji Buddha Caves, slowly approached Dunhuang.
In the daylight rain, the man’s white robe stood out starkly. Raindrops evaporated before even reaching within ten feet of his body.
Some fleeing and defeated Jinwu cavalry from the Mao family encountered this beautiful, androgynous man on the road. Thinking ill intentions, they barely had time to speak before being hacked to pieces, man and horse alike, in the heavy rain.
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