If a common noble with his servants were to travel, and the master were disgraced, the attendants would surely leap from assistants to accomplices, teaching the outspoken girl a lesson for her indiscretion. Yet Ning Zong grew increasingly uneasy because not only did the main party take it with a smile, but the men at the two other tables also seemed indifferent. Particularly the two men sitting next to the white-haired young man, who looked at Hu Chunya with a frank admiration, as if the little girl had become the greatest female hero in the martial world by uttering those harsh words. Ning Zong had secretly hoped that the two tables would erupt in anger, allowing him to mediate. If he could quell the matter peacefully, it would prove that the incident wasn’t aimed at Minister Huang. Ning Zong was even willing to feign humility and apologize profusely, enduring humiliation like a complete coward, just to ensure safety.
However, the situation developed surprisingly well. The group showed no signs of confrontation, perhaps treating Hu Chunya’s words as childish nonsense. The white-haired young noble didn’t even insist on selling half the bottle of wine. After Huang Chan hastily finished his meal, Ning Zong quickly paid, and the group left the inn like drifting duckweed on water—each going their separate ways with a swirl, never to cross paths again. As Ning Zong mounted his horse and departed, a great stone lifted from his heart. He couldn’t help but glance back at the inn’s entrance, vaguely seeing the prematurely gray-haired, refined young noble pouring a cup of wine for the imposing man beside him. Hu Chunya, still fuming, glared fiercely at her companion and lashed the horse’s rump with her whip.
Wang Lin, who inherited his father’s legacy and led three hundred iron cavalry, was severely wounded and had lost an arm, yet he remained cheerful and content. Compared to Lu Song, who was cautious and meticulous while heading south, Wang Lin was bold and careless in front of Xu Fengnian. After Huang Chan’s group left the inn, Wang Lin eagerly grabbed a bowl and sat beside the youth Wu, trying to join in the drinking. Xu Fengnian had just poured wine for Yuan Zuozong, and casually poured a full bowl for Wang Lin. The young man, spouting flattery that no one took seriously, sat cross-legged on the bench with a grin, saying, “That sharp-tongued girl must have no idea she just strolled through the gates of hell. The young master has a great tolerance for wine—and even greater tolerance for insults.”
Xu Fengnian smiled slightly but didn’t respond directly. Instead, he turned to Yuan Zuozong and asked, “Brother Yuan, shall we go admire the mountain scenery together?”
Yuan Zuozong nodded, and the two walked out of the inn. Outside, there was a simple thatched shed, its roof weighed down by heavy snow, looking precarious. Xu Fengnian stamped his feet, shaking off the snow and sludge, and gazed toward the distant Longwei Slope. Further south lay the former territory of the Southern Tang dynasty. The emperor of the Qin dynasty had once relocated 400,000 refugees to garrison the Six Ridges. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and bordering a great river to the north, the terrain sloped gradually from south to north. This isolated Gourd-shaped region had become a battleground vulnerable to attacks from all directions.
During the Spring and Autumn period, the great general Gu Dazu of the Southern Tang proposed that defending the kingdom could not be confined to one corner. He pointed out that the enemy had more than fourteen routes of attack, and that the kingdom was squeezed from all sides. Simply defending the two strategic strongholds of the Jiujang River and the capital city of Luzhou would inevitably lead to a lapse in defense. He argued that the Southern Tang must fight beyond its borders to protect itself. Unfortunately, his advice was not heeded by the Southern Tang ruler. Despite having 300,000 elite troops, they were trapped and surrendered without a fight. Although Gu Dazu once led the Southern Tang navy in a feigned retreat to lure the hastily assembled 100,000 troops of Liyang into an ambush on the turbulent lake, nearly annihilating them, such a tactical victory ultimately had little impact on the overall outcome. With the fall of the Southern Tang, Gu Dazu, who had excelled in both land and naval battles, vanished without a trace. People often said that Gu Dazu was born at the right time, but in the wrong kingdom. Had he been a citizen of Liyang, his achievements might have rivaled those of Xu Xiao and Gu Jiantang.
Xu Fengnian shook his head slightly and murmured, “Han Shengxuan was waiting in Shenwu City with a determination to die. A eunuch who rose to the rank of a high official in the Department of Ceremonial, he still remained a eunuch, with no heir. Choosing Prince Zhao Kai as his master, I’ve always struggled to understand his decision. It would have been a safe bet to support the rising Prince Zhao Wu or even the Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan, since both were sons of the same parents, and the power would remain within the family. Either of them becoming the heir would have ensured Han’s safety. I once sent Yin on a secret mission to plead with the old sword master of the Sui clan to leave a trace of sword intent on the blade. I had a vague idea of when the old master would borrow the sword to travel to the Wudi City in the East. If I hadn’t staged a convincing act of betrayal, even if Wang Lin and Lu Song’s 800 cavalry surrendered to Beiliang, they would still harbor doubts. More importantly, Han would have grown suspicious. In the end, the ‘Cat Man’ was too confident in his ability to kill a Xiantian-level opponent with his Zhi Xuan technique. But the sword from the East was no ordinary Xiantian-level threat. Looking back now, I still feel a chill.”
Yuan Zuozong chuckled and asked, “The sword immortal of the Sui clan?”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “I only recently learned that Li Chungan once said that when he descended from the Demon-Slaying Platform, his cultivation had greatly declined. The old master, who never revealed his true abilities, went to challenge him without taking any advantage. Although Li’s cultivation had dropped, the power of his Two Green Snake Sleeves was still at its peak. The Sui elder’s sword questioning always targeted the opponent’s strongest move, so they exchanged arms and ended in a draw. In today’s world, aside from the Beiman military god Tuoba Pusa, only this old master could fight Wang Xianzhi in an intense and satisfying battle. But strangely, there has been no news from Wudi City. The Sui elder has always despised empty shows of strength; he prefers to make a big impact with little fanfare.”
At this point, Xu Fengnian couldn’t help but recall the legendary duel between Deng Tai’a and the white-robed demoness outside Dunhuang City in Beiman. Her style was similar to the Sui elder’s, even more so. She didn’t even use a sword but challenged Deng Tai’a with sword techniques, showing her confidence. Did she truly perish in the surging river outside the Yellow River Dragon Wall?
Yuan Zuozong sighed, “Counting the years, this was the second time Your Highness traveled, and you brought trouble from the Sword Grave of the Wu family, the eleventh-ranked swordsman Wang Mingyin. Later, you ventured deep into enemy territory in Beiman, killing the demon lord Xie Ling, fighting Tuoba Chunsun, and even bringing back the head of the fifth leader of the Tibaishan Mountain, Fifth Mo. This time, you killed Han Diaosi. You’ve never been idle. Among the descendants of the Liyang princes, whether legitimate or illegitimate, there must be hundreds, but none have worked as hard as Your Highness.”
The cold wind brushed his face, carrying the unique scent of wild grass roots, refreshing and invigorating. Xu Fengnian smiled, “Perhaps it’s like the saying: the bigger the melon patch, the bigger the thief it attracts. Lame men and ugly women, talented scholars and beautiful ladies—everything is matched by status. With such famous opponents and enemies in the two martial worlds, I should feel honored. Brother Yuan, you’ve been hiding your strength all these years. Even Chen Zhibao has reached the Saint realm. If you don’t reach the Xiantian realm, it would be hard to explain.”
Yuan Zuozong laughed heartily, “Yuan is far from matching the martial prowess of Gu Jiantang’s ‘Heavenly Thunder in a Small Space’ or Chen Zhibao’s ‘Plum Wine.’ However, I excel in leading troops into battle. I wonder when I can ride side by side with Your Highness on the battlefield?”
Xu Fengnian sighed with his hands in his sleeves, “In Beiman, I heard an old soldier from Beiliang say that he often dreams of iron horses and icy rivers.”
Yuan Zuozong looked into the distance and murmured, “I don’t believe the revival of the Xichu kingdom will succeed.”
Xu Fengnian nodded, “Just like how my father never rebelled, even though it seemed to disappoint many soldiers. He knew it was impossible and thus chose not to act. After finally seeing peace restored to the world, what good would it do to become an emperor? As he used to say, ‘Even if I became emperor, could I have three thousand concubines in the harem or eat a few more bowls of meat in one meal? Conquering the world relies on strong men and sharp swords, but governing it requires countless noble families and scholars working together, building up like grains of sand into a tower. Since the people’s hearts were not with my father, becoming a short-lived emperor who ruled only half the country would have meant I wouldn’t be alive today.”
Yuan Zuozong sincerely smiled, “Your father never relied on petty cleverness; he had great wisdom.”
Xu Fengnian turned and said, “In the past, I was a reckless and unscrupulous young man, making you laugh, Brother Yuan.”
Yuan Zuozong did not meet the young prince’s gaze, instead gazing at the white-capped mountains, “Yuan’s loyalty is not inferior to Han Shengxuan’s.”
The slope of Longwei turned downward, and inside the carriage, the old man shook his head and laughed, “Indeed, Huang Chan judged a gentleman by his own petty standards. What a pity for that half jar of wine.”
Besides Huang Chan, who was about to take up an important post, the carriage also carried Li Huai’er. The old man knew the boy’s poor horsemanship, so he let him abandon the horse and ride in the carriage instead. The night before, during a street fight in the city, the boy had saved him. Huang Chan had not spoken much about it, but he was deeply grateful. However, since his own future was uncertain, he couldn’t make any promises. He only hoped to keep the boy away from trouble. If the boy could establish himself in the capital and still dream of the martial world, he might pull a few strings to get him a martial arts manual and secretly pass it to Li Huai’er one day.
The boy was now trembling with fear. He had never been alone with an official before. In his past life in Tie Lu City, he would avoid even the sight of armored city guards, filled with admiration for their armor and iron spears.
Noticing the boy’s unease, the old man, who was respected and admired in both court and countryside, smiled knowingly and tried to engage the boy in small talk about trivial matters. Just as Huang Chan was asking how much money Li Huai’er’s uncle earned in a year teaching at a private school, an arrow shot through the air from deep within the forest. The old servant driving the carriage was pierced through the head by the arrow and fell silently backward, pulling the carriage curtain as he fell. Quick-witted Li Huai’er immediately pulled the old man down.
When Ning Zong saw a carrier pigeon flying overhead, he suddenly spurred his horse into a gallop. This mission to escort Minister Huang to Tai’an City had not only drawn the ire of dozens of officials from the western part of Guangling Road, but also of more than ten military officers. Among them was a seasoned general who had survived the Spring and Autumn period, a commander far superior to any minor general, with two thousand elite troops under his command, nearly four hundred cavalry. If it weren’t for his terrible reputation in the court and his arrogant nature, which had led to many conflicts with other powerful generals in neighboring provinces, several generals along the route would have openly declared that if the large entourage dared to pass through their territory, they would make sure the general paid dearly.
Still, Ning Zong had prepared for the worst-case scenario. In addition to reinforcing the carriage walls with thick sandalwood panels to prevent arrows from piercing through, he had also assigned two skilled martial artists with exceptional lightness skills to act as scouts, keeping watch in pairs ahead and behind the group.
Under the dense barrage, most of the arrows pierced the outer walls of the carriage but were stopped by the expensive sandalwood. However, a few stubborn arrows still protruded slightly, showing the immense strength of the assassins. After two waves of arrows failed to achieve their goal, only one arrow flew through the air.
With a loud bang!
It not only pierced through the double-layered carriage walls but also created a hole the size of an orange.
It was undoubtedly Ding Ce, the top archer from the Tie Lu military garrison!
The arrow embedded itself into the sandalwood at the back of the carriage, its feathered end still vibrating, a clear warning hanging just above Li Huai’er’s head.
The boy’s heart sank into despair.
Although the old warhorse was slow, it had its advantages. Without the driver’s guidance, it quickly stopped after a brief panic, preventing a chaotic escape that could have led to disaster on the narrow mountain path, where a misstep to the right would have sent them tumbling off the cliff.
Ning Zong knew that the temporary scouts had already met their fate. Approaching the carriage, he didn’t expect to break through the hail of arrows in one go. He decisively ordered Xu Zhan and the young woman to try to block the next wave of arrows, while he and the less skilled Hu Chunya (Hu Chunya) helped the old and young onto horses to retreat back the way they came.
Huang Chan and Li Huai’er each rode with Ning Zong and Hu Chunya, respectively. The girl was pale with fear, ignoring the usual proprieties between men and women, urging the horse to gallop wildly, making the man she had always disliked lower his head and bend his waist as they raced back up the Longwei Slope toward the inn.
Ding Ce shot an arrow at Huang Chan’s back, which Xu Zhan deflected with his staff, but the arrow’s force was so great that Xu Zhan nearly lost his grip. Ding Ce fired two arrows in quick succession, one targeting Huang Chan again and the other chasing after the boy. This display of skillful archery was dazzling.
In the middle of the mountain path, a woman leaped from a horse like a black swallow, landing behind it and slicing an arrow in two with her sword, but her palm was instantly cut deeply. Using the rebound force, she floated back onto the horse, then, with a single footstep, she darted toward the second arrow, which was inches from the boy’s back. Realizing she couldn’t reach it in time, she threw her sword, striking the arrow’s fletching and forcing it off course. Before she could catch her breath, Ding Ce shot another arrow from a distance, aiming straight for her forehead. If she dodged sideways, the arrow would surely kill the boy and girl’s horse. She gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and extended her slender, jade-like fingers to grab the arrow. The pain shot through her fingers, but she refused to let go, being dragged backward by the arrow’s force for several meters, maintaining a backward lean until she could almost feel the horse’s tail whipping her face. Her feet sank into the mud, using it to absorb the arrow’s force. When she finally threw the blood-stained arrow away, her body swayed dangerously close to falling, nearly landing under the horse’s hooves.
With a somersault, the woman landed on the back of the red Jujube Horse (red Jujubehorse), seeing that Xu Zhan’s horse had been killed, forcing him to fight on foot. Although Xu Zhan was retreating, his staff techniques and internal energy complemented each other, and his retreat was not without grace. His speed was almost comparable to a galloping horse.
Ning Zong sighed inwardly. This forced retreat might inadvertently draw danger toward others, and he felt deeply apologetic toward the unknown diners at the inn. He could only hope that those people wouldn’t be too heavily involved.
The road between the thatched shed and the inn was where Xu Fengnian and Yuan Zuozong were heading toward the inn. Ning Zong’s horse galloped toward them, and the latter was greatly alarmed, shouting, “Move aside!”
Xu Fengnian gave Yuan Zuozong, who was filled with killing intent, a calming look. The two of them simultaneously stepped back toward the thatched shed, taking two light and graceful steps, easily dodging Ning Zong’s galloping horse.
Then Hu Chunya’s horse also passed by.
The young man Wu had already heard the sound of hooves and stepped out to see what was happening. This young man had no patience for such disturbances and, upon seeing the scene, grinned sinisterly. He crouched and ran, diving under the horse and suddenly standing up, lifting the entire horse and continuing to run forward, overtaking Ning Zong’s horse in an instant.
The strong young man still laughed loudly, saying, “This horse is running too slowly. Let me give you a push!”
On Longwei Slope, a young man was carrying a horse and walking.
At the door, Lu Song smiled without speaking, while Wang Lin sat on the threshold rolling his eyes.
The woman in black on the horse hesitated for a moment, then landed to support Xu Zhan, who was slightly behind. Xu Zhan had originally jumped over the line of the thatched shed but stopped when he saw her pause, also halting to intercept the assassins, who were clearly soldiers from Tie Lu.
About thirty riders followed closely, all on snow-white horses with cotton-wrapped hooves, wearing the white paper armor that had been popular in the Southern Tang dynasty, blending into the snowy landscape.
The leader, a tall man, held a massive bow.
Perhaps due to military orders, he didn’t want to waste time dealing with unnecessary conflicts before killing Huang Chan. The general rode forward, only giving the white-haired young man standing in front of the thatched shed a cold glance before turning his attention to the woman who had repeatedly thwarted his plans.
Yuan Zuozong chuckled and asked, “What do you think?”
Xu Fengnian shook his head, “If possible, don’t get involved.”
Ding Ce, unwilling to be distracted, wanted Huang Chan’s head to claim a major reward that would surely earn him a promotion. However, some of his eager and arrogant subordinates were more than happy to warm up, shooting arrows at Xu Fengnian, Yuan Zuozong, Lu Song, and Wang Lin almost simultaneously.
Lu Song shook his head and casually deflected an arrow.
Wang Lin, with nothing better to do, grabbed an arrow with one hand and deliberately shouted, falling backward.
Lu Song looked at the ruthless soldiers with a hint of pity.
It was almost the New Year; they didn’t even let King Yama have a moment’s peace. They were all in such a hurry to be reborn.
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