Beyond the battlefield, a young man received urgent intelligence at the Wutong Courtyard on Qingliang Mountain. After issuing a nearly harsh military order to the Protectorate of Huaiyang Pass, he abandoned his horse and raced alone to the Qingyuan Army Garrison outside the pass, where he saw a letter written in unfamiliar handwriting.
And then, he continued north.
It was the first time the young man had seen Qi Dangguo’s handwriting.
The characters were not well-written.
A rough man who had joined the military in his youth and spent his life on the battlefield, Qi Dangguo rarely wrote. In the past, during New Year celebrations at Qingliang Mountain, when spring couplets were hung, among the six adopted sons of the “Butcher,” Chu Lushan would always be the most sycophantic, Yao Jian and Ye Xizhen would offer fair critiques, while Chen Zhibao and Yuan Zuozong habitually remained silent. But only this man, Qi Dangguo, would cheerfully ask the young heir for a few couplets to take back to his own residence—and then insist on hanging them himself, year after year, until even his servants grew accustomed to it.
Once, the young man’s father, the old man, casually remarked about his adopted sons: Chen Zhibao was the most calculating, Chu Lushan the most profound, Yuan Zuozong the most sincere, Yao Jian the most complicated, and Ye Xizhen the most chaotic.
But when it came to Qi Dangguo, the old man chuckled to himself and said, “This simpleton has no thoughts at all.”
At the time, the young man had laughed along with him.
**Protectorate of Huaiyang Pass**
Chu Lushan’s face darkened as he read the latest intelligence report. Yuan Zuozong’s expression was equally grave as he turned and strode toward the gate.
Chu Lushan shook his head. “No need to go. His Highness… Xiao Nian has already set off.”
As if speaking to himself, Chu Lushan added, “Old Qi might not die.”
Yuan Zuozong sneered. “Might not?!”
Chu Lushan suddenly erupted in fury. “Yuan Zuozong! What the hell use is it for you to go to Longyan Plain now?! Can you even make it in time?!”
Yuan Zuozong stepped over the threshold and said calmly, “I’m not going to Tiger Head City. In Liuzhou, Kou Jianghuai and Xie Xichui are working together—whether they succeed depends on them. I’m going to Youzhou, to Hulu Pass. Since we’ve decided to strike first, we might as well make it big.”
Chu Lushan slumped in resignation. “Go, then.”
Yuan Zuozong paused outside the gate and said evenly, “If the day comes when Huaiyang Pass can’t be held, remember there’s still Jubei City to the south.”
Chu Lushan waved him off. “No need for your nagging. Never took you for a chatterbox before.”
**North of Tiger Head City, Longyan Plain, the battlefield.**
Qi Dangguo, commander of the Iron Pagoda cavalry, lay on the ground, his armor shattered, blood gushing from his wounds.
Seven elite assassins from the Fushui Bureau had failed to stop the Northern Barbarian grandmaster who dismounted to fight on foot. Even a hundred Iron Pagoda riders and three hundred White Feather light cavalry couldn’t hold him back—their formation was torn apart by a single man.
Qi Dangguo, who had managed only a single thrust of his spear, was struck in the chest by the man’s fist and thrown from his horse, sliding over a dozen zhang across the ground.
The man drifted down beside him and smiled. “Before you die, let me tell you—Xu Fengnian is on his way. He’s actually very, very close. Just a little too late. Qi Dangguo, does it feel unfair to die like this?”
Qi Dangguo’s chest heaved violently, blood seeping from his lips. He could no longer speak.
But his elbows stiffened, his fingers clawing at the earth as if he still wanted to struggle to his feet.
Hong Jingyan closed his eyes, intoxicated. “This is the taste of heaven and earth resonating! Only now do I understand why Qi Xuanzhen called the Heavenly Phenomena realm ‘mere scenery outside the gate.’ The view inside is truly indescribable!”
He looked down. “Xu Fengnian is late, but I, Hong Jingyan, am not!”
Hong Jingyan grew even more delighted. “Oh, and one more bad news I just learned—after hearing Xu Fengnian was coming, Tuoba Pusa, who had been advancing slowly south, has also picked up his pace. If I just head two hundred li north, Xu Fengnian and Tuoba Pusa will meet.”
He turned his gaze south and laughed loudly. “Xu Fengnian! When Jubei City falls, I’ll give you the chance for revenge!”
With that, Hong Jingyan’s figure shot backward, vanishing in an instant.
A few blinks later, a young man with cracked lips, dressed in plain clothes, knelt beside Qi Dangguo.
Though his vision was blurred in his final moments, the dying man somehow recognized that youthful face.
He wanted to speak, but no words came—only more blood spilled from his lips.
The young man gently pressed a hand to his chest, where the shattered armor was warm with blood.
He bent low and shook his head slightly.
This former standard-bearer of the Northern Liang cavalry, in his last moments, summoned an unimaginable surge of strength—his hand clamped fiercely around the young man’s wrist.
Since ancient times, the strongest on the battlefield bore the army’s banner.
Among the 300,000 Northern Liang cavalry, only Qi Dangguo was worthy.
And this man’s final act of strength was to beg the young man not to go north for his sake.
Even in death, he refused to let go.
The young man gently clasped the dead man’s hand, his face expressionless, devoid of sorrow or joy.
The greatest suffering is soundless.
※※※
In the end, the young man pried Qi Dangguo’s fingers open one by one, then leaned down to close his eyes.
When he had left the Northern Liang Palace, he hadn’t even had time to strap on his Liang blade.
Not far from Qi Dangguo’s body, he found the iron spear and gripped it in his hand.
Alone, with a single spear, he raced north.
Hong Jingyan, already dozens of li away, heard a voice like thunder in his ears.
“You seek death? Then I’ll grant it to you!”
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