Chapter 790: What a Thrill!

"Little runt, look for yourself." Xiao Ran raised his hand, pointing toward the beach, holding his breath: "We knocked that wall down, but there's another wall behind it!"

Chen Hao said, "Not bad, and they're all archers on top!"

"Huh?" Tuan Tuan hurriedly took her little Thousand-mile mirror from Lu Qi's hand and looked toward the shore: "Wow! It's really there!"

She saw the strange banner: "The flower on that flag looks so ugly!"

Xiao Ningchen stared intently at the beach: "All around the coast and on the sand are fragments of stone and wood, mixed with the original iron thistles, razor‑sharp, piled up in a thick layer."

Zhang Wu'an said, "Yeah, it's too thick, we can't walk through it at all. How do we clear it?"

"Can't clear it," Zhao Tieshan shook his head: "As soon as the soldiers go up, the archers will definitely start shooting arrows."

Xiao Ningxun's brows never relaxed: "Those are one thing, but the most urgent problem is that our warships are blocked by those obstacles and can't move forward."

"The cannons can't reach, and the infantry can't get up."

Feng Zhou sighed: "Bai wasted so many cannonballs; the other side already prepared a backup."

Tuan Tuan set the mirror down, looking at this and that: "How about I blast all those things into the sea, okay?"

"But," Xiao Tuanzi said worriedly, "Second Brother Xiao Er just said those things are all sharp; could they pierce the fish in the sea?"

Xiao Ningchen's eyes lit up: "No! Third Brother assures you, absolutely not!"

"The fish in the sea are super smart; they won't stupidly crash into those things!"

Tuan Tuan blinked: "Then why do they still get fished up by Uncle Zhao for fish soup?"

Xiao Ningxun was at a loss for words: "……"

Chu Yuan laughed and said, "Those fish aren't stupid; they only see the bait, not the hook, so they end up as soup in your bowl."

"Oh!" Tuan Tuan suddenly understood, "So it's because their eyesight is bad!"

Chu Yuan: "……"

Xiao Ran burst out laughing, and everyone else couldn't help but grin.

"Forget it, the disciple is still young; if it doesn't make sense, it just won't."

Chu Yuan smiled: "Tuan Tuan, could you help your Third Brother? Look, he's so worried his eyebrows are twisted together."

Tuan Tuan glanced at Third Brother, stretched out her arm, grabbed his sleeve and pulled him in front of her.

She lifted both little hands and gently smoothed Xiao Ningxun's eyebrows: "Third Brother, don't worry, I'll help you!"

Xiao Ningxun felt a pang of tenderness, held his sister's small hand, pressed it to his lips and said, "With Tuan Tuan here, Third Brother will never worry a day in his life, okay?"

"Mm!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously.

"Cough cough cough," Xiao Ningchen coughed a few times, "My throat feels a bit uncomfortable."

Tuan Tuan instantly turned to him, grabbed his sleeve: "Second Brother Xiao Er, come over quickly, open your mouth for me to see."

Xiao Ningchen cheerfully pushed Third Brother aside and opened his mouth toward his sister.

Tuan Tuan examined carefully: "Your throat is a little red! Second Brother, you must drink more water these days!"

Xiao Ningchen nodded satisfied: "Alright, brother, I'll listen to you."

Xiao Yuanhang rolled his eyes at his two sons, childish!

He turned, lifted his daughter away from the sons' sight, and whispered in her ear, "Good little girl, come, use your tattered treasure in Daddy's arms, okay?"

"Daddy will shield you, so they can't see!"

"Mm mm! Daddy is tall and big, please shield me the best!" Tuan Tuan lowered her head and untied the small Embroidered pouch at her waist.

She fished out from it the chipped paper talisman fragment that Xiao Jieyun had given her, clenched it in her hand, thought a moment, and muttered:

"Beautiful sea, could you do me a favor?"

"Sweep away all that messy stuff, make it completely clean!"

After speaking, she released her little hand, and the talisman fragment fell down.

A faint light flashed, and the fragment vanished instantly.

The next moment.

Wave after wave surged from the deep sea toward the shore, layer upon layer, like countless gentle giant hands stroking the coast.

Tuan Tuan pointed at the snow‑white surf: "Daddy, look! So beautiful!"

Xiao Yuanhang hugged his daughter tightly and planted a forceful kiss on her little cheek: "No one is prettier than my little girl!"

Tuan Tuan laughed happily, cupped her father's big face and gave him two quick kisses, left and right.

Xiao Yuanhang turned his head and gave his two sons a smug smile.

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ningxun: "……"

"Father, why are you being so childish!"

After the waves rolled for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, broken wood, shattered stakes, and iron thistles were all swept into the sea; the sand on the beach was washed smooth and even, glinting golden in the sunlight.

The whole beach was spotless, as if those things had never existed.

Zheng Wucheng stared in amazement: "The deity manifested again?"

Zhao Tieshan impatiently ordered: "Approach the coast! Prepare the cannons!"

Xiao Yuanhang handed his daughter to Xiao Er: "Take her back to the cabin."

Xiao Er took Tuan Tuan and sprinted toward the cabin.

Tuan Tuan poked her head out from Xiao Er's shoulder and waved her little hand at everyone: "I'll be back later!"

Everyone smiled and nodded at her.

Lu Qi carried Xiao Feifei, helped Chu Yuan stride forward quickly.

Hundreds of cannon ships slowly approached the coast.

"Stop!" Zhao Tieshan raised his hand high and slammed it down: "Fire!"

Hundreds of heavy cannons roared in unison, shells whistling toward the second stone wall.

The first salvo of shells struck the wall; blue bricks shattered, and rubble sprayed backward like a violent rain.

The crenel crossbowmen hadn't yet loosened their bowstrings when rubble struck them; they screamed and fell from the wall top.

"Again!" Zhao Tieshan bellowed fiercely once more.

The second salvo of shells roared out, and the whole wall section began to shake violently.

The crossbowmen could no longer bother to shoot; they dropped their bows, leapt from the wall top and ran wildly, shoving and trampling each other, their screams rising in a chorus.

The flagpole tilted slowly in the smoke.

The huge banner embroidered with the sasarindō pattern first leaned to one side, then came crashing down.

"Boom——!"

The wall finally could not hold, bursting outward from its middle.

Huge stone slabs tumbled and crashed into the beach.

The smoke had not yet cleared when a blinding flash of cold light suddenly flared in the distance.

"Cavalry! "Feng Zhou shouted in surprise," there are still cavalry lying in ambush behind!"

War horses neighed; the warriors on them drew their long swords, stood ready, and would charge forward as soon as anyone landed on the shore.

Xiao Yuanhang's voice remained calm as usual: "Keep firing."

The third salvo of shells flew over the collapsed wall and slammed hard into the cavalry formation.

Countless war horses reared up, violently throwing their riders to the ground.

Iron hooves trampled fallen comrades in the chaos, and in an instant the cavalry formation was shattered by artillery fire.

The fortunate cavalry who escaped being hit could no longer hold their formation; they turned their mounts and fled wildly to the rear.

Everyone watched, blood boiling, utterly exhilarated!

Xiao Yuanhang gave the order: "Land!"

In the evening, at the Kamakura Castle shogun's residence, in the Flying Cloud Pavilion.

Lights blazed, cups clashed, a few dance girls waved their fans and danced, while the officials were delighted and beat time in accompaniment.

Yuan Guangyi sat in the seat of honor and slowly raised his wine cup.

The sounds of strings and pipes, whispers, and chants vanished instantly, and the dance girls all fell to their knees.

Yuan Guangyi said: "Lord Abe, by his own power, has drawn the divine wind to protect the nation, destroying the enemy warships in one fell swoop—a merit to the state."

"He has been appointed Chief Abe Taiqin of the Bureau of Yin and Yang as Grand Master of State Protection, granted a stipend of two thousand stone, fifty cho of farmland, and one hundred taels of gold."

Abe Taiqin bowed to the ground in gratitude: "I receive the command; thank you, General, for your great kindness!"

Yuan Guangyi passed his wine cup to the attendant beside him: "Present this wine to the Grand Master of State Protection."

The attendant received the cup with both hands, knee‑walked to Abe, and raised the cup to eyebrow level.

Abe placed both hands on the ground, performed a bow, then rose, took the cup with both hands, and drained it in one gulp.

Afterwards he returned the empty cup to the attendant, then bowed again to Yuan Guangyi: "I kowtow to thank the General."

Yuan Guangyi raised a hand: "Everyone, enjoy yourselves."

The sounds of strings and pipes rose again, and the dance girls continued to swirl in dance.

Countless senior officials began to offer Abe Taiqin a toast.

"Master Abe has achieved great merit this time! Please drink this cup to the full!"

"Congratulations, Master, on receiving the title of Grand Master of State Protection!"

Abe Taiqin turned away no one; a faint flush rose on his pallid face.

Tengyuan Liangxin raised his wine cup toward him.

Abe Taiqin glanced at him, sat up straight with a proud exhale, adopted an air of superiority, lifted his chin at him, and also raised his cup.

After three rounds of wine, a palace attendant came to the door, face flushed with panic and drenched in sweat.