Chapter 2637

"After she sacrificed herself, the door panel didn't say a word for a whole month. When she returned to Panlongcheng, she sat at her usual tavern and drank herself into a stupor. You know, Liutiao's drinking capacity is much better than his—he used to tease him all the time." Hu Min cleared his throat with difficulty before continuing, "We all miss her very much."

Liutiao is cheerful, intelligent, and generous, with unlimited loyalty to Panlongcheng.

He Lingchuan rode his warhorse, and even though it was wartime, merchants and travelers still flowed continuously along the road.

This city still breathes; every person is still rushing about for life and war.

"And there's Du Xing, Wang Chongbo, Xu Lishan..." Hu Min recited seven or eight names in a row—some were seedlings He Lingchuan had once favored, others were outstanding young officers from other legions—"They all... sacrificed."

The vitality of this land, the continuation of this nation, cannot be sustained without the bloodshed and sacrifice of such excellent warriors.

War is a grand farewell.

Every excellent warrior's sacrifice leaves this city with wounds that are hard to heal.

"Rest assured, Liutiao and the others' blood will not be shed in vain." He Lingchuan slapped Hu Min's shoulder hard, then shook him vigorously, just as they had done many years ago when they first teamed up after completing a mission, "I'm back. Our revenge has just begun! We will definitely make Between Between Between Beijia pay the price."

The Tiger Wing General's promise has never gone unfulfilled before.

"Mm!" Hu Min's eye sockets grew hot, and he blinked hard twice.

The Tiger Wing General has returned. The Imperial Twin Stars are about to resume their positions, and they will once again lead us in battle for Panlong!

The two walked out of the South Gate of Panlongcheng, mounted their steeds, and galloped toward the Tiger Wing Army's encampment.

……

In the main tent of the Tiger Wing Army's grand camp, the officers were gathered around the sand table discussing military affairs.

Shawei just snorted: "If Xu Zhiyu can't hold talisman Gou, I've said my piece."

Menban said: "In the past few battles, he fought quite well. Our general used to say, 'After three days apart, one should look at a person with new eyes'—you shouldn't judge Xu Zhiyu with old eyes either."

"You also call him Xu Zhiyu directly?" Shawei chuckled, "You don't think highly of him either."

Menban opened his mouth, and the skinny guy quickly stepped in to change the subject and smooth things over:

"Hey hey, you say we were recalled from various places and reassembled here—does that mean the higher-ups want to reorganize the Tiger Wing Army?"

Over the past few years, the Tiger Wing Army had also been scattered and absorbed into other armies.

But recently, over the past half month, Tiger Wing Army members have been gradually recalled from various places, even from the battlefield, and have gathered in the suburbs of Panlongcheng. Everyone is puzzled, and inevitably, their imaginations run wild.

"Who could lead us when we're gathered together?" Shawei hoped, "Could it be the Red General?"

In his heart, aside from the Tiger Wing General, only the Red General is worthy of leading the Tiger Wing Army.

"The Red General already commands the Great Wind Army—he can't even manage his own troops, let alone us?"

"Who knows? Over the past year or so, the Great Wind Army has also suffered heavy losses—maybe they want to reinforce us with us."

Shawei's words left everyone silent in an instant.

The skinny guy turned to Menban: "You weren't just with Hu Min entering the city earlier, were you? Any news from above?"

"Wait for Hu Min to return, and you'll know." Menban made a slicing motion across his lips, "Military orders are as firm as mountains."

Military orders forbid speaking, so he cannot speak.

The Great Shaman's attempt this time to awaken the Tiger Wing General carries the possibility of failure. Therefore, it must not be prematurely disclosed within the army.

Everyone felt an itch: "Good news or bad news?"

"We've heard so much bad news—we deserve some good news, right?"

"Good news, great good news." Menban's mouth was almost split to the base of his ear, and he couldn't help but add, "It's the kind of good news you'd find hard to believe."

Hard to believe?

"Could it be... that our general has awakened?" Shawei self-mocked, "Besides that, nothing else could count as good news."

Another officer, Zhuang Yinan, laughed: "Wrong. Not being assigned to serve under Xu Zhiyu would be good news for you."

Shawei rolled his eyes.

At that moment, the tent flap was lifted, and Hu Min walked in.

The officers immediately asked: "What's the situation? Menban said..."

They didn't get to finish, because another person followed Hu Min in, casually throwing back his cloak!

The lively main tent fell instantly silent as the grave. Every face showed disbelief.

This person laughed: "What, has your tongue been snatched by a cat?"

"General He!" Shawei overjoyed, took a flying step toward him, then suddenly didn't know what to do with himself—flustered, he dropped to one knee with a thud, "You've awakened!"

The officers cheered, surged forward, and knelt in unison in a circle. These iron-boned, resolute men—several of them had reddened eye sockets.

The good thing they had dreamed of day and night had finally come true!

He Lingchuan felt a mix of emotions in his heart, yet teased them: "Aren't you all eloquent speakers? Why not say a few pleasant words?"

The officers offered congratulations one after another. Zhuang Yinan held back his blush for a long time before finally managing: "Congratulations, General He—safe and sound, may your life span match heaven's!"

The tent fell silent again, then everyone couldn't help but laugh.

That laugh instantly eased the atmosphere.

He Lingchuan then ordered everyone to rise, and afterward, his smile faded:

"The news of my awakening must be kept secret until the Tiger Wing Army leaves Panlongcheng's territory. Anyone who leaks it prematurely will face military punishment! Do you all understand?"

The officers replied in unison: "Understood!"

He Lingchuan's gaze swept over their faces one by one, noticing that half of the core officers in his army were gone, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

They were all outstanding officers he had carefully selected and personally promoted—now they had been ground to flesh and blood in the war's furnace.

He walked with his hands behind his back to the edge of the sand table: "Now, tell me about the battle background and frontline military situation."

"Yes." Hu Min stepped forward and first explained the war background.

The Tiger Wing General had been in a deep slumber for five years. In the first three years, although Panlong and Between Between Between Beijia had some friction, the overall intensity of conflict remained controllable.

On one hand, after Panlong absorbed the old territory of Xiluo, it bordered Between Between Between Beijia, and Zhong Shengguang adjusted his strategy, intentionally easing tensions. This was not him abandoning his vision of resisting the demons, but rather wanting to control the intensity of both sides' conflicts, to buy Panlong more time to develop and grow stronger.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth has been continuously increasing. Although it hasn't erupted in explosive, well-like bursts as in the reality where He Lingchuan resides, each passing day makes Panlong a little stronger—this is an undeniable fact.

On the other hand, the Panlong system implemented in the old Xiluo territory was severely maladapted to local conditions.

From the Panlong Wasteland to the Maohe Plain, Zhong Shengguang's political and economic measures had proven effective, but precisely in the old Xiluo territory, civilians struggled to adapt to Panlong's highly militarized administrative system, and conflicts erupted frequently everywhere.

Therefore, occupying the old Xiluo territory would not only fail to benefit Panlong in the short term, but would instead drain its substantial manpower, material resources, and finances, even requiring the deployment of troops to suppress uprisings.

Upon hearing this, He Lingchuan asked: "Why does Xiluo resist Panlong?"

(End of chapter)