Chapter 187

Chen Yi He cultivated with the imperial clan's elder in the Buddhist Canon Pavilion.

After leaving the imperial capital, Yan Shan Hai, Hu Bao, and Linghu Shang headed east nonstop, striving to reach Dong Hai in the shortest time possible. Taking advantage of Dongfang Wuji's severe injuries, this was their best chance to negotiate; otherwise, if they waited for him to recover, given his temperament, he might not even entertain them.

Luo Qingkui ultimately did not join them, because the 70,000 troops in the imperial capital had no leader; if Zhang Gonggong brought the Embroidered Uniform Guard from elsewhere to launch a surprise attack, the forces would be leaderless, with unthinkable consequences. Therefore Luo Qingkui took charge of the martial world's great alliance's soldiers, leading them to garrison outside the capital to both guard against the Embroidered Uniform Guard's sneak attacks and consolidate the victory's gains.

Luo Qingkui had experience leading troops in battle in his earlier years, making him the best choice to stay behind and guard the imperial capital.

After leaving the imperial capital, Master Le Bei, Nun Shang Rong, and Hong Liang headed south nonstop. The West Depot had assigned its 300,000 Embroidered Uniform Guard troops stationed along Heavenly Peace Avenue, scattered across various locations; they had to search city by city. Without a targeted approach, they might spend three months and still not find Zhang Gonggong.

Duan Sheng and the Western Desert Sword Devil left the imperial capital heading north nonstop; the Sword-Leaning Pavilion lies to the north, not as far as the Five Absolutes Palace, but still not close to the capital. They would need at least seven days on the road.

……

Seven days later.

The weather gradually turned cold, and even the seaside was very cold.

"Giddyap! Giddyap! Giddyap giddyap giddyap!" Yan Shan Hai incessantly whipped the horse's butt with his wish, wishing he could lash the horse into flight and then ascend to heaven in a single step, reaching Dong Hai in the blink of an eye.

Even though they were already very close to Dong Hai, they needed to spend a day crossing the dense bamboo forest ahead before they could part the clouds and see the sun, arriving at Dong Hai.

Upon entering the bamboo forest, they had no choice but to slow down.

"Sect Master Yan, we should be able to reach Dong Hai tomorrow," Hu Bao said to Yan Shan Hai.

The nonstop rush over several days left even a master like Yan Shan Hai feeling fatigued, but thinking that he could rest properly tonight and get a good night's sleep made him feel relieved; he sighed, "I never expected that within a month we would have to come to Dong Hai twice!"

"Who would have thought? Compared to our fallen comrades, we are extremely fortunate," Hu Bao also sighed.

"Hahaha! You two are just overthinking," Linghu Shang laughed loudly, "Who knows, we might end up following our predecessors and die in Dong Hai."

"Dongfang Wuji should be able to gauge the situation properly," Yan Shan Hai also had no confidence in his heart.

The bamboo, no longer verdant, swayed in the wind; in deep autumn the bamboo leaves fell like snow, scattering everywhere, blanketing the ground in a golden yellow.

Suddenly, the three of them simultaneously reined in their horses and slowly gathered together, warily scanning the surroundings of the bamboo forest.

"Swish." Yan Shan Hai drew his Song Mountain sword.

"Swish." Linghu Shang furtively rested his hand on his waist-mounted Hua Mountain sword.

Hu Bao also drew his sword.

"How many people?" Yan Shan Hai asked.

"More than one," Hu Bao replied.

Linghu Shang added, "More than ten."

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Long arrows pierced the tranquil bamboo forest! Stabbing toward the central area!

The three trapped in the middle all gripped their swords and blades tightly, blocking the incoming long arrows.

These long arrows were nothing like ordinary ones; their impact far exceeded that of normal arrows! The shafts were long and thick, coated with poison, and when they struck the ground they could embed halfway into a sword blade! Moreover, the poison on them could explode instantly, causing the withered leaves on the ground to melt in an instant into pools of brownish-yellow slurry.

"Who is it?" Hu Bao shouted.

"No need to ask, it's the Eighteen Riders of the West Depot," Yan Shan Hai answered Hu Bao, "Only members of the West Depot's Eighteen Riders use such long arrows, paired with a bow so strong that ordinary people cannot draw it, unleashing tremendous force! Its power is great enough to shatter metal and split stone!"

"Hahaha! As expected of the leader of the Five Peaks Alliance, you have such keen insight." Amid the laughter, a figure stepped out from deep within the bamboo forest.

That person was tall and bulky, dressed entirely in cold-weather garb, riding a horse, emerging with an arrogant bearing.

"Nan Zhongyi!" Hu Bao exclaimed in shock.

Just half a month ago, Nan Zhongyi had been their comrade-in-arms fighting side by side; only a dozen days had passed before he turned against them and became their enemy.

"General Nan, no, you probably don't even have a name anymore; you're one of the West Depot's Eighteen Riders, hahaha! Swapping armor for cold-weather garb—what a move, truly admirable!" Yan Shan Hai laughed loudly.

With a "swish swish swish," a line of mounted men appeared behind Nan Zhongyi; they quickly adjusted their positions and, in the blink of an eye, surrounded Yan Shan Hai and his two companions.

This line of people all wore the exact same cold-weather garb as Nan Zhongyi; their expressions were dull, their eyes empty, merely facing their enemies and awaiting orders—they were the most ruthless killing machines in the world!

The chill emanating from them was like the temperature drop before a blizzard, icy cold sweeping across the entire bamboo grove.

Yan Shan Hai clearly understood that these individuals' abilities were not inferior to his trio's, for they were the legendary Eighteen Riders of the West Depot! Zhang Gonggong's finest elite force! A presence comparable to tens of thousands of troops!

What Yan Shan Hai sensed, Linghu Shang and Hu Bao also sensed. Though they were positioned in a mutually checking stance and could not see each other's eyes, they all knew that today would not end well.

"Hahaha! Swapping armor for cold-weather garb? Yes, that's right—this is all thanks to you! Especially you, Yan Shan Hai!" Perhaps having just replaced Zhang Gonggong and joined the West Depot's Eighteen Riders, Nan Zhongyi's violent temper had not changed in the slightest; his attitude was the complete opposite of the remaining seventeen's icy aloofness. Nan Zhongyi pointed at Yan Shan Hai and roared, the fury in his eyes nearly spilling over.

"I merely made the correct decision. We are to deal with Dongfang Wuji, not Chen Yi He," Yan Shan Hai calmly said to Nan Zhongyi.

Nan Zhongyi did not feel his cold-weather garb was something to be proud of, especially compared to armor. "You brought a bunch of martial-world fellows to deal with me over a greenhorn kid! You've driven me to a dead end!"

"So then, what does your grand gesture today mean?" Yan Shan Hai asked.

The calmer Yan Shan Hai became, the more irascible Nan Zhongyi grew.

"Hahaha! You ask what I mean? My meaning is revenge—I want you dead!" Nan Zhongyi roared, "You'd never imagine that I am so highly regarded by Zhang Gonggong!"