Chapter 683: Black Qi Miasma

Wei Shen felt that his words had brought him closer to Si Pangzi, and in the next second he immediately went over to ask, "I don't know how big the gap is between your Jing Province cavalry and our Northern Border Mystic Armor Cavalry? Anyway, our Southwest Army is far away." Having said that, he wore an eager expression, waiting for Bai Li Hu's answer.

They had just closed the distance to three meters when his words instantly split open a three‑kilometer‑wide ravine.

"Hmph!" Si Pangzi glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, didn't bother to respond, and decided to rank Wei Shen's annoyance behind San Pangzi.

The warhorses of the Northern Border are all clad in heavy armor that glints with cold light, and even their builds are a head taller than theirs—such a visual impact makes those Jing Province troops of theirs hardly qualify as cavalry, right?

Watching his mouth corners droop uncontrollably downward, the smug, high‑spirited San Pangzi on stage became ever more hateful to look at.

The Great King's slogan‑shouting to rally morale was professional, and Bai Yang said that even if he didn't become emperor, in ancient times he could still rise to the top of a pyramid by doing multi‑level marketing. This guy's few words set the scene ablaze: "The fate of the nation is the responsibility of every commoner; it's time for the Mystic Armor Cavalry to fame under heaven."

Bai Li Hu watched wide‑eyed as San Pangzi's few words set the scene ablaze; the Great King raised the sword at his waist, the cavalry mounting with heroic vigor and surging battle intent, their bearing indeed carrying a hint of invincible, arrogant sharpness—just looking at him, one wouldn't dream that Jing Province soldiers could stop them. The gap in spirit and energy was too great, a chasm as vast as the heavenly moat.

Some join the army because they are conscripted, some just for a meal; these Northern Border troops, clearly having had their aspirations infinitely raised by Bai Li Jing, seem far more idealistic. At this point Bai Li Hu's experience is too limited; he faintly senses something different, unaware that the Army Soul Forging Bones has already begun to take shape.

Wei Shen had been observing the Bai Li Clan's Si Pangzi from the sidelines for a while; seeing the situation, he added the sharpest blow.

"Our Northern Border cavalry fights for home and nation, for their monarch, unlike those mercenary gangs who merely scrape together a living for a meal."

Bai Li Hu strove to keep his expression neutral, putting on a calm, unbothered look as if he weren't taking it personally.

Tsk, feeling dizzy.

Made him feel dizzy and blurred.

The Owl Cavalry led the way; the Great King fastened his flamboyant silver metal mask, then rode up to his fourth brother's side.

"We're setting out now—Fourth Brother, if you can't keep up, let the Owl Cavalry take turns pulling you along; don't overreach, we're all on the same side."

"Who's on your side?"

The Great King, pompous and aloof, said: "You're still young; in a few years you'll know who truly are your kin. Look at our Mystic Armor Cavalry—your sneak attack on those fifty thousand wasn't unjust, was it? But their innocent deaths are a tragedy—those fifty thousand are your fief's subjects, Old Fourth, as their lord you bear an inescapable responsibility for their wrongful death. Those who think long‑term for your sake are your true kin, like me…" This guy, trying to drive a wedge between Old Fourth and the Cui Clan, seized every opening.

Bai Li Hu pinched his nose and spoke stiffly: "Mind your own business."

The Great King patted the White Dragon, gave a haughty … turned and left, saying, "Hmph! Don't know a good heart."

His little stunt‑stone Xiao Jin, imitating him, strutted over to Bai Li Hu, twisted its hindquarters and bumped the man's horse, making him stagger.

Bai Li Hu: … took a deep breath.

He silently recited, "People under the eaves… under the eaves!" No good!

He caught up and said, "You don't really think such a low‑level scheme would work on this king, do you?"

"Whether it's low‑level or not depends on the person; whether it works or not, you know," he said, again throwing himself into the fray, and the Great King grew ever more pleased.

……

Bai Li Hu wanted to slap his own naive self, giving that guy a chance to mess up!

Xie Yuan led the civil and military officials out of the city to see them off; ruler and minister were in harmony. The mighty crowd of Youzhou locals watching the spectacle showed no border‑related worries on their faces, and this undoubtedly dealt another heavy blow to Bai Li Hu's already bruised heart, pierced a thousand times by the Great King.

Only after the unit left the city did they fully unleash their speed; the Iron Cavalry kicked up dust, advancing like a bolt of lightning, unstoppable.

"Golden spears and iron horses, swallowing ten thousand miles like a tiger." Today it finally took concrete form.

The more he looked, the more annoyed he became.

Bai Li Hu finally understood why the Great King wore a veil when riding; as soon as he opened his mouth to ask when they'd rest, he got a faceful of dirt, and his spirits sank even further.

When they set up camp at night, the Great King mysteriously pulled Wei Shen aside, dramatically drew a big circle, and said, "Look at Old Fourth—don't you feel the black qi swirling within three meters around him?"