Chapter 9: Huang Fei of the Chu State

Xichuan City, a wide moat circled this first important town in the royal domain, passing through the boundless wilderness, the tall city walls appearing as if they could never be breached by any enemy, standing majestically by the side of the great river.

At this moment, outside the city was a mess of war, broken swords and remnants, corpses everywhere. The moat water had been dyed a heavy red. Under the dim sky, the mournful wind was biting, clearly having just experienced a fierce battle.

"General!"

Two deputy generals entered the main camp, and Jin Wu Yu turned around immediately: "How many people are left?"

"Counting the injured brothers, less than two thousand."

Jin Wu Yu's heart sank, his brows locked. He led the surviving soldiers from the battle of Cangyuan to break out of the encirclement and retreat to Xichuan. The Xichuan garrison fled before the enemy arrived. Last night, although they barely blocked the enemy's first wave of attacks by relying on the strength of Xichuan City, they suffered heavy losses. Now, wanting to hold Xichuan with these two thousand remnants was nothing short of a pipe dream.

"What is the enemy's situation?"

"No movement."

"No movement?"

"We... can't get any news!"

Jin Wu Yu suddenly remembered the situation in Cangyuan that night, and a chill grew in his heart.

In the battle of Cangyuan, the enemy descended from the sky at the most impossible time and in the most unimaginable way. The sentries spread across the mountains and fields had not noticed anything beforehand. The iron cavalry, sharp as a blade, scattered the two hundred thousand army, attacking from all sides, surrounding and killing, leaving corpses everywhere in one night, blood dyeing the mountains and forests. If it weren't for the old General Wen fighting to the death to cover the retreat, allowing them the opportunity to break out, I fear no one would have survived.

Jin Wu Yu slowly clenched his fists, the tragic scene of that night's bloody battle reappearing before his eyes. Two hundred thousand troops were defeated just like that, defeated completely, yet they didn't even know who the enemy was. Having fought in many battles, the shame of a defeated army was nothing compared to this!

"Who goes there!" A shout from outside the tent suddenly brought him back to his senses. Jin Wu Yu looked up abruptly, only to see everyone drawing their swords, surrounding a person.

That person wore a flowing black silk soft robe, a dark silver silk belt tying a slender figure at the waist. On the road before the camp, he stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes beneath the light veil and flying black brows, his ink-like pupils lifting, falling on Jin Wu Yu with a carefree smile.

Jin Wu Yu felt as if he had been stung by the sun. Although he couldn't see the face, he vaguely felt that he had seen this person somewhere before. One of the guards retreated, reporting in a low voice: "General, it's someone from the Mingyi Tower."

The twenty-eight branch leaders of the Mingyi Tower were spread across the states, and everyone had to give them three points of face. This black long robe was something few people in the world of martial arts dared to wear so ostentatiously now. But looking at this demeanor, Jin Wu Yu guessed that this person's status in the Mingyi Tower should not be low. He cupped his hands and said loudly: "I am Jin Wu Yu, I don't know who you are, please forgive me for not welcoming you!"

The visitor was none other than Zi Rao, who had changed her attire and left the Di Du a few days ago to head south to the Chu State.

Although Xichuan was not on the necessary path to Chu, the Mingyi Tower had investigated that the Chu army was pursuing the remnants of Cangyuan and was gathering troops to attack Xichuan. Zi Rao guessed that Huang Fei must be leading the troops here in person, so she decided to change her route temporarily to investigate Xichuan first.

"Jin Wu Yu, so you are truly in Xichuan. Are you unable to leave, or do you not want to?" Amidst the surrounding swords, Zi Rao's brows lifted slightly, walking forward leisurely, the guards retreating involuntarily.

Jin Wu Yu felt a chill in his heart, hearing this person's tone was not small. He frowned slightly: "This subordinate is under royal command. Xichuan is an important town, how can I abandon it?"

"Can you hold it?" Zi Rao asked again, neither cold nor hot.

Jin Wu Yu said expressionlessly: "A real man knows it cannot be done and still does it. How can there be any reason to retreat in the face of battle!"

Zi Rao looked him up and down: "Then I would like to ask, do you know which army is attacking the city? How many people? Where did they come from? Where are they now? When will they attack? How will they attack?"

All the generals were speechless. Jin Wu Yu's eyes twitched, suppressing the emotions in his heart, and he cupped his hands: "I am dull, please enlighten me!"

Zi Rao paced and turned, raising her hand to point: "South of the Di Du, east of Jiuyi." That clear gaze flashed like a spiritual light, and Jin Wu Yu exclaimed in shock: "Huang Fei of the Chu State!"

"Ten li east of the city, in the dense forest, what is coming is five thousand Liefeng cavalry under Shao Yuan Jun's command, plus the Chu army that fought you before, a total of thirty thousand troops. That Huang Fei attacks the city, not waiting for dawn, not taking advantage of midnight, always at noon, attacking with strange soldiers. If you don't leave now, when will you wait?"

A few sentences were like thunder in the sky, striking straight at the heart. A deputy general recovered from the shock and said loudly: "Impossible, there are scouts within ten li, and thirty thousand Chu troops are not grass insects or ants, how could they hide without a sound!"

Zi Rao sneered: "If you could detect them, Huang Fei wouldn't be Huang Fei. You might as well give the title of Shao Yuan Jun to yourself."

"You!"

Jin Wu Yu raised his hand to stop the deputy general, looking at the pair of phoenix eyes that were clear and flowing: "Thank you for the reminder. If I am lucky enough to keep my life, I will definitely repay today's matter. The great battle in Xichuan is imminent, it is not suitable to stay long, please leave the city quickly!"

Zi Rao's eyes turned, sweeping over his face: "Since the Mingyi Tower has intervened in this matter, there is no reason to give up halfway. If you evacuate Xichuan as soon as possible, at least your life can be saved. Fighting Huang Fei at this time has no chance of winning. Abandon Xichuan, guard the Di Du, that is the best strategy."

Jin Wu Yu smiled: "Cangyuan is lost, if I lose Xichuan again, what face do I have to see the Master? I appreciate your good intentions."

Zi Rao frowned, disapproving: "The fall of Xichuan is not your fault, why do you have to die here?"

Jin Wu Yu was about to speak again when someone rushed into the camp, stumbling, shouting hoarsely: "General! Enemy soldiers! They have broken in!"

The deputy general beside him was shocked, grabbing the person's blood-stained armor: "What did you say?"

"Chu State Liefeng cavalry! They have broken into the city!"

Arrows fell like rain in the city, the sound of killing shaking the sky.

The enemy soldiers rushed up like an iron tide, corpses continuously falling with the arrows, layers of fresh blood dyeing the dark brown land, merging into a river amidst the sword light and shadow. The defending soldiers resisted to the death, knowing the situation was gone, yet no one retreated half a step. At this moment in Xichuan City, there were only generals who died in battle, no soldiers who feared death!

Jin Wu Yu beheaded several enemy soldiers, looking at the direction of the Di Du for the last time, when he saw a person.

Under the scorching sun, that person wore a fire-cloud-patterned silver armor that was dazzling, as if even the sharp murderous aura of the sun could not resist his brilliance. He stood on the high city wall, watching the bloody battlefield before him, yet he seemed to be watching flowers and moonlight in the front yard, calm and unperturbed. His white battle robe flew against the wind, reflecting the proud smile on his lips. The moment Jin Wu Yu looked up, his gaze suddenly turned here, the smile in his eyes instantly flourishing. Suddenly, he flew down from the city wall, a clear whistle, a sword shadow, like a rainbow and lightning splitting the sky, the unparalleled sword Qi breaking straight into the center of the enemy formation.

The world seemed to be suddenly shrouded in sunlight, not the gentle and warm spring light, but the scorching sun that melts ice and snow! The first few soldiers to meet his sword edge flew back, vomiting blood and losing their lives, and no one could withstand a single blow under his sword.

Jin Wu Yu roared in anger, flying to meet this heaven-shattering sword strike, the two swords clashing, the sound of gold ringing in his ears. An irresistible momentum pressed down from his sword, and Jin Wu Yu was shocked and retreated three steps. A clear, loud laugh rang in his ears, sword Qi filled the sky, the sword like a swimming dragon, the person like a startled swan, and with Jin Wu Yu's full force, he couldn't block a single move!

His entire body's more than ten wounds almost exploded at the same time, blood flowing, a fishy sweet smell rushing to his throat. He knew he was near the end of his strength, the sound of killing around him growing weaker and farther away, before his eyes only the opponent's sword remained as clear as before.

At the moment of life and death, only this sword was in his heart and eyes, Huang Fei's sword!

Jin Wu Yu roared to the sky, sword and body as one!

Huang Fei's smile faded, and a look of admiration appeared beneath his indifferent expression, a flame of excitement suddenly lighting up in his pupils!

Under the sun, the fierce light flourished. In the center of the battlefield, blood, sword light, fighting, and screaming seemed to be swept into this heaven-shattering sword momentum. The two swords got closer and closer, the force sweeping the sky, life and death about to appear.

Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, a shadow flew over, straight to Huang Fei's sword tip. A person flashed between the two, face covered in black gauze, body like a ghost, wide sleeves like a spirit snake coiling around Jin Wu Yu's waist, the left sleeve striking Huang Fei's long sword, and taking advantage of this counterattack, he carried Jin Wu Yu and soared into the air.

How could Huang Fei let them escape easily? His sword was like lightning, pursuing them. That person did not fear the long sword, his sleeves sweeping its edge, and at the same time, he waved his hand, covering Huang Fei with points of ice light.

The sword light was like a practice, turning gracefully. Where Huang Fei's sword passed, all hidden weapons were shot back at the nearby enemy soldiers. In that instant, that person and Jin Wu Yu were already three zhang away. At this time, Xichuan City had almost fallen into the hands of the Chu army, and crossbows were aimed at the city wall.

"Retreat!" Huang Fei raised his hand, stopping everyone.

Watching the black shadow drift away, Huang Fei looked at the direction where his opponent disappeared with great interest, bending down to pick up an ice needle on the ground. Under the scorching sun, it instantly turned into a drop of water at his fingertips. He raised his hand to brush past the tip of his nose, a wisp of faint fragrance like water, entangled in the wind, lingering, pulling the deep smile in his eyes.

A small bamboo hut, half a bamboo curtain hanging low. It should be dawn, the light peeking into the room like a wisp of clear flowing water, the morning mist cool, the surroundings deep and misty. When Jin Wu Yu woke up, his whole body was in pain, dizzy, looking around, not knowing where he was.

He tried to prop himself up, discovering that the wounds on his body had been bandaged, and the clean clothes were all filled with the scent of herbs. Looking up, he felt there was someone in the room, but he only saw the silent morning light merging into the unfinished night, the surroundings deep and silent, not hearing half a sound. Just as he was hesitating, a low, shallow laugh suddenly came from the darkness: "Hero who sacrifices life for righteousness, have you woken from your dream?"

The voice was somewhat familiar. Jin Wu Yu struggled to shake his head, the scene before his eyes becoming clearer, but he saw someone stand up in the darkness, a slender figure walking slowly toward the couch.

Half a light shadow penetrated behind the bamboo curtain, swaying with the person's footsteps, fine dust floating. Black clothes, silver belt, thin lips, smiling eyes, half a light veil covering the face, a face that was breathtaking. Jin Wu Yu was shocked and dumbfounded, saying after a long while: "King... Your Majesty!"

Struggling to get up in his urgency, that person flicked his sleeves, sweeping him back onto the couch: "What King? Talking nonsense, did you lose your soul from that sword strike by Huang Fei?"

Cool clothes like water passed by, and Jin Wu Yu instantly became clearer, secretly thinking he was confused. Looking at it in the light of the bamboo shadows, this face, this appearance, this demeanor, were indeed somewhat similar, but the spirited behavior was completely different from the monarch who had no trace of joy or anger on the throne. The various things before he fainted emerged, suddenly waking up, a trace of misery, barely gathering his mind: "I recognized the wrong person, please forgive me, benefactor. It's just that the benefactor's appearance is indeed somewhat similar to my Master, and for a moment I was dazzled."

That person stood at the edge of the light and shadow by the couch, no longer able to see his face clearly, only hearing the voice calmly: "Oh? I wonder who the Master of the Right Guard General of the Yong Dynasty is? Is it the woman in Chonghua Palace, or the Eastern Emperor in Changming Palace?"

Jin Wu Yu was stunned, a layer of annoyance rushing onto his face: "The Yong Dynasty has only one King, the Eastern Emperor. What kind of thing is that woman in Chonghua Palace, how can she be compared with the King!"

That person laughed: "This is truly strange. With such words in your belly, you can still rise to the position of Right Guard General. Is that woman in Chonghua Palace blind?"

Jin Wu Yu said coldly: "If it weren't for the Yiqu Marquis finding a way to transfer me away from the Di Du, how could that woman let me go? My position as Right Guard General was earned through military merit, unlike others who are indiscriminate and kill the innocent to seek rewards! In my heart, Jin Wu Yu, I have only ever recognized one King!"

These words made that person silent for half a moment, as if wanting to say something, but held it back. Finally, he snorted coldly: "I didn't expect you to have a conscience, but you are too pedantic. If it weren't for the fact that someone would feel heartache if you died, I wouldn't have bothered to save you."

Jin Wu Yu was startled, not understanding the meaning of the words: "Benefactor..."

That person turned: "Don't call me benefactor. Xichuan City has now fallen into the hands of the Chu army. If you had been willing to listen to my advice earlier, you wouldn't have wasted the lives of two thousand soldiers. Stay here and recover from your wounds. Three days later, go back to take over Xichuan and comfort the people. If you lose the city and damage the troops again, I will definitely take your life for the King first!"

Jin Wu Yu was stunned for a moment. Xichuan was occupied by the Chu army. It was already not easy for this person to save someone from Huang Fei's sword, and how could he regain Xichuan from the Chu army? The Mingyi Tower was known as the first gang in the world of martial arts, but where did it have such means to turn the tide? He had many questions in his heart, wanting to ask again, but that person had already flicked his sleeves and left, his floating figure disappearing into the light and heaven and earth outside the door, leaving no trace.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 10 =====

Jin Wu Yu was stunned for a moment. Xichuan had been captured by the Chu army; it was already no small feat for this person to have rescued someone from under Huang Fei's sword, but could he really retake Xichuan from the Chu army? Even if the Mingyi Tower claimed to be the greatest sect in the jianghu, where would they find such means to turn the tide? His heart was filled with questions, and just as he was about to ask more, that person had already flicked his sleeves and left. His graceful figure vanished into the bright world outside the door in an instant, leaving no trace behind.

(End of chapter)