Chapter 23

Inside Dongning Pass at this moment.

Translation: "Inside Dongning Pass at this time."

The night was like a curtain, stars speckled the sky, the Milky Way poured its light, and the moonlight shone like silver.

Translation: "The night was like a curtain, stars speckled, the Milky Way poured its light, and the moonlight was like silver."

Moonlight washed over the blue stone slabs, giving them a faint silvery sheen, like an ink-wash landscape painting.

Translation: "Moonlight fell on the blue stone slabs, spreading a thin layer of silver sheen, as if it were an ink-wash landscape painting."

Every now and then, the sound of horse hooves echoed, breaking the night's quiet.

Translation: "Occasionally, a few horse hooves sounded, breaking this tranquil night."

Dongning Pass's commander, Zuo Lipeng, stood in his study, pacing nervously.

Translation: "The commander of Dongning Pass, Zuo Lipeng, was standing in his study, pacing uneasily."

After just reading military manuals in his study, Zuo Lipeng suddenly felt irritable, his whole self ill at ease.

Translation: "Having just been reading military texts in his study, Zuo Lipeng suddenly felt a bit irritable, and his whole self was uneasy."

At that moment, on the roof of the Dongning Pass lord's mansion, the Six Sword Slaves appeared together, their eyes locked on the study below and the uneasy Zuo Lipeng within, like predators eyeing prey.

Translation: "At this moment, atop the governor's mansion of Dongning Pass, the Six Sword Slaves appeared simultaneously on the roof, their gazes fixed on the study below and the uneasy Zuo Lipeng inside, as if they were eyeing their prey."

"Never mind, perhaps the weather is just a bit problematic."

Translation: "\"Forget it, maybe the weather is a bit off. \""

"Dongning Pass is Cangzhou's major rear base—how could anything happen there?"

Translation: "\"Dongning Pass, as the major rear base of Cangzhou, how could anything happen? \""

After pondering for a long time with no answer, Zuo Lipeng shook his head and tried to convince himself.

Translation: "After pondering for a long time with no clue, Zuo Lipeng shook his head and forced himself to be convinced."

He turned and walked back to his desk.

Translation: "He turned and walked toward his original desk."

Dongning Pass, as Cangzhou's major rear base, has long enjoyed peace, even though history records that Cangzhou's northern gateways have been breached several times.

Translation: "Dongning Pass, as the major rear base of Cangzhou, had enjoyed peace for a long time, even though historical records show that Cangzhou's northern gates had been breached several times,"

But they were swiftly retaken by the Jiuxiao Army marching north and the support troops from inside the pass.

Translation: "but they were quickly retaken by the Nine Heavens Army rushing north to reinforce and the support troops from the central regions within the pass."

But just as Zuo Lipeng's hand was about to touch the desk—

Translation: "But just as Zuo Lipeng's hand was about to touch the desk,"

Clang!

Translation: "Clang!"

As the sword was drawn, Zuo Lipeng's hairs stood on end and his whole body tensed.

Translation: "With the sound of the sword being drawn, Zuo Lipeng's body hair instantly stood on end and his muscles tensed."

Unfortunately, he had no time to react.

Translation: "Unfortunately, there was no time to react."

Six fierce sword lights came down from the sky!

Translation: "Only six fierce sword lights were seen descending from the sky!"

They targeted all of Zuo Lipeng's vital points, cutting off every escape route.

Translation: "They attacked the vital points of Zuo Lipeng's body and simultaneously sealed off all his evasion space."

The Six Sword Slaves of the Net acted as one, their skill almost divine, specializing in a single killing blow.

Translation: "The Six Sword Slaves, a net of six acting as one, possessed divine skill, excelling in a single killing move!"

A single coordinated strike is, for almost everyone, practically an instant kill.

Translation: "A combined strike, for the vast majority of people, is almost an instant kill."

The Six Sword Slaves' first combined attack is the peak of their power!

Translation: "The Six Sword Slaves' initial combined strike is the moment of their peak!"

With their six grandmaster-level warriors, even celestial beings and war gods could be seriously wounded or killed on the spot if they let their guard down.

Translation: "Relying on their six masters' grandmaster-level martial prowess, in this situation even a Cultivation or War God expert could be seriously wounded or killed on the spot if they let their guard down."

But as Dongning Pass's commander, Zuo Lipeng—could he be a war god?

Translation: "But as the commander of Dongning Pass, Zuo Lipeng, would he be a War God?"

Of course not!

Translation: "Of course not!"

The Great Qian dynasty hasn't gone that far yet.

Translation: "The Great Qian dynasty hasn't reached that level of luxury."

Dongning Pass is the gateway between Cangzhou and the Central Region, situated deep in Cangzhou's rear.

Translation: "Dongning Pass, as the gateway between Cangzhou and the central regions, is located in the rear of Cangzhou."

If the enemy reaches Dongning Pass, it means Cangzhou has already fallen completely, and even the supporting Jiuxiao Army would be wiped out.

Translation: "If the enemy had already reached Dongning Pass, that would mean Cangzhou had completely fallen, and even the supporting Nine Heavens Army would be utterly destroyed."

At that point, whether the garrison are war gods no longer matters.

Translation: "In such a situation, whether the garrison are War Gods is no longer important."

Sending a divine general to Dongning Pass is only possible because Yunzhou has been restless lately, forcing them to spare one.

Translation: "Being able to send a divine general to Dongning Pass is only because Yunzhou has been somewhat restless lately, squeezing out a divine general to come over."

Otherwise, given Dongning Pass's long peace, sending just a regular general would have been enough.

Translation: "Otherwise, given Dongning Pass's long peace, sending just a martial general would have sufficed."

After all, being posted to peaceful Dongning Pass is essentially being sidelined, with no chance to earn merit.

Translation: "After all, being assigned to a peaceful Dongning Pass essentially means being sidelined, with no chance to earn merit."

But now, someone has set their sights on Dongning Pass.

Translation: "But now, someone has set their sights on Dongning Pass."

Facing the Six Sword Slaves' assault, which even war gods would retreat three paces from, the divine general Zuo Lipeng, though he mustered all his strength to resist—

Translation: "Facing the Six Sword Slaves' offensive that even a War God would have to retreat three leagues from, Zuo Lipeng, as a divine general, had already mustered all his strength to resist."

but it had little effect, as the gap in strength between the two sides was enormous.

Translation: "But it had little effect, as the disparity in strength between the two sides was truly enormous."

Zuo Lipeng's hands, just lifted, instantly detached from his body and flew through the air.

Translation: "Zuo Lipeng's hands, just raised, instantly detached from his body and flew through the air."

Then came two sword lights, one from the front and one from the back, which in an instant pierced his heart and throat.

Translation: "Then came two sword lights, one forward and one backward, which in an instant pierced his heart and throat."

"Ho-ho!"

Translation: "\"Hah! \""

Feeling his life force rapidly ebbing away, the armless Zuo Lipeng widened his eyes, staring at the six black-clad figures revealed before him.

Translation: "Feeling the vitality rapidly draining from his body, the armless Zuo Lipeng widened his eyes, staring at the six black-clad figures revealed before him."

"Go notify General Chengdu; the plan can begin!"

Translation: "\"Go notify the Chengdu General; the plan can begin! \""

The leader of the Six Sword Slaves, Zhen Gang, stepped forward.

Translation: "The leader of the Six Sword Slaves, Zhen Gang, stepped forward."

The leader of the Six Sword Slaves, Zhen Gang, walked forward.

In Zuo Lipeng's unwilling gaze, they beheaded him, then turned to the nearby wilderness spirit and gave orders.

Translation: "In Zuo Lipeng's unwilling gaze, he chopped off his head, then turned to the evil spirit beside him and ordered."

Since Su Ye has decided to seize Cangzhou, Dongning Pass, as Cangzhou's rear base, naturally needs to be dealt with first.

Translation: "Since Su Ye has already decided to begin seizing Cangzhou, Dongning Pass, as Cangzhou's rear base, naturally needs to be dealt with first."

Meanwhile, in the woods not far outside Dongning Pass.

Translation: "Meanwhile, not far outside Dongning Pass, in the woods."

Not long ago, Yuwen Chengdu, who had split forces with Changke Bing, was crouching here quietly with his sworn brother, Red Beard Dragon Jin Wuchu.

Translation: "Not long ago, Yuwen Chengdu, who had split ways with Chang Ke Bing, brought his sworn brother Chixulong Jin Wuchu and was secretly crouching here."

Behind them were several small steppe tribes, as well as many grassland refugees fleeing south due to winter disasters.

Translation: "Behind them were several small tribes on the grasslands, as well as many grassland refugees fleeing south due to winter disasters."

At this moment, they were being fired up with hot-blooded enthusiasm by Jin Wuchu, who approached them claiming ties to the Yuwen and Wanyan clans.

Translation: "At this moment, they were being stirred into a fervent fervor by Jin Wuchu, who approached them by leveraging his identity with the Yuwen and Wanyan clans."

They were lost in the dream of breaking through Dongning Pass, entering the prosperous Central Region to loot at will, and failed to notice the subtle smiles on the lips of Yuwen Chengdu and Jin Wuchu beside them.

Translation: "Lost in the dream of breaking Dongning Pass, entering the prosperous central regions to pillage at will, they failed to notice the subtle smiles on the lips of Yuwen Chengdu and Jin Wuchu beside them."

"Cuckoo, cuckoo."

Translation: "\"Cuckoo, cuckoo. \""

At this moment, Yuwen Chengdu, having removed his signature golden armor, stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a tree, eyes closed, cultivating his spirit.

Translation: "At this moment, Yuwen Chengdu, having removed his signature golden armor, stood with arms crossed, leaning against a tree, eyes closed, cultivating his spirit."

Upon hearing the familiar birdcall, he suddenly opened his eyes and exchanged a glance with Jin Wuchu, who had reacted similarly.

Translation: "Upon hearing the familiar birdcall, he suddenly opened his eyes and exchanged a glance with the likewise reacting Jin Wuchu."

"Wuchu, this is yours to handle."

Translation: "\"Wuchu, this is left to you. \""

Although Yuwen Chengdu is the commander of this operation, letting him charge into battle is fine, but having him devise this series of plans, although it's not impossible.

Translation: "Although Yuwen Chengdu is the chief commander of this operation, letting him charge into battle is fine, but having him devise this series of plans, while not impossible,"

But he is self-aware, knowing that his ability in this regard is far inferior to that of his sworn brother beside him, who has shown talent for command since childhood.

Translation: "but he is self-aware, knowing his ability in this regard is far inferior to that of his sworn brother beside him, who has shown talent for command since childhood in his memory."

In terms of martial prowess, Yuwen Chengdu, when bursting forth with full force, could kill Jin Wuchu in a few rounds within a few strikes.

Translation: "In terms of martial power, Yuwen Chengdu, when bursting forth with full force, could kill Jin Wuchu in a few strikes within a few rounds."

But when it comes to leading troops as a commander, the situation between the two brothers is reversed.

Translation: "But if we talk about commanding troops as a commander-in-chief, the situation of the two brothers is reversed."

"Big Brother Chengdu, rest assured—with Wuchu here, Dongning Pass will surely be our Jiuxiao Army's prize!"

Translation: "\"Elder Brother Chengdu, rest assured, with Wuchu here, this Dongning Pass will surely be the Nine Heavens Army's prize! \""

Beside him, his face flushed red, Jin Wuchu, holding a golden pheasant axe, slapped his chest, full of confidence.

Translation: "Beside him, Jin Wuchu, with a ruddy complexion and holding a golden sparrow axe, patted his chest, full of confidence."

"Hmm, you should be more careful yourself."

Translation: "\"Mm, you yourself be more careful. \""

Nodding at Jin Wuchu, Yuwen Chengdu's figure silently slipped into the dark forest, while none of the foreigners immersed in their own world noticed.

"Hey!"

"The eagles of the grasslands, it's time to show our bravery."

"If we take this pass ahead, we'll have all the food, beauties, and various cold‑resistant supplies of the Central Plains."

"After Yuwen Chengdu left, Jin Wuzhu spoke in an accented steppe language, cheering up this rag‑tag bunch."

"To this group of steppe refugees who don't even dare to invade and have fled south."

"If you tell them about taking Dongning, vying for the world, they simply don't care about that nonsense."

"But if you tell them that after taking Dongning Pass there will be food, beauties, and even the most important cold‑resistant supplies for them."

"Then they'll definitely have green light in their eyes, each of them pumped up like they've been injected with chicken blood, howling."

"There's nothing we can do; what else could we expect from a bunch of steppe refugees fleeing?"

"They're so poor they don't even have underwear to wear."

"When people are poor, their ambitions are short; even though this group of barbarians has been duped by Jin Wuzhu, they still remember basic common sense—vying for supremacy over the world is too far off for them."

"Their only thought now is to breach Dongning Pass, eat their fill, fill their stomachs, and preferably get some beauties."

"All we can say is that there's no absolute right or wrong in the wars of the world."

"To these steppe people, all they want is to eat a full meal and survive."

"That's all; it's so humble it hardly counts as a request."

"This is a basic right that every life should possess."

"But to them, it's a supreme blessing."

"Yet this humble demand of theirs must be built upon the suffering of the innocent common folk of the Central Plains."

"This world isn't black and white; ideals are beautiful, but reality is harsh."

"The law of survival in this world is: either the wolf starves to death, or the sheep gets bitten to death!"

"This is also the irreconcilable conflict between nomadic and agrarian civilizations in times when ancient productivity was underdeveloped!"

"Third watch!"

"Brothers, cast a recommendation vote."

"(End of chapter)"