Chapter 362: with translation of chapter title

Gu Changqing turned his head to look at the army behind him, the soldiers' faces filled with fatigue.

Yet the Ye Wuchen troops on the city walls remained firmly arrayed, with no opening to be found.

He secretly sighed in his heart; in today's battle, neither side had exerted their full strength, each probing the other's reality.

This battle was destined to be a protracted war.

"Pass the order down: the entire army retreats!"

Gu Changqing's voice was firm, leaving no room for doubt.

The orderlies swiftly conveyed the command, and the Da Qian army began to retreat in an orderly manner.

The battle drums faded, the shouts of killing ceased, and only the sound of the wind fluttering the banners remained on the battlefield.

Ye Wuchen stood on the city wall, watching the Da Qian army depart.

This battle was merely the beginning; more confrontations awaited them in the future.

Yet he also felt some fighting spirit, having an opponent like Gu Changqing.

His future path of growth was destined not to lack tempering!

As the Da Qian army retreated, Gu Changqing once again turned his head to look toward Minglong Guan.

His gaze was deep and complex, holding both appreciation for his disciple and bewilderment about the future of the Da Qian dynasty.

"Commander Gu, are we really just retreating like this?"

A general asked, unwilling to accept it.

"Today's battle was merely a probe; Ye Wuchen's defenses are tight, making it hard for us to break through."

"Moreover, our forces are uneven; we need time to integrate them."

Gu Changqing explained, his voice revealing a hint of helplessness and fatigue: "The future is long; we have plenty of opportunities."

Under Gu Changqing's command, the Da Qian army withdrew slowly, and Ye Wuchen did not pursue the victory.

Both sides understood that the true contest of this war had only just begun.

As the Da Qian army departed, the battlefield before Minglong Guan gradually returned to tranquility.

Ye Wuchen stood on the city wall, gazing at Gu Changqing's retreating back, silent and speechless.

Just as Gu Changqing and Ye Wuchen, master and disciple, were engaged in fierce combat before Minglong Guan, the atmosphere at the Hengzhou border also grew increasingly tense.

The Feather Forest Army and the 30,000-strong Cangzhou troops, which had been encamped at the Hengzhou border, also under Wei Qing's command, gradually approached the flank of the Ye Sha army's main force.

Wei Qing was currently standing before his tent, gazing into the distance at the Ye Sha army's positions.

He wore a set of black armor, its surface etched with intricate patterns that appeared both ancient and powerful.

Beside him, Huo Qubing wore golden armor, his gaze sharp, as if able to see through all falsehood and deceit.

The long spear in his hand flashed with a cold light, sending a chill down one's spine.

Ran Min, meanwhile, wore a suit of crimson armor, blazing like fire.

He wielded a double-bladed spear and a hook halberd, standing on high ground to overlook the entire battlefield.

His eyes were filled with wildness and fighting spirit, as if he wished to burn all enemies to ashes.

At the same time, beside the Feather Forest Army's formation, another mighty force was tense and orderly in deploying its ranks.

The moonlight flowed like water, the starlight variegated, yet this battlefield seemed shrouded in a layer of killing intent.

Zhao Fengyun stood silently before the formation, clad in a set of black armor whose mottled marks seemed to recount past exploits and the passage of time.

At this moment, Zhao Fengyun's face was grave; the opponent he faced this time was no ordinary foe.

Even Yan Qifeng, a woman whose command ability was not inferior to his, had suffered defeat under Wei Qing.

Therefore, when facing the white Feather Forest Army under Commander-in-Chief Wei Qing ahead, Zhao Fengyun dared not show the slightest negligence or contempt.

By his side, his two adopted sons stood like two towering mountains, unmoving.

Zhao Kuangyin, this Song Taizu, now wore bright yellow battle armor that flashed with a cold gleam in the moonlight.

He wore a golden crown, a heroic aura emanating from him, as if he were a born warlord destined to leave his legend on the battlefield.

And the other, the War God Zhao Guangyi of the donkey cart, likewise wore conspicuous armor, holding a shield and spear, standing shoulder to shoulder with his brother Zhao Kuangyin.

And beside Zhao Fengyun and his three companions stood a warrior wielding a halberd, a War God.

He wore a three-pronged hair-binding purple-gold crown, a Western Sichuan red brocade robe adorned with a hundred flowers, and an outer beast-faced head-consuming linked armor, which under the moonlight revealed even more domineering presence.

It was none other than Lu Bu, whom Ye Moyan had brought over earlier!

As Public Sun Yang and a few others were taken back by that Cultivation individual, Ye Wuchen and the others naturally also learned of the existence of the five divine generals of the Five Elements Armor.

Even Public Sun Yang, a rare War God in the Ye Sha army, could not withstand the five joining forces and nearly was beaten to death by them.

Moreover, Wei Qing's Feather Forest Army also contained a War God like Ran Min.

Therefore, Ye Wuchen naturally would not think that relying solely on Zhao Fengyun could block Wei Qing's Feather Forest Army.

After all, there was already the precedent of Yan Qifeng, defeated by Wei Qing.

So after Zhao Fengyun led his troops forward to resist Wei Qing's Feather Forest Army,

Upon seeing Lu Bu, Ye Wuchen directly ordered him to rush without cease to reinforce Zhao Fengyun's great army.

At this moment, Lu Bu's battle spirit flashed across his face like a shooting star; he spurred his horse forward to arrive before the two armies' formations.

The moonlight shone upon his resolute visage, adding a touch of mystery and dignity to him.

"Wei Qing, you brat, dare to come out and fight?!"

He gripped the halberd tightly, raised it to the heavens, and his voice rolled like thunder.

His voice echoed in the night sky, shaking the soul of everyone present.

The battle drums beat, as if cheering his challenge.

At this moment, Lu Bu's aura was like a rainbow, as if he wished to envelop the entire battlefield beneath his fighting spirit.

At the same time, in the Feather Forest Army's camp, Wei Qing and Ran Min exchanged a glance, slightly nodding to signal Ran Min to go into battle.

Ran Min instantly understood Wei Qing's meaning, he drew the double-bladed spear and hook halberd hung at the waist of his Red Dragon Horse, spurred his mount forward, and came to the front of the formation to face off against Lu Bu.

"You night-sha scoundrel, don't be arrogant!"

"I, Ran Min, have come to meet you!"

Ran Min's voice was as cold as icy frost, he fixed his gaze on Lu Bu, his eyes flashing with icy killing intent.

"Oh? You're that Ran Min?"

"I have long heard of your great name; even General Gongsun has been defeated by you before."

"But, if you want to oppose me, you still lack sufficient experience."

Lu Bu looked at Ran Min before him, the corner of his mouth curling into a hint of contemptuous smile.

"Whether you have enough experience is not for a greenhorn like you to decide."

"Come forward and fight; then we shall see who wins."

Upon hearing this, Ran Min did not grow angry, but calmly replied.

Their dialogue echoed across the battlefield, both sides' soldiers holding their breath and staring, awaiting the imminent fierce battle.

The war drums grew ever denser, as if cheering on this ultimate showdown.

Moonlight flowed like water, silently streaming across the battlefield, adding a touch of solemnity and mystery to the impending contest.

Lu Bu's and Ran Min's gazes met in midair, as if two bolts of lightning sliced the night sky, sparking invisible sparks.

Lu Bu rode his horse in a slow turn on the spot, the Heavenly Painted Halberd carving deep grooves into the ground, as if proclaiming his invincibility.

"Ran Min, do you know how many souls have perished beneath this Heavenly Painted Halberd?"

He sneered and laughed.

(End of chapter)