Chapter 914: line with translation of chapter title

This is a field battle in the true sense.

No formation, no distinction between vanguard and wings; anyone who can climb this mountain is part of the vanguard main force.

Chen Wuji looked at the grand scene and instantly felt eager to act, but Chen Li stopped him.

His current status already pushes the limit to be present at the front; he is no longer fit to personally charge into battle.

Even though Chen Wuji harbors tens of thousands of willingness and his blood boils at the sight of combat, too many people oppose his going forward.

Great General Chen had no choice but to suppress his eagerness and observe from afar.

Actually, apart from occasional blasts sending grass, wood, and dirt flying, nothing else could be seen.

The trees are too tall, almost completely blocking the view.

On a battlefield of tens of thousands, not to mention seeing figures, even the scenes from Shocking Heaven Thunder explosions are only occasional spots, not the whole.

Chen Wuji could only learn the battlefield situation through continual scout reports; his naked eye got no useful information.

Watching this battle left Chen feeling quite bored.

"Reporting to my lord, our army has already taken the mountainside; Liu Yan leads the remnant troops in retreat, while Training Officer Chen Bang is leading the pursuit!"

The scout came again in haste, loudly reporting.

Chen Wuji grunted, then solemnly ordered, "Pass the command down: tell the troops ahead not to be stingy with their crossbow bolts and Shocking Heaven Thunder; first unleash all of these, and only when long-range means are exhausted should they engage in close combat."

"Yes!"

Chen Wuji shifted to a more comfortable position on the folding stool and slowly lifted his tea.

He, Chen, could today be said to be chatting and laughing calmly before the two armies, taking it in stride.

Lu San Ye was gnawing on a raw bamboo shoot, crunching loudly, squeezed in from behind the tightly packed Personal Guard surrounding Chen Wuji, plopped down in front of him, and said, "Commander, after I finish this shoot, I'd like to request permission to seize the woman beside Liu Yan."

"Then it will be trouble for you, Third Uncle; if we can keep a live captive, that would be best!" Chen Wuji said.

"Yes!" Lu San Ye bit into the bamboo shoot with a crunch.

He ate it so fragrant that Chen Wuji almost drooled, unable to resist asking, "Third Uncle, does it taste good eaten like this?"

"It's good, crisp and sweet." Lu San Ye pulled another from his bosom and handed it to Chen Wuji, "Commander, you might try it; I think it's tastier than when cooked, with a fresh fragrance."

Chen Wuji didn't stand on ceremony, picked it up and took a bite.

Needless to say, the flavor is acceptable and indeed has a crisp, sweet feeling.

Chen Li watched this old and young pair behaving improperly, silently turning his head.

Lu San Ye thoroughly enjoyed finishing the bamboo shoot, then asked Chen Wuji for another cup of tea, after which he strolled leisurely toward the battlefield.

Just as he stepped forward, Yuan Lao Six squeezed in from behind.

"Commander, I request permission to lead men to assist Third Uncle Lu!"

After previously delivering Yu Ren's head trophy, Yuan Lao Six brought many elites from Wang Yu Mountain to stay in the army, sometimes volunteering for reconnaissance and scouting tasks.

This seemingly taciturn great elder is far more thoughtful than Kong Jianshi, thinking more deeply.

Earlier, Kong Jianshi still wanted to send them back, but Yuan Lao Six refused and chose to stay.

In this Ciji Zhai incident, Chen Wuji heard that he, as the great elder of Wang Yu Mountain, had done nothing at all, not even offering Kong Jianshi any advice, his caution etched into his bones.

"Also good; if we can capture Liu Yan, bring him along—alive is best; if impossible, bring back his head trophy!" Chen Wuji ordered.

"Yes!"

The deafening roar in the mountains lessened a little, and the shouts of killing sounded more intense.

Liu Yan, escorted by a crowd of Personal Guard, fled without choosing a path, heedless of how torturous the surrounding thickets were, heading in one direction, gritting his teeth to press forward.

At that moment, Yu Shui Mei ahead suddenly stopped.

Liu Yan panted, quickly stepping forward, "What's wrong? Why did you stop?"

After he finished speaking, he also noticed Lu San Ye sitting cross-legged on a tree branch ahead; his face instantly changed, and he lowly asked Yu Shui Mei, "An expert?"

"Mm."

Liu Yan's face instantly turned as ugly as if he'd eaten feces, "Do you have confidence?"

"You overestimate me; this is a grand master, and merely one of them—I myself have no confidence to escape." Yu Shui Mei stared coldly, her black-and-white eyes fixed on Lu San Ye, attentively noting his every tiny movement.

Liu Yan's face turned pale in an instant; he stiffly turned his head to glance at the soldiers beside him.

Of his twenty thousand elite, only a few hundred now remain at his side, less than a thousand.

"No choice left; we can only gamble!" Liu Yan said through gritted teeth.

On the branch, Lu San Ye laughed heartily, "Little brat, that idea of yours is terrible; surrender might still save a life, but to gamble… you lot are probably all going to die!"

"Not thinking for yourself, you should also consider those young companions beside you—all in their prime; why bury yourselves in this wild countryside? They're good kids; think it over well."

Liu Yan's face instantly turned extremely ugly; he lowly asked Yu Shui Mei, "Can he hear us from that far away?"

"That is a grand master whose strength has reached perfection; you think he's some stray cat or dog?" Yu Shui Mei squeezed out a sentence from between her teeth.

"Ah, I really dislike the way you, little brat, speak; how can you lump me together with cats and dogs? Though I like raising these little creatures, I don't want to be one of them." Lu San Ye waved his hand and shouted, his manner like that of an elder seated on a kang mat, happily instructing the younger generation.

Yu Shui Mei kept her eyes locked on Lu San Ye, clasped her hands, and said, "Senior, please forgive my slip; I spoke rashly. They can choose however they wish, and I'm only here temporarily to help; I have no major grievance with Commander Chen. I don't know if you can let me leave?"

Liu Yan instantly widened his eyes, his eyeballs nearly popping out of their sockets, and he shouted in disbelief, "Your Highness, cutting off an arm to seek survival now is probably too late, isn't it?"

Yu Shui Mei did not answer Liu Yan; she merely fixed her calm gaze on Lu San Ye.

"Little brat, do you think this old thing of mine is truly senile?" Lu San Ye shook his head and laughed, "You definitely can't go; don't waste more time— in this heat, fighting here would be miserable for everyone."

Yu Shui Mei's foot twitched suddenly, but before she could step out, several people emerged from the left woods; foremost was a stern-faced middle‑aged man who looked hard to provoke, cradling a sword in his arms.

"Third Uncle, why waste words with them? Commander already gave the order—bringing back the head trophy is just as good." The middle‑aged man spoke coldly, flicked his thumb lightly, and a dark‑red treasure sword sprang from its sheath.