Chapter 131: Can't Guard the Human Heart, Can't Guard the Heavenly Mandate!

"You brat, stop being wild!"

"I'll meet you!"

Perhaps Su Ming's provocation took effect.

A furious shout made the whole blood‑stained battlefield shudder.

This time, the one emerging from that Gate was no longer a single person.

Two figures stood side by side!

On the left stood a hulking man, weather‑worn face, wielding a massive mountain‑splitting broadsword.

In his eyes there was almost no edge, only a dead, murky stillness.

On the right, a calmer figure held an iron spear, aura as deep as an abyss.

What they shared was.

Neither bore the sharp vigor of a youthful commander.

Only the iron‑blooded killing aura forged by a hundred battles, tempered in blood and fire!

"Former General, Liao Hua!"

"Southern‑Garrison Grand General, Zhang Yi!"

"Come to learn!"

Liao Hua!

Zhang Yi!

They turned out to be the veteran battlefield generals who spanned the latter half of Shu‑Han!

Especially Liao Hua, who lived from the Yellow Turban Rebellion to Shu‑Han's fall, almost witnessing the whole era!

"With no great general in Shu, Liao Hua becomes the vanguard…"

Su Ming looked at the aged silhouette, a grin spreading at his mouth.

Indeed, the provocation worked!

People use this line to mock the talent decline in Shu‑Han's later years.

But who truly knows.

A veteran who fought from the chaos's dawn to the dynasty's end.

He himself is a walking tragic Epic.

The grievances he bears are heavier than those of most people!

"Interesting!"

Su Ming replanted the Han flag into the earth behind him and hoisted the multicolored Pinxi Xi Battle Blade onto his shoulder.

"Since that is so…"

"Let this junior see whether the swords of the two old generals are still sharp!"

Before the words finished!

Liao Hua and Zhang Yi's figures moved!

No trace of a famed general's pretension or rigidity.

As battlefield veterans, they adhered to a single principle at heart—

Kill the enemy by the most efficient means!

Liao Hua led, like a raging bull, charging recklessly!

Zhang Yi followed, steps steady, spear thrust like a dragon, sealing every escape route for Su Ming!

In an instant, their auras merged into a single entity!

"Kill!"

Liao Hua let out a roar, his voice like Jinglei!

The mountain‑splitting broadsword in his hand was not a single slash.

Instead it became an endless, unending mountain of blades!

The blade's momentum weighed as heavy as a mountain!

Carrying the anger and resentment of countless times he watched comrades fall, cities crumble, and the Han flag become dust‑covered!

Su Ming's gaze hardened, his expression serious.

He swung the Pinxi Xi Battle Blade, boldly meeting it!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The metallic clangor rang dense as rain, sparks scattering.

He was forced to retreat step by step by that storm‑like blade assault!

Liao Hua's blade—too heavy! Too resilient!

Worse, each strike grew stronger, never ending!

"Damn!"

Suddenly, a crisis surged in Su Ming's mind.

Being pressed head‑on by Liao Hua was one thing, but the ever‑silent Zhang Yi also suddenly shifted formation!

The rock‑solid figure suddenly moved forward.

The iron spear in his hand did not thrust straight but traced a perfect semicircle ahead!

Buzz—!

Where the spear tip swept, space grew increasingly shattered!

Invisible spear energies interwove around him, forming an oppressive Field that wildly compressed Su Ming's maneuvering space!

His spear is a formation!

It is a killing formation used to split the battlefield, restrict strong foes, and ultimately drag the enemy into a death mire!

One main attacker, one main controller!

One berserk, one steady!

The coordination of the two battle‑hardened veterans at this moment is almost flawless!

"This can't continue!"

Su Ming's eyes flickered.

Liao Hua's blade is a roller that crushes everything.

And Zhang Yi's spear is the iron wall that constantly pushes him toward the roller!

If this goes on, he'll sooner or later be crushed to death!

"If that's so!"

A feral glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes; he no longer blocked.

A heavy slash that can cleave Mount Hua?

I won't dodge!

Bang!

A massive force surged; Su Ming's body staggered, and a sharp pain shot through his shoulder.

Fresh blood instantly soaked his clothes, the wound deep enough to expose bone.

But he somehow endured a strike strong enough to split a stone tablet!

Liao Hua and Zhang Yi's pupils suddenly contracted!

What kind of monster is this?!

"Heh!"

What Su Ming wanted was this very moment's opening!

"Get out of the way!"

He ignored the searing pain in his shoulder and charged forward boldly!

Bang!

Liao Hua and Zhang Yi were violently knocked aside by this savage force!

The combined strike caused the ground to collapse in an instant!

"Old General, come!"

Su Ming let out a snarling laugh, instantly locking his target on Zhang Yi!

Liao Hua's frontal restraint was lost.

Zhang Yi's spear formation, as steady as Mount Tai, shattered with a roar before his berserk, reckless charge!

"Too slow!"

The Pinxi Xi Battle Blade emitted a hum, its multicolored light surged, striking from behind before arriving, and brutally cleaved Zhang Yi's spear shaft!

Clang—!!!

The massive force surged up Zhang Yi's body along the spear shaft.

His arms violently shook, his palm split, and the iron spear that had accompanied him all his life slipped from his grasp.

Immediately after, the five‑colored Strange Blade, still full of momentum, slammed heavily onto his chest!

Puff!

Zhang Yi's body shuddered violently, and his radiant aura dimmed rapidly.

He cast a deep glance at Su Ming, then another at Liao Hua.

"My fate... is exhausted..."

As the words fell, the dim figure seemed unable to sustain itself any longer.

It even gave Su Ming a slight nod, voluntarily turning into Red Light and retreating.

"Old buddy!"

Liao Hua's eyes bulged, man and blade fused, and he attacked again!

"Now, it's your turn!"

Su Ming turned around, facing the veteran who had witnessed the rise and fall of an entire era alone.

"Haahhh!"

Liao Hua's remaining spirit burned, pouring all his lifelong resentment, fury, and regret into this final strike!

He's old!

He can't bear it!

One blow decides victory!

Su Ming stood still.

This time, he didn't force a clash.

At the instant the blade's edge was about to reach him, he sidestepped by a hair's breadth.

He let the raging blade whoosh past his side, eventually fading away like smoke.

He is young, full of vigor, in the prime of his life!

A backhanded slash!

Clang—!

The multicolored battle blade precisely struck Liao Hua's blade back.

Liao Hua kept the stance of brandishing his sword, frozen in place.

The radiance surrounding him faded, and the madness and resentment in his eyes gradually subsided.

He also glanced at Su Ming.

Then he slowly turned his head.

He looked toward the black‑backed Han flag planted in the center of the battlefield, flailing wildly in the wind.

In his eyes, murky tears slipped down.

"I, an old man… have guarded flags for a lifetime…"

His voice was hoarse, full of fatigue.

"I defended Yanmen, I defended Hanzhong, I defended Yong'an…"

"…but I could not protect the Human Heart…"

"…could not protect the Mandate of Heaven…"

The battle sword in his hand was released.

The weapon, stained with countless enemy blood, turned into specks of light and vanished.

Afterward, the old man hunched his body.

Step by step, he walked back under the Gate, his figure fully merging into darkness.

The blood‑stained battlefield fell silent once more.

Su Ming stood holding his sword, his chest heaving violently as he gasped heavily.

He had consecutively been defeated by the four veteran Shu Han generals Xiang Chong, Zhang Yi, Liao Hua, and Zhang Yi.

Even he felt a long‑unexperienced fatigue.

These fellows were neither lingering souls nor evil spirits driven by grudges.

They were the warriors' will with loyalty as bone and regret as blood!

But suddenly, Su Ming jerked his head upward!

Under the crimson temple Gate, at an unknown moment, an additional figure appeared.

There was no towering, soul‑binding presence as before, nor any overwhelming murderous intent.

He simply stood there quietly.

His face, shrouded in gentle White Light, was indistinct.

His pure white battle robe, weathered to a slight yellow by time, remained spotless.

In his hand he grasped a fully silver long spear, its tip adorned with a red tassel as vivid as blood.

Yet this seemingly peaceful figure…

directly made Su Ming's hair stand on end!

No introduction needed.

No words required.

White robe, silver armor, shining silver spear!

"How… how could it be him?!"