Chapter 614: Returning to the Chen Dynasty

The feeling of passing through the light curtain.

Like suddenly surfacing from the bottom of sticky, icy water.

After a brief sensation of suffocation and compression.

It is a sudden lightness.

And.

A completely different 'air'.

Not referring to smell or temperature.

But a more fundamental 'rhythm' that permeates heaven and earth.

The 'momentum' of the Chen Dynasty.

Heavy.

Warm and moist.

Carrying the order and vitality accumulated over 180 years.

Like a traveler returning home, feeling that silent yet solid sense of stability.

Chen Wen opened his eyes.

He found himself in an underground stone hall whose structure resembled that of the False Song world, but noticeably more orderly and sturdy.

The four walls of the stone hall were inlaid with crystals emitting steady white light.

The floor was level.

The air was dry.

Several precisely crafted instruments, bearing an obvious style of the Heavenly Craft Institute, silently operated in a corner of the stone hall, monitoring the light curtain's fluctuations and energy flow.

This place had clearly been carefully maintained; it was a fully functional 'safe house'.

"Welcome back, Your Highness!"

A familiar voice sounded.

Calm.

Reserved.

With a hint of excitement not easily noticed.

At the entrance of the stone hall, several figures hurried over.

Leading them was Zhang Cheng.

He still wore a simple dark scholar's robe, his face retaining the handsome look of someone in his thirties, but the depth and vicissitude in his eyes revealed an accumulation of years far beyond his appearance.

Behind him followed Zhao Lao Nian, Qian Gui, and a deputy commander of the Jing'an Office stationed here.

Shi Dun and Wang Ru were absent—the former was fighting a bloody battle in Bei Jing, the latter still on the far side of the light curtain in Luoyang.

"Zhang Cheng, Lao Nian, Qian Gui."

Chen Wen looked at these veteran officials who had shared life and death for over a hundred years, and a warmth welled up in his heart.

His face involuntarily broke into a smile.

"It's been several months since we parted; you've all worked hard."

"As long as Your Highness returns safely, that's good." Zhang Cheng stepped forward, carefully sizing up Chen Wen; seeing that though he was dusty and weary, his spirit was vigorous, his eyes sharp as before, he felt somewhat relieved.

"Over there in the passage..." Zhao Lao Nian pushed at the nonexistent glasses on his nose (a habitual gesture), but his gaze fell on the several tears in Chen Wen's cotton robe and the faint trace of yin cold lingering on his body.

"I ran into a bit of 'trouble.'" Chen Wen said calmly, "Twelve elite Dark Shadows were blocking the passage entrance."

Zhang Cheng's eyes narrowed.

"Is Your Highness unharmed?"

"No problem." Chen Wen waved his hand, "Already taken care of. It seems the Iron Crow Army has indeed strengthened its monitoring of the passage."

"It's our oversight." Qian Gui's face looked somewhat grim; he was in charge of intelligence and counter-espionage, and passage safety fell within his duties.

"They used a model specially formulated for high-regulation exclusion environments, with extremely strong concealment, making it hard for conventional detection to spot." Zhao Lao Nian analyzed, "Moreover, there are likely ambushes at more than one passage. They've made up their minds to intercept any important 'variable' movement."

"Expected." Chen Wen was not surprised, "Let's not talk about that for now. How is the situation in Bei Jing? How much pressure is Shi Dun facing? Also, has Wang Ru sent back any new news from the western side of the light curtain (the False Song world)?"

When the topic turned to serious matters, everyone's expression immediately grew solemn.

Zhang Cheng turned sideways.

"Your Highness, please move to the inner chamber for a detailed discussion."

The group entered a smaller, more concealed and better soundproofed room at the side of the stone hall.

Inside were simple tables and chairs, with a large map of the latest situation in Bei Jing and the grasslands hanging on the wall.

It was already marked with numerous red and blue symbols and arrows, making the intensity of the battle clear at a glance.

"Your Highness, please look."

Zhang Cheng first pointed at the situation map.

"Since confirming on the seventh day that the grassland enemy forces were a product of the Iron Crow Army's catalysis, their main force of about 150,000 cavalry has split into three routes, simultaneously launching fierce attacks on our three main defensive lines in Bei Jing."

"The western route assaults Yinshan Pass, the central route charges straight for Zhenbei Pass, and the eastern route threatens the passes of Yanshan."

"General Shi Dun judged that the enemy's primary objective is the central route's Zhenbei Pass; breaking through there would allow them to advance straight into Hetao, threatening the western flank of Xijing."

"Therefore he personally garrisoned Zhenbei Pass, commanding the military and civilians of the central route, relying on the pass city and pre-set outer fortifications to resist step by step."

"The war..." Zhang Cheng's voice sank, "It is extremely tragic."

"The enemy disregards casualties, attacking day and night. Their ordinary cavalry are extraordinarily brave, while mid- and lower-ranking officers and elites are generally implanted with Dark Energy Crystals, greatly boosting their combat power; even when wounded they can continue fighting, making them extremely hard to kill outright."

"Moreover, a small number of Dark Shadows are mixed among the troops, carrying out special tasks such as beheading, sabotage, and spreading fear."

"After ten days of war, our casualties have exceeded twenty thousand. The three outer defensive walls have all been lost; we now retreat to defend the main city of Zhenbei Pass and the last two moat-and-rampart lines before the pass."

"The enemy's casualties are several times ours, but their reinforcements continue to gather, replenishing extremely quickly, as if endless."

Chen Wen looked at the red arrow on the map that almost pressed against Zhenbei Pass's city wall, his brows furrowed.

"Can Shi Dun still hold out?"

"Stone General personally donned armor and went into battle, repeatedly repelling enemy assaults on the wall. The pass is temporarily safe, but supplies are being consumed enormously and the troops are exhausted. Without reinforcements or a plan to defeat the enemy, holding out long..." Zhang Cheng didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

"From the Ministry of Works side," Zhao Lao Nian interjected, speaking faster, "All stockpiles and newly produced 'Imperial Evil-Repelling Crossbows', 'Stabilizing Spirit Bells', 'Dispelling Malignance Devices' and other Yin-energy countermeasure equipment have been prioritized for distribution to Bei Jing."

"The improved fierce fire oil, exploding clay pots, armor-piercing heavy crossbows and other conventional siege equipment are also being rushed into production and delivery."

"But the enemy's catalysis speed is too fast; the emergence of the new Yin Shade also brings new technical challenges. We are analyzing enemy samples and Yin Shade remnants brought back from the battlefield, seeking more effective countermeasures."

"Moreover," Zhao Lao Nian pointed to several red dots specially marked deep in the grassland on the map, "according to feedback from the Yin Energy Monitoring Network, the Yin energy radiation intensity in these areas has shown exponential growth over the past half month."

"It can almost be certain that this is the core area where the Iron Crow Army is conducting a large-scale catalysis ceremony."

"If we can destroy one of them, we can greatly weaken the enemy's offensive and future potential."

Chen Wen nodded.

He looked toward Qian Gui.

"From the Jing An Si side, what's the intelligence on Bei Jing and the west side of the Light Curtain?"

Qian Gui immediately reported.

"Intelligence sent back from Bei Jing and the lurking forces in the grassland confirms that the enemy's logistics heavily depend on the 'Catalysis Source' deep in the grassland."

"Its grain, materiel, and troop reinforcements appear able to be rapidly generated through Yin-energy 'catalysis', different from the traditional model."

"Unconfirmed intelligence indicates that the person directly responsible for the Iron Crow Army in this realm (the Chen Dynasty world) may have already arrived at the grassland frontline to take command."

"As for the west side of the Light Curtain," Qian Gui paused briefly, "Minister Wang Ru has safely returned to Luoyang as planned. She sent back a brief confirmation signal via the reserved emergency one-way channel, indicating she had made contact with General Yue, and Luoyang remains stable for now. However, that channel is extremely limited, unable to convey details; subsequent routine intelligence transmission must rely on the established, more time-consuming secret route, and no new information has arrived yet."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

Wang Ru returned safely, and Yue Fei was informed; that was enough.

At present, the primary focus is the Chen Dynasty's Bei Jing.

Information summary completed.

The situation is grave.

The enemy troops are brave and have strange logistics.

Yin Shade special operations.

High-ranking officials of the Iron Crow Army may be supervising the battle.

The Chen Dynasty is stubbornly holding out.

Responding.

Lacking an "active" force to break the stalemate.

Everyone's gaze once again focused on Chen Wen.

This sovereign, who has just returned and still carries the chill of carnage in the passage,

he is the pivotal point that could potentially shift the battle.

Chen Wen remained silent.

His gaze wandered over the map.

From Zhenbei Pass to Yin Mountain to Yan Mountain.

Then to the several glaring red dots deep in the grassland.

In his mind, information flew back and forth, conducting analysis and deduction.

Seeking that "gap" and "lever".

A moment.

He lifted his head.

His eyes held no trace of confusion.

Only icy-cold, clear battle intent.

"Zhang Cheng."

"Present."

"In my name, immediately send word to His Majesty and the Privy Council."

"Notify the entire army: I have returned and will personally go to Bei Jing."

"This message may be appropriately spread to stabilize military and civilian morale."

"Yes!"

"Zhao Lao Nian."

"The Sovereign's orders."

"Select the most capable artisans and guards from the Heavenly Craft Institute, form a 'Technical Strike Team' equipped with the most advanced Yin-energy detection and destruction devices, and three days later follow me north."

"Target—the 'Catalysis Source' deep in the grassland."

Zhao Lao Nian's eyes flashed with sharp light.

"Understood! I will personally make the preparations!"

"Qian Gui."

"Present."

"Use all resources, spare no cost, to ascertain before my arrival at Bei Jing the exact locations, defensive forces, and possible activity patterns of high-ranking commanders of the Iron Crow Army for those several 'Catalysis Sources'."

"I want the most detailed intelligence."

"As you command!"

"Moreover,"

Chen Wen added.

"On the Xijing side, Zhang Cheng, you take overall charge, coordinating all rear support. Contact with the western side of the light curtain is to be handled by Qian Gui; once Wang Ru's side has any new important information, report it to me immediately."

"Understood." Zhang Cheng and Qian Gui replied simultaneously.

Orders came one after another, clear and decisive.

Carrying the long-lost decisiveness and aura of a founding monarch.

The three ministers' spirits were greatly lifted.

It was as if they had found their mainstay.

The nerves, taut for days, relaxed slightly.

"My lord," Zhang Cheng finally asked, "when do you plan to set out for Bei Jing?"

Chen Wen looked toward the north.

It seemed his gaze had pierced the stone wall, seeing that battlefield woven of ice and fire.

"At dawn tomorrow."

"With light cavalry and a simple retinue, we'll head straight for Zhenbei Pass."

"Shi Dun and the frontline troops have been waiting too long."

"Some scores……"

His voice turned cold.

"It's also time to go and settle accounts face to face with those demons and monsters."