Chapter 643: Chen Wen Arrives

Midnight.

West of the light curtain, eighty li southwest of Luoyang, nameless mountains and forests.

Space twisted momentarily.

Chen Wen's figure stumbled into view.

He dropped to one knee, propping himself up with his sword, gasping heavily.

The crossing consumed far more than estimated.

Only sixty percent of his internal strength remained.

A burning prickle came from his skin, the trace left by the world's rejection.

He endured the discomfort and quickly surveyed his surroundings.

Woods, hills, the northeastern horizon glowed with an abnormal dark red.

A faint rumbling carried on the night wind.

"Mr. Chen!"

A lowered voice sounded from the side.

Five black shadows flashed out from behind the trees, quickly approaching.

The leader was a capable middle-aged man, Li Qi, the third team captain of the Northward Aspiration army's Luoyang hidden post.

"You've finally arrived!"

Li Qi's tone carried a sense of relief.

Chen Wen straightened his body.

"Situation."

"Luoyang's outer city has fallen; Marshal Yue is leading troops in street fighting."

"The Yuan forces have surrounded the city in three layers, with a dense patrol net."

"Envoy Wang is coordinating inside the city, planning to guide Marshal Yue and the core personnel to break out toward this direction at the start of the chou hour."

Li Qi spoke extremely fast.

"But when we came out, the Yuan forces had already strengthened their blockade to the southwest. For Marshal Yue and them to break through three lines of defense will be difficult."

Chen Wen looked toward the northeast.

In his field of vision, a dark red energy field symbolizing chaos and slaughter was slowly moving southwest.

Along its edge, dozens of frenzied points of light were wandering—those were the Yuan patrols.

"Your position."

"Three hundred paces ahead is a mountain hollow with a temporary campsite, stocked with horses and fresh water."

"The nearest Yuan patrol is one and a half li to the southeast; it may pass here in half a quarter-hour."

Chen Wen nodded.

"Lead the way."

The six moved swiftly in stealth.

After a moment they reached a concealed mountain hollow.

Three camouflaged tents, six horses, and some supplies.

Chen Wen glanced over.

"Li Qi."

"Present!"

"Take your people and split into two groups."

"One group will monitor that Yuan patrol to the southeast."

"The other group will go to the western pass to set tripwires and pits."

"Have the horses ready for immediate withdrawal."

"Understood!"

Four received the order and departed.

Only a young hidden post remained beside Chen Wen on guard.

Chen Wen sat cross‑legged, closed his eyes, and regulated his breath.

His strength was slowly recovering.

He caught every sound in the mountains and forests.

About a quarter‑hour later.

Li Qi returned, crouching low.

"Mr. Chen, that Yuan patrol to the southeast has changed its route and is heading our way."

"How many?"

"Twelve men, standard patrol configuration, with hunting dogs."

Li Qi's voice was tense.

"The hunting dogs might pick up a lingering scent."

Chen Wen opened his eyes.

"Distance."

"Less than half a li."

"Let them come."

Chen Wen rose, hand on his sword, and walked toward the entrance of the mountain hollow.

Li Qi, take your people to the west side and prepare.

If the commotion here draws more enemy troops, you will be responsible for delaying them.

Then you—

Carry out the order.

... Yes!

Li Qi gritted his teeth and led his men into the western forest.

Chen Wen stood alone at the mouth of the depression.

The night wind fluttered his lapels.

He slowly drew his long sword.

Soon.

Dog barks came from the forest.

Disordered footsteps approached.

Twelve Yuan soldiers appeared in view.

Leather armor, curved blades, the leader holding a wind lantern.

Three hunting dogs rushed ahead, growling and barking wildly toward Chen Wen's direction.

Han person!

Just one?

Kill!

The Yuan squad leader snarled and waved his hand.

The twelve spread out their formation and moved to flank.

The hunting dogs lunged first.

Chen Wen did not move.

Until the nearest hunting dog leapt into the air and lunged at his chest.

Then he sidestepped.

A flash of sword light.

The hunting dog was silently cut in two.

The second and third hunting dogs lunged almost simultaneously.

Chen Wen reached out with his left hand, grabbed one hunting dog's neck, and crushed it with force.

He swept his right leg, kicking the third hunting dog into a tree, breaking its spine.

The whole process took less than two breaths.

The Yuan soldiers didn't even see the move clearly.

He's a tough one! Form up!

The squad leader barked.

The remaining eleven quickly formed a circular formation, blades outward.

Chen Wen stepped forward.

His figure slipped into the formation like a ghost.

The sword rose.

Blood spattered.

The first man's throat split open with a line of blood.

The second man's heart was pierced.

The third man's head flew up.

There were no fancy moves.

Only the simplest deadly thrusts.

Each strike precisely hit the gaps in armor or exposed vital points.

It was also absolute control over limbs, weapons, and the enemy's movements.

Five breaths.

Eleven corpses fell to the ground.

Chen Wen sheathed his sword.

The blade dripped blood yet remained unstained.

He walked up to the squad leader still gripping the wind lantern, eyes wide in shock.

What are you looking for?

His voice was calm.

The squad leader's throat rolled.

We're... we're looking for the Southern remnant troops who broke through...

How many troops are deployed to the southwest?

Three, three lines of defense... each line three hundred men, spaced three li apart...

Where is the commander?

Behind the second line of defense, there is a hundred-household leader's tent...

The squad leader hadn't finished speaking.

The sword tip already pointed at his brow.

"You are not normal people."

Chen Wen looked at the unnatural pale green glow in his eyes.

"What did the Iron Crow Army do to you?"

The squad leader suddenly grinned.

The smile twisted.

"God… granted us power…"

The green light in his eyes flared.

Veins bulged beneath his skin, as if something were about to burst out.

Chen Wen thrust his sword tip forward.

Piercing through the skull.

The corpse fell to the ground, twitched twice, then lay still.

But his skin had already begun to rot rapidly.

Emitting a foul stench.

Chen Wen stepped back two paces.

His brow furrowed slightly.

This phenomenon of overdrawn life and rapid postmortem decay matches what Li Qi described.

The Iron Crow Army's methods are becoming ever more brazen.

He turned around.

"Li Qi."

"Here!"

Li Qi ran out from the western woods, saw corpses littering the ground, and sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Clean up the traces, drag the bodies far away and bury them."

"Dispose of the hounds."

"Yes!"

"Also, the Yuan army has set up three defensive lines to the southwest, each with three hundred men."

"If Marshal Yue and the others want to come over, they must break through these three lines."

Chen Wen looked toward the northeast.

Under that dim red sky, the sounds of slaughter seemed nearer.

"We don't have much time."