Chapter 26

The blue sky was like a wash, and the great sun hung high.

A cool breeze blew gently, the veil danced in the wind, floating high in mid-air.

Ziwu covered her injured cheek with one hand, blood dripping down through the gaps in Ziwu's fair fingers, while the thin, broken sword in her other hand was trembling gently at this moment.

But at this moment, no one looked at Ziwu; all eyes were gathered on Dou Changsheng.

As if ten thousand rays of light grew from behind his head, he was the God of Gods, the Lord of all Gods.

Dou Changsheng felt the scorching gazes and felt helpless in his heart.

This sentence was not said by him at all; Dou Changsheng believed that everyone could hear it.

He couldn't help but look at Zhao Manren; this person really knew how to find trouble for others.

A disciple of the Divine Sword Gate took the initiative to step forward and spoke first: "Junior Sister Ziwu lost in one move."

"Now she will leave first; I ask Hero Dou to forgive her."

Dou Changsheng patted Zhao Manren on the shoulder, reminding him that the big matter was important now; Zhao Manren didn't dare to be negligent, immediately stepped out, untied the package, and then handed the military pay to the Subjugator Captain with both hands solemnly.

This time, the Subjugator Captain was not as slow as the last time, but raised his arms, took it with both hands personally, and then with a solemn expression, opened it solemnly, and after confirming the authenticity of the military pay personally, he thanked him: "Thank you!"

The attitude was completely different from the last time, which could be called a world of difference.

Whether there is respect or not.

Depends on strength.

At this moment, Dou Changsheng realized this deeply.

Last time he came to Jianmen Pass, he was just an ordinary Primordial martial artist, unknown, who would care about him?

But coming again this time, with the record of killing a Primordial True Realm martial artist with one sword, he could be called famous.

Of course, just relying on this was not enough to make the Subjugator Captain value him; the key was that they misunderstood, thinking that he was a descendant of the Xiangzhou Wang Clan, with strength and background, so he was naturally valued.

Plus his record was too fierce, all killing with one sword, leaving them with an unfathomable impression, thinking that this was not his strength limit, and directly overestimating him.

They didn't know at all that the Dou Changsheng in front of them was just a facade.

After the Subjugator Captain thanked him, his fat and short palm waved: "Recently, Hu Ren spies have frequently appeared outside the pass, and the military affairs of Jianmen Pass are numerous, so I cannot drink with Hero Dou; I ask Hero Dou to bear with it."

"When there is an opportunity in the future, I must drink and talk with Hero Dou all night!"

The Subjugator Captain had already started to drive people away, not wanting to continue contact with Dou Changsheng; Dou Changsheng also had no intention of dealing with the Subjugator Captain; coming to Jianmen Pass again this time was precisely to deliver the military pay.

Now that the mission was completed, Dou Changsheng also took the opportunity to say: "Then I won't bother you."

"Farewell!"

Dou Changsheng turned and walked out first, followed by Venerable Black Eagle and Zhao Manren; the three of them left very quickly; after walking out of the mansion, the commander who was waiting in place immediately greeted them and apologized first: "Just received intelligence that the major tribes of the Hu Ren all have unusual movements; I fear they have the heart to go south."

"Now Jianmen Pass must be completely sealed, and outsiders are no longer allowed to move about; I ask the three of you to leave the pass temporarily."

Dou Changsheng looked at the commander calmly; the other party was saying sorry, but his eyes looked at Dou Changsheng coldly, his attitude was very unfriendly, and at the same time, one armored soldier after another couldn't help but tighten their grip on their weapons.

A solemn atmosphere arose spontaneously, making people subconsciously start to get nervous.

Venerable Black Eagle spoke first: "Leave the pass!"

Dou Changsheng and his group, under the escort of the commander leading the armored soldiers, left Jianmen Pass directly.

Watching Dou Changsheng leave the pass, the commander stood inside the city gate, waved his hand, signaling the city gate to close, and kept watching the city gate cut off the north and south, completely cutting off the view; only then did the commander breathe a sigh of relief.

The direct descendant of the Xiangzhou Wang Clan brought him no small amount of pressure; he was really afraid that the other party would turn against him.

After all, this person, not to mention his own strength, the head of the Xiangzhou Wang Clan, ranked ninth on the Earth Ranking, known as Wang Tianhe, the Nine Heavens Cloud Crane, was currently wandering nearby.

Such a big figure suddenly appeared in the North.

He didn't know how much turmoil it caused; the news reached Jianmen Pass, and for a time, the wind was blowing and the cranes were calling, and every tree and bush looked like an enemy.

If Dou Changsheng really wanted to make trouble and deliberately cause chaos, and then Wang Tianhe took the opportunity to enter the pass, this Jianmen Pass would have to change its name and surname.

The commander was relaxed, but the Subjugator Captain's expression was gloomy, and at this moment he was watching the Heaven Sword Sect disciple Tang Ying personally apply medicine to the sword scar on Ziwu's cheek.

The Subjugator Captain said in a deep voice: "This sword wound is not difficult to treat."

"The difficulty lies in wanting not to leave a scar; with the conditions of Jianmen Pass, this is impossible to do."

"The herbs and elixirs here all prioritize treating injuries, without caring about side issues; for us, living is the most important thing."

"If you want not to leave a scar, you need to return to the Five Shows Valley immediately, or have a master from your sect bring medicine and stones personally."

Ziwu raised her jade hand and waved it indifferently: "Children of the Jianghu, how could they care about appearance."

"Leaving this sword scar is not a bad thing."

"It will remind me at all times that the Jianghu is vast and full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers."

"In this battle, although I didn't use my full strength, Dou Changsheng didn't draw his sword either."

"The other party is about ten years younger than me, yet he easily broke my attack and made me injured."

"Before I left the valley, how could I have imagined there would be such a terrifying figure?"

"Even the heroes in the top ten of the Human Ranking now, in my view, are only a line stronger than me; now it seems I was sitting in a well and looking at the sky."

Ziwu's mentality was peaceful; she didn't give up on herself because her appearance was ruined, but instead accepted it calmly, and her spirit and energy were all renewed.

This blow, instead of making her depressed, was used to hone herself, completing a transformation.

Seeing this, the Subjugator Captain praised: "A famous teacher produces a brilliant student."

"The Five Shows Valley is worthy of being my North's orthodox sect, a famous and large sect."

Tang Ying put down the ointment in his hand, moved his wrist, and spoke at the same time: "The old senior Yan Jiutian Cloud Crane Wang suddenly appeared in the North; this influence is too great."

"True Person Huoyun is tied hand and foot, completely restrained."

"What should we do next?"

The Subjugator Captain's expression became solemn, and he spoke in a deep voice: "Wait!"

"The chaos in the North is not because the Hu Ren are going south, nor because the Grand General is in prison, but because the people of the North are too bitter."

"Yan Jiutian Cloud Crane, ninth on the Dibang."

"Famous in the world, respected by all nations."

"He alone arrived in the North, and naturally everything was calm and everything disappeared."

"But he can suppress it for a while, but he cannot suppress it for a lifetime."

"My North is not without capable people."

"The thirteenth on the Earth Ranking of the previous generation, the Nine Nether Wanderer Bai Zizai, is from my North; although the old senior Bai has long retired and does not ask about world affairs, this time it concerns the myriad living beings of my North, so the old senior Bai naturally will not stand idly by."

"How big is the Xiangzhou Wang Clan, can it be bigger than my North?"

"There are five Dibang Grandmasters in my North."

"They all say that poor mountains and bad waters produce unruly people; my North is cold and frozen, and also suffers from Hu Ren harassment; since ancient times, the folk customs have been fierce, and heroes have emerged in large numbers; how can it be compared to a weak place like Liang?"

"As long as I lead the troops south, I can break three passes in seven days, and at most half a month, I can surround Liang City."

"Liang has fertile fields for thousands of miles, favorable weather, and a dense population, but the martial spirit is not strong; those who can enter the Dibang are less than half of my North."

After the Subjugator Captain's words fell, there was silence.

But whether it was Ziwu or Tang Ying, their expressions were unhappy.

Liang was rich, but weak.

Not only did they not send people to resist the Hu Ren, but they were even unwilling to pay money.

If it weren't for the concern that they were all people of one country, wealth would naturally have to be taken from the sword.

Chen Family Fort.

Wang Tianhe sat on the ground with a thud, stained with mud, but Wang Tianhe suddenly didn't care, without any Grandmaster demeanor; at this moment, he reached out, grabbed the roasted chicken, gnawed on the chicken breast, picked up the wine bowl on the side, and took a big gulp.

Only then did he say: "The chaos in the North stems from the great rise of the Hu style in recent years."

"Even if you are in the army, you should have felt it."

"The North originally had fierce folk customs, and the style of martial arts prevailed; which of those who made it out of the North were not fighting all year round, with rich combat experience? They went to Liang, and naturally they could be fierce for a while."

"As time goes on, if someone deliberately pushes the waves, it will leave the people of the North with the inherent impression that Liang is weak and incompetent."

"Suffering in the North is not as good as going south to Liang, being free and easy, and living a happy life."

"With the sword in hand and the horse under the crotch, seize wealth and become a person above others."

"The weak eat the strong, like beasts."

"There is constant news of Northern martial artists doing well in Liang; the people of the North are naturally restless; how could they still be at ease resisting the Hu Ren and eating chaff and drinking thin gruel?"

Wang Tieqiang, who had been like a statue, motionless, moved his lips slowly, and a hoarse voice rang out: "Isn't this good?"

"Glory and wealth must naturally be sought with the spear!"

Wang Tianhe spat out a chicken bone and cursed "Damn it."

All his words had been fed to the dogs.

The person in front of him was also a standard Northern barbarian, believing only in the sword and spear.

That's right, if the North weren't like this, how could it produce so many strong people? There were five people on the Dibang in one generation; you have to know that there were only seventy-two spots on the Dibang in total, and this had to be divided among the four great nations, many small nations, and the grasslands.

It could be called many monks and little porridge, and the North alone occupied five.

The Northern Spear King in front of him was also one of them.

Ranked seventieth on the Dibang, although at the end, he was still on the list, especially since he was in his prime and hadn't reached his peak; his ranking would rise in the future.

After Wang Tieqiang was silent for a while, he continued: "The adoptive father shouldn't have returned to the Imperial Capital."

"Liang is weak, and can be broken in ten days."

"I have also been to the capital; it is prosperous, but they are also a group of weak and bullyable people."

"I have always been unable to understand why the adoptive father wants to bow to that demonic consort."

"We don't need the entire border army; one hundred thousand is enough to break Liang, take its wealth, and it is enough to support the North; if we want money, we have money; if we want grain, we have grain."

"Going south is enough to destroy Jin, and going north is enough to resist the Hu."

"At worst, we can also unite with Qin and Qi to protect ourselves."

"The Grand General has the grace of knowing me and adopted me as his foster son; otherwise, I would support the Subjugator Captain; this Great Jin does not respect us, so why should we risk our lives for him."

"Even if it's the distinction between Hua and Yi, not defecting to the Hu Ren, are Western Qin and Eastern Qi also barbarians?"

Wang Tieqiang finally sneered and mocked: "Northern barbarians, Saibei barbarians."

"These are all words you use to mock and ridicule us."

"Do you know that without our North, the Hu Ren would have already gone south; under their curved swords and big horses, I don't know if you could still say these words."

"The adoptive father is willing to enter the capital alone this time, losing the hearts of the people of the North."

"The Heaven Sword Sect and the Five Shows Valley have both broken away from the Shogunate and no longer listen to its orders; that is the reason."

Wang Tieqiang looked at Wang Tianhe, who was about to speak, and directly raised his hand to stop the other party, saying directly: "Don't say anything about serving the imperial court; we are all one family; don't say those empty words and nonsense that sound righteous."

"The adoptive father can endure humiliation for the sake of the big picture, for the sake of Great Jin, not wanting the North and the imperial court to be too stiff, losing the support of Liang and the capital, and unable to resist the Hu Ren."

"But when did resisting the Hu Ren become our North's family business?"

"They don't want the North, so should we shamelessly gather around, let them punch and kick us, and then kneel down and beg for a bite to eat?"

"I don't want to hear big principles."

"I only know one thing: the North lives too bitterly."

"And yet we have swords in our hands, so why should we wrong ourselves and be slaves for them?"

"We can completely take it with our swords."

"The adoptive father has excellent talent, high moral character, and is good at fighting; after entering the North, he is deeply trusted by the people of the North."

"For so many years, he has given money and people."

"People like Ai Haike, who has three sons—one son guards the home, and two sons joined the army and both died in battle—I dare not say they are everywhere, but they are also common."

"But he has already been persuaded by the demonic consort to abandon the adoptive father; isn't it because the adoptive father disappointed the people of the North?"

"For so many years, the North has worked hard and supported the adoptive father, wanting to push the adoptive father's martial arts cultivation one step further, and then strive for benefits for the North, but this time the military pay was stolen, and the adoptive father was willing to go to prison; the hearts of the people of the North have already changed."

"The policy of appeasement is doomed to be futile; Liang and the capital will not care about us."

"Like you, Wang Tianhe, you only know how to say empty words and big principles, wanting us to endure."

"You don't want to transport a few more stones of grain to the North every year to save a few more lives."

"If the adoptive father cannot get out of prison and return to the North to preside over the big picture, then this North, will it belong to the Hu? Qin? Qi in the future?"

"That depends on the game between the three families."

After Wang Tieqiang finished speaking, he said no more.

Wang Tianhe sighed; the situation in the North was complex and had already involved various countries.

Wang Tieqiang's words carried a heavy meaning of pressure; if he didn't release the person, he would cut off the North and offer it to Western Qin and Eastern Qi.

If the North was lost, then whether it was Western Qin or Eastern Qi, they would have half-encircled Great Jin, and the day of the nation's demise would not be far off.

Lawless and disrespectful to the imperial court.

Was the garrison commander of Jianmen Pass really persuaded by the Hu Ren?

Is there a possibility.

It was a farce directed and acted by the Shogunate from beginning to end.

It was to force the imperial court to release Yu Yun.

The late emperor used Yu Yun to exchange for more than ten years of stability in the North, and peace in Liang and the capital.

But he raised a fierce tiger.

Wang Tianhe laughed at himself.

This has nothing to do with me!

Love and courage.

But there is no loyalty!

That loyal, silly big brother.

The grass on his grave is already taller than me.